Till the end I will be with you.

[runbysmiles]

Who: Riku overshadow and Sora runbysmiles
When: Backdated to the beginning of the week before the bubble burst.
Where: Sora and Riku's apartment.
Style: Action since it's faster? I'll switch if Dai wants~
Status: CLOSED

[ Sora woke up back to his normal, short, self, but one thing from the change had remained the same, though it had nothing to do with his physical stature. He stretched a bit as he got up ready to start the day, though it was already a little bit late. Ever since coming back to the bubble he'd enjoyed sleeping in, if only a little.

He maneuvered his way around the various animals that had snuck into his room during the middle of the night and headed out into the hallway. From there he headed towards the kitchen to snag some cereal before doing the one thing he'd promised he'd do the moment he was back down to his normal size. Somehow talking with Riku about this all important subject didn't seem right if he was under the effects of a curse. Sora wondered vaguely to himself if Riku was awake already. He probably was. Was he even in the house? ]

Comments

[overashadow]

[ He'd been awake for a while now. Sometimes, he likes to sit in bed and look at the things around him, trying to figure them out. Sometimes, he wonders about Vatheon or what he's going to do for the day. Sometimes, he misses Kairi-- Okay, he misses her a lot, but sometimes, it's more on particular days than others.

Now, though, he feels directionless, and Riku eventually leaves the room to wander the apartment. They really should look for something bigger, but he's rarely there as it is. Sora might like the idea though. Sora... He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, an idly gesture when he hears movement in the kitchen. Rather than avoid it, which he might have done a week ago, Riku walks right in like it's the most casual thing in the world. It's nice to see his best friend back to normal, at least; it'd been a little odd with Sora towering over him. ]

Hey.

[runbysmiles]

Riku!

[ Sora turned from where he was pouring his cereal. He stopped so the little flakes wouldn't end up overflowing the bowl. ]

Did you want something for breakfast?

[ Sora gestured to the box of cereal shaking it a bit. ]

We have some fruit too if you want that instead.

[ It was nice to see Riku back at his normal line of sight. Being tall had been fun, but this felt far more natural and normal. A smile pulled at Sora's face as he looked at Riku, almost like he was keeping a secret of some sort. He turned back around then and went to pour the milk. ]

Did you have plans for today?

[overashadow]

[ There's a shake of his head in response before he realizes Sora had asked him two questions. So, Riku simply watches him when he turns around. ]

I'll have something later. [ Pause. ] And no plans so far. What about you?

[runbysmiles]

Mmm not really....

[ Sora's heart started pounding then. It wasn't unlike the anticipation right before a fight. He finished pouring his milk and poked at the cereal with his spoon to submerge all of them. ]

Actually, I did need to talk to you about something.

[overashadow]

[ He remembers the last time they tried talking. It causes a flush to creep up his neck, though his hair does a pretty good job of hiding it, and Riku turns his head for a moment, trying to decide if he actually wanted to listen. Even if they hadn't been avoiding each other, things weren't as they had been, and he has questions because he's sure he knows what they're going to talk about. Who had put the idea in his best friend's head? Why did it not seem to bother him all that much?

He sighs and takes a seat at the table. ]

Yeah, I think we probably should. [ He eyes the way Sora pokes at his cereal. ] You first.

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora swallowed hard as his heart kicked it up to another high gear. Why was he so nervous? He knew what he was going to say and there was nothing wrong with it. Like Rin had said, if he didn't ask he'd never know.

He grabbed his cereal and went to sit down. Nerves got the better of h and he set the bowl down a little too hard causing some cereal and milk to evacuate the bowl. Maybe they had the right idea. ]

Oops. [ Sora reached out to grab a napkin from the middle of the table to clean up the mess he made. ]

[overashadow]

[ Riku's eyes go a little wide at that, reflexes a bit faster since Sora obviously seems distracted about something, and he snatches that napkin up before he can get it, leaning over and helping with the mess. There's a breath that puffs at his bangs. ]

Watch it. [ But there's a tease in the words, mouth curved up at the edges until this disaster is fixed. Then, he's staring at him. ] You've been different lately, you know. Since-- What's going on, Sora?

[runbysmiles]

[ A light flush creeped up on Sora's cheeks as he sat down. He had been different, in one way or the other. A part of him was tempted to drop the whole thing, but he owed Riku more than that. ]

I wanted to tell you that...[ Sora started playing with his cereal again, swirling his spoon lightly in the milk and flakes. ]

I finally figured out what I'm feeling.

[overashadow]

[ He doesn't do so well hiding his surprise then, eyes going a bit wide before narrowing on the motion of Sora and his hand on the spoon. ]

Okay. [ Riku's quiet for a second after, suddenly sure he doesn't want to hear this. But he should because it is Sora, and Sora's his best friend. They told each other everything. They used to tell each other everything. ] What is it?

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora swallowed again and took a deep breath. It felt like his heart was going up into his throat, but nothing he was doing seemed to help. A color rose up on his cheeks and he focused on his cereal wishing he'd waited to pour the milk. The flakes were going to get soggy. ]

I realized that....

[ Oh god he couldn't say it. No he had to say it! This was Riku, his best friend. No matter what ce out of his mouth Riku wouldn't be mad, and he wouldn't freak out. They'd still be friends no matter what because that's what they did. ]

I...I like you.

[ Sora looked up then, his bright blue eyes locking onto Riku's own leaving no question that what he was saying was the truth. ]

As more than a friend.

[overashadow]

[ He stares back at Sora for several seconds, letting that truth sort of sink in. It's like a finalization of the thing they'd been skirting around for weeks, and Riku's both surprised and not. He'd thought about it for a while--worked himself to exhaustion training or walking aimlessly for hours with the ideas in his head. Even when he'd rolled over and—

Riku rubs a hand over his face, sliding it to the back of his neck. Maybe he's blushing just a little too, but that's not really important here. ]

I was wondering how long it'd take you to figure out. [ He means in general, of course, and there's a brief smile because he's teasing. But... ] Are you sure?

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora blinked a bit at first completely surprised and yet not that Riku was so calm about this. ]

Wait are you...

[ Sora's own blush deepened a bit as he caught the color rising up into Riku's pale cheeks. What was he thinking about? ]

Yeah. [ Sora smiled broadly. There was that ever present light to his smile that somehow in that moment seemed all the brighter. ]

I'm sure.

[overashadow]

[ He's thinking in general terms, not necessarily long term. Or right now. Riku should be thinking about right now and what he wants to tell Sora, but even after all those hours spent considering it, he still didn't have an answer he thought good enough for the other boy.

Quietly, he clears his throat and forces the heat in his face to calm. ]

I'm still not-- [ This is so going to go well, isn't it? Good job, Riku. ] What do you want to do about it?

[runbysmiles]

[ I'm still not... Those three simple words sent a dagger through Sora's heart. It wasn't an affirmation of a negative, it wasn't really anything, but for the first time Sora realized it actually did hurt. He smiled though and laughed a bit to hide the feeling that had sliced through him. ]

It's okay. It...I just talked with someone about it and I guess it helped me realize that no matter what you and I would still be friends, so it was okay.

[ He looked down at his cereal which by now really was on it's way to something closer to oatmeal. ]

I don't want to force you into anything Riku.

[overashadow]

[ He could tell what that accidental slip had done to him. No one spends so much time with a particular person without picking up on the little things, their mannerisms and expressions. Riku knows the smile isn't genuine, and he frowns in response. ]

You're not forcing me to do anything, Sora. [ There it is, and that's the thing, isn't it? Sora would never do something like that. He'd never take what he actually wanted because it's always everyone and everything before Sora since his heart is much too big for his own good. ] I asked what you wanted to do about it. So, tell me.

ack sorry I had changed my mind on that 1/2 thing |D;;;; oops

[runbysmiles]

[ One of Sora's fists curled up on the table as if he was trying to hold his emotions in his hand, as if doing that simple gesture would somehow protect them.

He swallowed again and the smile dropped from his face. He should have known he wouldn't be able to fool Riku. Of all people it was Riku who knew him best. ]

Riku...I...[ He wanted to be with Riku. He knew that now more than anything. If he could stay with him forever, wherever they were, then that's what he wanted. Maybe this was that point of no return in their relationship, that metaphorical fork in the road where one decision would lead to them being together the rest of their lives, and the other wouldn't. Sure they'd still stay friends but eventually someone else would be there to take Riku's heart. Someone else would be able to say they were Riku's most important person and it wouldn't be Sora unless he opened his mouth and claimed it now!

He brought his hands up to his head as if that would help stop the sound of his own thoughts. He lowered his hands slowly and looked back up at Riku. There was a seriousness there, almost a maturity, that hadn't been there before. Even though to Sora's ears what he was about to say was a completely selfish thing. ]

I want to be with you...I want to be with you as something more than just friends, but I...I want you to be sure about it too.

I FORGIVE YOU I GUESS

[overashadow]

[ He sees him struggle with whatever's going through his head, and Riku suffers a moment of indecision, where he wants to reach across the table and grip Sora's hand, possibly get up and hug him because contact between them had always been one of those things. He catches himself though, meeting blue eyes as deep as the sky, and he feels like he's falling somewhere he can't come back from.

That scares him--not having the control, not being strong enough. Sora wanted his heart, and Riku didn't believe it to be something no one should have. All those years doing the wrong thing and suffering... Sora had seen him at his worst, still accepted him for who he was, but he couldn't give a heart in pieces to his best friend. He deserved better than that, so much more than what Riku could give him.

Still, the thing about Riku is, even when he tries to do the right thing, he's selfish. He hangs his head for a second or two, biting at his lip. ]

Sora... [ He totally isn't breathing right now. He forces a breath. ] I'm still trying to figure it out. Me and you. Maybe it's what I want too, but there are so many things I don't know yet. I'm not gonna lie to you about that. [ Riku looks at him. ] I need you though, okay? You're my-- We're best friends. So I can't make you promises it'll work out if we try.

[ Strange voice of reason now. ]

You better forgive me! D:

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora's fists clench a bit again as Riku speaks. There's so much uncertainty there, but isn't it like that with everything? They couldn't be sure what would happen in the future; Sora really couldn't be sure what would happen in the next few moments.

But if Riku needed him too...

A smile that was far more genuine, but still a little sad appeared on Sora's face. His hands unclenched and he stood up to go around the table and wrap Riku into a tight hug. ]

I need you too. If we did this...I know you can't promise that you'd feel the same. Even if you didn't I don't think my feelings would change, but that's okay. As long as I can stay by your side that's all that matters.

[ Sora laughed a little. ]

Ten years later and I'm still running after you.