A/N:Dedicated to our loyal readers who bothered to read Welcome to the Past! We hope you are enjoying this still, and please review. Anyone wanna guess who the last couple will be?
Mature Content kiddos.
Sora - a week or so later
Wikipedia was the best teacher in the world. Although keyboards were very strange... But! I'd learned that Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada, and Nevada is a state in the United States. The United States had a president, not a king, called Obama and... he is black...
Many things had changed over the years, and I believed for the better. Maybe one day there could be a gay president, but maybe a woman should go first. Maybe at the same time since there were so many countries where they had presidents. I'd also learned that in 1914 the first World War would begin. It scared me... that was only 4 years away for me. And then a second world war would follow 25 years later. To find that out had been more overwhelming than anything else. It had taken me a day to kick myself out of the frown I'd settled in. I hadn't talked to Riku about it, I'm not sure why. In any case, the happier things I'd found out about is... art. There was more of everything and the artists that had come to be in the years between 1910 and 2011 were mind blowing. Salvador Dali was a god. I did not understand his concepts whatsoever, but I suppose that was alright.
Then there was the 'media' called digital art. You could paint on a computer... And they had electronic brushes as well. You couldn't get dirty anymore! Which was both strange and nice at the same time.
There was manga and anime and pixel art and photography and photo manipulations and CG and vector and then... 3D. I'd gone through all the Disney movies made in 2D first. I knew all the Tarzan songs by heart now because they reminded me of my situation. Youtube had allowed me to do that, I liked Youtube a lot. Google was like god. And Shrek! That was the first 3D I saw. I don't think I've laughed that hard ever. Actors! There were so many actors! They all seemed to die of a drug overdose at some point though...
Then there was that apple inventor. He invented many things. Riku said he invented too many things, that he needed to slow down because people couldn't keep up anymore. There was the ipod, ipad, iphone, imac. He sure liked his i's. And it was with an 'i' not 'eye', Riku had been very specific about that. He'd also been very specific about the two main different computers. PC and Mac. I was not to confuse them or otherwise I'd start a war, so to speak. Both looked the same to me. Of course, when I'd told Riku that he'd gasped and I'd then quickly run and hide in the bathroom, taking advantage and using the shower.
Ah, the shower... It was the love of my life. I was trying to convince Riku to let me learn how to make them so I could build one back in 1910, but he said I wouldn't find the items necessary for it back in time. Then I'd suggested I just bring them along with me, and of course he'd then gone on about how I couldn't bring anything back because that might change the past, blah blah blah... He'd seen the movies 'Back to the Future' too many times, I was sure of it.
I'd been watching that series after Riku had suggested I should on the laptop he'd bought me with Reno's money. We were using Reno's money a lot. Then again, apparently he had a lot of it, so he probably wouldn't notice the difference much when he came back here. But yes, Marluxia had come by for their 'date night', which was one night a week were they went out together, just the two of them.
Riku was very nice, he'd asked me if I wanted to come, but of course I'd declined. I didn't want to disrupt their privacy and Marluxia had given me a rather pointed glare I hadn't been able to ignore. Riku had then told me that I could move the laptop wherever I wanted and so I had. I'd gone to lie on my very big comfortable bed, with chips... chips were amazing, so was coke. And then I'd watched the three movies all at once.
Except... I'd been interrupted throughout the second one near the end. Riku and Marluxia had come home and the door had slammed shut hard enough for me to be startled by it. Then there had been a whooooole lot of cursing and name calling. English had become very 'colorful' over the years. I felt quite bad, because Marluxia seemed to believe I was the cause of their problems. Riku didn't agree though. He'd disagreed quite vividly and that had angered Marluxia even more. The fight had gone on for about an hour and a half; it would have gone on longer hadn't I needed to pee, which I did because I'd drunk too much coke and coke makes one pee.
So after having tried to hold it in as long as possible, I'd gone out of my room and effectively reminded them of my presence. Riku had been very embarrassed and uncomfortable, while Marluxia hadn't seemed bothered much at all. By the time I got out of the bathroom, they were gone and Riku wasn't back for the night. I knew he was okay, so I hadn't been worried. He was a grown man of twenty-five and didn't need me to hold him back from doing whatever pleased him. But... the idea of him going to Marluxia's to continue the fight privately? I knew what couples did after fighting... they made up.
Not having liked that idea at all... feeling strangely territorial over Riku, I'd gone back to watching the end of the second back to the future and had even managed to sit still throughout the entire third one, but my mind had wandered, not able to stop the small ball of jealousy growing in the pit of my stomach.
So, I'd started browsing... and... through no fault of my own, and that is truth, I'd landed on 'pornography'. But it had been a man with a woman and that had hurt my eyes, so I'd shut the laptop and just gone to bed.. Still feeling quite upset about Riku having a boyfriend. With pink hair.
The Next day
Hearing the doorbell, I laughed giddily, jumping over the back of the couch and quickly making my way into the hallway, sliding over the slippery wooden floor all the way to the front door. Once there, I ripped it open and smiled brightly at the pizza delivery man.
"Hello!"
He blinked at my cheeriness and then smiled back. "One extra large cheese pizza." I nodded at him, grabbing the box and bouncing on my feet, my tummy grumbling as the smell filled my nostrils. "That'll be $12.50, Sir." I'd made sure to keep a hold on it, now placing it in his hands with a dollar tip. Because a tip was important.
A dollar seemed like an awful lot though. So was $12.50. It was hard getting used to the change of currency. The man frowned at the dollar, leading me to feel bad and add five more dollars. This time he gave me a curious smile, and I figured that was a good sign. The pizza delivery man wished me a good evening and turned to leave, also making space in my line of vision to see Riku walking towards the apartment entrance I was now standing in. He looked tired, his hair limp and his eyes had circles underneath them. I could tell that he hadn't slept much, but just looking at his rumpled state, I could tell that he wasn't happy about something.
Glancing up, he gave me a tired smile and nodded at me. "Oh, hey Sora."
Frowning in worry, I offered him the pizza box. "I ordered it all by myself. Would you like some?" I gave him a small smile, "Just cheese. No onions or mushrooms or anything." Because Riku didn't like that.
"I'm not hungry, thanks. I'm just," he sighed and stepped past me into his apartment. "gonna go take a shower, okay? I feel like shit..."
"Okay," I murmured, closing the door behind him. "Can I do anything to help not make you feel like shit?"
Despite his words about taking a shower, he dropped onto the sofa, his hand covering his eyes. "No, not really. This is basically just my fault and I just need to figure this out. I'm sorry about last night, Sora. Really. I can't tell you how embarrassed I am that you heard that." He didn't move his hand away from his face and his voice was on the scratchy side, probably from yelling.
"Don't worry, I'm not up to date with the curse word list of the modern day. I didn't understand half of what was said." That was true, actually. Passing by him on the couch, I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should help him feel better anyway, maybe take off his shoes, get him a blanket and a pillow, but... "You know where to find me if you need cheering up." I reminded softly before going back into my room with the pizza box, figuring I'd just give him the privacy he needed.
Riku
I glanced between my fingers and watched Sora carry the pizza box to his room. This was really a bad situation. Marluxia had been completely unreasonable last night, starting with the date. I'd told him that I wanted to go and maybe bowl or play miniature golf or something, anything but the same old movie and dinner routine. I just wanted to have some fun with him, remember why we were dating in the first place. I'd been feeling a little disconnected from him and I knew that was the reason that Sora was seeming so attractive to me. So, I figured that if we did something fun, something together, we could sort of, I don't know, rekindle the romance. Sighing as I undressed and started the shower, I grimaced as the cold water hit me.
That had been a complete and utter fail. He'd insisted that we go have dinner and then he'd dragged me to the worlds most annoying movie series. Saw. And even after I reminded him that I hate horror flicks, he'd basically thrown a fit until I agreed to go see it and of course, just like I predicted, I got grossed out halfway through. I spent the next hour in the lobby waiting for it to get over, only to have Marluxia give me the cold shoulder back to my apartment.
The was water heated up and I tried to let the stress drain away as I remember the fight that followed. Dear lord. Not one of my finer moments. It was really my fault, I suppose. Or at least according to Marluxia. All I'd mentioned was that I couldn't understand why he always insisted that we do things his way or no way at all and he'd jumped down my throat. And worse, he'd dragged Sora in on it, claiming that I was spending more time with some kid than him, and other things I didn't want to think about.
And then of course, Sora was actually in the apartment for that little episode. Finally, I'd just told Marluxia that I was taking him home and after the most uncomfortable car ride on the planet, one in which no words were exchanged, I dropped him off at his place. He didn't even glance backwards, only slammed my car door and stomped into his apartment.
Not wanting to return back home, I'd spent most of the evening playing blackjack at the Bellagio, grateful for the time to just be mindless. I'd come away with a few hundred dollars and a migraine but at least I'd successfully buried my guilt. Or at least I had until I saw Sora paying for a pizza at ten in the morning and all my feelings of guilt and shame came slamming back into me.
Washing the cigarette and stale cocktail smell out of my hair, I finally acknowledged that I had feelings for Sora and that I was a giant ass for betraying Marluxia. Or rather, I hadn't done anything except grow apart from him, nothing had happened with Sora. And nothing would. He would go back to the past and I'd be left single and miserable. But at least I wouldn't have to put up with anymore shouting matches.
Whatever. What the fuck ever to this entire mess. Scowling at the shower tiles, I finally threw my hands up in the air. Me and Marluxia; over. I wasn't going to be with a guy that called me a stuck up jack ass and many other things. I owed him nothing. People grow a part and that's just life. And Sora. Sweet innocent victim, Sora. Well, he can stay as long as he wants and then bam! He's out of my hair too. And that's exactly what I wanted. To be left alone. No more of this fucking drama, no more of these distractions. Shutting off the water, I wrapped a towel around my waist and went to get dressed.
As I walked out of my bathroom, I nearly bumped into the very person I'd been trying to ignore, Sora, who held my house phone against his ear. His eyes widened as they fixed onto my chest and he gulped, blushing before quickly turning around and nodding his head to whomever was on the phone.
"No, it is quite alright. You do not have to apologize. If those were your reasons, then I understand why you may have been upset with me." A pause. "Oh yes, of course," He chuckled, "Sorry. Here he is." Sora turned, his cheeks a furious red and eyes cast downwards while offering me the phone blindly. "It's Marluxia."
"Th-thanks." I knew I was blushing as well. I mean, how awkward could this day get? Wasn't last night torture enough? Putting the phone to my ear, I softly said, "Hello, Marluxia. What's up?"
"Hey..." He said softly. "First off, I apologized to the kid, so you can stop apologizing for me. Second. Well, I know it's cliché, but I think we need to talk, Riku."
I nodded, then realized that he couldn't see me. "Yeah, I think you're right. Hang on." I gave Sora a quick and apologetic smile and then went back into the bathroom so that I could hopefully make this conversation a little more private. "Okay. Why don't you go first?" Biting my lip, I prayed that he wouldn't start yelling again. That, I did not need.
"I'm sorry I yelled. I do that when I'm too chicken shit to come out with what I really want to say." He said carefully. "When you and I first met? We became friends and then shortly after wards found out we were both gay and single. Seemed like the perfect match, and to be honest, it almost was." He sounded nervous, but he was definitely not yelling. Just puffing a lot of air and clearly stressing out. "I can list all the major issues we have and that we constantly keep fighting about, no matter how determined we seem to be to not bring it up anymore at the end of an argument..."
He paused, sighing deeply. "The pink hair wasn't an accident, Riku. I did that on purpose. I wanted out on the family dinner. You know I love you, but I don't want to meet your family that way. When you invited me, I wasn't thrilled, I was scared." He murmured. "If I yelled yesterday it's because I was trying to break it off with you, our relationship, and well, fuck... I just didn't wanna hurt you and so I freaked and flipped out instead. Wrong of me, no shit, but there you have it."
"Wait. You're telling me that you want to break it off?" I asked softly. "Marluxia, I didn't mean to put pressure on you like that, and don't get me wrong, I can see that we are not really compatible now, but I hope that I wasn't a complete asshole, or whatever." This felt weird. Like the Twilight Zone. Was he just dumping me because he thought we weren't good together, or because of me having Sora basically living with me and that was causing friction?
"It's not the pressure, Riku. It's the fact that we can't have sex without cursing the hell out of each other since we can never agree. It depresses the fuck out of me. Having you invite me to meet your family was a wake up call." He groaned. "God, please don't take this the wrong way, but I love sex, and I'm not talking foreplay, I'm talking anal sex. Our decision on not having it? Bad, bad idea."
He grumbled. "Then when I realized how much it bothered me, I decided, well, maybe I can talk him into agreeing with me, but I can't and that's what makes me realize we aren't compatible at all. Two strict tops in a relationship?" He laughed weakly. I almost wanted to remind him I wasn't a strict top, but that he just made sure I didn't want to bottom. "I know relationships aren't solely about sex, but I'm more frustrated than I am having a good time."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." I was sighing in relief. It wasn't about Sora. I could see that. If we'd had a good relationship from the get go, having Sora here would have been barely a blip on the radar. "Well, I am sorry that you felt the need to dye your hair that color...Although, I think that it looks fine on you." I chuckled, because for some odd reason, it did suit him. "Is it too much to ask that we can stay friends? Or would that just be weird?" I hope it wouldn't seem weird...he was supposed to cut my hair next week and I didn't want mine dyed pink or something in some sort of weird retaliation
"I'm enjoying the pink myself, it's quite the magnet in club-" He cut himself off, falling silent. "Okay, before you freak out, I'm gonna to explain. Yes, I went out clubbing without you. Yeah, it was a gay club. No, I didn't cheat. I just couldn't seem to figure out how I felt about you, and Paulette invited me to the club, saying that if I could feel attracted to someone other than you and actually want more? That would be a clear sign..." He cleared his throat. "Now you tell me if you still wanna be friends."
I scowled, but really, it didn't matter. Letting the feelings of annoyance and anger roll off of me for a second, I realized that I didn't care that much. But still, come on. "Nah, that's fine. I mean, kinda not, but we can both see that we aren't into each other. So, yeah. Friends." A huge weight seemed to lift off my shoulders at my words and I smiled for real, the first time since yesterday.
"Good. Now I'm gonna celebrate my single status by going out and not feeling guilty about it. Just so you know that I'm not expecting either of us to wait any amount of time before dating again..." He trailed off, and since I knew him, it sounded meaningful. "See you, Riku."
"Um, yeah." Click. Sitting on the side of my bathtub, I glanced down at the phone and bit my lip. That was a very loaded sentence and I wasn't sure I could admit to myself what he was really saying. Although, I think I knew.
I checked to make sure that Sora wasn't in my room anymore before going out and getting dressed in some basketball shorts and my favorite t-shirt. I was feeling hungry now and that cheese pizza he'd ordered was starting to sound really good.
"Sora?" Looking around the living room really quick, I noticed that he wasn't in there, so I figured he was in his room watching movies or something. Knocking on the door really quick, I waited to see if he would answer. He didn't answer so I decided that he was probably listening to music with the headphones that I bought him. Giving one last knock, I turned the knob and opened the door. "Sora? Everything okay?"
Well, I certainly hadn't expected the following. That being that Sora was standing on his bed, headphones covering his ears, his eyes closed, hands in the air and he was snapping his fingers to a rhythm I couldn't hear, but more importantly, he was shaking his booty left and right, back and forward, round and well, round again. My dick twitched. Not a good thing when you're wearing thin and spacious shorts. Really. Deciding that I should stop him before I embarrassed my self, I moved around the bed so that he could hopefully notice me. Anything to stop the dancing.
It took him another shake of the hip and jump on the bed before he realized someone was close, leading him to freeze and pop his eyes open. I'd expected him to be embarrassed about walking in on him like this, but he smiled at me instead. "Hi. The pizza is in the oven at a low temperature so it wouldn't go cold." He said. "This Lady Gaga person has a very strange computer sounding voice..." He then informed. "But it makes me want to dance. Which is okay, because this article on the internet said that it was healthy to dance whatever way you wished."
"Oh, sorry. I thought the pizza was in here." Blushing and rubbing the back of my head, I just avoided looking at him and went back towards the door. I didn't want to leave, but I didn't know what to say. 'Oh hey, I just broke up with my boyfriend and as you were privy to a fight we had, I just wanted to let you know'. Yeah, not really something I felt I could talk about. It was so fucking embarrassing.
"Wait for me!" He said quickly, bouncing off the bed and following me out of his room. "I didn't eat from it yet either." He'd waited for me? "How was it with Marluxia? Everything better?"
"Oh, well. We've decided that we aren't really compatible." I chuckled weakly. "It was a long time coming apparently and so we decided that we are better apart." Walking into the kitchen, I got two plates out and grabbed a few beers from the fridge. I figured that since he was from the past, and they really didn't have drinking laws back then, he could drink if he wanted to.
"Oh!" He said, surprisingly cheerful. "I mean, oh." That 'oh' sounded curious. He cleared his throat, trying again. "Oh..." Lowering his voice, he managed to make it sound somewhat sad slash apologetic.
Arching an eyebrow at him, I pulled the pizza out of the oven and set two slices on my plate. "You don't really seem that surprised. Of course, with the way we were fighting last night, I'm sure you figured we were over right after that." Sitting at the bar, I took a bite and enjoyed the melting cheese that landed on my tongue.
"I'm very surprised." He said truthfully before taking a bite out of his slice. "Are you sad about it?" He asked then. "Lady Kairi says that chocolate can help when you feel upset. I can get you some chocolate."
Chewing, I shook my head. "Not really. Like I said, we'd been on the outs for a few months, but with work and being so busy, we honestly didn't really notice anything unusual." Shrugging and taking another bite, I glanced at Sora. "How have you been doing? Sorry I didn't call or anything last night. I just ended up going to play at the casinos, you know, to distract myself. I felt bad that I left you alone here." I needed to get him a cell phone. That way, he could always get ahold of me. I had a sneaking suspicion that he'd gone out shopping by himself a few times, and I didn't want anything to happen to him.
"You didn't stay at Marluxia's...?" He edged. Frowning, I shook my head since I hadn't. He sighed in what sounded relief. "Oh thank god..."
I choked on my pizza and coughing, I turned to Sora with my eyebrows raised. "What? You mean...wait, a second." Shaking my head, I grabbed my beer and took a swallow, trying to catch my breath. There was only one reason that I could think of that he wouldn't want me to spend the night with Marluxia. And I hadn't been expecting it. "Sora? What do you mean?" I reached out and put my hand on his arm.
He looked like a deer stuck on the middle of the road spotlighted by car lights. "I... I-" He stuttered out, his eyes widening considerably while he gulped. "Sorry!" He squeaked out, jumping out of his chair and rushing out of the kitchen. A few seconds later I heard his bedroom door close.
Not good. I dropped my slice of pizza on my plate and jumped out of my chair and walked quickly to Sora's door. Raising my hand, I quickly knocked. This, I was not expecting at all, and I wasn't going to just let this hang over my head. My day had been shitty enough as it was, and I didn't want to be awkward in my own house.
"Sora? You okay?"
"Fine. Please don't come in."
"Sora, I won't come in if you don't want me to. But, can you tell me what's wrong? I'm a little in the dark here." By a little in the dark, I meant that I was pretty sure that I was attracted to him, and his outburst was giving me the impression that he liked me, but I didn't want to assume anything. I mean, the guy was fucking hot, brilliant and from the past. It would be a little arrogant to think that he had feelings for me, just because he said something like that.
I heard a thud, making me realize he'd let himself drop against the door when his voice was much closer, "I know this only complicates things and I certainly didn't intend to bother you with this as I'm already taking up so much of your time." He murmured, sounding strained. "But I was very jealous of Marluxia."
My mouth dropped open, and my face flushed. "Oh." I said quietly. Putting my palm up against the door, I rested my forehead against it. "Sora. I...I don't know what to say. Except, that I'm actually happy that you felt jealous. And stop thinking that you're bothering me or taking up my time. If I were truly annoyed, I would have left you in London."
He let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, I couldn't know that, could I? In 1910, we take people in whether it bothers us or not and put up a polite act." He fell silent then, or paused really as he continued softly. "Are you really happy?"
"Yeah." I thought back to how many times I'd laughed with him, my favorite being when we watched my entire Disney collection together. Licking my lips, I asked, "Are you?"
"With what I feel for you? I didn't at first, it was very bothersome while you were with Marluxia." He admitted. "I felt bad for feeling so happy when you told me you weren't with him anymore."
"I don't really know what to say." I chuckled weakly, not quite believing what was going on. Sora had feelings for me. Sora. Boy wonder from the past. And yet, it wasn't quite a good thing. The past..."The curse..." I said softly against the door.
"I don't want to go back."
My heart jumped at his words and it took everything I had not to rip open the door and an pull him into my arms. He wanted to stay. I wanted him to stay. It was too perfect, and then I remembered a certain problem. Reno.
Pushing him to the back of my mind, I focused on Sora. "Why?"
I heard him take in a shaky breath. "I like it here, Riku... I feel at home in this time period while in 1910, I just sort of float along with what is pushed my way. And it's not so much about the technology and all that..." He sighed. "I never minded being the 'poor painter', because I didn't know any better. Going back to that now? I don't know if I could do it. I'm allowed to be more than that, and 1910 isn't going to let me."
I opened my mouth to agree, but there was more. "And Ri-" I blinked at the fear in his voice. "The first world war starts in 1914... That is barely 4 years away. And then 25 years later the second world war... I know it's cowardly, but I don't want to be part of that history." He sighed heavily enough for me to hear through the door. "And you... I just can't picture myself going back and not seeing you every day. All those things combined? Yes, I don't want to go back. The only way I will is if Larxene doesn't give me a choice, and even then? I will demand she find a way to erase my time here in 2011 out of my memory... Not because I want to forget, but because if I have to go back and keep the memory of you and this world? I will never be happy again. And of course, having future knowledge on disasters that are going to take place? Surely not good for the soul..."
"Sora..." My voice trailed off, I wasn't sure what to say. My hopes were high and I was really not sure they should be. "I don't want you to go back, either." It was the truth.
"That's nice to hear." He murmured. "Is it just me, or was this a lot to take in?" He asked nervously. "Part of me wants to come out and see you, but you only separated from Marluxia today and then of course there's that little past thing to worry about."
I nodded. "Yeah, I...should just let you rest." Not really what I wanted, but he was right. We needed to have some space between us. Taking a step back, I exhaled shakily. "I'm just gonna...step out for a bit."
"No," He said quickly, "You didn't sleep." He then reminded. "I can step out."
"Sora." I rolled my eyes. "It's fine. Really. I'm not going to kick you out."
"Alright. But promise me you'll sleep."
Uhh..."Yup. Promise. Cross my heart." Walking over to the door, I grabbed my keys and wallet. Hmm, where to now? Locking the door behind me, I headed to my car. Maybe the casino? I'd done pretty good the night before. Not the Bellagio, though. Maybe the Mandalay Bay? They had a pool...
Settling in the driver seat, I buckled my belt and then reached up to make sure the rear view mirror was in order, but just as soon as I looked into it, I yelped and jumped back into my chair.
"Hi sweetcheeks!" Larxene's... projection? I looked behind me, but she wasn't sitting in the backseat. "I'm in your mirror. How's it going?"
"Umm, fine?" Gulping in fear, her powers were freaking me out, I nodded. "Yeah, everything is fine. What can I help you with?"
"So your cuz, Reno?" As if I'd forget. "He nearly broke the curse today. But then that tailor, Saix, had to go and ask him out on a date and Reno of course accepted. It's not a bad thing, but since he knows he has to leave at some point, it's selfish of him to let himself and Saix feel things for one another." She rolled her eyes, but then smiled. "Good thing though, Saix is aware of the situation, so at least he's not lying."
"Oh. Yeah, that's great." Reno. The curse. If he broke it Sora would have to go home. "Um, so. Here's the thing. Sora's doing really good here. Can you just bring Reno back? Do you have to send Sora home?"
Her eye twitched. "Err, yeah, see, the reason Sora got pulled into the future in the first place is because to do a spell where you send someone back or forward in time? Yeah, there needs to be a switch to keep the balance afloat. So, when Reno has learned his lesson? The portal will re-open and if Reno passes through, then Sora will be forced to go back." She shrugged. "So I guess you gotta cross your fingers and hope Reno remains a selfish bastard and doesn't break the curse, or that he doesn't want to go back to 2011 when he does break it."
I chuckled without humor. Reno? Not wanna come back? Yeah, and Bill Gates used an iphone. "So, I take it you're here to warn me then. Don't worry. I know better than to get attached." Waving my hand at my car, I grimaced, "See? I'm avoiding making things more complicated."
She raised an eyebrow. "Don't be so sure, Riku. He actually asked me how I was doing last time I spoke to him..."
"Yeah. But he'll wanna come home. No question there." Let's just hope he wouldn't flip out when he saw the charges I was running up on his card...
She pursed her lips. "Hmm'kay, well you know him better then I do. He's your family after all." She said pointedly, sarcastically, which made sense since although Reno had cut himself off from family, it's not exactly like we'd tried on our side. "Look, Riku, ask yourself this. Whether you know for sure Sora goes back or not, do you really want to miss out on what you could share with him?" She grinned. "Yes, I know everything. He's very much on your mind right now. Anyways, if you'd rather not get involved with him because you're afraid of getting hurt? I can completely understand, but then I'd rather move Sora to another location until he has to return."
"No! Don't move him!" I yelled, then blushed and hoped she wouldn't fry me for yelling at her. "I honestly feel something for Sora, but isn't he going to get hurt in the end if I start something with him? That isn't fair at all!" Licking my lips, I frantically tried to think of a way to reason with her. "I don't want to hurt him, but I don't want you to move him. Can't we just...forget about what we feel? Don't you have like, a potion or something that could protect him? Make him forget any feelings he has for me?"
She smiled softly, something rare I could tell. "You are nothing like your cousin..." She murmured. "I don't have a potion of the sort," I nearly sighed in frustration, "But... I can make him forget his time spent in 2011 if he returns to 1910..." She suggested carefully. "Only him though. Memories are fragile... One must remain aware while the other continues clueless."
I quickly nodded. "That's fine. I'm okay with that. Just, I know this is a big thing to ask, could you, I don't know, make it so he is safe from the war? You know, the World Wars? He's an artist, for god's sake. He has no place there."
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I aided a certain Cloud Strife from 1910 once. Very unfortunate family history... He was to die on the boat trip to America. I didn't let it happen, disguised myself as an old lady and fed him potions every day to make sure he'd stay stable until he got off." She smiled. "He met someone in the west... Squall Leonhart. They live on a ranch now. I could send Sora there."
Sighing in relief, I nodded. "Okay. I'm pretty sure that he'll be okay then. Thanks." That was good. He'd get out of England, a place that had been hit pretty hard during the wars, and I figured that he would be safe in America. And living with two other gay men, he'd be taken care of. Smiling at Larxene in the mirror, I figured that I owed her one. "Just let me know if you need anymore help. I don't mind."
"I need you to show that boy how you feel for him, is what I need." She clipped out. "And you need it too, he'll touch you like no other has." She frowned. "As in, touch your soul, not sexually. Although..." She snorted. "Anyways! I gotta go, so I'll talk to you some other time."
"Wait! What?" I forgot she was in the mirror and my fingers stung from where I'd tried to reach out and stop her before she disappeared. "Shit." Sticking them in my mouth, I glanced at my apartment. Thinking about her words, I threw my car into reverse and headed downtown. What had she meant, touch my soul?
Sora - a couple of days later
It was very hard to concentrate on the right emotion in this instance. I was scared for what the future I'd have were I to go back to 1910, I was afraid of the kind of future I'd have if I happened to remain in 2011, I mean... I wanted to stay, definitely, but it was a very big step to take. But the emotion that stuck out the most was that warmth in my chest that had settled there when Riku had made clear that he liked me in the sense that I liked him. I could barely believe it. I was nearly six years younger than him, I'd thought the age difference would bother him very much. Not that it bothered me, but Marluxia calling me a 'kid'? I'd instantly thought Riku thought of me like this as well.
The fact that I was clueless about 2011 wasn't something I'd believed attractive. I was constantly asking him questions when we went outside and I saw something I hadn't seen before. And... he was so beautiful. I'd sketched him a couple of times when we'd both been sitting in his office. He didn't mind if I sat on the couch while he worked, and since he was so concentrated, he didn't really notice how much I stared. It was so very hard to get him right on paper... His charm and gaze were things I could never get right, and those two things were so important in the way he looked.
Riku had come back the day after we'd had our conversation through the door. He swore he'd had his fingers crossed when he'd made me the promise he'd go sleep, that he hadn't actually broken a true promise. I suppose it was alright then. Seeing him that next day? It was awkward and I knew he didn't like awkward so I'd tried very hard to seem like it didn't affect me as much as it did, try and make things more comfortable. He'd tried as well and I suppose it had paid off. Of course when I went to bed later those nights I'd fall asleep with a frown. This situation was strange, knowing but not being able to do anything about it as we wanted to avoid getting hurt when I had to leave.
We didn't avoid each other physically. I mean, we were present in the same rooms and didn't leave it when the other entered. We still ate dinner together and I still came to sit on his couch in his office while he worked. But we didn't talk much anymore... Whenever a day had gone by I wondered if the next I'd be going back to 1910. Did I have the choice to stay? I'd called for Larxene, but she hadn't answered as of yet.
Until now.
Hitching up the towel around my hips, I peeked my head out of the bathroom, making sure Riku wasn't there before making my way back to my bedroom. Once inside, I walked over to the dresser, frowning as...
"You looking for this?" Whirling around at the sound of Larxene's voice, I raised an eyebrow at her as she dangled my boxers from her index finger.
"You have no sense of privacy, do you?" I asked, snatching the piece of clothing from her and then gesturing for her to turn around so I could get dressed. Smirking, she turned her back to me and let me do my thing.
"Not really, no." She agreed easily. "You've been calling for me?"
Pulling up the boxers, I quickly pulled a clean shirt over my head before answering. "Yes. For days now. A tad late, hmmm?"
She snickered. "Testy. Alright, well I'm here now. Tell me everything that is on your mind, my sweet." She moved to sit at the edge of the bed and patted the spot beside her.
Biting onto my bottom lip, I suddenly felt nervous, not sure if I was allowed to ask her such a thing... Sitting down, she took my hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Giving her a quick smile, I breathed out and nodded. "I don't want to return to 1910, Larxene."
She smiled, "Is that so?" I nodded my head determinedly. "Well, I suppose I can't force you."
I blinked. "I... What? Are you saying...?"
"Yes, you heard me right. I can't force you to go back." She chuckled softly. "From the looks of things, Reno won't be forcing you either, he seems relatively content in 1910 and I don't think he'll want to come back."
I jumped up. "I have to tell Riku!"
She grabbed my wrist, tugging me down. "No, no, no. This is going to be our secret."
My eye twitched, "Why?" I shrieked.
"Because Riku needs to believe in his cousin by himself."
"Why?" I repeated.
"Because..." She cringed. "Well, there's this tiny rule that I-"
I smacked her over the head, "God damn you, Larxene the friendly neighborhood witch!"
Grabbing onto her head, she looked at me as if I'd grown a second head. "Mean..." She mumbled. "Okay, well, ease down. It's nothing major. It's just that for the curse to be broken, not only does Reno need to learn his lesson, but someone from his past, or a person he's hurt, must believe in him in order for it to... work."
I puffed out some air, hanging my head. "You really suck."
"Easy, sweetcheeks, or I'll curse you too."
I narrowed my eyes at her, "Hello?" I waved at my bodily self.
She ducked her head, "Right. Sorry. The side effect sort of is a curse. Anyway. Riku is Reno's best bet. For the curse to be broken, Reno must learn his lesson, and Riku must learn to believe that Reno can do it without getting updates from me or you."
"But if he doesn't want to come back, why would he need to break the curse in the first place?" I asked curiously.
Larxene smiled softly now. "Cause it matters to him now. He wants to be good. He wants to prove to the one he loves that he's worthy."
"I hate you."
"Yes, I make very good points. Was that all though? Cause I'm on a tight schedule. I have a love potion to deliver in Argentina and a marriage between two witches to perform somewhere in Poland."
I waved my hand flippantly her way. "Yes. Go." Poof. Coughing as she left a cloud of lavender smelling smoke, I stood and then continued to dress myself, pulling on a pair of pants before making my way out of the room...
I wasn't allowed to tell Riku about being able to remain in 2011... Even though I was going to have to lie until Reno broke the curse, I felt giddy. Riku was smart and he'd understand why I'd had to lie. Also, it's not like Larxene was giving me much of a choice to begin with. Not if I wanted to stay here. Which I did... And now when I would looked at Riku... I didn't know, but I did feel the need to see him very much right now.
"Riku?" I asked. I don't think we'd even spoken each others names in the last couple of days. Stepping into his office somewhat shyly, I stared at his back as he sat behind his working space. His silver like hair was flowing over his shoulders and even though that is all I could see of him, I felt so ridiculously much for him, just that glimpse had my heart racing. Which made me feel like an idiot, but I don't think that bothered me all that much.
Spinning around in his chair, he gave me a soft smile, then his eyebrows furrowed. "Sora? Was Larxene here? I smell lavender..." He tilted his head to the side and gave me a once over. Uh oh... I actually felt really bad for having to lie. I didn't want to lie to Riku. Maybe I could just avoid the subject entirely.
"No..." I said carefully.
"Oh, um, must be something else." Shrugging his shoulders, he asked, "What's up? Did you need something?"
What did I want? "Nothing, I suppose. I just wondered where you were." Well, that was lame. Lame was a new modern day term I'd learned and I liked it. Lame. This was lame because he knew that I knew where he was.
Raising an eyebrow, he stood up and crossed his arms. "Oh really? Where I was, huh? What's up, Sora? Are you sure Larxene didn't pop in to see you?" He stepped towards me. I pressed my lips tightly together, knowing for sure I was better off not speaking at all. So, I smiled at him, nodding my head. He took another few steps forward, totally invading my space, and quirked his eyebrow at me while tilting his head and smirking. "Sora, if you've got something you need to say, spit it out already."
I breathed in shakily, not quite sure he'd ever been this close before. Swallowing nervously, my eyes fixed on his face, absorbing every little detail of his features, realizing that if I got to stare at him from this up close? Maybe I could get that sketch right.
"You're so beautiful..." I breathed out, it taking me five seconds of silence after wards to realize I'd said it out loud.
Biting his lips, he eyes were weary and he took a deep breath, reaching out to gently cup my cheek. Stroking his thumb across my cheekbone, he smiled softly at me. "Sora, you are too adorable for words. I sound like a complete sap, but it's the truth." He stepped even closer and his bright green eyes seemed to be staring right through me. "Has there ever been a clearer blue than your eyes?" He whispered out.
My heart skipped a beat and when it picked back up after the skip, I knew it had never raced this fast. My cheeks warmed instantly and as his fingertips traced my skin so softly, goosebumps broke out over my skin, his words sending a delightful shiver down my spine. My eyes fluttered halfway closed as I reached up with my hand, taking a lock of his hair between my fingers while I licked my lips and tried to figure out how to respond...
"I-" I interrupted myself by pushing up onto the tips of my toes, eyes now wide as I gently touched my lips to his. His arms were immediately wrapped around me, gently holding me close, but not forcing me. Eyes sliding closed, he moaned quietly and I felt his tongue prodding my mouth, trying to gain entrance.
My body trembled for a split second and I think it's because I realized now just how much I wanted this... Sliding my fingers into his hair, I parted my mouth, moaning shakily as his tongue pressed against my own. His lips were so very soft and they tasted like those mints he was constantly sucking on while working behind his computer. It was a very nice taste, it suited him. His hair was silky between my fingers and his body pressed to mine had my blood rushing.
One of his hands found it's way to the back of my head, guiding me as he deepened the kiss, tilting our heads to the side. The other dropped to the small of my back, hesitating before gently resting on the very top of my ass. Between his hands and his mouth, he was touching my entire body from my head to my knees, and I felt his hips push against mine.
My eyes popped open as our groins connected, but just as soon slid closed again as I let out a low moan, my body melting against his. This loud voice in my head was screaming for me to push for more, that I needed more and the way his palm pressed down on my ass while his hips slowly rocked in a circular motion into me, I had the idea that he had that same voice in his head. My dick had become painfully hard in a matter of seconds and his own arousal pressing into me didn't exactly urge me to shut the voice up.
Pulling back and panting against my mouth for a moment, Riku stroked the hair at the base of my neck. "Sora." He swallowed and his eyes opened partway. "You okay?" His words were punctuated by his hips still pushing against me and his hand still squeezing me. Before letting me answer, he pecked my lips a few more times, running his tongue gently across my bottom lip.
Staring at him, I nodded my head through the daze I felt myself stuck in. "Very-" My head fell back onto my shoulders as if the bone in my neck had vanished when he pressed himself roughly into me, leading me to moan out in pleasure. "Okay..." I finished. His lips touched my throat, my eyes closing as he paid soft attention to the skin there, his wet mouth so sweet there too. "Are you?" I murmured, licking my lips, my fingertips scratching his scalp gently and I moved my hips along with his tentatively.
"More than okay...I've wanted you like this since I first saw you." He murmured against my throat, dropping the hand that had been in my hair down to my hip to grip it. Pulling me against him harder now as his lips ran along my jawline and back up against my lips, he moaned again and started moving faster.
Butterflies stormed through my stomach at his words and while I was already heavily aroused, a tad more was added to it and I quickly gripped his shoulders, walking backwards and pulling him along with me until my back connected against the wall. Once there, I quickly wrapped my arms back around his neck, trailing kisses across his neck, jaw, cheek and then pecking his lips while I made a slightly impatient and whiny noise, trying to push myself up. He was much taller than me, stronger I'm sure too. Hitching my leg over his hip, I hoped he'd get the hint as I continued to press my groin firmly into his.
Before I got too far, he reached down and grabbed my other leg, wrapping both around his waist and holding his hand on my ass as he pushed against my dick with his hips, creating awesome friction. Using the wall and pressing me against it, his other hand was holding my cheek and his mouth was attached to mine, tongue probing even deeper now as he increased the pace he was setting. The kisses became sloppy at some point, the pace with our hips going faster and faster, moans were continuous and gasps for air were regular as it was hard to breathe... but in a good way. It all felt so good, so amazing. It's when I was starting to reach that peak, I had a moment where I wanted to slow myself down, make this last as long as we possible could.
But I'd opened my eyes and his hadn't been completely closed, giving me view on his beautiful sea green eyes... and although I was very aware, the whole fact of being with Riku like this? I moaned out his name, pulling him close as my teeth latched onto his shoulder, my hips still moving occasionally in aftershock type motions while I remained stuck in the high for a couple of seconds before slowly coming down from it.
A few hip thrusts later and it was Riku who was moaning out my name and his mouth covered mine as his hips suddenly stilled and I felt his entire body shudder. Panting against my lips now, he slowly pulled away, but didn't let my legs fall away, instead he took a few strategic steps backwards and fell onto the couch with me settled in his lap as he caught his breath.
Letting my body do what it wanted, I turned boneless, collapsing forward, my cheek pressed against his chest, body slumped on top of him. I was breathing very heavily, as was he, one of his hands slowly settling on my back, rubbing up and down, leading me to lazily tilt my head up so I could press my lips underneath his chin.
"I like walls..." I murmured.
"I like you with your legs wrapped around me." Placing a soft kiss against the side of my head, his hand moved up and stroked my hair.
"Hmmm, noted." I smiled but then looked up in worry. "I can note that right? This wasn't a one time thing, was it?"
Humming, he smiled and pecked my lips. "No, that was more of a, 'let's test our chemistry really quick so I can convince you to sleep in my bed tonight'." Squeezing my ass with his hand, he adjusted me so that I was a little more on his waist. "Is that okay?"
I felt silly for blushing, but it couldn't always be helped. "I'd like that."