Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sora wouldn’t be able to tell you how long it’d been going on, maybe a few weeks, maybe it had been over a couple months by now. Time became hard to follow when his biggest concern was swallowing down the sickening puppy love bubbling in his chest anytime he tried to spend time around his friends, his little head soaring through the sky, in a completely different universe. All he was concerned about was each individual passing day, down to the hours and minutes, anticipating when he might get an opportunity to slink away into any kind of privacy at Riku’s side, maybe in his room for a couple hours, or — oh, a night — anytime at all in close proximity to him was good enough. The two of them liked to call the nights together “sleepovers”, in hopes no one else would get a little too curious about it. It was plain innocence, just two boys, two best friends enjoying lost time together.

What was wrong with that? Nobody was ever going to suspect a thing, they’ve always been attached at the hip. That phrase has become a bit more literal nowadays, much to Sora’s satisfaction.

In person with Riku was so pleasant too, but it put Sora at a bit of unease. Sora really, really liked him — yes, in the like like way — and it’s still difficult to spit out that “love” word, but no one else could ever know about what they have. Not now. Not while Kairi’s hand was in his, side by side on the shore, and Sora was shrouded in guilt that almost felt worse than losing everyone he ever loved. 

“‘S’wrong, Sora?” Axel says, clad in his favorite beach clothes. He really did love the beach. “Nasty look on your face. Crab got in your shoe?” Axel lunged forward from his spot in the sand, demanding Sora’s attention and pulling his mind out of the heavens. 

“I’m not even wearing shoes!” 

Axel blinked, pretending as if he was intentionally trying to confuse Sora, “You got me there. Are you feeling okay, though?” 

A smile crept to Sora’s face upon his thoughts being broken, and he put up a pretty good fight when it came to preventing them from stirring again when it was necessary. He’d gotten good at covering his tracks. He had to be good at it, for everyone’s sake.

“I’m fine!” A big smile, “Didn’t you feel the breeze? I hate chilly nights on the beach.” And then, a little falter in his expression to mimic what he had really been troubled by.

“It really is starting to get colder out. Winters here usually never get any worse than some cool nights though.” Kairi said from beside of him, hand gripping tighter in his, lovingly. Sora thought he’d be sick.

“Good thing, too. The sun is still so warm though,” Axel says longingly, looking delicately around a bright yellow sun preparing to sink behind the sea. “You guys have it made here.” 

Kairi hums in agreement and Sora stares directly into the sun. 

“Let’s go before it gets too dark. Roxas is making soup!” Axel springs up, kicking up sand with him. 

“ Soup? ” Sora says, helping Kairi to her feet. Roxas had really been getting into cooking lately, but he’d never tried making soup before. 

“Some kinda… pineapple soup, yeah, that’s what he said!” Axel says over his shoulder, sprinting across the beach toward an island home they’d been staying in. Their friends didn’t live on Destiny Islands of course, but visited all too often. Everyone decided it’d be best to let them stay in a little “summer home” whenever they wished. 

“They” being, well, everyone except for Sora, Riku, and Kairi.

Sora wanted to sprint too, but Kairi wasn’t moving all that fast, so he walked ahead, hands still intertwined. He really enjoyed when Roxas cooked, something about the way he seasoned his chicken was so good and anything he prepared seemed to put an ease to the war he’d been at with himself lately. Comfort food, Sora thought. He especially liked it when Riku showed up in his pajamas and ate right next to him, Riku would brush his knees and feet softly against Sora’s, smile over at him while both of them knew it wasn’t accidental at all.

“Hey, Sora,” Kairi’s uncertain voice made his ears prick up. 

“Yeah?” Sora glanced over, that voice paired with the slow walking surely meant no good. 

“Are you — uh, really okay? I know Axel asked but you kind of have this mood about you lately, just in general, I want to make sure you’re feeling okay. Is the past bothering you? You’re usually so optimistic—“ 

“Yes, everything’s okay. Promise. You don’t need to worry.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly, smiling softly. Typically, he’d be more convincing when someone is distressed, certainly when in regards to himself. He would be far more sincere. Sora knew it was out of character for him to be vague, but if he said anything else, he knew it would be insincere no matter what. Just piling onto a lie. It’d be far better to try and keep her concerns at bay, Sora wasn’t sure when he’d have the courage to tell her, or if he ever would, matter of fact. 

“You never need to worry about losing me again, you know.” Kairi added, “Those days are past us now.”

They continued to walk. Sora changed the subject, started talking about how nobody but Roxas would manage to come up with something like pineapple soup. 

It’s not like I never cared about you, Sora thought of things he wished he could say. 

Like that, anyway. 

He had insurmountable courage and there weren’t many things he desperately wished he could do but couldn’t, but this was certainly one of them. 

I was so foolish to think this is how things were meant to be. I never thought Riku and I would be possible. I was never supposed to do this to you. I made a mistake, it’s really all my fault. Please don’t hate me for the rest of your life.

Even though he didn’t love her, certainly not in ways he thought he did, it didn’t make hurting his childhood friend any easier. It’s not like it would make a difference in the way he felt about Riku. The puppy love feeling from earlier had melted into thick, dark, foul guilt. He swallowed that down too.

A thick and rich cooked pineapple smell flooded Sora’s nose when he stepped inside. Axel had already taken a seat, giddily eating Roxas’ soup. Roxas stood proudly, apron and all. 

“ Wow Roxas, that smells really good!” Sora exclaimed, that classic warm-hearted joy sprouting from him. 

Axel attempted to answer, but he would’ve choked, so Riku did it for him. 

“It tastes really good, too.” He looked over at Sora through a layer of thick eyelashes with those eyes , pulling his spoon from his mouth, and Sora could feel a little tremor in his legs. He let go of Kairi’s hand, which he noticed Riku unmistakably had glanced down at, and hurriedly made his way to the empty chair beside Riku. 

“Everyone else should’ve came over for this,” Axel muffled through hefty chunks of pineapple and lime, “Sooo guud ROKKAAAS” 

Sora batted his hand around for a spoon across the table Roxas had set all by himself, not bothering to grab his own bowl. He wanted a bite of Riku’s. 

“Roxas!” Sora grinned wide after his bite.

“Thank you, thank you.” Roxas gave a little bow. “ Tout le monde peut cuisiner .” 

Everyone else in the room except Sora curled an eyebrow. 

They all finished quite fast, Sora ultimately eating all of what Riku had left. Of course, not before Riku watched him take a second bite, then scooted the bowl over with a couple fingers, an ever-so-gentle grin on his face. Roxas really could pull anything off. After everyone collectively thanked him for the meal, bellies full and pineapple still heavy in the kitchen, Roxas thought he’d make an announcement. 

“So, Axel and I planned on going back to the tower tonight and doing something fun. You should come along Kairi, Xion said she learned how to braid hair and she really wants to try it on you!” 

Roxas averted his eyes to Sora and Riku, “—and you two should come!” 

Riku respectfully declined. “I’ve got a few of my own little projects I’m working on. It’d be best that I focus on them.” 

You’re getting worse with your excuses, Riku. Sora scolded silently, trying not to blink at him.

“Hmm, that’s okay.” Roxas hummed, then he turned. “You just come hang with us soon, okay? Sora too.” 

Sora didn’t need to speak a word to provide an excuse. They knew Sora would never leave Riku alone here, and for Sora to miss out on another sleepover? The dark realm would have frozen over before that ever happened.

That is, if Kairi agreed to leave. Sora worried she wouldn’t, considering her concern for his behavior, but maybe since Riku was here she’d think he’d be alright. He couldn’t spend as much time with Riku as he wanted, Kairi was still his girlfriend and required the quality time that comes with being in a relationship. On top of that, he had to repeatedly remind himself she didn’t know and there was no use letting himself get worked up over little things – that would just give them away. God this was getting exhausting.

Kairi looked at Sora, who was leaning a little too inwards into Riku and watching her with big, eager eyes. 

Kairi looked back up at Roxas. “I’ll come! That sounds like lots of fun.” 

Sora held back a massive sigh of relief, something exploding and sparkling in his core that had him involuntarily bouncing his knee against Riku’s like a bunny beneath the table, so happy he would’ve never noticed Kairi’s annunciation — performed in hopes she would make Sora a little jealous. Riku held back a grin, too.

Sora couldn’t care and it wasn’t out of the ordinary for him to not care when something excited him so much, something Kairi had never really picked up on. Riku would though, and did, despite having to bite back words and hold his breath against the suffocating tension in the air anytime they were together amongst their friends. 

Riku would do it, though — forever — if it meant Sora would remain his. Not in the way he’d hoped, maybe not entirely his, but still his nonetheless. 

—

A sleepover they had, settled in long after the sun had finally tucked itself behind a water horizon. Usually, anyone would be able to listen to the sound of the waves at night. Tonight, though, Riku’s bed frame was going to leave scratch marks so horrid on his floor that he was going to have to get rid of the whole setup and settle for just a mattress and box springs. 

“Ah, a-ah, hah, fuck” 

Sora didn’t usually swear, either. Riku always kind of loved that about Sora, and the fact that — fuck, was there anything he didn’t love about him? — Sora had a predisposition toward them, those words are just naughty, and not nice at all he’d say.

Yet, when Sora was on top of Riku like this, leaned back, fingers digging into the flesh above Riku’s knees, t-shirt and socks on only, hips rolling and stuttering, desperately trying to chase his orgasm, his little filter he tried to keep was completely absent. 

“Watch your mouth,” Riku teased, letting his hands fall slack from where they were on Sora’s waist, body getting a little too rowdy for Riku to control him at all.

Sora pouts down at him, and Riku can’t help but let out a quiet “Aww”

Sora slows down acutely, body growing tired, still so achingly hard. He was looking off in the corner of Riku’s room, and the look across his face was pitiful. 

“Hey, hey,” Riku grinned, leaning up closer to him, “If you want to cum without being touched, let me do some of the work, yeah?” 

Sora prepared to retort, pausing his already lazy movements. “You’re wearing yourself out.” Riku interrupts, right before pulling Sora on top of him, and into a wet kiss. 

“I can do it myself,” Sora says, trying to be mean, but through a grin and soft moan nonetheless as Riku gave him kitten-licks and quick little kisses across his jaw and ear, pulling Sora’s head into his shoulder. 

“You sure? Why don’t you start counting down from sixty?” Riku’s hands went back to Sora’s hips, positioning him the way he wanted. “Then we’ll see if you were able to cum any faster all by yourself.” 

With that, Riku rolled them over so that Sora was laid comfortably in the pillows, slipping out gently, momentarily. He readjusted Sora, who was scowling at him the entire time from beneath him, placing one of his legs on his shoulder. 

“You talk a biiig game, huh? Alright then big guy, hit me with your best —“ 

Sora had to halt himself and suck in his bottom lip and bite before he would’ve ended his sentence in a squeak as Riku pushed back in, and right there too. Riku began to move, going so far as to fucking pull Sora’s hips up at a tiny angle to be absolutely certain he was pressing him there in earnest. 

They never broke eye contact, Sora was never able when Riku was above him like this. Staring up at white hair set around a face he was never going to get tired of — especially when it was looking down at him so hungrily, lovingly, like Sora was the last and most delicious meal Riku would ever have in his life — sent pure heat between his legs and restless butterflies fluttering through his stomach.

Much to Sora’s demise, he was letting out the softest whimpers, gasping at the end of each of them when Riku would thrust back in again. His hands scrambled up to steady himself on Riku’s arms, but he was quickly halted by two hands much larger than his own clasping around his wrists and immediately pressing them into the pillows. Sora made an involuntary noise of retaliation.

“Won’t be needing these,” Riku said through huffs and a little giggle, letting Sora free, “You’re all tuckered out and need to rest, remember?” 

Sora furrowed his brows, lips parted while a whine was forced out of him. He batted his eyelashes in a daze.

“What number are you on?” 

Maybe if he wasn’t being fucked into Riku’s mattress with one leg in the air, the other weakly spread open, he would’ve responded with “ Thirteen. Better hurry it up”, but all he could do was twist his hands into the pillowcase he had been writhing against. 

Riku thought he’d simplify the questions. He leaned down next to his ear, pushing Sora’s leg further back. He wiggled a hand behind his knee so he could hold it there while he snapped into the mess of a boy beneath him.

“Does it feel good?”

Sora knew the answer to that one, “Yes.”

Before Sora could even think to ask “Will you go a little faster, please?” Like he always would, Riku began to pick up the pace — ever so slightly, but still, picking it up — because he could sense when Sora was starting to become undone and needy. Yes, he started to swear, and worst of all for Sora he started asking so, so politely for what he wanted, despite always wanting to one-up Riku and give him attitude. Though he knew quite well he’d be beaming with absolute joy anytime Riku succeeded, it didn’t matter if it was against him or not. 

Here, Sora didn’t like to lose. Rather, that’s what he tells himself. The incessant begging was beginning to spill all his cards onto the table, flipped face up and all.

“Fuck, Riku,” His voice almost cracked, sounding borderline raw like he’d been crying. He arched his back, attempting to throw his head back too but already snug against the pillows, so he just ruffled up his mess of a head even worse. 

By now it’d been well over sixty seconds, but Riku would never not allow this to last for as long as it possibly could. 

After all, they didn’t get to have sleepovers often. 

Sora’s hands were still tugging at his pillow and Riku had reached over for Sora’s other leg, pressing them both so far up that Sora was curled in a ball shape beneath Riku, who was ultimately falling weak against him too. Riku shivered a little, that familiar low hum of a teasing sensation threatening release.

He sped up, judiciously, rolling his hips from a loving, deep rhythm into a satisfyingly quick pace that Sora’s cries were following closely as if Riku were conducting a piece of music. Long, closed-mouthed into open-mouthed whines moving into short, fast and high-pitched keens and gasps. 

Sora began to squirm, body rising and falling in the sheets as he moved against Riku similar to how he was chasing his orgasm from earlier — only this time it felt within reach. Sora forced his eyes open, making sure he could look up at Riku. 

“Ri-i- ah- ku, please—“ he managed, voice small, and Riku quickly fluttered open his eyes, “Keep going. Please keep going.”

Riku let out a soft noise, didn’t speed up or falter, making sure he kept Sora’s wish in mind. 

“C’mon Riku, feels so good ‘ku, Rikuu~, oh fuck yes, yes, mmh— “ 

It was almost like Sora knew exactly what he was doing, because Riku’s orgasm crept up on him in seconds. He came inside of Sora, trembling, gasping Sora’s name like he did something wrong and the sounds just became more obscene, Riku trying like hell not to swallow his tongue through his moans.

Sora fucking laughed.  

Riku snapped his once-squinted-shut eyes forward from where his head had hung, still in a post-orgasmic haze. He was flushed, face hot, uncertain whether it was from the euphoric release Sora just gave him or the fact that Sora did it entirely on purpose. 

“So mean,” Riku panted. 

“Aww, is someone feeling tired already?” Sora mocked him, “Maybe it’s time for a little break, huh?” 

“Well, you can forget about cumming untouched.” Riku, smiling, wrapped a hand around Sora's still very hard cock to toy with it momentarily. “I’ve always had better stamina anyway.” 

Sora scoffed.

Riku pulled out, trying to disregard the absolute mess he’d made on his bed, and shuffled back, quickly making up for Sora’s emptiness with his middle and ring finger. 

Sora keened, it certainly didn’t compare to the full feeling of Riku’s thickness but oh he could curl his fingers and make him feel things otherwise impossible. It felt like they were moving backwards, Sora couldn’t recall a time Riku sunk his fingers into him after he’d finished. Probably because Sora had never sacrificed finishing in unison — which he loved very much — just to be a step ahead. 

Riku started gently, wanting to avoid desensitizing Sora. Sora had momentarily held back his own release, after all. It hadn’t been the easiest thing in the world. Sora tried not to squirm all across the bed as Riku worked him up again. 

Then Riku leaned his head down, took Sora into his mouth, and started finger-fucking him with lips squeezed around his cock, tongue dragging upwards in sync with an added finger pushing in, curling to hit that same little spot Riku knew how to find oh-so well. 

A loud cry sputtered from deep in Sora’s chest, eyes that were once watching Riku patiently and lovingly — now squeezed shut in bliss. He was capable of avoiding snaking a fist into Riku’s hair, but he couldn’t help twitching his hips up off the bed and into his mouth. It was so overwhelmingly good. 

Riku groaned, angry eyes glaring up at Sora as a fist wrapped around his hip and pushed him into the bed, into place, giving a particularly rough thrust of his fingers.

Sora wanted to apologize, to be nice, but his trembling lips were falling open against his will, and his knees were beginning to bend up around Riku, beginning to shake — 

Riku tried not to smile around Sora’s cock, feeling his little tremors in the bed, he moaned around him once, twice — 

A breathy whimper, “Oh god, Riku—“

Sora had to fucking squeeze something so he neglected being good and a fist came to Riku’s hair, his orgasm curling his toes and so good his mouth hung open and every breath that came out hung on a moan, desperate little cries against such strong pressure reverberating all through him. Riku was doing his best to keep going, slowing down and articulating his movements and letting himself swallow down every little drop. 

He replaced his mouth with his other hand, working Sora back down, whose legs were still convulsing, catching his breath in weak pants. He removed his fingers so he could reach up and play with one of Sora’s nipples.

“Not so tough now, hmm?”

Sora gave him his meanest pout, long enough for Riku to start laughing before he cast his arms around his neck and pulled him down next to him in the bed. 

“Was really, really good ‘ku,” Sora said, still letting out little pleased noises, “Was I good?”

Riku gave him a long kiss before he attempted to answer that, hand cupping behind Sora’s ear. Riku had missed his mouth, they would get so into it they’d forget to kiss and it was something Riku surely didn’t like.

“Well,” Riku said in between a flick of his tongue up into Sora’s, “You made me cum on purpose, then —“ 

“Hey!” Sora was grinning, “You made me cum on purpose too.” 

Riku wasn’t sure what to say to that. He looked down at Sora, dumbfounded.

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” Sora’s grin turned mischievous, and then he found himself screaming , Riku pinning him into the bed and tickling him at his sides relentlessly. 

“Riku! Riku! Stopstopstopit! Pleaaase!” 

“Only ‘cause you said please.”

“Oh, you’re really lucky actually, ‘cause I was about to—“ 

Riku put a hand over his mouth, smiling, “You need to be taught manners. Stole my soup at the table and everything.” 

“That’s—“ 

“Saying fuck all the time,” Riku added. 

Sora scoffed and scrambled on top of Riku, flipping them over, for a few more kisses. 

Their noses were touching and Riku had to cross his eyes to look up at Sora at all, “You make me say that.” 

Sora leaned back to wait for a response, and in that brief moment, looking down at Riku, he couldn’t stop thinking about how much he loved him. This was Riku, childhood best friend and lover and he would go to the ends of all worlds for him. Matter of fact, he has. Maybe twice.

In moments like this, their perfect little sleepovers, Sora forgot about the world around him, and everything that was hurting and made him feel dark and lonely and guilty went away.

Sora gave Riku one more kiss in response to the feeling that he might not get to again for a while. 

Chapter Text

“We don’t usually get to be loud like that.”  Sora collapsed onto Riku, snuggling into his chest. Riku smiled, but wasn’t having it. He wrapped his arms around Sora and cupped a hand under his butt, lifting them both up off the bed like Sora was nothing more than a piece of paper. Sora clung tight like a koala, not fully trusting Riku’s strength despite him doing this multiple times in the past.

“Let’s go, you little sailor. We should clean ourselves up.” 

Riku made his way to his bathroom, turning his head briefly to examine his bed. “Maybe do something about the uh, evidence.”

Sora clung tighter to him, squeezing his eyes shut. What they’d done was undoubtedly a crime of sorts. 

Sora swung his feet a little as Riku put him down on the cold floor, reaching into his tub to start running them a warm bath. Riku’s bathroom was just as cozy as his bedroom was, ceiling and walls adorn in viny plants and little candles strewn about. Some of them were scented, and Sora liked the warm, cinnamon-y vanilla smells the best. He said they reminded him of the way Riku smelled, and that it reminded him of times when all he could think of was Riku Riku Riku when he thought he was in danger, and when he felt Riku was right under his nose when he’d lost him. He admitted he actually tried sniffing the air sometimes when he was looking, ultimately finding him when they were younger — possessed by someone-Sora-shall-not-name. Yet, with that tell-tale smell still flooding his senses while Riku was beating him senseless, it was the biggest indicator his Riku was still in there. Perks of having a good nose. Because of it all, the smell kind of made him sad sometimes, but it reminded him he’d never let Riku get lost again. 

Sora had complimented Riku, though, on his interior decorating skills before, it was an odd talent Riku had. His poor floorboards. 

Riku sat Sora on the stool by his bathroom sink and started to pull his socks and shirt off. With much more care than when his shorts were coming off earlier, of course. Sora beamed down at him. “Can we use your lavender bubble bath this time?” 

“You know lavender makes you so sleepy, Sora. How bout…,” Riku tossed Sora’s clothes in a basket in the corner, and sifted around his cabinets briefly. “Raspberry sorbet?” 

“You’re right. I don’t want to sleep anytime soon at all. That sounds… like I could eat it.” 

“You hungry again?” Riku carefully measured out the bubble bath in a couple tablespoons he kept nearby and dumped it by the running faucet, rinsing them. 

“Aren’t you? We both had just half a bowl of soup earlier.”

“Whose fault is that?”

“Yours. Shoulda grabbed extra for me.”

“I may drown you in the raspberry sorbet.” 

Riku hadn’t finished undressing yet, still wearing a rolled up long-sleeve and socks. They had all the time in the world tonight, but Sora was so damn eager he couldn’t let either of them finish getting their clothes off as soon as they busted into Riku’s house after Kairi and the lot of them left. Sora got to work on it for him, running soft touches up Riku’s sides before he began to pull the shirt up over his head, having to get up on his tiptoes to lift his arms up so high. 

Riku shut the faucet off and they both quickly settled into the bubbly water; It was warm and smelled so good but Sora knew Riku would still make them wash themselves off properly afterwards with actual soap. Sora felt it may be a good time to get things off his chest. This was yet another thing he didn’t get to do often. Riku spoke before he could, scooting closer to Sora in the tub.

“Sora, remember the first time we did something like this?”

“Yeah. I remember I had come over for a normal sleepover, stuff happened, and I finally got to enjoy this bathtub with you like I’d always imagined, seriously.” Riku watched Sora closely as he toyed absentmindedly with a bright green ornament he had hanging above the tub, it was a gift from Sora when he went to Christmastown. 

“And then I… I was really worried about what I’d done. We kissed and touched for the first time and now we’re doing so much more and I wouldn’t change a thing about what you and I have, Riku.” Sora turned his head over, hand slipping back into the water, making sure Riku was looking him in the eyes, wanting to be certain that what he was about to say would be clear. “If there was anything I would change, uh, you know what it’d be. But I don’t want to keep doing this anymore.”

“I know, Sora.” Riku said, voice thick with sympathy. He could hear the hurt in Sora’s, who was staring off into the pink water.

“It’s hard, being sneaky like this. Waiting for the next moment to do what I think about constantly, being here with you in the way I actually wanna be, not like how it is when everyone else is around.” Sora’s voice quavered. “I really like you, Riku. A lot. I liked you long before Kairi and I were together but I didn’t know if you felt the same so I did the dumbest thing ever and –”

“Shh, shh, slow down, don’t think too much, alright?” Riku ran fingers through Sora’s damp hair, lifting up his chin to make sure he wasn’t twisting his face up into a miserable pout. Riku frowned. That was precisely what he was doing, a flood of tears ready to run as he shook himself into a disheveled mess against Riku.

Riku gathered him close in his arms and let Sora cling tight, who was now sobbing gently. Whenever he had the opportunity to be open about the way he felt, Sora would cry. A lot. His heart was so pure and full of love that keeping any bit of its emotions contained would hurt so bad it was almost physical, and so Riku would hold him every single time he had to.

Sora was shaking his head weakly, “What do I do? What is there to do?” he mumbled a couple times over, voice crawling out through a tight throat.

“Shh,” Riku whispered, spooning some warm water across Sora’s cold, drying back. He didn’t want to offer his words just yet, Sora had a really difficult time listening to anything when he was like this.

They stayed that way for a couple minutes – Riku petting Sora gently, murmuring little “ it’s okay”s until Sora’s breathing finally slowed, he sniffled a bit, and then sat back to look up at Riku and give him a weak smile. 

“You’re not alone, here, y’know.” Riku smiled back, using his non-pruny hand to wipe the wetness from Sora’s cheeks, leaning in to kiss the same spots, Sora closing his puffy eyes blissfully. “Ya think I don’t feel like crying too when I see you walking around with that ? Stealing all my attention?” 

Sora giggled, and it was music to Riku’s ears after the wretched emotion Sora’s cries had chiseled into him. “Don’t be mean, Riku. She’s still our friend.”

“Well, I know you might be in my bathtub right now, when you’re not supposed to be at all,” Sora watched Riku speak, tilting his head a little to the side. “But you’re not fully responsible for all that hurt you’re lugging around.” 

Riku cupped his neck, planting another kiss on his forehead. “Imagine one day, the first day you knew I liked you too, you walked up to her and said ‘So, I’m totally in love with Riku now and not you, also I’m gay. Talk soon, babe!’”

Sora cackled , right after he felt a swarm of butterflies almost lift him out of the water when Riku said in love. “Okay! Okay, you’re right. Not that easy. Y’know what is easy?”

“What?”

“Getting out of this tub. I’ve got Xehanort fingers.”

“Shut up. We’re still actually washing ourselves.” Riku grinned, holding back a cringe, letting out the water and turning the shower on instead. Sora groaned.

“What’s the point in showering after the bath if we’re just gonna wash all the raspberry sorbet off?”

“We can do it the other way around next time if you want, so we can get right out of the bath – but I tried doing that before and you whined about standing up for too long after sex.”

Sora rolled his eyes.

“And I don’t know why I put up with you making a mess all over yourself, me and the bed then wanting to get all playful and make it worse. And then take a bath! ”

Sora was getting worked up, ready to spit out the comeback he was cooking. 

“Riku, you–”

“And luckily for you, I’ve got raspberry sorbet body wash.” Riku pressed the bottle into Sora’s arms, who squinted as the shower nozzle sprayed water directly into his face.

After they showered, Sora dried himself quickly, sprinted out to the connected bedroom and checked the time. “Oh, Riku…”

“What? Getting late?”

“No!” Sora turned with a shut-eyed smile. “We have enough time to eat and go to the beach.”

“Oh, and get back here at 7 in the morning?”

Sora grabbed Riku’s hand. “By all means, if you wanna stay here knowing we’ll have to take another bath and shower–”

“I’ll pick out an outfit for you.”

–

Sora would usually bring just one change of clothes to leave Riku’s house in, if he didn’t leave in the clothes he went there in — just in order to avoid suspicion. Tonight, he was running out onto the beach in Riku’s warmer clothes, which were two sizes too big for him, speeding ahead of Riku to their favorite spot. 

It was a quiet spot on the other end of the island, quite overgrown and vegetated as no one ever really came through the area. They would go there almost anytime they were able and they’d bring food, more food, and a sheet to lay down on to keep the sand out of their bundled clothes. 

Riku caught up with Sora and took his hand, sand kicking silently beneath his feet. “And, ah, Sora… this is all partly my fault too. I should’ve done something sooner before you ever ended up in this situation.”

“Aw, Riku. None of it’s your fault. You were just as scared as I was, and I never liked her like that in the first place. That’s all on me.” Sora looked out at the pretty waves and tried to think happier thoughts as he spoke, reminding himself he was with Riku right now. “I thought I was supposed to, she just kinda fit into the narrative and everyone else uh… kinda pushed it. I was confused, desperate for someone to really love me I guess. Not to mention the fruit.” Sora thought of how his heart had longed for Riku when they were much younger, yearned for Riku’s closeness far before he understood what love was supposed to feel like. Did that mean he understood now?

“If it’ll make you feel any better, we could share one too.” Riku hummed in almost a sing-songy way, turning back to look at the funkiest palm tree he’d ever seen that had become smooth from using it as a seat over the years.

“Mm,” Sora smiled, “That’s just a legend anyway. Don’t you think our destinies were already intertwined? When you told me about that, I kinda thought you and I would end up sharing it.” Sora shrugged a bit, eyes twinkling when he looked up at Riku. 

“We always found our way back to each other somehow, didn’t we?” Riku said, tossing Sora the blanket while he opened up the basket of goodies he brought. 

Sora settled down quickly and reached up for the basket hungrily. “You used to get me pretty worried, but I always knew I’d find you. What’d ya make for me?”

Riku shook his head, “Not mine tonight. Roxas made it.”

“ Roxas?! ” Sora gasped, “You.. you didn’t tell him why , did you?”

“‘Course not, are you crazy? I told him I wanted him to whip up something for me to take home. Didn’t even mention it was special, everybody knew you and I would be spending quality best friend time tonight.” 

“Oh, it’s gonna be so good.” Sora pulled out a thermos. “What’s in it? Pineapple soup?”

“Just open it.”

Sora was met with the most pleasant chicken aroma he’d ever inhaled.  It was homemade ramen noodles. The two of them shared these, too, and of course Sora insisted on squeezing in a few lady and the tramp kisses. The moonlight illuminated the shore enough, thankfully so, or they’d be out in candlelight making an awful mess on themselves. Riku would’ve taken a shower-bath-combo over that. 

“Y’know, I’m always a little nervous that someone might find us out here. I mean, it is after five in the morning, but still. What if someone’s back there behind the trees?”

“You’re always nervous. Just relax a little and eat these noodles with me.” 

Sora nudged his shoulder, smiling deviously. He wondered what Roxas would think if they were using his ramen for a romantic date on the beach, as Sora would call it. Sora imagined that, since Roxas was a part of him anyway, he wouldn’t be so heavily opinionated. He thought he’d be one of the few that would be happy for him. Everyone else and what they might think — that scared him. 

Though, he felt Riku was right about his fears. He shouldn’t cry so much or think about what scares him when they’re together. This is his sanctuary.

“You remember the first sleepover we had and I made packet ramen since I was too lazy to cook?” Sora said, finally done wolfing down what was left in the thermos.

“Yes, and I also remember that I’d never seen you so happy. I asked Roxas specifically to try these out, his own recipe. He still used noodles from a packet — in his words, ‘Homemade pasta is too fuckin’ hard’ — but the rest was all him.”

Sora wasn’t sure how many times Riku was going to make his already acrobatic heart do flips tonight, but all he could do was smile, belly and heart so full.

They nibbled at a few more of the miscellaneous snacks Riku brought from home, spending over an hour talking about all they’d done in the past couple weeks, which was when their last night together had been. Sora said they’d do this more often, that he was feeling braver lately and more confident in his ability to dust over his tracks — that even if it felt risky, it would be worth it.  Riku felt a little weary about it, but wouldn’t dare disagree. If Sora felt comfortable enough to, and for the sake of his emotions, Riku couldn't disagree.

They got themselves ready to go back once they began exchanging yawns and the morning sky started to strangle their precious moonlight out of existence. 

“Not looking forward to it, Riku.” Sora said sleepily, trudging up the steps to Riku’s front door. 

“What’d I say?” Riku said, clearing Sora’s full arms once they got inside. “Think positively about it, like you always do. Nobody’s gonna bother us until I unlock this door and let them.” 

Sora tapped his lips like he was thinking, “ Hmm , I guess we’ll be sleeping in all day long then.” 

Sora helped Riku close all the blinds, and they made a nice cozy spot on Riku’s futon — which was luxuriously nice already by the way — out of the softest pillows and blankets they could find, since the bed was still dirty and Riku was not going to let Sora drag him into it again.

Chapter Text

Sora was the first to wake, his phone buzzing Riku’s coffee table and everything on it like the tiniest little table earthquake — but enough to wake Sora in a jolt. He hadn’t moved his phone from that spot since he arrived here. It was moving its damn self now — skidding across the table aggressively. 

Sora was lying completely on top of Riku, a bit of an awkward position considering how nicely they were cuddled before they slept, fitting into each other like little lego blocks. Now, his face was nuzzled into Riku’s cheek and a tiny pool of drool was on the pillow he’d been face down in. 

“ Hnnngh, ” Sora attempted lifting himself, saw the phone bounce into the floor and onto a rug and then stop moving. Much quieter. Yes.

Sora rolled his eyes, quickly shutting them again with a small smile as he moved his head to Riku’s other side where it was drool-less. He hugged Riku as tight as he was able with the futon restricting his arms too much to completely reach around. 

Riku stirred a little, Sora thinking he might’ve heard him whisper Sora so quiet a mouse wouldn’t have heard it, his hands sliding up to grip Sora’s ass, then settling and pawing around Sora’s tiny waist for a long moment, and finally returning the tight hug. Sora moaned in his sleep. 

…

Zzzzzzzt. Zzzzzzzt.

“Off. Shut up.” mumbled Sora, still half asleep and grouchiness starting to set in. 

Riku took the initiative to grip Sora tightly with one arm and lean over, Sora clutching onto Riku while he scooted the gummiphone toward himself with — one, two fingers, scooping it up, reading the screen.

Kairi  

Sora, entirely ignoring the phone, was gliding his mouth up across the side of Riku’s face, nuzzling into his hair, sighing gently into his ear and attempting to lick into it playfully, tenderly dancing his tongue up from Riku’s neck. Riku just held the phone up, mouth slightly agape as Sora snaked a hand beneath himself to cup at Riku’s —

“Sora.”

“Hah?”

“It’s Kairi.” 

“Oh, just throw it back down on the floor. Better yet, text her and say ‘He’s busy. Heart emoji.’”

Riku’s expression went flat before he gave a little twitch of a smile, dropping the phone just as Sora asked, beginning to return the touches. 

“Do you wake up this horny every day?” Riku said, gasping and pushing Sora away a tiny bit when he attempted to suck at his neck. 

“Alone, yes. Here, yes. Kairi’s house? Out the door before she has the chance to wake up.”

Riku chuckled, brushing back some of Sora’s hair before Sora worked his way down, pushing up Riku’s shirt, kissing over his nipples, flicking a tongue out over his left and smoothing his hand up to toy with the right. Riku shuddered, curling his palm across the back of Sora’s neck. 

The phone finally stopped ringing, played a default voicemail noise, and the line went cold. 

Sora sighed, relieved, breath tickling Riku’s stomach as he moved further down, fingers curling into his waistband, nails scraping gently as he started to tug, licking and biting marks into Riku’s hips and the smooth skin where his pelvis sunk in as he worked. He remembered Riku telling him there are only certain spots where he’s allowed to put hickeys.

“Not so fast.” Riku said, hand in Sora’s hair squeezing at the back of his neck just enough to halt him. Sora looked up, lips parted in surprise. Riku shifted a little, not letting go of Sora, and slid two fingers into his mouth. 

“I wanna play with you first.” Riku said, pressing on Sora’s tongue and encouraging him to lick at them just enough to get them wet, maybe pushing them back a little further than was necessary, sending an aggressive twitch between Sora’s legs. Riku sat up, reached under Sora’s oversized top with those same fingers moving towards a nipple, leaning forward to lap his tongue into Sora’s already open mouth. Riku’s fingers were wet and cool and it made Sora shudder. 

Just as Sora was starting to rut up against Riku’s leg, there was a knock at the door. Multiple knocks. Loud knocks. 

The both of them jumped and their blood turned to ice , eyes on the door. Every little hair on Sora’s body was standing straight up, breath halted in his throat. Riku froze entirely, fight-or-flight instincts taking over his every thought. 

“Riku! Sora! Boys, We’re baaack!” 

That was Xion’s voice. We’re? Oh shit.

Riku must've seen that Sora was preparing to spring straight up out of where they were sitting and run to answer it, because he grabbed Sora’s wrist almost immediately. 

Riku was too frozen to lean in and whisper, but he looked at Sora with a level of seriousness that Sora wasn’t sure he’d ever witnessed before. He spoke in a quick and quiet tone. “Don’t run. Be quiet. We’re asleep. Get up slow, and hide anything quietly. ”

“Hellooooo? ” That was Kairi’s voice this time.

“But we’ve got to hurry. Let’s go. Shh.” 

Oh god, oh god oh god oh god. Sora tried to breathe, hands sweaty. If there would be any worse way for Kairi to find out it would be in front of everybody. This is just my luck, this is what I deserve . Oh, he’d never recover from this. 

Sora stood, uneasy, legs shaking, heart still on the floor. Riku squeezed his hand reassuredly, let go, and stepped off to his bedroom with a blanket, going to cover up the bed but still try to manage to make it look like someone had just crawled out of it. Sora left the futon out, conveniently it made it look as if one of them slept in a separate room. 

Knock knock, knock knock, knock knock

Sora spun his head around for anything he could find that looked suspicious, first thing being the blinds all being shut. In fear of someone standing at one of the windows, he did nothing. He glanced at the door and murmured a thank you to a higher power that Riku’s door didn’t have windows. He peeked into Riku’s room. “Riku. I couldn’t find anything. Anything else?” 

“WAKE UP!” Axel. 

“As long as they don’t look in the bathroom hamper or try to sleep in the bed we’ll be fine. Go, go! ” 

Riku made haste to go open the door, and Sora is just now remembering he isn’t wearing any fucking pants. He leapt into Riku’s room to cover himself, reliving the same fear when he heard the first knock. 

Sora had his back flat against Riku’s door, pinned in his own fear, and listened to the creak of Riku opening the front, breath hitching in his throat. Time slowed down. Pull yourself together.

Distant voices filled the other side of the door. “Hi Riku! We had so much fun! Riku, you and Sora really should’ve come!” 

“Hey, where is Sora?” 

“ Pants! I forgot to grab any pants!” Sora muttered under his breath, baring his teeth, but it was too late now. He had to do something before Riku had to start lying and then two tall tales were in eventual existence, putting them in jeopardy. 

Sora put on a brave face, turned around and leaned into the thin crack of the door, all the while twisting it to lock, “I’m in here!” 

Of course he heard Kairi sprint up to the door first and try to walk right in, knob jiggling. Sora took a step back, petrified, he felt like he was hiding from a serial killer. 

“Sora!” She yelled. Sora pouted, a little upset that everyone had to be so loud. He felt so nervous he thought about just staying in Riku’s bedroom and saying he didn’t feel well. It’s too early for all this. 

Sora checked the clock by Riku’s bed. It was three in the afternoon. 

He frowned, took a few steps back from the door and toward the bathroom, trying to make it sound like he hadn’t just now locked himself in here. “I’m coming!” he managed. 

He returned to the door, unlocking and then just barely cracking it, hips tucked out of sight behind to hide his pants-less-ness. “Hi.”

Kairi started trying to shove the door open so Sora returned that same resistance. 

“Hey, let me in. I wanna give you a hug!” 

“I don’t have anything on.” 

“Well, that’s nothing I haven’t seen before. Let me in.” 

Sora lost his battle with the door and had to take a few steps back to avoid getting all ten toes stubbed. He did his absolute best to pretend everything was normal, he and Riku just had a completely normal sleepover and didn’t fuck in the bed directly behind him. The blankets were certainly not strewn around to hide cumstains. Everything was fine.

“Aw, borrowed Riku’s clothes, did you?”

Oh. This is Riku’s shirt. Sora was going to be sick. At least she didn’t think anything was out of the ordinary. 

“Yeah. Locked himself in here and started takin’ my stuff.” Riku strode in, and Sora couldn’t have been more thankful for his impeccable timing. Sora could put up a pretty good front, but he was god awful at lying. He was standing, door wide open, frail body clothed in nothing but Riku’s t-shirt and his boxers, shirt so long it hid them so he looked entirely naked in front of everyone in Riku’s house right now. His eyes darted from Kairi, to Axel, to Xion, to Roxas, and then landed on Riku. 

“You’re red as Axel’s hair, Sora.” Xion said, “Don’t be so embarrassed, we can’t see anything.” 

Riku please come and save me before I jump out of your window.

“Uh, i-it’s not really—“ 

“Go wait in the living room, guys. I’ll get him something he can wear that isn’t one of my favorite shirts.” Riku rolled his eyes, selling it. He began to step into the room, squeezing by Sora, but was stopped abruptly by Kairi grabbing Sora, pulling him forward, and giving him an open-mouthed kiss, whispering that she missed him so much before slinking away with everyone else, giving Sora a little wave. 

They all stepped away, finally, Axel bursting out in a little giggle as they left. Riku shut the door, and it was just him and Sora again. Sora snatched Riku’s collar with both hands, and said through his teeth, “Riku! You let them in and I have nothing on! I’m wearing your clothes!” 

Sora let go to pull the shirt up and show, without a doubt, Riku’s boxers too. 

Riku grabbed Sora’s face, leaned down and kissed him, trying to ignore the fact Kairi’s mouth was just here, muffling whatever Sora was about to say next, Sora’s eyes wide. Riku’s lips moved into a couple more kisses over a lengthy period, Sora’s eyes slowly fluttering closed. Riku waited until he felt Sora relax his shoulders, and peeked to see if he had relaxed his fists. 

Riku pulled away after Sora was calm. 

“That was really dumb, but it kinda worked, so thank you.” Sora looked up at him with a much more relaxed expression, but pouting now, face now only half red as Axel’s hair.

“What worked? I just felt like kissing you. Missed you so much” Riku chortled, stepping over to his closet and sifting through something different for Sora, something from when Riku was smaller that would fit him better. When Riku turned around, Sora had plopped down into the floor and was staring at the wall.

Riku put his hands on his hips. “What’s wrong now, baby?” 

“Shut up.” Sora said. He stood up, looking over at the bed. “I’m just kidding. You really did do a good job at hiding everything.” 

Sora’s growing calmness came to a full stop when his eyes had drifted over to a bottle of lube on Riku’s nightstand. He gasped so loud they had to have heard it from outside. “Wha—“

Riku beat him to it, plucking the bottle up before Sora could come scrambling to grab it. “Shush. It’s hidden now.” Riku stuffed it in the closet, but made sure it was somewhere he’d be able to find it again. 

Riku approached Sora and pressed the clothes to his chest. “What’s worse is you made me hard and now I can’t fuck you.” 

Sora’s lips parted, blushing again. He twisted his hands into the clothes Riku gave him. 

Riku was face to face with him, voice low, “Now you’re gonna undress in front of me, and there’s not a thing I can do about it.” Riku grabbed his hips and pulled him forward, leaning over to his ear, and Sora stumbled a little, he was absolutely melting, rock hard in mere seconds, leaking precum into Riku’s boxers, and Riku was whispering now, “The next time you’re in here,” he dug his nails into the skin at Sora’s hips, “Don’t expect me to go nearly as easy on you as I did last night.”

He took a couple steps back from a now wobbly Sora, who was looking up at him in complete awe. 

Riku looked satisfied with himself. He leaned back against the wall, crossed his arms, and said, “Go on,” nodding his head at the clothes in Sora’s arms. 

Sora looked down at them, taking a moment to remember what he was still in here for in the first place. He looked up, back down, then up again. 

He made eye contact with Riku while he pulled the boxers off, slow. He had made a small wet spot in them. Riku watched his every move with intense care. At his ankles now, Sora kicked them off gently. Silently, he crossed his arms over the bottom of Riku’s shirt, and pulled it up over his head, tossing it to the side too. 

“Look at you,” Riku said, Sora feeling his eyes burn into every surface of his exposed body. “All hard now.”

Sora’s face was burning, too, he could hear his own heart going ba-bum, ba-bum, far worse than the way it pounded earlier. He had looked down and away, but he let his eyes cast up to Riku before he had added one last little comment— 

“And there’s nothing you can do about it.” 

Riku walked up, gave Sora one last peck on the lips, then one more on his hot cheek, smiled sweetly at him, and slipped out of the door. 

Sora stared at the door for, he really didn’t know how long — but he knew he wasn’t going anywhere right now, not for a minute. He was afraid if he moved his jelly limbs to try and put the clothes on he would turn into a puddle on the floor. 

Riku did have possessive tendencies, and if Sora wasn’t careful, if Kairi wasn’t careful with what she did in front of him, Sora was in hot water. He didn’t necessarily just not mind, because whatever Riku ended up doing to him usually had him lying to absolutely everyone afterwards, laid up in bed for a day or two saying he felt sick when, in reality, he couldn’t walk. Not without a limp or horrid posture, and one of these days someone was going to start getting concerned about him saying he was “sick” every other week. His neck would be awfully marked up in purple and pink spots too and he would have to steal Kairi’s makeup to hide them. 

Of course, Riku would ask for the key to his place, tell him to keep the door locked for everyone else, and Riku would come to take care of him and they’d kiss it off, stretch out together in a comfortable spot Riku built. Sora loved every minute of it, of being reminded he was Riku’s, and no one else’s. It made Riku feel better for at least a month, no matter what Kairi did afterwards. It made Sora feel better too, for a little price, maybe — but it was excellent in making up for lost time. If Sora missed Riku, he could always peek beneath his waistband or check his inner thighs then. Look in the mirror after a shower when the makeup he’d snagged was washed away.

Sora slipped on the clothes, a fashionable pair of shorts and a v-neck gray shirt, comfortable boxers underneath too. He dreaded having to go out there in a couple minutes and spend the day with all of them as if none of that just happened, as if last night didn’t happen either. Heart and head bubbling over with extreme emotion and there really wasn’t anything he could do. Nothing.

He plopped himself down in the floor again, and thought about Kairi to make his boner go away.

Chapter Text

It went away quite fast after he settled down. He took a deep breath, the real challenge was going to be preventing it from coming back when he stepped out and Riku looked anywhere in his direction. 

He laid his hand on the knob, then huffed and spun around on his heels. “Oh, I can't do this. I can’t do this. I can’t do this! ” He talked to himself, pacing aimlessly. Time was rolling by him, making things worse the longer he stood and waited. This is the exact kind of thing he whines about having to deal with to Riku while they’re having sleepovers, it’s so so hard facing everyone and playing it cool and he wishes so badly he knew how Riku was doing it. Why’d they all want to hang out all the time? Can't they all just go be alone somewhere for once and survive? One full day?

Sora laid his forehead against the door, pouting at nobody but himself. If only he and Riku could’ve just spent the morning together, made eggs or something, teased one another about how neither of them will ever make anything as good as Roxas can, instead of having to abruptly end it all and sweep up their mess. That was how it usually always played out, anyway.

He will admit, though, the days were always a little depressing when they had to keep all the blinds shut so no one could see them. Sora liked nights, but sunlight was special too. When it was glowing behind shades, curtains out too, weakly spreading across the house like a paused sunrise, it made him sad. He thought of the day he and Riku could spend all the time they wanted here together with the windows entirely open, and prayed that that would be more than just fantasy, eventually. He wasn’t sure who he was praying to, though, as Sora was in full power of whatever happened — he could end every bit of it if he wanted to, let go of the pain he caused, cover his ears to what everyone else had to say about it, take Riku with him and never come back. 

Yet, Riku was his own person too. This was their mess and Sora would hang on for as long as he had to, until they were ready. Whenever they’d both be ready. If we’d both ever be ready. 

There was a tiny rap on the other side of the door, right where Sora’s forehead was. 

“ Sora?” Riku’s muffled voice came through, muted and soft, gentle, Sora smiled a little. 

Oh, the things he wanted to say. He couldn’t hold back a flirt, though. 

“Riku?” He answered, with the same singsong tone Riku had used with him as if he were a child holed up in his bedroom, terrorized, trying to convince him the rest of the house isn’t being attacked by armed burglars.

“It’s okay to come ooout now~”

Sora’s stomach churned a little, teetering with the urge to yank the door open and leap at Riku, or turn around and just leave through the window and avoid it altogether. Opening the door like a normal person was just really, really hard to think about doing right now.

Then he reminded himself that Riku, despite so effortlessly playing it cool, was probably just as on edge and wrought up as he was. He stared up at the door longingly, a little heartsick, as if he could see Riku through it, then quickly straightened his pout and gathered all his grit. 

There was the awkward sound of the door unlocking and creaking open, and there was Riku, smiling down at him. “There he is.” 

All of a sudden, this all didn’t feel so scary anymore.

Sora tried not to hold Riku’s gaze for too long but, with Riku’s back turned on everyone else in the house, he was giving Sora this stupid, warm and fuzzy, shot-by-cupid’s-bow look and it was making the task herculean.

Sora batted his eyes, pulling them away to look over to find everyone scattered about like it was a house party, doing their own thing. A relief, considering Sora fully expected everyone to be waiting right where the boys left them. 

And so, not before making sure nobody was approaching them, Sora looked back up at Riku to find he was still making the same face. 

“There have been many cues that your shift is over now,” Sora snickered, mocking professionalism. “It’s time for you to clock out.”

Riku rolled his eyes. Nothing about Sora was professional. “Can’t I work some overtime?” 

Sora snickered some more, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how cute Riku looked when he made attempts at acting normal. He might’ve been good at it, but it didn’t change how sweet it was. A Riku facade. Sora had seen it in the flesh before, and he was just as cute and Sora wanted to kiss him just as bad when he’d laid eyes on him, fooled Sora as good as anybody else — but real Riku was incomparable. Truthful, heart-on-his-sleeve Riku.

“I gotta change out of these clothes,” Riku broke their gaze that certainly lasted a bit too long and slid by into his room, giving Sora an exceptionally rough pat on his back before he shut the door. Sora scrunched his face up in an angry smile. 

Kairi approached him as Riku shut the door, and Sora kept smiling. It wasn’t as genuine now, though, and if Sora was being entirely honest, he would’ve turned up his nose and walked away — incredibly offended already that she ruined his morning. 

“Hi, Kairi!”

“Sora,” She said, voice daring with an I’m-gonna-swoon-over-you tone. She always used that kind of attitude around him, and it always got under Sora’s skin. Made him feel like scratching. “You finally came out.” 

Oh, Kairi — if only. 

“It was embarrassing to say the least.” Sora said.

“Why were you half naked? And in Riku’s room, of all places.” 

A jolt hit Sora and he shook invisibly. God, that really did look awful. Sora thought he should’ve made a break for the couch and just covered up his legs when the door opened, but then again, they wouldn’t have gotten up and left without Sora coming too, he’s sure. He made the best call he could in a bad situation.

“I had just showered. His bathroom is connected to the bedroom.” 

“Isn’t there another one down the hall? A spare bedroom too?”

Sora held back a scowl, and looked up at her and gave it his best. “Ah, there’s just nothing in there. It’s not as cozy as Riku’s room, he let me have his bed last night.” 

“It’s big enough for the both of you anyway. Just sleep together, it’s not weird! You’ve been friends a long time.” Sora looked away, cracking a real smile. “Anyways, did the sleepover make you feel better than you felt yesterday? Did ya watch movies? Play games?” 

Sora was completely smiling now, “Yeah! It was great. You could say I’ve been rejuvenated .” 

“Did he tell you the news?“ Kairi asked. 

“Uh— news?”

Axel walked up to barge into the conversation, “ Rikuu~ is going on an important mission. Master Yen-Sid’s orders. He told us about it last night.” 

Sora frowned, and it must’ve been noticeable because Axel responded to it in an instant, “Oh Sora don’t worry your little heart over it. He’ll be just fine. The war is over, the big-n-bad’s all gone, try not to lose sleep, kay?”

“He didn’t tell me that.” Sora said, “When?”

“Today.” 

Sora cocked his head. After what happened moments ago, Sora wasn’t certain he would be able to cope at all with the anticipation it’d caused. 

Kairi turned to him and held his hands in hers. “I’m actually not sure he knows yet himself. He might be getting a phone call soon about it. But he’ll be back tomorrow!” 

“Shouldn’t somebody — I don’t know — go with him? ” Sora pressed, apprehensive.

“You really worried about him, huh?” Axel said, crossing his arms with a smirk. “Yen-Sid probably just wants to talk to him about something dumb anyway, said none of us were allowed to go in for it. Think he invited Aqua and Terra too. Some keyblade master stuff I guess.” 

Sora had more questions, and was still very curious, but figured he’d save it. He didn’t like the way everyone voiced their awareness of his concern in a way that almost made it sound like they knew everything already. It wasn’t much different from how it’d always been, though. Sora thought about how he and Riku had always been the type of friends who would hold hands for no reason, or get really drunk, kiss and film it, and nobody would really be surprised. They’d probably still get teased but it would likely never be thought of as serious.

It brought Sora a little sheet of security, a sense of safety to the public eye. Although, now that they were genuine, he wanted to be taken seriously, and it created a sensation of an itch he couldn’t scratch. He kind of wanted to kiss and film it now just to see what everyone would say, but laughing about it and saying he was just out of it would be difficult, it’s a tall tale to tell. Then possibly unveiling they’ve been hiding the fact Sora had been cheating all this time for real? Never in a million years.

Well, if he ever did tell, they could maybe pretend it had never gone on while he and Kairi were together. He could break up with her, then be public with Riku a month later, but then how would everyone react? Would they lose all of their friends? Why has no one else in Sora’s existence across many, many worlds liked someone of the same sex? Princess, prince, damsel, hero, king, queen. Sora felt like he was about to crumble again, he was thinking too much. 

“Sora,” his favorite voice jerked him out of his mind, “I got the call they were just telling you about. You should probably head home. I’ve got to leave soon.” 

The breaking-and-entering group nodded, said their goodbyes, and piled out of the house, Sora following behind. He didn’t nod, instead casting one last longing look at Riku over his shoulder, as Riku checked behind Sora, then blew a kiss.

Sora spent the day with them, doing his best to enjoy the time like he really wanted to, but it was ridiculously hard while Kairi held his hand the entire time. Underneath tables she would, sitting anywhere she would, and when they were walking she would. 

When it started to get late, there was no going home to Riku, no fluttering heartbeats or kisses that made him blush and crinkle his nose, no date in a beach nook and certainly no counting down from sixty until he couldn't see straight. Sora wanted an excuse to go with Riku. The day was incredibly slow and painful and there were details he did not want to begin to mention. 

He heard Kairi’s voice from next to him, “Race you back to your place?” 

“Okay!”

Sora lost the race.

—

Sora’s home was less of a real home and more like a luxurious treehouse. It was nice, well-insulated, neatly decorated, sat high across a mess of palm trees on a different island than Riku’s, and a little larger than Riku's bedroom and bathroom. Sora didn’t have a bigger place because he had barely stayed here until he visited Riku that first night, it just hadn’t been necessary. Yet, it wasn’t exactly crafted for two people. It was manageable, but when Kairi wanted to come over he really had to remind himself to breathe. It felt as if his thoughts were bouncing off the walls right back at him, threatening to spill out his mouth. 

They crawled up a rope ladder, and snuggled into one of Sora’s favorite blankets on his bed. It was a special blanket, but not sacred , because Riku had lent it over to him before all this started, so he didn’t mind Kairi using it. It was becoming increasingly hard to remember that the three of them were meant to be the best of friends, Sora having a full-fledged affair with one of them and betraying every last bit of trust with the other.

As they laid close, working on a crossword puzzle together, Sora began to question everything he ever felt as a child toward this girl, who was supposed to be his lover as much as she was his best friend. Staring at black and white boxes on a page of a puzzle about natural disasters, he daydreamed about a time he and Riku were tiny and were underneath the pier on Riku’s island in the pouring rain one afternoon. The thunder was loud, and Sora as a little boy knew what real terror was that day. 

Sora was crying, refusing to run back to actual shelter through rain that felt like pins and needles to stand under. Riku hurried Sora, at a crawl, to the corner beneath the pier that felt the safest, then held him in a tight embrace, Sora’s face buried into Riku’s shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, the length of the storm rich in Sora’s memories. He would say it was the moment he realized he fell in… something. He began to look at Riku a different way, like a hero, like he wanted to be around him all the time after that. It was a plunge he’d been falling deeper into now for nearly over a decade and a half.

Despite being no hurricane, if it hadn’t been for Riku, Sora surely would’ve held onto that fear and never wielded all the magic he could now. It eased Sora like a lavender bubble bath. He hummed softly as his head fell to Kairi’s shoulder with no internal retort and no guilt at all, forgetting she was there for a brief moment. 

His phone rang.

Chapter Text

Sora reached for the gummiphone a bit too hurriedly, piquing Kairi’s interest. 

“Who is it?”

“It says unknown caller.” 

Sora quickly answered, “Hello?” 

“Shh. Act like I’m someone trying to sell you something, go somewhere quiet and call me back.” It was Riku, speaking in the lowest whisper. 

Sora’s heart fluttered a little and he bit back a smile at the sound of Riku’s voice, soft and through calm static. He hung up, turned around, and did his best. 

“It was just one of those, uh, scam callers. Trying to sell me something. Dumb.”

“With your number?” Kairi asked. So nosy , Sora thought, but still dragging out the lie.

“I guess so. Don’t they call you sometimes?” 

“I just thought you’d be more protected or something.”

Sora didn’t respond, feeling a little confused. He laid back down and waited a few minutes, then began to stir as if he were uncomfortable. 

“I‘ll be right back.” 

He slid away, and into his bathroom, the only other room in his house, and dialed Riku’s number. 

“Riku?”

“Sora.”

Sora was terrible at interpreting things through just voice, and Riku sounded almost out of breath, exhausted , and he immediately thought the worst— “Oh! Are you okay, Riku?!”

“Be quiet!” 

Sora jumped a little, eyeing the bathroom door, lowering his voice incredibly, “Sorry..!”

“Are you okay? Feeling okay?”

“Yeah, but I miss you. A lot. Answer me.”

“I’m okay. He didn’t call us here for anything important. Just to talk, it’s really not a mission like I heard Axel tell you. I might be back later tonight, if you’re lucky.” 

“I can’t just run off, Riku. Kairi’s at my house.” 

“Oh. I figured as much. Where are you?”

“My house.”

A short pause, Riku was probably pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“I mean, where are you exactly? You’re not next to her, are you?” 

“Uh, no. I went to the bathroom.”

“Run the shower.” 

“Huh?”

“You and I are gonna have a little chat before you leave that bathroom.” 

Sora obeyed, stepping over to turn his shower on. “Should I get in?” 

Another short pause.

“No, Sora. Sit down somewhere, run the water cold. Don’t want you smothering yourself in there. Door’s locked?”

“Mm-hmm. Do you want me to do anything else?” Sora was a little confused, but trusted Riku and did what he said. He sat down on the rug in front of his shower, back leaned up against the glass door. 

“Hmm, there’s a lot of things I want you to do.”

“Like what?” Sora liked favors.

“After that little stunt you pulled today — letting her kiss you like that — for starters, I want you to behave.”

Sora felt a little chill up his spine. He knew what this was.

“Riku. I’m good, I swear. ” 

“Right in front of me too. So mean, and you still think you’re good?”

“Y-yes, I do.” 

“Promise you’ll behave?” 

“Yes.” Sora breathed.

“You’re gonna prove it to me.” Riku paused briefly, “If I were there, I’d fuck you right there in your bathroom while she sat in the other room, clueless. You’d be saying my name every breath and praying she couldn’t hear you.”

Sora gasped softly, cock twitching in his pants. “I…I’d like that.” 

“You think so? Cause I wouldn’t stop, either, not until you were shaking. Begging for me to slow down. You’d cum over and over again until I was finished with you.”

Sora’s mouth hung open, and he reached down slowly to start touching himself, shuddering a little with relief, palming at his cock, legs spreading. 

Riku must’ve heard it in his voice. 

“Are you touching yourself?”

Sora froze, he didn't want to admit it and he certainly wasn’t going to lie.

“Stop. Maybe if you were good, you’d be allowed to touch yourself.”

Sora whined. He was already touch deprived.

“You wanna show me how a good boy begs?”

Sora didn’t even have to give it a sliver of conscious thought. “Riku, please, I’m good, I’ll be good.” 

“Gotta prove it to me, Sora. No touching.”

“O-okay, okay, I won’t.” Sora quickly retracted his hand, used it to swap his phone to his other ear.

“And if I were there— would you still be good? Stay quiet while I fucked you? Straighten up to give a good excuse every time she came knocking?”

“I… I have to.” 

“That’s right, Sora. You know what’d happen if you didn’t — I think first, I’d just kiss you. I’d be so nice, make you think you were off the hook. Have you thinking I forgot all about it.” 

Sora swallowed. He was so hard it was almost painful.

“I’d do anything to see the look on your face in the mirror when I flipped you around, bent you over your sink.” 

Sora’s head thudded softly against the shower door, this was fucking torture. 

“Get up and grab that coconut oil out of your cabinet.” 

Sora stood, body feeling a little numb. He opened his mirror, pulled out a small pump bottle of oil. 

“That’s Kairi’s, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, it— yes, it is.” 

“Good. Undress yourself waist down, then sit. Lean back. By all means, get comfortable, Sora.” 

Sora swallowed again, went back to his rug, leaned up against the shower door. 

It almost felt real, like Riku had just sat him down and was about to fuck him — because Riku could get him so fucking worked up, incomparable to anything he’d ever felt.

“Tell me when you’re done. I bet you look pitiful, so hard, that pretty face just fucking begging for it.”

Sora held his phone with his shoulder, squirming out of his clothes, kicking them aside, breathing in at the feel of cool air hitting him. 

Sora scrambled to collect his phone in his hand again. “Done,” he managed, “I’m done, Riku.”

“Mmm, haven’t tried to touch yourself again, right Sora?”

Sora answered quickly this time, “I haven’t.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, yes I promise.”

“Hm, good boy.” Sora felt a surge, a leg falling open involuntarily, body flaccid. He earned that.

“But not good enough. Put that oil on your fingers and spread your legs.” 

Sora couldn’t describe what he was feeling, his heart felt like it was floating up to his throat and the next minute like it was sinking to the bottom of his stomach, his knees felt like they’d never work again, and he was so fucking hard he thought he was going to explode. His shaky, free hand found its way to the bottle, thumb rolling plentiful oil across two fingers.

“Now put one inside. Do it like I would.” 

Sora obeyed, sighing, moaning , working a finger into himself, body twitching in response to a form of stimulation, any form, he thought he’d cum from his forearm brushing against his cock alone. 

“Don’t go too fast. I think this is just what I’d do. Finger you real slow,” Sora listened, head lolling to the side, it almost felt like Riku had complete control over him. In a figurative sense, he already did. “Make you love every second of it.” 

Sora couldn’t respond, just soft, lewd sounds working out of his throat as he pushed knuckle-deep, then back out again, slow just like Riku asked.

“I can tell in your voice,” And Sora thought he heard a smile in Riku’s— “You’re going slow. Don’t speed up.” 

At first, it was fine. The first finger is a tad uncomfortable, never enough pressure in the right spots, but it was something, and it was so good — but it couldn’t hold Sora over long enough. 

“Riku…” 

“What?”

“Riku, please…” Sora’s voice sounded like he was about to cry, so desperate for permission to do something, anything.

“Please what, Sora? Tell me. Ask me.”

“Can I… can I… anything, Riku, please. Please let me have something else.” He begged, shamelessly, voice soft and pleading, pliant.

“Oh,” Riku whispered, and it tickled Sora’s ear and made him shake, “That’s how a good boy begs for it.” 

Sora trembled, waiting. 

“You can put in a second. Don’t go any faster.” 

Sora gushed with relief, working a second into himself the next time he pulled out. The sound he let out, curling his fingers now with every thrust in, shuddering, had Riku moaning low in response.

“God, I bet you look so pretty, fucking yourself like that. It’s just too bad I’m not there, isn’t it?” 

Sora sucked in his bottom lip, Riku’s voice alone was getting him off, the things he said were making him shiver. He wasn't certain he’d ever heard him talk like this, definitely never made him do anything like this over the phone. 

“I wish you were,” Sora mewled out pathetically, a loving tone to his voice while he utterly fell apart. 

“Maybe I’d be nice,” Riku said, seemingly pleased with what he was hearing, “Maybe I’d go a little faster. Just a little.”

Sora’s eyes went wide, and he sped up, gently— incredibly thankful for the running shower, the slick noises he made were getting too loud and much too fast to have ever gone unnoticed without it. Sora felt little spikes in his groin as he fingered himself, radiating through him, signifying he was getting close, just from this alone. They were distant from one another, small, but there nonetheless. He felt wetness run down his cheek, panting softly in small intervals.

“Can barely handle it, can you? You’re adorable. Hope you haven’t forgotten your girlfriend is on the other side of the wall, I’d keep it down if I were you.” 

Sora’s breath hitched in his throat and his eyes went to the doorknob, and the idea of getting caught suddenly sounded less evil and really fucking hot. He had to grip his phone in his shoulder to clamp a hand over his mouth and shush the cry he let out. He heard Riku laugh at him over the line, and that was it. 

His legs fell completely open, shaking, eyes fluttering back, toes pressing against the bathroom tile as his orgasm came suddenly, toppling him over, rolling through him, deep through him, face twisting up, and this bathroom floor became fucking paradise . He was breathing hard through his nose, cries poorly muffled, still cumming just from those deep and gentle rolls of his two fingers. 

His hand fell from his mouth so he could readjust the phone that had slipped completely out of his shoulder and down to rest across his chest. He slipped his fingers out even though he was still shaking through little remnants of what had been an incredibly jarring orgasm, ultimately he missed Riku again.

On the line, there was the sound of Sora shifting, and a little voice regaining its strength, distantly “…‘Ku? Riku? Are you there?”

“‘Course I’m here. Came all over myself listening to you.”

Sora smiled, snickering, legs curling up against his chest, he’d made a disastrous mess too. “Did you really? You could hear me? ‘Cause I dropped the gummiphone.” 

“Yes, better actually. You sounded so fucking cute, Sora. Don’t ever do that to me again. Melted my heart.” 

Sora was snorting a little, “You asked me to be good. I just did my best.” 

“I know. You were better than good. The goodest, or something, I don’t know. You are the best.”

“I wasn’t lying when I said I wished you were here. I didn’t want you to go.” 

“I’ll figure something out, I’ll be there in a few hours. Nap or something. Better not be too sleepy cause I need the real thing.” 

Sora immediately began plotting how he was going to get out of here.

“Okay, uh– I gotta clean up super fast and get out of here before this gets suspicious. My shower was almost twenty minutes long and I'm dirtier than I was before I came in here. I’ll figure something out too.”

“I know you will. Go out there and knock ‘em dead, casanova.”

Chapter Text

Sora took the fastest shower of his life, just a towel around his waist, hair only slightly floppy with water, then when he stepped out, Kairi was waiting right at the door. He yelped , retreating back with a hop.

“I was just about to check on you —!” Kairi seemed just as stunned. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”

“That’s okay, it’s okay,” Sora said, smiling. “Let me get some clothes on, okay?” 

Sora was about to stride by, heading toward his closet, but Kairi grabbed his arm gently, stopping him. 

“Is everything… alright?” Sora said, turning back around to face her. 

“Yeah, you just look really pretty.” Kairi said. 

“Oh,” Sora reddened at the compliment, genuinely not expecting it, “You do too.”

Kairi took a couple steps closer, hanging her wrists around his neck. “You think so? I’ll never get over how good you look when you get out of the shower. Or on the beach when you swim, your body’s just really nice.” 

Sora wasn’t sure why, but he had both hands clutching his towel. 

She leaned in to kiss Sora, and she kissed him for a while , deeply, and he reminded himself that he had no choice but to be convincing if he didn’t want her finding anything out. She started to kiss at his neck, and then the worst thing that could’ve possibly happened, happened — she started moving her hands. Sora had kept his eyes shut, trying to pretend she was somebody else — but it was getting hard. Her hands were moving lower across his stomach, and they felt small and cold and not what he was used to and it was something he couldn’t pretend was fake; This had never happened before.

Sora quickly turned pale and when he felt his towel start to slide off his hip, he couldn’t take it anymore — he stepped backwards swiftly, like he just saw a snake, and Kairi was looking at him, baffled. 

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, it’s just that—, that’s it—, t-that it’s a little weird for me.” 

Kairi stepped towards him, “How long have we been together now? Most couples at this point have done more than just make out sometimes. I promise if you try it, you’d probably like it. I’m new to this too.” 

Sora’s fists were bunched up in his towel and he couldn’t form words, knowing if he tried all that would come out is I can’t do that with you because I don’t really like you plus I only have experience with a boy but all he could do was shake his head back and forth meekly, and find something to put on. Now.

“Where are you going?”

“‘M just getting dressed.” 

“That afraid of it, are you?” 

Sora trembled, flicking his hand across hangers. This conversation was not any easier to have after what just happened in the bathroom.

“No, I just don’t want to.” Sora’s voice was flat, irritated, and there was no possible way he could’ve made it come out any different.

Kairi scowled at him, “You never want to do anything like that, both of us are still virgins and we’re almost nineteen!”

Sora yanked out a sweater at that, a hanger snapping free in his closet as he turned to face her. “Why does that matter? You’re worried about your virginity and not me telling you no!?”  

Your virginity. Whoops.  

“I see. I think you have a problem with me.” 

Sora huffed, “I think you’re the one with a problem.” 

Kairi began to pace around him, in attempts to get a better look at his expression, as he was still sifting for bottoms. Sora felt it and it made him uneasy, buzzing discomfort and rage that he would otherwise be good at controlling, but he felt like nothing else was going to help him keep his secret a secret right now. 

“Am I, Sora?” Kairi’s voice was level now, low, disappointed yet angry — almost like someone would talk if they were looking right through them.

Sora scooped up some sweatpants, retreating so quickly from the closet his hair bounced, gave Kairi a mean pout, and turned off back to the bathroom to change. 

Kairi let him go. He couldn’t leave without running by her again.

Sora dropped the towel, giving one last little scrub to his hair, briefly glancing in the mirror and seeing how wide his eyes were, almost glossy, fearful. He didn’t look long, scrambling to get these clothes on and leave. One more little look at himself, one last little blink of courage before he opened the door. He made sure he snatched his phone up from outside. 

Kairi wasn’t blocking the door like he thought she’d be, rather, she was just sitting, watching him. 

“Used your phone.” 

Sora’s blood ran cold. So much so he stopped moving to listen. He’d been smart enough to remove a 20 minute call with Riku from his recents, but there had to have been something else. “What does that mean?” 

“Riku called while you were changing.” 

Those words were a parachute release for his heart that had been falling to its death. 

“From a private number.” 

His parachute split into shreds and tatters and all he was left with was wind resistance and a tiny trampoline. Sora stepped slowly to the door, it was the only thing he could do. He played it off for as long as he possibly could, and acted like he was still angry, too; He wasn’t terrified whatsoever, not at all.

“I answered and didn’t say anything, I was curious who it was — but he almost immediately said your name.”

Sora swallowed and held his expression.

“He sounded worried. You should probably go see what’s wrong. I told him it was me and he asked that you go see him as soon as you can.” Kairi’s tone was different, calm. She said it as if it was just information to pass on, annoyed by it, but not angry or skeptical.

Sora heard her loud and clear and made haste to the door. He wasn’t worried about him, he assumed Riku had played that off, star-six-seven noted. But he used it, and she saw.

“Before you walk out of that door,” He stopped, door ajar, staring out at his faintly-lit island. Her voice was mean again, every syllable from a thorny mouth that was holding and cutting Sora deep. 

“I know something is wrong with you. Either you’re going to tell me or I’m going to find out.” 

Sora wasn’t even sure if he shut the door all the way, ignoring his rope ladder and leaping straight to the sand, landing firmly on his hands and feet. His feet sliced clean through the sand at first, collapsing down on his chest repeatedly, no shoes, trying a few times and failing to move. Go. Run. 

He had kicked a significant hole into the sand before he finally took a second to think, get his traction, and then the shore was nothing more than a blur below him.

Chapter Text

He didn’t stop until he made it to the other end, feet splashing into waves, heart thumping in his head and chest dry. He stared off at the other island, their island, noise of rumbling waves in his ears, and realized he never once thought to call Riku back.

“Riku,” he pants out once he hears him answer.

“What’s goin’ on?” 

“I just, uh, kinda took off and came - uh - ran to the docks.” 

“You ran off?”

“I think we got into a fight.” 

“Oh, no — the call?”

“Well,” Sora began, sitting down in the dryer sand. He took a moment. “Yes.”

“Why’d you run?”

“What if she chased me?”

“Very funny, has she ever?”

“Well, there was that time that — yanno when there was Roxas — she—“

“Yeah, yeah, yeah — her numbers don’t stand a chance against mine.” 

Laughing, he felt like he couldn’t feel more 

grateful for Riku than he felt right now.

“I’m here by the way. Sorry I forgot to tell you. Set sail, pirate boy.” 

Sora went to one of the canoes on the pier, “Stop calling me weird stuff.” 

“I could call you sweet stuff.”

“That counts,” Sora said, lying that it was dumb, his heart rolling over once.

“Fine. I’ll be here waiting for you, sugar.” 

When Sora arrived and knocked on his front door, it cracked open just wide enough for Sora to slip in, locking it behind him. Riku was nowhere to be seen. 

“‘Ku? I know you’re here.” 

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Riku said, standing directly next to the door, scaring the light out of Sora. 

“Riku!”

“I can’t call you anything but you can call me ‘Ku? It doesn’t make sense.” 

“That’s— you’re crazy.” 

“How?”

“First off, you scared me—“

“Completely your fault—“

“—And that’s not a pet name! It’s still your name, it’s just easier to say.”

“What am I supposed to call you? Ra? Rah? Soar? ” 

Sora took off, almost strutting to the bedroom. “I know what you can call me.” 

“What’s that?” Riku said, locking the door, following him.

“Sora.”

Riku frowned. “Shut it.” 

When Sora stepped into Riku’s room, he immediately noticed the mirror that had initially been hanging on the wall in front of Riku’s bed was now about six feet lower, resting on the floor. 

“You moving things?” He asked. 

When Riku stepped in after, he shut the door, shut the blinds, the routine. “I guess you could say that.”

“So, do you wanna know what happened?” 

“Tell me about it,” Riku said, pulling Sora over to the mirror and setting him on the rug lying parallel to it, holding his hands, Sora glancing around, nearly asking why he sat them on the floor , but continued. 

“I’m feeling scared about it.” Sora looked down at their hands, “She suspects something. She got really upset at me, cause she tried touching me and I didn’t like it, and then she just kept pushing it and wouldn’t leave me alone and… and I…” 

“Oh, Sora.” Riku pulled him in for an embrace, Sora lying in Riku’s lap now, legs tangled. Sora could feel him petting the side of his hair he could touch, the other side nestled up close to Riku’s collarbones. 

“I know you’re trying really hard to hide it and make yourself seem convincing,” Riku said. “But don’t ever feel like you have to do that .” 

“Riku,” Sora cried, and Riku held him close, but he didn’t shake or sob like he usually would the moment he started thinking a bit too much; There were a few tears, but he blinked them away. Riku, mildly surprised, leaned around to peek at him, and Sora was smiling. 

He was wiping stray tears away. “I used to hump a pillow and think of you.” He said, laughing at himself. 

Riku gasped softly, “What the—“ 

“I did. I swore I’d never tell anyone, I kinda did it by accident one day, and it felt different than… y’know, it kinda felt like someone else. I think that was when I realized I really had a thing for you, ‘cause at first I tried thinking of Kairi — I really did, but I got a little carried away and you popped into my head. It happened so fast, I couldn’t stop thinking of you and I wasn’t sure why.” 

Riku watched him with wide eyes. 

Sora sniffed, “Then I had my face buried in the sheets moaning your name and I had to hide that pillow, ‘cause I ruined it. Wasn’t even dirty thoughts at first. I just thought of how you looked when you would get up in my face and I could get a good look at you, and your smell and your voice. I kept doing it and it just got worse, I started thinking of you kissing me, you naked, or on top of me and I knew I felt something for you then because nobody thinks that stuff about their best friend.” 

While Sora was talking, Riku was running a hand underneath his shirt, gentle fingers trailing across his ribs. “And, yeah… I swore I’d never tell. I didn’t imagine if I ever did it would be directly to you.” 

Riku smiled, “You’re not the only one with dirty little secrets like that.” 

“Mm?”

“Remember when you got your gummiphone?” Riku asked.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Touched myself to your pictures.” 

“Riku!” Sora gasped.

“Don’t act like I never found the ones you took when you were off by yourself.” 

Sora hushed, cheeks red. “I never took any… dirty ones.”

“They were close enough. You’d set your phone up and pose — seriously all but naked. Purposefully made yourself, just, look so… and what you did with your hands — oh, Sora. You took those for me to find.” Riku said, squeezing Sora’s hips, adjusting him to sit in his lap, legs straddling around him.

Sora groaned, “I should’ve put a password or something.”

“I’m so glad you didn’t,” Riku said. 

“Well, can we please be a little more careful? She’s onto us and it’ll get worse if we don’t —“ 

“Shh shh shh, she won’t find out,” Riku said, delicately pressing a finger to Sora’s lips, grinning assuredly. “Not until we want her to, okay?” 

Sora huffed, sighed. “Okay.” He said.

A few moments pass, Sora sitting comfortably in Riku’s lap, playing with the hem of his shirt while Riku pet his hair.

“So… aren’t you gonna do anything?” Sora asked.

“Huh? Like what?”

“Really? Earlier today you got me all excited for when I’m here again, tell me on the phone to be well-rested — or something — for when you get back? Ooh, you’re so mean, Riku.” Sora said, pouting.

“I’ll show you mean.” Riku snarled, pulling Sora in for a kiss — but it wasn’t rough, it wasn’t mean. He didn’t bite or lick into Sora’s mouth, even. He just kissed him, wet and soft and slow. Sora, at first, moaned softly, pleased with the contact. It was only when Riku wouldn’t touch him, wouldn’t allow him to lap his tongue into his mouth, and started hovering against his lips, that Sora began getting upset, huffing out angry little moans as he grew more frustrated, squirming on top of Riku. 

Sora completely pulled away to give him a mean look, which Riku immediately began laughing at. 

“Not funny,” Sora said, planting his feet to get up, and Riku quickly stopped him, snickering, pulling him right back down into his lap while he squirmed to no avail. 

“Hey, hey,” Riku said, one hand in Sora’s and the other reaching up to touch his cheek. “If you wanna go, go on, but you really don’t wanna hang out with me? See what I’ve got in store for you?” 

“In store? Hope it’s free, I’m not very happy with my service.” Sora said, smiling. 

“You got jokes, huh?” 

“I might just leave a bad review, sweet stuff.”  

“Oh, Sora— that’s it,” Riku said, pulling Sora back in for a kiss, and they were real kisses this time, they couldn’t help themselves — the ache of being apart, the deprivation — Sora wasn’t sure if he could be held any tighter, any closer to Riku’s chest or ground so deep into his lap, it was almost difficult to breathe, every gasp swallowed by a kiss or a tongue and the two of them were panting, moaning into each other’s mouths while they struggled to pull one another’s shirts off. 

“S’more like it, ‘Ku.” Sora groaned, leaned back almost into the floor if it weren’t for Riku’s arms wrapped around him, legs tucked securely behind him, towering and wrapping around him as if he were curled up inside a big crescent moon.

“There it is again,” Riku pants, “‘Ku. Can’t I just call you… like, baby?” He pushed Sora the rest of the way onto the rug, giving a harsh grind of his hips as he adjusted himself up onto his knees, Sora moaning. 

“It’s not as, ah—“ Sora tried as Riku rolled his hips again, cutting up his words, “—Cool as mine, but I kinda like — mh, it. For now. Don’t get too — comfortable.”

“Sure thing, baby.” Riku cooed, Sora fighting a whimper while Riku shifted to palm his cock through his very thin sweatpants. He laid still, avoiding writhing under his touch, wanting so desperately to focus on Riku and just Riku, so happy just to be here with him, under him. Riku could sense it — Sora becoming entirely pliant beneath him, head tilted to expose his neck, and Riku smiled into it, planting kiss after kiss, dragging his tongue up his pulse and drawing out the softest noises while his hand still rolled between Sora’s legs.

Sora leaned down to try pushing Riku’s pants off, not getting very far, his arms too short. Riku peeked around at Sora’s hand clutching at air, laughing under his breath. 

“You’re so pretty, Riku.” Sora breathed, watching him wriggle himself out of what remained of his clothes, everything except a long, black pair of socks. “Always thought that. Wow.”

Riku laughed, louder this time, and bashfully. “Shut up. I’ll give you a real reason to say wow. Wanna see if you can count down from sixty? It’d help you be quiet.” 

“Only if you do that thing I really like. You really want me to finish that fast?” 

“So you admit I can make you cum in under a minute.” 

Sora pouted, leaning up onto his hands to watch Riku shuffle off his sweatpants. To Riku’s surprise, that’s all Sora had on, his cock bouncing free, glistening at the tip. Sora said nothing, just looking up with a shy smile while Riku shook his head. 

“Want you to watch me the whole time,” Riku breathed, leaning down, giving Sora’s tip a little kitten lick, making sure he made eye contact. He shuffled back up, reaching over Sora’s head for their lube, which he had so conveniently moved near the mirror; Sora, watching him, only just now remembered the mirror was there. He looked at himself and Riku, breath caught in his throat, he’d never imagined how they looked — like this, from another view, both of them hard, their bodies, Riku hovering over him, the rest of the room behind them. Sora became intensely aware of everything and the room suddenly got a few degrees warmer.

Sora was staring, his head cocked at the mirror when Riku pushed a slick finger into him unexpectedly, and he shivered, gasping softly, quickly turning his head.

“Distracted already?” Riku said, already working another digit into Sora, who was twisting his knuckles into the faux fur rug below, body involuntarily trying to squirm away. Riku was sure to hold him in place, head dipping down to take just Sora’s tip in his mouth, tongue rolling.

His thighs tightened around Riku, trembling, body falling weak against his mouth and fingers. Riku lifted his head, fingers still thrusting in and out, slow, with care, as he spoke, watching Sora’s chest rise and fall, listening to him whimper. “Watch me,” he said, smoothing wet kisses over the inside of Sora’s thighs, occasional little nips at his sensitive skin that made him shake, only flicking out his tongue to lap up a stream of precum off of Sora. 

Sora shuddered with every movement, wanting nothing more than to throw his head back, lean flat against the carpet and bite his knuckles to mute himself and be able to arch his back instead of this annoying position he was in now, but he never looked away. Seeing Riku like this, between his legs, he thought, was worth a small sacrifice. 

“Start counting,” Riku whispered, no sound in the room beyond that or the slick noises of his fingers, or Sora’s shallow breaths. 

That changed quickly, a strangled moan and a deep gasp later when Riku put his mouth around his cock, sending a hot wave through Sora’s abdomen. Sixty… fifty-nine,

Fifty-eight… fifty-seven… fifty-six, Sora wanted to arch up into his mouth so badly, Riku not taking him in fully yet, teasing him — like a hare stopping to take a nap during a race.

Riku was still thrusting his fingers slowly, but he curled them so deep and oh, it was so hard to focus while watching the entire thing. Fifty-five… fifty-four, It felt so good , his tongue pressing right up against a little vein. Sora tensed, arms getting a bit too wobbly to support his weight anymore. Fifty-three… fifty-two…,

Riku gave him what felt like the longest lick upwards, Sora shuddering under it, Fifty-one…, and then took him into his mouth fully, nose pressing against Sora’s skin as he held it there for a moment, pausing entirely with his fingers deep too — and then he started moving, his hair tickling Sora’s open thighs. 

Sora couldn’t help it, his eyes were fluttering, but he did his best to keep them open, to not move. Forty… Forty-nine… wait—

Riku wasn’t slowing down, and the wetness and the heat of his mouth and the pressure of his fingers, thrusting steadily now, almost too rough, was almost too much. Sora collapsed onto an elbow, feeling himself plateau, a hand coming up to his mouth, his teeth around a knuckle to silence the soft cry he’d almost let free. “F—… Fifty—“ He tried aloud in a silenced breath, yet he wasn’t sure he knew his place anymore. “Wa— one, forty-eight,” 

He could feel it now, his legs tensing, shaking as his toes curled against the rug. The hand in his mouth, wet with drool, fell back to the floor to steady himself, still leaning over on an elbow while he kept his eyes on Riku, soft pants and strained moans falling from his mouth as Riku eyed him through strands of hair. Riku started to smile, humming around his cock as he watched Sora fall apart. 

It was like that for a few moments, Riku using his free hand to help ride Sora through his orgasm, making room in his mouth to swallow, some of it dripping out. When Sora’s expression finally began to relax, his legs falling open weakly, Riku withdrew his mouth and fingers, and both of them looked down at the wet mess they’d made between Sora’s legs. 

“Riku…” Sora moaned, letting himself fall back, his arms exhausted. 

Riku leaned down to kiss him, which Sora so lovingly obliged to, mouth open wide, and then he could taste his own cum trickling in — quite a bit of it. 

“Riku!” Sora pushed him away, “You didn’t— you didn’t swallow it all, you did that on purpose!” 

“Could you taste that?” Riku said, wiping his mouth, popping open their lube, slicking himself up. 

“You just fed me it, of course I tasted it.” 

“Tasted like… loser, didn't it?”  

“Sixty seconds is too long, I think we should rearrange our — oh,” Sora was pouting, snarling, but his expression immediately changed by Riku pushing into him.  

“Riku, that’s… I just came, please —“ Sora cried, and Riku was going slow, easy — but it still made Sora tremble on the floor. 

“Look at yourself,” Riku sneered, turning Sora’s head directly towards the wide mirror next to them. Sora’s voice was breaking, falling out in a shudder from his throat, so weak — “This is… that’s why, you had this here?” 

“Couldn’t stop thinking about how pretty you had to have looked when I called you, you cumming all by yourself — all over yourself — just from listening to my voice, doing what I say.” Riku said softly, “You gonna be as good as you were before, do what I say now?” 

Sora squinted, trying to look away, he liked looking at Riku while they did this, not himself. 

Riku pressed down on his hot cheek, forcing him to look. “Aren’t you?” He purred. 

Sora felt him push in deeper, a hand moving down to work him tediously and mercilessly out of his refractory period; He was overstimulated beyond his own belief. “Mmm?” He heard Riku say, distantly under the thumping in his ears. Sora could only meekly press his hands against Riku, body telling him stop, stop, while he desperately wanted to obey.

“Ri-ku,” He sobbed, voice coming out in broken moans, “T’much, please, slow down, tickles—“

“Shh, I am. I am. It’s okay.” Riku said before stopping momentarily, petting Sora’s cheek, planting a kiss and nuzzling into his damp hair, turning his head again once he cooled off from his writhing fit.

“Look at that,” Riku whispered, both of them watching a tear stream down the corner of Sora’s eye. “You’re so pretty, Sora.” 

Still holding his head in place, Riku rolled his hips, deep into him, and Sora watched the way his own face twisted up, lips falling open in a drawn-out moan. 

“Answer me,” Riku murmured, “Are you going to be good and watch me fuck you? Watch yourself?” He pulled out slowly, then pushed back in — rough and deep enough that it rocked Sora, who whimpered in response, his body still sensitive.

“Gonna, I-I’m gonna.” Sora helplessly managed, watching Riku withdraw his hand and place it flat against the rug. 

“Gonna what, baby?” Riku cooed.

“Ah… I…” 

Riku drove into him again, eyeing him in the mirror while he nipped at his neck, knocking out another small cry. 

“What’s that?” Riku asked, picking up a comfortably slow pace, “What are you gonna do?”

“Ah— I’m — I’m gonna be good and, ah, watch… watch you fuck me.” He ended his sentence feebly, watching his cheeks flush. 

“Mmm, what was that last part?” Riku said, thrusting up into him again — and again — sitting on his heels, grabbing Sora’s hips, dragging him closer for a better angle, readjusting himself.

“Riku…” Sora swallowed, lips trembling as he stared at their reflection, glancing up at Riku and down at his open legs.

“Don’t think that’s what you said, Sora.”

He briefly wondered why they would even play a counting game, Sora could barely form words, let alone think of numbers. He’d be sure to tell Riku he believes it’s rigged. Riku lifted one of Sora’s legs up, opening a field of vision to him not previously seen, and Sora watched with half-lidded eyes. 

“Said… fuck me,” Sora cried, his hands twisting up in the rug.

“Good boy,” Riku said, kissing the side of Sora’s knee, going considerably faster, drawing out the prettiest sounds from beneath him. 

Sora kept watching himself, saw Riku’s hands move down to his waist and angle his body a bit more, and he could feel his cock brush up against that little sweet spot inside of him, making him jolt. “Oh, Riku. Right there.” he mewled, watching his face contort with bliss, as much as he could through his eyes that kept threatening to roll back.

“You’re beautiful. Love letting you see what I always get to look at,” Riku panted, “Look at the face you make when I do this,” He gave his best, sprawling his hand out across Sora’s stomach to keep him in place, thrusting upwards, rough but stable, making sure not to hurt him.

Sora’s legs tensed, toes pointing as he watched his mouth fall wide open, ripping a loud moan out of his throat, which he quickly bit his lip to suppress, still humming soft whines. He looked up at Riku briefly, “So good, ‘Ku,” He breathed, voice lifting an octave when he cried out “fuck”, Riku still rocking in the same position. 

His back arched, letting him throw his head back, panting out “fuck, fuck” in between shallow breaths. Riku reached down, using two fingers to gently nudge his cheekbone back to face him toward the mirror. Sora gazed at himself, seeing how spent he looked, and trembling as a deep pleasure started to trickle over him again.

“I’m,” he managed in a whimper, “Gonna make me cu…, again, I’m gonna cum, oh,”

“Good,” Riku moaned, “Don't stop looking.” He said, clutching onto Sora’s leg tighter, using it as leverage as he came himself, staring directly at Sora’s face in the mirror as he did it. He reached down, squeezing Sora’s cock, encouraging him to finish.

“Riku!” he cried, releasing an absolute mess all over himself, his eyes losing focus as he came, high-pitched moans spilling from his mouth, voice and legs shaking. 

“Riku…” Sora moaned again, soft and quiet this time. He felt and heard Riku thrust into him gently a few more times, making him twitch and elicit soft little sounds. Sora laid there for a moment, body limp, eyes closed. 

“Sora?” Riku said, leaning over him. “Sora?”

Riku pulled out, Sora making a low “Mmm” in response. He hovered over him, planting both elbows on either side of his head. “Are you okay?”

“Sora?”

Sora leaped up, scaring Riku out of his skin. “That was so good, Riku!” 

“You fucking— you spooked me, you little—“ Riku sighed through his nose, looking into big blue eyes that were so close to his face. 

“You’re really good at that,” Sora whispered, pulling Riku closer, ignoring the mess between his legs, up to his chest. “I like it.”

“I love you.” Riku said. 

Watching Sora’s eyes widen, he planted a kiss on his cheek. Sora held his breath for a good few seconds. 

“You love me?” He stammered.

“Yes, I love you.” Riku hummed.

“Riku, what we do, is this what — it’s really supposed to feel like?” Sora asked, hoping he didn’t sound as stupid as he felt.

“Not just what we do, Sora,” Riku said, holding Sora’s face, smiling wide, laughing a little at the innocence in Sora’s eyes compared to how filthy he was right now. “The way I feel about you, I can’t think of anything like it. I don’t have anyone, can’t imagine anyone, that could make me feel anything close to what you make me feel.” 

“What’s that feeling?” 

Riku looked down, playing with their hands. “Before we started doing this — it was the feeling of my heart beating out of my chest every time I saw you, making me laugh when you weren’t even trying to be funny because you just brought me so much joy all the time. More than just joy, though, eventually I started thinking about how bad I wanted to be close to you,  like wanting you to just hold my hand a little longer, like that time you cried for me — I wanted nothing more to drop to my knees too and hug you, but in front of everyone, I was afraid. I want you there, with me, like this, forever, that’s how I know I love you.”

Sora listened to him speak, tears welling up in his eyes. “I love you too.” 

Riku looked back up at him, smiling at hearing Sora say that for the first time, kissing away a tear. “Please don’t cry like this. It makes me sad.” 

“Don’t wanna be afraid anymore, ‘Ku,” Sora said, sniffing. “You don’t deserve that. You don’t deserve to watch me walk around with someone else and pretend you don’t matter as much as you do to me.” 

Riku leaned against Sora, resting his cheek on his shoulder. He didn’t respond, always unsure of what to say when he’d bring up Kairi. He never enjoyed feeling like he was forcing Sora to do anything, Sora had noticed.

“I think it’s time for us to just— tell everybody. Let’s get it over with. I don’t think they’d change at all.” Sora said, petting Riku’s hair.  “I hope not, anyway. At first, it was scary but it wasn’t anything like it is now, because I want to be with you outside of your house too.” 

“Sex on the beach?” Riku said. 

Sora gave him a soft pat on the head, “You know what I mean. What do you think?” 

Riku wrapped his arms around him, snuggling close. “Whatever you plan to do, I’ll be there to help you. No matter what it is. If you’re not afraid anymore then I’m not either. But what about Kai—“ 

“She’ll live.” Sora said, “But I’ll tell her first. She deserves that much… I guess.” 

Sora felt Riku laugh against him, and felt his heart bubble over with the anticipation of ruining their friendship in front of everyone.

Chapter Text

Kairi didn’t remain at Sora’s house that night, something Sora had likely never thought about before he ran out. She immediately called Xion, someone who had become something of a best friend to her now. 

“Kairi? It’s so late.” 

“I know, but I really need your help. Could you meet me, please?” 

Xion heard the desperation in her voice, and they met at her home island, roughly an hour later. Xion was yawning as she approached Kairi, who was standing under a palm, shadowing herself from the moonlight. 

“What’s this all about? What are you hiding like that for?” Xion said, peeking around. 

“Xion, this is important.” Kairi said, immediately stepping out, approaching her with the most discerned look Xion had ever seen. “Something is wrong with Sora.” 

“Wrong? What’s wrong?” 

“I wish there was an easier way to say this,” Kairi said, hurriedly stepping forward and squeezing Xion’s hand. “Without sounding crazy, but — I’ve suspected it for a while now.” 

Xion eyed her, interest piqued. 

“I think he’s seeing someone else.” Kairi said, moving her hands to clutch them together at her chest. 

Xion blinked, “Are you saying you think he’s being unfaithful? Sora?”

“You don’t understand, he’s so different, it’s like we’re not even friends anymore.” Kairi spoke, sounding genuinely hurt. “I probably shouldn’t have been so… mean with him but, to think he has another girl around, that he clearly loves more than me, it’s infuriating. Insulting.” 

They paced around on the island, Xion kicking at sand crabs they passed over. “Maybe he really does just have a lot on his mind, have you asked him?” 

“Yes, but it’s always the same answer. He says he’s fine, but I can tell something is wrong, just off about him.” Kairi held her tongue, trying to avoid pressing the allegation continuously, but she couldn’t get it off of her mind. “I’ve never seen it before in anybody we know, like, the cheating, but it just seems like he doesn’t care for me like he used to. He spends a lot of time at Riku’s house, more than he ever goes out with all of us or stays with me, even.” 

“Do you think he likes spending time with Riku over you?” Xion said, pausing to look at her, both of them looking out at the distant shore. 

“Well, I think so. They never invite me over there. I would bet Riku helps him hide the girl Sora brings around. He knows he’d get caught if he brought her to his own house. Then when we were just at Riku’s earlier today, Sora was almost naked, remember? We didn’t explore the house. She could’ve been anywhere.” 

“What other girl does Sora know that he’d be like that with?” Xion pressed. 

“I don’t know. Do you understand my suspicion, though? He was in the bathroom for nearly over thirty minutes tonight, and then Riku called him from a private number. Said it was really important, that he needed Sora to come by — so Sora left. Riku was supposedly back early from that mission he was on too.” Kairi was talking fast, pacing, desperate to know the truth. Desperate to find out something.

“Maybe we should go to Riku’s, see if it’s where he took off to.” Xion suggested, and she must’ve known Kairi wouldn’t like the idea, because she immediately started acting nervous, sighing.

“And find something out?!” Kairi gasped, as if that weren’t exactly what she wanted, needed. She was fully aware that ignorance was truly bliss in most cases. 

“I’m sorry this is happening to you, Kairi.” Xion said, watching Kairi’s expression. “But if Sora won’t tell you himself, we’ll have to be just as sneaky.” 

Xion took off for Riku’s house without any further words, and Kairi anxiously followed, making multiple attempts to convince her to turn back. 

—

“We’re here,” Xion said quietly, warm light coming from a few of the windows in Riku’s home. She began to make her way up to the front door before Kairi quickly stopped her, hand around her wrist. 

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Can we please just, I don’t know, peek into a window first?” Kairi said, voice low, shoulders hunched in fear of someone spotting them snooping around Riku’s house.

Xion squinted a little, but nodded, taking one last look at the front door before they started to tiptoe around the house, footsteps muted enough by the sandy earth beneath them, but still taking full precaution.

“Think this is his living room,” Kairi whispered, looking up, peeking her eyes just barely above the window sill, “The curtains and blinds are shut.” 

“Does he… always keep them closed? What does he have to hide from? He knows everyone on the island.”

“Exactly,” Kairi said, “But I’m not sure — they were certainly closed when we came to visit this morning. It was dark in there.” 

“Sora was here too.” Xion added, still speaking in a low whisper. 

Kairi mumbled and they moved to a different window, the one in Riku’s spare bedroom, lights off. Kairi stuck her ear to the glass, incredibly nervous, Xion leaning in close too, but ultimately heard nothing except for what sounded like a floorboard groaning in the next bedroom over — Riku’s.

“This and the living room are the only two rooms with any lights on,” Xion said, the two of them staring up at the bedroom window. It was closed, blinds twisted completely shut and curtains sheathed over them, soft glow barely visible, but still there, just like the living room. Viewing any shadows would be impossible. 

“I bet it’s just Riku in here. Sora was probably in the spare room that had the lights off, sleeping. Right?” Kairi spoke at such a low whisper now that it was getting hard for Xion to hear at all, Kairi noticed her trying to read her lips. “With his whore.” Kairi said, entirely under her breath, looking back up to the window so Xion couldn’t hear or read, jealousy swallowing her heart.  

“It’s okay, Kairi.” Xion said, sensing how badly this was bothering her. “Maybe Sora isn’t up to anything, maybe it was all just… coincidental.” 

“There are things I haven’t told you, Xion. I’d tell you now, but it’s embarrassing. But… that does make me feel better. Maybe I am just being paranoid. We’ll find out what’s wrong, regardless.” She sighed, her disappointment for her rousing suspicion was immeasurable after trying to hear something in the spare room. She felt like it had been her only chance to catch anything, if there was something going on. 

Kairi wasn’t motivated enough to do it, so Xion stepped up to lean her ear against Riku’s bedroom window, prepared to return home after briefly listening for a couple minutes to no avail. 

Then, Kairi’s blood ran cold when the two of them heard Sora giggling loud enough that no one’s ear needed to be pressed up to the window to hear. It was muffled, but loud.

Kairi and Xion exchanged looks right before Kairi scrambled up next to her, listening closely. 

“Sora, shut up!” Another muffled voice, far more quiet but still audible.

Xion mouthed Riku at Kairi, who nodded. 

What are they doing? Kairi mouthed back, to which Xion shook her head, pointing at the window, reminding her to listen carefully. Kairi couldn’t shake the dread of another voice becoming audible, one she didn’t know — or worse, a voice she did know.

For now, she clung to the idea that the two of them were just having fun by themselves and Sora was attempting to cool off after the argument they’d had earlier, for the sake of easing her worries. She contemplated the fact that they were awake right now, giggling at one in the morning — it was odd, Sora had left and came to this island over an hour ago. However, Kairi thought, the two of them didn’t wake up until the late afternoon today. 

“C’mon, try again.” They heard Riku say. 

There was another brief silence, and then a loud thump, like someone collapsed to the floor. It startled both girls on the other side of the window.

They heard Sora cackle again, Riku groaning as if he were in pain.

“I can’t do it, Riku. You’re too heavy.” Sora said, breathless.

“Oh, shut it.” 

Kairi and Xion exchanged looks, Xion’s brows quirking, and Kairi welcoming a sense of relief — maybe everything was okay. She’d talk to Sora and ask what was wrong, and he’d never have to know about her suspicion. She started to feel guilty for assuming it in the first place, Sora would never do something like that. Not to her.

A few minutes passed of the same thing, and they eventually came to the conclusion that Sora was trying repeatedly to lift Riku and wasn’t able to do it. Kairi’s expression changed and she stepped away from the window, coaxing Xion to come along too. She felt guilty for even bringing Xion along this late at night and would be sure to apologize to her later.

As they walked away, they heard Sora’s voice again — but this time, it was a sound Kairi had never heard him make in the lifetime she had known him. 

They looked at each other, alarmed, rushing back up to the window. 

Sora could’ve easily just hurt himself playing with Riku, but the sound he made was almost obscene, like a drawn out groan — for whatever reason. Kairi felt her heart thrumming, hardly able to form any thoughts. No way there was someone in there with both him and Riku. Was that really a pained noise? What was that? 

They heard it again, this time with a gasp, and then once more, louder, and Kairi immediately started knocking at the window without a second thought. The sound ceased. Xion looked over at Kairi, throwing her hands in the air, loudly whispering “What are you doing?!” 

Kairi scowled, staring at the window. There were distant footsteps, the sound of a curtain parting, and there Sora was — peeking through the blinds. A brief pause, and he opened them, opening the window with it. His hair was wet and his cheeks were faintly flushed, wearing Riku’s tank top.

He blinked at the both of them, “Hey— what’s goin’ on? What are you two doing here this late?” 

Xion opened her mouth, but Kairi quickly spoke. “Who’s in here with you? 

“It’s just me and Riku, you know he does have a front door—“ 

“You’re lying!” Kairi shouted, startling Sora, taking a step back from where he was leaning against the sill. “Where’s Riku, then?” 

“Hey! He’s in the shower. What’s the matter with you?” Sora said, genuine concern in his voice, as always.

“You were just talking to him, and then after he leaves to get in the shower you start making noises. They were like… like moans.” She said with disgust.

“What? You guys were… were listening?” Sora asked.

“So what if we were? I know someone is in here — so stop lying to me about it!” Kairi snarled. 

“I promise you, Kairi, it’s just me and Riku!” Sora said in desperation. 

“What were those sounds, then? How do you explain that? Why were you moaning?” Kairi asked, fuming, feeling Xion’s eyes burning into her. She had no room for regret right now, she was leaning forward as far as she could with the distance between the window and the floor, making every attempt to scan the room.

“Alright, fine, I was…” Sora said, shuffling around on his feet, looking away. “I was… touching myself, okay?” 

The two girls both looked up at him, stunned. Kairi swallowed. “You do that after… after earlier, what you… ” She trailed off, feeling hurt. “Never mind. I don’t believe you.” 

Sora was watching her, cheeks flushed a deep red now. “You can come in and look if you don’t believe me,” He muttered. 

“On Riku’s bed?” Xion blurted out a delayed question, cocking her head. 

“I thought I could — why are you asking me that?” Sora said, face so hot he reached a hand up to cradle one of his cheeks, it didn’t help much. 

Kairi wanted to believe him, wanted to say sorry, but a part of her still wasn’t buying it. “A little loud, aren’t you?” She spat. 

Sora was laughing nervously, shame visible down to his chest. He took a step back out of the window. 

“We should go,” Xion said, hand on Kairi’s back, urgent to leave before the conversation got any worse. “Sorry, Sora.”

“That’s okay,” He said awkwardly, somehow managing to make brief eye contact with Kairi. “Um, see you later then!” 

They began to leave, Kairi still glaring at Sora before he closed the window and drew the curtains.

“C’mon, Kairi. You can come stay with us tonight and get it off your mind for a minute.” Xion suggested warmly.

“I don’t know who he thinks I am anymore,” Kairi said sternly, “But I’m not that fucking stupid.” 

Chapter Text

When Sora drew the curtains, he immediately turned to Riku, who had been standing beside him the entire time, pressed against the wall, out of sight, eavesdropping. Sora stood entirely still, wide eyes glued to Riku, his lips parted, speechless. 

“She doesn’t suspect me, but she suspects you.” Riku said. 

Sora moved to take a peek out of the curtains, waiting to make sure they were out of earshot, then screamed, “How can she be so stupid!?” 

He started to cry for a whopping third — or maybe it was the fourth — time tonight, angry tears breaching his eyes as he began throwing a fit at the window.

“Maybe I would’ve told her had she not been spying on us in your bedroom window! I wonder how long she’d been standing out there, I wish we’d still been fucking the walls down when she came — maybe she would’ve been able to piece together what’s actually going on with whatever last bit of sense she has left.” He was panting, breathless, voice wavering. 

He was ready to keep going, taking a deep breath, then he felt Riku’s hand on his back pull him in, Sora nearly stumbling while his face was buried into Riku’s chest. “Okay, you gotta admit,” Riku said, “You saved that well.” 

Sora huffed through his nose, “But it was so embarrassing.”

“Not as embarrassing as it would’ve been to say you were face down on my bed and I was licking your —“ 

“Okay!” Sora said, tilting his head back to rest his chin against Riku’s chest, looking up at him. “You’re right, it would’ve been worse. I’m starting to wish that was the case now, though.”

Riku reached up, playing with the button of Sora’s nose. “I know. Don’t let it get to you, it upset me too. Trust me when I say I wanted to leap out and throw the truth up in her face too, but you held it together so well, baby.” 

Sora wrinkled his nose at that, pursing his lips to hold back a smile, his anger fizzling away.

“Let her cool off, we’ll tell her eventually. There’s not really any room for turning back now.” Riku said.

Those words only made Sora’s stomach churn. Kairi might’ve completely lost any trust she had left in Sora, and certainly would after she knew the truth, but he tried to focus on what it would bring Riku. Riku wouldn’t have to painfully watch anymore, and he wouldn’t have to hide. He’d be so much happier. Riku was so quiet about it, like he usually was, but Sora knew him better than anyone. Riku didn’t have to say a word. 

“I love you, Riku.” Sora said, and he felt Riku hold his breath. “I love you more than anyone in my life.” 

He watched Riku’s eyes light up right before he wrapped his arms around Sora and lifted him up into a kiss, both of them trying their best to hold it through wide smiles. 

Sora leaned out of it, hands on Riku’s arms and his legs dangling. His love-sickness felt like it’d reached an all-time high, his heart floating miles higher than the distance between his feet and the floor. 

“I don’t give a shit what anyone has to say about it, either.” Sora added, proudly. 

Riku tossed him onto his bed, not moving from where he had been standing. 

“Oh? Gonna finish what you started?” Sora giggled, Riku’s shorts he had been wearing after they showered, that he had quickly slipped on before going to the window, were proving themselves all too revealing, soft silk riding up, and Sora opening his legs to make it worse. 

“Naughty. You really are a sailor.” Riku said, briefly eyeing Sora, but stepping away. 

“Where you goin'?” Sora said, pouting, turning over to watch him walk across the room. 

“Somewhere you’re gonna like,” Riku said, tossing Sora one of his jackets. “Come on.” 

—

Riku locked his door behind him as they stepped outside, Sora being barefoot as usual, Riku’s jacket swallowing him like a robe. “Are we going to our spot? You didn’t bring any snacks!” 

“No one should see us, it’s really late. If Kairi is snooping around again I’ll give her a piece of my mind myself.” Riku said, holding Sora’s hand and leading the way. He wasn’t wearing shoes, either, as Sora had insisted on it, telling Riku the feeling of the sand on your feet was a euphoric experience not to be taken for granted. Riku had stepped on a sand crab a few months back and pouted for a good hour, wearing shoes ever since. At least until Sora begged him otherwise.

“But no,” Riku continued, “We’re not gonna need any. You’ll see.” 

Sora followed, holding Riku’s hand the whole way, something they had always felt a little too scared to do more than only intermittently. 

They had circled around to a most familiar part of the island, where they grew up sparring and playing each day as if nothing would have ever changed. Sora looked at the pier Riku had held him under during that thunderstorm when they were tiny, and gripped his hand tighter. 

“You’re not afraid of being out here together, are you?” Riku asked. Sora looked up at him, blinking at the bright glare of his hair in the moonlight.

“No,” Sora said softly, “Not anymore.” 

“Good,” Riku said, and Sora knew exactly where Riku was taking him now as they stepped up to the bridge — the paopu tree. Sora was afraid to say anything. It was quiet between them, and all he could hear were the gentle tides. Riku let go of his hand once they reached it, drumming his fingers across the tree before he sat down. Sora watched nervously, it looked really smooth, the bark across the top completely gone, showing years of wear from being sat on so much. 

He took a few tedious steps forward, sitting down next to Riku on the tree, twiddling his thumbs. 

Riku didn’t waste any time once Sora sat down, he stepped up the tree’s curvature, leaning with ease and plucking off the biggest, shiniest and ripest star-shaped fruit he saw. He handed it to Sora, who was focusing far too much on not squeezing it too hard, trying to make sure he was even holding it right. They hardly ever even touched these fruits, and Sora was too self-aware of how clammy his hands felt, his heart thumping in his chest. 

Riku held a soft gaze on him with eager eyes, watching Sora toy with the leaves. He ran his fingers over it again, looking up at Riku. 

Riku smiled, “Come on, I know you want to try it.” 

Sora gulped, an alarming sensation of déjà vu blooming wide in his heart. 

After a moment, and after briefly glancing at Riku, he took a breath and brought it up to his mouth with nervous hands. He took a gentle bite, teeth crunching through an outer layer of skin like an apple, the inside soft and bittersweet like a pomegranate. 

Then he felt Riku’s hands over his, pulling the fruit to himself, and biting down on another point as Sora held it. Sora was still shaking a little, Riku’s hands helping to keep him and their fruit steady. They shared that entire, singular paopu fruit, holding it together until it was too small, plucking off the leaves and watching them fall to the sand as they took their final bites. 

“Did it… taste good?” Sora asked, at last breaking the silence once the fruit was gone. 

“I’ve never… had one, but I… I liked it.” Riku said, looking off at the water. 

“What if… what if the legend isn’t true, what if you have to rinse it in ocean water first or something —“ 

“Sora,” Riku interrupted, “It’s only true when you want to believe it is.” 

“So, e-even if you shared it before, it’s still —“ 

“If you don’t feel like it counts,” Riku said, shuffling closer to Sora on the tree, “Then it didn’t. But I… hope you feel like it counts now.” 

“Whether it did or not, I don’t need a fruit to know I want you a part of my destiny no matter what.” Sora said, smiling, “But I really hope it worked.” 

Riku looked down at him, and softly spoke, “Me too.” 

“Good,” Sora said, pushing Riku flat on his back across the tree, crawling up to lay on his belly, “Cause if you believe it, then you’re stuck with me forever.” 

“Oh no, you being in my life forever? What ever will I do?” 

“Keep me safe, I hope.” Sora said, lying his cheek against Riku’s chest. They had gotten too big to rest on the tree as comfortably as they used to, but they did it anyway. Riku brought his hand up to rest on Sora’s neck, playing with the baby hairs there. Sora hummed and shivered under his touch. 

“You’re warm, ‘Ku,” Sora said, yawning. “The ocean sounds so pretty. Your heart sounds pretty.” 

“You’re pretty,” Riku said, bringing his other hand up to cradle Sora against him. Sora felt his eyes getting incredibly heavy, and he could hear Riku’s breathing begin to slow, along with his heart, which had been thrumming quite fast. “And I’ll keep you safe forever.” He heard Riku say distantly, the waves starting to fade. 

“Soraaa! Rikuuu!”

Sora blinked his eyes open, the sky far much brighter than he remembered it being in what felt like a solid five minutes ago. He raised up slightly, looking down underneath him at Riku, who was sound asleep on the tree. He saw a figure sprinting towards them, squinting at the harsh glare of the sunrise gleaming around it. 

“Riku… c’mon, ‘Ku, wake up,” Sora muttered, tapping on his cheek gently. Riku groaned in response, trying to lift himself up with his eyes still shut. He seemed like he was feeling the same ache that Sora was. Sora was still straddling his lap, too sleepy to care that someone was approaching them. 

Sora resisted the urge to collapse against Riku in his sleepy haze, and looked out at the figure again, attempting to shield his eyes from the sun. The seagulls‘ squawking was so loud.

“Oh, you two look… comfortable.” 

“Roxas?” Sora asked, recognizing the voice, much closer now. “Roxas, move around, I can’t see you.” 

He stepped around the tree, allowing Sora to open his eyes, finally. 

“What are you guys doing?” Roxas inquired curiously. 

“We fell asleep here, I think.” Sora grumbled, looking up at Roxas with sleepy eyes. 

Riku yawned, stretching his arms, peeking up at Roxas. “Good morning, Roxas.” 

Sora opened his mouth to speak, preparing to get off Riku to not push Roxas’ skepticism, but glanced down at Riku when he felt how hard he was. He’d forgotten morning wood was a thing, and especially forgot that Riku woke up with it often. 

Instead of getting up, Sora tucked his legs under the tree, locking both of them into place, and making sure he didn’t risk Roxas seeing Riku’s fucking boner. His cheeks flushed, trying to think of something else so he didn’t end up hard himself. 

“So,” Roxas said, clearing his throat and clearly trying to avoid looking at how Sora was plopped in Riku’s lap. “We’re gonna have a party tonight. I think Aqua and them are coming too, aren’t you excited to see them?!“ Then he spoke in a whisper, “They’re bringing alcohol.” 

“Oh, really? Where are you having it?” Riku said, shooting Sora a mischievous look, to which Sora returned with a tiny scowl. 

“Just here on the beach. We thought it’d be better than potentially trashing someone’s house, y’know, since everyone’s gonna be there.” Roxas said. 

“Have you ever been to a party before, Roxas?” Sora asked. 

“Well… of course not, but—“ 

“Take it easy. If you’re anything like Sora, he doesn’t know his limits.” Riku added, grinning.

Sora huffed, “Riku, you’re just as—“ 

Sora’s throat felt like it’d been cut when he felt Riku twitch his dick on purpose, and he quickly looked down at the sand. 

“You alright, Sora?” Roxas asked. 

“Yes, I am,” Sora responded sheepishly, “What I was saying was, Riku is sometimes just as guilty.” 

Another twitch, and Sora clawed at the barkless palm. 

“Okay, well, you two gonna come?” 

“I know Sora is, for sure.” Riku said innocently, Sora knowing damn well what he meant by that. “He loves parties.” He said with a smile. 

“We’ll be there, Roxas. I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun!” Sora said, doing his best not to grit his teeth. 

“I’m so happy you are! You guys usually never come out to hang with us, we thought if we stayed here then you would. I gotta go, but I’ll see you tonight!” Roxas said excitedly, taking back off across the bridge. 

Sora waited until he was out of sight, then punched Riku in the chest. “What is wrong with you?” He growled. 

“Me? You’re the one getting hard in my lap.” 

Sora surveyed the island, eyes adjusted enough now to be able to see. He made sure no one was around, then pressed his hands to Riku’s shoulders and rolled his hips down into his lap, hard, pulling a soft moan out of him. 

“Sora,” he snickered, “We’re gonna have sex on the beach?” 

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? For someone to catch us? You just tried it in front of Roxas.” Sora said, gripping Riku’s collar and rolling his hips again, drawing more sounds out of him, eyes still scanning the island.

Riku leaned up to kiss at his ear, turned so conveniently towards him, nipping at the outer edge when he whispered, “I’m sorry, Sora. I’ll be good from now on.” 

Sora’s eyes fluttered as he let out a soft gasp. “That’s enough, Riku,” He said, leaning back. “I am not gonna let you… fuck me on the paopu tree — or whatever you’re trying to do — at seven in the morning.” 

“You don’t know what time it is.” 

“Yes, I do, because you’ve kept me up until morning before. I know what time the sun comes up.”

“Okay,” Riku snickered, “Let’s go home and rest before we have to go to that party, we didn’t sleep much at all.”

“Yes, rest,” Sora said, rolling his eyes. “Whatever your idea of rest is.” He wiggled himself off of Riku, legs so weak that he collapsed to the ground like a newborn fawn with a meek shout.

“Are you okay?” Riku said, scrambling off the tree to help him back up. 

Sora groaned, Riku lifting him. “I didn’t think napping there would hurt so much,” He whined, “Ow,” 

“You’re alright,” Riku hummed, kneeling down to scoop Sora up over his back, hanging onto his knees while Sora's hands clung to his neck. “You’ve endured much worse.” 

Riku carried him home, talking the entire way. It wasn’t far, but Riku was walking slowly, seemingly enjoying the feeling of Sora’s nose nuzzled into his neck and feeling the vibrations of one another speaking. He carefully watched his footing to make sure he didn’t step on any sand crabs.

“Thank you, Riku — for last night.” Sora said warmly once he and Riku were back inside, Riku dropping him off in his bed. 

“You’re thanking me?” Riku asked. 

“Yes.” 

Riku watched over him, crawling into bed and pulling the sheets over them, which had been strewn about messily. Sora kicked off the shorts he had on, wearing nothing but Riku’s jacket, while Riku slid himself out of the pants he’d had on, actually wearing underwear unlike Sora who was somehow okay with almost never wearing any. Riku certainly never complained. 

Sora yawned, Riku smiling and resisting the urge to poke his tongue. 

“Why are you thanking me?” 

Sora squirmed closer to Riku, sheets shuffling, lying his head on his shoulder while Riku’s arms curled around him, pulling him in tightly. “‘Cause… you gave me a really good night and… you shared the fruit with me.”

Sora looked up at him, eyes glazed over and threatening to close again soon. “I always wanted that, really. You make me feel really loved. And it’s the best, cause I love you too. A lot.” 

Riku giggled softly, he’d never get tired of hearing that. 

“And I…,” Sora gave another big yawn, head falling back down into Riku’s shoulder, “Couldn’t imagine… life without you, or my destiny intertwined with anyone else’s.  I’m just so happy. So thank you, ‘Ku.” 

“Don’t thank me for making you feel loved. You'll be thanking me for all eternity.” Riku hummed. “Goodnight, Sora.” 

Sora laughed softly, pulling the sheets up further to shield his eyes, blinds left open. “Good morning, Riku.” 

Chapter Text

The two of them woke up on their own, fortunately not to any banging on the door or phones ringing off the hook. It was quiet, peaceful, and the sun had drifted to the other end of the island, signifying late afternoon and sifting through the curtains, giving Riku’s room a warm glow.

It was quiet, save for an obscene slick noise nearly drowned out completely by Sora’s whimpering. He was sitting up, back pressed to Riku’s chest, who was lifting him up and down slowly in his lap, soft creak reverberating against the walls.

Riku slid two fingers into Sora’s open mouth — eliciting a low moan — pressing them and rolling them against his tongue. Sora closed his lips around them, loosely holding Riku’s wrist. 

“You love this, don’t you?” Riku asked, to which Sora nodded in earnest, licking across Riku’s digits, head lolling back against his shoulder. Riku dragged his saliva-slick fingers down Sora’s chin and across his neck, holding them there, other hand firmly gripping a sharp hip and still lifting him up and down with ease. 

“Mmh, Riku,” Sora moaned, “So horny every morning.” 

“Is that… complaining I hear?” Riku breathed into Sora’s neck, licking and sucking a mark there — or two — no room left for either of them to care anymore where they may leave spots on each other. Sora squeezed his eyes shut, weakly heaving as Riku started lifting and dropping him at a much faster pace. “No,”

“No? You want me to stop?” Riku asked, immediately slowing down and loosening his grip on Sora entirely. 

“No, nonono, Riku —“

It was too late; Sora turned his head to see Riku leaned back on his palms, now resting entirely with a sly look on his face. 

Sora shot him his infamous pout, twisting around and snatching his hands around Riku’s wrists, huffing as he pulled Riku back up, throwing his arms around his shoulders as he began riding him himself . Riku sat there motionless, watching Sora. His face was screwed up, and he was panting, baring his teeth. 

“All… you do… is tease me,” He growled, nails digging into Riku’s shoulders. Riku let a low mewl slip, watching Sora’s cheeks turn a darker shade of pink, his hair bouncing with the rest of him as he tried so desperately to please himself the way Riku was, thighs trembling.

“I know,” Riku said, kissing Sora’s warm face the best he could with him moving so erratically, “I can't help it. You’re so cute when you’re mad.” 

Sora began to settle down, batting his eyes open.  

“I’m sorry,” Riku said, kissing him again on his lips. “Would you forgive me?”

“I always forgi—,” Sora cut himself off, “…Maybe I’ll forgive you, if you give me a good reason to.” He sighed, rolling his hips a little, making Riku suck in his bottom lip. 

“C’mon, haven’t I been good enough to you already?” Riku asked, hands trailing down to Sora’s waist, feeling a shudder under his touch.

“I’m always the one doing backflips to be your good boy,” Sora mocked, “Why don’t you be a good boy for once?” 

Riku tilted his head, then gently laid Sora flat on his back. 

“M’kay, I’ll be good,” He said sincerely, staring down at Sora, watching him take a deep breath as he thrust into him delicately. “Why don’t you tell me what you want? Tell me exactly what to do and I’ll give it to you, anything.”

“For me?”

“For you.”

“Okay,” Sora breathed, not quite accustomed to having full control when Riku was above him, but it did sound very nice. He laughed soundlessly, hands on Riku’s forearms as he bashfully looked down, trying to think of something to say but entirely incapable. “Well, that’s really nice of you.” 

“C’mon, Sora. Anything.”

He looked up at Riku, the warm honey-colored glow in their room illuminating all of Sora’s favorite things about him. Riku, hovering over him, bright blue eyes batting slowly and patiently waiting for a response, motionless and deep inside of him still. Sora could feel his breath catching in his throat, “Uhhh… like this. I wanna see you.”

“Aw,” Riku cooed, “This way’s my favorite too.” He bent down to give Sora several soft kisses up the side of his face, whose skin was still flushing deeply and heart thrumming, body trying to adjust to Riku’s unmoving depth — and his closeness, Sora adored him, all of him, being filled by him and knowing he could make Riku feel just as good too.

“Was hoping you were gonna ask for something real dirty, though.” Riku said, rolling his hips into another gentle thrust. 

Sora gasped, “You’re the dirty one.” 

“And you won’t say it, but you love every second of it. Perverted little thing you are.” 

Sora snickered at that, rolling his eyes as Riku continued with an innocent question, “Can I do just one thing?”

Sora nodded, and watched Riku snatch one of the pillows next to Sora’s head, lift up his hips, and place it underneath him. 

Sora shuddered, still full, this felt… different. He looked up at Riku with confused eyes, but Riku didn’t bother to answer. 

“I think you’ll really like this.” Riku said. With those words, he pulled out agonizingly slow, and pushed back in, and it pulled the breath out of Sora. 

“That’s… oh,” He stammered. He was well aware of Riku’s size, and it was always a lot for him, his body so much smaller, but this was new — he didn’t know it was at all possible for it to feel any deeper than what he was used to. With his hips angled upward, he could feel it all, and the unbelievable pressure pushing upwards was giving him a pins-and-needles sensation in his thighs. He made an attempt to regain his breath.

Riku leaned down for a kiss, tongue out to lick into Sora’s mouth, tugging out tiny moans as he did so — hips picking up a little speed now. Sora’s legs fell open, allowing Riku to press hands to his thighs and spread them, holding him in place comfortably atop the pillow. Sora was all but purring, hands rising above his head to curl into the sheets and his glassy eyes staring up at Riku — who was smiling down at him, clearly holding back a giggle and letting a small chortle out helplessly. 

“What’s — so funny?” Sora asked — of course, pouting.

“Nothing,” Riku laughed aloud now, knowing he’d been caught. “I just love you, so much, Sora.” His voice cracked on Sora’s name, nails scratching at Sora’s skin and trying desperately to not go too fast. He always resisted admitting it, but if he didn’t focus every bit of his energy on holding back his orgasm he and Sora would never do this longer than a couple of minutes. 

Yet, to Riku’s misfortune, he had agreed to do everything Sora asked. 

“More,” Sora beamed at Riku’s words, making meek attempts to wriggle closer. “Faster. Could never hurt me.” 

“I know that,” Riku said, squinting as he sped up, releasing a weak moan when he heard Sora cry. “Not the point — it’s really hard to look at you right now and… and not finish early. Look so pretty right now.” 

“In that case, you better look at me.” 

Riku had no choice but to obey, heavy eyes opening back up to watch Sora, breathing deep to steady himself as he drank in the sight below him. Sora, sprawled across the bed and leaking onto his stomach, hands twisted above his head and letting soft pants escape his mouth, eyes dark.

“Oh,” Riku sighed out a shaky moan, squeezing Sora’s thighs and trying with every fiber of his being to ground himself, to not let his orgasm ruin this, eyes meeting Sora’s half-lidded ocean blues as he forced his hips to rock faster.

“Yes, like that. Just like that.” Sora cried, Riku revelling in the praise yet still attempting to focus on the ache in his lower back rather than the ache in the pit of his abdomen.

“Ha- harder too, don’t make me beg.” Sora said, squirming in the sheets.

There was a distant knock-knock-knock from across the house, someone was audibly at the front door. Riku started to slow down, but Sora thought otherwise.

“Don’t you dare stop,” Sora demanded, “Don’t stop ‘till I cum, Riku. Touch me. Make me.” 

Sora was tossing one command after another, and Riku, briefly shaken from the rap at the door, felt he was capable enough to give it to him. He snapped his hips into Sora, sinking as deep as he could with every thrust, a hand snaking up to Sora’s cock and beginning to stroke and pull, slicking it up with a copious amount of Sora’s precum, earning beautiful sounds.

Sora’s voice began to lift, incapable of leaving his eyes open now. Riku could feel the once soft legs in his grip begin to tense. 

Knock-knock-knock-knock

“Keep — ah — going,” Sora moaned, breath shaky and loud, “Riku, it’s so good. So good.” 

“I know, baby, I know.” Riku echoed his moans, orgasm threatening to boil over once more, bed creaking beneath them — the roar in their ears far too loud for either of them to hear anything but each other. 

One of Sora’s hands came scrambling to snatch Riku’s off his thigh, lacing their fingers flat against the bed as he came without any warning, squeezing his lips shut and somehow muting most of what would’ve been incredibly noisy moans, humming shakily and breathing loud through his nostrils. Riku fell forward, balancing himself on his hand pressed into Sora’s as the convulsing of his velvet warmth sent him over the edge. As Riku was rocking slowly, eliciting tiny overstimulated sounds from Sora, the knock suddenly began to come from the window. The blinds were still left open from last night, and Riku’s curtains were far too thin to hide much at this time of day.

Riku rested his forehead on Sora's, both of them incapable of noticing — eyes closed, panting heavily in a mess of wet skin.

There was a muffled scream that came from the window, which had finally grabbed the attention of the two boys. 

“Oh shit,” Riku said, scrambling off of Sora who reached to cover himself with a blanket, Riku snatching up a pair of loose pants and wriggling them on before he threw the window open, searched around, and found Roxas — who had his back against Riku’s house, hands clutched over his chest like he’d seen a ghost. 

Riku watched him for a brief moment, sucking in air through his teeth. Meanwhile, Sora half-dressed himself too, wiped himself off the best he could, and crept up into the window too.

“Roxas?” Riku managed. Roxas didn’t respond, gazing forward. 

“Roxas!” Sora chimed, Roxas finally turning to face them.

Roxas’ face held nothing more than a raw look of revelation and fear. 

“Please, Roxas, please don’t tell.” Sora rushed to say, reaching out of the window to hold Roxas’ arm as if he’d run away any second. Sora could feel the anxiety in his veins swallowing the weakness from his post-sex haze, which was fizzling away quickly. This was it. Someone knew. 

“I’m sorry,” Roxas said — all he could manage to.

“No, Roxas — we’re sorry. You shouldn’t— you shouldn’t have seen that, or found out like that, I’m sorry.” Sora said, trying not to think about how the three of them looked right now — him and Riku, leaned out the window — flushed, half-naked and fucked-out, begging Roxas to not start a dead sprint away from the house. 

“Sora, I…” Roxas breathed, looking up at Sora with scared, and almost sad eyes. “I thought you loved Kairi — I thought you were with Kairi. ”

Sora blinked. “I am.” 

“Were you two just… doing that… as friends?” Roxas asked, eyes darting down at the fresh marks on Sora’s neck.

Sora would have laughed. Everyone seemed to have the same illusion that there was no possible way he and Riku could ever be more than friends — and Roxas seemed to have less of an understanding of how a relationship worked than Sora did. 

“No, Roxas. I love Riku.” Sora held his breath before he said it, telling it to someone else felt euphoric. His heart soared yet ached with guilt.

“But haven’t you always?” 

Sora held in a sigh, if it was going to be this difficult with everyone he wasn’t sure how he’d manage. “No — more than that, I love him. We’re together.” 

Roxas glanced up at Riku, who subsequently nodded.

“So Kairi doesn’t know. Unless you’re… like—“

“She doesn’t. So please please don’t tell anyone. You’re the only one who knows, Roxas.” 

Roxas gave him a truly sad look this time, and it made Sora’s heart sink just a tiny bit lower. 

“I’m gonna tell her myself,” Sora said, “Soon. I promise.”

Roxas was silent for a moment and it was driving Sora insane. He needed Roxas to tell him their secret would be safe. It was all he could hope for.

“I… always had my suspicions. I always knew you two had something but I never wanted to believe it. And I love you, Sora, not in the way — cough — Riku does, but, y’know. In a way that means I know you have the right idea about things. I trust you, and your secret’s safe with me. And, uh, sorry for interrupting.” 

Sora blushed, smiling feebly as he let Roxas go. 

“I will — uh, let you… er, get back to it — I guess.” Roxas said, kicking up sand as he finally took off. Riku was quick to shut the window and to be sure the blinds were closed this time.

“Well,” Sora said, swallowing. “I guess it’s not just our secret anymore.” 

“Do you really think he isn’t gonna tell?” Riku asked.

“It… feels weird that someone knows, but I’m glad it was him — who saw, and uh — just him. Anybody else and it might’ve been really bad.” Sora said, “Sorry for not letting you stop.” 

“That’s okay,” Riku said, laughing at Sora’s little pout. “Roxas will be okay too.”

“I really hope so. Riku, should I just tell her tonight?” 

“We’ll talk about it after we get you cleaned up, okay?” Riku said, and Sora bathed in his warm, comforting smile, letting him lead the way to their shower.

Chapter Text

“Stop being nervous.”

“I’m not nervous.” 

“You keep playing with your hair.” 

The fingers that had been twirling around wayward spikes froze and came back to Sora’s side. “I’m okay.” 

Riku crept up from behind him and Sora felt a set of hands move up to his hips, and Sora could feel him squeeze, not hard like he sometimes would, but enough — grounding him and bringing him a sense of security, unlike anything anyone else could provide him. Sora put his hands over Riku’s and shuffled backward, and he felt Riku’s chin come to rest on his head. 

“Your hair looks like it’d take someone’s eye out, but it’s so soft. I love it — love you, Sora.” 

“Thanks,” Sora said, sarcasm clear in his tone, yet talking through a smile. He could hear Riku inhale, grinning as he stared down at their hands. “Do I smell good?” 

“Mhm, like raspberries.” 

“We both do. We use the same stuff, ‘member?” 

“Yeah, but, you have your own smell with it too. I can’t explain it — the closest thing I could compare it to would… be rain and earth and all that. You’re earthy.” 

Sora hummed, “You’ve just got a really good nose. Your smell — I don’t know how to describe it either, but it kinda just makes me relive every good memory I’ve ever had.” 

“With me?”

“Duh, with you.” Sora shimmied around to face him, hands pressed up against his chest, staring up. Being this close, looking up at Riku — it gave him tingly feet, he wasn’t that much taller but it still made him feel like he was looking up at a flagpole, or down incredible heights, unstableness paired with the pure joy Riku made him feel. It was something he wanted to tell everyone about. Everyone deserved to share this kind of happiness, Sora thought, but Riku was his and he didn’t plan on sharing that. Then his heart sank into a cold, dark pit upon the realization that Riku had been sharing him for far too long now. 

He used to feel that sadness over Kairi — painful guilt eating him alive. After that first night at Riku’s, after feeling himself and his heart sink and melt completely into Riku’s possession, before he even understood what that thrilling feeling was that made him feel lighter than air, of course he recognized it was immoral. Kairi was, still is, his greatest friend, and he had no desire to ruin that — but the hurt of putting up a facade for her and everyone else at Riku’s expense and knowing how it must’ve made Riku feel was so much worse. Riku was very good at showing his strength, especially when it came to his emotions, but Sora saw through it. Now, looking up into his soft expression, his smile so gentle and full of love, but seeing something just wasn’t right — this just hurt something awful.

“Don’t give me that sad look,” Riku said, tugging at Sora’s cheek. “I know what you’re thinking about. It’s gonna be okay.” 

Sora stiffened his lips, “Don’t give me that sad look. I’m not gonna hide this anymore. I’m gonna fix all of it. I promise.” 

Riku blinked down at him, hesitating for a moment before he spoke, “Really? You’re not still afraid?”

Sora pulled down the neck of his shirt to display the fresh marks riddled down his skin. “Would I have let you do this if I was still scared?”

“Um, you always do. You never stop me and you have to cover them up with Kairi’s—“ 

“Nope!” Sora hushed Riku with his palm, “I’m not gonna cover these. Whoever sees it, sees it, just like Roxas did.”

Riku grabbed his wrist, pulling the hand away from his mouth to press a kiss to Sora’s forehead. “That’s kind of… embarrassing… but I’m proud of you.” 

“What’s embarrassing?”

“Everyone knowing the kind of stuff we’re doing to each other.” 

“There’s some left to the imagination.”

“Except for Roxas’ imagination.” 

Sora rolled his eyes, “Okay. Not him then. He’ll live.” 

“A couple of weeks ago if that had happened you’d be rolling on the floor begging for a way to go back in time.” 

Sora beamed. “That’s what I mean. I’m not scared anymore. I swear. I want everyone to know. I wanna shout it from rooftops. I LOVE RI—“ 

Now Riku hushed him with his palm, muffling Sora’s words. “Sora! … Maybe for now just wait for a better time?” 

“When will the time be right, then?” 

“We’ll know, I think.” 

“You know I’m bad at waiting.” 

“Yes, and you can be pretty dramatic. But this is still a delicate situation.” 

Sora sighed and hugged Riku close. “I know that,” he mumbled, “To be honest I’m… really just more worried about you than anybody else in the whole universe right now.”

“It’s the same with you,” Riku said, stroking the smooth skin at the nape of Sora’s neck, “I don’t want you to cause yourself any more suffering than what it’s worth. I want you to be happy.” 

“But it’s worth everything. I want you to be happy. No matter what happens, ‘Ku, as long as you stay with me like this forever, I’m always gonna be happy. ”

Riku hesitated, but Sora interrupted him before he could form a response. “And that’s a promise.” 

That left Riku speechless, and Sora could fully sense the deep thoughts brewing around in that head of his. He’d always get quiet when he was thinking, never thought aloud as Sora always would; He learned to patiently await his responses, he noticed when he continued to ramble on that Riku would only respond to bits and pieces, picking and choosing what was easiest to form words against. Sora wanted to hear a strict response to his vow, so he waited, and waited. 

Riku, at last, answered. 

“You really wanna be with me forever?” He asked, and there it was. 

His voice was vulnerable and when Sora looked up at his face he saw big, happy, watery eyes. It was unreal. Sora could hardly believe it. He’d go to the ends of the Earth to see Riku this happy all of the time, see his emotions raw and laid out in front of Sora, like a cat rolling over to show its belly out of love and faith.

“Yes,” Sora said, smiling so hard he could barely see. “I shared the paopu with you, didn’t I?” 

“You believe in it now?”

“You said it’s only true when you want to believe it is. So I do. With all my heart. I want you, me and you, forever.” 

The two of them just watched each other after that, happy little faces drifting off into a different world entirely. 

Then Riku had had enough. “Get back in the bed.” 

“Wha—“

“C’mon,” Riku said, and Sora could just hear it in the way Riku’s breathing had switched up. At least it wasn’t his turn to wash the sheets. 

Sora fell flat against their bed, no time at all to make himself comfortable, shuddering at the touch of a cool hand wriggling up his shirt, smoothing it’s way up his stomach, his ribs, and back down to his waist. Mouth open, tongue out as Riku leaned down to kiss him. 

“You’re really hard,” Sora breathed, “Already.”

“Can’t help it,” Riku said as he moved away, pressing his face into Sora’s neck and taking in his scent, showering him in wet kisses, “You’re just so fucking pretty when you tell me you love me.” 

Sora whined, squirming at the tickle of a soft voice so close to his ear. “Want me to say it some more?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Wanna be with you forever. I’m yours, ‘Ku, no one else’s.” 

Riku hummed, nearly moaned at his words, twisting his fists up in Sora’s shirt. “More.” 

“You were made just for me. Riku —“ Sora gasped, feeling a thigh make its way between his legs. “I love you. Iloveyouiloveyouiloveyou.”

“Sora,” Riku paused, leaning back to look down at Sora, and there was that vulnerable smile again — so wide this time, so happy. “You’re so perfect. I can't imagine a world without you. I don’t want to.” 

“You don’t have to.” 

They shared another warm, blissful stare. Then, just as Riku was moving down to pull Sora’s clothes off, there was a distant knock across the house — the front door.

Riku froze. “Damn.”

Sora, again, had other ideas, lifting himself with his palms to kiss lovingly at the flat spot beneath Riku’s chin. “Forget it. Let’s keep going. Nobody can look now.”

“The party.” Riku sighed. “We told Roxas we’d be there.”

“Oh. I guess it is getting late.” Sora’s face twisted into a pout, and then back out of it. “Well… that’s okay. It’ll be fun!” 

“I was having fun.” Riku said. 

“Let your bed and me rest for a second.” Sora laughed, and with that, they reluctantly got themselves ready to answer the door. Sora made no effort to make himself look too presentable, hair ruffled borderline sea urchin even after the shower. Riku did try, just a little, but neither of them really cared what they wore either. It was a beach party, they didn’t want sand in their nicer clothes.

They both knew for certain that Kairi would be there, which in reality, it didn’t make much of a difference. Acting “normal” didn’t change between her or their other friends. Though, it still hurt Sora worse — not in the way it used to, but it still stung. Sora needed so badly to fix all of this, to just go back in time like Riku said, but it was hard. The longer he waited, the less easy it got to think about telling everyone the truth. 

Riku opened the door. 

It was Kairi in the doorway. “Hi, you two!” she said. 

Sora stood rigid. His thoughts didn’t shift away from her, or Riku, or this, or everyone. 

There’s no easy way out of this, is there?

“Are you ready to go? Roxas said you’d come.” She said happily, apparently no recollection of the window incident last night. Many incidents in the window, Sora thought. Might as well just keep the curtains drawn wide open now. What if Roxas told her everything? She doesn’t seem upset. 

“We’re ready. Right, Sora?” Riku said, nudging Sora right in the arch of his back to walk on out of the door. That, that rough playfulness that Riku perpetually expressed toward him didn’t change in front of others. It made him happy. He hoped nothing else would have to change. 

He nudged him right into Kairi, who curled her arms around him for a hug. He hugged back. This was fine, hugging her was always nice.

Then a kiss. Sora pretended it was dire that he adjusted his shirt at that moment so that she missed and kissed his cheekbone. His heart hurt too much to let her affection reach that level with him anymore. Plus, he wasn’t sure his body could handle another night of Riku’s envy. He tried not to think about Riku too much right now, Riku asking him “Who do you belong to?”, and Riku’s name rolling off his tongue and… and he had to stop, he could not be popping a boner right now. 

He gathered his thoughts and entertained the idea of never trying to innocently avoid Kairi’s affection ever again. 

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Kairi said, and pulled Sora along by his hand, Riku following behind. 

—

It was later in the evening now, and the cool, humid air was quivering with anticipation as they approached a mid-sized congregation on the beach. Music was playing softly, he could see all his friends, and they all looked so happy.

“Hey, Sora, about last night…” Kairi began, and Sora gulped. “I just wanted you to know I’m sorry. I feel really bad and… and it was wrong of me to accuse you like that and just, kind of make a scene for no reason.” 

There was a frog in Sora’s throat, he couldn’t attempt to speak if he wanted to. 

“I know that whatever is going on, you’ll talk to me when you’re ready. I know Riku always makes you feel better and if spending more time with him is what you need, I won’t make assumptions about it ever again.” 

“That’s alright, Kairi. Don’t apologize, okay?” Sora managed, smiling. 

“You’re the best. So silly of me to think you were bringing a girl over and hiding her from me at Riku’s house. I know you’d never do something like that!” 

Sora felt like he had a swarm of bees in his stomach that was getting angrier by the second. 

“There he is!” shouted several gleeful voices. Sora and Riku both were met with tight embraces and many, many questions. 

“How have you two been?” 

“Have you been keeping Sora in line?” 

“Where have you two been?” 

Sora let Riku answer most of those questions. As with everything else, lying wasn’t getting easier either — and Sora was happy to see everyone, certainly Aqua, Terra, and Ven, who he hadn’t seen in ages, but something was missing. Being around his friends didn’t feel right, none of them knew about the brightest part of Sora’s life, and Sora wanted — needed everyone to know. It’s all he could think to talk about, but he knew it was ridiculous. “Hey, so me and Riku are together and Kairi totally doesn’t know but I really really love him, like more than anybody or anything ever. What should I get him for Valentine’s day?”

That’s it. Sora hated the taste of alcohol, but he was about to go take a couple shots. “Hey, Kairi, I wanted to tell you I’ve actually been cheating on you with Riku this entire time.” 

God, nothing was ever going to sound right. 

Sora, barefoot, was on a mission — operation “seek out alcohol before you start crying,” when he approached Roxas, who was sitting comfortably in the sand behind a few tall bottles. 

“So, what're ya havin’?” 

“Roxas? What’s this? ” Sora asked, completely baffled. The bottles were halfway buried in the sand next to some disposable cups. 

“Don’t worry, we have a trash bag for all these. We don’t litter around here.” Roxas said, smiling up at Sora as if today never happened. 

“No, I mean — you’re… bartending?” 

“Yup. I’m good with food, why not drinks too? And I decided not to really indulge in any of… this, so I thought it’d be nice to kind of moderate how much everyone has, too. Axel’s already reached his limit.” Roxas said, eyes averting to directly behind Sora, and shortly after, Sora felt a tall body knock the breath out of him and an arm scoop around his neck. 

“Soraaa!” Axel cooed, almost tipping the both of them over. “What’s up, man? You are the b-b-best, you’re so happy all the time and you, you saved us all what, like twice now? You need to just keep doing you. Keep being Sora!” 

Sora snickered, being around friends might’ve been difficult but Axel was inevitably lifting his mood. This was nice. 

“You need to quit being lazy and come hang with us more! What you doin’ at Riku’s house all the time? I wanna know what’s so… so interesting in there!“ Axel said, and Sora’s smile didn’t reach his eyes anymore. It felt like the bees in his stomach were starting to sting. He wished he could tell him.

“What, you mad he’s not at your house all the time?” Sora heard Riku say, as he strode between the two of them, splitting them apart and shooting Axel a devious little grin. 

“Now, when did I say that? Uh… did I say that? Riku!” Axel had lost all concern for Sora and was trodding off in the sand after Riku, who had stepped into the ocean to taunt Axel.

“Geez,” Roxas said, “Told you he’d had enough. So what’s it gonna be? Are you drinking at all?” 

“Yeah,” Sora said, still eyeing Riku from afar, watching him splash at Axel and laugh. He looked so pretty, so carefree and unbothered. Like this was all so easy. “It doesn’t matter. Just pour me something, please.” 

“You want some juice in it, or…?” 

The ocean had to be freezing cold right now, and Riku was just stamping around in it like it was nothing. Their eyes met, and Riku gave him a smirk. He felt winded. 

“Sora?”

Sora blinked over at Roxas, smiling now. “Oh, yeah sure, it’s good.” 

“Ogling at your boyfriend?” 

“Wha—!? Be quiet!” 

“What? Not the first time I’ve said that.” Roxas said, handing Sora his drink. He wasn’t wrong, Roxas had joked about it before after meeting Riku and seeing how they behaved around each other. Sora took a drink and twisted his face up like he’d just eaten a bug.

“Well… okay, you’re right.” Sora said, and then he checked around his shoulders before he spoke in a low whisper, clearing his throat before he opened his mouth. “Listen, I’m… really sorry about earlier.” 

“I told you, it’s okay. I shouldn’t have been prowling around like that anyways.” 

“It wasn’t your fault. Nobody expects to see something like that when they look through Riku’s window.” 

“Just go enjoy yourself before I start asking questions about what I saw.” Roxas said, smiling, and Sora all but chugged his drink while they were talking. 

“Can I have another?” 

“No.” 

“Why not?” 

“Sora, that was fast. You’re tiny. And that was strong. ‘M not gonna let you kill yourself.” 

“Uhh, maybe it was.” Sora said, recalling he did hold his nose every drink he took other than the first, and he hadn’t been paying that much attention. “Okay, maybe just half of what you just made me?” 

“Fine. But don’t come back asking for more.” 

Sora drank that, holding his nose, cringing and smacking his lips, handing his empty cup back to Roxas. He thought of Roxas’ words, and no, he didn’t often indulge in things like this or enjoy drinking anyway, but the warmth rising in his chest felt good. Why’d Roxas know so much — was it really that bad to drink fast? 

Sora stood there for a second, pondering if walking off and interacting with everyone else was a good idea at all. Then he circled around and plopped down right next to Roxas, cross-legged and staring at the sand.

“Are you okay, Sora?” 

“No,” Sora all but wailed, burying his face in his hands. He felt Roxas wrap an arm around him and pull him in, and Sora let himself fall against him, face hiding in Roxas’ shoulder now. It felt really nice to be able to say that, certainly with knowing one of his friends knew all the reasons why. 

“What do I do, Roxas?” 

Roxas gave his back gentle pats, sighing. Sora felt uncertain, as if Roxas was ever going to know the first thing about how to solve this situation. It was Sora’s problem. 

“Sora,” Roxas began, pulling Sora off of him and holding his shoulders. “I can't tell you much, I don’t know how long this has been going on or anything — but I do know that when you’ve made up your mind, you’ve made up your mind. But somebody’s gonna get hurt no matter what and you know that too. I know how much it hurts for you to tell the truth when it’s going to hurt her so bad, like you’re really gonna break her heart y’know and — Hey, stop that.” 

Sora knew he looked an absolute wreck, he was trying his hardest to keep his breathing under control. He quickly wiped his eyes, the last thing he wanted was to draw attention. 

“Focus. It’s gonna be okay.” Roxas said, and when Sora looked up at him, he looked a little bit fuzzy. “Look at Riku.” 

Sora blinked over at Riku, who was sitting in the sand and letting the water wash up against his feet. Axel must’ve gotten bored and ran off somewhere else. 

“Think about how happy you’re gonna make him.” Roxas continued, and Sora cracked a smile. “And yourself. The longer you wait, the worse it’s gonna get, y’know? Kairi might hurt for a while, but don’t you think she’ll be happier with somebody else who really loves her?” 

“That’s… that’s a really good way of looking at it.” Sora said, able to gather his emotions now. The crippling sadness was fizzing away and into a bubbly, free, and happy feeling. “Why didn’t I ever think of it like that?” 

“Well,” Roxas said, leaning back on his hands. “You care a lot about other people’s feelings. That’s just how you are. It’s hard to see the full picture until you can get past that. It's your biggest strength, but your only weakness too.” 

Sora reveled in the gratification of his advice. From an outside source — it was different, Riku helped as much as he could but Roxas’ opinion was so unbiased and perfect.  

Sora stood up, stumbling. He didn’t remember standing up being this difficult. “I am so thankful you walked in on us right now.” he said.

Roxas visibly swallowed, like he still hadn’t gotten over the trauma. “Uh… I guess everything can be a good thing in retrospect. You’re feeling that, aren’t you?”

Roxas’ words almost sounded like a distant echo in his head. “Feeling what?”

“Go hang out with Riku. You haven’t stopped looking at him. Go on!” Roxas used his foot to nudge the back of Sora’s leg, and Sora steadied himself, running across the beach.

Sora’s breath left him completely. He found himself lying flat on his back in the sand and staring up at the stars, wondering when it had gotten so dark. He started laughing with what breath he had, and then two familiar faces came into view above him. 

“Watch it!” Axel said.

“Be nice to him!” Aqua said, and all Sora could do was grin. 

“Sooorry, I was tryin’ to get to ‘Ku.” he slurred, and he reached up, feeling a hand cup into his and pull him up off the beach. 

“Are you… drunk?” Axel said, leaning down to examine Sora’s features.

“Are you drunk?” Sora said back, pressing a finger to Axel’s nose. In the brief silence of Axel scowling back at him, Sora could hear everyone else distantly chattering over music that seemed to have gotten louder.

“We’re in for it. I’ve never seen him like this.” Aqua said, hands on her hips as she smiled down at Sora. “What was it you were trying to do? You want me to go find Kairi for you?” 

“Nonono! RIKU!” Sora shook his head aggressively and made an attempt to take off, feeling a set of arms scoop around him and he reached one of his arms out as far as he could as if he could grab that boy in the distance. 

He saw Riku turn his head, and he wasn’t moving yet — why wasn’t he moving yet? Sora shouted “HELP!” as if he were being held captive. That’d get him over here. 

To Sora’s immense dissatisfaction, Riku grinned and looked away. Sora wanted to be over there, to touch him, smell him, look at him, laugh with him, he wanted him. 

“Noooo,” Sora wailed, “Let me over the-e-ere.” he said, an I’m-gonna-cry-if-you-don’t-let-me-over-there wobble in his voice.

“Nope, you’re gonna play some games with us.” Axel said, hoisting Sora up over his shoulder like he was lighter than air itself. Sora kicked and squirmed to no avail, and again, found himself plopped in the sand. Everyone was huddled around a stone fire pit they must’ve built. Everyone except for Riku, who was sitting next to Roxas now, both of them watching from a distance. They met one another’s eyes and Sora pouted as he watched them giggle and converse over something inaudible. 

“Oh, he brought you over here! Good!” Sora heard a voice say, and he turned to his right to see Kairi sitting next to him. Oh, and all those negative feelings of horror and dread came rushing back, but he did his best to remember Roxas’ words. Then again, it might not have been all that beneficial, yes it made him feel better, but now, staring her right in the face — he felt as if the truth was going to slip clean off his tongue. He wanted to say it. Now. Now’s as good a time as any. Say it.

“Kairi wanted you to come play two truths and a lie with us, we’re gonna get to know each other better. Just like in a classroom. How often do we get to hang out like this, huh?” Axel said, making himself comfortable beside Terra.

“Aren’t they gonna play?” Terra said, gesturing to Riku and Roxas who were still mumbling amongst themselves. 

“They’re coming, or I’ll make ‘em! I’m going first, and I’m not making this easy for you guys.” Axel said, clearly still pretty tipsy as he shut the music off, and he continued, “I’m Lea, so quit calling me Axel — got it memorized? — My best friends are Roxas and Xion, I actually don’t like Roxas’ cooking, and I hate cats.” 

“You said you weren’t making this easy.” Xion said. 

“What are you talking about? Where’s the lie?” Axel said, completely thunderstruck. 

“That you hate Roxas’ cooking! You love everything he makes!” Xion said, followed by nods and giggles. 

Axel paused, doing his best to conceal a smile, until it dawned on him there was no lying his way out of it. “Okay… you got me. Next time it’s my turn, I swear it’s gonna be harder.” Axel said, and then he shouted, “Now — Roxas! It’s your turn!”

Everyone collectively turned their heads to see Riku and Roxas approaching, and they shuffled around to make room. Sora squirmed a little, hoping Riku would sit down next to him, but Riku sat directly across from him instead, the fire partially blocking his vision. Sora could feel himself getting frustrated and… and eager. He felt as if his feet were going to spring him into the air any second, his heart was thrumming and he felt like screaming, the dizziness in his head wasn’t helping, either. The loose, happy sensation left him. He felt insatiably determined now, to do something, and fear had set in.

“And make sure you say your name,” Axel said, “Makes it harder to lie.” 

Sora bit back a scowl. None of them knew the first thing about how hard it is to lie. 

“Okay. I’m Roxas… I’m exactly five-foot-two, monkeys are my favorite animal, and I’m materialistic.” 

“Monkeys?!” Axel howled, “That’s the lie. You do not like monkeys.” 

“Actually, I do like monkeys!” Roxas grinned. 

“Sora, how tall are you?” Aqua, who was on the other side of Sora, asked. Sora didn’t have the slightest clue what the conversation was about, and so he just responded to her question without second thought. He hadn’t stopped watching Riku since he sat down, and Riku was making every attempt to avoid his eyes, as if to draw attention away from them. Sora didn’t care, he had laid an intricate plan out in his head.

“Five two.” 

“So, materialistic. That’s the lie? You’re not materialistic?” Aqua asked, looking over at Roxas. 

“You got it!” Roxas smiled. 

“Sheesh, fooled me.” Axel said, rolling his eyes, to which Roxas scoffed. “Heeey, Sora, you’ve been quiet! Your turn! Talk to us!” 

“Oh, this should be easy.” Sora heard someone say. He stood up, something no one else had done yet, and quickly dusted the sand off his legs. He was trembling, eyeing Riku still, praying his legs wouldn’t give out from underneath him. 

“I’m Sora,” he said, voice thick with confidence he had pulled out of thin air. He gestured to himself as if he were giving the biggest presentation of his life, and began to pace around the fire in a slow strut.

“My birthday is in March,” he said, exhaling heavily. He did his best to try to ignore all the eyes watching him, but it was impossible. This is what he wanted. He stopped walking when his feet were in front of Riku. 

“Riku is… my best friend,” he said, steadying his hand the best he could as he opened it, extending it out. He could see Roxas’ face out of the corner of his eye, and he almost glanced over for approval, but he chose not to. Sora’s heart was pounding. He was hoping that the look he was giving would pass the message of please, just roll with this. Riku hesitantly took his hand, looking up at him, a confused smile on his face. 

Riku steadied himself up onto his feet, looking down at Sora, who hadn’t even taken a step back to give him room to stand. There was an incredible moment of apprehension, complete silence aside from the fire crackling.

Then Sora brought his hands to Riku’s face, leaned in close, pushed himself up onto his tiptoes — and kissed him. 

Riku, toppling Sora’s expectations, didn’t pull away. He pressed back into him, and the breath Sora had been holding came rushing out, warmth blossoming in his chest and devouring all of his fear, his anxiety, dread, guilt — it was gone for right now. He didn’t want to open his eyes, not even to check if Riku’s were closed too, he felt so soft and this was so blissful and the swarm of bees in his stomach had evolved into a kaleidoscope of butterflies. 

And Sora couldn’t be bothered to think about the thoughts running through everyone else’s heads right now, the total silence must’ve been deafening but all he had been worried about was whether or not they’d believe it — that they’d think Sora was just drunk and messing around, but Riku was into this too, arms wrapped snug around Sora’s waist, and if anyone thought for a millisecond this wasn’t legitimate it would’ve simply been denial.

Then Riku moved his mouth against Sora’s once, and that drove it home. 

Still hanging on tight, Sora reluctantly pulled his lips away, eyes darting across Riku’s face, the happy look in his big green eyes, his smile, and Sora felt there was nothing that could compare to this — nothing across worlds that could ever make this not worth it. And then, unenthusiastically, he finally turned to survey everyone, still so quiet. He clung to the image of Riku’s smile, needing it to stay and keep his emotions stable so that intense regret wouldn’t nestle itself deep in his heart. 

A couple of them were aggressively rubbing their eyes as if it hadn’t been real, some of them kept opening and closing their mouths as if they wanted to say something, ask something, but at a total loss. Roxas sat with a half-quirked grin on his face, and the rest of them sat wide eyed, mouths agape. Sora was doing his best to not nervously laugh, and he could tell Riku felt scared too, a clammy hand squeezing Sora’s tight. Sora felt as if he would’ve had a panic attack had he been completely sober right now, and he was still grappling with the fact that Riku had let him do it in the first place.

At last, someone cut through the silence. Axel had been the first. 

“Wha… wuh... w-which one was… the lie?”