Lessons learned and bridges burned to the ground.

[reflectivedawn]

Characters: reflectiveDawn & licensedhero
When: Saturday Night, December 24th 2011
Where: Greek House Number Two
Rating: G - Again, they're from a Disney game, what do you really think is gonna happen?
Summary: It's Christmas Eve and Riku decided to give in and give Sora his present early.

Comments

[licensedhero]

Well it was still worth the effort. He smiled when Riku moved to wrap his arms around him. He settled his hand over Riku's and leaned his head back a little, still staring at the snow. It really was beautiful. Seeing the snow like this, clean and unbroken, it felt like the world was wrapping itself in a thick fluffy blanket and tucking itself in for the night. He'd never get nights like this back home. Maybe that was why the snow seemed so magical to him now. It would be something he missed when he eventually found his way back to the islands.

He tilts his head up a little and smiles at Riku, "Yeah?" He gave his hand a little squeeze before carefully pulling himself from Riku's arms. He slipped his hand in his and pulled him away from the window a little bit, nearer the presents. He really wanted to just shove the gift into Riku's hands and get him to open it, but the romance-y bit felt sorta necessary right now.

"I think I do too." Because beautiful white blanket or no, it wouldn't really matter if he didn't have someone here to share it with.

[reflectivedawn]

The question made him pause, bright eyes looking down at the other, wondering what he was supposed to say. The answer was simple: Of course I'd rather be in here without than out there in the cold. But the other spoke again before he could make up his mind whether to speak or not, and the words brought a soft smile to his face.

Sora's hand was warm in his own and he left him lead him away from the window easily, his eyes moving along the path the other was taking and sighed as they landed directly on the presents. He should have known Sora wouldn't be able to wait once he spotted it waiting on the table for him. Patience wasn't exactly a virtue the other was good with, after all.

His eyes rolled softly but he didn't say anything, letting Sora take the lead for once. "Are you that eager to see what I got you?"

[licensedhero]

He gave Riku's hand a squeeze and smiled up at him, "Sorta."

Then he slipped his hand out of Riku's and just stood there in front of him, still smiling. For a moment he seemed to forget what it was he was supposed to be doing and he reached up and touched Riku's cheek, but only for a second. For some reason, when he woke up this morning, he felt that maybe it had all been a dream. A really long and elaborate dream, but there was no way this could be a dream. It felt too real.

"Close your eyes okay?" You get to go first. Mostly because Sora was practically bursting with excitement. He liked seeing his best friend happy and it just may give him the tiniest ego boost when he knew Riku was happy because of something that he did. So that soft smile is turning a little more into a grin right now, partially from the massive amount of excitement he's been managing to contain all this time and partially from all the potential reactions he had ran through in the days leading to this one.

[reflectivedawn]

The touch was soft and short, but he leaned into it anyway, hoping to get the message across to the other that he wanted more. But then it faded, much quicker than he would have liked, and he found his eyes fluttering open slowly, not even being able to remember when he had closed them. Only to be asked to close them again.

He let a small sigh slip out past his defenses, taking in the sight of the other's grin for a moment before complying, the bright green becoming hidden behind thick silver lashes. "Now what?"

[licensedhero]

He felt the pressure even if only for a second and that inspired him to add a little more to his current plan. The smile took a very lightly devious tint when Riku closed his eyes even though Sora was pretty sure he wouldn't complain if he followed through with his new plan. He carefully unhooked the chain he could always be seen wearing around his neck and clipped it around Riku's, slipping his hand into his hair to guide his face closer so he could kiss him.

"Merry Christmas Riku." He let him go but didn't pull away, "Part one anyway."

[reflectivedawn]

He wasn't quite sure what he had been expecting. Maybe for a package to be placed into his hands and for him to be told he could open his eyes. Maybe to take in an excited Sora and to rip through the wrapping paper quickly, revealing the present underneath. That was how this 'close you eyes' thing typically went, right?

What he wasn't expecting was the touch of cold metal against his skin, causing him to take in a sharp breath, lips parting as his eyes fluttered behind his eyelids and he struggled to keep them closed. He also wasn't expecting the fingers to lace into his hair and guide him downwards, lips pressing against Sora's waiting one's softly, quiet words floating into his subconscious like the warm breath he could feel mingling with his own.

What he definitely wasn't expecting was that when his eyes finally opened slowly, that they would land on Sora's neck and collar bone, now bare of the usual chain and pendant that adorned it. What he also definitely wasn't expecting was to lift his fingers to his own, the sharp lines of his crane pendant brushing against his wrist as they landed on the roped chain, following it downwards until it reached the solid mass of the crown.

And for a moment, he couldn't even speak. He couldn't even remember the last time he had seen Sora without it. Even looking at him now, it was like something was missing, like something had been taken that could never be replaced. The thought crossed his mind that no, he couldn't accept this. It was Sora's, and he should keep it. He should give it to someone else, someone who was more worthy than he was.

But his heart resisted, telling his mind that it was being stupid. He would never think he was worthy of Sora. What mattered was that Sora thought he was.

A small smile crossed his features as his fingers fell away from the necklace, reaching out to cup Sora's cheek instead as he leaned in, pressing his lips against the other's softly. Pulling away he took a deep breath, before resting his forehead against Sora's, eyes coming open once more.

"Merry Christmas, Sora."

[licensedhero]

It was those small smiles that really made what he did worth it. If he could see Riku smile, laugh, be happy, then all of this was more than worth it. A necklace was nothing compared to any of that. While he loved it and wore it every day of his life for as long as he could remember, this was more important to him. If something happened to either of them he wanted to make sure that Riku would have something of his to remember him by, no matter which one of them was taken away.

He leaned in to the kiss before nuzzling into Riku's touch. If anyone had asked him a couple of months ago if he expected to be like this with his best friend he might have laughed at them. He never really imagined being in a relationship, let alone with his best friend. But what better person to be with than the person who understood him the best? The one who had been there for him since as long as he could remember? Of course, they weren't technically "officially" together yet, but it felt like it. If Riku suddenly changed his mind he wasn't sure what he would do, but he wouldn't. It didn't feel like it. Riku wasn't the type to not follow up on his actions.

"Thanks." He gave Riku a quick peck on the cheek before backing up and grabbing the other gift he brought down. He handed the sweater bundle over, "Now part two. I couldn't find wrapping paper that I liked and I figured just giving you a sweater would be lame so...I used the sweater." He laughs a little, "Red's a good color right?"

[reflectivedawn]

If he had known the intention behind it, it either would have made the sentiment all the more important, or it would have swung his decision in the other direction. Memories weren't things people were allowed to keep, and he highly doubted that if he was the one who left first, that he would be allowed to keep even something as small as a necklace. And even if he was, it would be meaningless to him once he returned home. He wouldn't remember this moment, or any of the moments he had spent with Sora. He wouldn't remember falling in love with him, wouldn't remember realizing that Sora was the most important person in his life. And instead of being a meaningful symbol of what was between them, it would just be a piece of metal that he wouldn't even know or understand his possession of.

There was nothing that could make Riku change his mind, Sora. There was no power in this world or any other world that would ever make him change his mind. He had spent so many months torn apart from you, longing for you, wanting to see you, to hold you. And while his feelings had faded, slightly, over time, and while he had tried to move on, he couldn't. The moment he saw your face he knew it had been useless, and every feeling he had ever had for you had come rushing back, unbidden. And as hard as he had tried to fight them, to act like they weren't there, like he and Sora were nothing more than friends, they had continued to grow, stronger and stronger, until he had been forced to make a choice.

And he had chosen Sora, just as he had always warned Sango he would. The choice had been difficult, but in the end, it had hardly been a choice. Sora would win, every time.

He let out a small sigh at the peck, before allowing the other to back away, even if he didn't want to, even if he wanted to pull him back in and hold him, even for a few more short moments. But as the sweater was placed into his hands and the explanation reached his ears, he knew the moment had passed. Shaking his head, he reached out, grabbing the other's hand and holding it loosely, leading him around the coffee table to the sofa. Motioning for the other to sit, he followed suit, placing the sweater in his lap carefully.

"Guess we'll find out." He didn't really wear much red. Blues, grays, black, whites, yellows, those were the spectrum of colors he was comfortable with. Red had never been one he had really tried. But the sweater looked warm and comfortable and how could he not wear a present that Sora had given him. Slowly his fingers began to undo the make shift wrapping, revealing the present that lay underneath.

[licensedhero]

Such a simple gesture as holding his hand shouldn't make him feel as giddy as it did. He couldn't tell if it was the fact that they were holding hands like this (not like Riku hadn't led him around by the hand when they were kids or anything like that) or the excitement from passing on gifts to each other during Christmas. Even if it was still Christmas Eve. Either way he was happy to be there in that very moment, following Riku to the couch. He sat down next to Riku, tucking his legs up underneath himself to sit cross-legged and watched Riku open his gift closely.

He hoped he'd like it. Sora hadn't really been able to find anything he wanted to give to Riku so he used some of the extra cloth and stuff he had found while exploring the mall with Hope to make something. He knew all that extra stuff would come in handy, even if he had to scrub it multiple times to get all the dirt and dust out. Yellow was a sucky fabric to work with.

In Riku's hands he would find a hand-stitched papou fruit. It had been a long time since Sora himself had seen one, but there was no way he could forget that fruit. Sure, he couldn't eat it. Which was a total bummer because that took a little of the magic out of it, but he wanted to give Riku something that he could hold on to not only of him but of home. Even though he had started liking this place himself, he knew that it couldn't replace the warm feeling of home. For either of them really. So instead of digging around trying to find him something that he wasn't sure would mean anything, he made him this.

Now, he just hoped Riku wouldn't make fun of him for it being cheesy or anything like that. He smiled sheepishly at him, "Do you like it?"

[reflectivedawn]

The thick red fabric of the sweat fell away, revealing the bright yellow that lay underneath, the shape slowly becoming clear. A stuffed papou fruit. Sora had made him a stuffed papou fruit. And while he was right, knowing that they couldn't eat it, couldn't cut it into pieces and share it as the legend said you were supposed to, even if they couldn't tie their destiny's together in that mythical sense, it didn't really matter. They were already tied to each other, through bonds strong than any story could ever manage. They always had been, and while those bonds had been tested, had grown longer and weaker, they had never been broken or severed. And they were strong, tight knit and in tact, not pristine, damaged and bruised, telling the story of everything they had been through, but they were unbreakable.

And those bonds meant more than any fruit ever could.

Lifting it easily, a small smile crossed his lips. Of course he's going to make fun of you for being cheesy, Sora. You didn't really think he could just let an opportunity like this pass him by, did you? "Isn't the cotton going to be a little hard to cut up and eat?"

[licensedhero]

Despite the fact that he saw it coming he couldn't help but blush a little and make a small noise of frustration. He didn't mean to, it just happened. He shook his head and snatched it back from Riku, grinning now. Of course you'd tease him about the specifics Riku. Where would he be if you hadn't paid attention to the things he didn't?

"Think of it as a promise then! Besides." He kisses the fruit before pushing it back at Riku, taking this opportunity to push it against Riku's lips, "It's supposed to be symbolic. I thought you'd be proud of my sudden insight." Yes, Sora had been reading a little more recently. And one of the books had been the dictionary. As boring as that was, he really liked the word and he had been trying to find a good occasion to use it.

[reflectivedawn]

One moment he was watching as Sora pressed the soft yellow fabric to his lips and the next it was being shoved in his face and he was backing away and trying to knock it out of the other's hands. "I'd be more proud if you'd get that thing out of my face." Seriously, Sora. It could have been a really sweet, amazing moment and you just. Ruined it.

[licensedhero]

Instead of letting it fall he just tosses it into Riku's lap, "Nah, I doubt that." Ruin it or not, you trying to assault the gift he worked so hard to make you kind of stung Riku. So he is just gonna lean back on the couch and look at you with that intense stare of his.

"Do you like it or don't you?"

[reflectivedawn]

Riku smirked as the present fell into his lap, bright green eyes falling onto the other as he leaned back against the arm of the couch. Reaching down, he picked the small stuffed fruit up before shifting, pushing himself upwards to stand. Moving along the length of the sofa, he raised a leg, putting one knee on the sofa and lifting the other so he was kneeling in front of Sora, he held onto the present carefully as he leaned over, bangs and hair falling into his eyes, the smirk still present on his face.

"Of course I do, Sora. But there's something I'd like even more." Raising it so it was between them, he leaned in further, the lower half of his face hidden by the yellow fabric, voice low and slightly husky. "If two people share one, their destiny's are intertwined forever, right? So maybe if we kiss it at the same time, it'll do the same thing."

[licensedhero]

Why was Riku so much better at all of this than him? No fair. He would just have to learn and throw it right back at Riku ten times more. That's it. He would be the most awesome boyfriend ever. Enough so that even Riku would be in awe. But for now playing along sounds like a good idea. It seemed like he would be getting a nice amount of affection from this and Sora sure did love him some affection. Especially the Riku kind. Almost as much as he liked giving it.

Maybe it was the words or the way Riku's eyes shown above that fruit or maybe it was the tone of his voice but somewhere inside him his brain must have flatlined because for a couple of seconds he couldn't figure out what to say or do. He was definitely blushing a little, mostly shocked by his own sudden desire to be closer, but he could handle this, right? So instead of sitting back on his arm rest he leaned forward so his lips were a hair's breadth away from the star shaped plush.

"You think so?"

[reflectivedawn]

Nothing in life is fair, Sora. Besides, both of you can't be bad at this kind of thing. If you were then nothing would ever get done. All you need to know is that Riku doesn't care if you're what everyone else considers good. You're what he wants. You. As you are. You don't have to try and be an amazing boyfriend because to him you already are.

He shifts carefully, bringing himself closer to the other, lips a whisper away from the stuffed toy, eyes meeting and holding Sora's above the bright yellow of the fabric. "Yeah. I do."

And then the lips were pressing against the papou, eyes closing softly, the sight of the other blurring before fading away for a brief moment, allowing himself to take it all in.