Two days passed, and Christmas Eve befell the Strife household.
Sora's friends and family gathered at the inn, which was closed to others. They exchanged gifts in the lantern-light while Aerith finished preparing Christmas Eve supper.
"One last gift," Cloud announced, handing Riku an envelope.
"What is this, Sir?" Riku asked.
"A little something for your hard work," Cloud replied.
Riku tore open the envelope, finding several banknotes. His face lit up, and he smiled at Cloud. "Th-thank you, sir."
"It took a while, but I finally convinced him to give you some form of payment!" Sora grinned.
"I was going to give him something eventually," Cloud protested gently.
"I cannot express my gratitude enough," Riku said.
"There is no need," Cloud dismissed.
"What will you spend your money on?" Sora wondered.
"I'm not sure yet," Riku admitted, "perhaps something nice for you."
Sora's face flushed, and he glanced quickly at Cloud.
"Because you've been such a great friend to me," Riku added quickly, and the tension in the air ceased.
Kairi gave Sora a smirk, and Sora stuck his tongue out at her briefly.
"Now that all the gifts have been opened, Christmas Eve supper won't eat itself," Aerith announced. Kairi hopped out of her chair to help her mother carry out the courses. Riku and Sora pushed together several tables and moved the chairs to create a large table for all of their guests.
Sora chose the seat on Riku's left, and to his left sat Kairi. After Kairi was Prompto. Across the table sat Roxas, and to his left, Axel. Down their line was Reno, Prompto, and Cid. Cloud sat at the head of the table, and on Kairi's left was Aerith, next to Cloud.
"Who wants to say grace?" Aerith asked.
"I'll say it," Sora volunteered. They bowed their heads and clasped their hands together. "Thank you Lord for providing us food and shelter on this Christmas Eve. We gather here to celebrate the birth of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please bless us with the strength and health in the oncoming year. Amen."
"Amen." Everyone echoed.
They passed around the dishes while Cloud carved the Christmas turkey.
Sora glanced out the window, half expecting Captain Sephiroth to come barging in to arrest them. Riku nudged Sora's leg under the table, and he seemed to silently ask Sora if he was alright. Sora nodded slightly, and passed Riku the bread basket.
The snow fell silently outside, blanketing all of Boston in frozen softness. Sora decided there that he wanted to spend Christmas Eve by Riku's side.
While everyone drank and sang after supper, Sora led Riku upstairs. Hanging above the doorway to Riku's bedroom was a sprig of mistletoe Sora had picked earlier.
"What's this about?" Riku smirked at the tiny plant.
"It's mistletoe," Sora said.
"So? I know that..." Riku replied.
"Well, you know what mistletoe is for, don't you?" Sora hinted.
"Of course I do," Riku answered, gripping Sora's hip and pulling him in tightly. He leaned in, kissing Sora firmly.
Sora stood on his toes to reach Riku easier, and wrapped his arms around him.
The two broke apart, smiling.
"Merry Christmas, Riku."
"Merry Christmas, Sora."
When everyone had retired to their beds with Cloud, Aerith, and Kairi returned to the house, Sora slipped into bed with Riku and clung tightly to him.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Riku asked.
"No," Sora admitted, "a while ago, I had a dream that Captain Sephiroth hanged you."
"Why did he hang me...?" Riku wondered softly.
Sora pursed his lips, choosing his answer carefully. "Because you fell in love with me."
Riku nodded solemnly. "I cannot promise that I will not let that happen."
Sora gasped, his heart clenching. "Wh-why not...?"
"Because I would do anything to protect you, even submit myself to him," Riku replied.
Tears welled in Sora's eyes. "No, no...please, I don't want you to die..."
"I won't die," Riku assured.
"But how do you know that? Captain Sephiroth knows my face, and you made it sound like he despises you - " Sora gripped Riku's shirt in his fist.
"I may submit myself to him, but I will never die for him. I would die for you to live, but I would never let my life escape me for his sake." Riku decided.
Sora whispered Riku's name as he buried himself in Riku's chest and let the tears roll down his face. Riku stroked Sora's hair, humming softly.
"What is that you're singing...?" Sora asked.
"Something my mother used to sing to me," Riku answered.
"It's beautiful..." Sora whispered. "What was your mother like...?"
"She was beautiful, with long black hair and warm brown eyes," Riku said, "she had a heart of gold beneath her tough skin. She never settled for anything if it didn't satisfy her, even with some of her clients. That didn't anger them too much, though, because my mother was a prized woman."
"Did she meet Sephiroth through work?" Sora asked.
Riku swallowed thickly. "No, she met him when she was young and before he was a captain, though he is still much older than she, and already married. She fell in love with him until he left her pregnant and alone with no money to support me with..."
"I understand why you hate him," Sora said.
"On her deathbed, she knew the only place for me to go was the army. She said my father would give me a life there, and I suppose he did. At the very least, he treated me no better than other soldiers, but he did treat me worse. I was the unfortunate son he had conceived through a relationship built on lies. Sephiroth's wife eventually passed on, but he took his despair out on me as if I had caused it. During the war against the French and Indians, I knew he assigned me to the branch that would take the most damage just to be rid of me, but I survived with the scars to prove it." Riku explained.
"I'm so sorry..." Sora whispered.
"Then, when the King sent us here, I knew he hoped I would find myself tossed into the sea. Instead, Tidus...sacrificed himself for me..." Riku choked on his words for a moment.
"Riku..." Sora wrapped his arms around his lover as the tears spilled from Riku's eyes.
"Look at me...I was supposed to be promising to you that I would be strong, but I am so, so weak..." Riku laughed weakly.
"No, you are strong. You survived a war and a storm on your way here, you've survived the wrath of your father," Sora said, "you're strong, Riku. I am safe in your arms."
Riku touched his forehead to Sora's. "I love you so deeply, I fear to let you go."
"I love you too, Riku," Sora whispered, leaning in and kissing Riku softly.
The two shared their warmth as Riku pressed his lips firmer against Sora's, running his fingers through the boy's hair. Sora melted into Riku's kiss, losing himself to passion.
Riku's hands wandered up Sora's body underneath his shirt, and Sora let him slip the fabric over his head and toss it aside. Riku's lips traveled, stamping kisses down to Sora's chest. He kissed Sora's nipple, which sent a slight rush through Sora's body. So it felt good when one touched it gently...
Sora let out a soft whimper, which spurred Riku to run his tongue over the sensitive bud. Sora squeezed his eyes shut, and his breathing hitched.
"Does it feel good, Sora?" Riku asked gently.
"Y-yes..." Sora answered.
Riku rubbed Sora's left nipple as he licked and sucked on the right. The blood rushed between Sora's legs, and his face burned.
Gentle fingers slid down Sora's skin, stopping at his trousers to unfasten them and carefully pull them off. Riku slid off Sora's undergarments as well, leaving him stark naked and aroused underneath Riku's body.
"Sora, you're so beautiful..." Riku marveled, kissing Sora's neck.
"I-it's embarrassing..." Sora stammered, "to be the only one n-naked..."
Riku sat back, undressing himself slowly. Each garment was removed with no hesitation, but still at a pace that kept Sora impatient. Riku discarded his clothes into a pile on the floor, and displayed his own aroused nudity.
Sora swallowed thickly, realizing the intensity of the situation.
"Do you want to continue?" Riku asked.
Sora nodded. "Yes."
Riku settled between Sora's legs, parting them. He reached over to the bedside table, dipping two of his fingers into a saucer of fat he had taken from the kitchen after their supper had been cleaned up (somehow Sora had not noticed it was there). He brought his slicked fingers to Sora's hole, and Sora trembled.
"Are you scared?"
"Yes."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"...No."
"It might hurt a bit at first, are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Riku slipped his fingers inside, and Sora grunted in pain. A stinging sensation tore through him, and he gripped onto the sheets. Once Riku was knuckle-deep, he moved his fingers in a beckoning motion, stretching Sora's walls. His fingertips brushed against Sora's prostate, and Sora arched his back.
"R-Riku, there!" He gasped, his toes curling.
Riku's fingers rubbed Sora's sweet spot again, Sora's body jerking against the pleasure. His hips rolled into Riku's motions instinctively, aching to draw more pleasure from the movement. Riku dipped his head down, engulfing Sora's penis into his mouth and bobbing his head. Sora's mouth opened in a silent scream, the overwhelming ecstasy filling him. He carded his fingers through Riku's long hair, gripping it the way Riku had shown him.
"R-Riku, slow down..."
Riku drew his lips off Sora's cock, a thread of saliva hanging from the tip. Riku's pupils dilated with his desire, and Sora let out a breathless sigh. "Are you ready for me?" He asked.
"Y-yes..." Sora mumbled.
Riku parted Sora's legs again, settling between them. He scoops up more of the grease, smearing it over his erection. He pressed the tip to Sora's entrance, and he spread himself over the boy. With one hand, he guided his cock inside, and Sora let out a hesitant cry.
"Riku, it hurts..." Sora groaned.
"The pain will go away, I promise," Riku assured, sliding all the way in.
"Riku, kiss me." Sora begged, pulling Riku in close. Riku captured Sora's lips, his tongue sliding over Sora's bottom lip. His lips parted and Riku slipped his tongue inside, rolling it around Sora's.
Buried in all the way to the base, Riku rocked his hips steadily. The tip of his cock rubbed Sora's prostate with each thrust, leaving Sora scrabbling for release. Riku's hand wrapped around Sora's length, pumping it in time.
Their kiss broke with a wet, suctioning sound, and Sora threw his head back, letting his voice out.
"Riku, Riku..." Sora gasped, his nails digging into Riku's back.
"Oh, Sora..." Riku moaned, kissing and nipping Sora's ear.
Sora gripped Riku tightly in his arms, refusing to let go. Riku sank his teeth into Sora's collarbone, leaving a mark that would surely be noticeable even under Sora's collar. Sora hoped the scarf his mother had knitted him would be enough to cover it.
"Sora, I'm so close," Riku grunted, slamming his hips into him.
"Me too..." Sora replied breathlessly, his body quaking.
Riku thrust into Sora swiftly, the sound of their skin slapping together echoing throughout the room. Precum flowed from the tip of Sora's penis, which twitched and threatened to release.
In one more punitive thrust, Riku's body went rigid as his orgasm danced along his nerves. He gripped Sora in his arms, his fists clenched as the aftershocks rippled through him.
Sora arched his back into Riku, screaming Riku's name as his release squirted out onto his chest.
Panting, Riku removed himself and rolled off to the side. He drew Sora's quivering body close, their sweat-slicked skin drying sticky.
"D-do you think God is upset that we sinned on Christmas Eve...?" Sora wondered.
Riku laughed. "Everyone does this, I am sure we're not the only ones who have done it, especially on Christmas."
"I suppose..." Sora agreed apprehensively, "do you think we woke anybody?"
"These walls are thin, I would not be surprised," Riku admitted. "But forget them for now; what matters is that it felt good."
"It did," Sora said.
Riku kissed Sora's forehead. "I'm glad."
"I'm glad I could share my first time with you," Sora said.
"Me too," Riku agreed.
The two whispered an "I love you" and a "Goodnight" to each other before sleep pulled them in.