Chapter Text
It was a cold and stormy night, clouds covered the city, and it seemed like a Squall was coming in. Not with snow, but lightning. The tides were changing and the moon shone down through the cracks of cloudiness. Yet, in the midst of it all was a coffee shop. “Seraphim's cafe” Yikes on the name.
Tonight, a sad, poor boy comes across the late night coffee shop while looking for a place to study and stay in from the rolling storm, rain already starting to pour down on his silver hair. He wears a baggy white jacket, zipped up halfway. A black shirt that fits well, baggy gray cargo pants, a studded belt, grey and black shoes. A black and yellow backpack. And a few accessories. Despite his outfit, the boy’s got eyebags darker than his shirt and when he sees the coffee shop, he sighs in relief.
Quickly going in, the door rings as he opens it, alerting the workers on a new customer. He takes a seat and takes in the warm demeanor. The smell of coffee and cinnamon, the brown walls, the warm lights, the black chairs with brown cushions, the place even has a few fainting couches. It’s nice, and comfortable. Upfront, there’s the counter to order and the rest behind is the actual kitchen. The boy looks out the window, staring at the rain with a gloomy expression on his face.
“...I feel like Sora… Oh my god, I’m turning into Sora.” The boy— Riku, mumbles to himself. “He never turns anything in, how is he passing? What is he doing? Magic? I don’t… maybe it’s cause he’s so likable our professors are more lenient… I don’t know.” Riku loves Sora a ton, but that boy does NOT do his work.
Drowning in his thoughts of becoming like Sora (Which, let’s be honest. He does pull a Sora every once in a while), Riku gets distracted by a worker, just standing in front of the glass door like it hurts him. Is he alright? I think he’s schizophrenic. Ohh, he looks even worse than I do. I bet he’s like 27, nah… he looks young but old…? Riku thinks as he tries not to blatantly stare at the man too much. However, he’s caught fairly easily as the man in question looks directly at him.
“What do you want?” The worker asks Riku with irritation in his tone. Riku, makes a small annoyed face before schooling it back into something more neutral. “Nothing, just wondering why you’re standing there, the rain’s not going to end anytime soon. The weather app says so.”
The man sighs and sits in the nearest seat, across from Riku. Basically him conceding to Riku’s point. Now, Riku can get a good look at the man. A scar across his otherwise handsome face, brown hair that hugs the side of his face and reaches to his neck, blue eyes, eyebags, and a crazy RBF (Resting bitch face). At least he’s nice to look at. One thing that really catches Riku’s eyes is his nametag “Squall Leonhart”.
“Uh… so you’re Squall…? Do you know a “Sora” by any chance? I’ve heard your name before. He talks about you all the time, says you’re “A great tutor.”. Do you actually tutor?” Riku asks curiously.
“Yeah, I know Sora. And yes, I tutor. You’re Riku? He won’t shut up about you. “Riku did this better” and “Riku did that better”. The boy could be solving a math equation and whisper to himself “What would Riku do?” You seem to be a real driving force for him, for the better or worse…” Squall sighs to himself, the man looks like he has a headache just discussing Sora.
“Well, yeah, I am Riku. But, I think Sora overexaggerates when it comes to me. I’m usually stressed out of my mind. I’ve got to finish up an essay, but I just can’t bring myself to it. I’m always wondering how Sora has the time for it all…” He leans back in his chair and sighs.
Squall listens, he doesn’t seem to mind Riku. It seems like they’ve got some similarities, or at least Squall thinks so. “Look, Riku. You and Sora are obviously good friends. Why not work together? It’s clear you two are also rivals, which you can still be. Though, working together would only ease both sides’ worries. (And take him out of the whole tutoring thing. He’d rather that.) Instead of wondering, communicate it.”
Riku lets out a small “hm” mixed in with his exhale, he thinks about it for a moment. “Why… haven’t I thought of that? It’s an obvious solution, I guess Sora and I were too focused on being against each other. Yeah, we really have been competitive over everything, even more so now.” Riku looks at Squall and gives him the smallest of smiles. He’s thankful, but he’s probably not going to admit that verbally.
“Moving on, Squall, uh how’s your life I guess..?” RIku asks, trying to learn a little more about Squall.
“It’s a life.” Squall does not reciprocate easily.
“Give me something, man. It’s raining outside and we’re both stuck here.
Squall does roll his eyes for a moment before giving in. “Fine, my life is boring. I go to a college, I work here, I tutor, and I deal with colorful people. That’s it.”
“Colorful people?” Riku asks, a little curious
“Colorful people. My coworkers and classmates. My coworkers especially. I don’t necessarily dislike them all, but they’re annoying. I tolerate two, the rest could do without all the noise their mouths bring when they open them.”
That really strikes a cord within Riku “I… can definitely understand that. Some people need to shut up.” (Ansem definitely)
Leon does let out some air in amusement. “I know two people you’d really like.”
Riku blinks for a moment, a bit taken off guard by that. “Yeah? Wh-”
He’s cut off by a loud yelp from the breakroom. The two look near the brown traffic door that leads to the kitchen. Both making an annoyed face at the sound. Then, someone is pushed out the traffic door, landing right on his face. Squall groans lowly to himself and Riku looks at Leon.
“Oh… oh.” Riku realizes just who he’s looking at. Squall’s coworker, Sora’s friend, Zack Fair.