Frozen Adventure

***Author's Notes: Had a prompt on the KHOC Discord Server and this was what I came up with! Your choice of characters are enjoying a day in the snow, before heading back inside to warm up. Set in KH3***

"That was one hell of a mission," Lea commented, holding back a large yawn as he stretched his arms. "Feel like I could sleep for an entire week."

Riku hummed in response, standing respectfully beside Lea in front of Master Yen Sid's desk. They had just returned from a week long mission off world, foiling yet another plan of the Organization. Despite not vocally sharing the same sentiment as Lea, Riku felt the exhaustion in his muscles. His eyes were heavy and mind fogged with the endless battle plans and responsibilities of being a Keyblade Master.

"You both have done admirably." Master Yen Sid nodded with the slightest smile. "And returned swifter than we anticipated."

"You can blame the Master for that." Lea nudged Riku with his elbow. "Wanted to get back as soon as possible."

The tip of Riku's lips quirked into a smile. "I wanted to make sure I was here in case anything came up."

"Nah, pretty sure you just wanted to be with a certain redhead." Lea remarked, smirking at the scoff Riku gave in response. "Apparently, I'm not the right one."

Master Yen Sid laughed softly, "I understand. You have been rather busy these past few months, Riku."

"Just doing my best." Riku assured them. "I'll do whatever needs to be done."

"Yes, but I do think you deserve a break." Master Yen Sid offered. "We have no immediate missions for you that other wielders cannot handle; so at the request of Mickey and a few others in my council, you are allowed to take a week to rest."

Riku blinked, "W-what? I couldn't do that with everything going on."

Lea cleared his throat and mumbled, "He's telling you to go spend time with your redhead. Really going to fight him on that?"

"This is more important." Riku sent Lea a look. "Master," he brought his attention back to Yen Sid, "I don't think this is the right time for this."

"I understand your reserve." Yen Sid assured him, holding up his hand. "However, as a Keyblade Master, it is also important to know your limits. You will serve no one by over exhausting yourself."

Riku frowned, but took in a breath, nodding. "Alright, I'll take a week."

Yen Sid smiled, "I'm happy to hear it. You both are dismissed."

Lea and Riku bowed respectfully before taking their leave and heading out of the office towards the stairwell.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't take him up on the offer." Lea noted as he shut the door behind them. "I would have jumped on the chance for a break."

"I'm still a bit against it." Riku admitted with a sigh, looking up at the mystical starry ceiling as they descended the spiral stairwell. "Everyone's been working hard, I shouldn't be the only one getting a break."

"I know one person that'll be excited about it, at least." He nudged Riku again.

"Yeah," Riku's lips tipped back to a soft smile at the thought.

As they reached the bottom of the tower and made their way back outside, Lea stretched his back and let out the yawn he had been holding in. Still having a yawn in his voice, he asked, "You wanna head to the castle?"

Riku simply nodded, pulling out a glistening star shard from his pocket and holding it up towards the sky. A bright, sparkling light surrounded them and vanished them from the world.

….

Warm sun rays beamed in between the thick red curtains hanging over the windows. Regal, golden details decorated the floral wallpapered walls, framing the royal portraits of Queen Minnie's ancestors. The calm regality of it all was ignored by the raised voices overlapping and arguing over the other. People surrounded the long chestnut table in the center of the room, each of them having heated debates of where they needed to focus next.

"This is getting ridiculous!" Sam yelled to Donald, who was telling her one thing or another about the World Order. "I don't give a damn about your rules! If those bastards are attacking the people, we need to step in!"

"Watch your language!" Donald quacked, "Especially in front of the Queen!"

"Now Donald," Queen Minnie softly went to step in.

Her voice was drowned out by Kamash's deep voice disagreeing with something Terra had proposed, saying something about royal duty and respect. Velcia attempted to calm him down, being the voice of reason along with Aqua between them. They were the only ones Hinata could keep track of as she simply stood at the head of the table, watching the chaos around her. None of them could ever fully agree on anything. There was always a catastrophe happening somewhere, the enemy always a step ahead of them.

Hinata rubbed at her temple, trying to think through the growing migraine. It was only a matter of time before they all turned to her to hear her thoughts on the matter. She could already hear Kairi mentioning her name to Sora and Namine. The glances people were sending her, knowing that she would ultimately be the one to decide where they were going next. Being appointed the leader by the newest Keyblade Master was something she often found herself resenting.

The double doors to the room clicked open, causing everyone to fall silent for a single moment as they turned to see Riku and Lea enter. Hinata's eyes softened the moment she saw Riku, both of them smiling when their gazes met. She opened her mouth to say something, but the chaos in the room erupted once more as Sam made a snide comment to Donald. A wistful sigh escaped Hinata as she looked back to the table in front of her, getting back to her work before a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room entirely.

She spun around, about to yank back her arm before she saw Riku closing the door behind them, muffling the loud voices in the other room. Without waiting for him to speak, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Riku let out a hum of contentment, kissing the top of her head as he wound his arms around her.

"Welcome back," she whispered, pulling back enough to see his face and give him a sweet kiss. "That was a lot faster than I expected."

Riku chuckled, "Yeah, Master Yen Sid mentioned that, too. Just wanted to impress you."

"Well, consider me impressed," she giggled, pressing her lips against his.

Both of them smiled into the kiss, reveling in their reunion. The roar of debating voices through the shut doors behind them shattered their tranquil moment and caused them to reluctantly break their lock.

Hinata let out a loud breath, glancing at the polished doors. "I guess I should be getting back in there." She began pulling back from him, but he held her there in his arms. "Riku," she laughed, half-heartedly trying to pry his arms off of her. "I have to get back, you know that."

Riku hesitated, wanting to stay frozen in that moment with her. "What if… you didn't have to go back in there?"

She paused, bringing her eyes to his before she smirked. "Why, does the Keyblade Master have a new job for me?"

A hum escaped him as he pressed his lips against hers for a moment. "Not a job," he pulled back, pushing her hair behind her ear, "But an offer."

"And what's that?" She asked, lacing her hands behind his neck.

"Yen Sid just made me take a week off." He told her, noticing the surprised quirk of her eyebrow. "Take it with me."

Her eyes softened, but with a sigh, she shook her head. "You know we can't do that, Riku."

"If he thinks everyone can manage without me, I'm sure they can without you, too." He pointed out. "Let's just go ask. The worst he'll say is no and I'll just spend the week by your side."

"Then you'll get to see the hell I put up with everyday since you appointed me as a leader." She remarked, giggling at the roll of his eyes. "But alright, let's go ask."

Riku grinned, kissing her again before grabbing her hand and leading her out of the castle. Using the star shard, they appeared at the tower and they walked up the spiral stairwell to meet with Master Yen Sid.

"Master Riku," he greeted as they entered his office. "And Hinata, what a pleasant surprise."

They released each other's hands as they stood respectfully in front of Yen Sid's desk. "Sorry to intrude again." Riku apologized, "I…" his voice trailed off and he rubbed the back of his neck, "Have a large favor to ask."

"Hmm," Master Yen Sid smiled, "I imagine you wish Hinata to take the week off with you?"

"I know that sounds weird, considering I didn't want to take a break in the first place." Riku admitted.

A deep chuckle rumbled in Yen Sid's chest. "I fully expected you to return with this request, even when you objected to the idea of taking a rest. That is why I already appointed Mickey to fill in for Hinata's place while you both are gone."

"Are you sure it's really alright for us to leave… right now?" Hinata asked, looking between Yen Sid and Riku.

His smile faltered back to his usual straight expression as he straightened in his seat, speaking seriously. "The Organization will still be prevalent whether or not you are given the time to recuperate. Neither of you will do any good serving the cause while at the end of your rope. If you are concerned for the others, they will also be given days to rest, so you needn't worry for them."

"Well…" Hinata looked to Riku, who was smiling towards her. She returned the expression, her tattoo beginning to dimly glow. "Alright then."

The decision made, they said their farewells to Master Yen Sid and made their way back down the tower. The entire walk down, Hinata got more and more excited at the prospect of an uninterrupted week with Riku. She mused multiple options of places they could go or things she had wanted him to see with her. With each consecutive idea, their uneasiness of taking a trip together dissolved away into enthusiasm. Riku remained mostly silent, a soft smile on his lips as he listened to her ramble on.

A shooting star shined across the mystical sky as they made their way back outside. Hinata clasped her hand over her forearm, gazing up at the sky before she turned around and walked backwards to face Riku.

"Well Master, where would you like us to go?" She asked him.

Riku smirked at her affectionate inflection when she called him by his title. "I might have a place in mind."

Her smile grew a grin, an excited skip in her step as she went to him and grabbed his hands. "I'm ready for anything."

He squeezed one of her hands before reaching into his pocket for the star shard. Hinata kept her eyes on him as the sparkling aura surrounded them, only closing them when it got too bright. A sharp chill made her shiver and she opened her eyes to find them surrounded by snow. They stood at the edge of a frozen lake that surrounded a gorgeous kingdom. Everything was encased with shimmering ice, even the trees of the forest that outlined the shore of the lake. A long, stone bridge led to the gates of the castle that was built above the quaint town below, where large Christmas trees could be seen, decorated with glowing candles and ornaments.

Hinata's mouth fell agape as she took in her surroundings, her eyes falling back on Riku to see him in new clothes that had been magically changed to blend in with the residents within the world. A thick grey-blue tunic with grey fur lining around the shoulders and collar covered his torso. Intricate details of navy and white were stitched along the edges, matching the fabric tied at his hips. The style continued into the thick boots and gloves that shielded his skin from the feet of snow around them. Pieces of his short, choppy hair framed his face underneath a gray hat as he watched Hinata, awaiting her reaction to everything.

"You look amazing," she simply told him.

Riku blinked in surprise, before he bubbled into a laugh. "Thanks, but don't you want to know where we are?"

She looked towards the kingdom in the distance, humming in thought. "Based on the photos you've sent me while you've been on missions, I'm going to guess…" she brought her eyes back to him, "Arendelle?"

"Yeah," he laughed, "I'm surprised you could tell from out here. All the pics I sent you from here were from inside the kingdom."

"I think you underestimate how much I stare at the pictures you send me." She told him, already walking towards the the entrance to the kingdom.

"I must," he smirked to himself, looking her over before following after her. Meeting her pace, he leaned over and noted, "You look amazing, too."

"Oh! Right!" She realized with a laugh, pausing to look down at her new clothes.

She wore a subdued maroon dress that cut off mid calf. A gold lining separated the corset from the billowing skirt. It also lined above her chest to separate the darker fabric that made up her sleeves and the top of her collar. Delicate embroideries of gold and whites decorated the bodice and skirt, matching the designs of her boots and gloves.

"Wow," she breathed out, holding out the edge of the dress. "This is beautiful."

"Beautiful dress for a beautiful girl." Riku replied, chuckling at the look Hinata sent him.

"You're so adorable." She kissed his cheek, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the kingdom.

The moment they entered the gates, the serene scene from the forest was swept away in bright, wintery festivities. Every building was decorated with frosty wreaths and candy canes. Pine trees stood at every corner, the glow from the candles on their branches surrounded everyone with a comforting warmth. Carolers were singing jolly songs along with quaint live music where a few couples and children danced to the tunes. Through it all, a sweet scent of fresh baked goods wafted through the entire town.

Other than the occasional friendly smile or offer of partaking in a festivity, the townsfolk paid little mind to Riku and Hinata entering the kingdom. They blended in, neither of them being called out or expected to partake in some overwhelming responsibility. Hinata linked her arm with Riku's, pointing out all the little interesting things she noticed as they explored the town. Snow fell around them, but they hardly felt the chill of it. The liveliness in the air kept them excited and moving.

Their exploring came to an end when they discovered an ice rink at the main courtyard in front of the castle. A completely frozen fountain stood in the center of the yard, its water crystalized in swirling patterns. Around it, people were skating back and forth, everyone smiling and laughing.

Hinata watched everyone skate, a grin on her face and the occasional laugh whenever someone would topple over or a small child would do something cute. She hardly noticed Riku walk off and jumped when he handed her a pair of white leather skates.

She gave them one look before wildly shaking her head, "Oh, I don't think so. I don't have the first idea about how to skate."

"Neither do I," he pointed out, walking over to a bench to put on his own pair of skates.

Realizing she wasn't going to be getting out of it, she blew out a puff of air and joined him on the bench. She tied the laces before she carefully stood back up. With a gasp, she swung her arms wildly, already feeling her feet sliding out from underneath her. A warm pair of hands caught her around her waist and looking over her shoulder, she saw Riku supporting her with an amused expression on his face.

He moved to her side, grabbing her hand. "Come on, let's just do what everyone else is."

With a slow step, he slid his foot forward, his eyes focused on the other townsfolk as they skated with ease. He moved them forward, Hinata staying perfectly still and being more than happy to allow Riku to pull her along. She clung onto him, her once free hand wrapped around his arm to keep her upright, but as they made the first roundabout of the fountain, she began to relax.

Just as she released her hold on Riku's arm and move her feet on her own, he released her altogether, allowing her to slide on ahead of him. Hinata squeaked in surprise, her confidence fleeting as she tried to spin around to scold Riku, but only resulted in spinning out of control. She swung her arms, her legs slipping out from under her, and she fell onto her backside, sliding in defeat. A huff escaped her as she crossed her arms, glaring at Riku who had nearly doubled over in laughter. Her glare waned within a moment, unable to keep up the charade. She couldn't help but laugh along with him, especially when he attempted to skate towards her, but only ended up falling beside her.

"Are you alright?" She asked, her voice still riddled with laughter.

He pushed himself up into a seated position, falling flat rather than just on his backside like Hinata had. "Yeah, I'm fine." he replied, his voice in a similar condition to hers.

Both of them wore grins, their faces warmed. As their laughter died down they kept smiling at the other and eventually kissed, breaking apart when they heard someone whistle in appreciation. Riku got up first, holding out his hand to Hinata to help her up.

"I haven't heard you laugh like that in a long time." She whispered to him as she stood, a sweet, loving look in her eyes.

"Yeah," he agreed, squeezing her hand with a bittersweet smile. "You, too, actually."

She opened her mouth to say more, but paused when she realized they were in the way of the other skaters. "Want to keep going?" She asked him.

"Only if you'll actually skate this time." He quipped, leading the way.

"Fine, fine," she conceded, attempting to follow his movements to go forward.

She managed to stay on her feet most of the time, as they circled around the fountain. Riku would snicker everytime she fell, only to fall shortly after, but he was picking up on it quicker than she was. He eventually let go of her hand, to attempt going a bit faster. Hinata tried to keep up with him, gasping when her balance would waver.

"Hey, you're starting to get the hang of it." Riku noted, slowing down to meet her pace after a few rounds around the rink.

"You think so?" She asked, standing taller but began to wobble, swaying every which way. "I-I usually have a bit more dignity than this." She lamented as she barely managed to stay up.

He chuckled, "You still have your dignity, I promise."

"Thanks," she snickered. She looked up when she heard a joyful, eccentric voice from the crowd. "Is that…" She stopped moving her feet, sliding to a halt. "A talking snowman?"

Riku spun around a little too fast, tripping over his feet. With a surprised yelp, he grabbed onto Hinata, pulling her down with him. His cheeks warmed at Hinata's laughter as they fell to the ice, but he joined in. They thankfully crashed near the edge of the rink, so they weren't in the way of many other skaters. Glancing over his shoulder, Riku saw the snowman Hinata was referring to.

Letting out a breath, he told her, "Yeah, that's Olaf."

"Olaf!" She remembered the name, her eyes lighting up as she watched Olaf talking excitedly with two regally dressed women. "For some reason I didn't expect him to be a snowman…"

Riku chuckled, "I don't think I ever mentioned it." He turned away when the group Hinata was referring to looked their way. Grabbing her hand, he whispered, "We should get back into the town before they recognize me."

"What, why?" She asked, matching his whispered tone.

"Those girls with Olaf," Riku motioned his head behind them, "they're the rulers here and Princess Ana has been trying to get me to go to one of their royal dance things since we met. I've only been able to get out of them since I used you not being with me as an excuse not to go."

Hinata blinked, looking between him and the women, "A royal dance? Like the one Sora and Kairi got to go to on Cinderella's world?"

Riku paused, "Yeah, I think so anyways." He looked at her, "Is that something you'd be interested in?"

She mulled it over, "Usually, I'd say no. But, I mean, if the offer's there…"

He laughed softly, keeping his quiet tone. "Well alright. We'll be here for a week, so we'll let them know we're here tomorrow."

"But today?" She asked, arching an eyebrow as she met her eyes with his, a smirk quirking the corner of her lips as she had an inkling where he was going with his idea.

"I want us to have it all to ourselves." He told her, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. "And… They can be exhausting. Honestly think Sora's more suited to deal with them."

Hinata bubbled into laughter, catching herself to quiet down. Nodding quickly, she checked to make sure Olaf and the girls weren't looking their way, then she pulled on Riku's hand and scrambled off the rink entirely. They quickly slid off their skates and got back into their boots, before escaping into the crowds. The moment they were in the midst of crowds, they broke into a run to get as far away from the ice rink as they could. Riku tugged Hinata around the corner beside a tavern, concealing them completely. They leaned against the wooden wall, breathless but laughing.

"Oh that was exciting," Hinata gushed with a giggle. "I don't think I've ever had to make a daring escape from royalty, before."

"Yeah, that was a first," Riku agreed, a grin permanently on his face as he met his eyes with hers. "I love you."

She grinned in return, her tattoo glowing. "I love you, too."

He cupped her cheek in his hand, leaning over for a kiss. She hummed against his lips, placing her hand over his. When he pulled away, they gazed into each other's eyes, the world fading away for that single moment.

"So, what else do you want show me in Arendelle?" Hinata asked, her voice soft and low as her eyes drifted between his eyes and lips.

"Whatever you want," he replied, kissing her again. "Could really use something warm to drink, though."

"Oh thank goodness," she admitted with a soft laugh, "I'm freezing."

"Me too," he agreed, grabbing her hand and peeking out from the corner of building to make sure they hadn't been spotted. Seeing that the coast was clear, he pulled her inside the warm tavern.

A tall furnace was built along the far back of the tavern, the flames flickering and crackling along with the live folk music that was being played by two men on a wooden stage. A third man sang to the tune about an old troll named Flemmingrad, getting a handful of intoxicated patrons to sing along with cheers while lifting their mugs of warmed rum. Hinata followed Riku to sit at the bar, keeping her eyes on the band while listening to the ballad and enjoying the warmth from the fire.

The clink of cups in front of her caught her attention and looking back forward she saw two tall mugs of hot cocoa. Green trees and red reindeer were carved into the cream colored clay that made up the thick mugs. Hinata idly traced her fingertip along them as she held her cup between her palms, taking a deep breath of the chocolatey steam that heated her cheeks.

"I was worried you were going to order me rum," she teased, taking a long sip of the drink, humming in appreciation as it spread through her.

"God no," he breathily chuckled, taking his own drink. He turned around on the stool, leaning his back against the counter with his mug still in his grasp.

Hinata turned as well, keeping her back straight as she watched the commotion of the tavern. Men and women of various ages filled the seats and tables, many of them talking loudly and laughing freely. A few children also roamed in between the patrons, giggling and playing a game of tag as their parents half-heartedly told them to stop.

Golden sunlight peeked in between the clouds, a few of the rays poured in through the open doorway as the sun was beginning to set. A sweet feast of ham and baked apples began being brought out to the tables, sharing a celebration for an upcoming holiday. While there by complete accident, Hinata and Riku were given plates full of food, welcomed to join in on the festivities. They ate together, laughing as they watched the people around them and barely noticed the sun disappearing completely as night fell.

As Hinata finished her second mug of cocoa she looked over to Riku, just then noticing the heavy bags under his eyes as he yawned. Her smile fell as she placed her hand along his knee, "I didn't even think about it, you must be exhausted."

He waved her off, but broke into another yawn. "I'm a little tired."

Hinata scoffed, ending with a giggle, "Come on," she slid off her seat, reaching for his hand. "Let's find an inn to get some sleep."

Their fingers interlaced as he smiled and slid off the seat as well. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, then began weaving their way between the patrons towards the exit. A few of the people asked them to stay for the rest of the party, or to take part in the dancing that was just starting. Hinata was able to talk their way out of it, but stayed long enough to watch the first dance that seemed to be a mix between a waltz and slow swaying as most of the patrons were in some way intoxicated.

Riku tugged on her hand as the song ended, leading back out to the snowy outdoors. The warmth of the tavern immediately left them, replaced with the chilling, frigid wind and falling snow. Hinata shivered, huddling close to Riku as they tried to follow the glow from the candle lit street lamps to a nearby inn Riku knew about.

The building they approached was taller than most of the surrounding ones. The windows glowed with life, inviting them in from the night cold. They pulled on the door, the harsh winds making it difficult to open. Hinata shook as they finally entered, looking up at the calm, quaint living room. Couches and armchairs were placed around a flickering fireplace, where people were quietly sitting, reading or simply enjoying the emanating heat from the flames. Hinata walked towards the fireplace as Riku went to the front desk and worked on accommodating them a room.

She stared at the crackling flames, getting lost in her thoughts and the occasional worry that crept into the back of her mind. It all swept away as Riku slid his arm in hers, showing her the room key he had just gotten. She smiled warmly, walking with him up the stairwell to the second floor where their room awaited. A chill quivered through her as the heat from the fireplace left and she ran her hands along her arms as she waited for Riku to unlock their room.

It was a charming room, with a queen-sized bed against the far wall underneath a tall window shrouded with thick curtains. A fur comforter covered the bed, seemingly calling Hinata's name as she knew it would keep the cold away. Along the right wall was a small, brick fireplace, already set up with wood, just waiting to be lit. A long couch stood a few feet away from the fireplace and Riku made a beeline for it. He sat along the edge, taking off his boots, hat, and tunic in succession, only leaving him in his pants and a long sleeved shirt. Hinata closed the door, looking around the room as Riku held out his palm and ignited a ball of flame. The glow of it illuminated the room, accentuating the sweet details; such as the flowers placed in glass vases on their bedside tables or the gorgeous paintings hung along the walls.

Hinata walked through the room, admiring the artwork as Riku started the fire. "Have you ever stayed here?" She broke through the silence, only the sound of the crackling flames besides her voice.

"No, this is my first time." He told her, his voice slightly distracted and tired. "I usually stayed at the castle."

"That must have been amazing," she looked over her shoulder at him. "How big were the rooms?"

"Way too big for anyone staying there by themselves." He remarked, getting a soft laugh in response. "I'm sure Princess Ana and Queen Elsa will insist we stay there once we tell them we're here."

She hummed, reaching the bed and running her fingers through the thick fur of the blanket. "I mean, they don't have to know we're here. Do they?"

Riku chuckled as he sat on the edge of the couch again, stretching his arms before he lay down. Lacing his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling, he replied, "I mean… I guess not." He laughed again, "Might be sort of fun to try to avoid them all week."

"I think it would." Hinata giggled, grabbing the fur blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders as she made her way to the couch. "But I also would like to meet them eventually."

She carefully climbed onto the couch with him, her head resting along his chest. The blanket was spread over them, capturing their warmth as Riku wrapped his arms around Hinata. She absently watched the flames, listening to his heartbeat as his chest rose and fell with each consecutive breath. Closing her eyes, she felt her mind drifting to sleep, but couldn't shake the uneasiness in the back of her thoughts. Riku remained silent as well, his hands lightly tracing up and down her back.

"How are you doing…?" Hinata asked after a few minutes, her voice barely over a whisper.

"Hmm," he hummed, his eyes closed. "Relaxed… Content… and-"

"Wanting this to last forever?" She finished, planting a kiss over his heart.

A laugh rumbled in his chest, making Hinata smile. "Yeah, that." When she didn't reply, he asked, "How about you?"

She was silent for a moment in thought, letting out a breath, she admitted, "Happy, but…" Her voice trailed off.

"...Worried about everyone?" He surmised, feeling Hinata nod against him. "Yeah," he sighed, "Me too."

"I loved today," she continued, "But every time we hit a lull, I couldn't stop thinking about everything going on… Doesn't feel right to be out here."

"I know," he agreed, his hands rubbing calming circles up and down her back.

"Everything will be okay… right?" She asked, lifting her chin so she could look at him. Riku opened his eyes to meet her gaze. "All this will be worth it in the end?"

He stared at her for a moment before smiling softly, "I'm sure of it." He brought his hand to her cheek, rubbing his thumb over her tattoo. "We'll make it through."

She leaned into his touch, kissing his palm. "I hope so."

He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her up so he could meet her lips with his. She sighed into his mouth, melting as his hands massaged her shoulders. It was comforting and loving in a way that caused all the stress built up in Hinata to dissolve away. As he pulled back, he feathered a few short kisses to her face.

"I promise," he whispered, "No matter what, we'll be alright."

She smiled, kissing him again. "I love you." She spoke against his lips.

He waited until their lock broke, letting her get back to resting her head against his chest, before replying softly, "I love you, too."

They watched the flickering flames of the fire, both of them slowly losing themselves to their thoughts as they remained silent. Hinata listened to Riku's heartbeat against the crack of the fire, allowing it to lull her to a peaceful, pleasant sleep. Even with the chaos, they had each other, and in that moment that was all they needed.