PAPER FACES ON PARAAAAADE—

Ahem.

I feel like fanfiction readers are giving me the cold shoulder and I don't like it. I feel like I can fix this in one of two ways: Updating so my story appears in the Just In and new (reviewing) people hit upon this, OR Updating and old (reviewing) people re-hit upon this.

Either way it seems that I need to prove to you I exist.

So we're having a confidence dilemma here. No reviews makes me nervous. And for the love of holy, I've had Questions Later up for a week and not a review! Or a favorite, even. Is it really that bad? If it is, say something!

So here's me, proving my mettle. I wish you'd do the same :)

And this is Halloween-ish too; Unfortunately; there will be no Phantom singing :( Heehee.

What If…

There was a masquerade complete with

Sora & Riku shenanigans?

((as suggested by the darling Zesty))

Sora lay on Riku's bed, reading a magazine while Riku checked his email on the computer. He looked up at Riku from the corner of his eye.

I should ask him…he thought to himself, absent-mindedly turning a page of the magazine without really reading it, it couldn't hurt.

Then again, he argued with himself, it could do a lot of hurt. I'm pretty sure he knows I like him, but he's never shown any sign of interest… I don't want to ruin anything. Maybe if I—

"You look like you're having a particularly troubling inner monologue," Riku interrupted. He had swiveled the computer chair around to face Sora and was grinning at him. "Care to share?"

Sora hid his blush by looking down at the magazine. "Well…are you going to Namine's Masquerade on Halloween?" he asked nonchalantly.

Too nonchalantly, Riku thought. I think I know where this is going… "Why do you ask?" Riku asked, wanting to be sure he was getting the right message.

"Oh I don't know," Sora continued with his fake casualness, "I was just wondering. If you were, we could just drive there together because Namine lives outside of the city," he justified.

"Oh," Riku said, turning his chair back to face the computer. That was a good cover ,but I see that underlying meaning, he thought. "Well, I don't think I'm going to go," he said, opening a window on the computer to look distracted, "I think I have a date with a guy I met at the grocery store that night," he paused, letting the bomb drop.

"I see," Sora said, trying and failing to hide his disappointment, "that's cool," he continued, "I was just checking.

Riku didn't reply and continued to hit buttons on the computer. I'm sorry, Sora,he thought to himself while trying to think of a way to cover the awkward silence, I just don't want to lead you on…We wouldn't work well together.

Sora stood, relieving Riku of his search for a conversation topic. "Well I need to get home," Sora said casually, "I still need to get my costume together."

"What are you going as?" Riku asked.

"A Victorian gentleman," Sora replied, "when I think of a giant masquerade ball, that's the first thing I think of."

"You would," Riku said, laughing to himself when Sora waved goodbye. He sighed as the door closed. He rolled his computer chair back and looked up at the ceiling.

"What am I going to do?" he said, before closing his eyes in thought.

-((stupid Riku))-

Riku pulled his car up to the old mansion, getting out to let the valet park the car. Wow, Riku thought as he looked at the old building, it really is a Masquerade ball. As he approached the steps, Riku saw a number of guys and girls dressed in Victorian-style costumes, masks adorning their faces. I guess Sora wasn't the only one with that idea, he smiled to himself.

He stepped into the ballroom and took in the scene. I shouldn't be here, he thought as he admired the soft light illuminating the grand room, tables of food with jack-o-lanterns at every corner. The floor was left open for dancing; even the DJ would occasionally play a waltz or a swing dance.

I told Sora I wasn't going to be here; this is lying, he quarreled with himself as he stood near the entrance way. Soon, he felt the eyes of someone upon him. Looking around the room, he spied one of the Victorian gentleman eyeing him. His chestnut hair was slicked back from his face, which was covered with a deep blue mask. His waistcoat was the same shade of blue, complementing his black-tailed suit with ruffled shirt.

Riku tried not to stare back at him. Surprisingly, he was strangely at ease with the way the man was ogling him. I should be uncomfortable with this, he thought to himself, wondering why the guy wasn't creeping him out. Random men don't randomly ogle other men…unless it's a masquerade…

As the gentleman approached him, Riku decided to see how this would pan out.

-((awe yeah))-

Sora stood in the corner of the ballroom, trying not to look depressed. Riku's on a date right now with Mr. Grocery Store…he thought dejectedly as he nodded at passerby commenting on his costume. He watched the groups dance on the dance floor, sighing.

You know what? he thought to himself, hell with this. So Riku's picking up people at grocery stores, when I've liked him for years, who cares? He stood up straighter, infused with confidence. This is a masquerade! I can be whoever I want to be…myself. he turned to look at the entrance and saw a man dressed as the Dread Pirate Roberts from the Princess Bride enter the room. He couldn't see much of him, for he was wearing all black everywhere except the lower half of his face. Sora couldn't stop staring.

That is the sexiest jaw I've ever seen, Sora said, blatantly ogling the man. Instead of entering the party, the man just stood there, watching the crowd.

This is just what I need, Sora thought as he approached the Dread Pirate Roberts. The pirate pretended to ignore him until he was close enough to be spoken to; then he looked over with a serious pirate mien.

"Good evening," Sora said, bowing regally to the pirate. "Would you be interesting in taking a turn about the room?" It's a masquerade; he'd blow me off if he didn't want me to hit on him, right?

"No," the pirate said succinctly; Sora's smile dropped. He turned to walk away as a waltz began to play, "but I would enjoy a dance." Sora's smile returned.

"To the dance floor then!" Sora took the pirate's hand and led him to the dance floor. Once he let go of his hand, the pirate immediately took the lead.

"Sorry," the pirate said, "I only know how to lead." He looked anything but apologetic. As he swung them about the room in time to the music, he asked, "So what brings you to this ball?"

Sora's smile dropped a degree, "Let's just say that I'm getting over some heartache with some well-needed action," he said, smirking.

"Well, good sir, life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something," he said, Sora laughed.

"You've rehearsed your part quite well!" he commended him.

The pirate moved his mouth closer to Sora's ear. "As for the action of the evening, I'm sure I could help you there," he whispered. Sora shivered as they moved in time to the music.

-((switch!))-

The pirate moved his mouth closer to Sora's ear. "As for the action of the evening, I'm sure I could help you there," he whispered. Sora shivered as they moved in time to the music.

What am I doing? Riku thought to himself as he whirled the nameless man across the dance floor. I'm hitting on someone I don't even know! He smiled a devilish smile as the gentleman pulled back from his face in surprise, blushing underneath his mask. He laughed. I like this. This feels…right.

The music ended and the gentleman regained his composure, bowing to him. "Would you like to go get some punch?" he asked. Riku nodded, and the two walked over to the nearest punch table.

"So what brings you to this party?" the gentleman asked him, returning his question from earlier.

"I….don't know," Riku said, looking away slightly. The gentleman smiled brightly.

"Not knowing is the greatest adventure!" he said happily before sipping his punch and looking over the crowd.

Riku's eyes widened beneath his mask. Sora says that all the time…! Riku looked at the gentleman closely. That's not Sora, he concluded. His hair's too weird and he's not silly enough. Besides, this man's carrying himself in a completely different way. He's so sure of himself and full of life. It can't be Sora.

The gentleman noticed his sudden panic. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," Riku said, waving him off, "you just reminded me of someone, but it's not important." He spied a door leading outside. "Would you like to go onto the verandah?"

Hah, he said verandah."I would love to."

-((Switch!))-

This is so weird! Sora exclaimed mentally as the pirate held the verandah door open for him. Here I am, flirting with a random man, and now we're out on the secluded verandah! What do I do? I know! I'll just pretend I know what to do!Sora calmed himself down and resumed his suave demeanor, leaning against the rail.

"It's quiet out here," Sora said, trying to convey a leer through a mask. It must have worked, because the pirate moved closer.

"It's true there isn't that many people out here," the pirate said, moving even closer.

"Who are you?" Sora suddenly spat out, becoming slightly nervous.

The pirate's smile grew wider. "No one of consequence," he murmured as he curled his hands around Sora's waist.

"I must know," Sora replied faintly, losing his battle of wills with reason.

"Get used to disappointment," the pirate said before sealing his lips over Sora's, pushing him against the railing. Sora quickly threw caution to the wind and pressed the pirate's face closer to his. The pirate worked his hands underneath Sora's jacket as he plied Sora's mouth for entrance. The two battled for dominance while Sora moved his hands around to run up and down the pirate's chest. The pirate groaned and pushed closer to Sora, pressing his hips into his. They pulled back for air, panting.

"This is so much better than Mr. Grocery Store," Sora said before pulling the pirate down for another kiss. The pirate pulled away quickly, confused by the comment.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, the man I was interested is on a date with someone he met at the grocery store," he said nonchalantly as he leaned in for another kiss.

-((Switch and rewind a bit!))-

Riku groaned as he pushed closer to the gentleman, smiling against his lips. Now this is nice. This is the kind of man I could fall in love with. He's perfect.

"This is so much better than Mr. Grocery Store," the gentleman said before pulling Riku in for another kiss. Riku pulled back quickly. Now that's not a normal comment…

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, the man I was interested is on a date with someone he met at the grocery store," he said nonchalantly as he leaned in for another kiss.

Riku broke away from the gentleman, staring. It can't be…he looked at the man before him, and tried to equate him to Sora. Sora? I suppose it could be true… Riku put all of his knowledge about Sora, his lifelong friend, together with the short knowledge of the gentleman he just made out with. I never knew that Sora was so…perfect. Some friend I am. I should make it up to him.

"I have to go," he said before turning away to walk towards the door.

"W-wait!" Sora started, reaching for him. "What did I do?"

"Nothing," Riku said, turning to him with emotion burning in his eyes, "it is I who have wronged you." He gripped Sora's hand with both of his. "I will come for you soon," he said before pulling away again.

"But how can you be sure?" Sora protested. "You don't even know who I am!"

"But this is true love," he said, turning and smiling widely, "you think this happens every day?"

Then he turned and walked quickly back into the ballroom.

-((Switch!))-

What the hell was that, Sora continued to think as he drove home, I can't even begin to comprehend any of it…

Sora turned into his driveway to find the Dread Pirate Roberts sitting on his porch steps. What the hell is this! He thought as he got out of the car.

"What the hell is this?" he reiterated when he walked up to his steps. "Are you some kind of stalker or something? Because if you are, I'm going to-"

The pirate had taken off his mask and head cover, revealing it to be Riku. Sora stopped talking abruptly. "Riku…"

Riku closed in for a tender kiss. "I'm sorry," he murmured, pulling away, but wrapping his arms lightly around Sora's waist. "I'm so sorry, I never realized how perfect you are," he kissed Sora again. Sora blushed.

"I-I thought you were on a date," he replied lamely.

"I lied, I was trying to find an excuse not to go to the dance with you," Riku said, "besides, no one picks up anyone at the grocery store. Only you would believe that," he said, smirking. "I never realized how adorable that was. All this time I've been looking for a boyfriend and I never noticed the one right in front of me…I'm sorry I took so long," he said looking into Sora's eyes.

"Apology accepted," Sora said, pulling Riku towards him for a kiss.

-((End!))-

Idk, I've seen people suddenly like each other like that before. XD There are a few Princess Bride quotes in there, teehee!

Now, please show me some love. I really need it.

R&R!

Last one: The Underwear!

"Hey!" he called out, grin disappearing. "He gave us condoms, not candy!"

~freaky-hanyou