Hi all! Me again, with another roleplay. Through Discord I found another RP partner, so this is strictly 1x1. It is a College AU, though it has some canon tidbits included.

 

Please refrain from posting in this topic, but feel free to read along and join us for this journey!

 

Thanks!

 

Hoshi, take it away!

Edited July 24, 20187 yr by Forever Love

His heart had led him, but was that too corny to say? Would she just laugh at him? "My heart," Riku explained slowly, hesitantly, "I...It felt yours calling out to it." I felt your pain. Your fear. 

Your heart? Lightning's eyes softened at the confession. How did his heart...? She lowered her gaze to his chest. "...Thank you," she whispered. If Riku hadn't shown up... Lightning bit her lip and closed her eyes, fighting sudden tears. Things could have gotten really bad.

"It's okay...," Riku soothed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, "You're okay. I won't let anything happen to you again. I promise." He would never let her feel this kind of pain again. Lightning didn't deserve any of this.

Those words overcame her, as did that intimate gesture, and Lightning's tears fell. She leaned forward and hid her face in Riku's chest, clutching his shirt as she cried. She didn't cry, not ever, and to do it in front of a guy? How humiliating.

Riku, not having expected her tears, gasped slightly before wrapping his arms around her frame tightly. "I'm here. I'm here." He assured. Riku wanted her to feel safe with him. Wanted her to share these feelings with him. Was that strange? His heart ached in response, and Riku knew the reason then. His love for her in that moment. It was so powerful. How had he never experienced this feeling before?

Edited August 31, 20187 yr by aoi hoshi

Lightning sniffled. "I'm sorry," she mumbled into his shirt. She didn't want to ruin his night, but he held her securely, so she assumed it was okay. And his words, they comforted her. If he hadn't shown up, Lightning's world would have been turned upside down. What would she have done? It didn't matter, not anymore, because of Riku.

"You have nothing to apologize for," Riku reassured, moving his hand to stroke her head, "None of this was your fault." Those creeps were sick. 

Lightning gripped Riku more tightly at the words. He was right, she guessed, but that didn't make her any less apologetic. She was trained to defend herself, and she couldn't. Maybe she wasn't as strong or independent as she thought... Like now, she depended on Riku. Not that it was a terrible thing, but it still embarrassed her. She hoped he didn't think less of her.

Riku held her for a minute more, his arms enveloping her in a tight embrace. "I'll walk you home," he whispered into her hair. He didn't want her to be alone. Not now. Not ever really.

Lightning sniffled and pulled back slightly. “Okay,” she replied quietly. She wanted to wash Chase’s touch off of her. She felt disgusting. With Riku there she would feel safe. Would he stay for a while? Or would he get her to her dorm and then leave?

Edited August 31, 20187 yr by Forever Love

He kept his arm around her as they stood up and began walking towards the dorms. Would she want him to stay once they got there or would it be better to let her be alone for a little while? "Are you going to need some time alone? I don't mind staying with you, but I won't keep you up if you want to rest..."

Lightning had her arms covering her stomach—not only because she felt sick but also because she didn’t want anyone seeing her attire. It was one of the reasons she was assaulted in the first place. “...Can you stay? At least for a little while?” She looked up at Riku as they walked. “If that’s okay...” She didn’t want to keep him if he had somewhere else to be.

Edited August 31, 20187 yr by Forever Love

Her words and body language brought a furrow to his brow. It was strange hearing the uncertainty and vulnerability in her always strong voice. "Of course," Riku replied, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze, "as long as you need me." There was nowhere he wanted to be since, even if he did go back to his own room, all Riku would be able to think of would be her. 

Lightning nodded and looked ahead, glad that some of the street lights were on--unlike the one she happened to be under when Chase showed up. "...I'll have to text Serah," she mumbled. "She's probably wondering where I am." But she couldn't face her sister, not like this. Lightning wasn't...Lightning. Not anymore.

"That's right," Riku commented with a frown, "her and Snow broke up, didn't they? I wonder what happened?" Though, Riku could imagine a variety of scenarios involving the blond haired senior. Most of them involving other girls. I don't want to assume anything, but from what I've seen, Snow didn't look like the most faithful guy out there...

"I'm guessing those girls at the party had something to do with it," Lightning grumbled. Snow was such an idiot, treating Serah so poorly. She deserved someone better. She deserved someone like...Riku. Maybe if he didn't want her, he would date Serah. She would appreciate his protective nature, and his handsome looks.

“That was my thought too,” Riku confessed, “How did those two meet anyway? Snow is what three years older?” Not that an age gap that small was anything that controversial, but Riku wouldn’t deny he was curious to know the backstory to such a relationship.

Riku may not have known it, but Lightning appreciated him carrying this conversation. It kept her mind off what just happened with the three jocks. "Serah was fifteen and Snow had just graduated. He and his numbskull friend Gadot thought it would be a good idea to form a group called NORA. It's a stupid acronym. Stands for 'No Obligations, Rules, or Authority'," she explained. "Basically, they rebelled against whoever they saw fit. Serah thought it was admirable." Lightning couldn't say the same. As they approached the dormitory, she felt relief. They could finally be inside the building and away from prying eyes...if Chase stuck around at all after whatever Riku did. "I thought it was idiotic. It didn't last long, if that tells you anything."

“That certainly seems like something Snow would be involved in. Did they actually do anything?” Riku asked. The idea of this NORA was...a little silly, but maybe they accomplished something with it? Not that he expected much from a guy like Snow. To Riku, it sounded more like an organization put together so that Snow and his friends could play hero.

Lightning approached the stairs, feeling the cool air conditioning against her exposed skin. With each step her belly ring tickled her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to take it out after... She took in a breath. "They tried their hand at those heartless when NORA was active, but once the heartless died off, they lost their fire," she explained lowly. "Nobody really mentioned why those things went away all of a sudden, but...good riddance, I guess." She hated them--the heartless. They took away her family, her home, her life. Being an RA gave her free room and board, which she needed all things considered. School wasn't cheap.

“Those heartless were pretty troublesome,” Riku commented, almost missing a stair as he tried to collect his thoughts. He had to be careful now. Keep the world order. ‘Which means don’t get too into detail about the heartless.’ “Did they beat any of them at least?” He wasn’t quite how they would have without the keyblade, but maybe there were ways NORA kept the swarms at bay.

"Throwing fists and guns blazing probably took care of it," Lightning said, relieved to be in her hall and see her room ahead. "I'm just glad they're gone--the heartless and NORA." She didn't like either. She took out her key and unlocked her door, stepping inside. She expected Riku to follow.

"Heh, sounds about right for Snow," Riku said. His steps faltered again as he looked into her room. This was okay, right? She wanted him to come in. She wanted him to stay. Releasing a breath, Riku stepped inside Lightning's dorm room. It was, as he expected, pristine and relatively minimalistic, save for an occasional knick-knack that must have held some degree of importance to her. 

"Shut the door?" Lightning asked, glancing over her shoulder at Riku as she ventured to her dresser. She needed to change her clothes, maybe burn them. She hadn't yet decided. Of course, she would wait to shower until Riku left. She wasn't that scandalous.

"R-Right," Riku stuttered and pushed the door behind him until he heard a tiny click. It was just the two of them now. Looking around for a place to sit, Riku decided on her desk chair. He tried to keep his posture relaxed, but it was hard when so many thoughts raced through his head. They were alone. Together. In her bedroom. "S-So...um...you and Serah are pretty close then, huh?"