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]

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.

[licensedhero]

Sora did his best not to giggle because of the strange proximity. Instead he just reached out and put a hand on Riku's leg and closed his eyes, kissing the fruit shaped toy as well. As ridiculous as this felt, he still liked the premise behind it and if Riku believed it then it must mean that it wasn't entirely stupid.

But that didn't stop him from pushing the fruit down after a second or two of fruit kissing to do a little Riku kissing of his own. He was realizing that he really liked this whole kissing business, especially like this. He wasn't sure if the whole getting goosebumps thing was normal so he just left that little bit unsaid.

"Well if you believe it then that must mean I'm not entirely childish for believing it too."

[reflectivedawn]

And then the present was being replaced with Sora's lips pressing against his own and he sighed softly, kissing back easily and with more intensity than he had before, pulling away a couple of moments later, eyes fluttering open to take the sight of the other it. "I believe in you." The papou fruit had long since been forgotten, dropping down between them as the hand that had been holding it lifted, pushing a lock of hair away from Sora's face, but cupping his check, thumb rubbing over his bottom lip. "I don't need a papou fruit to know our hearts are connected."

[licensedhero]

He was pretty sure that it wasn't possible for Riku's kisses to be any more breath-taking but each time he did something like that he was reminded about how wrong he could really be. But that was kind of embarrassing on both counts so he wasn't going to mention either of those out loud. He wouldn't want Riku laughing about something so...personal. Would he even laugh? He wasn't sure. Either way, better not chance it.

At those words though his heart skipped a beat. Hadn't he always said the same thing? That their hearts were connected? It felt somehow different this time, like it meant something different, but the same at the same time. He rested his cheek into Riku's palm and just settled with smiling softly.

"Of course our hearts are connected." He turned his head to plant a kiss on Riku's palm, "But you better not lose that fruit, you hear me?" His soft smile definitely turned playful.

[reflectivedawn]

"I won't." He still had a stuffed sheep that Queen Katherine had made for you during the summer, Sora. It rested on his bed near the pillows where the cats could get it, out of reach of dirt or spills, and he washed it by hand every couple of weeks, making sure it was kept clean. He wasn't going to let anything happen to a gift that you gave him, Sora, just like he won't let anything happen to your necklace.

Leaning inwards, he pressed his lips to Sora's once more, pulling away slowly. Moving away, he reached towards the coffee table, picking up the small package he had sat there. It was carefully wrapped in deep purple paper with bright yellow stars decorating it. The box was square and flat, obviously a jewelry box of some kind. The paper was, luckily, in one piece, held together with two small pieces of tape. It wasn't much, considering what Sora had just given him, but he had put a lot of thought into it. He was proud of it, and he hoped it would mean as much to Sora as he it did to him.

"You're turn." He held the box out, waiting for the other to take it. "You'll get the rest tomorrow."

[licensedhero]

"Good." Sora leaned into the kiss just a little bit but rested when Riku pulled away. He could definitely get used to this. He wondered how other people in the house would feel if they saw them being lovey-dovey. Maybe it was something they should keep private, at least for a little while. He wouldn't want to make the people they lived with feel uncomfortable. Besides, Sango still lived with them. He didn't want to hurt her feelings.

He tried his best to contain some of his excitement when Riku handed him the present. He could do his best to hide it from his posture but he couldn't hide it from his eyes and that was enough for the smile on his face to steadily grow into a grin as he accepted the gift from Riku. However, he didn't tear into it with reckless abandon. Paper was precious and they might need it for something else later.

He set the paper down when he finished unwrapping the box and looked up at Riku, albeit a little nervously, before opening the box to reveal what was inside.

[reflectivedawn]

He watched, more than a little amused at how carefully Sora removed the paper. Neatly enough so that it would even probably be able to be reused. And considering the way Sora usually ripped into presents, not really caring how shredded the paper became was a sign that he was adjusting to the way of life here. Riku felt a sense of relief wash through him. The city was a difficult place to life, and people either adapted or broke, and he knew from experience that breaking usually came before adapting. Maybe, if he was lucky, Sora wouldn't suffer that same fate.

Inside the box, carefully cradled in tissue paper was a pendant hung on a thick chain, one that would hold up to the wear and tear that Sora was likely to put it through. It had taken him and Josh hours to find something suitable, but the moment he did, he knew it was perfect.

"When you were here the first time, we used to go up on the roof and watch the stars, just like we used to do back home. That's where we were the first time I kissed you." He paused for a moment, not quite sure if he should say what he wanted to. But he had promised to be honest, and he was going to be, no matter what. "I don't you won't understand but... when I was brought here, the last thing I remember is you and me sitting on the beach, watching the stars. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they remind me of you. You're the only one I've ever watched the stars with."

It was silly. After all, he doubted Sora needed an explanation, but he wanted him to know the meaning behind the gift. "I wanted to get you something that would show you're mine. Something that when ever you wear it, it'll remind you of me and that I'm always with you." Because with hearts that were connected as theirs were, there was nothing that could ever pull them apart, not truly. "Just like this shows you're always with me." His fingers went to his collar bone where the crown pendant now rested, the tips playing with it softly for a moment.

Reaching forward, he grabbed the piece of wrapped paper, turning it over and holding it up, where he was sure the other could read it. Clearing written in black ink were the words "Will you be mine?" A small smile crossed his lips as he lowered it, handing it over so the other could read it if he so wished. "You might want to keep that too."