#holds u and ruby adoringly

[albrich]

        ❝ need a hand? ❞ there’s a heavy handed amusement in his tone / who knows how long he had been standing there simply watching? though, in his defense, it is wholly within his purview to oversee training ——— of certain populations, but could you blame him? they were curious. ❝ i’m an excellent sparring partner, ❞ excellent which is to say : difficult, underhanded, occasionally too aggressive, and at times terrifying.

@thuskindlyiscatter​ // starter call.

[vannahfanfics]

Seaglass

Category: Mild Romantic Fluff

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Characters: Riku, Kairi

Hey, guys! I’m only able to get to the prompts just now because of school, but I still thought I would share that this piece was inspired by the RiKai Week prompt “seashells.” ^u^ Enjoy!

Riku flicked his bangs out of his eyes, squinting as the sunlight flashed in his eyes and momentarily eclipsed his vision with bright whiteness. The burning sun blazed in the azure sky, warming the skin of his shoulders that was bared by his rolled-up plaid sleeves. He hunched over, letting his body cast a shadow over the flat, smooth rock that served as his workspace. His deft fingers worked to braid the three wisps of twine together, while an assortment of Thalassa shells, seaglass beads, and other seashells perched on the smooth stone, waiting to be threaded onto the small rope. 

Riku peered out of his silver bangs at the end of the island, where the curved palm tree stood on the solitary circular island jutting out into the sea. The green leaves flapped lazily in the breeze, and the sunlight caught the yellow rinds of the paopu fruits to make them glow like golden stars that had fallen to earth. Sitting on the twisting bough of the palm was Kairi, her feet kicking lightly back and forth as she gazed longingly at the horizon. 

Ever since Sora had left, she’d hardly moved from the spot. Every morning she rowed in from the mainland to perch there until the sun sank below the glittering sea and the stars blinked to life one by one. She’d only peel herself away from the wood when Riku gently took her by the elbow and reminded her that it was time to go home; she wouldn’t want to worry her parents. She’d silently nod, eyes glassy and full of tears, and slide her hand down his arm to tightly link their fingers. 

“It’s my fault,” she’d always whisper, her voice hoarse with grief and guilt. 

“No, it isn’t,” Riku would always reply. Every time, it was growing harder and harder to smile, because Riku’s heart broke a little more each day that he was at a loss to assuage her grieving. No matter how many times that he told her that, her mind flashed back to the Keyblade Graveyard, where Xehanort erased her from the world to bait Sora into a fight— and he’d ventured into the unknown to rescue her, bringing them to their present situation. If I’d only been stronger, she sobbed as she clung to his clothes. 

If only I could make it better, Riku lamented as he held her gently, terrified that she’d shatter to glittering dust in his hands all over again. 

“Not today,” Riku murmured to himself and looked back down to the twine. Frowning, he tugged tight on the thin fibers to know the ends. After ensuring that the threads would not fray, he set to work on stringing the seashells along the tiny rope. He’d painstakingly punched holes into the fragile surfaces using a sewing needle he’d borrowed from his mother; it had been tedious work, and he’d cracked more than a few shells right down the middle, leaving them shattered bits that were definitely not useful for jewelry. Somehow or another, he’d managed to make enough for a proper shell necklace, in addition to dropping by the local tourist shops to buy some other pretty bits. 

“Not today,” he repeated, a small smile forming on his lips. “Today, I’m going to make her smile.” 

The tip of his tongue peeked out of the corner of his lips as he carefully poked the braided twin through the holes. Riku didn’t have the greatest eye for design, but he arranged the shells and seaglass beads in a manner he thought would be aesthetically pleasing. He’d picked hues of pink and red and a few matte blacks that would match Kairi’s pink-and-black plaid dress; he wouldn’t want to embarrass her with a childish rainbow hodge-podge mess, after all. After several minutes of patiently threading the seashells and seaglass onto the thread, he tied the final knot and held the necklace up to the sun. 

The light glinted off the seaglass, making the crystalline surfaces of the gems gleam as the light refracted within their sheer curves. The matte black beads absorbed the sunlight to shine like smooth obsidian, and the Thalassa shells brightened until the assaulting light beams. Riku found himself smiling as he admired his handiwork; it would look gorgeous framing Kairi’s slim neck. Hopefully, though, it wouldn’t compare to the pretty smile that would grace her face at the gift. 

Riku held the necklace safely to his chest as he pushed himself up. Sand rained down from his shorts like shimmering pale gold rain. Pausing to brush the grains from the dark fabric, he glanced out of the corners of his eyes at the palm tree. She was still slumped there, her hands pressed between her thighs and her sad eyes searching the horizon as if it held all the answers. Riku watched her miserably for a moment, clenching the seashell necklace as another fissure appeared in his already cracked heart. 

If there was anything he hated, it was seeing Kairi sad. She’d always tried so hard to smile and remain positive for himself and Sora; seeing her reduced to this, silent and mournful, just… It wasn’t Kairi. He looked down at the necklace, smiling wanly. I’m not good with words, but… I want to see her smile again, he thought before slowly walking across the sand towards her. 

She glanced over her shoulder when his shoes hit the small boardwalk bridging the islands. Her blue eyes were dull and listless, but he was relieved to see a flicker of light blaze in the oceanic depths when her gaze fell upon him. 

“Hey, Kairi,” he said softly as he hit the sand. Her gaze followed him as he rounded the tree to stand beside her. He reached out to gently brush her red hair from her face, and as his fingertips brushed the skin of her cheek, warmed by the sun, she leaned into his touch. “How are you holding up?” 

She just hummed in reply, her auburn eyelashes fluttering as she savored the roughness of his palm caressing her skin. However, when she opened her eyes again, tears had beaded on the thin hairs. 

“I��m… I’m trying,” she exhaled shakily, looking down at her lap. “You’ve told me again and again that it isn’t my fault, but… I can’t help but think that if it just went a little bit differently, then Sora would still be here.” She hung her head with a miserable sniffle, the tears dripping from her eyes to land on her dress and turn the bubblegum fabric magenta. “I wish I was stronger.” 

“I know. Me too,” Riku sighed. While her head gaze was downcast, he slipped the necklace around her neck, gently pushing her hair aside to tie it around her neck. She inhaled sharply, her fingers rising to brush over the smooth enamel-like ridges of the pink-and-white Thalassa shell hanging over her chest. “I wish things went differently too, but…”

Kairi looked up at him with wide eyes, and he gave her a sweet smile. He reached out to cup his cheeks with both hands this time and leaned forward to press his forehead to hers. “You don’t have to face this on your own, you know. I’m still here, and I’m not goin’ anywhere.” 

“Riku,” she breathed, her voice cracking with emotion. Riku continued to smile gently, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs to catch her streaming tears. As the lump of emotion tightened in her throat, she resorted to nodding firmly, jingling the necklace around her neck. As the Thalassa shells gently clinked against the seaglass, the melody blended with the gently rolling waves of the sea. After a minute, she breathed in shakily and then whispered, “Yeah. Thanks, Riku. I’m sorry…” 

“You have nothing to apologize for,” he chuckled, taking one hand off her cheek to gently swipe the tip of her nose with his index finger. Kairi giggled, and as she looked down to admire the necklace, Riku waited with bated breath. 

Slowly, the smile spread across her pink lips, and it felt like the sun coming out after days of bleak rain. Her eyes grew lidded with joy as she watched the light play over the seaglass and shells, her fingers gently toying over the smooth surfaces. 

“It’s beautiful,” she said when she looked back up at him. “Thank you, Riku.” 

“I’m no Naminé, but I tried my best,” he laughed lightly. Kairi purred happily, still clutching onto the necklace like it had become her lifeline. Their eyes met, and as she continued to stare at him with an intense emotion swirling in those oceanic eyes, he felt his heart thrum against his ribcage. He’d always thought Kairi was beautiful; her auburn hair caught the sunlight just right to glow like threads of ruby, and her eyes gleamed like sapphires, and she radiated kindness like an angel. Her smile had always been his favorite, though; it was so pure and so bright that it was a light all its own, and it had been the driving force to keep him going in the dark times. 

He found his eyes drifting down to her lips, and before he even was conscious of it, he was leaning forward. He brushed his mouth over hers, testing the waters before committing. To his relief, Kairi did not shy away from him; she welcomed the kiss, humming in delight as he smoothed his lips over hers. She tasted like salt and honey and sunlight, a flavor that had every nerve in his body singing in rapturous harmony. Pressing his hands to her face, he tilted her head to kiss her passionately, deepening the kiss with every movement of his lips over hers. 

When he pulled back, her smile was shining under the opal-pink of her cheeks. Heat flushed to Riku’s face as well, and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. 

“Sorry, I, um…” 

“You have nothing to apologize for,” she teased, taking his hand to press it back to her cheek like that’s where it belonged. She stared adoringly at him, making his heart flutter. “Just… Promise me that you won’t leave.” 

“Never,” he swore solemnly. Kairi smiled at that and closed her eyes, abandoning herself to the comfort of his presence. 

This time, when the sun sank below the horizon and the stars winked into life, Riku did not have to pull Kairi away from the sea. But she still smoothed her hand down his arm and entwined their fingers, squeezing his hand tight as she looked at him with complete and utter love. 

No, he thought as he returning her adoring gaze, I’m not going anywhere. He couldn’t; they were two bits of seaglass, fragile and at the mercy of the torrential sea— but together they could weather the storm, and come out for it all the more beautiful.

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!