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

The walk back to the dorms was a quiet one, but they separated themselves from Owen and Travis successfully. Kairi noticed that she and Sora still hadn't released each other's hands, either. Was he...okay? He had been so infuriated before, with good reason of course, but... She hadn't seen that look since Xehanort. They passed the park, things winding down now that the sun was setting on Radiant Garden. Kairi moved her gaze to her handsome friend beside her. "...You okay?" she asked, voice soft. After that experience, she didn't want to break any peace.

A beat passed before Sora finally answered, a long sigh releasing itself. "...Not really. What they did to you and Naminé...what they were going to do..." The hand that wasn't holding Kairi's balled into a tight fist. I should have left sooner. If I had been any later...Sora couldn't even finish the thought. All he knew was that the keyblade would have made an appearance, and it wouldn't have been pretty. 

Kairi didn't know what to say to that right away, her eyes falling to the sidewalk. She had blocked out most of what happened because of the fighting but now that Sora brought it up... "Mm," she hummed. Right, the...assault. It had come close to crossing a line. What those guys did wasn't okay in any sense, but...it could have been really bad. "But...you stood up for me. So thank you." Sora defended her honor, as he always did. She would always be indebted to him for that.

"Of course," Sora met her eyes with a tender smile, "I'll always be here for you, Kairi." Another moment of silence passed before Sora asked. "I think the more important question here is...are you okay?" Sora likely only saw a preview of the harassment. He didn't want to think what else had happened in his absence. Even the idea of some creep running his hands all over Kairi brought that same fire back into gut. It was one of the few times Sora genuinely wanted someone to pay. 

Kairi glanced at Sora out of the corner of her eye, but then she looked forward. Roxas and Namine were ahead of them by a bit, probably having their own conversation on this subject. "...I've handled heartless, right?" she tried. "Can't get much worse than that." Then again, heartless didn't...do what Travis nearly did. That was a whole other level of bad.

"...It's okay to be upset, you know?" Sora said quietly, "I know you're strong, but this crossed the line completely. Just..." Sora sighed again and raked a hand through his hair. He wanted to tell her how he felt. That if anyone were to hold her close, it should be him and only him--but that seemed weird. Wrong even in this context. "I'm here if you need to talk about it. I don't want you to be alone."

Kairi tightened her grasp on Sora's hand. "I don't want to be alone either," she admitted, looking up at him. Yes, she had Namine, but...this was different. Sora was one person she could talk to about anything, but...was he sure about this? The subject matter wasn't exactly light, and he still seemed a bit worked up about it. Ticked off for her sake, even. 

"I'll probably be angry," Sora answered slowly, "but I want to be here for you, which means knowing everything." This would be a test of his will--to not storm back and beat Travis within an inch of his sad life. But if it was for Kairi...Sora would soldier through.

Kairi smiled weakly. Sora...she thought, touched. He was one of the best guys she knew. "Um..." she started, lowering her gaze from him to the sidewalk. "...It's still a bit blurry because it all happened so fast, but...they cornered us just outside the bathroom. They made comments during the movie, which was why we left. I just needed a moment to think without them cracking jokes about me and that dumb poster going around campus." Kairi's eyebrows furrowed at the reminder of the infamous picture. It still disgusted her. "We tried ignoring them but they just...threw themselves at us."

Sora close his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Why hadn't he heard the comments? He was supposed to have better hearing than that as a keyblade warrior. "Did they...touch you right away?"

Kairi subconsciously tightened her grasp on Sora's hand at the question. "...Yeah," she answered quietly, the memory making her feel sick. "Travis...he--he got in my face right away, put his hands on my hips and asked me to take measurements..." Kairi had to stop, eyes squeezing shut at the flashback. "He and Owen talked about taking turns." She stopped walking entirely, shaking her head a little in disbelief. That could have turned out so bad. Kairi released Sora and lifted her hands to grip her head, fingers grasping at her red hair. She didn't even want to picture that happening.

This was the moment of truth for Sora as a bolt of anger surged through his body. Every hair on end. Every part of him wanting to turn around, summon the keyblade, and disable Travis from every being able to reproduce. The look on Kairi's face, however, stopped him dead in his tracks; he touched one of her hands gently. "Hey," he said softly,"I'm here. You're not alone. I promise."

"I know," Kairi murmured. Of course she wasn't alone, and as long as she had Sora as a friend, she never would be. Kairi lowered her hands from her head, gripping Sora's gently. "I know. It's just..." She looked up at him, eyes moist. "I never wanted you to see something like that. The picture was one thing, but this?" It was awful. It was humiliating. And it was real. "I'm so sorry, Sora."

"None of this is your fault," Sora assured her, shaking his head sadly. Was that what she was worried about. "Kairi I lo--I mean I care about you." Sora caught himself before the confession could slip out. "What matters to me is that you're safe and happy. This photo thing isn't okay, but I would never think anything less of you because of it. I know you. I know the kind of person you are. These pictures and those stupid guys can't trick me."

Kairi smiled weakly and nodded, lifting her free hand to wipe under one eye when a tear threatened to escape. "Thank you," she whispered. She was lucky to have him. She stepped toward him and embraced him then, directing the hand she held to her waist before she wrapped that arm around him. The only person she wanted touching her waist...was Sora. The realization made her blush, but she just hid her face in his shoulder so he wouldn't see. 

Sora drew her closer then, savoring her warmth. Was it selfish that he didn't want to share her? His hand settled at her waist. This feels right. "You're welcome," he murmured into her hair. Sora remembered Travis inhaling her sweet scent just moments ago. But she's here now. With me. Safe. 

That murmur in her hair had Kairi pulling Sora closer to her. It had her heart skipping in her chest. How many times had that happened? How often did Sora do that to her? Quite a bit, but...she never really had time to reflect on it. Kairi clutched the back of his shirt. As much as Namine's presence comforted her, after tonight, she wasn't sure it was going to be enough. "...Can you stay with me tonight?" she asked quietly, shy. "Please?" He had never stayed in her room before--here or on the Islands. But after what nearly happened at the theater, she didn't want to be apart from him. She hoped Sora could understand.

Sora's breath caught. She was asking him to...stay? "Um...," he hesitated. Was it okay? He wouldn't be taking advantage of her, right? "Are you sure?" They had never shared a room before, even as children on the islands. He wouldn't feel uncomfortable himself, but would Kairi feel awkward about it later?

Kairi tensed slightly. That response... Did he not want to? "...You don't have to," she replied weakly, fighting embarrassment. Yes, she was sure of it; she did ask him after all. But...if Sora didn't want to, that was okay. She would make it through the night.

Seeing her expression falter, Sora quickly amended. "Not that I don't want to! It's just...," He sighed. "I don't want to seem like I'm taking advantage of you or something like that..." He would never be able to live with himself otherwise.

Kairi shook her head, though she couldn't help but smile a little. Sora had always been a gentleman, and now was no exception. "I trust you," she told him. He wasn't Travis or Owen, that was for sure. She trusted him completely.

Sora visibly relaxed, drawing away slightly to take her hand. His nod was resolute. "Okay, then. But...wait," Sora said with growing embarrassment of his own, "What about Naminé?" He wasn't quite sure Roxas would approve knowing Naminé would be in the room with him as well. 

Kairi gripped Sora's hand in return. Namine...right, she kind of forgot about her roommate. "Oh, um..." she said with a wince. "I'll talk to her. Who knows? Maybe she'll want Roxas there too." It didn't matter too much; she trusted both boys with her life. Kairi could handle one night with them.

"Yeah, she's probably pretty shaken up by happened too," Sora replied with a frown. He was glad Roxas was here tonight. The brunet wasn't sure he could comfort both girls. Not because he didn't care about Naminé. She was awesome, but...she wasn't Kairi. Though he's sure Roxas felt the same way about Naminé. "I wish we could have gotten there sooner."

Kairi lifted her other hand to Sora's arm. "You got there in time," she promised him. He and Roxas showed up before anything terrible happened, before any real lines were crossed. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to escape. Namine either.