I'm still me...

However, despite the rain hitting the windows and house. Sora's eyes slowly opened at Riku's voice. Jumping up almost in alarm, before laying back down. Where did he end up wandering off to this time? He made it back home, but why did he leave it in the first place? His mind felt empty and confused. Scared and alert.

He did his best to remain calm. Deep breath. "Oh....H-Hey Riku."

Riku tried so hard not to look as panicked as he felt. It probably didn't work (as if it ever had), but it was worth the attempt at keeping his breath even, plastering a soft smile on his face and just... hoping. So much was so clearly wrong, but there was obviously more than just the visual evidence...

"Hi." It took enormous effort not to wince at his own voice, rough and thin in turns. "Think you can sit up and drink some water for me?" There was so much more he wanted to say, to ask directly, needing to get to the bottom of whatever was happening--

The tone of Riku's voice worried him a little, but he nodded a bit. Carefully sitting up and looking at the blanket he was on. "Water would be nice yeah. I just felt so... Suddenly tired beyond existence earlier. Like my body just felt.... Heavy." Out of place and uncomfortable.

He'd found him. He'd felt him and he'd found him, woken from a dead sleep with the sudden need to move, to go, to hurry because urgent, not a nightmare, go there now--

Riku had been so, so careful, as careful as he could be, scooping up the too-light form as delicately as he could and walking in the rain, ignoring cold droplets pelting him. The sky could open up and he wouldn't--

The thought stopped itself, thoughts mostly a buzz as he distantly made the journey the rest of the way back, not really mentally present again until Sora was laying on his bed, still covered in sand, and it didn't matter. It didn't.

However, despite the rain hitting the windows and house. Sora's eyes slowly opened at Riku's voice. Jumping up almost in alarm, before laying back down. Where did he end up wandering off to this time? He made it back home, but why did he leave it in the first place? His mind felt empty and confused. Scared and alert.

He did his best to remain calm. Deep breath. "Oh....H-Hey Riku."

get behind me.

go inside and lock the door and don't come out until i say so.

are you all right? where are you hurt?

over my dead body.

i promised them i'd keep you safe.

i sleep better when you're next to me.

are you serious? i'm not letting you risk your life.

don't go. it's safer here.

i should have been here. this is my fault.

here. take this gun. don't pull the trigger unless it's absolutely necessary.

they told me to watch you.

i won't let anyone lay a hand on you.

stay close to me.

i'm not worth saving. please.

can you stay? just for a little while? it would help.

it's too dangerous out there.

i thought i'd lost you.

can you hear me? hello? where are you?

they're all afraid of me.

they told me you'd be trouble. clearly that was an understatement.

one of us has to make it out of here.

is that a bruise?

get back. get back right now.

did they touch you?

i already lost you once. i'm not going to lose you again.

a few more steps. we're nearly there. i've got you.

where does it hurt? let me see.

oh my god, you're covered in blood.

i love you, but you have to go.

climb on my back. i'll carry you.

i wish you'd stay.

i slept here all night. i couldn't leave you.

stay with me. i can keep you safe.

no. i've made my decision. you're staying here.

holy shit. are you okay? what the hell happened?

we have to get inside right now.

quick! hide! in here!

if they know you're with me, they'll leave you alone.

if they attack again, we'll be ready.

this never should have happened.

i want you to run, okay? run and don't look back.

you're all right. you're safe. it's over.

i'll feel better once you're out of this.

i don't have nightmares when you're here.

where have you been? i've been calling you all night.

your phone went straight to voicemail. what's going on?

i don't want anything to happen to you.

i can't stand the thought of losing you.

i won't let them touch you.

when we met, i promised myself i'd keep you safe.

where'd they go? i'll give them a piece of my mind.

here. squeeze my hand if it hurts.

i'll lay beside you.

no. it's non-negotiable. you're staying here.

i don't want you to die, okay?

listen to me! i know what i'm doing!

i can't lose you again!

do you hear me? i love you! i've always loved you.

i've got you. i'm right here.

can i stay? i'll take the couch.

tell them you're with me.

you can make it. i believe in you.

are you kidding me? who decided this?

here, i'll pick you up.

get back in the car. i'll handle this.

if anyone can do it, it's you.

let me carry you to safety.

don't mind him, he's been training for a while and has decided to take a break and do some stargazing. he hadn't really been able to do that before. it felt... nice.