11A/N: So it ended up being longer than I thought it would. But that just works in your favor, now doesn't it? But, anyways, WOW THAT WAS A LONG CHRISTMAS GIFT, BUT IT'S FINALLY DONE. I HOPE YOU LIKED IT, LUNAR! :D
As for everyone else, many thanks for reading! I'm surprised it got as many faves/alerts as it did. Thank you, readers. You guys are awesome. :)
Chapter 10 – Epilogue – Saturday
"Black Ops, I want to play Black Ops."
"We've been playing Black Ops. All day."
"Yeah, but it's fun, c'mon, Riku..."
Riku shook his head. "Nope, I have a better idea." He scrolled through the Xbox menu. "You're playing Limbo."
Roxas blinked. "What's Limbo?"
"Puzzle platform game."
"...oh."
"You'll see. Here." Riku started the game and handed Roxas the controller. Then he went to pull the blinds shut and flick the lights off.
"Riku?" Roxas asked nervously.
"Just play it," Riku said, sitting back on the couch beside Roxas and raising the volume on the television.
"Um, okay." Roxas moved his character forward cautiously. "...Oh, crap, I just died."
Riku coughed. "Bear trap."
"Jump over it, right," muttered Roxas, trying again and succeeding in avoiding the trap this time.
"Oh, good job," remarked Riku, pumping the volume up higher.
"Stop doing that, you're making me nervous," snapped Roxas as he jumped over a body of water.
"Don't worry, it's all ambient sound," Riku told him.
"Still, can we turn the light back on, at least?"
"What are you, chicken? Keep playing," ordered Riku.
"Did you play like this?"
"Well, no."
"Exactly," said Roxas. "Besides, you already know what's coming. It's not fair to me."
"Want me to hold your hand?"
"Don't patronize me, you jerk. That's an insult to my manliness. And I need both hands to play—OH GOD, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT."
"It's no fun if I tell you—ouch." Riku winced as the Limbo character was impaled and died.
"How do I—oh. Oh," Roxas said as a bear trap fell from the tree. "I got this. I got this." He pushed the trap towards the stabbing leg. "I am so good at this game. I must be a prodigy."
Hours later, Roxas whined, "I don't like this game. Can we stop?"
"Nothing super-scary even actually happens," Riku said.
"Yeah, but the game just gives off this...eerie vibe. I don't like it. Let's play CoD."
"Don't be a wuss and finish the game, Roxas."
"I had to jump on a corpse to cross a body of water and push another one to activate a trap. There is something wrong with this game."
"I want you to see the ending, though," said Riku.
"It'll take too long. You do it." Roxas shoved the controller at him.
"But it's not the same thrill as doing it yourself," Riku argued, pushing it back. "Just finish it. I'll help you if you get stuck."
"Fine. Geez."
Many, many deaths and puzzles and screams (of annoyance and maybe one or two of fear) later...
"WHAT? WHAT THE HELL—ALL OF THAT—ALL THOSE HOURS AND—WHAT THE—!"
Riku snickered. "Fun, right?"
"No. What the heck, Riku." Roxas glared at him. "That was STUPID. WHAT HAPPENED?"
"That's up to the gamer's interpretation," said Riku, nodding wisely.
"Rgh. CoD. Now."
"Nope. Have you looked at the time, Roxas?" Riku asked. "I'm going to bed."
"It's not that late..."
"It's past midnight. I don't know what constitutes as late for you, but I would like to get some sleep," said Riku.
"Fine," huffed Roxas. "But can we play CoD tomorrow? Er, later today, if you want to get technical."
"Fine." Riku exaggeratedly rolled his eyes, but Roxas ignored it.
Riku stood and started for his bedroom, pausing before he exited the living room to look back at Roxas. "Do you want a blanket or something?"
Roxas, who had immediately curled up on the couch, pulled his jacket over his head. "No."
Riku shook his head exasperatedly. "Okay, then."
"Riku. Riku. Riku!"
Riku stirred but didn't open his eyes. What time was it? It didn't feel like time to get up—he was pretty sure it was Sunday, and Sunday was a weekend. He slept in on weekends. So who the heck was trying to wake him up?
"Riiiiikuuuuu!"
Reluctantly he opened his eyes and found himself looking at Roxas. Roxas, who was leaning very close to his face and staring at him with wide blue eyes. If Riku's body functioned properly in the morning, he probably would have been startled and jumped, resulting in a very painful collision of foreheads. Luckily, he wasn't much of a morning person, so instead, he just stared blankly at the other and said, "What the hell."
"Let's play CoD!"
"What is wrong with you?" Riku asked. "What time is it?"
"Four thirty."
Silence.
Finally, Riku said, "Go back to bed, Roxas."
"Aw, but—"
"Roxas. Bed. Now."
To Riku's great displeasure, Roxas flopped down right next to him, staring up at the ceiling. "But I'm not tired," he whined.
"Sucks for you," muttered Riku, attempting to pull his blanket further over himself. It wasn't really working out well with Roxas pinning down half the blanket, though. "Normal people need more than four hours of sleep, so leave me alone. And get off my blanket."
Roxas promptly went under the blanket, which further annoyed Riku.
"Roxas, go away."
"But I'm not tired," Roxas repeated. "Let's talk."
Riku flipped over to face the wall. He figured Roxas wouldn't mind; the latter was too busy staring at the ceiling for no apparent reason. And even if he did mind, Riku really didn't care. "About what?" he asked, squeezing his eyes shut again.
"I dunno. Call of Duty."
"God, no."
"Why not?" Roxas asked.
"Because it's stupid."
"Are you upset because I beat you almost every round yesterday?"
"No. It's just stupid," mumbled Riku into his pillow. "You should try out an RPG or something instead."
"But those are stupid," Roxas protested.
"Are not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too!"
"If you can't come up with anything more interesting to talk about, I'm going back to sleep," Riku warned.
"Um. Uh. Uhh. Ice cream. Sea salt ice cream," said Roxas, "tastes very good. Yes, indeed."
"No, it does not."
"Yes, it does. It's so great. How could you not like it?"
"Hm, guess it's an acquired taste."
"Well, guess you'll just have to keep eating it until you like it."
"No. That's stupid."
"You're stupid."
"You're in my house," Riku reminded Roxas. "Now get out, stupid."
"No, wait, I take it back!" cried Roxas hastily. "You're not stupid. Just RPGs are. Stupid, that is."
"Mmhm. Sure."
"You know, I'm not so sure this relationship is gonna work out," Roxas remarked.
Riku almost chuckled. "And why not?"
"Because we don't really have any common ground. And I'm pretty sure whoever said that arguing is a healthy part of a relationship must have been on something."
Riku rolled over to face Roxas. "I'm sure there's something," he said reasonably. "If you'd just stop being CoD-obsessed for just a little bit..."
"But I like CoD."
"More than me?"
"Yes. I have been in love with CoD since I was six," Roxas replied, nodding firmly.
Riku raised an eyebrow. "Wow, who corrupted your childhood?"
"Axel did, actually."
"That policeman?" Riku mused. "Interesting."
"He used to be a delinquent," Roxas said.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised. Not sure how someone with a delinquency record was able to become a policeman, though."
"Er, I think Xigbar had something to do with it."
"Ah."
After a few seconds of silence, Roxas asked, "Can we play CoD now?"
"God, Roxas, if you love CoD so much why don't you marry it?"
"Would if I could, but I have to settle for you instead."
"Stupid," Riku said, almost affectionately. Almost. But not quite. He wrapped one of his arms around Roxas. "Let me sleep until..." He thought. "Eight. And then we can play."
Roxas sighed and snuggled up against him. "Okay, I guess."
They were quiet for a few minutes. Then, Roxas laughed softly.
"What is it now?" Riku asked.
"Heh, nothing. It's just...it's hard to believe that at first I only wanted to become your friend so I could play CoD on your Xbox."
"...what."
"Uh, I mean—"
Riku turned over, got up from the bed, and padded to the living room.
Roxas chased after him. "Wait! I didn't mean that! Really, I didn't! Riku!"
Riku ignored him and knelt beside his television.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Roxas asked nervously as Riku began unhooking the Xbox 360. "Riku? Riku, stop it."
Silently, Riku gathered up the game console in his arms and started walking towards the backyard.
"Riku, Riku, no, Black Ops is still in there, no, you can't," protested Roxas, following him. "Please don't—don't tell me you're going to—Riku, I'm sorry. ...I love you?" he tried weakly.
Riku stared at the swimming pool for a moment. Then he stretched out his arms and dropped the Xbox. It hit the water with a splash and sunk to the bottom of the pool.
"NO!"
"There, there," said Riku, speaking at last as he patted Roxas's head placatingly. "It'll be okay."
"You're a jerk," growled Roxas as Riku went back into the house. "A complete and utter jerk. I hope you know that, Riku."
"Mm. I'm going back to bed," yawned Riku in response.
"I can't believe you just did that."
"I can't believe you're such an idiot," replied Riku without inflection.
"I am sorry for being such an inconsiderate jerk like that, I really am, but it all worked out in the end, didn't it? There was no reason to do that. No reason it all," Roxas continued as he followed Riku to his bedroom.
Riku slid back into his bed, burrowing under the blanket. "Tell me when you've forgiven me. For now, I'd like some sleep. Thanks."
"I am never forgiving you for this," stated Roxas. "Do you hear me Riku? Never."
Riku didn't respond.
Roxas sighed. "You're lucky I like you."
"You forgive a lot faster than Sora does."
"I didn't say I forgive you, I said I like you."
"Whatever you say."
"Would it kill you to at least act like you care?" he asked irritably.
Riku couldn't be bothered to respond. There was a lengthy stretch of silence, and Riku thought Roxas might have finally left when he said, "So..."
Even though his eyes were closed, Riku had to resist the urge to roll them. "So. Have you forgiven me yet?"
"Yeah, sure. Fine. Whatever."
"Ah, lovebirds."
Roxas jumped. "Sora?"
Sora clambered into the room through the window. "Hi!"
Riku grumbled indistinctly and rolled onto his stomach, burying his head into his pillow. "And how long have you been here?" he asked, not exactly surprised.
"About three seconds."
"Holy heck, you are such a freakin' creeper, Sora," Roxas said. "What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to make sure you two hadn't killed each other yet."
Riku lifted his head to look at Sora and smirked. "Have a little faith."
"You never know." Sora shrugged.
"Are you okay with him climbing through your bedroom window?" Roxas demanded.
"He wouldn't stop even if I told him to, so yeah, I guess."
Roxas shook his head in amazement.
"Anyways, you should totally celebrate not killing each other by going on a double date with me and Kairi!" Sora continued enthusiastically.
"Um," started Roxas.
"'Kay, I'll meet you outside!" And Sora bounced out of the bedroom.
"Okay...?" Roxas blinked, then turned to Riku. "Look, um, sorry about...only wanting to be your friend so I could play on your Xbox. Can we...try starting over?"
"Starting over?" asked Riku.
Roxas held his hand out. "Hi. I'm Roxas."
Riku tilted his head, bemused, but shook his hand anyways. "Riku."
There was a pause.
"We...can skip the getting to know each other stuff, right?" Roxas checked.
Riku raised an eyebrow. Even though he felt that that would be defeating the purpose of 'starting over,' he said, "Sure."
"What's taking you guys so long?" came Sora's voice, drifting through the open window.
"Nothing!" called Roxas. "We're coming!" He turned to grin at Riku, lifting his hand again. "Let's go."
Shrugging to himself, Riku took Roxas's offered hand and let himself be led out of the room.
Roxas thought it was funny that at first he'd only wanted to be his friend to play on his Xbox? Well, Riku found it particularly amusing that they only met because Roxas's broken skateboard had caused him to die in his video game.
Normal relationships were overrated anyways.