Non challenge drabble

[isabeau1025.livejournal.com]

Just another drabble from a past challenge.

 

 

Challenge: Drown

Word Count: 297

Notes: Spoilers for the end of the first game. Nothing for the second one.

 

Riku had nearly drowned when he was seven. He had been caught in a ripe tide and pulled out to sea. He had been scared at first, had fought for sky and light and breath, but he had grown tired of fighting quickly enough. He had only been seven and the dark water had been cool against yesterday’s sunburn and it didn’t take very long for the pain in his chest to go numb.

 

Sora’s father, a fisherman, had seen him go under and managed to reach him in time. Riku had woken to light too bright and the heady smell of a fish filled hull. He had missed the cool darkness and his chest had ached for days.

 

It had been months later, on a perfect summer day, with the sand warm under his toes and Kairi and Sora shrieking with laughter as they all played tag together that Riku had finally realized he was glad to have left the darkness behind, because this was so much better then the cold and the numbness.

 

The darkness of Kingdom Hearts was icy cold, and his chest ached until he went numb. After the numbness set in he stopped fighting. With Sora and Kairi safe on the other side he couldn’t find any reason to.

 

It was Mickey who hauled him onto deck this time. The light was too bright, and his chest ached so badly it was hard to breath, but the mouse king promised as he held him close that the light would stop hurting and the ache would fade into something so much better then the numbness.

 

Riku remembered warm sand under his toes and Kairi and Sora shrieking with laughter and thought maybe there was something worth leaving the darkness behind for after all.

 

 

 

Comments

[lindskaba.livejournal.com]

I really love the comparison of falling into darkness to drowning; it's really apt, and gives me a really lovely mental image. I also have a soft spot for the phrase "shrieking with laughter"; I dunno, it just gets me ^^ Oh Riku, you're so tragic XD

[isabeau1025.livejournal.com]

Riku is a little angst-bunny, isn't he? Too much time in the darkness, I guess. I'm glad you liked the comparison. I couldn't remember if it had been done before, and I was afraid I was just re-posting an idea that was already up.

I kind of have a soft spot for that phrase myself. There's something very child-like and innocent about it.

Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)

[nimoe.livejournal.com]

Wonderful imagery: "fought for sky and light and breath."

God, even when he was seven Riku was angsty. He was born to high drama. ^^

[isabeau1025.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Writing an un-angsty Riku is really challenging. It's just so much fun to write him being all angsty and dramatic. I'm pretty sure you're right and he was just born to it. ;)