writetomyheart | [Team 1] Palidin's Secret

~2400 words of g-rated soriku royalty au set in my "Palidin's Oath" Alternate universe! More of the mystery to be revealed...

“Yeah, sure. Tell Leon I’ll be there by the morning bell,” Riku said, nodding at the page boy as the kid ran off to tell the captain of the town guard that Riku would answer his summons shortly.

Hiding another yawn behind his hand, Riku turned back to the bed to finish dressing. Tunic, pants, belt— He hesitated for a moment before undoing the belt and slipping his chain maille jerkin over his head. It may have seemed a little silly, especially to the townsfolk, but the weight made him feel more secure.

And with what was happening in town… better safe than sorry.

Besides, it had been a gift from Sora—

“A knight needs to be properly armored!” Sora exclaimed, his hand automatically pulling at the necklace he kept around his neck, nervously fiddling with the tiny crown charm.

A charm that had once been around Riku’s neck— but that was in the past. It had been a gift to Sora, worn around Sora’s neck for far longer than it had ever adorned Riku’s.

Instead, he turned his focus to what Sora was gesturing at. A full kit fit for a knight far above the meager station Riku had been expecting. He knew that Sora had hired him as a personal knight, but he had thought it meant something closer to a bodyguard, maybe a little above a squire.

But this—

“Sor— Your highness, this is too much, I—”

“It’s not,” Sora insisted. “You don’t even have to wear it all the time! I just— There’s something about you Riku. Something I want to protect. And I can’t do that if these advisors insist on making me sit on some stuffy throne. So… At least let the armor protect you.”

Riku couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay… your highness.”

“And call me Sora!”

“Riku!”

Speak of the prince.

Riku opened the door just as Sora was about to knock, the brunet’s fist hanging awkwardly in the air.

“What’s wrong?”

Sora blinked a few times, evidently forgetting why he had called in the first place. His face was strangely red as well. Whatever Sora needed him for must have been important for him to run all the way here.

“Sora?”

Sora’s face grew even redder. “I— uh… whatdoknightshweretobed?!”

Riku frowned, tilting his head. “Huh?”

Sora gasped for air. How fast did he run?

“Er, ahem… sorry. I, meant, um… what do knights wear to bed?”

Riku squinted. Was this some sort of test? “Um… I wear my shorts… is there something else I should be wearing?”

“Huh what? Oh no!” Sora’s face grew impossibly redder, “I mean, they wear knight-ies! Get it? Knighties? It’s a joke!”

He laughed nervously, which eventually gave Riku the moment he needed to catch up with the conversation. And then, unexpectedly a laugh burst from his mouth.

It wasn’t even that funny. But the fact that Sora ran all the way here… just to tell him a joke! Riku laughed a little louder, and eventually, Sora’s nervous chuckles melted into something genuine and they laughed together for a long moment.

"Sorry," Sora gasped as he regained his composure. "Roxas heard the joke from Axel, and I thought you'd like it!"

Riku hummed in agreement, reaching out to ruffle Sora's hair fondly. It was a severe breach of decorum, but the hallway was empty and sora never minded. "It was alright, but I think Axel needs better material. Unless he's planning on becoming the new court jester?"

"Oh gosh!" Sora broke out in another round of giggles. "Imagine Axel trying to juggle!"

Riku tried to imagine the chief blacksmith trying to juggle his favored chakram weapons. While axel could throw and catch them fairly well, Riku wasn't so sure what would happen if a third weapon was thrown into the mix. He hid his own chuckle behind a hand. "Yeah, you're right"

Sora's grin grew. "So, I was wondering… you wanna take a walk around the gardens? I don't have meetings, you don't have training so…"

"I'd love—" Riku remembered his meeting with Leon. “Err— I can't. I'd love to, but I have a meeting with Leon in town."

"Oh." Soras’s eyes turned to the floor in disappointment, but he quickly rebounded "I'll go with you!"

"No!"

Ever since their last adventure to town, Riku had become even more aware of the darkness lingering at the edges of the kingdom. More people were changing or disappearing altogether. And at court— Riku wasn't sure if Sora notices, but things were definitely tense.

Best not drag Sora I to situations that would only put ho more at risk.

But still… Riku hated seeing that look in Sora's eyes.

"Sora, I—"

"No, it's ok. You have other duties besides babysitting me all day. I'll just … I'm sure I have some reports I can look over or… something."

"Sora— " Riku tried again, but Sora was already halfway down the hallway and did not look back.

With a disappointed sight, Riku turned, his thoughts muddled as walked to town. He never meant to hurt Sora’s feelings, but he wanted to keep him safe. Though he also knew Sora was more than capable of caring for himself. Maybe he should let Sora in on the mystery—

And yet—

His conflicted thoughts swirling, Riku reached town before he knew it and he quickly made his way to Leon’s home, knowing the guard would be there. After a sharp knock on the door, it opened to reveal Leon’s husband, Cloud.

“Riku, come in.” Cloud’s voice was quiet as always, but there was an edge to it that Riku wasn’t used to hearing. He hadn’t known them long— in fact had only met them around the time he first started to follow Sora to town a year or so ago, but he had quickly come to respect the two of them. Leon practically wore himself thin trying to take care of everyone in town while Cloud trained the pages to become future squires. Both men were fearless.

Which is what made their wariness so unsettling.

“Where’s Leon?”

“Checking in on the Bakers.” Cloud sighed deeply, his hand clenching where it was resting on their kitchen table. “No one has seen any of them for a while and the Bakery has been shuttered since a week ago…”

Riku swallowed around a dry throat. Mr. Baker was always teasing Sora for trying to pay more for the bread they stopped for on the way back to the castle, while Mrs. Baker always poked both of them and insisted on giving them more sweets.

What could have happened?

“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” Riku bit his lip. “Whatever’s happening to them. Is it random? Or is there a connection?”

Cloud shrugged. “It seems pretty random. An individual… and entire family… there’s never a pattern. Last week it was the Weavers, a few days before that the watchman—”

“And today it’s the bakers.”

Leon’s voice carried a heavy weight as the man walked through the door. Cloud gritted his teeth and crossed his arms, his eyes darting to the windows and doorways, absently checking them.

“Are they… dead?” Riku asked quietly. Most other townspeople were simply disappearing into their homes, but the heaviness surrounding Leon felt different.

Leon shook his head. “No, I don’t… I don’t think so. The windows and doors are all shut tight, but I could still hear movement inside… but it doesn’t sound human.”

“You’re making them sound like vampires,” Riku tried for levity, but Leon only shook his head.

“These aren’t stories of devils from beyond, but there is something mysterious happening.”

Leon kept a tight grip on his sword even as he sat down at his table. Cloud now leaned over, taking Leon’s free hand in both of his own, squeezing tight.

Riku’s swelled at the sight, and he instantly felt a little bereft without Sora at his side. Which was silly. It wasn’t like he and Sora shared the same type of connection as these two. But still—

— Riku couldn’t help but wish.

He almost thought about making his exit so the two could be alone in their comfort, but he remembered that Leon had called him here for a reason.

“So… what can I help with?”

Leon jerked for a moment, evidently forgetting Riku was there. “Right. You remember that guy I was telling you about last night? The one causing problems in the tavern?”

Riku nodded, “Yeah?”

“Well, Tifa managed to weasel it out of him that he’ll be there again tonight. She had hoped to just ban him from the establishment, but I thought it might be your best time to try and see him. Maybe identify him.” Leon stretched, relaxing a bit. “I didn’t want to tell you with the pageboy since we don’t know who to trust, but if you want to try and catch him…” Leon trailed off meaningfully.

Riku nodded. “Right. I can try. Any idea what time?”

“Later? He usually shows up long after the evening bell.”

Riku nodded. He’d have the rest of the day to prepare at least. Though he wondered how he would be able to blend in with the crowd. He may not be so recognizable in town, but as the prince’s personal knight, he knew he’d be known by any noble. And if it was a noble, as Leon suspected, that was causing trouble— More the reason to try and blend in.

“Thank you,” Riku nodded. “Be safe, both of you. Sora— er, his highness would be very disappointed if anything happened.”

They nodded in response before Riku left, trying to think of what disguise he could don.

Maybe dye his hair? Nothing permanent, but something— Or just a hood? The days had been warm, but the nights cooled off a bit. Maybe it wouldn’t be noticeable?

He’d have to think about it.

For right now though his brain was too full of thoughts to think clearly. Between his conflicted feelings over keeping something so important from Sora and trying to figure out how to find out who was conspiring against the royal family and stay safe from the darkness sweeping through town—

He had to spar some of this energy off.

Stopping by his room, Riku opened the door, intending to grab his sword, but when he opened the door, it was to the surprising sight of Sora on his bed, knees pulled to his chest while he fiddled with his crown mournfully.

“Sora?” Rikus’s heart leapt out of his chest. “What’s wrong… the king?”

Sora gasped and looked up, his eyes full of unshed tears. “Riku! I— no.. dad’s still unchanged. I just— I’m hiding I guess. No one thinks to look here and I… didn’t think you’d mind.”

“I don’t,” Riku agreed, sitting on the bed next to him. He reached up, hand stopping just sort of touching Sora’s shoulder. Reaching out fondly in a moment of laughter or levity was easy but in a moment like this— where Sora was hurting— Riku paused.

What if this was too far?

But then Sora hiccuped, holding back a cry, and this time Riku didn’t hold back, placing a hand gently on Sora’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Sora sniffed. “It’s just— They’re keeping something from me. Telling me that I needn’t worry myself over my people when I have world affairs to attend to. But what’s wrong with my people? Has something happened? Are they unhappy? Is there something I can do? But those advisors… All they care about is alliances and trade agreements and it’s all stupid. What is a prince without his kingdom happy to stand with him?”

Sora’s voice grew stronger and louder the more he spoke until the tears were nearly dry. Riku squeezed his shoulder in support.

“And you!”

Riku gasped. “Me?”

“Yeah! You’re— your hiding too. And disappearing and— I don’t want to hold you back if you got a girlfriend or something but I don’t— don’t keep me in the dark. Please?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend!” Riku quickly protested.

“You don’t?” Sora looked relieved by the statement. “Oh… but running off—”

“I really was going to town to meet Leon,” Riku insisted. “Because—”

He paused. Sora had a right to know, but knowing would mean action. And Riku knew that once Sora had his sight set on something, nothing would deter him.

But still. Riku couldn’t keep this from him.

“Something is happening in town. To the townspeople. They’re… retreating to their homes. Locking their doors and shuttering their windows. Even in this heat. And soon, no one has seen them in days. They’re not sick exactly, but they’re—”

“They’re not themselves.” Sora inferred. With a nod, he glanced back at Riku. “What else?”

“Leon says there’s a man in town trying to stir up trouble against the government,” Riku crossed his arms. “I’m not sure if they’re related, but the timing—”

He hadn’t thought of it before, but now that he said it aloud, the timing did seem a bit strange. And at a time where more townspeople were trying to stay in at night, this stranger constantly talked to town just to sit and shout in a tavern?

Something was definitely fishy.

“Thank you for telling me,” Sora said, standing up from the bed. “But you know, you dont have to figure everything out on your own. I can help!”

Riku hummed. But then he thought of it. If the stranger was a noble, someone from court, maybe Sora could help. Sora grew up with these people, would no their voices much better than Riku.

“Yeah… you’re right. I suppose two heads are better than one. But I suppose we can’t let the advisors know.” Not only would they have a field day and probably try to oust Riku from his position for telling Sora and letting him join in, but if the suspected coup was coming from the inside… those advisors couldn’t be trusted either.

“Right?” Sora’s grin brightened the whole room and he reached out, grabbing Riku’s hand.

Riku’s stopped at Sora’s warm grip holding his hand. It wasn’t the first time and probably wouldn’t be the last. But every time it happened, Riku’s heart stopped. It felt like sparks between them, the warmth spreading up his arms and into his heart. He topped just sort of using the grip to drag Sora down into his arms, and instead let him be pulled up.

“C’mon!” Sora laughed, all traces of tears gone and having no idea of the effect the sound had on Riku’s heart. “We have a mystery to solve!”

Next up is knittenkitten! Your words are "We have a mystery to solve!"