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!

By the time Riku made it to the first floor, he let out a groan in frustration at what he saw. Paparazzi, outside the apartment building...this late at night. He zipped up his jacket, leaving only a small amount of his bare chest exposed as he approached the doors. The press would see him looking awful, in sweats and only a jacket, not that his expression would help much. As soon as they saw him coming, the doors sliding open, the cameras went off, as did the uproar.

After what felt like a while, Lightning forced herself to stop crying. She was more sad than she was angry. She let somebody in for the first time in years and he betrayed her. She glanced toward her window and saw flashes for some reason. Thunder storm? She dragged herself over to it and looked outside, not to the sky, but to the ground. Paparazzi. Obviously they saw Riku. She stared out the window, conflicted with feeling glad because he deserved it or sorrowful for the same reason.

"Mr. Cole! Mr. Cole, how do you feel about the news of your scandal? Is Miss Farron disappointed?"

 

"Is your relationship over so soon?"

 

Riku furrowed his eyebrows at the questions, glancing up at the cameras in front of him as he walked. "You know, you guys do more harm than good," he growled. He lifted a hand to the lens of one of the cameras, not in the mood for his picture to be taken. "Excuse me." He continued walking, nudging his way through the press so he could get some breathing room. He needed to get away.

Lightning watched Riku break his way through the crowd, not bothering to intervene. She was floors above him anyway; there was nothing she could have done. When he was out of her sight, she shut the curtains and returned to bed. She had absolutely no idea what to do now, with anything.

Riku wasn't away for long. He couldn't even get to his favorite spot--the island--due to the fact that paparazzi were on his tail the entire time. He was sure they got multiple pictures of his broken expression, his bum-like attire, and recorded some of his comments. But it only made his mood worse. By one in the morning, only forty-five minutes after he took off, he returned to his apartment. He had to nudge his way through the paparazzi to get to the lobby, and once he was on his floor, he entered his apartment. He shut the door behind him and saw that Lightning clearly hadn't left her room. Everything was as he left it--the living room light still on, his laptop still open, and the place quiet.

Lightning may have been wound up with the news, but the depression dragged her body down to the bed and wouldn't let her move. She never expected a betrayal like this. With her face buried in her pillow and no blankets pulled up, she stayed in a half-sleep limbo. She couldn't fall asleep, but she had no will to stay awake in this reality either. It was always too harsh to her.

Riku took off his jacket and shoes before shutting the light in the living room off, leaving the apartment in total darkness. He maneuvered through it easily, but he didn't go to his room. He stopped in front of Lightning's door and tried to silently turn the knob, though all he was met with was resistance. Lightning locked the door, not that he was surprised.

Light thought she heard something; she was on guard just because of everything that happened. But the sound didn't give her enough motivation to move, if there even was a sound. She could have just imagined it. She remained where she was, wallowing sadness. She just wanted to be alone.

Riku knew that he needed to see her. He couldn't go to bed without at least saying he was sorry, even if Lightning was asleep. He stepped back and summoned his Keyblade, using it for the first time in what felt like ages. The comfortable grip of the hilt eased him for a moment, but then he lifted his blade, pointing it at the lock on the door. A small beam of light shot out, briefly illuminating the hall, before he heard a faint click. Sending the weapon away, its purpose done, Riku slowly opened the door and stepped in, peering through the darkness to see the person he thought about constantly. Lightning.

Lightning couldn't deny the noise this time. Nor the sound of the opening door. She rolled onto her side sluggishly and faced the door, opening her tired eyes to see the person who opened it. Riku, of course. He probably used his Keyblade to unlock it. If that wasn't abusing its power, she didn't know what was. Nevertheless, her tired blue eyes just lingered on him, dry of tears but full of emotion.

Riku kept his hand on the door, his eyes locking onto the blue that made his heart squeeze. He couldn't believe he hurt her so badly, and that she was so broken. He always thought she was so strong, but harm from him--intentional or not--broke her. It hurt, to see that.

Lightning looked away from Riku's eyes as she sat up on the bed. If he came in here just to stare at her, then he could leave now. Better yet, she'd make him leave. She set her feet on the ground and looked down at them instead of looking at Riku, her eyebrows beginning to furrow defensively. She'd never let her guard down with him again.

"...I wanted to apologize," Riku began softly, his eyes resting on the girl before him. She looked miserable, and that made him feel worse. That was probably the point, anyway; fate was cruel for certain reasons. "But...if you don't want to hear it, I'll let you sleep." He would understand.

Lightning mouthed the words "get out" as she stared at her lap, but she couldn't find her voice so the words didn't reach Riku. She wordlessly picked herself up off the bed and walked a few steps to the door. She stared at Riku with guarded eyes as she set a hand on the door and began to push it towards him to shut him out again. He didn't belong here.

Riku's eyebrows furrowed at the movement, but he didn't fight it. He wordlessly stepped out of the room and started down the hall before the door closed, toward his room. Lightning didn't want to see him, and he didn't blame her. He guessed this was his punishment, or at least a form of it.

Lightning shut and locked the door. That took care of the problem for now. Once it was done, she returned to her previous position and stared at the door. If Riku came back tonight, he really would be target practice. He knew what he did was wrong. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come in to apologize. He really did kiss Ashe. He really did betray her.

Riku reached his room and shut his own door in silence, walking over to his bed and collapsing on it. You idiot, he scolded himself, folding his arms under his pillow. Look what you did. Everything you both worked for is destroyed. Lightning would be harrassed now, because of him, and she wouldn't let him near her to protect her. Humiliation, shame, and guilt were his punishments.

The next morning, Lightning crawled out of bed around nine o'clock. She had been restless all night and finally forced herself out of bed. She showered, dressed in her usual outfit rather than the ones she wore to impress the media, and then headed to the kitchen to get breakfast. She knew that Riku was still around; she heard his shower running when she got done with hers. She hoped he was just as miserable as she was.

Riku hopped out of the shower and dressed in jeans, shirtless for the time being. He wasn't concerned with looking decent; it was his home, so he would do as he pleased. But then again, it was Lightning's too. He hadn't stopped thinking about her since he woke up, managing to get a few hours of sleep to get through the day. He ran the towel over his hair without care, getting the excess water off before he tossed the towel in the hamper. His teeth brushed and hygiene up to par, he left his room. He made sure to be quiet, in case Lightning was still sleeping. He didn't want to bother her.

What are you talking about? You don't want him miserable. You know he's a good guy... Lightning shook her head at the thought. Good guys wouldn't say they were into you and then kiss another girl. She got herself cereal and began to eat it at the table, cell phone by the bowl's side. Of course as she turned it on, she saw that Serah tried to call several times. She'd try to see her sometime today. Maybe. Depending on how presentable she was.

Riku made his way through the apartment, but he stopped in the living room when he saw the laptop was still open. The picture was still up, and he gazed at it in silence. The person who caught the picture was only sitting a few tables away, and it was obvious that it was Riku kissing Ashe. Riku frowned, disappointed in himself and disgusted with the lowlife who thought it fortunate to snap the picture. He closed the window and shut the laptop down before he made his way to the kitchen. That was when he realized he wasn't alone. Of course, Riku acted as if Lightning wasn't there, aware that she would try to do the same. It was easier that way.

Lightning didn't even bother looking up at Riku, glad that her hair was messier because she just got done with a shower and didn't brush it thoroughly. She put another spoonful of cereal in her mouth, though she had a hard time swallowing it. She'd need the energy though, since she was going to go into town to get job applications today. Maybe go to the gym. She knew she had free access to it.

Riku opened the cupboard and grabbed a toaster pastry before moving to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. Once that was done, he left the room. He needed to work today, though he was sure his boss wouldn't be happy with the news being spread about him. There would be no mercy today.

When Lightning was done with breakfast, she put on her old coat and headed downstairs. Of course she tried going out the back, but the press was there. The questions were thrown at her mercilessly, but she didn't answer as she tried to slip past them. They didn't budge. Come on, people, she thought in frustration. It was time somebody showed mercy, for once.

Riku put on a dark t-shirt and slipped on his shoes before he decided it was time he left. He needed to stop by the gym anyway, and open it for the recruits to use if need be. He grabbed his jacket and put it on, locking the apartment behind him. He started to eat his pastry on the way down, twirling the water bottle in his hand as he made his way downstairs. It would be an ugly day, but he had to deal. He caused this.