Leon could not believe he had said yes. Where the hell had that come from and could he not take it back? He did not even know the teenager except from what Sora had spoken up about him the previous years. Had, had some problems in his past but was trying to rectify them. Well he could certainly understand that all to well, but why had he said yes to Riku living with him? He was a solitary man and his house was not even finished. It probably would remain unfinished as long as it took to complete the restoration, and would the restoration ever be complete?
The basement was still unfinished, and the furniture was sparse but Leon was a simplistic man when it came to such things. That came down to years of having to share a room with another cadet in Garden. Having your own room when you were Seed even though it was still small was quite a difference all of a sudden.
It was to early in the morning for this, Leon was at the counter in his kitchen making himself coffee. He had been told Riku would be arriving sometime today though quite possibly in the morning. It would better if it was morning that way Leon could get back to his normal schedule in the afternoon. He had to check up on the water pipes which seemed to be leaking, check with Cid about upgrades to the Defence system and make up further blue prints about expansions. Work never seemed to end and for Leon that was a good thing. More work meant less time to think.
But having someone else living with him was going to be odd.
Stepping into the living room with his cup of coffee steaming he shook his head. He must have lost it to say yes. The couch was black leather, as well as the lone reading chair. Their was two book shelves of dark wood, one filled with various books, and another that had pictures on it. Many of the restoration committee and Sora. But their was a lone one that was heavily wrinkled, crinkled and worn in a frame near the back that would take a close eye to notice. It was of the Orphange Gang when Leon had been 18, after the Sorceress War and everything seemed...seemed, to be quieting down.
Riku really did love the boy. Honestly...Sora was his best friend and probably would be for years to come, but living on that Island was just a little too much for Riku at the moment. He was mainly the reason why it had been destroyed in the first place. He'd watched it die and then become reborn again. Talk about guilty conscious.
Home just didn't seem like home. Sure, it had been nice for the first couple of weeks. But after being out for so long, exploring other words and fighting Heartless, the boredom of day-to-day living on the Island got well...boring. And it just didn't feel right. So after staying on the Island for a couple of months...Riku put his foot down and told Sora he wanted to move. Moving away, Riku figured, would calm his heart and get rid of this guilty feeling that clawed at his brain. So Sora found him a home. A nice home. A roommate, as well. Okay, Riku thought, I can deal with that.
Until he found out who said roommate was...He'd groaned, of course. He knew Leon from the stories Sora had told him. At least he was quiet. A loner. 'Stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours' sort of guy. Riku could handle that.
He arrived a little later than he wanted to, but he didn't think that would matter. He rapped on the door with his knuckles and shifted his bag on his shoulder. He didn't have much in the first place...couple outfits, socks, shoes, underwear and this toiletries. The basic day to day stuff.
He sighed. This...was going to be entertaining.
-- Edited by Riku on Monday 29th of June 2009 07:46:04 AM
It was almost 9am and Leon had settled back on the couch with a book his coffee drank completely already. As long as he was gone by 10am he was not going to have to stay longer then 8pm to get everything he wanted to get done achieved today. Of course even so he knew he would have Aerith concerned he was not eating again. He could ignore it for days if he had to, he had enough control over this body he could ignore hunger and pain for quite a while. Leon prided himself in this. Squall had been unable to do such things, he had given into his bodies pains and sufferings, hunger and illness. Leon moved on past them. He would not ever go back to being the teenager who could not protect himself or someone he cared about. Ever.
Eyes shifting over the pages of the book he had found in the Castle's libraries related to military training, he shifted his head as he heard the knock and stood fluidly from where he had been sitting. He was already fully dressed in his normal, his boots coat and belts in place. His clothes had hardly changed sense he was 14 and had begun to wear the leathers and belts. Griever was just the last part of the package around his neck.
Slipping the book back among the others on the shelf, he would return it once he finished it to the library. Walking to the door he unlocked it and opened it. He had yet to actually see the silver haired teenager, though he of course had been told what the other looked like. Of course being told and seeing were very different. Riku's hair reminded him of Fujin's hair which had always been so un-natural on Archipelago. It was what caught his eye foremost before he nodded his head to Riku in a greeting and stepped back to let the other inside. "The guest room is across from my own at the end of the hall. The basement is unfinished." Never much for words past what was needed.
-- Edited by LionHeart on Monday 29th of June 2009 08:00:44 AM
Riku found himself hopping a bit as he waited for the door to be opened. Once he noticed, he forced himself to stop, flicking silver strands of hair out of his face. That would be just what Leon needed to see, wouldn't it? His new roommate fidgeting impatiently like a child.
Right. Sure.
Riku resisted the urge to knock again...it had only been a few seconds, but lately Riku was restless. He just wanted to be inside instead of standing on the porch of an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar world. For the first time, Riku wondered why had had ever wanted to leave the safety of Destiny Islands. Ah, that's right. Guilty conscious. Now he remembered.
Pulled from his thoughts via the door opening, Riku blinked up at the tall brunett. His first thoughts were, 'Well, at least he's good looking.' before he entered the house and was directed to his room. Then it was, 'Perhaps Sora should have warned me exactly how quiet Leon really was.' No hello or welcome to your new home? Just directions to his room. Oh, and lets not forget...the very important information about the basement and how not finished it was.
Riku closed his eyes and just said, "Right - thanks, by the way. I'm Riku."
Leon once Riku had come inside had closed the door behind him and made his way back to the coffee table to pick up his mug. The house looked lived in but still quite clean, it was just the way Leon lived. He hardly spent time in his own house, he was out working on the restoration to much to be at home except when he slept really. And Aerith always was the one who was making food and trying to get them all togther for lunch or dinner. So he had groceries but he never really cooked all that much either.
"Leon," he spoke back, greys taking in the teenager again. He had to wonder why the other was moving to Radiant Garden, with Sora's help against that last thousand heartless the world had become a lot more at peace. Far less heartless to kill and only the mundane everyday tasks of peoples lives. Even the Restoration Committee was becoming routine.
"I've got work to get done today, I wont be back until late this evening possibly. If you can't cook I'm certain Aerith will have dinner made for everyone at Merlin's." Washing the mug with hot water and soap he dried it and placed it back up in the cupboard. His brow furrowed, he had an easier time speaking to people now as he was once again a leader of a group of people, he had never asked for this again... But none the less... "I don't know the life you wanted to lead here." Words never came easy. Damn it. "But the world is at peace now, as much as it can be. What had you planned to do coming here?"
Happy that formal introductions were over, Riku allowed himself to smile just a little bit. He dumped his bag by the door with the intent to take it to his room later and just surveyed the house. It was nice but too clean, though Riku was certain after a couple of months his crap would be all over the place (he wondered briefly how Leon would react to that, and his small smile turned into a smirk).
He followed Leon at a distance, getting a feel for the layout of the house. His brows furrowed at the mention of work, but he quickly smoothed his expression to that of disinterest as the conversation moved onto dinner. Riku nodded and figured, hey, he might as well. He couldn't made anything besides ceral without seriously burning something, and burning down the house did not seem like a good idea.
Riku was surprised at the man's question, and he looked up at him through silver bangs, his expression genuinely confused. He was silent, then, "If you asking me whether I'm here to fight or make a name for myself, then that's not the case." He paused to gather his thoughts. How was he suppose to tell him that he was running away from his home because he couldn't face it anymore? Riku just shrugged then changed the subject.
Turning around he leaned back against the counter slight tall enough that his belts sat against the edge of the counter as he leaned back. A brown brow lifted over his left grey eye as he listened to the other. If not to make a name for himself or fight then why was this teen here? Most of the young people here were still terrified of the idea of darkness and of heartless, either that or they wished revenge upon it. But that was the way of youth, Leon knew that.
"The Leader," Reluctant, "of the Restoration Committee of Radiant Garden. I work with Aerith, Cid, Yuffie, occasionally Cloud and many others in the town who wish to see this world the way it was before the heartless. It's still a long way from being the way it was. Most that originally lived here are dead, but we have photos, and writings on what it was like." He had only lived in Radiant Garden less then half a year before it was attacked by heartless and taken. But it had been the refuge he had, had when his world had been destroyed. His fault. But appearing here with only the scar of where he his own gunblade had entered his heart had been horrible. He had wanted to die with her. But yet...he had lived. But this place was where he had ended up and he would aid it back to it's former glory and protect it where he had been unable to protect his own world before.
Crossing his arms over his chest, "It's a little everything." Leon's work.
Riku could tell he was a little confused at his answer, at least...if the raised eyebrow had anything to say about it. Riku grunted and ran a hand through his hair.
Restoring the town. Ah, that's right. Sora had been extremely proud of being a member of said Committee. Riku had laughed at his excitement; not that the idea of restoring the town to it's original splendor was funny or anything. The brunett was just funny. 'A little of everything' didn't seem too bad either, so Riku told him, "I can help out if you need me to...I'd much rather work than just sit around and feel useless."
Perhaps that was why Riku left the Islands. Riku frowned. After fighting for so long, he'd gotten bored of not having to do anything, not being needed. It would certainly explain the restlessness he had felt.
(Dear lord, it's short. ._.)
-- Edited by Riku on Monday 29th of June 2009 08:58:21 AM
That answer was not expected, but it was appreciated.
A deep nod of his head to Riku and he stood up straighter, "I'm leaving by ten to go to Merlin's, it's where we usually meet up in the mornings before leaving to do seperate things. Most mornings were up at 7 and at Merlins by 8 to discuss plans for an hour before getting to work. If you wish and are settled in by then, you can come with. I have a few things I need to get done today, a secondary hand perhaps would get it done before the evening." A shrug though that was the most he had said so far.
It was true, if Riku was competant or at the very least, a quick learner then Leon could perhaps be done before the sun went down around 7 as it was beginning into fall. The evenings were coming quicker with the sun going down faster and a slight chill would enter the air when the sun dropped. Not that, that seemed to matter to Leon who had a tendency if he had to, to stay out till ten at night to finish things. Little wonder Aerith worried so much about his tendencies to over work. Sundays were a day where everyone rested as it was the end of the week, but Leon hardly took the day for himself. He could still be found working.
(It happens ^_^)
-- Edited by LionHeart on Monday 29th of June 2009 09:04:41 AM
Riku nodded back, though he surpressed a groan. Helping out meant getting up early. Maybe he could just...meet Leon later on certain days. Yes...Riku liked that idea very much. Obviously, Riku was not a morning person. Oh, this was going to be fun...he wondered how the brunett would figure out that little fact.
"I dump my stuff in my room," Riku said. "We can get a head start, I guess..." he trailed off, unsure as to what to say to the quiet man. He blinked aquamarine eyes, scratched his nose and turned on his heel to grab his bag. It was rather sad how small it was...he'd ask Leon later where he could go shopping. No matter how many worlds Riku had visited, Radiant Garden was not on that list.
When he got to the end of the hall, Riku remembered Leon saying it was across from his own. Right...that was all very well and good, but which one was Leons. "Er..."
Leon had needed to go to his own as he now he was going out would grab LionHeart from it's case. So he had semi close behind the younger male and he pointed to the left door for Riku before he stepped around the other to his own room. Opening the door he stepped in not closing it behind him as their was not that much to see within.
Leon's room had a queen sized bed with navy blue sheets and blankets, the curtains the same color, no headboard for the bed, but it was up off the ground by wood beneath. A dark wood dresser with a small mirror over it, a few papers were scattered on the dresser, and one other picture faced toward the bed on a tilted angle making it diffacult to see from the doorway. But the clothes were easy to discern that it was him, though the other was in white and blue, a female. It was old and worn as well like the one in the front room.
Leon knelt down beside his bed and unclicked the locks on the case where LionHeart lay and brought out his blade closing the case and clicking the locks shut again.
The guest room had a twin sized bed against the left wall, a taller dresser with no mirror, and a small closet. Everything in the house was minimalist. The curtains and bedspread sky blue.
Riku let out a little 'ah' and twisted the handle to his room, but he didn't enter. He glanced over his shoulder, out of pure curiosity, to look into Leon's room. It was so simple, Riku thought. Definitely needed a touch of something personal...
He shook his head (no need to get into somebody else's business) and stepped into the room. For a minute he was overwhelmed. This room was so different then his old one back on Destiny Island. He'd gotten so used to the childish touch and feel of the room. It hadn't been lived in since he was 14. At least the curtains were the same color. He tossed his shoes by the closet and dumped the clothes on the bed. They were a little wrinkled, but he'd packed them in a hurry. Riku studied the hairbrush for a moment, crossed his eyes to stare at his silver bangs, and gave up and pulled a hairtie out of a smaller bag.
Quickly tossing his hair into a messy pony tail, he turned and left the room to lean against the door frame. "It'll do," he said.
Leon sheathed the gunblade on his waist through the many belts, the added weight a comfort if anything. It had become such a normal thing to him to have the gunblade against his hip sense he was a teenager.
The same brunette brow of earlier raised over his eye, and the tiniest lifting of his lips that for Leon constituted a smile that Yuffie would have been jumping up and down about appeared. "Good, if you need anything specifically for the house just speak up." Leon knew he spent little time in the house, and from this needed little. But not everyone was like himself in such regards.
The others hair in a messy pony reminded the brunette he had to get his own locks cut. It was getting bothersome and when it became bothersome in combat...Well you knew you had to do something about it. Pushing his shaggy brunette hair from his eyes he gestured with his head to follow him toward Merlin's.
Riku's eyes drifted the the man's strange weapon. The gunblade was handsomely crafted, and no matter how fine a weapon it might be, Riku perfered his keyblade. Having his weapon on his person at all times would probably annoy him more than anything.
Returning his attention to Leon's face, Riku blinked in surprise at the slight twitch in his lip. Ah, a smile. Finally. Riku returned it with one of his own, though it was more noticeable than the taller man's. "I'll be sure to do that," he replied, already making plans. Maybe he'd paint the kitchen a light yellow. It had always been one of his favorite colors.
Riku stood in silence as he waited for Leon to start moving. It was obvious they were both ready to go, and since Riku had no idea where he was going, it was best to just follow the man.
(Eh, well, we can just...fast forward? Wheee for writer's liberty?)
Leon had told Riku if he wished to return he could at an earlier hour before dinner, Aerith had dinner ready around 5pm everyday. But Leon had stayed out working on the piping, it was nearly eight pm now. He was still wrestling with the piping, the front of his white t-shirt soaked through from the water that sprayed when it was unscrewed at all or if it was like the others, already broken and spraying everywhere.
His jacket was drapped over his gunblade nearby just incase he got attacked as he was closer to the castle then he was the town. The water system out here always got damaged by heartless and required more attention. Wrench in hand he was gripping the piping with an arm and screwing the nut in place. Drapped a bit over the pipe his back to the stairs that lead down here. His hair was dripping water around his shoulders and his chest was soaked. "Son of...." he grumbled as he finally finished the one screw. One more to go.
Riku had taken off at Leon's offer. The last time he had spent a few day out in the sun working had been back on the Island while making the raft. He had forgotten how tiring it could be; so he left early to eat dinner. He spent nearly the entire time in silence, though Aerith had tried her best to make him feel at home. It had been akward, though he smiled multiple times when Yuffie managed to piss Cid off. Dinner was excellent, and Riku was certain that as the days went on, the company would be as well.
However, Riku found his gaze constantly wandering towards the door. Aerith would catch his gaze and smile, and Riku would cough and dive back into his food.
Cause really...he wasn't looking for Leon. No, not at all.
But Leon never showed up, so after dinner was over and everything had been cleaned up, Riku made his escape. He attempted to find his way back to their work space without getting lost, and thanked whatever gods were out there that he had taken the right turn. He smirked at the sight before him.
Leon, very wet and a little annoyed, perhaps, was still working on the pipes. Riku allowed his gaze to linger over the older man's chest, before he realized what he was doing and jerked his eyes to the brunetts face. He scratched the back of his head, mussing his hair even further. The pony tail was no longer tight, and some had escaped. His bangs hung in front of his eyes. Riku cleared his throat to alert Leon to his presence,
The clearing of the others throat stopped him from another line of swearing, he was not usually one to do so. Cid did it enough for all of them really but when Leon did get quite frustrated his language did lapse like most adult males. Jerking his head back to look at Riku when he heard him speak. "Thanks," he spoke up a moment later, though he still wrestled with the pipe. His hold slipping on the metal with the water that was coating his arm, chest and the pipe. Another swear left him and he managed to get a hold enough to begin to wrench the nut into place again tighter.
His hair was sopping and so was his shirt, finally finishing tightening the nut he managed to take a step back. Boot sinking in the muddy ground around the pipes he shook his head. His hands raising to rung his hair of the water. "I'm going to need to shower and change first."
Leon knew Aerith would re-heat the food on the oven after he explained what had happened, of course, after having a small laugh. Better then Yuffie, she would laugh for ages. Ugg.
Peeling off his white soaked through T-shirt, he grabbed the black bombers jacket throwing it over one shoulder, and grabbing the gunblade in the other. He did not have many flaws or scars, though their were a few as had been a fighter. Though the most prominent scar was right where his heart would be. From the style of the blade that had pierced his chest and through his heart, it looked to be eerily similar to his own blade. Their were a few rough patches here and their on his stomach and chest of second degree burns from something but their was no explanation for any of it. Leon seemed fine in his own skin regardless.
Gesturing with a toss of his head he began the treck back to the house to shower and change.
(More shameless eye candy.)
-- Edited by LionHeart on Friday 3rd of July 2009 07:17:18 AM
"You're welcome," Riku managed to say. Somehow he had found his gaze wandering once again. He looked to the sky and rolled his eyes, praying for help and why, why was he living with this man again? He was doomed.
He seemed to be having trouble with the pipe. Riku stepped forward to help, but only a second later the nut was tightly in place and it didn't look like it was going anywhere in the near future. Riku stood back as Leon dried himself off (well...as best as he could after being soaked liked he had) and gathered his things.
As they headed back towards the house, Riku's eyes were drawn to the man again. Even when soaking wet (and probably miserable), he walked with an air of confidence. Confidence that Riku obviously lacked right now. Despite himself, Riku found himself sighing.
Leon lead the way back toward the house, his head slightly to the side so water from hsi still wet hair would fall and not hit the leather of his jacket on his other shoulder. Also so it would not go into his ears. He looked to Riku when he sighed but said nothing, bringing out the key and unlocking the door to head inside. He threw down the bomber's jacket on the couch and moved into his room.
Grabbing up a pair of what looked to be the same clothing he wore now, Leathers and white T-shirt he moved into the bathroom to shower. Water running he tested it and stepped in with a deep half groan of a sigh. The hot water hitting his strained muscles and feeling really damn good right then.
(I hate Npcing the others >.> Ummm anything we can do about after?)
(Honestly, I have no idea. My muse is dead, and I haven't been feeling well for a while. x__x)
They entered the house in silence. Feeling a little bit out of place still, Riku watched as Leon disappeared to take a shower, and to just keep himself busy, grabbed Leon's jacket and folded it neatly. He set it down on the sofa cushion and stretched, scratching his head.
Riku passed the bathroom and pushed his door open, disappearing inside his own room. His stuff was still spread out where he had dropped them when he first arrived. He tossed some clothes around to make the room, well...more his, and crawled ontop of the bed, burying his head under his pillow. The hair-tie slipped from his hair and disappeared amongst the pillow and blankets.
Tired and sweaty but feeling good otherwise, Riku just laid there listening to the water rushing through the pipes as Leon's shower continued. He'd expected his sudden move to a different world to be well...different. Living with Leon was like living with a cat; you knew they were there, but you hardly saw them. And it had only been a day!
Clearly not thinking straight (Riku blamed it on the fact that he was dead tired), he rolled off his bed and stumbled to the bathroom. He knocked on the door.
"Hey, Leon!" he called, loud enough so the brunett could hear him through the door and the running water. "Any chance that you could show me around sometime?"
