Accidental Infatuation

Accidental Infatuation

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Chapter Twenty One

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“I don’t think that I can do this, Riku.” I whine, gripping tightly on the arms of my wheelchair.

I hear my boyfriend, brother and brother’s boyfriend all laugh, and I can’t help but let out a small growl. “Aw, come on Sora. You have never been afraid of the water before. Tifa calls you her little fish for a reason,” Roxy laughs, moving through the water of the pool slowly, not leaving the shallow end quite yet.

“But that was when I could actually move my legs if I needed to,” I reply, still not convinced that this really is a good idea. For some reason, Roxy decided last night that he wanted to go for a swim in the clinic’s rehab pool. To be fair, it has been almost three months since our accident, and for the two of us, who have lived all our lives within like eight seconds from a body of water and the fact that we both learned to swim before we could walk, it has been an eternity since either of us have been in the water, and it is sort of depressing. But the fact that I am so nervous about getting in the water completely surprises me.

It’s only been a week and a half since Riku had his encounter with his brother, and luckily, nothing was too serious. The worse of his injuries were two bruised ribs. But none of that compares with the damage that was done to Riku and Sephiroth’s relationship. From what I can tell, they haven’t spoken a word to one another since everything happened, and most nights, Riku is staying at Demyx’s so that they don’t run into one another at their apartment. I couldn’t imagine not having a relationship with Cloud, because when I think about it there is almost as much of an age gap between us as there is between Riku and Sephiroth. I just can’t understand it. But the most surprising thing about these past few weeks is that Riku suggested to Dr. Vexen that until we figure out what it is that has Sephiroth’s panties in such a twist, because our relationship is out now, that I cancel my sessions with him for now. And Dr. Vexen agreed.

“Don’t worry, Sora. It’s not like you are going to drown. We won’t let that happen,” Axel tells me, walking up behind me and placing a hand on my shoulder.

“How sweet, Axel. I didn’t realize that you cared so much,” chuckles Riku from his position at the edge of the pool. His legs are hanging into the water, and its taking all of my will power not to spend our time here at the pool just gawking at my boyfriend’s shirtless form. What can I say? He is so hot.

“Nah, it’s just that if Sora dies, Roxas probably won’t put out. So technically, my reasoning is completely selfish. Don’t worry; I’m not turning good on you just yet.” I can just imagine the smirk that has to be on his face.

“Damn right I wouldn’t put out,” Roxy responds and we all burst out into laughter, the sound echoing loudly inside the pool building. As usual, I am able to pick Riku’s laughter out of the mix, and it sends a warm wave through my body. I still haven’t actually told my boyfriend that I’m pretty sure that I love him. Part of it is because I want to be absolutely positive that I do, so that I don’t scare him off. The other part is that I am sort of scared to tell him.

As I am lost in my thoughts, the water closest to me starts making noises, drawing my vision down to it. Down there, I see my twin, his arm and shoulder still wrapped tightly in plastic so that none of the chemically treated water can get into his healing incisions. “Sora, this is going to be good for you. Don’t worry. Trust that Axel and Riku will keep you safe, okay?” his voice is whispered as he puts his hand on my bare foot, his bright blue eyes shining with love. Dammit. Why can not find it in me to resist those eyes.

“Promise?” I whisper back, trying not to sound nearly as scared as I am.

“Promise,” My twin repeats, and that is just the confirmation that I need to hear before I agree to be put in the pool. Knowing that the wet surface would make it too difficult for Riku to try and lift me out of my chair without slipping and breaking his neck, Axel kind of gives me a very rude salute before offering his assistance, which I accept and he gets ready to come over and help me. Roxas just smiles before swimming around a little more, leaving me to my own devices for a while. All my attention instantly goes to my boyfriend.

He is just sitting there on the edge of the pool, his legs dangling over the edge and kicking gently in the clear water, his black and yellow trunks covering up the sculpted thighs that so often serve as my pillow. Going back on my word, I take just a moment to just take in the sight of his naked chest and torso. Man, he really is so hot. He is so lean, but with lean muscles. His stomach isn’t a washboard, but it is still firm and defined. I peal my eyes away from the sight of his belly button and the light trail of inviting silver hair that is barely visible against the pale skin that disappears below the waist band of his low slung shorts, my eyes instead travel upwards. There is still a little bit of light bruising from everything, but he told me that nothing really hurts that much anymore, which puts my mind at rest, at least a little bit. But my eyes jump right over those markings and go straight to the other dark markings on his chest. Two rosy nipples stand out from his pale skin and I can’t help that blush at the fact that that is where my vision was drawn automatically to. Either the coolness of the water or the air is causing his nipples to stand erect out from his body, and I can’t help but feel a slight stirring in my stomach at the sight of them.

Not wanting to be too obvious, I once again reluctantly tear my eyes away from Riku’s chest. I am finally able to get my vision locked on the wonderful, serene visage of my boyfriend. He is just sitting there, staring off into space with a very thoughtful look on his face, long silver hair held off of his face by means of a hair tie. Those full pink lips look so inviting, and I can’t help myself from licking my own lips, recalling vividly, his distinctive flavour, how I got to taste it just before coming here, and eager to sample it again soon.

The pool entrance is opened with a loud clatter, and it breaks not only my gaze, but it causes everyone to look quickly over at the door, finding surprisingly enough, of all people, Kairi sitting there in her chair, a towel in her lap and a huge grin on her face. I am glad that she is such a good friend to me now, despite our almost rough beginnings. Kairi and Naminé together have become some of the closest friends that I have ever had, and I hope that by being friends with both of them, I am able to help them build the relationship that they each want with one another. I have never heard Kairi’s side of the story of the night of their accident, but I’m sure that she will tell me and confide in me when she is ready to. Today however, judging by the grin and mischievous glint in her eyes, isn’t going to be that day.

“You guys won’t believe what just happened!” she exclaims and the exuberance is so very apparent in her voice.

“Oh, great goddess Kairi, please bestow upon us your ever enlightening wisdom.” Riku grins, slipping into the water without even the barest ripple in the pool. Man, on top of being so hot, he is so graceful.

“Goddess, Kairi. I do believe I like that,” she responds, her smile getting wider by the second, “My sacred incense shall be peppermint, or lilac, and my animal shall be a white seal. Yes, that is a good start.” Wheeling herself over to the single table in the pool area, she places her purple towel on the surface, revealing a pink bathing suit covered in small white flowers.

“You’ve put way too much thought into that,” mumbles Axel, as he removed his own plain white t-shirt and throws it over to the table.

“Every girl is a goddess, Axel,” Kairi tells him, very matter of factly, rolling herself over to the edge of the pool. “If you were even the least bit straight you would know that.”

“Hey!” my twin’s boyfriend argues, “I’m bi.”

Kairi just snorts at her fellow redhead. “Not from the way that we all see you watching Roxas’ ass.” Laughter erupts from all of us, especially Axel, and I can’t help but notice the brief look that goes between my twin and the redhead. I don’t think that I am the only one who is trying to sort our feelings right now. But as we all laugh, and Riku begins to splash some of the water onto my bare legs, we all notice Axel sneaking up behind Kairi’s position. Well, all of us except Kairi. For some reason, none of us decide to warn her of her impending doom.

Suddenly, there is a loud shriek followed by a louder splash, a second following close behind it. The rest of us just burst into harder laughter, Roxy and Riku both holding onto the edge of the pool for support as the sight of Axel casually just tipping Kairi’s wheelchair forward so that she went flying into the pool a little too much to handle. I guess Riku had concluded what happened by the sounds; but then again, it was a little obvious exactly what was happening. And the second splash luckily was Axel jumping in right after her to make sure that she is able to get to the surface. Judging by the loud string of crass, crude and sometimes physically impossible threats and curses, she is fine.

“Axel! You fucking, shitty, asshole of a cock wanking jerk off rat sucking bastard! I’m going to shove your tiny little string bean penis up your nose!” Wincing at the insults, I sort of almost feel kind of sorry for Axel, though he brought it upon himself really. Right now, he is holding Kairi tightly around her chest, keeping her afloat in the deep water as he treads water and she moves her arms.

“Sora, you better consider getting in here before he does the same to you. And at least Kai was by the deep end. You’re not,” Roxy tells me through his laughter. I know that he has a big point there.

“Fine.” I grumble, still somewhat reluctant. “But Axel was going to help me in. I still need someone to help me out of my chair.” Right on cue, Riku uses the sound of my voice to pinpoint the exact place he needs to be and pulls himself up onto the side of the pool right next to me. And I can’t help but notice his chest flexing as he uses those muscles and the beads of water that clings to the pale skin. He is so freaking gorgeous! And with a body like that, I’m so surprised that he isn’t in competitive swimming.

Shaking off just a little bit of the excess water, much to my silent dismay, my silver haired boyfriend comes right up beside me with just a single touch of my had as a guide. “Don’t worry. The floor isn’t that wet around here yet, so it shouldn’t be a problem for me to at least help you to the ground. And trust me. Nothing bad will happen to you. Not as long as I’m here.” The hushed voice comes from right next to my ear, and sends a chill straight down through my entire body. He totally has got to stop doing that! It turns me into mush every single time.

Taking in a deep breath, I tell him a short ‘okay’ before we work together ad with a practiced ease, get me down so that I am sitting on the edge of the pool myself, Roxy still positioned there, a smile on his face. Luckily, one of the skills that I have been working on the hardest lately is sitting up on my own, and I’m glad for that. Not that I don’t absolutely love when Riku sits behind me and supports me, But little things like that make me notice that there is some improvement, and that is a good thing. I wait until my boyfriend slides back into the water and then stands in front of me with his arms held open in an invitation.

I close my eyes and count to three, forcing myself off of the tiled ledge and with my own loud splash, into the cold water. I wince slightly at the temperature as Riku wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. I feel him press a single kiss up against my temple, and I can just feel the blush appear and I can’t help but smile. He really isn’t going to let anything happen to me. By now, Kairi and Axel have made their way back over to the shallow end, Kairi no longer being supported by Axel but by a pool noodle. Suddenly, I find myself being swung around in the water, my back now pressing against chest instead of being chest to chest. I guess that this is probably a little easier for Riku to hold me like this. But the water feels so incredible against my skin.

“So, what was it that you wanted to tell us so much?” Roxy asks Kairi as she pushes some of her messy hair behind her ear, and he finds his way over to where his boyfriend is and swims a small circle around him.

“Oh, right! So, this morning, Nami totally got flowers!” she smiles almost wickedly.

“So? We get flowers here all the time,” Axel shrugs before starting to swim after Roxy with a predatory look on his face.

“That’s not the point though,” giggles the lone female, “Anyway, so they were these amazing yellow and white roses, her favourite. And they had a heart shaped card. But the card had no signature, or return address.”

Axel and Roxy stop dead in their little game of tag, while Riku doesn’t move, and I am still caught in his arms. “What did the card say?” I question, slightly afraid of the gleam in her eyes.

“Well, it just said ‘To the beautiful Naminé. May these flowers make your days as sunny as you make mine.” Suddenly, everything that had been slightly evil about Kairi’s disposition only seconds ago has completely dissipated and melted into a forlorn sigh and a dreamy smile. Kairi is too much of a romantic.

“So, are you saying that you think that Naminé has a secret admirer?” Axel questions, finally taking Roxy into his arms the same way that Riku is holding me. Not that my brother minds, judging by the huge grin on his face.

“Yeah.” She answers, the look still on her face. “And she was just as surprised as me when she got them. She figured that it was just Tidus sending me more flowers. But when we read the card, she just about fell over. She has no idea at who it might be. Right now, she is sitting in our room going through a list of people at school of who it might possibly be.

I hear Riku kind of hum behind me, and it takes all I can do to not groan out. It feels so good to be this close to him, not to mention in the water after so long. I wonder what in my mind it was that was so opposed to this in the first place. I know that neither Riku nor Roxy would ever let me drown. Then again, maybe it was something completely different holding me back. Hmm. Guess we will never know. With out any warning, Riku suddenly leans back still holding tightly across my chest and pulling me backwards with him. I gasp out at the movement, my arms going out to the sides and paddling to keep us above the water. The movement causes more of my body to become submerged, and I can’t deny how good it is to have the wetness against my skin again.

Riku and I float along, careful to avoid the splashing and chasing games that Roxy and Axel are caught up with, Kairi just floating around leisurely, and the five of us joking around with guesses of who Naminé’s secret admirer might be.

“What if it was Demyx?” I laugh, and everyone turns to me with looks that seem to question my sanity. “I know that he is totally committed to Zexion, not to mention that he thinks that girls are totally gross, but what if he sent them to her feel better after everything that happened a couple of weeks ago.”

Axel adds to the laughter, being the first to break his stupor. “And that corny line is totally something that he would write for one of his cheesy ballads.”

Our laughter fills the pool area once more as we all picture Demyx doing just that. “Man, don’t tell Nami about that theory,” Kairi giggles.

“Why not? It would be hilarious,” Roxy insists, swimming over towards me, followed closely by Axel, and all I can do is hope that Riku and I don’t end up in the center of their latest splash fight.

“Face it, she is such a fan girl that she would assume that it is an invitation to come and watch him and Zexion having sex.” Riku chuckles and it is only then that I realize just how close he has gotten with his mouth to my ear, and once again, I am forced to try and suppress a moan at the closeness. Everyone just continues to float, play and laugh in the pool, and for a moment, all of us forget the circumstances that brought us all together. And to top it all off, the sensation of my back pressing so firmly against Riku’s taught stomach and knowing that our legs are entwined so nicely is enough to make me what to stay here forever.

But suddenly, we stop moving as fluidly as we are pushed upright again by my boyfriend. “Riku?” I question him, unsure as to why he broke our gentle trance.

He doesn’t answer as he removes one arm from around my chest and I feel him lift it up to his forehead.

“Dude, you don’t look that great. You okay?” Axel calls, and suddenly, I notice the seriousness that is on everyone else’s faces. And that makes me completely worried as to what he looks like. Before I can contemplate anything else though, I suddenly find myself free floating in the water for only a moment before Roxy and Kairi come over to my rescue with an arm each and a floatation device. What on earth is going on? Axel is instantly over by Riku, holding my boyfriend so that his head is kept above the chlorinated water. I finally get the opportunity to look at Riku’s face, but instantly I regret it.

His features are skewed by the pain that has surfaced, and he is pale, even for him. It’s kind of scary seeing his face that pale framed by his silver hair. It’s almost like someone drained all of the colour out of him completely. I just float there helplessly as I hear him whimper out in pain, and that is the last thing that Axel needs to hear obviously before scooping my boyfriend up in his arms and carrying him over to the stairs to the pool. Why is it always Riku who is in pain? Why? What did he do to deserve all of this? And why isn’t there anything that I can do to help him? The three of us watch intently as Axel carries him, despite how close in size that they are, and puts him down in my chair, not caring that Riku is soaking wet. And frankly, I don’t care that he is either.

Riku’s hand is continuing to massage his forehead above his eyes, sometimes going o pinch the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, groaning every once in a while, and it is obvious that he is in a lot of pain. We are all on pins and needles, unsure of what, if anything, we can do. This is so frustrating.

“I’m going to find someone to help, okay?” Axel tells us in the pool, more than Riku. But as soon as he says it, we all watch as Riku’s hand goes flying out from beside his body and grabs a hold of Axel’s arm.

“Not my brother.” The words are not said as a suggestion or question, but as a demand. And even though he is in obvious pain, the tone of Riku’s voice is one that you listen to no matter what, or face the consequences.

Axel nods, but as he starts to pull his arm out of my boyfriend’s tight grasp, the strangest thing happens. The taught lines that Riku’s face had developed melted away, the pain evaporated from his sightless eyes.

“Riku?” I question from my position below him at the side of the pool, my words laced with worry. I mean, there he was only seconds ago, he was in complete agony, but now everything seemed to be just fine.

“I’m alright.” He whispers, his voice echoing in the large pool room.

“The hell was that all about?” Roxy adds, his good hand resting firmly on my shoulder, keeping me from panicking too much. Well, grounding me somewhat at least. I swear, my brother is the cause of any sanity that I might have.

Riku takes in a deep breath, raking his hand through his damp silver hair, Axel watching over him like a hawk right now. “It was just a brutally intense headache. But it seems to have disappeared. I feel alright now, just a little sleepy.”

“Maybe you should go lay down for a bit then?” Kairi suggests, the concern in her words making me tense just a little. Its not that I think that she is still going to jump me, or try and steal Riku from me, it’s just that I’m still trying to hide the fact that I’m gynophobic from Kairi and Naminé despite the fact that they have becomes two of my closest friends. I’m just worried that she will see the effect that Riku’s attack is having on me and try and comfort me. Panic attack while in the water? Probably not a good idea.

Nodding, my boyfriend develops a distant look on his face, and with a little help from Axel, gets up out of my chair and goes over to gather his belongings. Something pangs in my chest when I think of him going back to his apartment with the chance of Sephiroth being there when he isn’t feeling good. Watching as he runs a towel over his body quickly to get most of the water off of his body, despite how hot I think it with the droplets clinging to his chest, I get an idea. “Riku!” I say, a little louder then I wanted to, causing Kairi and Roxy to jump away from me slightly. And luckily, my boyfriend turns towards the sound of my voice. “Why don’t you go rest in mine and Roxy’s room? I’ll follow along behind you and lay down with you.”

Despite the fact that everyone in the room probably has their own ideas as to why I wanted to lay down with him, I don’t blush, or even get flustered. He gives me a small smile, which I return eagerly, and he then nods, and I feel my heart and stomach explode into butterflies. We are all silent as Riku finally extends his cane and makes his way out of the pool area and back into the clinic.

“Axel!” I exclaim, bordering on bellowing, “Help me out of the pool and into my chair please?” frantically, I make myself move the best I can with only my arms towards the stairs, wanting to be wiped down and in my chair ASAP.

My brother’s boyfriend just laughs heartily as he steps down onto the first step. “Now, why would I want to help you with that?” He is smirking, and it’s all I can do to not reach out and punch him.

“If you do, I promise you an hour and a half of uninterrupted Roxy time every day for the next week, and you two can do what ever you want, whenever you want without my interference.” Before the last word was even out of my mouth, Axel had already jumped back out of the water to dry my chair off with a new towel from where Riku had been on it, and also to catch any water coming off of me.

I find myself lifted in the air and being carried over to my chair before you could say ‘great horny toads’ and with a round of laughter from every one, I was out of the door just as fast. I know that part of me was following Riku out of worry, but there is another part, larger and more dominant part that wanted to go after him just for the chance to stretch out beside him, and possibly tell him what had been weighing on my mind for the past two weeks. How deep my feelings run. Without saying even goodbye or anything, I burst out of the pool area to go after Riku.

I’m lost in my own little world for nearly the entire distance, my arms and chair working together to get me to my room as fast as possible. I round the corner to the second to last hallway before coming to a complete stop. There is something odd about the corridor today. And it doesn’t take me long to figure out just what it is. The office doors, all of which are 97% of the time closed are what catch me off guard. There is one that is wide open. The one that belongs to Sephiroth is ajar. I hope to god that that bastard didn’t catch Riku on his way to my room. Slowly, I inch myself closer to the door, hoping that Sephiroth doesn’t have super honed detection skills.

“I just don’t know how to deal with him anymore.” A loud sigh follows the statement, and instantly, I know it is Riku’s brother talking to someone. But who to?

“You’ve just got to have some patience. Give it some more time.” Now, that is a voice that I have never heard before. I wonder who it can be.

“It’s been years now, and we’ve made absolutely no progress what so ever. I thought that this clinic would be the best place for he and I, but obviously that is no longer true. It is exactly the same as before.” Now, I’m really curious as to who Sephiroth is talking to.

“Settle down, lover. I’m sure its come along farther than you realize. You just haven’t noticed the progress that you’ve made yet.” The voice tells him calmly.

Wait…lover?!?!?!

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All I can say about the lateness of this chapter is I’m so sorry. After I rushed to get the chapters I needed to get done to post before the new year, I had to work on everything else that I had neglected during that time. Combining that with an insane work schedule leaving me absolutely exhausted a lot of the time means that I get no writing time. Ah, well. At least it’s here now, right?

So I want to say a huge thank you all so much for continuing to support this story after all this time! It is always so amazing to see that someone else has reviewed or ratedthis story. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so very much! I’m still kind of in aw that this story is now 21 chapters(!) long, 100, 000 words and with so many incredible reviews. I can’t express in words how much every single one of them means to me! And we have passed Accident’s 2nd birthday as well! *hands out cake and ice cream to all of the readers* Thank you all for keeping this story alive after so long! And to my love, you are my reason for this story, and you know that, hehe. I miss you so much, and its down to 20 now, and I can’t wait! I love you Pahoyhoy! And as always, thank you so much for betaing this for me!

Poor Riku…I feel like I’ve been picking on him lately. Sad face. At least he has Sora to make him feel better, right? And who is this mysterious lover that Sephiroth suppositively has? Head on over to my profile page and cast your vote as to who you would like to see it be! And again, thank you all so much! Until next time!