For updates ... i'll make sure to do it once every week. Sometimes twice a week, depending on how fast I can write. It's not school, but my actual thought process that's lagging. But do not fear! There will be an update every week! I couldn't go any longer without writing something for you guys. Anywho next top.
Secondly, here's a bit about life. Lively Writing is amazing. I'm learning a lot, so expect many improvements over this year. I mean, I'm only a sophomore... so I have lots of time to improve over my highschool years. It's exciting. My other classes are okay... except Bio. My teacher believes that she's an alien... Right. And I'm borrowing my friend's Final Form Sora action figure. He went to Otakon without me.. But i may be going to Anime Boston this year. Depends... No idea. I'd be going as either Riku or Sora. SURPRISE. haha... (or I can go as Yuki and freak my friend out ;D ... )
Now... for the challenge. Yes, a challenge! Either write a oneshot thing or draw a picture. They're equal in my eyes. The theme is ... broken picture frames. Yes, I'm weird. I wanted to give an abstract theme. It can be angst if you desire. Do what ever you want with it. Be creative The pairing can be either RikuSora or Akuroku... though I'd prefer RikuSora The prize. The prize is ... well, I'll write whatever you want. As long as it's RikuSora... i'm only good at that. So yeah. The deadline is October 1st (because it's my birthday and I'll be able to remember haha) So Yeah. Go to my profile for my email.
I think that's all ... All right, here's the chapter!
By Chance
The closing of the apartment door sent a wave of shock and realization into the brunet. Sapphire hues widened and peered around timorously. The teen did not dare meet the other's sea-green gaze. Instead, the boy remained silent. He stood by the hallway (the one that led to the bedrooms) wordlessly, fumbling with his jacket zipper in the meantime. What was there to say?
Hands reached out and latched onto stiff shoulders, jerking Sora's gaze upwards. Two sets of eyes met, one being considerably angrier. It went without saying what eyes held the obvious rage.
"You could have died," Riku divulged with no trace of pity in his voice.
Sora shifted uncomfortably. For some reason, the brunet suddenly felt quite desolate. It was as if Riku was no longer his friend; it was almost as if Riku hated him now. "I was doing fine," Sora said in a barely audible whisper. The boy's eyes shifted away from Riku's seconds after.
"You would be dead if I hadn't-" Riku began dogmatically but Sora cut him off.
"I didn't ask you to save me!" Sora retorted brusquely as he eyed a random object with anger.
"I would have thought you'd be more thankful," Riku muttered under his breath.
"Just leave me alone," Sora demanded in a strained voice. The teenager attempted to pull out of his 'ex friend's' grasp but his plan was thwarted. Riku's grip on his shoulders increased ten-fold, making it impossible to move.
"Why did you do that? Why did you trust a complete stranger?" Riku questioned. What he wanted to say was ineffable. If only Sora could read minds.
"I'm stupid, okay? I'm just a stupid boy who risked his whole life to find out about his parents. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Sora seethed as his eyes snapped shut. The brunet was unable to look at the fury on Riku's face, knowing he had caused it.
"Sora…" Riku breathed, the other's name sounding so sinfully right on his lips.
Sora took note of the rapid change of Riku's mood. "Are you…" Sora proceeded to correct himself with, " Do you hate me?"
"No," Riku answered simply.
The words and shake of his head were not enough, but the glimmer of honesty and enamor in his eyes was.
"I just wanted to know," Sora whispered as his vision clouded. It was so painful.
"I understand that," Riku replied. The silver-haired male allowed his grip on Sora's shoulders to slip down to his short friend's waist.
"I'm sorry," Sora mumbled as he leaned into Riku's warm embrace. "So sorry…"
"You need to trust me," Riku informed the brunet. Careful hands, meanwhile, began to rake through brown locks of hair in a rhythm.
"We barely know each other," Sora said with a trace of depression in his voice.
"We've known each other for six days, it's good enough," Riku retorted quite stubbornly.
"Mhm," Sora agreed after a moment of thought. The brunet rested his head against the taller's chest. "How did you know I was there?"
A feeling akin to ice appeared in Riku's heart. There was no way he could tell Sora he had his diary. Not now. He was too far in. A shiver trekked along Riku's spine moments later before he dared to answer. "I followed you."
"Oh," Sora said simply, accepting the answer without hesitation.
"Yeah," Riku murmured as his lithe fingers brushed through Sora's hair, acting as miniature combs. It feels nice to have him in my arms. Too nice.
"Do you have to go to work?" asked Sora as he nuzzled his face against Riku's chest. It was obvious that the brunet welcomed the other's touch.
"I'd have to call Roxas and ask. Though he's not too fond of me skipping out on my duties," Riku reasoned with himself.
"Just… say… you're sick. Please, Riku?" And it took all of Riku's will power to deny the bright, blue eyes.
"Sora?" Riku asked after a long moment of silence had fallen upon the pair of teenagers. All that could be heard was the equal beating of their hearts, sounding, if just for this moment, as one.
"Yeah…?"
"Don't cry," Riku said gently as his grip around he brunet tightened.
Sora blinked. He wasn't aware until this moment that he had been crying. "Sorry," the brunet muttered.
"It's fine," Riku answered as he pulled their bodies apart, disdainfully. "Let's go out for dinner and see if I can squeeze in a few hours of work," Riku suggested casually and then whispered directly into Sora's ear. "We'll talk later."
The very idea sent shivers down Sora's spine.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Riku, you look troubled," Naminé commented as she took a seat at the counter alongside her friend. Sora was on Riku's other side, engulfed entirely by the current performer on the small jazz stage.
"It's nothing big," Riku answered placidly. Sora's business was something he would keep to himself.
"Are you and Sora doing any better?" she kindly asked.
Riku turned to look at the blonde female. Her blue eyes met his and he knew keeping things, regarding himself, was out of the questions. Naminé could just tell when people were lying. It was her gift, in a way.
"There's…" Riku struggled to think of the right words. How could he express the odd attraction he felt? At first it seemed purely physical, but the diary and everything else just added to the peculiar feeling. Just what did all of this mean?
"Hm…." Naminé took a moment to inspect the contemplative look on Riku's face. "usually you have such a way with words. So, what could possibly render you speechless?"
"Naminé, listen," Riku began steadfastly when he noticed Sora's eyes glued to him. Riku stared back for a moment before looking away quickly. "I'll be behind the counter," Riku informed Naminé in a grumble as he made his way towards his destination.
Sora frowned and looked to his feet. "He said he wasn't mad, but I honestly think he is…"
"What happened?" Naminé questioned as she looked to her new friend with worry. He looked awfully tired.
"Noting," Sora replied with a dishearten sigh. That, for sure, sent off red flags in the blonde's head.
"You're no better at lying than Riku. You both are acting peculiar. It's obvious something happened," Naminé said quite stubbornly.
"I'm just confused," Sora confessed as his gaze wandered behind the counter to where Riku was serving a random customer.
"Confused about what?" Naminé pried as she tilted her head curiously.
"Well, you are a therapist," Sora said, reasoning with his restless mind aloud. "It's just…" Sora dropped his voice to a whisper. "Ever since Riku started being nice to me…"
"Go on," Naminé urged when Sora had abruptly stopped.
"It's like he's a completely different person. He cares about what I think and how I feel. And instead of feeling angry at him… it's just…an odd feeling, I guess."
"Describe it?" Naminé requested hopefully.
"When he's close I can't breathe and my stomach feels weird. My throat gets tight and I'm at a loss for the right words. When he talks his voice soothes me.. And when he looks at me I can't look back because I shiver if our eyes meet. I don't know, I just feel weird around him!" Sora finished in a flustered ramble, an image of the silver haired male floating into his head.
Naminé knew what that feeling was. Though, she chose not to say. "I don't know, Sora. Try to figure it out?"
"I've been trying! But- It just keeps getting worse!" Sora stuttered. Crushes usually didn't make him feel this jumbled up. Was this something else? Or… was this just a really strong crush?
"Sometimes I feel that way about Roxas," she admitted as her tranquil eyes wandered to the owner who was taking an order.
"So it's… natural?" Sora asked optimistically.
"As normal as normal can be," she said with a hint of sadness laced in her voice.
"Does Riku feel like that too?" Sora wondered. The concept that his heart, soul, body, and mind liked Riku wasn't clicking with Sora. Not yet.
"Maybe," Naminé answered.
"Should I ask him?" Sora wondered, his eyes still glued to his guardian angel.
"Tell him what you feel, if you want. Maybe he can help you figure it out," Naminé said as she took a sip from her green tea. "But don't do it just because I said you should."
"Will he laugh at me?" Sora inquired with a heavy amount of hesitation.
"Will who laugh at you?"
Sora fell off the stool he was resting upon when Riku had unexpectedly come over. How much of that did he hear?! The brunet scrambled onto his feet and back onto the stool. Aquamarine eyes met blue and Sora paled. "H-hi Riku…"
"What's wrong?" Riku asked curiously as he leaned against the counter towards his younger friend.
"Nothing at all," Sora drawled quite dramatically. The nodding of his head was only for added confirmation.
"Oh, Sora," Riku teased. "Why must you keep things from me?"
"Shut up," Sora grumbled as his eyes shifted away.
"What's wrong?" Riku asked once again.
"I'm just worn out," Sora answered hesitantly.
Naminé then said, "Why don't you ask Roxas if you can leave early? He'll understand." She eyed the two males with curiosity and a dousing of interest.
"After I perform," Riku agreed with his friend and looked to Sora, as if wanting to say more.
"Good," Naminé replied softly as she arose from her placement on her own stool. "I'll be at the tables if you need me." With that, the blonde walked away with a barely noticeable wink towards Sora.
"Hey," Riku said in an oddly sultry voice, directly into Sora's ear. The hot breath made Sora tense immediately.
"Yeah?" Sora timidly responded.
"Cheer up, would you?" Riku smirked. The silver haired male brushed his fingers along Sora's jaw and then pulled away.
"R-r…" Sora squeaked, his ears burning as he shyly looked over his shoulder towards Riku.
"I won't tell Cloud anything," Riku whispered, his gaze softening.
Sora wanted to answer with a polite, "Thank you," but instead asked, "Why?"
Riku gave the question serious thought. However, the entire time he thought he kept his eyes locked with the other pair from the other side of the counter. "Dunno. Because I like you?"
With one last flirtatious grin, Riku sauntered off to go back to work, leaving Sora gaping, confused, blushing, and wanting more.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You've never gone home early," Roxas pointed out as Riku exited the stage after having played an acoustic version of, 'Mad World'. His aquamarine eyes were distant and strangely vibrant tonight. The male looked … displaced.
"Sora and I had a rough day. That's all," Riku explained as he leaned his back against the stage, eyeing his blond boss.
"You're awfully interested in him," Roxas noted with a playful grin.
"And you mean what by that?" Riku retorted with a puzzled look.
"Not sure myself. You're just not one for making new friends," Roxas said as he crossed his arms and stared out at the jazz café.
"And you are? Ever since you and Axel got together, you've distanced yourself from the world," Riku made known with a frown appearing on his slim features.
"Riku, I love him. It's natural to want to spend time with your lover," said Roxas in a serious tone, as if hoping not to offend.
"Love sucks," Riku remarked irritably.
"Just because you had a few sour relationships and some unrequited love does not mean you're destined to be alone," Roxas explained sternly.
"It means that whoever I like won't ever like me back," Riku seethed as his fists clenched by his sides.
"This is about the boy, isn't it," Roxas said with certainty. The blonde grinned from ear to ear seconds after.
"Sora?" Riku guessed lamely.
"So it is," Roxas concluded as his grin turned into a playful smile. "You like your best friend's brother?"
"I never said that. I will admit that he's beautiful and-" Riku cut himself off when he saw the brunet passed out in a booth. "-and…"
Roxas looked to Riku curiously, expecting his taller friend to continue.
"And I think I like him," Riku murmured as his feelings came crashing down onto him. This was no longer physical attraction. This was full-out 'like'.
"Cloud'll kick your ass," Roxas pointed out with a shrug.
"I'm not gonna tell him, idiot. I spent almost an entire week becoming his friend. I'm not going to mess that up," Riku groaned, his eyes hungrily looking at Sora's slumbering body.
"You've got it bad," Roxas taunted and glanced at the next performer who had gone on stage. "Go home, Riku. Make use of your time."
"What?…"
"You know what I mean," Roxas answered and then shooed his friend towards Sora's booth.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Riku figured he'd let Sora sleep for a few hours (until eight) then wake the brunet up to have a snack and finish their talk, as promised. Riku sat at his computer desk currently, busily messing with stocks. However, stocks weren't the only thing he was working on. Others windows contained random written excerpts … and oddly a dialogue.
"What the hell do I say? 'Hey Sora, I'm suddenly attracted to you and I think we should make the most out of this month and fuck like rabbits?' He'll murder me!" Riku muttered angrily as he deleted a few lines of speech.
"Maybe…" Riku began after a moment but shook his head.
The sound of footsteps halted and hindered any more thoughts on he matter. Aquamarine eyes rose as he pressed CTRL + A and then delete. Riku looked to his bedroom door. Moments later, a tired Sora appeared, yawning all the while.
"Riku…" Sora yawned as he walked towards his friend. "Did you… carry me back?"
"Yeah. No big deal," Riku said, waving off the topic.
"You didn't have to do that," Sora pointed out as he Riku motioned him over. Sora hesitantly did such and sat on the edge of Riku's bed. The brunet stared at his friend.
"I didn't want to wake you up," Riku answered as he closed all his windows on his laptop and looked over to Sora.
"Oh… well then, thanks," Sora said quietly as he laced his hand together in his lap. "Listen… Riku… I didn't mean to make you worry. I didn't-"
"Sh," Riku commanded as he extended his hand across the air and placed a single finger onto Sora's lips. "I get why you did it. You were desperate. I know."
"You could have," Sora choked on his words as tears formed in the corner of his eyes. "You could have been hurt," Sora managed, having finally gotten the words out of the back of his throat. "And it would have been my fault," Sora finished as a tear leaked from his eye.
"Sora…" Riku allowed his finger to slip away. The silver haired teen arose from his chair and walked a foot to the bed and promptly sat down beside his younger friend. Riku was quite surprised to see Sora crying. He was even more surprised when Sora shifted and leaned his head against Riku's chest, his small hands gripping Riku's shirt.
"You could have been hurt," Sora repeated in a strangled whimper as his fingers dug into Riku's soft, and now damp, shirt.
"You could have been too. And I would rather it have been me then you," Riku murmured as he instinctively moved his arms so that they were tightly around Sora's form.
"Don't say that," Sora whined, as his fingers curled up tighter.
"Give yourself more credit, Sora. You're an amazing person," Riku pointed out and lowered his head so he could speak more easily. "I'm surprised the guys aren't all chasing you."
"As if," Sora mumbled as he nuzzled his cheek against Riku's chest. "There's only been one guy who liked me, and that was for a day. He kissed me then said it was a bad idea and told me to forget about it. Pathetic, huh?"
"That's not pathetic," Riku argued. "Don't judge yourself-"
"I just want to know what it feels like to be with someone who cares. Cloud always looks so happy when he's with Leon... What does it feel like, Riku?" Sora asked softly as his fingers lightly stroked his friend's chest. The action was oddly soothing to both parties.
"It feels good. I don't know the right words," Riku admitted and looked off to the side.
"Does it feel like you can't breathe when you're around them? Like… your stomach feels all weird and your throat is really tight?" Sora wondered in a nervous voice.
"Sometimes," Riku replied with a dismal shrug.
"Oh…" Sora gulped a bit and then requested, "Would you mind if… I moved a bit so it's more comfortable?"
"Not at all," Riku responded.
Riku wasn't expecting Sora to throw his legs over Riku's lap and shift slowly until his bottom was resting on his friend's legs. "Riku," Sora said with a gentle smile that was invisible to his friend. The brunet buried his face into the crone of the silver haired male's neck.
"Cloud was talking to me last night about how proud he is of me… He told me that he'll do anything to see me succeed, that I deserve the best… do you think he was lying?"
"No, he wasn't," Riku answered as his cheeks tinted a light shade of red. "He loves you and wants you to be as happy, or happier, than him."
"So… this entire time… I was thinking that Cloud just views me as a pest… but that's not true at all, is it?" Sora asked and then laughed nervously, his hands resting flatly on the writer's chest.
"Cloud has a hard time showing his love, I would know," Riku muttered and allowed his hand to slip up into Sora's hair, lightly tugging at the strands.
"Oh…" Sora said simply and then closed his eyes. "You know, I actually thought that maybe Zexion and I would hit it off… I actually thought that maybe he would want to date me."
"It's hard to really know a person without meeting them in real life," Riku remarked and rested his chin on the top of the brunet's head.
"Tell me about it…" Sora said as his thoughts lingered off onto the journal that now rested under his bed. Will the author be anything like I imagine him to be like?… Will he be like Riku? Will he even like me?… Another tear leaked from Sora's eyes as his grip on Riku's shirt tightened.
"From now on, Sora, don't keep things from me. I'm your friend, aren't I?" Riku murmured as he glanced down at the teen. Eyes widened when he saw the tears resurfacing. "Don't cry, Sora."
"You said that… a person sometimes feels nervous around someone they're dating and stuff… does that apply to crushes?…" Sora wondered and stiffened, his heart stopping for a moment.
"Does Sora have a crush?" Riku teased and then paused when Sora's gaze rose to meet his.
"I dunno," Sora answered and placed his hands shyly on Riku's shoulders.
"Sora-" Riku began but the sound of a ringing phone cut him off. Riku cringed as Sora's grip around Riku's shoulders loosened until the arms were completely gone.
"I think it's Cloud," Sora mumbled as he swung his body off Riku's lap, at once missing the warmth. "I'll… get it," Sora made known as he exited Riku's room, leaving the silver haired male alone.
He's so … perfect.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey, Cloud," Sora said as he leaned against the couch, holding his head with confusion. Do I… like Riku? Is it okay to like your big brother's best friend? Am I… allowed to like Riku? Maybe I'm not. Riku's too good for me. Riku deserves someone rich and beautiful. Yeah, he deserves the best. He's so kind and nice and-
"How are you today?"
Sora cringed at the reminder of everything that had happened. "Oh. I'm good. How about you? What'd you do today?" Sora asked quickly, trying to divert the subject away from himself and his bad day.
"Well, Leon-" Cloud began as Sora's mind wandered off.
He almost kissed me the other night. Or was that an accident?… But our hands… he purposely made them touch… Does he like me, too? Does he consider me a substitute for my brother? Sora's stomach lurched as he tightly shut his eyes. He doesn't like me. He would have told me… I think?
"Sora?" Riku asked as he walked into the room, arms folded across his chest.
Sora blinked and said a mumbled response to Cloud before mouthing to Riku, "Hey".
"Sora, you're awfully quiet today. Is something wrong?" Cloud asked in a concerned tone.
"Nothing's wrong," Sora answered automatically as he watched a grin appeared on Riku's lips. Sora arched a brow as Riku sauntered over to him until only an inch separated their bodies. "Riku?" Sora whispered.
"All right, good," Cloud said and then went on to explain what else he had done that day.
"I'm gonna go to bed, it's late," Riku whispered as his hand extended outwards to rest on Sora's cheek. The brunet blushed and shifted his gaze down to the floor, trying to listen and comprehend what his older brother was telling him.
"Okay," Sora whispered back and tried not to let the male's thumb grazing his reddened cheek
"Tomorrow will be a good day," Riku informed the brunet as his free arm wrapped around the teen's waist.
Sora's eyes widened as he dropped the phone altogether. "Ri-?" Sora began in a question but was silenced when he felt a pair of velvety soft lips press against his own. Blue eyes widened, tearing up a bit, before closing all together. The weak arms of Sora reached out and clung to Riku's shirt, pulling the silver haired male closer, as if not to break the kiss.
Riku smiled against Sora's lips, allowing the wet texture of his own lips to cover Sora's. It was chaste, but it lingered. The silver haired teen's eyes also lidded as he meshed their lips together again.
Sora felt his entire body heat up as he shyly pushed his lips out and returned the kiss, shaking against Riku's body. Riku placed a final kiss to Sora's lips, pulling on Sora's bottom lip attentively, before pulling away. The male leaned closer and whispered softly, "Finish the call with your brother and go to bed. Goodnight, Sora."
And Sora was at once lost in a daze, engulfed by Riku's kiss.