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 focused forward again, and after a moment of sitting at the light, the car in front of him moved. He went along with it, making his way toward Serah's neighborhood. It was about time Lightning got to see Serah without all the hassle. Riku would take her and go do his own thing.

After a minute, Lightning realized that she should have been watching to see if anybody followed them. She turned her helmeted head against Riku's back and glanced behind them, seeing traffic but no reporters running along the roads chasing them. None of them had time to jump into cars, did they? Even if they did, Riku pulled out right into traffic. It wouldn't have been easy for them to have been followed. Nearly impossible.

Riku started to leave the city area of the Islands, instead going into the suburbs, where Serah lived. On the way, though, he couldn't help but think of what happened earlier in his apartment. Sora made it perfectly clear that he thought Riku liked Lightning, and Kairi sort of hinted at it as well. Riku avoided that bit of conversation well, but he couldn't forever. How could he, when he had a feeling it was true too?

You're fine, Lightning told herself. She wasn't just referring to paranoia; she was also referring to safety. Riku was reckless and really shouldn't have done what he did, but they were all annoyed with the press and acting desperate. That explained why Sora took the camera and threw it at the wall. It's all because of me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Riku knew that Lightning was beautiful the moment he saw her; that he couldn't exactly miss. But as he got to know her, she blossomed in front of him. It was something he hadn't expected, since they got so close. Emotionally and physically. Holding her on the plane was no mistake; he meant to do that. And carrying her, and having her hold him like this. It did things to him that it shouldn't have, and that hardly happened with other girls. A few dates had been similar, but not nearly as strong as the way he felt around Lightning. But...why her? That was what he couldn't understand. What made her so special?

Lightning made a decision. Once they got off the bike, she would tell Riku that she was going to call Cecil and testify in court to get rid of the press. Of course he wouldn't be happy, but this was all her fault. She was used to carrying her own weight and now that others were bearing the burden with her, she felt like she had less control. She didn't like it.

Riku took another turn before he was on Serah's street, and he cruised silently, letting the wind shift his hair. He was sure Lightning would want to see her sister after something as stressful as that; Serah had a way of calming Lightning down that no one else did. He caught the house up ahead and pulled over to the side of the road, that way Lightning could go ahead and go inside. He would take his leave once she joined her sister.

No, tell him later, Lightning decided, placing a hand on Riku's shoulder as she got off the bike. Serah was her sister, so she had a right to know before Riku what exactly was going through her head. Whether Serah would approve or not, though, was up in the air. She'd probably disapprove like Riku would. "Thanks," she said quietly to Riku for the ride and for, well, everything.

Riku looked over at Lightning and nodded, though he lifted a hand for the helmet she was wearing. He would need that back. It wouldn't exactly conceal his identity when he left, since the press knew his bike by now. But it would at least hide his expression.

Right. Of course. Lightning felt dumb for forgetting the helmet. She had just been grateful to have her face hidden. She lifted her hands to take it off, though she allowed it to take a second so that she could compose herself just a bit. When she handed the helmet to Riku, her expression was blank compared to what it had been before. She wasn't about to let anyone see her frustration and everything else.

Riku took the helmet in silence, leaning up a little to put it over his own head. He put the visor back down and turned to look at Lightning, her form much darker thanks to the tinted helmet. "Call me later," he told her with the smallest nod. He wanted to know if she would be okay.

"Okay," Lightning said with a small nod. She assumed he wanted her to call him so that he could come pick her up later. Walking wasn't really an option with how wild the press was. If they knew about Serah being here and assaulted her, it'd be a big problem.

Riku smiled slightly behind his helmet, even if Lightning couldn't see it. She would be fine with Serah, he was sure of it. He put his hands back on his bike and revved the engine before starting away, taking off down the street.

A little while later, it wasn't Lightning that called Riku, but Serah. Her sister was going to the bathroom while Serah said she'd call Riku. They spent some time together for the afternoon--a few hours. But it wasn't enough for Serah to sway her sister in her course of action. She was going to give into that stupid lawyer. But maybe Riku could talk her out of it. That was what she was hoping for. At least he could delay the action somehow. Maybe.

Riku heard his phone going off in the kitchen, and he left his bedroom to go retrieve it. Upon seeing the caller ID, he became confused; he didn't know the number. "This is Riku," he answered, staring at the counter as he held the phone to his ear. Who was this?

"Hey Riku," the girl greeted. "It's Serah." Riku could probably guess why she was calling--she and Lightning were done spending time together for the afternoon. Serah had homework to do, and Lightning told Serah that she wanted to start searching for a job. Ridiculous, but it fit Lightning's character that she would try to think about that instead of everything else.

"Hey," Riku said in response. "You need me to come get Light?" He assumed that was why Serah was calling, so he got straight to the point. She was still staying with him, after all, given the press they were getting lately. Neither Lightning or he wanted to get his parents in the middle of this.

"Yeah," Serah said, nodding even if Riku couldn't see her. "But...there's also a problem that I need your help with." The girl glanced around to see if Lightning was around yet, but thankfully, she wasn't. She didn't want her sister hearing what she was going to request of Riku, even if it wasn't something drastic. Lightning didn't like it when Serah tried to look out for her; she said it wasn't Serah's responsibility. But she was wrong.

"Alright..." Riku said, slightly confused. He was sure it came through in his voice as well. Serah seemed a bit worried, but he wouldn't look too much into it until he heard exactly what she had to say. He knew not to jump the gun.

Serah looked around one more time, then sighed when she didn't see Lightning. She had to get this out before she showed up. "Lightning's set on giving into that lawyer," she said in a hushed tone. "And I can't talk her out of it. Do you think you could get her mind off everything tonight somehow? Try to stall her as much as you can so she comes to her senses?" This would only work if Lightning made the decision herself, not if Riku or Serah made it for her.

Riku lifted an eyebrow slightly, surprised at this news. "Yeah, sure," he said in response. He could stall, if that was what he had to do. He would try his best, because he didn't want her giving into the lawyer. But why would she? Because of the press?

"Thanks," Serah said, seeing Lightning enter the room out of the corner of her eye. "We'll be watching for you. See you soon." Judging by Lightning's expression, she hadn't heard anything that Serah had told Riku. For once, things were actually working out as planned! She smiled weakly at her sister and got a nod in response. Typical Lightning.

Riku pulled the phone away from his ear and snapped it shut, then shoving it into his pocket. He already had his shoes on, so he approached the chair where he placed his jacket, also grabbing his keys near the door. He opened it wordlessly and stepped out, prepared to face the paparazzi when he left the building. They could swarm him until he got on his bike, but then he was gone.

Since Serah's call ten minutes ago, ​Lightning noticed that Serah was awfully fidgety, but she wasn't about to bring it up. She assumed that it was because Serah disagreed about her choice, not because she already passed on the news to Riku. Lightning had planned on telling him herself. She still would, but she'd take her time with it. Maybe she'd tell him after she already called Cecil. She glanced out the window that she and Serah were sitting by, seeing a motorcycle approach. That was probably him.

Riku stopped his bike on the side of the road like he had when he dropped Lightning off, shutting the motor off as he swung a leg over the seat and rose to his feet. He kept his helmet on as he lifted the seat and grabbed a spare one for Lightning, since he wanted her to be safe. Truth be told, he had always wanted that, from the beginning. There wasn't a moment when he wasn't protective of her.