riku's jacket has been stolen, placed carefully over sora's shoulders by the wielder of kingdom key himself. only, instead of using it the way it's intended, he held it atop himself like a blanket as she slept. his face rested against the hood as if it was his pillow, the rest lazily wrapped around him. clearly, someone had missed riku, he just wasn't awake to show it.
BLANKIE BABEY / @ofwaking !!
he hates the early morning meetings as much as anybody, the late night ones even more ; but they’re required for the work they do, to be available whenever and wherever people need them.
even if one of their best friends is due to be arriving around the same time, after being gone on a mission worth days but feeling like weeks, if not more.
of course, riku hasn’t said a word ; hasn’t complained, showed too much anxiety or too many nerves - he’s been kept busy, and besides, sora and kairi are the ones to be outwardly dramatic.
it’s not unusual for mickey to arrive from disney castle at all hours, and for he and riku to be called into yen sid’s office posthaste ; but that doesn’t mean it gets any easier. he may be older, but given training, historical reading, magic practice, and any other amount of things master yen sid or others might request from him on a daily basis, it’s busy.
returning to his quarters is, in a way, like knowing refuge - a small space people don’t interrupt him, save for those whose visits he would never consider interruptions in the first place.
all the tiredness in his bones, the weariness in his eyes, settles into a warm softness, like a blanket over his shoulders ; a comfort he’s known little of in recent years, but which grows with each day.
sora’s always been like that - drawing out the softest parts of him, even when he himself thinks he has nothing soft left to show.
he’s quiet in his movements, closing the door with a click so silent he wonders if the tower Knows, making his way under the covers with as much grace as one can when trying to put both themselves and their sleeping companion (now clinging to his jacket so tight he might never let go, now that it’s being used as a teddy bear rather than a blanket) as such ; but a peace settles in his chest to combat the tension that’s been slowly, unknowingly, squeezing it tighter all day, like a calm after the storm.
he’s probably going to have sora spontaneously wake him up in less than enjoyable ways in the morning - but for moments like this, pressing a kiss to chocolate strands, he thinks, it’s worth it.
