#keyoflight

               as a matter of fact, he thinks he’s hilarious, lips pressed thin in a valiant attempt to withhold the laughter bubbling in his chest. he only feels half bad, seeing sora drenched head to toe, bucket – the bearer of the prank – kicked to the side. it’s all riku can do to keep from laughing with the others.

         in his minor defense ( and minor is the key word ), it had been TIDUS’S idea, and in all fairness, riku had really only played one role in the prank. the role, of course, was calling sora to class early under the guise of having brought extra lunch ( which, to make up for everything, he did ). 

               it’s the evil glare that gets him, he thinks; the straw that breaks the camel’s back as he doubles over with laughter. he’s fully expecting to get punched, but in the moment it’s worth it.  ❝  don’t look so GLUM, sora–  ❞  he wheezes, looking up at him from where he now stood bent over his knees.  ❝  you’ve pulled worse on us!  ❞

you did more than enough, sora. // @keyoflight 

     everything hurt. 

     breathing? painful.

     talking? just as painful.

     thinking? unbearable.

     if he had just second guessed himself. if he had just listened to his instincts that were telling him just how dangerous it would have been to venture alone..he just couldn’t. he could never possibly deny sora of what he was destined to be. what he was destined to do. he was much greater than him, than anyone. riku owed it to him. he owed him everything.

     all the ‘ what if’s ‘. all the ‘ could have been’s ‘. it pained him to even think about them for more than a few minutes ; he just couldn’t stop himself, he couldn’t stop his mind from racing. thousands of thoughts swarming at him, buzzing in the back of his mind without a single control over them.

     if he let them out, could he be heard?

     could sora hear him...?

     “ sora. “

     he breathed out, barely above a whisper. enough to elicit some kind of calming response, his body would act accordingly, it would know what to do. it was all he had to keep himself from fully losing whatever ounce of sora he still had left within him.

     the stars surely did love sora’s name, didn’t they? he could see them sparkle just a tad bit more once the name had reached high enough for them to hear it too. maybe he was right. maybe he could be heard.

     it was comforting enough to put a saddened smile on his forlorn features, but not comforting enough to uncurl his fists from when they had dug into the grains of sand beneath him. restless nights, consistent nightmares. they were so much more prominent without sora. he had almost forgotten just how terrifying it could be to face it alone.

     “ you did everything you could do..we’ll find you soon. ”

of course he’s not blushing.. // @keyoflight

     those eyes ; as bright as could possibly be, he would surely know, he’d memorized every single speck hidden within the purest of gazes. broken, yet still so willing to stand up and fight..were, much to his dismay, trained solely on him. he could remember the times where he wanted them to focus on him and only him..( as if that wasn’t just a moment prior. ) this time, he could feel the budding nerves settling into the very pit of his stomach. it was..threatening, to say the least. 

     there hadn’t been a single hint of malice in those beautiful ocean eyes, but riku couldn’t help but feel ten times smaller than he had ever felt before. it took everything in him to uphold his calm demeanor and feign innocent at the rosy pink shade that dusted over his cheeks. he hadn’t even allowed the thoughts to cross his mind. he really had changed quite a bit.

     his hair. his features now more matured with age, and a new set of clothes given to him in hopes that he’d be able to keep himself safe throughout the heavy burdens that weighed them all down.

     “ you think so? “

     a voice of uncertainty, with a hint of a shy smile threatening to break free from its restraints. 

     he let it free.

     for sora, he’d always let himself be seen thoroughly, like an open door beckoning only his other half within.

sora is h i s. // @keyoflight

    f r e e z i n g cold. 

     so cold, that he could see his breathe right in front of his eyes. had he known he’d be going there, he’d have at least prepared himself. a coat would have sufficed, at the very least. instead, he had his hands clasped together, blowing air into them just for some type of false sense of heat.

     sora on the other hand, completely unfazed. the smile that caught his eyes warmed his heart, and that was enough to get through whatever it was that brought them there. even if the focus was on something that he was so sure didn’t even exist. it wouldn’t be worth it, but, who was he to say no to those eyes that had pleaded with him to give it a chance?

   ‘ christmas town ‘. 

     of course. he should have known he’d end up there eventually..

   “ sora, i just don’t think he’s real. “

      despite his protests, his words were easily cut off ; in a way in which there was absolutely nothing that he could have done to fight back, sora’s hand was in his, it was just enough to warm his frozen digits in mere seconds. a sense of relief washing over him, his fingers finally cooperating just enough to intertwine their hands in a way that would make it impossible for them to separate.

       if he held on tight enough, he wouldn’t have a need for it.  

    “ he’s not going to tell me i’m on the naughty list, is he? “

       while the joke was a poor choice of words, it still brought a slight smile to his permanently rosy features ( how long would it take to thaw him out? ). if he had to deal with such a thing, he’d keep it lighthearted. darkness was never too far from them, that, he knew.. for now..he’d focus on the only source of keeping his thoughts at bay.

sora is cute // @keyoflight

    such a long, tedious, training session..

    another swing of his keyblade, and he deemed that was more than enough for the day…or, in his own words, ‘ for now ‘. 

     he wasn’t one to get tired so quickly ; if possible, he would continue on until he reached his breaking point. he’d proven that time and time again. if it weren’t for his lack of focus, just maybe, he could have kept going. maybe, he wouldn’t feel such anger towards his weakened state.

    just how many times had he woken up the night prior…he had lost count. on purpose, it was all for his own good. the look in his eyes every time he had gotten up to make sure he was still himself had embedded itself within his mind. that was more than enough.

    once his keyblade had dissipated, he turned on his heel, if he could just disappear along with it for a few hours. enough for there to not be worry in the expressions of everyone that he had to face, he was certain he’d be able to shake off the after effects of so many terrors in one single night of rest.

   ‘ what perfect timing. ‘   

     those eyes. the brightest shade of blue he had ever come into contact with. full of patience, full of understanding, and so much love that sometimes riku couldn’t even fathom how he deserved to always be looked at in such a way. 

    he didn’t deserve it at all, did he? that never stopped him from craving it, deep inside his damaged interior, all the way to his hardened exterior, he could almost feel just how much he needed it. enough to finally let the laughter bellow out into the silence that had taken over. sora always knew what to do, what to say, and everything in between.

     it didn’t help that everything he did just happened to be so very cute to him.     

     “ sora.. ” 

     ( his eyes..did they sparkle? how very unlike him..right? )

very belated new years kiss!! // @keyoflight

    not even for a single second had he expected he’d be there, situated next to the younger ; blankets covering their frames, bodies pressed against each other as if it were truly, the only proper way to sit..for riku? perhaps it was.

    what wasn’t a proper thing for him– ( he had to pause his own thoughts. contort them into something more positive. it took time. it took effort, but, with sora by his side, it was yet another obstacle he so easily could overcome. ) the fact that he was bringing in the new year. next to the single most important thing. the one he held so close to his heart.

    how was he so sure the days ahead wouldn’t bring more pain, and suffering..only for a lifetime of recovery to follow in the aftermath?

    he didn’t.

    he hadn’t a single clue.

    as if his thoughts weren’t loud enough, the loud, overexcited yelling of the countdown in his ear was enough to bring him back to reality. a smile taking place of what once was such a focused stare, eyes boring holes into the wall beside them now softened with fondness, adoration for sora.

3..

2..

1..

    …and soft lips were pressed against his own. sweet, like candy, taking riku aback at first ; overtaking any thoughts he had and replacing them with pure bliss.

    “ happy new year. “

   his voice nearly above a whisper, lips hovering over such a delicacy ; it gave him just enough time to speak, just enough time to slip in the sickeningly sweet way he spoke so highly towards sora.. before he could stop himself from diving right back in. it wouldn’t hurt to steal just one more kiss..or two, or three, just to feel the way his heartstrings tugged at him every single time he so much as gave even the tiniest peck.