#random snapshot

It's 2 AM and Ruri is waiting, patiently, in Sora's room. She isn't like Rin, who both needs to go through with this and hates the price that must be paid for her trial.

No, she is more patient, deliberate in what she says and does.

But she does agree with Rin in one thing: They are being horrible friends.

Certain things must be secured at all costs and Sora, with his web of influence, can make it all work out.

His methods make her shudder, but she refuses to look away. Not when she has a memory of that day.

Rain, the smell of cotton candy, his eyes wild with a well placed revenge.

When this is finally over, she thinks, she will apologize. Apologize and hug him tight, because none of this should have ever happened.

But now he shows up at the door, lifting an eyebrow at his visitor.

"You don't need to be worrying so much, you know. I'm tougher than that."

"I can't help but come look at you. It is the least I can do. Witness it."

Her big brother, Shun, wouldn't have approved of her getting tangled with Sora and the North Wing. Too dangerous, he would say.

     “No wonder someone wrote what they did in the yearbook,” River said snidely under his breath as Loch rambled on about some technology or other to Havoc.      “River, don’t be so rude to your brother,” Strife admonished his son.      “Sorry,” River mumbled with a roll of his eyes. Whether he heard or not, Loch continued as if he hadn’t.

And that’s how Loch got a robotics lab down in the basement.

(This would translate to F*** PUTIN)

     Bay quickly grabbed Amir before he left, making sure Sky was out of earshot.      “Hey, sorry about Sky. I know she can be a bit... harsh, but... uh...” he couldn’t actually think of a way to end that sentence.      “It’s cool, Bay. Don’t worry about it.”      “Really?” he asked sceptically. Sky had really chewed Amir out over some small mistake during practice, and he had expected him to be more upset about it. Actually, he’d expected him to say he wanted to quit the band.      “Yeah, man, it’s fine. I mean, I know she can be—”      “Psycho?”      “—scary. But she knows her music. If I hadn’t heard her play, I probably wouldn’t have joined when you first asked. But she’s super talented, and if anyone could make us a proper band, she could.”      “So... you don’t want to quit?” Bay asked, still somewhat relieved yet still sceptical.      Amir laughed. “Not yet, no. And thanks man, but you really don’t need to apologise for your sister all the time.”      “What do you mean?”      “You and your brothers are always apologising for her. You don’t have to, and it’s not like it’s your place to.”      “You’re probably right. I guess we just know it’s the only apology you’re gonna get, so we feel we have to, I suppose.”      “Whatever,” Amir shrugged. “You should just know, no one blames you for the things she does. You’re not guilty by association.”      “Uh, thanks?”      “No worries. See ya around, Bay.”