Vesper's Heroes

I smell like coffee. Well, my new job is at a Border’s café so it makes sense and it is better than smelling like popcorn, like with my last job.
Anywho, love again to AkuRokulove, Jediempress, Endoresu, Archangel Rhapsody, and nonie77 who have either given me a review or just added this story to their alert list.

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It was early but then again it wasn’t considering when he fell asleep. The sun was starting to peak over the rooftops of the city and most people were already up and going about their business. He yawned, scratching at his head as he wandered aimlessly in the marketplace, enjoying the presence of the mental companion in the back of his brain. Only a slight twinge of pain ghosted in the small of his back as he walked. He still didn’t know how he woke up before Hosep, or how he got lucky enough to not only slip out of bed and take as solo shower, but to actually get out of the inn.

Not that Riku minded the last . . . He paused. How many days had it been? He couldn’t be sure since they had almost never left their bed much less their room. Not that I mind why we didn’t leave. The things that man can do with his tongue. He shivered and not from the morning chills. He guessed it had been about a week and they had been thoroughly enjoying that week with almost non-stop sex.

In the bed, off the bed, on the floor, on the wall, in the shower, under the table, on the table . . . He mentally ticked off all the places they had tried within their quarters as a drunken type grin spread over his face. They had even taken turns with who topped which proved to be just as enjoyable as being on bottom. Even now the only thing keeping him from running back to their room was a need for some fresh air and sunshine. He had left a note that he had gone out if Hosep wanted to find him.

Part of me almost hopes he does. One eye measured up an alleyway as he passed by, gutter mind hard at work thinking of the things they could do there. He chuckled at himself as he moved toward the food vendors for some breakfast as he wrestled his thoughts back into a cleaner mindset. A hot roll and some fruit lightened his purse strings before he went back to wandering.

It was peaceful here; a far cry from the battle ground not a day’s distance. Here it was almost as if the war hadn’t happened. The buildings did not threaten to fall if hit by a stiff breeze. Blood did not flow down the streets. Heartless did not lurk in the shadows. Traitors aren’t looking to kill me.

He frowned, taking a seat by at the fountain in the city square. His good mood had been slaughtered along with his appetite. Even so, that mental hum in the back of his mind offered condolences and acceptances. Riku had gotten so used to having Kingdom Hearts in the back of his mind he didn’t think about it anymore. In fact, the last week he had blocked it out, making him feel a bit out of sorts at times but it wasn’t long before he had become distracted again.

Riku tried to return to just enjoying the morning as he perched on the hard stone. Just as he began to recover his previous emotional state, he felt a hand ghosting over his mind, the equivalent of knocking to see if he was ‘home’ and wanted to talk. He consented and put his sense on high alert before falling into rapport with his backseat rider. Riku knew he zoned out when talking to Kingdom Hearts and didn’t want to be caught unaware no matter how peaceful it was.

{:Something wrong?:} he asked as he shifted carefully. Dimly he noted children playing in the square even as their mothers scolded them for running off. He didn’t sense any danger so he continued to wait for a reply.

{:Nothing is wrong. However, it is time if you are ready.:} Time for my last lesson then. He nodded but did not rise, letting the idea resurface. That conversation had occurred the last time that he slept. Kingdom Hearts was going to teach him how to use light portals.

Well, use wasn’t the right term. Control was more like it. From the sound of it, light portals were alive in their own way and had to be ‘tamed’ before they could be used.

{:Think of them like unruly horses.:} he’d been told. {:It takes both a strong hand but a gentle one as well to control and command them. Force and anger will only cause them to rebel when least opportune.:} It didn’t elaborate on what happened to a person when they rebelled but Riku had a feeling he didn’t want to know.

He let the connection fade a bit as he rose to his feet, stretching his arms far above his head before letting them flop to his sides. I’ll have to get and get Hosep before I try. I’m not leaving him behind. A surge of mental agreement settled his nerves a bit as he took off. Ground eating strides carried him from the city square and back into the market place. He was most of the way back to the inn when he spotted a familiar head of blond hair. He didn’t even get a chance to shout and grab his attention before he was swept up in a rather heated kiss.

“Sneaky diji’ri. Did you really think you could get away?” Hosep purred into his ear, his face alight from his smile. The keyblade wielder could feel his own face stretching in an echoing expression.

“Not without you,” he replied, feeling a surge of magic close by. “Ready to go? I’m afraid there’s no time to pack.” He didn’t elaborate on that cryptic statement. Thankfully Hosep’s mental feet were up and running as he only cocked one eyebrow at him.

“I hope that Tik’va explores out room then and finds my letter of resignation,” he joked, letting Riku step away to turn to open ground. He got an elbow in his gut of that but not without a grin to take away the sting.

{:Ready here.:} he sent. Kingdom Hearts sent its assent, taking ‘hold’ of Riku’s ‘hands’ to guide him through his first light portal working. There was nothing in the physical world but he could feel eyes on him even as instinct drove people away from the convergence point. It was a bit disconcerting as he soon found himself seeing both the real world and the magic overlapping it. But then his disorientation was lost to wonderment at seeing it converge and almost collapse on itself to break through the barrier between worlds.

It was too much! It fought him, wanting to break out of his tenacious control. He held firm though, bring up his hands to grasp at it despite the unreal burns he could feel it inflicting. It surged against him again, writhing like an Ourorboros but he stood prone even as his magic took up arms.

{:Gently my Champion. Gently.:} he was reprimanded. With a few deep breaths and a hand on his shoulder to ground him he relaxed a trifle, waiting for it to surge again. It didn’t though as if waiting to see what he would do. {:Better. Do not worry about the exit point. It will know where to go on its own. You only have to help build it.:} He let go a bit more, sending the magic in a specific direction. It obeyed. Staring to gain some confidence he did it again and now it began to move on its own as it anticipated what he wanted.

Now he was dimly aware of people screaming and running. Something had to be happening in the physical world but he still could see the magic overlapping it so he wasn’t sure what was physically visible and what was not. He couldn’t stop though, feeling Kingdom Hearts hand over total jurisdiction so that only he was the one controlling the gate. In what he hoped would be the last attempt he felt then energy buck to throw him off but it failed, leaving him shaking inside and out.

He saw something surge but it remained in the energy pool that he was controlling, making it warp and bend into what was finally a fully formed light portal. Something in him snapped back into place when it did, like a shoulder joint but without the pain, that left him a bit woozy as he now could only see the physical world. Hands where on his real shoulder to keep him balanced as he took a good long look at what he had made.

If one ignored the current swarm of palace guards and the general panicking commoners and actually looked at his construct, the first thought was it was pretty. It was mostly white but still had faded blues, purples and silver threaded throughout. Glowing and luminescent, it pulsed softly as constant moving magic energy swirled.

“Riku?” He turned to glance over his shoulder at Hosep. The scout looked a bit unnerved by whatever he had seen happen, an emotion that Riku had never seen on his face before. Grabbing one hand so as to be able to tug him along, the keyblade wielder stepped forward with his other hand extending out to the gate. He smiled, seeing an offshoot of energy reach out and wrap around his offered limb. It didn’t pull at him like the first time he came in contact with a light portal. It just floated, ready to tighten and pull him along or just drop off and let go.

“It’s all right Hosep.” Again the scout wore a look of apprehension but as another tug was gifted to his hand, he took a step forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Riku. Teal eyes regarded the light portal even as he continued to ignore the guards that wouldn’t come even close to it. “Ready?” Hosep nodded. Riku signaled the gate.

Like a krakken eager to drag them into the depths of the ocean, tentacles of energy grabbed them both and pulled them bodily into the energy portal despite the voiced protests that followed them. Just like before it was a wash of light and energy that this time did not overwhelm the keyblade wielder as the pair of them fell. It was not so kind to Hosep who only tightened his hold on Riku to show his discomfort.

Neither of them spoke as the fell to a yet unknown location. However, like the first time, they were thrown out the other side of the gate. Riku lost hold of Hosep as he slammed into the ground with a choked howl to roll down a rocky hillside until his momentum was lost. He lay in a daze as he dimly noted someone screaming his name that he couldn’t hear over the screaming pain from his ribs. Of course, Kingdom Hearts was trying to talk to him as well but Riku couldn’t bring himself to listen.

I’m really getting sick and tired of getting hurt. That was the last thing he knew before he fell into darkness.

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The dull ache in his side wasn’t what woke him up some time later, nor was it the rather maddening itch of an old scar. It was the shouting match from down stairs where he heard his own name that forced Riku to face the world. He moaned when he was momentarily blinded by the sunlight pouring through the window as he sat up to take stock of himself and his new location.

It certainly wasn’t impressive. Wherever he was had seen better days but was still being put to good use. The walls were a bit worn and the paint a bit faded but it was clean at least. He was on the bed under the window with bandages being the only thing on his torso. Going left around the room was a bedside table with a few books and a clock, declaring it to be early evening. Further on was the closet with the door half open to show some clothing and a couple of boxes but nothing spectacular. The next wall had a dresser and then what he assumed was the door to the hall since that was where the voices were coming from. The last wall had a few posters and a small desk with a chair.

That chair had clothes, which looked cleaned and ready for him. It wasn’t his clothing but as long as it fit, he couldn’t complain. What few things he had been carrying where on the desk itself. No sign of Hosep though. He couldn’t feel Kingdom Hearts either, putting him on alert.

“I’m telling you that he is Riku!” was the latest shout. I know that voice. Sora was here! Despite being alone he felt himself smile as he moved ever so slowly toward the chair for his laundry.

“Then who the hell is that other guy?” was the hollered retort. Riku didn’t know that voice but it was definitely female and sounded ready for a fight. He winced as he pulled a shirt over his head. He was not going to change out of the comfy pajama pants he was already wearing or even bother with socks and boots. It wasn’t worth it.

“I don’t know but just because we don’t is no reason to lock him up!” Sora yelled back. So Hosep is under lock and key? That won’t last long. He peeked out into the hall to make sure it was empty before ducking back into his room. A quick summon and banishment proved he could still bring up Halted Dusk. Good to know I’m not unarmed even though I can’t contact Kingdom Hearts anymore. He slipped back out into the hall toward the staircase.

“That’s just it Sora. We don’t know so we can’t take any chances.” Another new voice, this one male and sounding far calmer. He was half way down the stairs when the kitchen came into view. Most of the occupants had their back to Riku and Sora wasn’t within sight. “Once Riku wakes up, if it is him, we can ask and find out.” That came from a man who seemed to enjoy leather and multiple belts. Seems as good a time as any to make my entrance.

“Ask me what?” he smirked, halting at the bottom of the stairs. Five of the people present he didn’t know but he did know the exuberant bundle of energy that rocketed toward him.

“RIKU!” Sora crowed as he glomped the taller boy around the middle and nearly crashed them both to the ground. He couldn’t help but laugh with care for his ribs and return the clinging hug to his childhood friend. Blue eyes locked with his even as they became tinged with suppressed laughter. “You are Riku aren’t you?” Riku’s careful answering chortle was reply enough but that didn’t make him hold his tongue.

“Idiot. Shouldn’t you be on Destiny Island giving Kairi a paopu fruit?” he teased, flicking him in the forehead. Sora only grumbled and rubbed at where he had been struck, sending a good-natured glare at his friend.

“Yeah. That’s Riku all right,” he huffed, pretending to be offended. Riku only chuckled again, moving to ruffle Sora’s hair before taking a seat.

“Where is the guy I was traveling with? He’s got blond hair and red eyes.” The lack of response to Riku’s inquiry was not encouraging. The looks that were passed around were even less. He didn’t even bother looking at anyone but Sora since he didn’t know them and doubted they would provide answers. “Sora? Where is he?” His fellow keyblade wielder glared at the man who had spoken earlier before sighing.

“Leon is under the impression that he is a Nobody has him locked up in the basement. I say he’s not but I got out voted on that matter.” He glared again, obviously not liking the situation at all. Begging eyes were leveled at him. “Please tell me you can clear this up and vouch for him.” It took all his will power to not let an evil grin spread over his face as a deliciously wicked idea occurred to him.

“I can in more ways than one if someone is willing to bring him up here. Once I’ve seen he’s fine I’ll be more than happy to explain the exact nature of our relationship.” Sora seemed to know something was up but didn’t make it obvious. Leon, the man in leather, also knew something but didn’t press for answers and instead stalked off with one of the others in tow. Sora took a seat by Riku while they waited and let his curiosity become plain.

“Should I be forewarned about something here?” he asked, letting one eyebrow vanish into his wild brown spiked.

“All I ask is you let me explain things later,” he requested. “I’ve spent the last seven months with him and-”

“Wait, seven months?” Sora interrupted. “For all of us it’s only been two weeks!” Riku was stunned and felt like someone had just punched him in the gut. He slumped back and let his gaze unfocused as his thoughts began to run in circles. Only two weeks? But what about all the time I was with the Hosep? Does time flow differently on different worlds? It didn’t make any sense but he was soon dragged out of his mental tempest as muffled swearing drifted out to them.

Hosep with his hands bound behind his back and a blindfold over his eyes was herded through the kitchen and into a sitting room where he was forced to take a seat on the couch. Riku and the rest followed with varying levels of interest. When they had all taken positions in a half circle around the captive, Leon ripped off the blindfold.

Those same red eyes that Riku knew so well glared at everyone but him. True to his nature he didn’t say a word and only let his emotions be clear though his gaze. Riku ignored those present and flashed a few hand signs even though Hosep wouldn’t be able to reply.

‘Calm. Safe here. Free soon. Provide show.’ He got a nod in return, which had Leon now glaring at the pair of them.

“What did you just tell him?” He demanded. Teal eyes flashed dangerously at the unspoken accusation behind it. Like I would ever betray my friends!

“I told him what he needed to know. Now do you want to know the truth about him and me or not?” he retorted hotly. This guy was really getting on his nerves. After a brief staring match Leon nodded and actually stepped back to give him room. With a wink at Sora to warn him, he took a few jaunty steps forward until he was toe to toe with Hosep.

Without any warning he suddenly slid forward into that lap he had gotten to know so well, straddling it with his thighs even as his hands fisted in that silky blond hair. The pair of them shared a smirk and then they were kissing. It started out innocent enough but soon got rather heated with tongues dueling and hips starting to grind on their own. A discreet cough brought them back to reality but it was a slow climb out of their mental gutters.

Riku gave a leer over his shoulder at the dropped jaws. Sora was just baffled and was slowly moving toward the front door muttering that he would be back later, he just needed some air. Leon looked as though he wanted to gouge out his eyes. The other three, two females, one older blond man and one very old graying man were all blushing and had averted their eyes at the scene.

With some silent magic (Why is that working when my connection with Kingdom Hearts isn’t?) he had untied Hosep and was now sitting side ways in his lap with arms looped around his waist. He felt a little guilty for disrupting Sora’s world so much but knowing Sora he would just bounce back once he wrapped his brain around it. As for the rest, he felt justified with his final spoken warning and waving keyblade.

“This is Hosep and he is my partner. He is fully human and actually fought with me against Heartless in the last world I was in. Anyone that fucks with him will have to deal with me.”

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Author note: And we are finally back to Hollow Bastion and Sora with Riku being a possessive little snot. And yes I had him get beat up again. I will explain why he can’t contact Kingdom Hearts in the next chapter but it might be a week or two before I can post it. Reviews are loved and drive me to write more so please feed this poor starving writer.