Always
"Sora!" Riku saw it too late, Ansem drawing a Glock from his jacket, his finger pulling the trigger. Heard the explosion as the bullet left the chamber, aimed at Sora.
Things had escalated quickly, too quickly.
Riku had fallen prey to the seduction of the Heartless mafia, with its promises of grand adventure and power. Ansem's promise that the Heartless' goals were lofty ones. He'd soon risen in the ranks with his ambition, becoming the boss's protege. Ansem was more than happy to take the young man under his wing and guide him on missions that were for the greater good.
Riku had followed along, believing Ansem's intentions were pure. When he found out the man's true motivations, he wanted out. Wanted to collect evidence on the man who'd manipulated him, to bring him to justice. Sora, as always, was there for him, ready to do whatever it took to help his best friend. Ready to do the right thing.
Ready to lay his own life on the line for Riku's.
But that had never been Riku's intention.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. They'd been caught—he should've seen it coming, really—and Ansem's reaction was swifter than Riku's. Riku saw it happen, and it wasn't like in books or movies or anything, when they said it happened in slow motion. No. It happened too fast, he couldn't react in time. The sound rang in his ears, the recoil of the gun like a punch in the gut. Panic bubbled up, making his chest tight.
He couldn't breathe, couldn't move, at least, not fast enough to reach Sora, to push him out of the way. Not fast enough to prevent the red blossoming on his stomach. Ansem had already cocked the gun a second time, sighting down the barrel at Riku. But he didn't shoot, just watched with cold, amber eyes as Riku dropped to his knees next to Sora.
Too late. He knew it, could see it in the way Sora's eyes were already starting to glaze over. The way the red blood stained his seconds the moment he applied pressure to the wound. Futile. He knew it.
"Hey Riku," Sora murmured, wincing around his bright smile. "It's not that bad, you know?"
"Sora," Riku whispered. His hands were shaking, he couldn't stop the life flowing out of his best friend. "Sora, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."
"Riku, don't cry."
Riku watched the tears dripping onto Sora's face, unable to stop them. He shook his head. "You're leaving me."
"Hey, I'm with you, okay? Always."
Riku drew a shuddering breath. "Sora, I lo—"
He was cut off by a second gunshot. Sora's eyes widened as Riku slumped over him, blood trickling from his forehead. He struggled to wrap his arms around his best friend, at the end of his strength.
Sora never would've thought the color yellow could be so cold as when they stared down at him from behind the Glock. Sora closed his eyes on them, instead focusing on Riku.
A third shot echoed through the room.
I love you, too, Ku.