Archive of Our Own

When I'm with you it's like all time has stopped. He once had thought.

This world was theirs and theirs alone to do whatever they want. They could spend the entire day messing with one of the others and the next day it wouldn't matter because that person would just forget.

But they didn't. 

They never forgot for some reason. It made sense why 'he' kept his memories but why did the other not forget them. There was no explanation for that.

"...Seven. Double-you. Four. Ayech. One. Seven." Words were spoken out.

For the two of them, nothing else seems to move or maybe everything is supposed to be timeless and no one else has that special someone to keep them from forgetting.

But if everyone else would forget what was the point of everything? Wouldn't it get boring? Could they handle just being with the other every day forever?

There was more typing, and amongst the typing were the symbols that he read after he typed them.

 "Three. Underscore. Dee. Four. Why. Underscore. Seven. Oh. Eight."

And the other had entered his room. It wasn't a room like anyone else in their village. It didn't have a simple interior with small mundane items placed in every corner. Everyone had a similar house but this place was made differently. Not only did it have more than one floor, but here data was everywhere. Well everything in their world was made of data but this was like the data engineering room. On paper there were symbols and symbols of coding that only this boy could understand. At least one of two knew what every symbol meant. The other not so much.

He was just standing there as he watched the boy type and type. Now even his presence was ignored. What other data was so special that he didn't even notice him? He was going to go up to him.

Then in this place, there was also a monitor that connected to the outside place. It was located in a different room but it was built to be just like the one in the Disney castle data. He hoped one day maybe the two of them could be there and see people who actually were more like them.

  "Oh. Lowercase Aye. Ee. Tee. Oh. Ess. Oh. Are. Four. And symbol. Dollar sign. Number. Dollar sign..."

He wasn't done.

D474 S0R4 + 

7W4H173_D4Y_7080aE

T0_S0R4&$#$.

TP$_0AD

The symbols appeared on a screen, as he was typing so diligently, not even turning to notice the other's presence. That's when the boy decided to lean down to kiss his cheek. "What are you doing?" He tilted his head, not quite understanding what all the codes meant yet. He was cooped up here all day for several hours and he wanted to know why and what.

"Typing a code..." he mutters slowly, not taking his eyes off the symbols he was typing, "into our data." That was the only thing he was told.

"Well yeah I see that but why are you doing this for so long?" He leaned against him quite impatiently. "We could be doing something! What if we check in on our other selves and see how they're doing. Anything but nothing—"

This Riku laughed, "It's not nothing! It's a... well you know Sora, they're both probably still painfully mutually yearning for each other and haven't confessed yet." He pulled down his hood, revealing his silver hair when his boyfriend gave him a sweet glance. "Sora is always Riku's entire world but it's difficult for him."

"You're probably right, Riku but maybe we can help guide them on how it can work!" He clapped his hands together.

"I thought it was simple but with them it's more complex." He shook his head, "Riku is afraid of what his Sora might think. He doesn't believe he is good enough and blames himself for his past mistakes. I don't blame him for having those thoughts but—"

"His Sora would love him no matter what!" Sora told the data boy. "Anyone could see that. I know we're different but that is for certain."

Riku turned to him, "Well then I guess you have to show him."

"Hey Riku? Is that what being real—not being made of data—is all about? Is it when you have more complex feelings?" The data boy also thought. If their other two selves are much more complex than them, is that why they aren't data and why they are more simple-minded data?

The data boy could only shrug. He didn't know the answer to that. "Sora, I don't think there's a difference between us and them. We both have similar feelings. They have just decided to run into hoops instead of facing them."

Sora almost smiled at that, "We must guide them to each other instead of in circles then."

Riku looked at him, "Why don't you talk to my other self or the other Sora and help one of them. When I finish up doing this, I'll join you soon."

Sora crossed his arms, "So basically you'll never come okay. You still haven't told me what are you coding?"

Riku just laughed, "I will too, come! I just need about an hour! Besides it's a surprise." He only smiled innocently as he looked at Sora.

"Oh come on! I want to know!" He practically jumped onto him, hugging the other Data boy.

"S-Sora!" He exclaimed, as he was knocked to the floor. "You're so adorable sometimes." He kissed his cheek. "I can't tell yet!"

"Only sometimes?" Sora crossed his arms and put out his bottom lip. "I am adorable all the time!"

In the real world, Sora was laying in his bed. His gummiphone was in hand and he was listening to the person on the other side speak to him. He hasn't spent much time with Riku especially after he told him that he liked boys too.

He probably thought he was weird. It didn't help that he had also been avoiding the other.

"Hey older me!" The data Sora grinned as he watched his other— much older— self fiddle nervously. "Are you even listening?" He almost frowned. "Lemme guess, you and your Riku haven't gotten together."

Sora looked away, "It's just he always seems to be distant now. It's hard to tell him. I know he supports me for knowing that I like other boys but does he even feel the same?" He stared at the ceiling.  A part of him wishes, nothing will ever change, but if it doesn't then he'll be stuck in this cycle where the guilt of loving him will destroy himself.

Data Sora stared at himself blankly. "Well he does. Trust me. I love My Riku and he loves me just as much so I'm sure yours loves you as much too."

Sora blushed and turned away, "Hey... love? I don't.." he blushed at he thought of the idea of loving him.  His head had never even though about the idea of loving him before now.

"Aww look at you." On the screen he held his hands, making a heart with them. "It's going to work out I just know it."

The Sora from the real world smiled softly, "Well I suppose white day is soon. I didn't really receive anything before but maybe I could give Riku something." He wasn't counting that Riku happened to bake cookies and give him some around Valentine's Day. He probably gave some to his other friends too.

In a thumbs up position, data-Sora just grinned, "Yes exactly, bake him something nice.  Wait have you baked before?  I don't know if I have.  Can I even do that—but I'm sure it would be fine."

"I actually have a few times over the years... Once it was Kairi's birthday so me and Riku decided we were going to bake her a cake.  Though it might've been a disaster but that's cause he kept throwing flour onto me and we made a huge mess, but the cake turned out okay.  He even asked if I wanted him to kiss it better," Sora's expression suddenly turned strawberry pink, "but that was a joke... I think."

Data-Sora gave him the most, are-you-serious expression. "I don't think it was but I am confident that you can do it!" All of the sudden in glowing letters, those exact words shined across the gummiphone.

Sora smiled at the phrase. He was supposed to smile and be able to handle it, right? "Thanks other me but you know how it is for both of us. It's not that simple. I'm.. worried."

"What for?" This Sora didn't exactly know everything that happened to his other selves lives. Data Riku on the other hand, knew more since he had all the data and the memories of the worlds inside him, but Sora had none of that. He firmly shook his head and told him what he believed to be right, "Riku cherishes you the most.  You even said he offered to kiss you.  I think that means he does like you enough to want to do that!"

His cheeks still pink, Sora looked away and clenched his heart, "What if I'm left alone again? I don't know if you have the memories but he left me alone..." Sora closed his eyes as he remembered Riku's unconcerned eyes as he took the keyblade.

Play hero with this. The words still echoes in his heart.  He had left him all alone and only left him a toy sword that he and Riku once played with back on the islands. Then the two that remained by his side— Donald and Goofy—left him too. He was so alone. Sora looked down, remembering those terrible memories. "He took my keyblade and I wasn't really the one who was supposed to be the hero. It was all him, I was just a fake... yet I somehow still hold this weapon."

The Data boy widen his eyes, he knew what it felt like.  While he's not as bothered by this, he still understood. He wasn't meant to have the keyblade and he wasn't actually Sora.  He was just data to look like the real thing.

His keyblade even got destroyed by Maleficent and he was almost left alone.  His own Riku sacrificed himself to save him and he wanted to do anything to get him back.  He couldn't bare being without him.  He wasn't meant to be any hero.  He wasn't Sora.  Riku wasn't Riku either.  They both were artificially made to represent them. He looked at his older self with the softest expression he could muster, "I think I can understand actually.  I'm not Sora.  You are.  However, that doesn't mean what we've done doesn't mean anything."

"Maybe it does still mean something. I don't think he was really himself then.  He was manipulated." Sora looked down. The Data look-alike thought of when he had to fight his Riku and he was being controlled by Pete and the bugs. "I'm just glad he's okay now but what if it wasn't just in being manipulated? What if that's how he truly feels regarding me?"

The data boy widened his eyes as he heard the worry come from his other self.  How could he ever think that? "That's nonsense. That would never happen! I know! I just know." He put his hands together and wanted nothing more than to comfort him and stop the worry. "Why would you think like that? What you are feeling is hurt and it is okay you feel hurt because that means you care. You got to trust me, though! Riku is our best friend and he doesn't think like that because you're very dear to him. I spoke to him very recently and I know he doesn't see you as a nuisance or anything like that!"

Sora was almost taken aback by how much the data boy expressed on why he was incorrect about Riku.  He wanted him to be right.  He was just afraid sometimes.  He would always remember Hollow Bastion and what happened.  Maybe that's why he didn't mind when he sacrificed himself for all the princesses and Kairi.  Because if he wasn't even the hero and Riku saw him like that then maybe it was okay for him to go away and become a heartless?  Roxas got to exist because of him at least.  Naminé too, and they deserve to as well.

Sora smiled softly, "I.. Okay. I trust you." He paused and then next to his data self, another being of data popped up. "Riku!" He grinned at seeing him and then blushed.  He couldn't help it.  He looked so much like him from a year ago, "Riku's hair was so adorable in that style." He referred to how his hair used to be shorter.

Data Riku stepped backed and almost blushed, but his partner stared at the other Sora and frowned. "Hey! Save the flirting for your own Riku! This one is my own."

Data Riku just laughed at his Sora, "Don't worry I only have you," he kissed his Sora quite softly on the cheek. His data blushed and even almost broke the system from his data heart beating way too fast for that single gesture. He looked up across the screen that was thankfully still working and had the outside world still visible, "And Sora, Good Luck but you won't need it when it comes to my other self. I'm—well he is practically fawning over you every time you're with him. You're everything to us— my entire world is Sora."

Sora smiled and nodded.

Anything Riku says automatically helps even if he wasn't his Riku, his words still counted for something. "I think I'll talk to him soon. Thanks Cute-haired Riku and 'itty me."

He turned off his gummiphone and the two datas smiled. "Remember that Sora isn't yours! He is the big Riku's— not yours. I'm yours!" The data boy almost pouted, his arms holding onto his cloak.

"Is that... jealousy?" The data boy was almost surprised by his Sora's actions. "You're so adorable, y'know that?"

He still was pouting, "no.... I'm just reminding you." Still the Sora made the cutest expression that he had ever seen on him.

"You are my entire world." Riku put his arms around him and laid his head on the other boy's soft hair. "The journal's entire world is you, Sora."

He was beaming and he could feel as almost he had a heart, beat in excitement.  His cheeks were crimson and he was smiling because he was with his Riku.

Sora lifted up to see the boy looking down at him from his hair, "Are you comfy like that?"

Riku just smiled a tiny smile, "you're soft... So soft. I can be here all day and not have any worry."

Sora's cheeks turned pink, "We don't have to worry ever anymore as long as we're together."

"Of course not.. not with you by my side." He kissed the top of his head onto his hair. Riku lifted his head from his and only so softly felt the side of his partner's face. "We don't have real hearts but why does it seem like my chest is hurting from excitement as if there is something in there causing these emotions and beating way too fast?"

Sora tilted his head, "What if we do have hearts?" For awhile now, he felt as if he had a heart.  Even back when he was saving the data worlds.

Riku pressed his fingers to his lips, "I'm not sure. Maybe that means we can truly explore their world and not in some world that is so still and never moving."

The data boy held himself close and his eyes wandered towards the blank screen, "Do you think he will tell him?"

"I hope so."

"Me too."

The datas were walking across the island, Sora had his eyes closed and his vision was blocked with dark blindfolds. He was following his Riku, holding his hand gently.

"Are we there?"

"Not yet!" He just grinned while he answered. "Well almost."

Riku smiled when suddenly the scenery around them changed. Instead of an island, they were in some kind of city filled with stars and bright lights. Riku lifted his blindfolds and beamed at the other, "Now!"

Sora widen his eyes and looked all around him, "Wow... It's so gorgeous."

Data Riku couldn't help but stare, not even looking away once. Despite messing with the data to make a place like this, it was Sora who looked the most gorgeous. "Isn't? But honestly you're more beautiful."

Sora covered his cheeks, blushing. Suddenly now, he felt a bit shy despite always proclaiming how much he loves His Riku. "I'm... B...be...bea... beautiful?" He whispered almost unable to get the words out and only his mouth was left agape afterwards.

Riku had to smile at him, he kissed the back of his head, "You're so adorable. This is for you." He held Sora from behind just smiling.

"I didn't know you wanted to go on a date." He turned almost gingerly.

Riku paused, "We go pretty often don't we?" He then shook his head, "And it's not just a date."

Data Sora looked at him in surprise. What did he mean by those words? It's not just a date, he had told him. Is it because he made this place for him? But His Riku always liked doing this. "Huh?"

The other Data boy handed him a piece of a chocolate in a blox shape.

"I heard about a day called White Day from the real Riku and I wanted to celebrate it with you today. I know you gave me something precious for Valentine's Day so here Sora, would you also accept this?"

Sora's cheeks were pink when he nodded, accepting the carefully data-made blox-shaped chocolate. "I'd always accept from you. Hey wait-a-minute—this looks like those data blox!" He recognized the shape and grinned. "Back when I was helping Mickey and the others, and you too, of course."

Riku just smiled, "Yeah. I wonder how Mickey is doing? Donald and Goofy too." He leaned over and felt his hair with his hand. His hair was so soft, he thought to himself and smiled. "Are you happy?"

Sora blinked, not really understanding where the question came from. "When I'm with you how could I not be?"

"You know, as long as you're happy nothing else matters. I love 'Sora' and I always will. My purpose is to protect 'Sora' even if all these feelings and emotions I have for you are artificial I can't help it." The data boy suddenly started to confess. Despite everything he was meant to be he is him because he wants to. "I choose to love you to make you happy because I want to, not just because it's my purpose. You are my world and you mean everything to me, Sora. Sora is meant to be the hero who smiles through anything and Riku is supposed to be the hero who struggles to maintain his own self and is able to conquer the darkness by using both it and light. But it's more than that."

He leaned against the other boy, softly smiling.

"We're not the same as them." Sora whispered realizing, "We were made as carbon data copies but we're not like them and I think that's the difference between us. Do they not know how our other selves are?"

Riku didn't know the answer. "I'm not sure. I don't know if they even know that we're different. I may look like Riku and you look like Sora but we're different from them. Our time here has stopped moving, where the two of us are the only ones that remember anything and maybe that's why we can easily be together."

Sorry looked down, it was one of the things he hated. "I want to go to their world. If they can go to ours whose to say we can't go to theirs?"

The data boy bit into the chocolate blox before feeding some to His Riku. His Data Riku smiled.

Holding his hand, he had an idea.

"I think I have an idea.." He put his glasses on and began to form a plan. Soon the two of them would be able to go to their world too.

...

"Hi Riku, how are you?

                I hope you are doing okay after everything. i know you're scared since we're going to Yen Sid's Tower in a few weeks but don't worry about it. It will be alright. I can hold your hand if that will help, would you want me to?

I was talking to my data self today and I always enjoy listening to him and even your data self. They're both so cute especially your data self. Your Data self looks just like you did a year ago. Your hair was so cute then.  I think it's pretty now being long. Sometimes i wonder if you could hide me in your hair.

Do you remember when it was Kairi's birthday and we got flour and batter all over ourselves.  Then you asked to kiss me were trying to cheer me up? You've always been there for me and i want to do the same thing for you and always be there. when you're hurt don't be afraid to ask for help or come to me.

Well Riku you must be thinking what is this all about and what are these cookies unless you ate them first which i could see you doing. do you know what today is?  I made some cookies for today. Happy White Day, Riku. If you answered White Day before you're correct. You're my best friend so I made some paopu-flavored cookies. Would it be like sharing a paopu fruit?  If you want you can feed a part of one later. i know you're supposed to do white day in return of valentine's day but you did give me some cookies too technically even if you probably gave Kairi and some of the others cookies too so i hope you like them. sorry i couldn't be here to give them to you.

    i hope you like them,

 i'm actually in love with you Sora."

A boy read the letter quietly and picked up the cookie, blushing. "You should've stayed when I received it, Sora." He smiled only softly and put the cookie into his mouth. He widened his eyes and put a hand to his own lips, smiling. "I wish you would stop avoiding me, Sora. I li...like you too."

A boy peeked behind the corner, outside the house watching as his heart could only beat faster and realized maybe one day he'll be brave enough to fully admit his feelings. He wasn't like his data self, he couldn't just easily tell him. He was scared as Riku was after their second adventure that there was a possibility that he wouldn't want to be Riku's friend anymore.

He put his hands on his heart and whispered those words, "I...love...you."