[ And that's all that's said before Riku gently cuts the connection to make his way to the park.
As he said, it doesn't take him that long to reach their meeting place and, from the looks of it, it seems as though he might have arrived first? Regardless, the silver-haired teen stands there looking around for the other keyblade wielder while idly chewing on the inside of his cheek. He can't help but wonder how Terra might be feeling or how he's been holding up after everything that's happened (with Aqua) and while he wishes he could have checked in on him sooner, it was... kind of not all that possible for... reasons.
Reasons which gently swirl around his arms, neck, the tips of his fingers. Subtle wisps of darkness that have remained on him since his coming out of the rage he had been put into from consuming some of Aqua's darkness. It doesn't hurt or influence him, but he's been keeping himself from seeing Aqua in the chance she might feel a tug towards it, let alone the amount of guilt that could so very easily creep up on her from just seeing the sort of "price he paid" for taking on her darkness.
But... he would do anything for those he cares about and he likes to think Terra will understand. ]
[Riku gets there first. Terra takes his time without lagging too slowly, so, in the end, Riku doesn't have to wait very long before him to appear.
Despite everything, he isn't ratty with sorrow. He's as put-together as usual--on the outside--and still wearing the ring on his finger. Aqua's ring is the addition, tied around his neck with a band.
He waits until he gets up beside Riku before saying anything.] Hey. [There's no way to not let his eyes skim down Riku's neck and arms. He frowns tightly.]
[ When Terra comes to approach him, Riku smiles some despite the frown that touches at Terra's lips. Honestly, he expected as much and it's why he turns to properly look to him. ]
Before you start thinking too much about it, I'm fine.
[ Because it's sort of hard not to notice the remaining wisps of darkness. ]
It's just leftover. Should go away soon.
[ He... hopes. But that doesn't really concern him much at the moment. What does is Terra and he nods to him then. ]
[The worry is only mildly assuaged by Riku's reassurance. For a moment, he stands there, looking over Riku's arms. Feeling... guilty, but relieved.
He reaches out like he might ruffly Riku's hair, but the hand settles on the crown of Riku's head before he pulls them together. He gives Riku the firmest hug he can muster without being too overbearing.]
[ He's anticipating that hair ruffling like always but when Terra comes to pull him into a hug instead... he's a little at a loss for words at first? Just a bit. But it's nothing more than a fleeting moment before he comes to wrap an arm around the other's back, returning the embrace with a gentle smile on his lips. ]
I know. [It feels good, to hug someone, even as little as he's always done it. Strange how much you can despair, but a hug seems to lift some of that weight.] She would. Every time.
[In the end, Riku doesn't escape. On pulling away, Terra does give the boy a slight hair ruffle for old time's sake.]
I'm sorry. I should have... been able to bring her back.
[ Guess he should have expected that, right? But, hair ruffling aside, he looks to Terra a little more seriously then. ]
The only thing that matters is that we be there for her now.
[ And he's a touch firm in saying so as he looks to Terra. ]
She might know now that she's not alone, but that doesn't mean she won't feel that way with everything that's happened.
[ Because he knows... they both know how the darkness can toy with your mind even long after you've overcome it. How the guilt alone doesn't simply just go away as quickly as others might expect or think it to. For Riku, it took close to a year... ]
I haven't given up on her. [That he can say almost immediately when Riku is finished, no hesitation.] I won't ever give up on her.
[If anything, the ring worn around his neck is enough evidence to back up his claim. Not that Terra ever seemed to have a lying bone on his body; he's much too honest for that. Sometimes naively so.
But this isn't naive. There's a resounding groundedness in him. He glances away, not ashamed so much as thoughtful.] I'll talk to her. I... just wanted to give her a little space. [She doesn't need to be too far from everyone, though, he knows.]
She was alone so long. She shouldn't be alone now.
[ The ring around Terra's neck is enough to bring a frown to Riku's lips and yet... he gets it. He does so much. To slip away from those you love ad who love you in return, worried about hurting them (again) and needing to just... somehow figure it all out on your own. It's like he's reliving in his own time back when he blinded himself from the light, yet he knows this is something Aqua might need for herself. Just... not a year long thing like he pulled thanks? ]
She needs some time.
[ He's just as quick to say that though not as firm with it. This is just... a delicate situation and he wonders if Terra might understand how it is. ]
She's not alone. I'd never let her face this alone and neither would you. That's why we won't leave her for too long.
[ He smiles a little then. ]
I'm all for giving her time because I've been there myself but I'm not about to let it be a year or something.
[Yeah, kohai. Please don't let his future wife take a nose-dive into a year-long struggle with her inner worth and the Darkness(tm).]
I won't let it go that long.
[It's resolute. Not even a promise, something that will be done. He says it firm, like the ground beneath their feet.] She... didn't mean it. That wasn't her. Even with the darkness... [Both hands clench at his sides.] We shouldn't have went to investigate the fog.
I should have made her go back sooner. I didn't think... [He doesn't sigh so much as deflate.] She's the strongest person I know. But I was stupid.
I forgot how much being in that world for so long made her suffer.
[ It's a strange turn of events to think that Riku is the one who needs to guide and be the support for Terra when it seems as if it's always been the other way around. Then again, he always was pretty smart as a kid, right? Maybe it's not too surprising that Riku can be there for Terra as much as he had been there for him. ]
Blaming yourself doesn't change what happened or help Aqua right now.
[ It's said a little firm but with a certain sort of gentleness to it at the same time. ]
The point is that she's here and that she'll need our support from here on out.
[ Reaching out, he gently places a hand on Terra's arm, meaning to show support for him and how this isn't any sort of chiding happening from a Master to a keyblade wielder. ]
It might take her awhile to see that, to really forgive herself for the things that happened. But she will... I know it. Just be there for her. Even if you don't know what to say. Sometimes just having someone there is the most important thing and can work wonders in ways that words can't.
[Why is it his kohai is always there to give him the senpai support? He's the one who should be giving Riku the Disney speeches. And yet, here they are. Then again, he trusts--he knows--Riku has experience.]
I haven't given up. I won't. [Reaching up, he curls his hand around the necklace at his chest, holding it, squeezing it.] Thanks... for reminding me. [The hand lowers slowly, and he gives Riku a weak smile.]
Would you have taken it? When you... [He doesn't mean to bring up memories, even if Riku has such a strong, focused heart now.] I guess you didn't have a choice, right? Sora was always there. He never gave up on any of us. Especially you.
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Somewhere outside.
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[ And that's all that's said before Riku gently cuts the connection to make his way to the park.
As he said, it doesn't take him that long to reach their meeting place and, from the looks of it, it seems as though he might have arrived first? Regardless, the silver-haired teen stands there looking around for the other keyblade wielder while idly chewing on the inside of his cheek. He can't help but wonder how Terra might be feeling or how he's been holding up after everything that's happened (with Aqua) and while he wishes he could have checked in on him sooner, it was... kind of not all that possible for... reasons.
Reasons which gently swirl around his arms, neck, the tips of his fingers. Subtle wisps of darkness that have remained on him since his coming out of the rage he had been put into from consuming some of Aqua's darkness. It doesn't hurt or influence him, but he's been keeping himself from seeing Aqua in the chance she might feel a tug towards it, let alone the amount of guilt that could so very easily creep up on her from just seeing the sort of "price he paid" for taking on her darkness.
But... he would do anything for those he cares about and he likes to think Terra will understand. ]
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Despite everything, he isn't ratty with sorrow. He's as put-together as usual--on the outside--and still wearing the ring on his finger. Aqua's ring is the addition, tied around his neck with a band.
He waits until he gets up beside Riku before saying anything.] Hey. [There's no way to not let his eyes skim down Riku's neck and arms. He frowns tightly.]
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Before you start thinking too much about it, I'm fine.
[ Because it's sort of hard not to notice the remaining wisps of darkness. ]
It's just leftover. Should go away soon.
[ He... hopes. But that doesn't really concern him much at the moment. What does is Terra and he nods to him then. ]
We do what we have to do, right?
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He reaches out like he might ruffly Riku's hair, but the hand settles on the crown of Riku's head before he pulls them together. He gives Riku the firmest hug he can muster without being too overbearing.]
Thank you. For helping her--again. Both of you.
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She'd do the same for any of us.
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[In the end, Riku doesn't escape. On pulling away, Terra does give the boy a slight hair ruffle for old time's sake.]
I'm sorry. I should have... been able to bring her back.
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The only thing that matters is that we be there for her now.
[ And he's a touch firm in saying so as he looks to Terra. ]
She might know now that she's not alone, but that doesn't mean she won't feel that way with everything that's happened.
[ Because he knows... they both know how the darkness can toy with your mind even long after you've overcome it. How the guilt alone doesn't simply just go away as quickly as others might expect or think it to. For Riku, it took close to a year... ]
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[If anything, the ring worn around his neck is enough evidence to back up his claim. Not that Terra ever seemed to have a lying bone on his body; he's much too honest for that. Sometimes naively so.
But this isn't naive. There's a resounding groundedness in him. He glances away, not ashamed so much as thoughtful.] I'll talk to her. I... just wanted to give her a little space. [She doesn't need to be too far from everyone, though, he knows.]
She was alone so long. She shouldn't be alone now.
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She needs some time.
[ He's just as quick to say that though not as firm with it. This is just... a delicate situation and he wonders if Terra might understand how it is. ]
She's not alone. I'd never let her face this alone and neither would you. That's why we won't leave her for too long.
[ He smiles a little then. ]
I'm all for giving her time because I've been there myself but I'm not about to let it be a year or something.
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I won't let it go that long.
[It's resolute. Not even a promise, something that will be done. He says it firm, like the ground beneath their feet.] She... didn't mean it. That wasn't her. Even with the darkness... [Both hands clench at his sides.] We shouldn't have went to investigate the fog.
I should have made her go back sooner. I didn't think... [He doesn't sigh so much as deflate.] She's the strongest person I know. But I was stupid.
I forgot how much being in that world for so long made her suffer.
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Blaming yourself doesn't change what happened or help Aqua right now.
[ It's said a little firm but with a certain sort of gentleness to it at the same time. ]
The point is that she's here and that she'll need our support from here on out.
[ Reaching out, he gently places a hand on Terra's arm, meaning to show support for him and how this isn't any sort of chiding happening from a Master to a keyblade wielder. ]
It might take her awhile to see that, to really forgive herself for the things that happened. But she will... I know it. Just be there for her. Even if you don't know what to say. Sometimes just having someone there is the most important thing and can work wonders in ways that words can't.
[ He smiles a little then. ]
Trust me.
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[Why is it his kohai is always there to give him the senpai support? He's the one who should be giving Riku the Disney speeches. And yet, here they are. Then again, he trusts--he knows--Riku has experience.]
I haven't given up. I won't. [Reaching up, he curls his hand around the necklace at his chest, holding it, squeezing it.] Thanks... for reminding me. [The hand lowers slowly, and he gives Riku a weak smile.]
Would you have taken it? When you... [He doesn't mean to bring up memories, even if Riku has such a strong, focused heart now.] I guess you didn't have a choice, right? Sora was always there. He never gave up on any of us. Especially you.