Aerith/Vanitas
Giving
Vanitas had been out releasing Unversed in the Radiant Garden when neighborhood kids charged from their houses, wooden swords brandished and ready for a fight. He looked on from the safety of an abandoned alley, wincing as one managed to vanquish a Flood. He summoned more powerful Unversed that ate at what was left of his energy. But two pretentious tools strolled up, both armed with toy weapons. Frisbees and a tee ball bat? Please, what could that do to —
A wave of pain rippled through his prone form as the energy flowed back into his being. He bit his lip to endure the beating, but only succeeded in drawing blood.
Mothers called out to their children, beseeching them to come back inside, warning about a harsh storm that was on its way. And surely enough, after the kids had retreated to their homes, rain began to fall in sheets over his uncovered head. He knew he couldn't go back to "his" world until the entire job was complete, but he couldn't afford to lose anymore energy, or have anymore returned to him. He was going to have to spend the night there in the rain, so he could recharge. Sliding his back up against the cool stone of the alley, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
But alas, to no avail.
He spent the early evening fighting of the symptoms of hypothermia, and nursing his wounds, all while trying to sleep. It was a flawed plan from the start. Maybe he should go back to Xehanort.
Just then a woman's voice sounded, reverberating against the hollow streets with ease.
"Zack! Zaaaack!"
She glanced down his alley. Vanitas's blood froze in its tracks.
"Zack, there you are, I thought I told you it's not — oh, sorry. You're not Zack. See I'm looking for a friend that — no wait, this is insanely rude of me. Are you lost? Where's your mother? She must be worried sick about you."
Vanitas just threw his head back and laughed.
"Oh, you're one of those. Well, come on."
He looked her up and down through gold slits.
"What."
"I'm a healer. I should be able to cure the poison before it spreads to your muscles. Now come on. There's hot stew in it for you if you do." She held her hand out to him.
Vanitas took it.