Forever Love

"I'm gonna poke you if you keep wiggling," Kairi sang, smiling to herself as she pinned fabric she needed to tailor to fit Sora snug. She moved around from his back to his front, working on the shoulders. In order to get his measurements on the jacket, it hadn't been too hard. The pants, however, were another story.

Lightning shook her head. She backed out of Riku's hold, but only for a moment; she scooted back on her bed to lean against the wall, though she reached for Riku's hand. She gave it a light tug for him to scoot back next to her, that way they were more comfortable while they watched the movie. Yes, she was exhaused--not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well--but she had a feeling she would probably fall asleep on Riku's shoulder. His warmth, and overall presence, comforted her beyond comprehension.

Light chuckled softly, unable to help it. She wasn't much of a "drama" or "rom com" type, so she pointed on the screen to a title. "That one," she said. It was a comedy with some action mixed in; nothing dark or serious.

Light smirked but didn't comment on Riku's behavior. "On the desk," she motioned with her free hand. Her laptop was there. He could pull up whatever show he wanted. As long as it distracted her, and Riku stayed, Lightning would be fine for a while.

Light was suddenly short of breath. She swallowed air so her brain could process what exactly Riku said. His kiss on her cheek--which hadn't been amateur or chaste, it had instead been gentle and confident--and now his forehead against hers... She moved her face just a little and her nose brushed his. Her face suddenly felt hot. Earlier that night, when she asked him to distract her at the festival, she thought of him kissing her. He did, but...if either of them moved just a little, there would be actual contact. Light wanted it, but at the same time she didn't want Riku to do it just because he felt sorry for her and what happened tonight. She would never want a pity kiss. "Sure," she whispered due to their closeness, though her heart raced. Light was right--Riku was different. And in the best possible way.

"Hm," Light hummed with a crooked smile. She wrapped her fingers around Riku's and nodded. Right. As long as she wanted him to stay... She wasn't sure how long exactly that would be. A part of her did fear Chase finding her room, but that wasn't why she wanted Riku to stay. She wanted him to stay because...she liked him. More than she probably should have, but....how couldn't she? He was genuine and kind, and he defended her when she couldn't do it herself--and in most circumstances she definitely could, which meant he was smart enough to keep his distance if the time called for it. His level of understanding blew her mind. You're definitely something, Riku.

Light hummed softly and nodded. Right, Sora and Kairi. Of course. They seemed like the type to never give up, but then again, Sora didn't look like he had much faith in his relationship with Kairi. But that was a thought for another day. Lightning looked at Riku's hand on his lap. Was he going to tell them about tonight? Were they going to tell anyone? Or would it just be their secret? "Speaking of," she spoke quietly, "how long do I get to keep you?" She imagined his friends wondered where he was.

Light released her grip on Riku's shirt. "...I'm guessing you didn't do that," she said softly, considering how close they were to each other. He initiated the closeness, and she didn't object. It was...nice, to have someone she could lean on when she needed. Another way Riku was special.

"How?" Light asked. How could Riku relate to what she went through? Did he have siblings or something that he sacrificed a lot of his time for? Did he take care of family too? Whatever it was, it gifted him with wisdom; he had a good head on his shoulders.

"For the most part. We lived with an aunt growing up," Lightning explained. "Once I was eighteen, I enrolled here to try and get a position in the military. It's risky, but the pay is at least stable enough to keep Serah in school once I'm done." She didn't have too many years left, but Serah was going to be a teacher. The amount of schooling for that surpassed Lightning's. She pulled back from Riku's embrace slightly to meet his gaze. "Don't...tell anyone, okay? I don't like people to know." She didn't want pity or charity. Lightning just wanted to take care of everything herself. Her pride wouldn't allow her to rely on others. And yet...here she was, with Riku...doing just that.

Light furrowed her brows. This conversation would go south, she just knew it. After Chase, she didn't think the night could get any darker, but... "They died," she declared, voice low as the memory flashed before her eyes. She had only been six when it happened. "During the fall of Radiant Garden." Heartless got to them, right before her eyes. Serah was too young to remember, but Lightning would never forget. She grasped Riku's shirt, fighting the sorrow in her heart.

Light closed her eyes, embarrassment flooding her heart. How could this be happening? How could she let someone see her so weak? "...That's the thing," she confessed, "I've never done anything but hold it in. I had to...for Serah." She wasn't like most girls her age--she didn't cry about everything, she didn't complain, she didn't even have a lot of fun. She was strictly business because she had to be. But ever since Riku came along, her life had changed.

Naturally, Light's smile fell away at the reminder of what took place that night. She shrugged. "I'll survive," she answered quietly. She couldn't say she was okay, because she wasn't. Light could still smell Chase's breath and feel his and his friends' fingers on her skin. She lowered her gaze so Riku wouldn't see the look in her eyes, or the moisture that suddenly sprang into existence in them. Chase breathed in her face and against her neck, his hands were everywhere, and the things he said to her... Ugh.

Light lifted her gaze and smiled softly. "Mm," she hummed with a faint nod. It was definitely a good thing. "I don't think...we would have happened if it wasn't." She wouldn't have bothered even humoring Riku in conversation if he wasn't "different." He could come off as arrogant, but then again so could she. But...he was kind, despite a rougher exterior.

"Uh, no. No," Lightning said, looking down at her hands. "You just... You're different." Riku had a good head on his shoulders. He was...loyal to his friends, and to her, and trustworthy. Not many guys his age were like that.

Light tilted her head as she looked at the boy in her room. Well, he wasn't a boy really... He was a young man, and mature for his age. She was only older than him by a year, but even so, Riku acted like more of a man than Snow ever did. Who are you? And where did you come from? Why are you here with me, of all people?

Light shrugged and set her phone down. "Don't know, not that it really matters. It shouldn't have been anyone but Serah." She sighed softly. "He better hope we don't cross paths." She would hit him where the sun doesn't shine.

Light scrolled through her phone. "She caught Snow with another girl at the festival. Kissing on the ferris wheel." She shook her head. Snow was definitely an idiot. "The one we almost went on." The romantic ride that Riku and Lightning avoided. Snow didn't respect his relationship with Serah, apparently.

"Um..." Lightning grabbed her phone off the mattress and looked through her phone. She sighed upon seeing the many messages her sister sent her. "She blew up my phone but...that was a while ago. Maybe she crashed." She hoped so. After Serah cried for a bit, she was often exhausted. Light hoped her sister got a good night's sleep. For both of them, because Lightning didn't think she would be sleeping all that well.

Lightning pulled her shirt over her head and slipped on a loose-fitting tee, trying to get as comfortable as she could. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Riku still facing the other way, so she went ahead and slipped on some soft shorts. Once that was done, she tossed her clothes carelessly to the corner of the room. "Okay," she called, then taking a seat on her bed, one leg tucked under her. She kept her hair in its ponytail since she didn't want it in her face right now. She did, however, feel safer with it down; she could use it as a curtain if necessary. She never thought she would need to, but after Chase...

"Yeah," Lightning answered. She took out a t-shirt from her dresser and twirled her finger at Riku. "Spin." She needed to change. She looked down at her belly ring and started to take it out, wanting it off of her after Chase played with it earlier tonight. She trusted Riku to not be like him, to turn around and not peak while she changed her shirt.

"Shut the door?" Lightning asked, glancing over her shoulder at Riku as she ventured to her dresser. She needed to change her clothes, maybe burn them. She hadn't yet decided. Of course, she would wait to shower until Riku left. She wasn't that scandalous.

"Throwing fists and guns blazing probably took care of it," Lightning said, relieved to be in her hall and see her room ahead. "I'm just glad they're gone--the heartless and NORA." She didn't like either. She took out her key and unlocked her door, stepping inside. She expected Riku to follow.

Lightning approached the stairs, feeling the cool air conditioning against her exposed skin. With each step her belly ring tickled her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to take it out after... She took in a breath. "They tried their hand at those heartless when NORA was active, but once the heartless died off, they lost their fire," she explained lowly. "Nobody really mentioned why those things went away all of a sudden, but...good riddance, I guess." She hated them--the heartless. They took away her family, her home, her life. Being an RA gave her free room and board, which she needed all things considered. School wasn't cheap.

Riku may not have known it, but Lightning appreciated him carrying this conversation. It kept her mind off what just happened with the three jocks. "Serah was fifteen and Snow had just graduated. He and his numbskull friend Gadot thought it would be a good idea to form a group called NORA. It's a stupid acronym. Stands for 'No Obligations, Rules, or Authority'," she explained. "Basically, they rebelled against whoever they saw fit. Serah thought it was admirable." Lightning couldn't say the same. As they approached the dormitory, she felt relief. They could finally be inside the building and away from prying eyes...if Chase stuck around at all after whatever Riku did. "I thought it was idiotic. It didn't last long, if that tells you anything."