V: Promise

I pried Roxas off me, whose arms were forming a death grip. "Deputy," I began, though I wouldn't mind seeing Riku locked up in jail for awhile, especially if they kept him naked, "this guy isn't who you're looking for."

"No, he's definitely the intruder," Roxas growled, and glared viciously at Riku. The officers shared a perplexed glance.

"Roxas," I snapped, "that's not true and you know it."

"Did he make it up to with a nice fuck?"

"What? We didn't do anything!"

"I'm not blind, dumbass."

At that point the sheriff (at least I assumed so, as most the officers in the room nodded their heads at him in oddly cultish respect) walked in, overlooked the room, and grumbled, "I need a new job," then did what should have been taken care of ages ago: took a towel from the rack and covered up the shivering, fuming Riku.

"Now," the sheriff said gruffly, "let's head downtown so we can have a nice little chat, figure some things out, and get some goddamn clothes for the boy."

The sheriff and the deputy walked ahead of the group, discussing something in low voices. An officer tugged Riku along by the elbow, ignoring his complaints of how the cuffs were digging into his "perfect, alabaster" skin, and kept his eyes off the obvious bulge in the scandalously short cyan towel with some difficulty.

Riku was guided with unnecessary roughness into the back of a police car. I volunteered to ride next to him, and hopped in before Roxas could object. I stuck out my tongue at him as he went grudgingly with one of the officers.

In front of our car were the sheriff and deputy. The sheriff, I couldn't help but notice, had a mustache that twitched from time to time, particularly when he realized he was speeding down the road over 60, and the speed limit was around 35.

"Wonder if you could just turn on the sirens, so you could have an excuse," Riku suggested.

"I've no idea what you're talking about," the sheriff retorted.

"What's your name?" I asked, curious.

"Sheriff Luxord,"

"You didn't know?" the deputy sounded more baffled than condoning.

"Nope, sorry. My family has a private force. It's a wonder they didn't come down…" I bit my lip, staring out the window as we entered downtown. It was quaint, filled with old, historic buildings that had been refurbished enough to sport clothes stores, jewelry shops, cafes, and maybe three theaters, as well as fixed-up Victorian homes. There were more trees and shrubbery than in town, as well as vibrant flower pots that were hung on old-fashioned street lamps.

We arrived at the police station. Riku tensed when they opened the door; the sidewalks were crowded with curious onlookers. Not a lot happens at Destiny Island, but when something does it becomes a commotion. I slipped out and requested that the officers wait a few minutes. They were reluctant, but Sheriff Luxord gave the 'okay'.

I then raced down the street, with Roxas hot on my tail. "Sora, what in God's name are you doing?" I didn't reply — instead I barged into a thrift shop, scanning over anything that may fit Riku. The shopkeeper was an old woman dressed in a paint-stained shirt and a tattered pair of overalls. I had a feeling that Riku wouldn't like the clothes there, but unfashionable clothing was a big improvement on being naked.

I moved down the aisles swiftly, groaning as all I could find were skirts, dresses, blouses, bras, and — the horror ­— granny-panties. The shopkeeper watched me over the top of her spectacles, her penciled-in eyebrows raised suspiciously.

"Excuse me, dear, are you perhaps participating in a…drag show?" she interrogated with black eyes peeled in accusing slits. I looked around the shop and realized it really was all women clothing. I saw a little sign in the corner that read "Bargain Thrift — For Women"

"Oh," I breathed shakily. The door opened, a bell chimed, and there stood Roxas, wheezing and perspiring like an obese man on a treadmill. There was a mad, wild look in his blue eyes, and his hands were clenched in tight, shaking fists.

"I'll — fucking — KILL you!" he shrieked, and made a lunge for me, but was stopped in midair by a broom stick slamming into his stomach. He lay on the floor, twitching and convulsing and gasping pathetically for air.

"Don't you dare tarnish my shop's reputation, boy!" she kicked him in the back, and I winced at the loud crack. At that moment I saw the girl pants hanging in the corner, glowing like a gift from the Gods. They would fit Riku perfectly, hugging his form and…I shook my head, reminding myself that this was not the time for fantasizing: my brother was being beaten to death by a old hag. And no brother lets another brother die in such a shameful manner. It would be a much too embarrassing obituary, after all!

I picked out the pants, and XXL girl boxers, and handed a hundred dollar bill to the old lady, whom was still pounding on my Roxas. "Oh my! What a sweet boy you are!" she cooed, pinching my cheeks affectionately. "Don't worry about this darling boy…I'll patch him right up!"

For some reason, I felt inclined to entrust the crazy lady with Roxas, and rushed out of the shop, leaving behind the dusty, smelly old place for good. I bounded down the sidewalk, pushing past shoppers loaded with their bags, and dodged skateboarders who flipped me off.

I found myself back at the police station, feeling lightheaded and woozy from neglecting to stop and catch my breath. I was clutching the bell-bottomed pants and lacy boxers in the crutch of arm like they were my oxygen tank. Sheriff Luxord pried them from me, and the Deputy helped him keep the crowd. At that point, it was mostly composed of giggly schoolgirls who'd gotten a glimpse at the handsome half-naked young man trying to save his last bit of dignity.

More of the crowd had gathered, while Riku was sinking further and further down in his seat, until you could only see the top of his silver head. I motioned for him to roll the window, he did so, and I tossed him the clothes. He mouthed thanks before I blocked the window and Roxas, having a strange moment of dutifulness, hopped onto the trunk of the car to cover the back window.

I sat down on the steps leading up to the police station. My head cleared by the time Riku stepped out of the car, and immediately swam as I saw his bare chest glowing in the sunlight, and how the pants were squeezing him in all the right places…it was almost as good as seeing him naked, but maybe better, because I wasn't trying to hide my reddening face. That is, until his eyes found me and a cocky smile formed on his lips. He sauntered to me. The girls swooned, and parted like the Red Sea had done for Moses.

He bent over till his long hair seeped over my shoulders, blanketing me in silky, tantalizing tendrils. His lips, smiling so coyly before, inavertedly kissed my cheek as he whispered, "thanks, So-ra." The way he said my name sent chills down my spine.

Riku straightened up, sending me a haughty look before being guided into the police station. Sheriff Luxord helped me stand up, amused by my wooziness. I followed him almost reluctantly into the building. It hadn't been what I expected — it was more of an office than anything, but with a lot of cops sipping coffee and, naturally, munching on some cream-filled donuts. Until we got into the very back I was reminded of the cop shows, and Andy Griffith. There were a few jail cells, as well as some desks. Keys were hung mockingly near the cells. They were definitely not close enough to grab, but maybe close enough to just barely touch. Even so, there were too many security cameras and, most likely, night guards for them to get away with anything. I had a feeling it was just for show.

Riku and I sat in fold-up chairs while Luxord sat at a desk. The deputy glanced around, then said, "where's the blonde boy?"

"Oh, Roxas? I left him at the Bargain Thrift."

"For women?"

"That's the one."

"…I'd better go check on him," he grumbled, and trudged out of the station.

Luxord cleared his throat and shifted at the desk, folding his hands together and leaning forward. His mustache was twitching again. "I suppose we should discuss all this, then," he said, and glanced between us.

"Do you want all the gritty details?" Riku smirked, and I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Not in particular, no, but I would like to know all the important facts of this case."

I took a deep breath and explained what had happened, with Riku interrupting once and awhile to add details that Luxord probably did not want to hear. Somewhere during my long-winded retelling, the sheriff leaned back in the chair, placing his hands behind his white-blonde head, and tossed his legs on the desk, crossing his ankles together. His mustache, once again, had me transfixed with its twitching.

"I see…that is very strange," Luxord commented once I was finished. "How you felt inclined to take a bath in your ransacked home, I will never understand, but I'm not sure I want to. In any case, the strangest of all is your force's lack of response to this. From what I understand you have a high-tec security system?"

"That's correct, sir."

"Interesting…what is the company?"

"It's a branch of my mother's work. Shinra."

Luxord closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. His forehead creased, and all the lines became prominent. He had to be at least fifty, I figured, but rather admirably fit for his age. I was, however, disappointed by the lack of a shiny gold star on his chest…

"Is there a problem?" I asked when he went silent for a minute. His blue eyes slowly opened, and he shook his head. He smiled reassuringly at me, but the crease in his brow told me different. I suddenly felt very uneasy.

"Perhaps they were busy with other problems," Riku guessed softly, while gazing hard at Luxord. I wondered if he felt the same, inexplicable distrust as I did. The sheriff gave a thoughtful 'hmmmm', but then became immersed in a pile of paperwork. His pen scratched furiously over the uncomfortable silence.

Abruptly, the station doors were slammed open. Roxas stomped his way over to us in a flurry of blonde-blue-eyed rage. He landed a harsh slap on Riku's face. "Don't you go near my brother ever…ever, again!"

Riku's head had been forced to the side, and a mark was left on his cheek. His eyes sought Roxas, and I could see his lips tugging into a small smile. Out of the wide range of smiles he wielded, that one was perhaps the cruelest. "My, how prone to uncalled for hissy fits you are, darling…"

"I'm not your darling!" Roxas hollered, his voice cracking from the effort.

"Yet it bothers you to no end that you were, once, my darling…until I realized how much of a bore you are…under that pathetic impassive act you play, there's a needy, whiny..." Riku paused, his smile stretching with every poisonous word he spoke. Before he could finish, I shoved him, though it had little effect.

"Shut up," I commanded, yet it sounded unconvincing as my eyes were avoiding his revoltingly placid and beautiful face. "I mean it," I attempted to sound more threatening, but it came off as childish and anxious.

Riku just laughed and got up, putting his hands up in mock defense. "All right then, I'll leave you alone, but you won't be getting anymore help from me, not with this one around." He gestured to Roxas.

"Fuck you," I growled, "I don't need your help. I can find all the answers on my own."

"I wonder — if you do find those answers, could you really handle them?"

"He won't find them," Roxas promised, "not if I can help it."

To be continued.