Naminé sighed and looked down at her unfinished work, lines half drawn and scattered across the page without purpose. Normally, she found a calm focus when she drew, a place where her thoughts settled into clear, quiet lines. But tonight, everything felt tangled. She could feel Larxene's presence lingering in the empty room like a shadow. the harshness in Larxene's gaze, the way she'd kept her walls so firmly in place despite Namine's attempts to reach her - it all hung heavy on her mind. Why did she even care? They were worlds apart. Still, something about Larxene fascinated her, something she couldn't quite explain.
Letting out another sigh, she snapped her sketchbook shut. Enough was enough. She'd been in the mansion far too long, and the silence was starting to weigh on her, as though even the air itself disapproved of her presence. Taking out her phone, she called a Gummi and gave her dorm address, grateful for once to be leaving the mansion instead of going. The sooner she left, the sooner she could shake off the strange feeling that had settled over her.
When the car pulled up, she slid into the back seat, the driver giving her a polite nod as he glanced in the rear view mirror. They hadn't driven far when she remembered that there wasn't a single thing to eat in her dorm. She didn't feel like going out again tomorrow, so she asked the driver to make a quick stop at a nearby grocery store, to which he agreed with a shrug.
The store was quiet, its fluorescent lights glaringly bright against the stillness of the nearly empty aisles. She wandered through, her mind still distant as she grabbed a few essentials. Tea, instant ramen, a carton of milk - lactose free because of course she was intolerant, nothing else with her body behaved the way she wanted it to, so why not. She barely paid attention to what she tossed into her basket, her thoughts wandering back to the mansion, to Larxene, and the way she'd felt more like an intruder than a friend. But maybe that's how Larxene wanted her to feel.
Namine's hand hovered over a row of oranges when she noticed a familiar figure at the end of the aisle. Tall with silver hair and a worn black jacket - she didn't need a second glance to recognize him. Who would? A man as handsome as him would stick in anyone's mind.
"Riku?"
Riku turned, his eyes widening slightly as he spotted her. He gave a slight nod and a lopsided smile, his calm, steady presence a stark contrast to the tense energy she'd felt with Larxene. "Naminé, Hey. Didn't expect to run into you here." His tone was warm, familiar, and unguarded, a welcome relief.
She blinked, recovering from her surprise. "Yeah, I…live not so far away. Needed to pick up a few things." she said, motioning to the basket resting in the crook of her elbow.
Riku nodded, glancing down at his own basket filled with healthy snacks, milk, a loaf of bread and protein powder. That didn't surprise her, Riku always took very good care of himself, and the way his muscles pushed against his fashion sense reaffirmed that. "Same. Figured I'd grab what I needed before heading home. It's…nice to run into you, though. Been a while, hasn't it?"
Naminé nodded her heart lifting at the gentle, casual tone he used. He's always been like this, treating her with an easy kindness she didn't find in most people, especially her old friend group. Not after what she did… She fell into step beside him as they walked down the aisles together, a quiet warmth building as they chatted about small things - classes, the inconvenience of late night grocery runs, the weather.
"So, are you still drawing?" he asked, genuinely interested. "I remember back on the Islands you always had a sketchbook with you. To be honest I expected you'd be a famous artist with museum exhibits."
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah. I guess it's the one thing that hasn't changed." She thought back to her unfinished sketch of the mansion, Larxene's face flashing briefly in her mind. "Though lately, I feel like I'm drawing just to figure things out."
Riku nodded, as if he understood completely. "Art's good for that, but, sometimes it's easier to work things out with your body than your mind." He glanced at her, his gaze perceptive and calm. "Are things…still complicated right now?"
She hesitated, then gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "I guess you could say that. I'm still atoning for my sin…"
He hummed softly, nodding. "I see…" There was a moment of silence, filled with unspoken memories. Riku's gaze softened as he looked at her, his expression a blend of nostalgia and quiet understanding. "If you ever want to talk about…you know, all 'that', don't be a stranger, okay? Just because things have changed doesn't mean I'm no longer your friend."
The kindness in his words brought an unexpected warmth to her chest, and she felt a gratitude tug at her heart. Most of her old friends had drifted away, either out of disgust or something closer to resentment. Naminé couldn't say that she didn't deserve it. But Riku… he'd stayed the same, always quietly supportive, always understanding.
"Thank you," she murmured, barely trusting herself to look up.
They walked toward the checkout together, sharing a few more quiet laughs and conversations. She couldn't help but feel the comforting familiarity of it, a reminder of simpler times. Before she ruined everything. For a moment she almost forgot about Larxene, what happened at the mansion, about the strange thoughts that had been running through her head since their meeting. But as she bagged her groceries and they walked toward the exit, the feeling returned. Distant, lingering, as if it were waiting just out of reach.
As the left the grocery store, Riku paused, looking thoughtfully at Naminé. He seemed to consider his words for a moment before glancing back at her, his tone casual but warm.
"Hey, Naminé," he started, tucking his hands into his jacket pockets. "I go to the gym every morning - it's quiet, usually empty at that hour. Sometimes it's easier to work through things with your body rather than your mind, so, you want to join me tomorrow?"
Naminé blinked, surprised. "The gym?" The last time she was in a gym, she took a dodge ball to the face and decided that her bruised eye - and pride - would benefit more from school work on the bleachers than actively participating in P.E., but Riku's offer sounded genuine, almost as if he was offering more than just a workout.
"Yeah," he said, a small smile forming. "You don't have to go hard or anything. Sometimes, just moving around helps when your head feels messy. And, well….I figured it'd be better than dealing with it all alone."
She considered it, feeling his sincerity. "Alright," she said with a shy nod. "Maybe I could use that. Thanks, Riku."
"Great. Text me your address tonight and I'll come by to get you in the morning." He replied, his smile widening. "And don't worry, I"ll bring coffee."
"Alright," she promised, giving him a smile of her own. "Take care, Riku,"
He raised a hand in a brief wave before she slid into the car, and as they pulled away, she watched him fade into the distance. She felt strangely grounded, comforted in a way she hadn't expected. Riku had always been that way for her, a quiet reminder of something good, something she could rely on.
The car ride back to her dorm was silent, her mind drifting between the warmth of her encounter with Riku and the lingering shadows of the mansion. She didn't fully understand why Larxene kept returning to her mind, nor why she felt drawn to that cold, intimidating woman. But for the first time, she felt a small spark of curiosity that was hidden beneath Larxene's heavily guarded exterior, and a flicker of determination to find out more.
When she finally reached her dorm, she unpacked her groceries and made herself a small cup of tea, savoring the warmth as she curled up in her messy bed. Tomorrow would be another day, with its challenges and uncertainties. But tonight, she felt a little less alone - and maybe, just maybe, a little bit stronger.
Naminé jolted awake violently, the sound of her phone ringing right next to her ear, causing her to tumble out of her bed in a mess of blonde hair, limbs and blanket onto the floor.
"Shit!" she swore, scrambling to untangle herself and silence the phone that rudely shattered her peaceful sleep - and maybe elbow - she thought, gingerly rubbing her arm, feeling a welp developing. Six AM. "Who?"
Naminé rubbed her tired eyes to see who could possibly be calling her this early in the morning, the only people up at this time are insane people and their keepers. 'These are heathen hours,' she thought.
Riku.
Naminé blinked in confusion before answering the call."Hello?"
"There you are. Ready to go?" His calm voice came.
"Ready to - I haven't even gotten out of bed yet!" Naminé retorted, incredulous.
"Did you forget about our plans?" Riku questioned, sounding a bit hurt.
"No, I just thought you would arrive at a time that regular people would,"
"Huh? Is this not a normal time of day?"
'He's lucky he's pretty…' Namine thought to herself before sighing. "No, sorry, it's my fault. I'm getting ready now. See you in a bit,"
"Oh, okay!" He said, an unmistakable cheer in his voice. Morning people needed to be studied in a lab, squeezed of their liquid and used as renewable biofuel. The world would be done with crude oil in a matter of weeks. Seriously, how can anyone have this much energy before the sun was officially up? Naminé dragged herself to her feet, trudging to the bathroom as fast as her body could take her with the scant amount of energy she currently had. As she began brushing her teeth she briefly considered telling Riku that her period had suddenly started and she couldn't go, but he seemed genuinely excited for this even though Naminé could only think of crawling back in bed and sleeping for four more hours. She spat the berry flavored toothpaste - she hated the taste of mint - in the sink basin and slowly made her way to her closet, grabbing the first pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt she saw. Were they even clean? It didn't matter. Peeling off her sleepwear she wriggled into the sweatpants, tied her hair into a ponytail and grabbed the loaf of bed she'd bought the night before, grumpily fiddling with the twist tie for far longer than her patience would have liked and toasted it. She snatched her phone from the bed and texted Riku to let him know she hadn't fallen back asleep - against her better judgment. After what seemed like an eternity the toaster sprung the now warmed bread and spread strawberry jam on the slice before leaving.
The ride to the gym was rather peaceful despite the occasional death glare she shot at Riku. She really was a bitch, wasn't she? Still, she appreciated that he even gave her the time of day. If it were Kairi she'd ran into in that store Naminé was sure she would have been ignored. Or slapped.
"Do you really wake up this early everyday?" Naminé questioned suddenly, recoiling as sunlight shone directly into her eyes as they rounded a corner.
"Yeah, why?" Riku asked, glancing over to Naminé who was gingerly cradling a steaming hot coffee in her hands, hazarding a sip every few minutes.
"Then, do you go to sleep super early or something?"
"Um, no earlier than the average person I would say. Don't most people go to bed at ten?"
"You go to sleep at ten and wake up at six everyday?"
"Five."
Naminé wondered how anyone could function on such a strict schedule. The mere idea made her head throb. "You're a cryptid." She retorted, taking another careful sip of her coffee.
Riku laughed, pulling the car to a stop outside a large building. Dream Drop Fitness. "We're here," He stated with a smile before hopping out of the car. Naminé groaned, placing her coffee in the cup holder and scooting her way out of the seat, following him up to the building. "Normally you'd need a membership to get in, but I'm a member and they give us guest passes.
"Yippee," Naminé cheered sarcastically.
After walking through the front entrance, Riku gave her a smile. "Wait here for a sec, I'm going to put my bag in my locker."
Naminé nodded, glancing around the large entry area. Different posters explaining carbs and calories and different fitness routines lined the walls and everything was so bright and inviting. It would be kind of welcoming if Naminé wasn't so ready to leave already. A tall burly man with coiffed orange hair and a bright yellow shirt sauntered up to Naminé, a sunny smile on his face.
"Hey! You're new here, Ya? Are you here to sign up for a membership?"
"Oh, uhm… no?" Namine answered timidly, overwhelmed by the amount of energy he exuded.
"Ah, then you must be here for the ladies self defense class! That's being held upstairs, You're just in time." He spoke with a confidence and air that made it hard to dislike him even though he was incredibly loud. His voice seemed to reverberate through Naminé's entire being.
"Oh, hey Wakka," Riku's voice came from behind. "This is Namine," He said.
"Oh, hey brudda! Is this your girlfriend? I see now, you're coming to get a couples workout in!" He said with a huge grin.
Namine's face heated up and she trained her eyes to the floor immediately. She was sure Riku deserved a better friend than her let alone a girlfriend.
"Nah, she's just a friend. But we are here to work out, is the main gym pretty empty?" he clarified. Naminé was surprised he didn't refer to her as 'some girl he knows.' It made her heart swell that he still considered her a friend even after what she did.
"Ahhhh, Ya, ya. Go right ahead, I'll log her in as a guest, I'll just need an email address?"
"Oh…okay, Uhm…why don't you go on ahead Riku? I'll be right behind you."
"Sure, I'll be right in here." He said, motioning toward the large gym area filled with large machines and equipment, most of which Naminé had no clue the purpose of - or if she'd survive trying to use them. He walked over to a wide bench and began his warm up as Naminé turned to face Wakka.
"Don't worry, we won't spam you with a buncha junk, ya? It's just for our logs." He stated, walking behind the front desk and looking at her expectantly.
"Uhm…Okay, it's PastelMemories zero five at "
"Gotcha, alright. You're all set!"
Naminé nodded, beginning to turn away so she could join Riku.
"Ah, one thing though…" He added suddenly. "Between you and me, snatch Riku up while you can, ya? The gym girlie's here are always drooling over him. Would hate for you to miss your chance, ya? I mean just look at him: specimen." He said, motioning toward Riku who was not far doing stretches.
"I-It's really not like that!" Namine squeaked, trying to hide her embarrassment and the blush that was crawling up her cheeks.
"If you say so!" He said with a smile and a wink as Naminé scurried over to escape and rejoin Riku.
Besides their interaction with Wakka, the gym was quiet in the early morning, only a few people scattered around the machines, the air filled with faint music and the rhythmic hum of treadmills. Naminé looked around feeling slightly out of place in her workout, clutching a water bottle Riku gave her nervously. Riku had moved to one of the machines, setting a steady pace, his calm focus making it look like he did this effortlessly every day - which she reminded herself, he probably did.
"Ready?" Riku asked, glancing over his shoulder with a warm, reassuring smile as she joined him.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she said, trying to sound confident, though it probably came out more like she was about to cry instead. They started on the treadmills, Riku setting hers to a slower pace. For him, it was almost a light jog, but even just walking at his pace had her struggling a bit.
"Not too bad, right?" he asked, throwing her an encouraging look.
She nodded, focusing on her breathing. "I think I'll survive." But as the minutes ticked by, she started to feel her muscles burn, and her face scrunched up in effort. Riku noticed, chuckling softly.
"Here," he said, lowering her speed slightly. "No need to push it too hard right away. Just take it easy."
'Right away' she thought. Yeah good luck ever getting her back here, this was torture. She shot him an incredulous look, but couldn't hide her curiosity. "You really do this every day?"
"Pretty much," he said, unfazed. "Gets me out of my head." He tapped his temple, giving her a knowing look. "and keeps me healthy and productive."
After the treadmill, he led her through a series of stretches and basic exercises. Every few minutes, she would stop to catch her breath, wiping sweat from her forehead, her arms trembling slightly. Riku's presence remained steady, his voice gentle as he talked her through each move, explaining techniques with a patience that kept her from feeling embarrassed.
"Like this," he said, carefully adjusting her stance as they tried some light weights. "It's okay if it feels hard. Just go slow."
She rolled her eyes, but there was no bite in it. "Easy for you to say - I bet you could lift a whole log without breaking a sweat."
He chuckled, leaning back and watching as she gave it another try. "We'll get you there, you're doing better than you think."
By the end of the session, Naminé was barely holding herself up, arms aching and legs sore. She trudged back to the lockers with Riku, grimacing every step. Riku walked beside her, looking relaxed and almost amused by her exhausted state.
"That was…something," she managed, taking a long drink of water. "I don't think I'll be able to move tomorrow… Or the rest of today."
"Trust me, that's normal," he said with a grin, holding open the gym door for her as they left. "It's actually a good sign. Plus it cleared your head, right?"
She shook her head, exasperated. "All I feel is sore, Riku. I don't know if I got any 'clarity' from this. Just pain."
He laughed, but his tone was gentle. "You didn't seem too focused on whatever was on your mind earlier, though."
She paused, catching g his meaning. It was true; through the entire workout, she'd been too busy just trying to keep up to think about anything else. The mansion, Larxene, Kairi - all of it had faded into the background.
"Maybe," she admitted, reluctantly.
"Next time, you can set the pace." He said with a smile.
"Next time?!" She balked. "I don't even know if I'll survive *this* time!"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Consistency is key."
As they walked toward her dorm, she felt a surprising lightness, as the though the physical exhaustion had loosened something within her, making her steps feel a bit steadier. Riku said goodbye to her at the door, giving her one last smile before turning.
"See you tomorrow?" He asked.
She smiled. "You'd have to drag me there in chains."
"Fair enough," He said with a quiet laugh.
"Actually…"
"Hmm?" He paused.
"Do you…want to come in? For brunch maybe?" Naminé asked softly. She wanted to repay him for his kindness, and…there was something that she wanted to ask him.
He waited for a brief moment before nodding.
"Sure."