Bit shorted than the usual but this was really tough to write.

I really need feedback on this one, guys.

Oh last chance to vote.

The morning light irritated Riku's eyes. He didn't want to wake up. He especially didn't want to face the world outside of this bed. Sora was snuggled up against him. Riku studied that still childish face, wondering at how Sora had managed to stay so sweet, so pure after everything. Maybe Sora could forgive him if-

Riku suddenly couldn't bear to be in that bed.

He scrambled out, moving away from Sora as if the boy burned him. He couldn't do this to him. Sora was too good, too wonderful for Riku to be tainting him like this. Riku was tainted, dirty goods. He didn't deserve any one's love.

Why was he putting either one of them through this?

He leaned his head against the window. His indecision was only going to hurt them both further. Maybe he should just leave them both behind. Completely sever all ties. The very idea ripped his heart to shreds but what else was there? He couldn't make one suffer for the other. He doubted either would be happy knowing the pain the other had to go through.

At least if he left both, the pain would be equal and eventually they would both recover.

With this belief set firmly in his mind, he silently packed up his duffle. He would do what was best for both the men he loved. Neither one would continue to be victims of his inability to choose. He'd set them both free.

He didn't look back at the bed as he left the room.

Quietly making his way down the hall, he kept his eyes focused on the door. Ten more steps, nine more, eight, seven, six-

"Where do you think you're going?" A near silent deadly voice asked.

Riku turned. Leon leaned against the wall opposite the kitchen, arms folded and body relaxed. Riku knew this was a ruse. The man was ready to fight.

"Think you can just run away from all this, do you? How selfish."

"You have a better idea?" The teen snarled.

"Yeah. Grow up. Deal with the mess you made and face the consequences." Leon's tone didn't change a bit. "You've already broken one heart, what's another?"

"I don't want to break any hearts!" Riku dropped his bag.

"It's too late for that."

"Cloud broke my heart. He left me!"

"And you don't think it killed him to do that? Every think that maybe it's because he loves you so damn much that all he wanted was to see you happy even if it was at his own expense?"

Riku turned back to the door. "Then he was an idiot."

Suddenly he was slammed against the doorframe. Burning steel eyes bore into his. "Now you listen to me you selfish little cocksucker. You are the only one who can fix this nightmare you've created. I don't care what has to be done but you will fix it or so help me I will kill you."

Riku stared back. "What do I care? I'm already dead."

Leon's fist met solidly with Riku's jaw. "Do not start that shit! You don't know dead inside."

Riku tasted blood and spat as Leon released him.

Leon was still glaring at him with total contempt. "You leave Radiant Garden and I will hunt you down."

"Riku?"

Both froze at Sora's meek voice.

"Riku!" The boy ran past Leon, hand coming up to touch Riku's face. "What-"

Riku gently batted the hand away. He stared into Sora's frightened blue eyes and he broke inside. His own voice sounded so unbelievably weak. "Leon."

The man narrowed his eyes. "Fix this now." Then he left for Cloud's room.

Riku brushed Sora's cheek. "I've- I have something you need to know."

"What is it, Riku?" That voice was so trusting.

"Not here." He stated. He walked out the door, without bag. Sora obediently followed him around the house and down the street. There was a large park being finished and the fountain in the center of it had running water.

He sat on the edge of it, studying the bubbling water. Sora mirrored the position, face still terribly worried. Riku doubted Sora had a clue what was coming but he could not, would not back out now. Regardless of Leon's threat, Sora had to know the facts.

Oh Gods, he did not want to do this.

"Riku, why did Leon hit you?"

"Sora, I," Riku took a breath. "I know you're not blind. You've seen the tension between Cloud and I."

The smaller one nodded solemnly.

"A short while after Maleficent found me and I agreed to work for her, I met Cloud. He was working for Hades then and been dragged to one of their meetings. He wandered away from it and came across me. We spoke for a while, a long while actually. We found we had a lot in common and sort of became friends.

"We crossed paths several more times and vented to each other. We knew exactly what the other was experiencing and offered as much support as we could." Riku paused. He didn't want to see Sora's face when he said this next part but he needed to. Sora deserved that much. "After only a few weeks we became lovers."

There was an impossibly long moment where Sora simply sat there. He blinked once. His lower lip trembled a touch but he nodded. "Okay."

"We saw each other when ever possible. I took great comfort in him. I think, in the end he's the one who kept me from being consumed. I had a positive thing within the darkness. He stayed with me through everything. When Diz asked me to help him wake you up, I agreed without hesitation.

"You were my only thought, my only concern. I had to get you back no matter what the cost. Cloud fell to the side but I really didn't realize it. I saw him once after I, changed and I knew it broke his heart to see me like that. I didn't realize…" Riku trailed off. He hadn't realized the heart break was due to Cloud's belief that Riku loved Sora more than him. But he couldn't say that.

"Go on." Sora softly encouraged. His expression was closed and his eyes dull.

"A few weeks after you woke up, Cloud found me. He said we needed to talk. That's when he ended our relationship. He said he wasn't the one I really loved and he was letting me go to be with the one I did." Riku looked away. "He said he wanted me to make things work with you."

"But he was lying, wasn't he?" Sora's voice was broken. "He loves you, even now."

Riku had no words for that. He had no words left at all for that matter. He was drained, worn and utterly shattered. He knew Sora was quickly piecing together the rest of this. Sora wasn't dumb by any means. And he knew Riku way too well.

Sora bit his lip and stared down at the stone they sat on. "Do you love Cloud?"

And suddenly, one of those moments of crystal clarity came to Riku. The confusion passed and though he knew his answer would completely and thoroughly shatter both their hearts he had to say it. "Yes."

"Oh." It was hardly a whisper.

Silence spread like a heavy blanket covering them. Sora had shut down, revealing nothing to Riku. He'd never seen nor heard of Sora being able to do this. The brunette was usually an open book to pretty much everyone.

"Do you love me?" There was no emotion.

"Very much."

Sora considered this. "Does Cloud want you back now?"

"He hasn't asked that."

"Do you want to go back to Cloud?"

He knew that question was coming. And looking at Sora's blank expression he could not bring himself to answer. Unfortunalty, his silence answered it for him for Sora began softly crying.

"Why is this happening, Riku? I, I thought we were happy. I thought we were meant to be. I thought you were happy."

"I was, I am. I just…" Riku rambled out. "I don't know, Sora. I didn't want any of this. The last thing I ever wanted is to hurt you."

Whether or not Sora believed him he couldn't tell. The boy slowly stood. "I, I have to go. Now."

"Sora, don't…"

He shook his head. "It's okay. I just need to be away from you for a little bit. I promise."

Riku nodded.

Sora walked away and took half of Riku's with him.