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!

Serah took a small step back so that she was right beside Riku, feeling safer that way. She had actually been really, really scared talking to Zane just now, but she had done it. Lightning taught her a lot, and bravery was one of those things. Bravery isn't the absence of fear, Lightning always said. It's being afraid and pressing on anyway. But now, with this question Riku asked, Serah was really scared. Did Zane hurt Lightning?

Riku watched as Zane shook his head, and because the kid looked him directly in the eye, he believed him. Zane hadn't touched her. "...He's telling the truth," he told Serah gently. Lightning was safe, but where was she? Zane didn't have any idea, and Riku didn't either. But what about Serah?

Serah breathed a sigh of relief, glancing down at the ground. Thank goodness. But that still didn't solve anything. Where was Lightning? Think Serah. We used to live here. Where would Lightning go to get away..? Suddenly, it clicked. "Come on, Riku," she said, turning and starting back the way that they came. She knew where Lightning was.

Riku looked to Serah, but before he turned around to follow her, he looked back to Zane. The guy was going to be in an orphanage himself now, since his parents were now in jail. Hopefully that dose of karma would teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget. Riku tore his eyes from Zane and left him in the alleyway, following Serah's lead.

Serah put her hands into her coat pockets to hide their trembling. That had been really terrifying, standing there and knowing that Zane could reach out and put his hands around her throat at any second. Moisture gathered in her eyes, not only because of her own fear, but because of what Lightning must have experienced the past ten days. She must have been afraid all the time. Serah couldn't imagine it.

Riku could easily read Serah's posture as he walked beside her now, and he lifted a hand to rest on her shoulder as they walked, looking down at her. "Hey," he called softly. "You were really brave back there." Lightning would be proud whenever she found out about it, he was sure. He was proud of her, at least. She did a big thing, standing up to a bully like that.

Serah smiled weakly up at Riku, nodding. "Lightning's a good sister," she said, knowing that he'd understand and agree. Lightning taught her how to be street-smart like that, and how to outwit an enemy before it came to violence. If Zane took a swing at her, she probably could have avoided it, but that would have been it. She didn't have physical strength like Lightning did.

Riku smiled slightly as well, looking forward as he silently agreed. Serah was right. Lightning was a good sister; clearly she taught Serah a few things about confrontation. He should have expected as much, but he was still surprised by Serah's bravery. She was such a gentle person, so at first he assumed she wouldn't have the guts to do something like that. But he was wrong.

About ten minutes away from where Riku and Serah met Zane, Lightning knelt in front of the grave of her father. She had come here to stay away from the house, and from Zane. If he came here looking for her, she'd pound him into the ground. I know what you'd tell me, she thought to her dad. To always fight back. Never show fear. But I don't know how to fight this one. Lightning heard footsteps in another part of the cemetry, so she knew this conversation was over. She heard a voice cry her name, a female one. What? she thought automatically, rising to her feet and seeing somebody sprinting towards her. Closer than she expected. Just as she was fully standing and balanced, Serah Farron crashed into her and wrapped her arms around her tightly. "Lightning!" her sister cried. She was too shocked to respond. Serah?

Riku was further back, obviously, since Serah broke into a run as soon as they reached the cemetery. He walked calmly past the gravestones, not liking to be in a place filled with so much death. Regardless, he realized what was important, and that was the fact that Lightning was here. He saw the two sisters embracing up ahead, and he smiled slightly at the sight. About time something went right.

Edited July 15, 201213 yr by Forever Love

"It's so good to see you!" Serah quickly said, still embracing Lightning and feeling a hand on her back. "Are you alright?"

 

"Y-yeah, I'm--"

 

"Do you know how worried I was about you?!" Serah cried. "You weren't even fighting back!" She pulled back and smacked her sister's arm, earning a wince from her. "How dare you throw yourself away like that, Claire!"

 

Lightning winced again at the name, though her arm was also throbbing because of a bruise that was there. Serah knew better than to call her by her birth name. But if Serah was using that name now, then she really, really meant business. After a few moments, Serah seemed sorry about the name. She hugged Lightning again, and this time, Lightning hugged her back. She put her cheek on top of her sister's head and shut her eyes, just holding her. She never wanted to let go. Little did she know, she'd never need to.

Riku lifted an eyebrow slightly at the random name, but he realized that it sounded so natural leaving Serah's lips. Claire, he said over again in his head, stopping not too far away, but giving the sisters their privacy. It fits.

Serah pulled back from the embrace first, looking up into Lightning's eyes when her sister was also standing as she was before. "Come on," she said. "We're going home."

 

"What?" Lightning asked dumbly. Not only did Serah say that the two of them would be going home, but she said that they'd do it together. Serah had her own family now, and Lightning had hers. What was Serah thinking here?

 

"Zane's parents were arrested this afternoon, thanks to Riku's dad," Serah explained, glancing over at Riku. "Now that your foster family has no parents, you can come back with me! At least for now. You'll never have to go back to them again, ever."

 

Lightning couldn't explain the relief that flooded her veins. She wouldn't have to go back to that family again? She'd never have to relive that experience? She was...glad. Very glad. She nodded faintly to Serah, who smiled and grabbed her hand before leading her in Riku's direction. That was when she really noticed him for the first time. Riku. Such a sight for sore eyes.

Edited July 15, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku saw that the girls were coming over, and he met Lightning's--Claire's--eyes. His small smile still lingered on his lips as he nodded to her. Good to see you, he silently told her. It had been a while, but at least she was safe. And would continue to be that way.

Serah thought she saw a small smile tug at Lightning's lips, and she nearly rolled her eyes at the romantic tension between Lightning and Riku. You two are hopeless. She knew they'd want to hug; they were close friends. Yet they wouldn't do it. There was one thing Serah could help with though. She grabbed one of Riku's hands and then put Lightning's hand in his. She released them and stepped over to Lightning's other side so that Lightning could continue holding Riku's hand. You're welcome.

Riku blinked at Serah's initiation, not expecting it in the slightest. His smile disappeared for a second out of the shock, and he glanced over at her as he continued to hold Lightning's hand. Even if Serah did start this, he didn't really want to end it. Man, if Sora saw this... He would get a kick out of it. Riku's lips lifted into a smirk as he composed himself, acting like calm and collected Riku again. His eyes flitted from Serah to Lightning and then back again. "Sneaky kid," he noted to the oldest sibling. Serah knew how to create some situations.

Serah glanced over at Riku, smirking and looking very much like Lightning with that crooked smile. She wasn't sure if the words were directed at her or Lightning, but her sister looked like she was at a loss for words, so Serah decided to respond for her. "Told you I was Lightning's sister," she said. Serah was gentle and loving (and so was Lightning, not that many knew it), but Serah shared some traits that Lightning flaunted. The bravery, the wits, and the sneakiness.

Riku knew that Serah did this for a reason, obviously. And that reason was pretty evident. His eyes left Serah and found Lightning, somebody he found himself missing the past ten days. He closed the distance between them, bringing her hand around to rest on his side as his arms wrapped around her. "...It's good to see you, Light," Riku told her, his voice gentle as his smirk disappeared, the young man serious now. He had missed her.

Lightning was surprised, not only that Riku initiated a hug as something other than a means of comfort and that he actually admitted to missing her. But she couldn't deny that his words were really sweet. She wrapped her other arm around him and returned the hug, fighting the urge to lean her head against his shoulder. Was that too intimate? She did it before, but those were on different occasions. "It's good to see you too," she said quietly, glancing up at him from beneath her bangs. Really, really good to see you.

Edited July 15, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku held the embrace for a long moment before he leaned back, one hand lingering on Lightning's shoulder. "You okay?" he asked her. Zane said he didn't hurt her, and he believed him, but that wasn't to say nobody else did. She seemed like she was alright, though, so hopefully nothing too bad happened.

Once she withdrew from the embrace, Lightning subtly glanced out of the corner of her eye at Serah, who was surely listening in. "I'm alright," she said. That was going to be her answer for now. She could go into detail about what happened for the past ten days, but she didn't want to do it in front of Serah. She'd pick and choose what to tell her, but with Riku, he'd probably hear most of it. He could handle it.

Riku nodded slightly, though he thought he caught something more behind Lightning's gaze. Regardless, he released her, his hand falling to his side as he turned his attention to Serah. "We should get back to my dad," he insisted. "We can sort things out with the police and get you two back home." His eyes found Lightning again, since she would be returning to the Islands with them this time.

"Your dad," Lightning repeated, eyes showing confusion. What did Riku's dad have to do with this? Then she remembered that less than five minutes ago, Serah said that Zane's parents were arrested because of him. "What exactly did I miss in the past ten days?" Riku's dad had hated her before, and now he was off arresting her new foster parents? She was confused.

Riku tucked his hands into his pockets, smiling slightly at Lightning's obvious confusion. He jerked his head for her and Serah to follow him as he turned, starting out of the cemetery. He would explain as they walked. Lightning deserved to know what was going on.

Lightning caught up to Riku, and Serah caught up to her in return. With Lightning in the middle, Serah reached for her sister's hand and kept a hold of it. Of course that made Lightning soften. She often had to remind herself that Serah was only fourteen. She was mature beyond her years. But an experience like they had was scary. Even for Lightning. She gripped her sister's hand lightly in return, but not just for Serah's sake. It was for her own too.