Seriously. :D I think what I love so much about Riku and Mickey is how Mickey clearly fills a hole that Riku desperately needed filled in order to be anything like emotionally healthy again. (If he ever was.) He judged himself by his place with Sora and Kairi, but his faith in that place had become so fragile and eroded over time that no matter what they could have done, even if Sora said straight to his face, "Riku, I've always looked up to you and admired you and I love you, you're my best friend and you're the standard I've always measured myself by, please come back to us, we miss you" Riku probably would have distrusted it.
... Enter Mickey, who meets Riku for the first time when he's at his lowest and darkest and supports him the whole way. The context of their relationship is wholly different, it's new, it's on a solid foundation that hasn't been riddled through with doubt. Mickey's not a rival, so Riku doesn't have to test himself against him - and what would be the point if he did, anyway? Mickey's a king. But he's also friendly and humble and says "gosh" a lot and insists that Riku call him by name instead of title, and sticks with him no matter how bad things get. He proves to Riku, in a way Sora and Kairi would never been able to no matter how much they wanted to or how hard they tried, that Riku really is Worth It. Worth being friends with, worth fighting for, and genuinely loved. It's hardly a coincidence that we don't see Riku really being happy or content until after he's met and spent time with Mickey.
So yes. They are a WOOB.
... [/tl;dr]
Mmm, Riku/Kairi indeed. :D ... I have an essay on why I like that one too but I'll spare you XD;;
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... Enter Mickey, who meets Riku for the first time when he's at his lowest and darkest and supports him the whole way. The context of their relationship is wholly different, it's new, it's on a solid foundation that hasn't been riddled through with doubt. Mickey's not a rival, so Riku doesn't have to test himself against him - and what would be the point if he did, anyway? Mickey's a king. But he's also friendly and humble and says "gosh" a lot and insists that Riku call him by name instead of title, and sticks with him no matter how bad things get. He proves to Riku, in a way Sora and Kairi would never been able to no matter how much they wanted to or how hard they tried, that Riku really is Worth It. Worth being friends with, worth fighting for, and genuinely loved. It's hardly a coincidence that we don't see Riku really being happy or content until after he's met and spent time with Mickey.
So yes. They are a WOOB.
... [/tl;dr]
Mmm, Riku/Kairi indeed. :D ... I have an essay on why I like that one too but I'll spare you XD;;