As some of you may know, Peanut and I are crazy about Roleplaying, and it's clear, since this is the second one on this site that belongs to us. And we aren't even done with the first one! Regardless, that won't stop us from starting this new roleplay, Rude Awakening!

 

Kinda dark and mysterious title, eh?

 

As stated in the title, this RP is one on one, no exceptions. Please refrain from posting in the RP. Instead, follow us on this new journey!

 

Peanut, my amazing friend, let's begin!

Riku lifted an eyebrow, his eyes moving from the area where Serah landed next to her sister. "Scrawny little thing," he said of the youngest Farron. He could easily pick her up since she was so small, and he was sure he could do the same with Lightning. But...he wouldn't push his luck.

Edited April 5, 201411 yr by Forever Love

Serah rose to the surface, shaking her head to get the wet hair out of her face. "I didn't even do anything to you!" she cried to Riku. She got him to go maybe an inch further in the water but he threw her! She swam forward a bit and looked at Lightning, who shut her eyes as well as covered her mouth to bite back laughter. Whatever irritation she had with Riku disappeared at that. Lightning hardly ever laughed like this. 

Riku couldn't help but chuckle at Serah's expression, especially when she first surfaced. He would do it again just to see it, but...also to hear Lightning laugh. It hadn't been too long since he'd heard it last, had it? Regardless, it was music to his ears, and Serah's too, judging by her expression.

Light calmed herself down, feeling two gazes on her. "That was...horrible," Lightning lied badly to Serah. She was trying to fake support, but it didn't go over too well. It was hard to convey sympathy when her cheeks were still pink from laughing. At least Serah didn't seem to mind so much; she just replied with a small growl and a grin.

Riku released a small "hmph" and pushed himself back in the water, floating on his back. He finally did something right, other than the cure of course. Well, Serah did love her toga, as did Lightning. Riku was doing well, but as far as his and Lightning's relationship went, he wasn't so sure.

"I'm going to go again," Lightning decided and spoke to Serah as she worked her way over to the edge as she pulled herself up. "Serah, you have the stopwatch?" She asked her to get it earlier, when they went back to their rooms to change. 

 

"Yup!" Serah said brightly. "I'll get it and time you." She too went to the edge and got out, knowing that she could relax in the pool later. Right now, Lightning wanted a timed lap, so they needed to get it in before others showed up. But there was something that Serah had that would make this lap even more like her competitive races--a surprise Lightning didn't know about yet.

I'll just get out of the way, Riku thought to himself. He moved to the other end of the pool, opposite Lightning since he was closest to it. He pulled himself up to sit on the edge, letting his legs remain in the water. He wanted to witness this. He already knew Light was fast, but he wanted to actually hear the time.

Serah grabbed the stopwatch and the other item, only briefly drying herself off with her towel beforehand. The sun would dry her off, and anyway, she was going back in the pool soon. "Ready?" she called to Lightning. Her sister was already in position, and she only gave her a slight nod as she looked ahead at the pool and focused. "Ready...set....go!" As she yelled the last word, she lifted her arm and shot a blank round into the air with the starter pistol she found among a collection of sporting equipment. It was just like the old days!

 

As soon as Lightning heard the starter pistol go off, she completely froze. It wasn't fond memories that made her completely forget where she was and what she was doing: it was the sound of a gunshot from another situation. The sound brought back the memories of Cedric mercilessly shooting her in the legs over and over and over... Her legs started to ache and shake, as if the wounds were coming back even though they weren't.

Riku was surprised by the gunshot, but not as severely as Lightning. He looked from Serah to her sister, who was frozen in her spot. Riku's eyebrows furrowed naturally at the look on her face. She...was scared, terrified. And she was hurt. He'd seen that look too often lately.

Serah blinked, surprised when Lightning didn't jump in. Yeah, the gunshot was a surprise, but it was a good surprise. Like old times...Or at least, that was what she thought until she saw her sister's expression. "Claire?" she said softly--too softly for Lightning to possibly hear. She was...scared. She looked down at the pistol, an expression of horror appearing when she realized what a tragic mistake this was. "Lightning!" she cried, looking up just in time to see her not so gracefully jump into the pool. It was a jump, not a fall, but still... 

 

Lightning heard Serah's cry, but she didn't respond to it. She only paused for a few seconds; she could write it off as being surprised by the pistol, not...terrified. If she swam as quickly as she could then she'd be able to lie through this blunder. She turned her face out of the water and gulped in a breath, knowing she had a very short time to compose herself. 

Riku's eyes followed Lightning through the water. Even if she had been shocked by the gun earlier, she was swimming like she wasn't. He glanced up at Serah, the horror still in her eyes, but his gaze immediately returned to the girl in the water. Was she alright?

"Lightning, stop it!" Serah scolded, dropping the gun onto the pavement as Lightning swam. Why was she even doing this? It was so obvious that she was scared by the pistol because of their fath--Cedric. She wanted to jump into the pool and hug her sister to take away the pain, but she caused the pain. How could she give comfort when she was responsible for her pain? 

Riku's eyes turned hard at Serah's scolding. This needed to stop. "I got it," he called across to the pool, then lowering himself from the edge and into the water. It was shallow enough that he could stand, the water just below his shoulders. Lightning was getting close. He would make sure she was alright.

Lightning looked up as she swam when she noticed something suddenly appear in front of her: Riku. She barely had time to slow down and straighten up, and by the time she stopped and was standing, she was right in front of him. "What--?" What was this about? He saw through the facade, didn't he? 

Riku lifted his hand, grasping one of Lightning's arms and pulling her to him. He could see it in her eyes, the fear. Her terror scared Riku, not that it was anything new; he hated seeing her this way. His arms wrapped around her, holding her to his bare chest. It's okay.

Lightning blinked when Riku pulled her to him, and though his hold was gentle, it was too secure for her to break out of. He saw through her, which meant Serah did too. Now that she didn't have to worry about covering that up, she started to soften. She slowly moved her face and hid it by Riku's neck, her eyes flickering shut as she took in his comfort. You're not with Cedric. You're okay...

Riku wasn't sure what to say, so he didn't speak. Instead, he simply held Lightning to him, his eyes resting on the water that surrounded them. She wasn't as stiff as before, which meant she realized that her thoughts weren't real. She was fine, with Riku, and with Serah.

After a moment or two of seeing Lightning accept Riku's comfort, Serah knew that she had to go and apologize right away. She walked over to the edge of the pool and jumped in, and though the sound wasn't loud, it was loud enough to make Lightning jump. Serah froze where she was, knowing that jump was because of her. I keep hurting her... she thought, eyes moistening with tears.

"It's okay," Riku murmured in Lightning's ear, lifting one of his arms and waving Serah over with his hand. Riku had Lightning in his arms; she was safe. He wouldn't let her stay here otherwise. Besides, Lightning needed her sister more than she needed Riku.

Serah set a hand against the wall, shaking her head to Riku. No way was she going over there now. All she would do was hurt Lightning worse than she already did... I'm just like him, she thought. All he can do is hurt her now... Of course she was thinking of Cedric, their father. She turned around and stiffened, starting to shake as she held back tears. 

Riku lowered his arm when Serah refused, letting it circle back around Lightning. "...You need her more than you need me," he murmured in her ear. "And she needs you." They could find strength in each other. Riku knew they could. All Lightning had to do was go to Serah.

Lightning pulled her head away, turning it to see Serah. She made her cry again... She pulled back slightly from Riku, but she actually lifted her hand and grasped his arm and held to it before she turned and started towards Serah. Riku was wrong; he was still needed. He could help both of them. After all the three of them had been through, Riku was an honorary Farron.

Riku blinked, eyebrows furrowing when Lightning led him to her sister. He felt as if he shouldn't have been involved in this, but Lightning was pulling him and he was too confused to stop her. "Light..." he said softly. Was this okay?

Lightning didn't bother responding to Riku; he'd get his answer soon enough. She stopped by Serah and set a hand on her sister's shoulder, slowly turning her around. There wasn't much to say, except... "We're family," she said, glancing at Serah and then Riku. He was a part of the family, whether he realized it or not. He invested so much into them that she couldn't see it any other way. "Serah, you know what that means."

 

When Lightning looked at her, she knew that she was meant to respond audibly. "We can get through anything," she whispered quietly. That was what Lightning told her growing up: they were a family, so they could get through whatever came at them. So even the horror that happened to them lately--even all the demons and darkness Serah was dealing with--they could overcome it. 

 

"That's right," Lightning nodded, wrapping an arm around her sister's shoulders as she pulled her close. She moved her hand from Riku's arm to his back as she wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. He was part of this. 

Riku knew what Lightning wanted from him, by her words and her gestures. He looked down at Serah and opened his arm, pulling her close as well. "C'mere," he said lowly, holding both girls to his chest in the water. Anyone who walked in on this would be confused, but Riku realized that he was needed here. That flattered him.