drabble #4

[oath_breaker]

 Drabble, soriku, canon verse, falling in love

Sora reaches up with no hesitation to graze his fingers down the side of Riku's face. It was less a realization and more just a subtle shift, like moving into the most comfy part of your bed and sighing in bliss. Sora loves Riku. He always has, and now he's in silent awe.

 

It's always been Riku. Riku, who he chased after. Riku, who he spent countless sunsets on the sandy beaches of their home with. Riku, who made him feel like no foe or enemy was ever too great. Riku, who could dive into his heart and win the trust of the guardians there.

 

Seeing Riku is like coming home, relaxing and letting your shoulders fall, throwing yourself into your favorite seat with the comfort and security of knowing this is where you belong. This is yours and yours alone.

 

Sora had never thought of kissing Riku, or shied away from holding his hand or hugging him or dragging him down by his jacket lapels to even the playing field, so he doesn't hesitate now when he cups Riku's cheek.

 

Riku is so still its like he's frozen, but Sora can see the impending break when the frost will snap and shatter beneath the weight of spring. His wide bright eyes search for something in Sora's, flickering in a way that broadcasts his insecurity. Sora grins.

 

"I think I love you."

 

He can feel Riku's sharp inhale before he hears it. Riku's hands jerk up but he abandons whatever impulse reaction he had. After a settling breath, he finally glances his fingers around Sora's wrist, barely touching.

 

Riku licks his lips, not meeting Sora's gaze now. Finally, after what feels like forever, he says in a surprisingly steady voice, "You think?"

 

Sora laughs, bright and easy. "I've always loved you Riku, but wanting to kiss you is definitely new."

 

Riku's fingers curl tight around Sora with sudden shock, and he looks disbelievingly at Sora before he's laughing too. 

 

"You're unbelieveable," Riku manages. "I can't believe it. 'You think' and 'definitely new,'" he snickers.

 

"Sora, I've been so positively in love with you for so long that there isn't a doubt in my mind." Riku's still laughing, like this is an improv sketch and he's absolutely tickled by the act performing. "And you just decide one day out of the blue that you suddenly love me?"

 

It's not said with anger. Riku is genuinely amused by Sora. Sora doesn't take offense, because Riku is right. Sora just looked at Riku and the realization slid into place with all the ease of a cat napping in a spot warmed by the sun. It wasn't very profound, but Sora was simple.

 

"Yeah yeah laugh all you want," Sora said, fingers finding the curve of Riku's ear to trace. "I can't help it! It just kind of hit me. You being hot doesn't help either."

 

Riku blushes, but all he does is apologize sarcastically.

 

Riku's hands settle tentatively on Sora's waist, and Riku's touched him millions of times, has bodily hauled him out of danger countless more times in more intimate positions, but this still sends an exciting thrill through Sora.

 

Even after all these years, Sora isn't tired of Riku. He thinks he never will be. 

 

"So, do you mean it?" Sora asks, because sometimes he needs words.

 

"Mean what?" Riku teases, smiling and smug. 

 

Sora tugs at Riku's earlobe and barely pinches it. "That you love... love me."

 

His voice falls quiet towards the end, and he knows everything he feels is obvious. Because Sora has been told too many times that he is nothing special.

 

Riku does something that Sora can think of no other way to describe as than melting.

 

He wraps Sora close in a hug and rests his cheek on Sora's head, and it asks nothing of Sora to drop his against Riku's chest.

 

"It's always been you, Sora."