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 smirked slightly, releasing a small "hmph." He gazed at Lightning in silence for a moment, pondering that option. After all he made her suffer through, he wouldn't be surprised if she at least knocked him upside the head a few times. "As tempting for you as that may be..." he started, "I don't really want you to do that."

Lightning cracked a smile. "You have an hour to fall asleep. If you don't, we're doing this my way." Talking like that--so bold and almost harsh...It reminded her so much of the past. Who she used to be, or maybe who she still was. The words may have been cold, but in reality, she was teasing him. Finding amusement and a slice of happiness by conversing with him jokingly. That meant...a lot. 

Riku's smile turned more genuine at the taunting, and he gently nudged Lightning with his shoulder before scooting back on the bed. He laid his head down on the pillow and instantly felt comforted, though fear still lingered. Riku didn't want to have a nightmare, but it was inevitable. He didn't want to sleep, but it was inevitable.

Lightning scooted back, turning her face away from Riku when she used her legs to help herself get into a good position. She finally brought herself up onto the main section of the bed, lying on her back with her head on the pillow. Except for the pain in her legs, she suddenly felt exhausted. It was sad that the pain often kept her awake. She hoped that wouldn't be the case today. 

Riku sighed and closed his eyes, taking in the silence. It started out this way every other time, then the nightmares came. "...Sorry," Riku mumbled lowly, "in advance." He would experience a nightmare and probably wake with a start. He hoped he didn't scare Lightning too badly because of it.

Lightning turned her head on the pillow, looking at Riku with tired eyes of her own. "You might not even wake me up," she assured him quietly. Yeah, he probably didn't wake up gently, but if she was comfortable around Riku when she slept, she predicted her sleep would be deep for once. Losing sleep the past few nights was catching up with her too.

Riku hummed softly in recognition. That would probably be best then, he thought silently, one hand on his chest as his head sank deeper into the pillow. He did enough to Lightning the past few days. No, the past few weeks. He didn't need to trouble her any longer, especially with something like a nightmare he couldn't handle. Riku would force himself to keep calm tonight.

Lightning lifted her head slightly, needing to see where something was for her next action. There was Riku's hand, resting on the mattress. She reached for it and set her hand on it, silently conveying she was here with him. He didn't need to be afraid. "I'll be here when you wake up," she said quietly. 

"I'm not gonna ask you to promise, just in case you're like me," Riku murmured tiredly, already starting to doze off. He was awake enough to realize what he said and the meaning behind it; the last time he said such a thing, to be there when Lightning woke up, he lied. He hadn't been there at all, and he wasn't going to expect that of her when he didn't deserve that loyalty.

Light stared at Riku for a moment, taking in the words. He didn't think that she would hold to her promise. "I told you to trust my words," she said quietly. "Trust what I just said." She would be there when he woke up, and she wasn't going to do otherwise to spite him. She knew how much it hurt to have promises broken, and she wouldn't inflict that pain on Riku. 

Riku wasn't sure how to verbally respond, but he turned his hand over and laced his fingers with Lightning's. Her touch alone had him catching his breath, but touching her like this... It relaxed him. She was here, and he trusted her. Lightning would be there in the morning.

Lightning let the silence fall as she gazed at Riku. He was exhausted and ready to sleep. He finally wasn't so tense after days of suffering...on her account. But she couldn't focus on that. She had even bigger things to worry about, like how to tell Serah that her father had been alive, was absolutely evil and now dead by Lightning's hand. Those thoughts helped her stay awake, along with her urge to see Riku fall asleep.

It didn't take long. Ten minutes later, Riku's hold on Lightning's hand loosened considerably. Sleep was overtaking him, and despite his fears of the oncoming nightmare, he couldn't resist going under. The last thing he heard before falling asleep was Lightning's breathing beside him, and then everything went black.

Lightning stayed awake for a while, consumed by her thoughts of worry and planning. But when they were no longer a sufficient distraction, she finally took in Riku's soft breathing beside her. He wasn't having a nightmare. He was asleep and at peace--Now she could be too. Or at least, she'd try to be. She chased her negative thoughts away and focused on his breathing, falling asleep after lying in bed for a few hours. 

As promised, Riku's nightmare came in full swing. Not even two hours into sleeping did it hit him. Like the others, this nightmare revolved around the video and Lightning's pain. He saw her getting hit again and again and again, while he couldn't reach her. It didn't matter how much he ran, he never moved. Riku grunted in his sleep, a faint representation of the scream he made in his nightmare, of yelling Lightning's name. He still couldn't reach her, and soon it got to the point where all he saw was blood. More and more...and more blood. Riku hollered Lightning's name again in his nightmare when he saw the light in her eyes dim, and that was when it ended. Riku sat up in a rush, a rough gasp leaving him. His short hair stuck to his sweaty skin as he heaved air in and out of his lungs, wide eyes darting around the room. His hand no longer rested in Lightning's, since it was now balled into a tight fist that gripped the bed. 

Edited March 14, 201411 yr by Forever Love

Lightning furrowed her eyebrows when she felt a sudden disturbance, and because she hadn't been asleep that long, she came out of it pretty easily. She tiredly peeked her eyes open, blinking a few times as she tried to figure out where she was and what happened. Soon enough, she spotted Riku sitting upright. Oh, right...nightmare. It obviously just ended. 

Riku looked over to his side, much like he did every other night when experiencing these nightmares, and saw that Lightning was there. Before, she hadn't been, but tonight she was. He felt relief flood his heart as he rested his elbows on his knees and buried his hands in his hair. Thank God.

Lightning slowly sat herself up, willing the sleepiness away. How long had she been out? How long had Riku slept before the nightmare? Had her presence done him any good? She had numerous questions, but she didn't verbalize any of them. Instead, she silently set her hand on his shoulder in comfort. 

Riku tensed slightly at the touch, but he lifted one of his hands to sit on Lightning's. "...Sorry," he muttered. He didn't mean to wake her, but he did apologize in advance. This was why. The nightmares were horrible, too gruesome. If Riku didn't have such a strong stomach, he would have been getting sick.

Even if Riku couldn't see her, Lightning shook her head softly. They hadn't been close lately and she understood that, but despite that, she knew what Riku needed, and she wasn't going to let the recent distance keep her from meeting that need. She slid that hand over his chest and embraced him from behind, her other arm joining in the embrace. She didn't know what to do but hold him...but somehow, that seemed good enough. 

Riku's eyes remained closed, and he exhaled a soft breath at the embrace. Lightning, he thought with adoration, the hand he had on hers moving to sit on her arm. He really did need her. He realized it before, but if he had her with him the last few nights, he wouldn't have been as scared. He was already doing better, even if he still wasn't great. 

Lightning glanced over at the window, able to see a little bit of light shine through a crack she failed to cover. It must have been a full moon to be that bright. She didn't know why she cared about the moon at a time like this, but maybe it was the picture behind it. There was a light shining in the darkness, even after everything.

Riku opened his eyes after a moment and stared down at the arm across his chest. He didn't want to be in this room anymore; he wanted to be outside. "...There's somewhere I'd like to be," he murmured in the darkness, turning his head to look back at Lightning. "...I'd like it if you came with me." He woke her up, and he felt awful about it, but...he needed her. He needed Light.

Light looked at Riku, able to see his eyes in the dark due to the moonlight. He wasn't a complete wreck like she expected him to be. In fact, he seemed to be quite lucid despite his sleep deprivation lately. "Okay," she said quietly, slowly pulling her arms back. "I have nowhere better to be." It was a joke, but she was serious too. She'd go with him.

Riku would have smiled if he wasn't still slightly traumatized by his nightmare. "Don't bother with the chair," he whispered, his eyes lingering on Lightning before he quickly and lightly climbed over her legs, being careful not to touch them as he stood on her side of the bed. Lightning wouldn't need the wheelchair with his newest idea.