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!

"Good, you do have a voice," Lightning said as she re-positioned her chair. She wasn't quite graceful with it yet, but she turned to face him. At least she got some reaction out of him just now. She looked up at him from behind furrowed eyebrows. "It's over," she said. "There's nobody hunting us down. Nobody to hurt us. Move forward. Don't fall into Darkness." She told herself that over and over, and now it seemed like Riku needed to hear it too.

Riku simply ground his teeth together, not knowing how else to respond. Didn't Lightning realize how difficult that was? He saw her in passing the last day or so for a reason; he couldn't stand the sight of her in that chair. It made him sick. Couldn't she tell? There may not have been anyone hunting them down for once, but Riku was capable of hurting Lightning. Not that he wanted to, but it seemed to be happening a bit lately. Didn't she realize that?

"If I can move forward, so can you," Lightning said, seeing that she wasn't getting anywhere with Riku today. She pivoted her chair again, starting to roll forward. She didn't have her two legs anymore--at least not for now. She started to overcome the trauma but the pain was worse than ever. But the pain in her heart was lifting not because of the situation changing, but because of a new perspective. 

It's not that simple, Riku thought, watching Lightning continue down the hall. I can barely look at you these days... If she knew that, what would she say? Would she tell him to suck it up just like now? Or would she be offended? ...Was she even dating him anymore?

Lightning felt her frustration grow as she heard only her wheels squeaking. Riku wasn't following. He really was down, not that she doubted it. But how did she reach him? ...How do I force him to be close when he doesn't want to be? How do I make him move forward? She didn't have the answers. 

I'm sorry. Riku lowered his eyes from Lightning. He couldn't stand to watch her wheel herself away. Just the thought that she could be permanently paralyzed because he was stupid enough to let her leave had his eyes overflowing with moisture. A tear fell from his eye and trailed down his cheek, but Riku was quick to lift his arm and wipe it away.

Lightning was near the end of the hall--about to turn a corner when something rammed into the side of her wheel-chair. It toppled onto her side and she fell out of it, her legs screeching in pain when she landed on her side. They hurt even when she just touched them now. She looked up and saw one of the animated brooms dip its top in apology before running away, surely comprehending that it couldn't help her back up. Terrific. This'll be painful...

Riku looked up at the sound of something crashing, only to see that it was Lightning falling to the floor. He blinked, ignoring the moisture in his eyes as he willingly approached her. He put her chair right-side up again and moved to take hold of her arm. As much as he hated seeing her in the chair, he wasn't going to leave her on the floor.

Lightning reached up and grasped Riku's arm before he could pick her up as he was surely intending to do. "Wait," she said as she stopped him and looked to his eyes. She saw the moisture lingering, but she ignored it. "I need to do it." This was nothing against him, but she needed to pick herself up, just like she needed to pick herself back up after all the tragedy and hurt.

Riku held eye contact, but only for a moment. He nodded faintly and lowered his eyes to the floor, taking a step back and out of Lightning's grasp. He would let her do this herself then. She didn't really need him anymore, which was good. He remember how much trouble she got into in the past, before Xehanort. Riku was always saving her, but now she was saving herself.

Lightning grasped an arm of the chair, propping herself up more. Every single movement that she made hurt terribly, and she couldn't mask that pain entirely. But to distract both herself and Riku from that, she spoke as she began to pull herself back into the chair. "It's not...the most graceful way...to do things," she grunted in pain, momentarily pausing when she was over halfway up. "But I can do it." She pulled herself up the last bit, turning her head to meet Riku's eyes once she was seated. "I can get back up despite the pain." And she was talking about more than just the pain in her legs. 

Riku met Lightning's eyes, intelligent enough to catch what she was implying. "...Good," he replied lowly, nodding slightly. He was glad that she was getting stronger. Maybe he needed to stay away more often. She relied more on herself that way. Lightning always had Riku's eye, but she did most when she was strong. Her strength was inspiring, and attractive.

"Your turn," Lightning said with furrowed eyebrows. "Are you going to let this paralyze you?" She wasn't going to let it stop her from moving forward. She had a lot to work through--that much was obvious by the lingering of her pain. But she took the first step (or rather, first crawl into the chair to move forward). Riku could walk forward if he wanted to.

Riku gazed at Lightning for a moment, glad that she was at least looking at him these days. Before, it seemed like she couldn't even do that. Was he that pathetic? He glanced away. "...I'll let you know," he said softly, gazing at Lightning again. He had to figure things out first.

"Good," Lightning nodded. "You haven't given up yet. That's all I wanted to hear." He didn't have to be good and perfect and handling this well. She just wanted to know that he wasn't condemning himself to Darkness for whatever reason. Whatever was going on...she wasn't sure she had the right to ask him about it. 

Riku gazed at Lightning for a moment, grinding his teeth together and jaw flexing when he found himself wanting to touch her. To tuck her hair behind her ear or to trail his fingertips over her cheek. But what was the point? Lately she didn't trust him, didn't want his promises, and didn't want his apologies. Maybe she didn't want him at all. In order to make that separation easier, Riku would keep his distance. With that in mind, he gazed through the moisture in his eyes another moment before turning and starting down the hall, running a hand through his hair. Riku would wallow in his misery on his own. Lightning wasn't welcome to join him, and neither were Sora and Kairi. They had their own problems to deal with.

Lightning blinked when the moisture in Riku's eyes intensified. This was so unlike him that it unnerved her. "Running away isn't your style," she called after him, starting to move as well. Whatever was going on, she wished he would talk to her, or Sora, or Kairi, or anybody. He looked like he was going to explode.

Riku closed his eyes, releasing a heavy breath through his nose. He was already on edge. Lightning's jabs weren't going to do either of them any good. "I'm not running away," he called lowly over his shoulder, barely speaking at all. Riku never ran away; he just took some time to himself first. There was a difference.

"Then what are you doing now?" Lightning challenged. "You won't talk to me. You won't even look at me. Do I disgust you that much, Riku?!" She was startled by the emotion that appeared behind the last question, but she didn't let it stop her from following him. She thought she disgusted him because she was so weak. Because she always needed saving. 

"No," Riku replied instantly, still walking ahead of Lightning. Lightning would never disgust him. She was beautiful, and strong, and talented, and graceful, and...so many other things. Not even a wheelchair could change that. Lightning was Lightning, and that was all she needed to be. Riku was fond of her, more than she knew.

Edited March 4, 201411 yr by Forever Love

"No," Lightning repeated sarcastically. "If you really feel that way, say it to my face!" He still wasn't looking at her even now. She may have been provoking him purposely, but she needed to do something to get him to open up to her. Keeping it all inside wasn't healthy. 

Riku shook his head. "That's not going to work," he said. He wasn't going to fall for that trick. He wasn't going to say anything to her face, because then she would see the look in his eyes. His eyes were the gateway to his soul; they could never lie. Riku didn't want anyone seeing the state of his soul. It wasn't great.

Lightning stopped chasing after Riku. She took her hands away from the wheels and sat still. "Fine, Riku," she said quietly. "I wouldn't want to look at me either. Someone so weak..." She tsked, frowning at herself as she glared down at her lap. She was starting to feel stronger, but the weakness that she felt lately still haunted her. She still had weakness in her.

Riku groaned in disgust at the words, turning around and glaring at Lightning through his eyes. "Cut it out," he snapped, furious. He was exhausted, sad, angry, and guilt-ridden. He couldn't take her putting herself down; it would make him reach his breaking point. He was almost there anyway. 

"Why?" Lightning retorted. "Because I'm right?" She briefly looked up at him, seeing the anger in his eyes. She wasn't even sure what she was saying--she hadn't thought this through before, but the words that poured out of her lips were still true. "I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't strong and now your world hates you along with me. I was weak..." She truly did feel guilty, and since he was avoiding her, she figured he regretted saving her. He wouldn't be the first person to toss her to the side because of her weakness.