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 kept her face buried in Riku's shoulder, her eyes squeezed shut as she still shook. Even her voice shook when she tired to explain the trembling. "P-p-poison..." she tried to tell Riku. It was a poison that was making her like this--so shaking and so terrified. 

"Shh," Riku shushed quietly into Lightning's ear. He didn't like to hear that poison was involved, but he needed to get Lightning out of here. "We're going home, okay?" Her real home. His home. They needed to get back to their Island where she was safe and she could heal.

Lightning didn't take the hint; Riku didn't understand. He wouldn't understand unless she told him what happened. "F-fear poison..." Cedric gave it to her almost immediately after she arrived here, and she experienced terror since then. She put a great deal of effort into not acting terrified, but the truth was, she was scared every millisecond of the past twelve hours. It was exhausting.

Riku pulled back, his hands resting on Lightning's shoulder and the side of her face as he looked at her. "Light," he called softly. Fear poison was involved? "...It's alright. You don't have to be scared anymore, okay? I'm gonna take you home." He would take care of her. He wouldn't leave her side, like he promised. He wouldn't leave again.

It doesn't work like that, Lightning opened her mouth to say. She couldn't just stop being afraid because there was nothing to fear. He never went through this before. If he had, he'd know it was pointless to say things like that. She hoped he would have an antidote, but he didn't. She was going to be stuck feeling like this forever...She squeezed her eyes shut, starting to cry harder again. 

Riku felt his heart break at the sobs Lightning released, and he wordlessly leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. I'm sorry I can't make this better, he thought to her in silence. He then adjusted his hold, being careful with Lightning's injuries as he lifted her to his chest. He then started out of the blood-covered kitchen, leaving the house and walking out into the warm air of the night. He was getting Lightning back home, where she was safe with him.

Lightning stayed awake for the entire glider-ride back to the main islands. It was over five hours away and she didn't sleep a wink. All she did was squeeze her eyes shut and stay curled in Riku's lap. Every once in a while, she would hiccup a sob and shed a tear, but for Riku's sake, she tried to pretend she was asleep. She had seen him worried before, but never to this extreme for such a long time. 

Riku landed outside his apartment complex, the area around quiet and isolated; it was late and everyone was sleeping. He doubted he and Lightning would get any sleep tonight. He took her upstairs to his apartment, managing to get the door open even with her in his arms. Riku set Lightning on the couch where she left a blanket weeks ago, before she was taken from the Islands. He made sure to be gentle, considering she was still bleeding; her blood covered his arms, which alerted him that he needed to heal her very soon.

Lightning was facing sideways on the couch, so she easily rested the side of her face against the back of the couch. She just kept her eyes shut, trying to focus on anything that would keep the tears away. The potion's effects were beginning to wear off, but she was so weak and so hurt. Her legs still had bullet wounds, her body cuts from the fights with her father, and bruises from where he kicked her. If she didn't know better, she'd say she felt like these injuries were killing her.

Riku knelt down by Lightning in front of the couch, his eyes roaming her body. She had more wounds than he could count. He decided it was best to just heal everything.  He lifted a hand and placed it gently against her arm, closing his eyes as he focused on his strongest healing spell. It would take some of his energy, but it was necessary. Lightning needed to stop bleeding and hurting.

Lightning jumped when Riku touched her, and she swore under her breath at the fear that was totally uncalled for. This was so ridiculous. What potion lasted this long? Earlier she dismayed because she thought it'd last forever, and now she was recalling those thoughts. What if she jumped at every little thing for the rest of her life? What if her father ruined her? 

Riku would have told Lightning to relax, but he was too focused on healing her wounds. Her bruises began to fade, as did her cuts and the bullet wounds in her legs. The pain melted away after a moment, but as Riku pulled back his hand, he knew that the emotional wounds were much deeper than the physical. Lightning would need him for a while now.

Lightning felt the physical pain fade, a comfortable warmth replacing the burning she had felt before. She was sure she was still a complete mess even with her eyes closed. She didn't want to look and see herself or even Riku; she was making him worry over her again because she was so weak. Those types of thoughts made her want to throw up.

Riku looked up at Lightning's face, not knowing what to say. He figured words weren't necessary right now; if Lightning wanted to talk, she would. Until then, he would help clean her up. He rose to his feet and left the room to grab a washcloth, returning a short minute later. He sat down in the small space available next to Lightning and gently grasped her arm, starting to carefully wipe away the dirt and blood. She was tortured for hours... If only Riku had been faster.

Lightning jumped yet again when Riku grabbed her arm, and she instinctively tried to rip it out of his grasp. But as soon as she opened her eyes and looked over at Riku, she realized the mistake she made once more. It's over! Stop jumping at every little thing! Control it! She was so frustrated herself that her eyes moistened again in both fear and sorrow. 

Riku only managed to touch Lightning's arm with the rag before she pulled it slightly from his grasp. When his eyes met hers, he became overwhelmed with worry and sorrow. This wasn't the Lightning he left back in Radiant Garden. For now, she was gone. Riku didn't know this girl, and that scared him a bit. "...Light," he said softly. She could trust him. He would never hurt her.

Lightning nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she held out her arm to Riku. It's not you, she wanted to say. I do trust you, I just... The fear in her head told her every physical touch was meant to cause her pain. She wanted to reassure him that this had nothing to do with him, but only one word escaped her lips. "...Poison..." That should have explained, somewhat. She was still afraid of everything without reason. 

Riku's eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded in silence and started to gently wipe away the dirt on Lightning's arm. He figured that Cedric used the poison from the start, as a way to weaken Lightning. Riku could only hope that it would leave her system soon. While it lingered, Riku feared to be around her. He didn't want to scare her.

Lightning kept her eyes on Riku's every move, figuring that if she saw where he was going, she could prepare herself better for the next cleansing. Naturally he only managed to get some of the dirt off her arm before the rag became ineffective. When he rose to wet the rag once more, she reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Bath...medicine," she requested quietly. Those were two things that she wanted. She would finish cleaning herself up in a bath and she wanted medicine that would knock her out cold. She wasn't going to sleep otherwise. 

Riku looked back at Lightning, his eyes darting from her hand on his wrist to her face. "...I'll go get the water running," he said softly. He had to return the rag to the bathroom anyway. He would get the medicine while Lightning was cleansing herself. But...Riku was afraid to leave her alone. He didn't want her hurting herself.

Light nodded softly, releasing Riku's wrist and watching him go. She figured that she needed to get to the bathroom, which would mean walking... After a minute, she adjusted herself on the couch so her feet were on the floor. And then she stood. And then she collapsed onto her knees. My legs... She couldn't walk. She couldn't even stand. 

Riku busied himself with getting the water running, and while it filled the tub, he returned to the living room. From his position, he couldn't see Lightning on the couch. His eyebrows furrowed as he strode forward, and that was when he saw her on the ground. "Lightning?" he called in worry, kneeling down next to her. He didn't touch her, though; she would jump away from him again.

Lightning looked over at Riku, her eyes expressing frailty. "Legs...I can't..." She swallowed in frustration, angry that she couldn't even form a proper sentence. But you can speak now. Speaking is good. Though Riku was sometimes associated with Darkness, being around him was helping to lift hers. He was her hope. 

Riku nodded slightly in understanding and held out his hand. He didn't want to scare Lightning by touching her suddenly, so he wanted her to accept his offer. He would help her get to the bathroom so she could clean herself up. He would leave her alone for a while afterward, that way she could do it in privacy, but then he would help her get to bed. She needed rest.

Lightning saw Riku's hand and something in her snapped. He wanted to help her walk, but he couldn't. "I can't walk at all!" she cried, finally speaking a full sentence. It had been hours since she was able to say something that long, even if it was just five words. But the truth shone through the words and her eyes. I can't walk. I can't even stand, Riku!