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!

Celes nearly laughed at her son, not feeling guilty. Serah was laughing behind her, and Lightning actually smiling. If it took a little embarrassment, then she was willing to put her son through some suffering to get the girls happy again. She turned her head to the two. "I have so many home-videos of Riku from when he was young," she said. "I'd love to show them to you girls. Along with the baby pictures."

Riku's eyes narrowed as he walked. "I'm burning those the second we get home," he grumbled. There was no way anyone was getting a hold of those. Especially Lightning or Serah. They would tease him to know end about it.

"I'll just have to beat you to them, then," Celes said as they all started walking again. "The girls and I will have plenty of time to watch them if they're going to live with us." She glanced over at the two, dropping the bomb just then. Both of their expressions were stunned, and understandably so. She had instructed Locke not to tell them about it yet; she wanted to do that.

Locke saw that his son glanced over at him at the news, and he nodded silently in confirmation. Lightning and Serah would be living with them now, since they were adopting them. Riku seemed just as stunned as the girls, and Locke expected it. Previously, Lightning hadn't been on their good list. But he was sure things were going to change.

Celes smiled kindly at Riku and the two girls. "We've made a lot of mistakes," she said. "One of them was starting off so terribly. And another was allowing you to get separated. I've been working on papers for the past week so that Locke and I can take you two in. Not adopt you--Because I know that we can never replace your parents. We just want to be your legal guardians for the next year."

 

"For the next year," Lightning repeated, seeing where this was going. Within the next year, she would be turning eighteen. Then...

 

"When you're eighteen, Lightning, I assume you'll want to have your own home again," Celes filled in. "And you'll be able to be Serah's legal guardian. Until then, we'd like to take you under our wing and keep you together."

Riku reached the car, and he stopped to wait for his mother to pop the trunk. His eyes fell on the girls, wondering what they were thinking. His parents were taking them in when they didn't have to, and he was starting to see that his parents took his feelings into account. He cared for these girls, and now they would too.

When they reached the car, the news sunk in to Serah. She and Lightning would be together again, in a good home! And Lightning finally wouldn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Thank you!" she cried. She hugged Celes by the car, feeling the mother's arms go around her as well. Thank you so much!

 

"You're welcome," Celes laughed warmly, returning Serah's embrace in a way that only a mother could. There was one more detail that she had yet to mention, though. "There's one minor detail that needs to be taken care of. Locke and I aren't approved to be your legal guardians yet. That may take about a week. So Serah, you'll need to stay with your current family until we can take you. And Lightning--" She lifted her gaze to the girl. "I've filled out temporary paperwork that allows you to live with a close friend. You can stay with him until we've sorted this out."

Edited July 16, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku lifted an eyebrow, confused. Him? He saw that his father had the extra set of keys and popped the trunk, and Riku lifted one of Lightning's suitcases into it in silence. Who was Celes even talking about? The only close friend that was a guy was...Riku.

"I hope that's all right with you, Riku," Celes said to her son, knowing he'd figure it out in a few seconds. He was the close friend that Lightning was going to stay with. He was an adult, so she could legally stay with him. The fact that they had been friends for a few months and knew each other sealed the deal when Celes talked to the judge to arrange this. Riku was the only person who could take her in.

Riku glanced over at Lightning in slight surprise, not expecting this. How did his mother arrange that? And better yet, how could she have been on the same mindset as him? If no one was going to take Lightning in, he would have had her stay with him. "Yeah," he said with a small nod, looking back to his mother. "Sure."

"Good then," Celes smiled. "We'll take you and Lightning home, and then drop off Serah at her temporary home. I'm sure her guardians are worried about her." It was late evening now, with the flights that took a few hours and the time change from Bodhum to here. They jumped forward. Of course Celes let them know what was going on, but still, they probably wanted Serah home. Serah wasn't their daughter, but they treated her as such.

Edited July 16, 201213 yr by Peanut

Riku nodded again, though he wasn't sure exactly how Lightning felt about this. Either way, she was with him for tonight at least. He finished putting Lightning's bags into the trunk and got in the car with his parents and the girls, his father driving them toward Riku's apartment. It seemed that he wouldn't be living alone for the next week.

As promised, Lightning and Riku separated from the rest at his apartment. His parents were in a rush to get Serah back, so she and Riku were the ones taking up the suitcases. That was alright with her; she could carry the weight. Especially since they took an elevator. She finished dragging her bag in and set it beside the couch, looking around the familiar apartment. This felt more like home then Zane's, that was for sure.

Riku shut the door behind him in silence, holding Lightning's suitcase and setting it next to the one she put near the couch. "Guest bedroom's down the hall, first door on the left," he revealed, looking down at her. "Make yourself at home." She knew where everything was since she was here for Thanksgiving; she'd just be staying longer.

Lightning looked down the hallway towards the room, but then she looked back at Riku. "I don't know how to make myself at home," she said a bit sheepishly. "All I ever did in my home was pay bills, talk to Serah, and sleep." She also did homework and ate every now and then, but those weren't as time consuming as the others. She had a feeling she'd probably be the most unusual guest that Riku ever had staying in his house, if he even had somebody here before her.

Riku smirked a little. "Well, I guess that'll have to change," he said, looking at Lightning for one more moment before making his way toward the kitchen. It was dinner time in his book, so he would make dinner for two tonight. She would just have to relax. She wouldn't be paying bills this time around.

"Guess so," Lightning agreed, watching Riku walk away. She lifted a hand and scratched her head. Her hair wasn't exactly clean; it felt dirty to her. She'd take a shower. That would be her first step in making this her home--even if it was just a temporary home. She grabbed one of her suitcases and headed back to her room so that she could get cleaned up and maybe feel better.

Riku let the silence sink in as he started getting out food to cook for himself and his new guest. He was curious as to what she thought of this living situation. It wouldn't be too awkward after the whole thing on the plane, would it? Riku didn't do awkward, so he certainly hoped not. He would try to help Lightning get comfortable, but it ultimately depended on her.

Lightning took a warm shower, and took her time with it. Back at Zane's house, she was always afraid of people walking in, so she was quick. Always afraid. That defined how she was there. She shivered even after she put on black sweatpants and a long-sleeved purple shirt. It was early December now, so the long sleeves weren't unusual, but if Riku was smart, he'd figure out the sleeves were hiding something. A few bruises. The girl combed her hair and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Who was she anymore? She wasn't the girl she had been four months ago.

Riku's trained ears picked up on the shower turning off, and he knew that Lightning was done. It was good timing too, since she would be just in time for dinner. He made some pizza. It wasn't much, but it was a start. It was getting late anyway; he imagined Lightning was ready to conk out.

You're different, Lightning told herself. But a good different. I think. She turned and headed out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and then down the hall to the kitchen. She thought that she smelled pizza, or something of the sort. Was she hungry? Her stomach tightened at the smell of food. Yeah, she was hungry. She hardly ate the past week. She didn't have an appetite, or much food available to her.

Riku heard Lightning's footsteps from where he stood, his back to the area where Lightning would enter. "Just in time," he called. "Dinner's ready." He was cutting the pizza now, and he hoped it sufficed. It wasn't like he was trying to impress Lightning or anything. But if he was, his apartment could have been a good start; it was pretty nice for someone his age.

Lightning stood in the doorway, gazing at Riku from behind. "Thanks," she said quietly, though she wasn't necessarily thanking him for the pizza. She was thanking him for so many things. For the kindness that he always showed her, and for his commitment to her. He never gave up on her, even when she was hard to deal with. Why? Why didn't he abandon her and find better uses for his time?

Riku grunted softly in response, cutting the remainder of the pizza before he reached up into a cabinet and got two plates. He turned, holding one out for Lightning, even if she stood on the other side of the room. But that was when he saw her expression. His eyebrows furrowed as he slowly lowered the plate. "...You okay?"

"As okay as I can be right now," Lightning said, glancing at the pizza. She wasn't sure what Riku was expecting, but Lightning felt really off balance after ten days of staying in Zane's house. Fear wasn't something that she normally experienced. Yet every moment of every day at Zane's, she lived in it. And now she was free of it. Needless to say, she was overwhelmed by the relief of not being afraid anymore.

Edited July 16, 201213 yr by Peanut