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Riku sat upon his normal perch on the paopu tree, staring out over the waves. At least, that was what he'd say he was doing if anyone asked. In reality he was far too focused on tracking the way his best friend ran up and down the beach gathering items for their raft from the corner of his eye to do any real admiring of the ocean.
He hated it. The way his heart beat in his chest like the bats that nested in the treehouse did when disturbed. Hated the way something dark and oozing had settled deep in his chest, something suspiciously close to jealousy the more time Sora spent giving attention to things that weren't him. He was Sora’s best friend. Him. Not Kairi. Not Tidus or Selphie or Wakka. Him. It was only right he get the most attention from Sora then, right? So why did it feel like everyone except him was getting it these days?
At least there was a stray log here. A small crumb. A reason for Sora to come out here while still working on their project. He just wished his presence was still enough to draw him out here.
“..ku! Riku!” The sound of splashing water accompanying the shouts of his name drew him from his thoughts, and oh.. how he hated the way the wing beats of that dark beast in his chest settled at the sight of spiky hair poking over the edge of the island, wet from the water but still defying gravity all the same.
“Riku!” The brunette chirped again, now fully on the island and bounding towards him like an excited puppy. He could practically see the ears and tail in his mind's eye. As his friend came to a stop - well, “stop” was generous, given how Sora was almost always in motion, even if it was just bouncing on the balls of his feet - by his legs Riku looked down at him and raised a brow in silent question. Luckily he didn't have to wait long before Sora was barreling on with “Can we spar? Pleaseee? It's been sooo long!”
Riku has to hold back a chuckle at Sora's pouting and the way he draped himself against the tree. Yeah, just like a puppy really. He even had the eyes for it.
“Grab your sword then.” He hummed, aiming for non-committal and cool and landing just shy of far too fond and hopelessly indulgent. At least Sora didn't seem to notice, the brunette far too distracted scrambling for their swords with an excited cheer. “This one decides the champion!” He called after Sora, though it was really a moot point by now. He'd been saying that for upwards of a year by now with no end in sight. Who needed a champion between them when they could have this, never-ending fights, just them, his taunting, and Sora's ever growing list of reasons that “Riku most definitely totally seriously cheated that time and it was actually a win for him”?
Here in the sun, with the light breeze rustling their hair and Sora's giddy laughter filling his ears, both Riku and the beast that'd long since taken up residence in his chest without him realizing were content.