["Are you sure about this?" he'd asked Aqua, when he'd made his way to the Land of Departure and she had told him of their plans.
she had assured him that she was. that she wouldn't be alone.
but Riku remembers fighting her, on that dark shore. even if she hadn't succumbed to that darkness on her own, the pain it had fed on was real. and he remembers how her first reaction to finding herself bathed in sunlight on the shores of the Destiny Islands was to ask, when did they fall to darkness?
and more than that, he remembers Terra. he must have been just days away from his fate, that time long ago when he'd stopped to speak with the little silver-haired boy with a heart full of longing and a head full of dreams. true, there was no longer any Xehanort to bewitch him and drive his heart back to darkness... but Riku remembers, too, the way he had felt when Xehanort had cast him out, heart from body, into the dark realm. he remembers how much he had needed Mickey's support. and how grateful he'd been for it.
the odds are better for the three of them, Aqua, Ven, and Terra together, than they ever were for anyone on their own in that realm. they have experience, they have mutual support, and they have no more Xehanort to fear.
but their odds could still be better.
so he'd said, "Let me help you prepare."
and she'd agreed.
if nothing else, it'll be a good chance to get to know them better, these wielders from the past. it's a chance he's especially glad of with Terra - he's cherished that memory and that secret for so many years, but never really known this man he owes so much to, whose face he'd always seen reflected in that of his most hated, most beloved enemy.
there's a great deal they have in common, it seems.
but at this moment, out on the training grounds with Terra, the conversation isn't so heavy yet.]
[ where's aqua is worried, terra has faith. riku's had his own experiences with the darkness, and more than terra has done so - he's learned how to use the darkness to make him ever stronger. still, terra's heard about how dangerous the realm of darkness can be - and where ven and himself are prepared - riku needs to be all the more careful. they have armor - protection from darkness. but, what about him?
still, selfishly he knows that training is a way to get to know his successor better. and the more they talk, the more terra's come to realize just how strong riku is. he was able to do what terra wasn't able to and ultimately used everything he had learned on his own to protect his friends.
maybe they can learn from each other like this. xehanort manipulated terra's darkness - but he knows now because of riku - darkness isn't something that can only be used to destroy and hurt others. ]
Yeah. [ terra places his hand on his armor, but doesn't summon it. ] Master Eraqus gave it to the three of us. If you're going to search in the Realm of Darkness with us, it'd be a good idea for you to have it, too - but I'm not sure where we'd find armor for you.
These clothes should do fine. Master Yen Sid had the three good fairies make them for us. I've worn them into the Realm of Darkness before, when we were searching for Aqua.
...I'm a little less at risk than you guys, too. So you don't have to worry.
I'm alright. [ It's an honest answer. ] ... But, Aqua - we need to be there for her when we're there. This'll be harder for her than it is on any of us.
[the thought has occurred to him, never to be voiced, that if Aqua hadn't done that - she might actually have saved everyone a lot of trouble.
but that's not fair to her. she couldn't have known. and to leave Terra's body alone in that place, while there was still any question as to who was inhabiting it, would have been anathema to everything Aqua is. in her place, he would have done the same.
and, besides... if she hadn't, then he wouldn't be standing here side by side with his predecessor now, as an equal.]
[meeting Terra again, after all these years, has been incredible. even moreso, being able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him as an equal. it's beyond anything he could have ever imagined when he was little.
something else he could never have imagined when he was little: Terra is devastatingly hot.
he's about to get caught staring, if he doesn't snap out of it. which he's not going to do. he's too busy ogling at Terra's back muscles.]
[ It isn't just Riku who feels that way. It's difficult to think of him as the child that he met so long ago. He's grown into someone who's grown so strong - so determined to protect his friend. How could someone not admire him?
He can feel the heat of Riku's gaze, and he can't help but turn, tilting his head a little. ]
[as distracted as Riku is, he doesn't fully recognize what it means that Terra is turning around until Terra's voice snaps him out of it. he starts, jerking his gaze guiltily up to Terra's face as his own turns bright red.]
[Riku takes in a quick breath in sudden panic. crap, crap-- he hadn't thought that excuse through well enough, and now he's even more exposed; now Terra knows he's trying to hide something.
and he can't just lie. not to Terra, of all people.]
[he just doesn't know how to talk about this. feelings are one thing, he has no trouble admitting how much Terra means to him emotionally - but how in the world is he supposed to talk about being attracted to him physically? how does anyone ever manage to talk about that?
and he doesn't want Terra to... think any differently of him. it's not that he thinks Terra would be mad or anything, but... it's weird, right? when they first met, Riku had just been a child. of course he's grown up, nearly of an age with Terra now that Terra's body has been restored, but wouldn't it still be weird? to find out the little boy he'd left his legacy to, has become a young man who wants to, like, make out with him? and maybe more?]
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no subject
Date: 2020-01-24 08:31 am (UTC)she had assured him that she was. that she wouldn't be alone.
but Riku remembers fighting her, on that dark shore. even if she hadn't succumbed to that darkness on her own, the pain it had fed on was real. and he remembers how her first reaction to finding herself bathed in sunlight on the shores of the Destiny Islands was to ask, when did they fall to darkness?
and more than that, he remembers Terra. he must have been just days away from his fate, that time long ago when he'd stopped to speak with the little silver-haired boy with a heart full of longing and a head full of dreams. true, there was no longer any Xehanort to bewitch him and drive his heart back to darkness... but Riku remembers, too, the way he had felt when Xehanort had cast him out, heart from body, into the dark realm. he remembers how much he had needed Mickey's support. and how grateful he'd been for it.
the odds are better for the three of them, Aqua, Ven, and Terra together, than they ever were for anyone on their own in that realm. they have experience, they have mutual support, and they have no more Xehanort to fear.
but their odds could still be better.
so he'd said, "Let me help you prepare."
and she'd agreed.
if nothing else, it'll be a good chance to get to know them better, these wielders from the past. it's a chance he's especially glad of with Terra - he's cherished that memory and that secret for so many years, but never really known this man he owes so much to, whose face he'd always seen reflected in that of his most hated, most beloved enemy.
there's a great deal they have in common, it seems.
but at this moment, out on the training grounds with Terra, the conversation isn't so heavy yet.]
So, that armor - it wards off the darkness?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-01 05:36 am (UTC)still, selfishly he knows that training is a way to get to know his successor better. and the more they talk, the more terra's come to realize just how strong riku is. he was able to do what terra wasn't able to and ultimately used everything he had learned on his own to protect his friends.
maybe they can learn from each other like this. xehanort manipulated terra's darkness - but he knows now because of riku - darkness isn't something that can only be used to destroy and hurt others. ]
Yeah. [ terra places his hand on his armor, but doesn't summon it. ] Master Eraqus gave it to the three of us. If you're going to search in the Realm of Darkness with us, it'd be a good idea for you to have it, too - but I'm not sure where we'd find armor for you.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-15 12:31 am (UTC)Appreciate the thought, but I'll be okay.
[he tugs at the lapel of his jacket]
These clothes should do fine. Master Yen Sid had the three good fairies make them for us. I've worn them into the Realm of Darkness before, when we were searching for Aqua.
...I'm a little less at risk than you guys, too. So you don't have to worry.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-04 09:58 pm (UTC)[ It makes sense, though. ]
Still, if you need a break in there - just let us know.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-07 11:27 pm (UTC)[raises his head again to meet Terra's eyes]
That goes for you too, you know. You feeling alright about this?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-21 07:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-13 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 03:57 am (UTC)[ He isn't sure he would have lasted nearly as long as she did. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-11-21 01:33 am (UTC)[the thought has occurred to him, never to be voiced, that if Aqua hadn't done that - she might actually have saved everyone a lot of trouble.
but that's not fair to her. she couldn't have known. and to leave Terra's body alone in that place, while there was still any question as to who was inhabiting it, would have been anathema to everything Aqua is. in her place, he would have done the same.
and, besides... if she hadn't, then he wouldn't be standing here side by side with his predecessor now, as an equal.]
We'll keep each other safe in there.
NOW KISS
Date: 2020-01-28 03:28 am (UTC)something else he could never have imagined when he was little: Terra is devastatingly hot.
he's about to get caught staring, if he doesn't snap out of it. which he's not going to do. he's too busy ogling at Terra's back muscles.]
HERE WE GO
Date: 2020-02-04 11:22 pm (UTC)He can feel the heat of Riku's gaze, and he can't help but turn, tilting his head a little. ]
Riku?
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 04:25 am (UTC)No-- it's nothing, sorry--
no subject
Date: 2020-02-25 01:58 am (UTC)he reaches then, placing a hand on riku's shoulder. ]
If there's something on your mind, you can tell me.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-29 10:32 pm (UTC)[rubs the back of his neck nervously]
Sorry. Didn't mean to stare.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-04 09:25 pm (UTC)Distracted? By me?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-12 10:44 pm (UTC)and he can't just lie. not to Terra, of all people.]
I--
[it's too late. he's already caught.]
... y-yeah.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-21 09:04 pm (UTC)[ If it's as Riku's saying, he wonders what could be on his mind.... Or if Terra had done something to distract him. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-13 02:43 am (UTC)No, no. It's okay, don't worry.
[he just doesn't know how to talk about this. feelings are one thing, he has no trouble admitting how much Terra means to him emotionally - but how in the world is he supposed to talk about being attracted to him physically? how does anyone ever manage to talk about that?
and he doesn't want Terra to... think any differently of him. it's not that he thinks Terra would be mad or anything, but... it's weird, right? when they first met, Riku had just been a child. of course he's grown up, nearly of an age with Terra now that Terra's body has been restored, but wouldn't it still be weird? to find out the little boy he'd left his legacy to, has become a young man who wants to, like, make out with him? and maybe more?]
-- I don't want you to think I'm weird.