Note: I thought I'd never publish this. School made me very busy and I had a bit of hard time with this prompt. I must have re-written it at least 3 times, each time with different characters in mind haha. I finally settled on this idea, I'm not much happy about it especially because it isn't as developed as I wish it would be. But well.
For information, it's happening in a speculative KH3 timeline. I finally wanted to write something with my favourite KH pairing. Sigh, I really wish it becomes canon in KH3 but I'm not going to put much of my hope into it, I don't want to be disappointed. Anyway, enjoy!

This challenge belongs to WishingDreamer5.

The Radiance in the Hollow Abyss

10. Promise

From the cliff, he could see the whole vale, unwelcoming and lifeless. The beautiful castle was now a monstrous bastion towering above the whole valley. Unrecognizable. The pipes gave the once beautiful castle a warped look that made his head spin the longer he stared at it. Much had changed in a decade. Was it really the place once called the City of Light?

"Terra?"

He turned over to see who called his name and was greeted by the sight of Aqua.

"I was wondering what took you so long. I was worried," she said as she walked over to his side.

He could not help but rolling his eyes. It seemed like people did not trust him roaming around without being closely watched. But it hurt seeing Aqua being suspicious about him.

"I was just taking a walk. I needed some fresh air."

She hummed as a sign of understanding. Her appearance had hardly changed over the course of the last decade, probably due to the strange system of time in the Dark Realm. He also did not look much older and much different than he used to except for the longer hair. They stood next to each other silently which quickly made him uncomfortable.

"That's amazing how much this place has changed."

"I know," Aqua said, with a laugh. "I could not believe this was Radiant Garden either at first."

A pang of guilt rushed through his heart.

"That was my doing."

"No it wasn't," Aqua stated with a firm voice.

"Then whose was it?"

"Xehanort's."

"Please!" he huffed, anger rising through him. "Nobody here believes that, especially you!"

Aqua started to lose her composure. "Are you saying I'm a liar?"

"What I'm saying is that you wouldn't be looking for me every time I happen to be alone", he growled, exasperated. "What do you fear will happen, Aqua? Do you think I'm still so weak that I'll fall in the same trap again? That I'll hurt and kill other people?"

Aqua would just shake her head which did nothing to whisk all the confusion, guilt and anger he felt away.

"No!"

"THEN WHAT IS IT?"

The late realization that he was shouting at her made him close his eyes momentarily to avoid her gaze. When he dared to look at her again, she was shaking and he could see tears in her eyes.

"Aqua, I'm sorry. I di-" He started but she hushed him and handed him a star-shaped necklace, his wayfinder. The promise that whatever happens, they shall find their path to each other again.

"I'm here because I care about you," a tear silently fell down her cheek but her voice remained firm. "Ever since you've come back, you are so distant. And I know that's because some things are bothering you. I don't want to make the same mistake I did ten years ago."

"You made no mistake, Aqua."

"I misjudged you, I accused you of things you didn't do. If only I had listened to how you felt then maybe… maybe…"

He stepped closer to her as his thumb wiped away another tear falling down her face and rested his forehead on hers.

"Open up to me," she finally whispered as he wrapped one of his arms around her waist. "We promised to have each other's back, right?"

He gently brushed one of her bangs out of her eyes and smiled: "Right...". He gently kissed her forehead, the corner of her mouth then pressed his lips against hers.