Way to the Dawn

Riku, age 19 from The Destiny Islands. 6'2 158 lbs Silver hair and blue-green eyes. Keyblade wielder, walks the path between light and dark .

[towerofbooks-blog1]

He was going to refuse, enjoying his tea more than he would any smoothie. Yet when Riku stopped and smiled at him it surprised the page. After all, why was he smiling? Possibly it was a trick to get him to drink, a trick Demyx sometime used also. Yet there was something different about it.

Looking down at the table for a moment, he grasped the cup offered out to him and leaned forward. Self-consciously Xirig placed his lips over the straw, glancing at Riku in the hopes that the silveret wasn’t watching too closely. Xirig didn’t like straws very much. They made his lips pucker, and  although he didn’t brag he was quite vain.

"Thank you…" He mumbled returning to sipping at his tea. "It wasn’t bad."

[rikutothedawn]

    Riku waited patiently for Xirig to take a draw from the smoothie, his face managing to be both expectant and exuberant simultaneously. His eyes flickered down to where Xirig's lips met the straw and the smile slid from his face for a moment.

    That felt wrong.

    Immediately he moved his gaze back up to Xirig's eyes, flushed very slightly pink, and berating himself for looking where he felt he really shouldn't have. 

    By the time Xirig pulled away he had his smile back in place, however less bright, and nodded in agreement with Xirig's assessment. "I love smoothies! They're nice and cool and remind me of home. Ice is kinda hard to come by sometimes but fruit is everywhere, and on a hot day, nothing beats the two together!"

    Sitting back, he sat the smoothie aside (somehow feeling it would be wrong to have his lips on the straw so soon after Xirig's) and picked up his sandwich to take another bite.

[towerofbooks-blog1]

He nodded, scooting out and moving to sit on the opposite side from Riku yet again. His tea would be cool enough to drink, and he was already sipping from it when Riku asked. “Palatable, a suitable drink for this morning.” He stated.  “Is your smoothie to your liking?”

Taking another sip, he leaned back slightly in his seat. It felt good to get that elephant in the room out of the way, and now they could have a decent breakfast like two grown adults. A smile formed on his face at that, as it made him feel almost human.

[rikutothedawn]

    The warmth of Xirig's presence left his side, and Riku missed the reassurance of having him there, but he supposed it was for a good cause if he was going to enjoy his tea.

    "Mmhmm," the silverette responded emphatically, popping the straw loose from  his lips to offer it to Xirig. "Want to try? Mango is one of my favourite fruits,  you kn-" 

    The teen cut off a the tail end of his sentence, staring a bit dumfounded at the smile on Xirig's face. It was the first time he'd really seen one, properly, with his own eyes instead of the half-vision he had when blindfolded. It... changed him, entirely, and Riku couldn't help but return that smile full force with a blinding one of his own.

[towerofbooks-blog1]

Looking away, he took a napkin and cleaned the blood from his thumb. He was beginning to feel more confused about what was going on, but what was clear to him was that Riku was saying he’d continue to hurt himself. That was just how he was. Xirig frowned, but the frown lessened when the silveret touched his arm.

Releasing a sigh, he looked at the other in thought. “Even so, do be careful. I don’t believe I would enjoy it if something happened to you…”

[rikutothedawn]

    Riku tensed at Xirig's sigh, worrying he'd done something wrong, but it looked like his friend was just worried about him. The silverette immediately laughed it off, shaking his head and picking up the napkin beneath this half-eaten sandwich to scrub more at the steady drip of blood coming from his lip.

    "I'll be careful, promise!"

    When he pulled the napkin away, after a few tries, and found it relatively clean, Riku set it aside and pulled his smoothie to him, sucking a cold mouthful through the straw. "How's your tea?" he asked, gesturing to the cup across the table. 

[spacs]

okay but look.

[towerofbooks-blog1]

Again Xirig’s stomach fluttered when Riku said how good their hug had felt. Of course it had felt good, it had been very nice indeed. However, he wasn’t so certain that his feeling good was appropriate. “…No, of course not… I hadn’t meant…”

As he was talking, he trailed off at the sight of blood. Without thinking about what he was doing, he reached out and wiped the blood with his thumb. “This is what I had meant…” He muttered. “If you forget for the time being how temporary this is, you might not hurt yourself again. Will you be alright?”

[rikutothedawn]

The sense of relief that washed through him at those words was incredibly disproportionate to how he should have felt. Did it really mean that much to him that these few days as a married couple not be lost? If so, why? 

Riku puzzled over this, distracted, until he felt Xirig's thumb on his chin. He glanced down, lips parting naturally as he watched Xirig pull away and crimson coated thumb-pad. 

"Oh! That - no, that's not - this isn't your fault, I'm just... clumsy sometimes. Kairi always said I was worse than Sora, just better at making it look like I did it on purpose." He laughed slightly, cheeks still pink, and reached up to wipe at his lip as another bead of blood began to trail down it. His gaze softened and he nodded at Xirig, emphatic, and reached out to place a hand on Xirig's upper arm much like Xirig was wont to do to his shoulder. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Doesn't even hurt."

[rikutothedawn]

+

[towerofbooks-blog1]

With a nod, he continued what he was attempting to say before, his voice almost breathy from shock. “…Yes, I mean that. We will spend another night in the same bed. I have no control over what my body does as we sleep, therefore it is likely that it will happen again.”

He looked at Riku, a concerned expression on his face. “There is no help in this while we are under this spell. One may say that… Anything that happens during this spell is unavoidable. That is…”

Resting a hand on his shoulder yet again, Xirig looked directly in his friend’s eyes. “Don’t concern yourself with what I might think after it’s over. Perhaps it might be better if you forget our marriage is temporary, if it helps.”

[rikutothedawn]

He tried to listen to what Xirig said, really he did, but the more he spoke the more confused Riku became until he was frowning quite hard at Xirig in what was borderline consternation. 

"No. No, Xirig, I don't care. About the hugging, about any of it. It felt good, I told you that. I woke up this morning feeling the best I've felt since I got here and I'm happy that happens, not upset. I don't -" he looked a bit baffled at the words coming out of his mouth, but he said them  nonetheless. "I don't want to forget any of this after it's done, that's... wrong. It feels wrong. D..do you?"

He chewed on his lip a bit, thinking, and it was a fantastic move that sidelined him when Xirig said it might be best if Riku forgot their marriage was temporary. 

He bit through his lip.

The taste of blood filled his mouth and a small red bead slowly slid down his utterly shocked expression. 

[towerofbooks-blog1]

He continued to rub until Riku smiled, then he removed his hand politely. Immediately after that, he froze completely and began to blush. "What did you do last night?" Was what he’d done so imperceptible, so small that Riku didn’t care, or had he forgotten? The way he had clung to the Silveret had been inappropriate, something that had embarrassed him yet this wasn’t being taken into consideration.

Turning his head so his face couldn’t be seen, he struggled to find a voice. “Ah… That is… …Is it… …Do you truly not recall?” He asked. Perhaps the spell would allow them to sleep in bunk beds.

[rikutothedawn]

He continued frowning at Xirig, face twisted in concentration trying to remember what Xirig had done wrong. 

When it hit him, it hit hard. His entire body froze up and his face turned bright pink at the cheeks - everything from his face to his ears to his chest burned and a small fluttering began in his stomach. "D'you mean - the -?" he cut off, looking down at his hands.

Of course he meant that. But Riku had been so caught up looking for something annoying Xirig had done he had skipped right over the best part of having slept with him.

"I, the um... we... slept hugging? You mean that?"

[towerofbooks-blog1]

He was going to respond. He was, but then Riku became flustered. Continuing to eat, he watched as his friend continued to ‘fluster’ himself right into a brain freeze. Granted, it was only the second day of their marriage, yet…

With a swallow, he finished his sandwich and moved to sit right next to Riku, rubbing his back because that’s what friends do when they’re suffering—or that’s what he thought. “…Riku..” He didn’t know how to begin, and frowned in contemplation. “If I sleep in the same bed with you, it is likely that I will do the same as last night. You are aware of this, correct?” It seemed to him they needed to work out a few issues.

[rikutothedawn]

Rubbing at his head, Riku didn't notice Xirig's approach  until he felt the touch to his back. Instead of stiffening, as he would have assumed he would, he relaxed into the touch as his body recognized it as Xirig's and, as such, not a threat. 

The ache in his head persisted for several agonized seconds before subsidising, and when it did he offered a grateful smile to his friend. "Thanks. But... what do you mean? What did you do last night?"

He thought back, trying to remember. Xirig didn't snore, and he wasn't a blanket hog like Sora was. He didn't kick him or lay on his hair. Riku cocked his head to the side, trying to figure it out.

[towerofbooks-blog1]

Setting the yet untouched sandwich down with a soft sigh, Xirig folded his arms. “If the best you can defend your bed is that you have slept in worse places… Riku.” He leaned forwards a little. “I am buying the bed for you. I have the munny, enough for it and more. We’ve already agreed I am allowed to buy it for you.”

In a show that his word was final, he took up his sandwich and began to eat it. Perhaps he was being a bit forceful on the subject, yet it mattered to him. More than it should have, if he was honest with himself.

[rikutothedawn]

This was the part where Riku didn't put down his sandwich and whine like the teenager that he was about how he didn't need a new bed and Xirig was being unfair about all of this.

Instead, he fought the urge to sigh and just nodded in response. "If you really can afford it, and you're not just saying that, then... Fine. But just," he struggled to figure out how to phrase this, chewing a bit on his lips as he did so. "Don't go crazy, right? Just a normal, not hospital bed that we can both fit on."

The second he said it, he realized his mistake and flushed pink. "I-I mean for when you stay over - if you stay over - after, you know, this whole thing with us -" he gestured between them with his hand, "is out. The marriage! Not the friendship - I -" he trailed off, ducking his head and pulling his smoothie forwards to drink a long gulp from it, promptly giving himself brain freeze. "Agh!"

[towerofbooks-blog1]

"Thank you." Xirig smiled, taking his tea from the tray and testing it with his tongue. It was still very hot, so he set it aside to cool. As he waited, he watched Riku and considered the plans for the day.

"I’m considering a new bed for you." He finally revealed, taking his sandwich. His eyes flicked down to it for a moment before returning to gaze at the silveret. "One that you might find more comfortable."

[rikutothedawn]

With a boisterous 'let's eat', Riku picked up one of the sandwiches and took a big bite, chewing on it gleefully. The timing was... less than ideal, however, as he had to struggle around it to say "A new bed? What for?"

He continued chewing a bit more frantically now, finally forcing the large bite down with a gulping swallow. "Xir, I can't afford a new bed! Besides, there's nothing wrong with mine, it's just a bit.." he trailed off, shrugging. "I don't know, hospital...y? Trust me, I've slept in worse places."

[towerofbooks-blog1]

"Ah… My apologies, Riku…" Xirig said in a soft voice before speaking to the man behind the counter. "I prefer a small tea, rather than large. That is all for me." He didn’t enjoy changing the orders, worried that his friend would take it as an insult of some form. It was preferable though if they were going to spend the rest of the day on their feet that he didn’t spend half of it on the toilet. His face turned a faint pink at the thought.

"Good!" The barista copied Riku in a happy tone. "A small tea—black, a large mango smoothie, a large slice of strawberry cake, and two chicken salad sandwiches. That will be 1059 munny, please."

Once Riku had paid the man, he hummed to himself and brought everything ordered to a tray. “Here we go, sir. Enjoy your meal!”

Xirig on the other hand already went to choose where they would sit to avoid any further temptations. Moving to a corner booth, he waited for Riku to come along. Sitting with his back to the window-side, he readjusted how the table had been set, moving the salt and pepper to the wall and placing the paper napkin on his lap.

[rikutothedawn]

Rolling his eyes, Riku nudged Xirig with his shoulder. "Don't apologize, it's fine!" He turned back to the barista and listened as their order was rattled off, nodding each time it was correct until it was time to pay.

He fished the munny out easily and handed it over, happy to have bought something for his friend who always gave so much to him in both time, patience, and use of his home. 

He watched the process as the food was prepared, fascinated by the swiftness with which it was put together, then - when the tray was presented - picked it up and turned to look for Xirig. 

Spotting him, Riku made sure he picked his way carefully through the myriad of tables and chair to ensure he spilled no tea or mango smoothie and set the tray down in front of Xirig with a small sound of plastic on wood.

"Dig in!" he exclaimed and dropped gracelessly into the chair.

[towerofbooks-blog1]

"A small bit." He stated, now looking at the sandwiches in the display. Tea was all very well and nice but a stomach needed more to fill it. "Perhaps I may also have a ‘chicken salad sandwich’? That is, if you don’t mind."

The balding man beamed from behind the counter, looking at Riku. “What sizes are the tea and smoothie, sir?” He asked.

[rikutothedawn]

"Good!" He grinned and turned back to the barista. "Two chicken salad sandwiches and make both the drinks large. Anything else?" He turned to look at Xirig expectantly, practically vibrating with energy at how he felt seeing with his own eyes again.

[towerofbooks-blog1]

They came out in the alley behind the cafe. A warm sugar smell hung in the air, and the noise of cooking and water running could be heard coming from a partially shut window. Xirig ignored all of this, and walked to the front of the building.

Inside had large front windows with round tables to sit at and enjoy the view. Booths lined the walls, with low hanging lamps over each table and the counter displayed sandwiches, salads, cakes, cookies, and brownies amongst other delights.

A small middle-aged man with balding hair and glasses was busy serving another customer, smiling the whole while as he rang up the person’s order. Behind him high on the wall was a huge blackboard with the menu listed on it.

Xirig turned to Riku, not yet approaching the counter. “You had said that you wanted to pay… Am I correct?” He asked, still looking at the menu. “…I would like a cup of tea, black with no sugar or lemon.”

[rikutothedawn]

The normal disorientation that came with stepping through a portal took over Riku and by the time he managed to get his bearings they were on the other side. Immediately he was assaulted with the smell of something sweet and the bustle of life around them. Grinning, Riku tugged off his organization cloak and put it behind a bin where they'd appeared to retrieve later. 

A moment, just a small one, and he hesitantly reached up to tug off his blindfold as well. Here, in a place full of light and happiness, he didn't feel Ansem would be a threat to him. Surrounded by people and joy, he felt the darkness in his heart go to sleep, and with it the part of him that cried out for power and hungered for blood.

Turning back, he looked to Xirig for where to go and followed him with a loose smile ready for anyone who looked their way - even a few waves for the children.

When they arrived at the front of the building Riku stepped through and marvelled at the myriad of treats on display, his stomach grumbling loudly at the sight of them.

At Xirig's question he nodded emphatically, pulling his munny bag out to illustrate his readiness to pay. It was not light, by any means, but he held everything he had in this small bag. He supposed he would need to go on a killing spree throughout The World That Never Was again to accumulate more. 

Turning to the balding man, Riku grinned and added on to the order - after a brief glace over the menu - "That aaand a mango smoothie and a big slice of strawberry cake. You'll eat a bit of it with me, right Xirig?"

[foxboi-blog1]

One of my favourite things in KH2 is the fact that Riku held onto that stick Roxas accidentally hit him with like “that little fuck. I’m gonna get back at that shit AND I’m gonna take his fucking money I don’t give a fuck” and he just catapaults the stick at like 80 mph to make Roxas dive facefirst into the concrete and then steals $5000 from him like goddamn Riku what is your fucking damage

[rikutothedawn]

O P E N

     He could hear them approaching on sure feet, but with the way the sun beat down there was zero chance Riku was opening his eyes until it was necessary. So, he greeted the intruder of his peaceful thoughts with a short, "I'm not moving, so whatever you want better involve nothing more than me talking to you."

[towerofbooks-blog1]

"I would dislike subjecting you to my cooking." Xirig stated. It would be a while yet before the Melodious Nocturne opened for the day, a while longer if Demyx chose to skip out. "There is a place where we could go, a small cafe on Twilight Town. The atmosphere may be more preferable there than a bar."

Opening a portal to the location, he waited for the younger male to go through before he would follow.

[rikutothedawn]

Smoothing down the front of his coat, Riku nodded in acquiescence and grinned. "That sounds great! I haven't been to Twilight Town since..." he paused, looking contemplative. "Well, it's been a while, anyway. Let me just -"

Riku crossed to kneel on his bed, feet sticking out, and reached for his boots where he'd tossed them off the end the night before. It was quick work putting them on and, with a final smack of an open palm again Enki's wall and a short "We're going out!" he clambered off the bed and through he portal.