/me A quiet gasp from the shorter of the two who quickly turned to  face him. He is shocked by the notion Riku presented- but he could not deny that it’s never crossed his mind. “Of course not-! It’s nothing like that!”  He’s on the defensive,  the fruit held to his chest. “I haven’t doubted you for a second, when it comes to that ... You’re so strong, I wouldn’t ever think otherwise. But- I’ll be honest, it made me plenty anxious before  ... ”   Azure orbs meet jade green ones with a bit of reluctance, something unusual for him to exhibit.  “What this is for ... it’s ... <i>Riku</i>, I care about you- so much. You’re  my best friend ...  and I look to you because you’re one of the most important things to me-“ the words were tumbling out of Sora’s chest, where his heart bled from.  “I hardly think I’d be where I am now <i>without you</i>.  What I’m trying to say is ...” slowly, Sora drew in a breath. His nerves were buzzing at this point, the drumming of his heartbeat in his ears. This was unlike anything he had ever done for another- even if he’s shone such grand degrees of selflessness towards most people he’s come across.  This was a matter so personal, it was more or less shocking that he was confronted about it by his Nobody. This matter of the heart, a thing Sora believed he had full understanding over, only to be thwarted by this realization.  “I’m giving you the Papou Fruit because I want to be a part of your life, forever, no matter where either of us go. If we’re apart for days, months, years ... it won’t change how I feel for you.”   And what was that, exactly? Even Sora struggled to say it in this very moment, hence the way he danced around the core truth of his confession. “I hope you’ll have it- and me, too. Because I-“ his breath hitched, but he pressed on! “I love you, Riku. I ... really do ...” his tone descends to something quieter in the last few words he spoke, forearm rising to shield his face which hid behind it, rubbing tears from his wet eyes. Saltiness dribbled down his rosied cheeks. Those three words held entirely new meanings. Once said in the leisurely, platonic way- and now ... this.