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!

Lightning felt a small smile tug at her lips. "I might just believe you," she whispered. In the past, he tried telling her before that she was beautiful--inside and out. She had a couple of screws loose, but she was beginning to see herself the way that Riku did. Strong. Loyal. Sensitive to the needs of others. Loving. All these attributes of hers were ones he saw all along, but now she could recognize them as well.

"Good enough," Riku replied softly, running his thumb over Lightning's cheek before his arms went around her again. He was going to keep her close and keep an eye on her, like Serah advised. She didn't have to tell him twice; Riku would be stupid to leave her now. How could he? Riku was worried sick...

Lightning embraced Riku again, resting her head on his shoulder automatically as she enjoyed his warmth. She had felt so cold...There were no words to describe how it felt when the Guardian possessed her. Not completely anyway. She had been ice-cold and felt pain, but it wasn't physical pain. He had dug through her heart...He knew everything about her. Absolutely everything.

Riku held Lightning close, running a hand up and down her back. When he found out the Guardian got inside her, he had been...horrified. Ansem was ruthless with that action, and Riku felt sorry for Lightning. He would have taken her place if he could, but he doubted the Organization would have wanted that. Or his friends. It would have set them one Light short.

Lightning pulled herself closer to Riku, craving even more warmth as she hid her face in his neck. He knew what it was like to be possessed, though the Guardian may not have been so rough with him since Riku had already been leaning towards the Darkness. Either way, both of them experienced horrible things at the hands of that demon.

Riku didn't reject Lightning's closeness; if anything, he welcomed it wholeheartedly. He squeezed her gently, eyes on the door to their room. She wasn't having the best luck in this kind of life, and it made him sad. He didn't want to think that it was a sign that they couldn't be together. Riku realized a while ago that there was no one in the worlds like Lightning, and that he only wanted her. Having her taken away from him... It was a nightmare Riku never wanted to experience.

If it was even possible, Lightning pulled herself even closer to Riku. She had so much she wanted to say to him, though most of it was apology. She was sorry for letting the Guardian take control, sorry for worrying him, and sorry for collapsing on him when she was supposed to keep her eyes on him. Most of all, she was sorry she hadn't been strong enough for him.

Riku's eyebrows furrowed when Lightning tried to get even closer, and they were touching in nearly every part of their bodies. He lifted a hand to the back of her head. "You all right?" he asked, voice low. He knew she probably wasn't, but what could she be thinking about? It was like she was the desperate one now...

Lightning nodded faintly, though she knew Riku wouldn't accept that answer. "I'm myself and alive," she said quietly, though she didn't move out of Riku's embrace. "I'm fine..." She had nearly been turned into one of Xehanort's vessels and then nearly killed by her father, but she wasn't. She made it out of the situation a winner for the most part.

"I'll agree with the first bit," Riku said softly, resting the side of his face against Lightning's pink hair. He didn't think she was right with the "fine" part. She was far from it mentally; he could tell. He would do what he could to help her relax, and that was that. Lightning would have to deal with him for the rest of the day.

Lightning felt even warmer when Riku rested his head atop of hers. "I'm warm again," she declared quietly in just a whisper. "I'm alright." She wasn't just a puppet at the Guardian's mercy anymore, nor was she a pawn for him to use on his side. After what happened, she highly doubted Master Xehanort would try to use her again as a vessel.

Riku released a soft sigh at the words, but it wasn't out of exasperation. He was glad to hear her say she was warm... He knew what the Guardian could do to your heart; it made you feel cold and worthless. It was an awful experience, and Riku never wanted Lightning to go through that again. Ever.

Light's eyes flickered open and then shut again, her eyelashes tickling Riku's neck since she was so close to him. She heard that sigh and wasn't sure what it meant, but she knew that it wasn't a sigh of annoyance. He wouldn't ever downplay her experience with the Guardian, because he knew what it was like.

"...I was willing to take your place," Riku admitted after a moment, staring at the door. He figured Lightning deserved to know his thoughts at that time. He imagined he was as important to her as she was to him, but it would be a close comparison. Riku cared so, so much for her. Sometimes he thought Lightning didn't even realize how much.

Lightning peeked her eyes open, seeing Riku's neck and part of the wall. "...I'm glad you couldn't," she said after a moment or two. She wouldn't have wished that pain and sadness onto anyone. Besides, it sounded like Riku had his fair share of pain in the past. She could bear some of the pain now, even if she also experienced too much pain in life.

"I went through it once. I could do it again," Riku said, lowering his gaze to the floor. It would be hard, but he could do it. As long as he had his blindfold, he would be fine. That's what Lightning didn't know, though--the blindfold was his secret to getting through the Darkness. His eyes could never lie, after all.

"One time going through that is enough," Lightning declared softly. Riku wouldn't go through it again--she wouldn't allow him to take her place if this ever came up again. She shivered at just the thought of it. First it was extreme coldness, but then...she felt him controlling her limbs. Forcing her to walk to her own doom...It had been terrifying.

Riku only remained silent, holding Lightning as close to him as he could. His hold on her... It was never so secure. He never wanted to see that blank look on her face again; Lightning wasn't meant for this kind of life. She was supposed to live a normal life, not this.

Lightning squeezed her eyes shut, suddenly feeling...cold. She didn't want to relive that experience, but that was what thinking about it did to her. She felt a bit silly for beginning to shiver in Riku's arms, but she couldn't help it. She never could, not while the Guardian was involved.

Riku felt Lightning shiver, and he ran his hand up and down her back again. "Light," he said softly, almost in sorrow. She was warm, temperature wise. But he knew what she was thinking about, and it upset him. She couldn't think about the Guardian, but he knew it was unlikely to stop anytime soon. Lightning was...terrified.

Lightning ground her teeth, one of her hands wrapping around the fabric of Riku's shirt. "I'm f-fine," she said, forcing the words out and scolding herself for the first stutter. They both knew what she was thinking of and why she was shivering though, so "fine" wasn't really the right word. Serah did tell Riku to make sure she was alright, and it seemed like they were getting to the heart of the matter now. And it hurt.

"Shh," Riku hushed Lightning softly, running one of his hands down the length of her hair. "Just breathe." The only way to let go of the fear was to relax and think of something warmer, better. Riku figured they would need to sit down, so in a minute they would go back to the bedroom and relax. Lightning deserved it after what she went through.

Lightning trembled softly in Riku's arms, feeling his arms still very secure around her. It's alright, she told herself. He's not here with you. You're with Riku. You're safe...warm... She kept her breathing as calm as she could, her face still in Riku's neck. He wasn't going to let her go while she was still like this, or ever if she requested he stay here with her a long time. The warmth would stay with her.

Riku shushed Lightning again, keeping still and holding her close. She didn't need to be afraid; Riku was here. He would protect her with his life. She already knew that, and had known it for a while. He would never desert her, ever. Riku had never cared for someone so much in his life.

Lightning slowly calmed down, the trembling ceasing as she remained in Riku's arms. This was her safe-haven now. It had been for a while now. She gently pressed her lips against his neck when she was more okay than she had been, that being her way of saying thanks. He was very patient with her.