"Well, you're all kinds of gorgeous, aren't you, Sam?" Sora asked his newest creation, lifting it up to see it better. The phoenix with a very regal face seemed pleased too and Sora moved to his bed for his post-video upload nap with Sam in tow. He set the art doll at the corner near his pillow and snuggled into his covers, eyes raking over the sculpted features, feeling very satisfied with a job well done.

He was half asleep when his phone vibrated and he peeked an eye at it, wondering if it was Vanitas again. He'd been delighted to find, over the week they'd been texting, that Vanitas was an avid texter… and seemed to be very in love with his cat.

And that had been a special treat, given Sora hadn't known Vanitas even had a cat. It felt like it was something just for them, a feeling compounded by Vanitas' general enthusiasm about Gere once he'd realized Sora was actually interested in hearing about him, and the shots Vanitas sent him were usually hilarious and adorable all in one.

Which did nothing but help his growing crush get all the more fond and full, but it was absolutely worth it.

You have one (1) new message.

Vanitas has sent a text.

Sora yawned and pulled his phone in to read it, smiling sleepily at the photo that opened over the screen. Vanitas' leg looking down at his foot, where Gere was unapologetically sitting.

He hasn't moved in ten minutes, was typed under it, making Sora laugh. He checked the time and grinned wider, realizing it was one of Gere's feeding times. As an older cat, he required a special diet, and apparently had a habit of being too underweight for his size. Vanitas had proudly walked Sora through the feeding schedule he'd laid out for Gere to keep his cat healthy and in shape. And totally spoiled, of course, and Sora had no qualms of teasing him about it.

It's your own fault, Sora typed back, for insisting on making him home cooked meals.

He ran a finger down Sam's beak, feeling along the resin coating, and gently tilted the doll's head more into the light coming through the window to see it gleam. Eyes slowly drooping, when his phone went off again, he merely snuggled with it into his blanket and squinted at the message.

Rude af.

Sora chuckled softly at that, imagining Vanitas' pouty look and blushed a bit to himself. Thankfully no one was around to see him be so pathetic.

He obviously gets it from you, he typed back, daring himself to maybe… flirt? A little? He has your charm.

He sent it quickly and covered his face. Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh no, why did he think that was a good idea? Groaning, he smooshed his face into the pillow, refusing to resurface even when the phone went off. He felt around for it blindly.

"Of course he has my charm," Vanitas' voice was suddenly there, making him squeak and nearly fall out of bed. A laugh crackled through the phone. "What the fuck, Sora?"

"Sorry, sorry, I wasn't expecting…" Sora bit his lip as Vanitas just laughed and puffed his cheeks out indignantly, though a smile was quickly taking over his face. "And you're right," he said to steer the conversation away from his unmanly noises. "He does look like a mob boss."

"Right? I swear he was born a cat because he'd be too damn powerful as a person," Vanitas said over the sound of a pan and sizzling meat. Sora pressed the phone to his ear a little more to pick it up.

"Salmon?" he guessed. "Or chicken?"

"Chicken," Vanitas sighed, back to his usual grumpy tone. "Takes longer… stop with the look, i can only cook as fast as it'll cook, ya old fart."

Sora giggled, hearing Gere's very loud, unimpressed meow under that. "You are so whipped."

"Probably, and if you tell anyone I'll come after you."

"Of course, of course," Sora said and yawned again. He rolled onto his back to ward off sleep a little longer, wanting this moment to last. It was the first time Vanitas had actively called, and maybe he just wanted his hands free or some other logical reason, but Sora still felt like floating about it. He pinched himself to come back to earth, but only made himself yelp. How embarrassing.

"Do I even want to know?"

"Nope," Sora decided just to let Vanitas assume whatever he wanted. It was less embarrassing. He wondered if he could hold a conversation while hiding under a pillow. Probably not. "Your chair still hanging on?" he asked, blushing a bit now for a new reason. He'd sent the new cushion seat he'd made only yesterday, as well as a plush of a Heartless. Getting Vanitas' address had been rather simple too. He'd gotten good at getting information he wanted without it being obvious growing up with his family, and Vanitas hadn't sounded at all suspicious when Sora had asked for it. Win-win. Still, he hoped the package would come soon. He'd put a rush on it and everything.

"Barely." Vanitas' frown was obvious. "Everyone tells me I should upgrade, but I'm not ready to put in that expense until i get a spring up my ass or something."

Sora snorted, thinking to the schematics he'd pulled up of the very chair they were discussing to get the proper measurements for the new cushion. "Does it even have springs?"

"Who knows?"

He could hear Gere meowing again, followed by Vanitas moving the pan over the stove. Sora let his eyes close and just listened, as though he could fall into the sounds and transport to where Vanitas and Gere were. What would that even be like? He'd seen enough pictures of Gere to guess the kitchen had an island. Would there be stools lined up on one side? Could he sit there, watch Vanitas cook and laugh as Gere dogged his every step? Smell every smell, hear every fond curse Vanitas aimed at his mob boss of a cat?

He sighed to himself, heart swelling in his chest so much it felt like it would burst. Longing, as well as loneliness. A terrible combination.

"Finally done cooking?" he said and wished his voice didn't sound so soft and sweet. He just hoped Vanitas would interpret it as sleepiness.

"Finally, but still not fast enough for this cat," Vanitas huffed and Sora could hear the drag of silverware over a dish. Shredding the chicken, most likely. Gere's meowing was getting more insistent and Sora could hear when the cat hopped onto the counter, or perhaps the island, to oversee the last preparations of his food. "Good god, Your Majesty, hold your fucking mices, like Jesus."

"Mices?" Sora had to ask, biting his lip at how endearing that was.

"What? Cats don't hold horses," Vanitas defended. 'Shut the fuck up, Sora."

Sora just laughed, which was very much not shutting up. But Vanitas didn't repeat the order, just sighed, resigned.

Then the doorbell rang. Sora had the phone so close to his ear, his other pressed into his pillow, he almost thought it was his own until he heard Vanitas grumbling. "Who the fuck is that?"

"Oh, that's you?" Sora said, twisting in his bed a bit just in case it wasn't. "I thought that was my doorbell."

"No," Vanitas said, amusement in his voice. Then the sound of his footsteps and the creak of a door. Muffled voices, the heft of cardboard.

Sora sat straight up in bed, blushing hard and heart beating fast. No way, did he really get to have this?

"Vanitas?" he asked, making sure.

A pause. Then, "What the actual fuck, Sora, you sneaky bastard. What the fuck did you send me?"

Sora grinned. "Open it and find out," he sing-songed, gleeful. "Seriously, open it. I put a rush on it because I was too excited."

"Don't fucking vibrate through the floor, God," Vanitas said and Sora could almost hear him roll his eyes. But still, obediently, Vanitas' footsteps returned to the kitchen and soon the sound of a knife slicing heavy tape could be heard. Then cardboard folding open.

Vanitas' breath went in sharply and Sora pressed his phone to his ear so hard it hurt. "Well?"

"Did you fucking do what I think you fucking did?" Packing peanuts rustling, thudding to the counter and floor. A disgruntled meow as one most likely hit Gere. "You fucking…"

"You're welcome," Sora laughed, hearing the awe and not taking it personal. He'd listened to Vanitas' videos long enough to know he cussed when he was frustrated, but also when he was flattered too. And being on the end of it sent those dreaded butterflies to Sora's stomach. He laid back to keep from flailing off the bed. "I got the measurements from the official GamerChair site, so it should fit, but if it doesn't, just send it back and I'll adjust it."

Vanitas just cussed some more, awe plain. Then more rustling and a low curse, obviously finding the Heartless plush he'd set at the bottom of the box. Sora grinned.

"Ventus said they were your favorite," he said, hoping that wouldn't hit Vanitas the wrong way. "I've been wanting to do a plush from the Kingdoms series and this was good practice. I hope you like him."

"Fuck," Vanitas said, with feeling. "You made this?"

"I did," Sora fidgeted a bit. "Both of them, if that wasn't clear?"

"Fuck, I mean…" Vanitas growled a bit, obviously not used to getting gifts for no reason. "So we apparently need to do a collab now, because this little shit is going in my vids from now on and our insane fans will lose their shit."

Sora beamed at that. It wasn't the thank you he'd hoped for. It was better, because it was Vanitas' form of gratitude. He could hear it in Vanitas' voice and he felt like floating again.

"That would be fun," he said, going with it. Vanitas was obviously flustered and getting grumpy that he was, so it seemed the best option. "I'm not sure if you'd want to do any sewing, but I do enjoy video games. Maybe we can do something with that? I'm not as good as you or Ventus," he added quickly. "But I can hold my own, depending on the game."

"I'm doing a horror game for my next recording," Vanitas said, sounding much more himself again. Sora immediately blanched.

"Yeah, no, me and horror do not mix," he said hurriedly, then blushed in mortification as Vanitas gave a low, almost dark sounding laugh. "No, nuh-uh, Vanitas, no."

"I think it'd be fun to watch you squirm," Vanitas continued, obviously not caring about Sora's protests. In fact, Sora was suddenly certain he was only goading the man on and went scarlet. "The fans would enjoy it. They tend to like it when game reviewers try horror games. Something about watching us freak out."

"Rude," Sora pouted, but sighed. "Fine, but I reserve the right to throw my controller at your face. I tend to throw things when I'm scared."

Vanitas snorted a laugh. "What the fuck?"

"Oh, it's worse when I don't have anything in my hands," Sora admitted. "I, uh, totally punched Ventus in the nose once when he tried to scare me awake."

Vanitas laughed, full and loud, and Sora maybe puddled a bit on the inside. "You are, most definitely, my favorite brother."

"You say that now, but beware," Sora teased, flying at the sound of that warm laugh. "If you get me scared, you have to deal with the consequences."

"More fodder for the fans, then," Vanitas said and his footsteps became audible once again. After a moment, the soft squish of fabric could be heard, then Vanitas made a long, low noise. "Oh yes, this will do nicely."

"I take it you're trying out the cushion?"

"I am. Fits like a glove."

"I'm glad," Sora softened, and had to resist the urge to hug his pillow. "And I wasn't expecting to be able to hear your reaction. I'd say thanks but I have a feeling you only called because you needed both hands."

"Damn right, that cat is a pushy boss," Vanitas said and Sora could hear the fondness in his voice. That longing and lonely swell in his chest began to ache.

"Well, thanks anyways," Sora said, earnest, trying to just enjoy the moment and not fall into that sad feeling. "Will you tell your fans about the plush straight off, or will you just put him up in the background and see who catches it?"

"Mmm, not sure," Vanitas told him, chair squeaking as he got back up. "I guess you'll know when the next video comes out."

"Rude," Sora said again, but smiled all the same.

You have three (3) new messages.

"And it seems the comments are finally coming in," He said, yawning. "Nap time for me. That last project was a killer."

"Go the fuck to sleep," Vanitas said, just as Sora hoped he would, and he grinned to hear it.

"Let me know when you want to do a collab," he said as he snuggled back down, not sure if he could even handle a collab or Vanitas in person, but knowing he'd never forgive himself for not taking the chance.

"Yeah, yeah, sleep," Vanitas huffed and for a moment Sora could almost believe he sounded fond again, this time for Sora. How nice to imagine.

"Mmkay, I'll text you when I'm up," Sora promised, rubbing his eyes before closing them. "Night, Vanitas."

He didn't hear an answer right away, just leaving it up to Vanitas to end the call. He was already tucked in and cozy, and half asleep and didn't want to hang up anyway until Vanitas ended the call.

"...Night," was the soft reply, almost unheard, but still it followed Sora into his dreams.