Forever Starts Now (1x1 RP with Forever Love)

[Peanut 26]

"No," Lightning said stubbornly, her eyebrows furrowing a little behind her bangs. No way was she just going to fall back asleep when Riku was here. He flew all this way to see her, and she wasn't about to just let him walk out the door without spending some time with her.

[Forever Love 82]

You're exhausted, Riku wanted to say. You need to sleep. I'll come back later. Of course, that was what he wanted to say, but he couldn't. Light's tone stopped him from saying anything. Instead, he just looked at her, one arm on either side of her. She sounded almost...angry.

[Peanut 26]

Light rolled over and looked up at Riku since he was still leaning over her, her tired eyes finding his expression. He seemed caught off guard, and she knew why: her tone wasn't exactly pleasant. She sighed, softening. "I've missed you," she stated quietly, that being enough reason for her to stay awake. She wanted to be with him.

[Forever Love 82]

Despite Riku's previous thoughts, he couldn't help but smile. "I've missed you too," he replied softly. It'd been a little over a week, maybe more, since he'd seen her last. It was really hard, on both sides.

[Peanut 26]

"How have you been?" Light asked Riku softly, forcing her eyes to stay open despite how her eyelids just wanted to fall shut. He had been busy with the Islands and with helping Sora with his project, so it had been a while since she was able to check up on him. He looked like he was getting enough rest, unlike her.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku smiled weakly, his eyes resting on his beloved. "...Lonely," he answered quietly. Like Sora and Roxas, he was alone. It was hard, being apart from someone he loved. He didn't want to have that problem anymore, but he and Lightning lived two separate lives, even if they were tied together by their hearts.

[Peanut 26]

Light smiled weakly as well, her feelings being the same. "Lay down," she requested softly. There was already enough room on the bed for Riku to lay beside her, and she wanted to be close to him again. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't find the energy to move and embrace him. If he knew that she was that tired, he definitely would have made her go back to sleep.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku naturally looked from Lightning to the empty spot beside her on the bed. He smiled a little more before carefully and smoothly climbing over her. Lowering himself completely to the bed, he faced her as he lay on his side, one hand holding his head up as he elbow rested against the pillow. He missed this bed, and being with the person it belonged to.

[Peanut 26]

Lightning rolled over to face Riku, her eyes going up to his when his head wasn't on the pillow like she expected it to be. She wordlessly scooted closer to him and lowered her head off the pillow, her face finding his chest. She wrapped an arm over his side and shut her eyes, sighing a breath at his warmth. I missed you. So much.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku wrapped his other arm around Lightning when she was close, his hand cupping the back of her head. He lowered his lips to her hair and held a kiss for a moment, loving this feeling. He was in her bed and she was in his arms. It was just where he wanted to be.

[Peanut 26]

"I don't wanna do this anymore," Light mumbled, referring to their current way of life. She could never get away to see Riku because of her job, and he couldn't come until the middle of the night because of his. She didn't want to be apart in the first place. She had to quit her job and go with him, because she couldn't do this anymore.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku closed his eyes, pulling back from the small kiss. However, he let his face stay buried in Lightning's hair, the boy not saying anything. He didn't want this either, and he was sure his silence would speak that for him. But...there was nothing they could do.

[Peanut 26]

"I'm ready to quit," Light continued, her voice just a murmur. She walked away from the army before and they accepted her back, but this time, that wouldn't be happening. Carson was getting more influence, and if he was in charge of hiring her back, he wouldn't. In fact, he would use all his resources to paint Lightning to be a criminal that he could imprison forever.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku's eyebrows furrowed once he opened his eyes, the boy pulling his head back a little to gaze down at the woman he loved. "Quit?" he repeated softly, not sure of what she meant. Did she mean their relationship, or staying apart? He didn't really think it was the former, given their position. But the latter... The only way that would happen was if one of them gave up their lives on their home world. And he wasn't about to let Lightning do that. Not for him.

[Peanut 26]

"My job," Lightning clarified without changing her position. She was ready to quit her job and sever any connections she had to this world so that she could go live with Riku, or at least on Destiny Islands with him. As long as she could see him whenever she wanted, then she would be alright.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku's eyebrows furrowed even deeper at that. "No," he said then, his tone strict. No way was she quitting her job. She worked hard for that, something Serah told him and something he could see from when he was in the Corps as well. Lightning wasn't about to give that up. That would be a mistake.

[Peanut 26]

"Yes," Lightning said, her tone stubborn. She wasn't joking around with this; she was really ready to drop everything just to be with Riku. She was 21; she could do as she pleased. She would feel bad about leaving some friends, yes, but she was miserable without Riku here. If she had to choose between her life in the Corps and her life with Riku, she chose the latter.

[Forever Love 82]

"Stop it," Riku said, a little breathless. She was actually serious. He pulled away a little so he could look at Lightning's face, his hand moving from the back of her head to the side of it, his fingers in her hair. "Don't say that..." His eyes were locked on her face, the boy desperate to make her understand. He wasn't worth her giving up her life. If anything...he would give up his. It would be hard, but he would do it. He didn't want Lightning throwing hers away.

[Peanut 26]

Lightning opened her eyes when she felt Riku's gaze on her, her pale blue eyes going up to his aqua ones. She didn't say anything because of Riku's tone, though her eyes did convey what she wanted to say. I won't stop saying it, or considering it. I'm not doing this anymore. She and Riku had to be together. She used to be a tough, stoic lone-wolf, but now she needed her boyfriend by her side. She was done with being alone.

[Forever Love 82]

"You're not giving up your life to be with me, do you understand?" Riku said, his tone soft and desperate, yet strict with the woman he loved. "If we're going to be together, you're not going to have to sacrifice anything." He would do it. He would be the one to give up his life. He was turning nineteen soon anyway; his parents would understand if he wanted to move out. But...the Keyblade... How was he going to work around that?

[Peanut 26]

"What do you want me to do, just sit by and let you throw your life away for me?" Lightning asked, furrowing her eyebrows and staring up at Riku. "What makes it alright for you to do that but not me?" She loved him just as much as he loved her, and she wasn't about to let him make all the sacrifices in the relationship to be together. When he was here with her in Cocoon, living with her, she saw he was incomplete without his home world. She would never forget that.

[Forever Love 82]

"I don't want you to make a mistake," Riku said softly, his eyes gazing into those of the girl he loved. "I've made enough sacrifices. They're a part of my life because of the Keyblade. I can handle one more." He could do it... He knew he could. He lived here before and it wasn't too hard. Over time, it would get easier. He could always visit his friends and family anyway.

[Peanut 26]

Lightning shook her head, pushing herself back and up a little so her head was on a pillow. "I don't think you can," she said bluntly. "I've seen how you are when you're apart from Destiny Islands. That's where you belong." There was no doubt in her mind that was the truth. There was something about Destiny Islands that made its people feel safe and secure; she knew from experience. But it wasn't her home, not really. Cocoon was. Or Riku's arms.

[Forever Love 82]

Riku's hand fell from Light's head to her shoulder when she moved, and he lowered the one that was holding his own head up, instead just leaning against his elbow. "...Then why did the Keyblade choose me?" he countered quietly, that way he wouldn't wake up Namine across the hall. "If I wasn't meant to leave the Islands, why was I the one who was chosen to save the worlds?" He had to leave anyway. What difference would it make in the long run? He would still be away from home, no matter what.

[Peanut 26]

"You aren't meant to stay away from the Islands," Light said softly, shaking her head faintly against her pillow. She just knew that was the case. Yes, he got called away to save the worlds every once in a while, but Destiny Islands was still his home, the place where everything and everyone he loved was. Well, not everyone.