Before Sora knew it, the summer faded away and his cousins returned to Manhattan.
Something was brewing among the colonies, not just in Boston, but Sora could feel Boston was the heart of whatever was happening.
For months, Sora kept his lips fastened tightly about the Sons and Daughters of Liberty to Riku, but he feared the day he'd notice and wonder why Sora had kept a secret.
Since Sora's confession behind the tavern, their relationship had grown stronger: the two shared kisses when no one could see, and when they were being watched, the two had found a way to discreetly pass kisses (the two would kiss the side of their hand and gently bump fists when they passed each other). Occasionally, Sora would let Riku touch him further, but never going beyond touching.
Sora recalled the day he had told Axel, Reno, Roxas, and Prompto about what Riku had done in the alley next to the tavern:
"You let him give you oral sex?" Axel's lips curled into a devilish grin.
"What?! We had sex?" Sora had shrieked almost too loudly.
"Sounds like he wants the whole world to know." Reno had sighed.
Sora remembered blushing furiously. "I didn't know that was sex..."
"You're still kind of a virgin, if that's what you're thinking," Prompto chimed in.
"I am?" Sora asked, slightly disappointed.
"Yeah," Roxas added, "you'll still be a virgin until he puts it in you."
"Oh..." Sora had replied.
"If you want some tips on that - ha, tips - " Axel offered, and Roxas nudged him for pointing out his dirty joke.
"We're more than willing to answer your questions," Roxas agreed.
"Uh, well...does it hurt...?" Sora asked.
"Like hell if you don't use some kind of lubricant," Roxas replied, slamming his hand on the table, "Axel and I usually just take some fat from the kitchen."
"You don't put it back, do you...?" Sora grimaced.
"All the - " Axel began, but Roxas nudged him harder.
"No, of course not." Roxas dismissed. "But you could use spit, too, but doesn't always help because it dries up pretty fast. And it hurts less if he prepares you by putting his fingers inside you one at a time."
"It's all about the foreplay," Axel noted, "all the touching and kissing that makes you all wet and slippery..."
Sora squirmed in his chair, his face burning.
"You have to take it slow and sensual..." Axel's voice was low and silky, which made Sora squirm more.
"Looks like just your voice is igniting his desire," Reno quipped.
Sora stuck his tongue out at Reno. "Oh, another thing..."
He glanced around the tavern, making sure neither Riku nor any other British soldiers were in the area, before finishing his thought. "Have you heard anything about the Sons of Liberty...?"
"Yeah, not seconds after you left to canoodle with Riku, a group of men approached us and told us about their cause," Reno answered.
Sora ignored the word "canoodle" and continued, "Did you join them?"
"Well, of course Reno and I did," Axel said proudly, throwing an arm around his brother.
"Roxas, what about you and Prompto?"
"They're based in Boston, so we couldn't join them directly," Roxas said.
"But they told us to spread the word to people in Manhattan," Prompto added, "so when we return to Manhattan, we will. Did Uncle Cloud join?"
"Yes," Sora replied, "and I think Kairi and Mother are involved with the Daughters."
"What about you, Sora; will you stand among the Sons?" Axel asked.
Sora looked away. "I'd hate to keep a secret from Riku, especially now that I've gained his trust..."
"What if he turns on you first? What will you do if he exposes your family?" Reno mentioned.
Roxas slapped Reno's arm, and Reno shouted "ouch" in protest.
"I know," Sora acknowledged, "I'm afraid of that too, but I trust Riku..."
Roxas placed a hand on Sora's shoulder. "I'm sure something will work out."
Sora nodded half-heartedly.
When autumn and harvest season passed, light snow drifted down and slowly blanketed Boston in its purity.
"Did you ever play in the snow as a child, Riku?" Sora asked one day as he watched the snow fall outside the tavern.
"Not much," Riku answered, lighting the furnace in the corner, "my mother could not afford warm clothes for me."
"Oh..." Sora faltered.
"And I work for free here, so I don't have any money to buy myself warm clothes." Riku mentioned wistfully.
Sora grew guilty and considered asking his father to give Riku some money.
"When is your birthday, Riku?" Sora wondered.
"December twenty-second," Riku answered, "why...?"
"I'll buy you winter clothes for your birthday!" Sora decided.
"You don't have to do that..." Riku replied.
"But you sounded like you wanted winter clothes," Sora said, "and something tells me you didn't get to celebrate your birthday very often."
"Well, they certainly weren't as wild as your party," Riku chuckled.
"Exactly," Sora replied.
Riku met Sora at the window, and Sora took Riku's hands in his own. "I want to give you everything you didn't have before..." Sora murmured.
"I have no doubt you'll succeed," Riku offered.
Sora grinned, his cheeks rosy. Riku leaned down and kissed Sora's cheek.
"Careful, someone could see!" Sora hissed.
"Hm, let them see," Riku muttered, kissing Sora's lips.
Sora backed away from the window, pulling Riku with him. Riku pressed him against the wall of the tavern, moving his lips to Sora's neck. Sora tilted his head back, eyes closed in bliss. He ran his fingers through Riku's ponytail, pulling at it.
"You can pull harder," Riku whispered, nipping Sora's ear.
Confused, Sora yanked Riku's hair, and Riku recoiled.
"Ow! No, not like that, like this," Riku corrected, sliding his hand into Sora's hair. He kept his palm flat against Sora's scalp, and only curled his fingers. He gave Sora's hair a tug in his fist, and Sora gasped.
"See? It didn't hurt, did it?" Riku asked.
"N-no, it felt...good," Sora mumbled.
Riku tilted Sora's head back, gripping his hair, and Sora draped his arms over Riku's shoulders.
Riku had grown since he first arrived: he had filled out a bit, and he had grown into his muscles. He was starting to look more like a man, whereas Sora was still on the scrawny side. His hair had grown longer, his bangs hanging in silver curtains over his eyes.
Riku pulled back for a moment, and Sora pushed Riku's bangs back to see his aqua eyes.
"Your eyes are beautiful," Sora murmured.
"Yours are just like the sky," Riku added.
"Not today's sky, surely," Sora laughed, "it's all gloomy and gray."
"No, like a summer sky." Riku decided.
"Thank you," Sora looked down at his feet.
Riku gently tilted Sora's chin up to face him.
"I love you, Sora," Riku sighed.
"I love you too, Riku," Sora answered.
Riku pinned Sora against the wall again, savoring the taste of Sora's lips. Sora pulled Riku closer, pressing their bodies together. Riku's hands wandered, drifting down Sora's body, and stopping at his hip.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" Riku asked, his voice low and raspy.
Sora gulped. "Y-yes..."
Riku scooped Sora up in his arms, carrying him upstairs with ease. Sora clung to Riku as Riku managed to open the door. He kicked it closed, carrying Sora over to the bed. He tossed Sora onto the bed like a ragdoll, and Sora's stomach turned.
Riku crawled on top of Sora, closing off his world. Sora's breathing turned shallow and quick, and Riku quickly recoiled.
"Sora, are you alright?" Riku asked.
"I-I-I'm sorry," Sora stammered, "I don't think I can do this..."
"Do what?"
"H-have sex with you..." Sora answered, "at least, not right now. Not until we're a little older..."
Riku stared at him blankly. "I wasn't carrying you up here to have sex with me; I noticed it was getting dark, so I wondered if you wanted to sleep next to me here to keep me warm."
Sora narrowed his eyes, and Riku laughed. "Saw right through me, didn't you?"
"As if you were made of glass," Sora shook his head.
"I can't help it, you're so alluring." Riku shrugged.
Sora blushed, looking away. "I'm not..."
"You are," Riku bent over Sora again, kissing his ear.
"Well, are you going to sleep or not?" Sora pouted.
Riku laughed again. "Tired, huh?"
"I'm exhausted," Sora agreed, kicking off his shoes.
Riku removed his shoes and slipped into bed next to Sora. They kicked themselves under the wool blanket, and Sora curled up close to Riku. Riku draped an arm over Sora, pulling him to his heart. Sora pressed his ear to Riku's chest, listening to the steady thumping.
They exchanged "goodnights" and Sora drifted off.
The revolution exploded in the colonies not days later. The Sons and Daughters of liberty were rioting and protesting in every aspect of their daily lives; goods printed with pleas to repeal the stamp and quartering acts were distributed among the colonists, the Sons tarred and feathered tax collectors and weak soldiers near the tree where the effigy had been hung.
One night, Cloud had instructed Sora to take Riku out somewhere so he could hold a Sons of Liberty meeting inside. The two strolled through an empty town, the lamplight glowing on the cobblestone.
"Is there a reason you're taking me out of the tavern tonight?" Riku asked.
"I just thought it would be nice to walk through the snow," Sora shrugged, hoping his lie was thicker than the snow.
"The coat you bought me for my birthday fits me nicely," Riku said, tugging at it.
"It looks nice on you," Sora agreed.
Riku grasped Sora's cold hands, bringing him close. "You look nice."
"Shh, Riku!" Sora hissed, his face warming.
"No one is out here," he assured, "which is very strange..."
"Well, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so people are probably preparing," Sora noticed.
"Will you kiss me under the mistletoe?" Riku teased.
"Of course I will," Sora smiled. He stood on his toes and kissed Riku briefly.
Suddenly, a thudding coming from down the street pushed the two apart quickly. Sora gasped as he saw several British soldiers rushing toward them, one of them being Captain Sephiroth. Instinctively, Riku pushed Sora behind him.
The soldiers met Riku in the midst of the street. "What do you think you're doing, cadet?" Captain Sephiroth demanded.
"I was just out for a stroll, Captain," Riku answered, a hint of malice in his voice.
"We've just received information that the Sons of Liberty are holding a meeting at the Destiny Inn and Tavern." One soldier beside Captain Sephiroth reported. "Come with us immediately."
"Hold on," Captain Sephiroth ordered, his eyes falling on Sora. "This boy...I recognize him..."
"No one of your interest, Captain," Riku added quickly.
"Bring him to the tavern, he could be a spy." Captain Sephiroth decided, heading toward the inn.
"Riku, please!" Sora protested.
"Sora, just play along." Riku whispered, taking his scarf and binding Sora's wrists. "Is...is it true the Sons of Liberty are meeting at the tavern...?"
Sora pursed his lips and stared at the snow.
"Sora, answer me!"
"Cadet, hurry up!" Captain Sephiroth shouted from ahead.
"Yes, Captain!" Riku shouted, quickly shooting Sora a firm glance before pushing him along to the tavern.
The doors swung open, and Captain Sephiroth demanded, "Hands in the air where we can see them!"
The Sons turned to face the soldiers, and though they outnumbered the soldiers, they were unarmed.
"Who owns this establishment?" Captain Sephiroth demanded.
Cloud stepped forward from behind the counter. "I do, sir."
"And are you affiliated with these scoundrels?" Captain Sephiroth asked.
"No, I am simply the owner of this establishment." Cloud answered.
"Liar!" Captain Sephiroth slammed the butt of his rifle into Cloud's stomach, and Cloud dropped to his knees.
"Father!" Sora cRied.
"So, the boy was involved, wasn't he?" Captain Sephiroth sneered.
"Leave...my son...alone," Cloud groaned.
"Very well, we'll spare the boy. But come December twenty-sixth, you and the rest of you rebels will be hanged for treason." Captain Sephiroth announced. "And should any of you try to run now, my men have orders to shoot on sight."
"No, please! You can't hang him!" Sora pleaded, tears welling in his eyes.
"Riku, did you know of this...?" Captain Sephiroth asked.
Riku swallowed. He glanced at Sora, then at his commanding officer. "No, sir."
"You are also a liar! You will die among them!" Captain Sephiroth growled.
December twenty-sixth arrived after spending Christmas away from Riku and Cloud.
Sora and his family gathered in the square with the families of the other Sons.
"Today, you witness the hanging of several criminals. These men are convicted of treason, treason to their king, who offered them sanctuary, and still they chose to rebel." Captain Sephiroth announced. "The first to die, Cloud Strife."
Another soldier fastened the noose around Cloud's neck. Sora's prideful father kept his eyes on his family. Aerith and Kairi held each other, sobbing.
The platform dropped beneath Cloud's feet, and Cloud dangled before them.
"NO!" Aerith screamed, reaching out to her husband's corpse hanging in the tree where the Sons had demonstrated most of their protests. Sora wiped at his eyes furiously, knowing his father would not want him to cry.
Soon, the tree was littered with hanging men.
"And now, the last to die, Riku Lockhart, a traitor among the British." Captain Sephiroth finished.
Sora's eyes were fixed to Riku's as they draped the noose around his neck. Riku mouthed the words "I love you" to Sora, and Sora gasped.
"Did you say something, boy?" Captain Sephiroth snapped.
Riku glanced at Sora one last time. "No, sir."
"Drop him."
The platform disappeared, and Sora screamed as Riku dropped.
He woke in a cold sweat, his heart pounding. He found himself still pressed to Riku's chest.
Riku groaned, his eyes fluttering open to find Sora wide-eyed and sobbing.
"Sora, are you alright?" He asked.
"I-I-It was just a nightmare..." Sora replied.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Riku stroked Sora's hair.
Sora squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
"Come here," Riku held Sora tighter, cradling him in his strong arms. "It's alright, I'm here..."
"Riku, I love you," Sora wept, clenching Riku's shirt.
"I love you too, Sora," Riku murmured, kissing Sora's forehead.
Though he was safe from his nightmare in Riku's arms, he could not help but feel that his nightmare meant something greater.