Unequal
Xemnas woke at the first light of day, as was his habit. His young servant, a scarred, blue-haired man, already had coffee waiting for him as he slid from his bed. He wrapped himself in a light robe, accepting the cup, and toed on a pair of slippers, before heading to the palace library.
Their father had begun the task of compiling many of the texts and scrolls, and Eraqus had insisted on continuing to do so, even offering commissions to bring writings from far-off places. Xemnas had thought it a waste of gold, at first. But, he mused, being able to reference the histories in his own home, rather than needing to journey to do so, was much more convenient.
Setting his coffee aside, he unrolled a world map over his desk, taking care to weight down each corner. Then, he pulled down a thick volume, running a finger down the spine. "Royal Genealogies." He smirked, and opened it to where he'd left off the night before.
o.O.o
Riku woke to sun filtering in through the windows, only slightly dimmed by the curtains draped across them. He felt unusually warm, and it took him a moment to realize why. There was a weight across his waist, Sora's arm slung across him in slumber, his head tucked up against Riku's side, silks in a blue aura around him. The brunette mumbled something in his sleep and clutched Riku tighter.
The prince sat up, shaking Sora gently. "Sora."
There was a series of sleepy sounds, followed by a yawn, before blue eyes fluttered open. "Ku?" He was flushed, with imprints from folds in the sheets on his face, and Riku felt oddly dizzy as he looked at him.
"I told you to sleep out there," he murmured. "You can't sleep in here. And look, you've messed up your clothing. Don't you know you have to sleep in something else?"
Sora bit his lip. "I don't have anything else."
Riku sighed. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Sora shrugged. "I didn't know. I always just wear the same thing."
Riku scrunched his nose. "I guess I never noticed before." He moved to slip from the sheets, but Sora's arm tightened around his waist. "What are you doing?"
"What are you doing? It's still early. Look at the sun. We should go back to sleep."
Riku furrowed his brow. "We should not go back to sleep. You may go sleep out there," he pointed at the curtained doorway, "but you should know, we rise early in the palace. Remember, last night Father said I'm to take your princess out for a morning ride."
Sora made a face. "But I'm still tired from last night. Aren't you?"
"A little. But a ride isn't so bad. Have you ever ridden, Sora?"
"No, of course not."
Riku brightened. "Then come with! You know, horses are a large part of our trade. We have the swiftest ones in our stables. I can make an excuse, that we'll want to ride fast, so you must have your own horse to keep up." Riku hummed at the thought of racing Sora on horseback. He would win, of course, but if Sora learned to be as good a horseman as him, then he might prove to be some competition. He hadn't been this excited about something since he'd run free on the streets with the brunette. It would please his father, too, if it appeared he favored the foreign princess's gift. Even if his interest lay in the gift itself, rather than the giver.
Wide blue eyes took in the spark that animated the prince, and Sora relented, releasing him. "Okay. That sounds fun."
Riku smiled, ruffling Sora's sleep-mussed hair as he got out of bed. "Good. First, breakfast. I'll have someone show you the kitchens, and you can bring something for both of us." He pulled a rope that hung from the ceiling, and cast another glance at Sora's unkempt state. "And they can find you something else to wear. I can't have you following me around looking like that."
Sora frowned. "I thought you didn't consider me a servant, but now you're having me get you breakfast?"
Riku rolled his eyes. "I told you, if you don't want to get caught, you'll have to act the part."
Sora stood up and leveled a gaze at the prince. "You said outside of this room. I can just stay in here, can't I?"
Riku stepped closer and looked down at the brunette. "You'll have to leave the room to get fresh clothes."
Sora met his eyes, unintimidated. "You could just have them brought here."
The prince huffed an exasperated sigh. "No, Sora, I can't. Servants don't serve other servants. You're the one who—" he was cut off by a knock at the door. "Enter!" he called, brushing past Sora to enter the outer chamber. Sora followed close behind, a sour expression on his face.
The boy from the night before bowed from the doorway. "Your majesty?"
Riku propelled Sora forward with a light push. "Find him some suitable riding clothes, and show him to the kitchens for my breakfast."
Another bow. "Yes, Majesty." Without waiting for Sora's compliance, the boy turned and began walking down the hall. Sora turned and shot a wounded look at Riku.
The prince's face softened. "If you can get through this, I promise the ride will be worth it. Now go."
Sora's lip jutted in a pout, but he turned to catch up with the boy. Prince Riku wasn't the same as Ku had been, and that bothered him a little. This person spoke with authority and expectation, despite their past together, when they'd roamed the streets as equals. Even watching the entertainment the night before, Sora had felt a distance between them, because kneeling at Riku's feet was nothing like sitting at his side. He wondered if the prince had changed, or if he had always been like this, and Sora had never noticed. He hoped they could find a way to be friends like they used to be. He hoped Kairi knew what she was doing, putting him into this situation.
Riku, on the other hand, was caught in his own dilemma, unsure how to treat the person that had suddenly been thrust into his care. Sora obviously wasn't servant material, never had been, and never would be. But there were expectations that had to be met, especially if he intended to keep his friend near him. It wasn't a bad idea, after all, to have someone he could trust at his side, but given their different stations, it would be hard to elevate Sora to be his equal. At least the way things were now.
He hadn't been excited to order Sora around, but he was glad to have a moment to himself. He was used to solitude, and the sudden presence of another person in his space was jarring. Especially when that person raised unfamiliar feelings within him. To wake up with Sora in his bed…! Riku chewed his lip. No, that couldn't happen again.
Riku was only halfway dressed when Sora returned, not bothering to rap on the door to announce his presence. Riku sent him a glare, hastily pulling on his shirt. "In case you haven't noticed, you're supposed to knock when entering someone's room. Especially mine."
Sora returned the look with a dark one of his own, raising the tray he carried in both hands. "No free hands. You know, as a prince, you're very hard to please. I miss the old Ku."
"Well, so do I!" Riku snapped.
Blue eyes widened, then dropped to the floor. "Sorry," Sora mumbled. "I didn't really mean it."
"So am I," Riku sighed. "Let's just hurry up and eat so we can get out of the palace. I can't breathe in here." He glanced at the loose, undyed trousers and sleeveless teal shirt that Sora now wore. "That suits you."
Sora set the tray on a small table and plucked at the shirt. "I could eat for a week if I sold these."
"There's no need." Riku picked at his breakfast, gesturing for Sora to sit across from him. "This is for you, too."
"Yeah. It's a little strange, not having to work for it."
"We still have to work for it, Sora. Just not in a way you do, on the streets."
They ate quietly, until Riku poured himself a cup of dark liquid. "What is that?"
Riku quirked an eyebrow. "Coffee." He offered the cup to Sora, who sniffed it before taking a sip.
Sora sputtered, spitting the bitter liquid out. "You willingly drink that?"
Riku laughed. "Yes. I rather enjoy it, actually." Sora made a face. "Well good, that just means more for me."
"You can have it!" Sora stuck his tongue out, and Riku smiled into his cup.
Kairi was already waiting for them at the royal stables, smiling as Riku and Sora approached. "Prince Riku, thank you so much for the opportunity to ride! It's been so long since I've been able to!" She winked at Sora.
Riku nodded stiffly. "We have excellent horses. Father likes me to show them off for him." A stable hand brought out the first horse at a sign from Riku. "This is Destiny's Embrace," he announced, accepting the reins to the sleek chestnut mare. "She's gentle, but swift. Reliable. A perfect mount for a princess."
Kairi hummed, running her hands over a shiny flank and turning to stroke the horse's muzzle. "Nice to meet you, beautiful. I hope you don't mind bearing me, for a little while. I can tell you're secretly a free spirit." She turned to Riku. "I hope we can go somewhere to really run."
Riku raised his eyebrows, then glanced at Sora. "I had hoped to. If you are up to it."
She laughed, and swung up into the saddle in a practiced motion. "We'll see if the prince can keep up, won't we, girl?" The mare tossed her head with a whinny.
Riku accepted a dappled grey, sending Kairi a challenge. "Star Seeker is my mount. He flies, Princess." He turned his attention to Sora. "I had to choose horses that could keep up. You'll be riding Stormfall. He's my second favorite." Riku locked eyes with Sora, trying to convey the significance of such favor, as the stable boy led a steel grey horse to the brunette.
Sora's eyes were wide, as he mutely took in the large animal. He'd seen them on the streets, before, but never up close like this. He reached a tentative hand out to pat the dark hide, but flinched when the horse turned to snuffle at him.
Kairi giggled, but Riku stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Sora's back. "That just means he likes you. Look, just put your foot in the stirrup here, and vault up. I'm sure you can do that."
Sora shot him an annoyed look. "Of course I can do that."
Riku stepped back with a smirk. "Of course." He glanced over at Kairi. "Quite the cheeky servant you've given me, Princess."
Kairi met his eyes. "Only if you're ungrateful for the gift I've given you, my prince. But come, let's ride out. Away from listening ears." She looked pointedly to Sora, already astride Stormfall, looking confused by the reins.
Riku followed her gaze and nodded, swinging onto his mount. "Very well. Come on, Sora."
