Chapter 12 Breaking Out

Another one of Larxene's roundhouse kicks knocks Sora off his feet, his stomach lurching. A short flight later, he crashes into the ground, barely getting his arms up in time to protect his head.

"Sora!" He hears both Donald and Goofy shout, stuck on the far side of the room with Larxene separating them.

Curling up, Sora hopes one of them will cast a curing spell on him. His magic is spent and the battle with Larxene has exhausted him physically. But they're both barely keeping up with protecting themselves and don't have a second to spare to send a spell his way.

Still, the green light of a cure spell falls on him.

He sighs in relief, managing to push himself back up into a sitting position, and looks around for who cured him. His eyes fall on Riku and Kairi coming down the steps on the other side of the barrier and behind Kairi...

"Ven!" Sora is on his feet in an instant. The battle fades out as he stares, mouth gaping, at Ven. A little older, a little run down, a little out of it by the look on his face, but he's awake. He's alive.

Despite his optimistic words, inside Sora had doubts about whether they would ever find Ven. Now that Ven's here, Sora wants nothing more than to sprint over and embrace him. To reunite with at least one member of the family Xehnaort had torn from him.

But there is still a barrier between them and a battle to be won.

With new determination, Sora charges Larxene. A fireball from Donald clips her shoulder and she staggers, turning to face Sora. Her fingers crackle with electricity, but he doesn't give her a chance to shock him again.

What's left of his strength and magic converges at the end of his keyblade, making it glow. He jumps, slashing down at her, his keyblade cutting left and right too fast for her to keep up. After eight successive hits, he flips back and while he is in the air he releases beams of light that collide with Larxene all at once.

With a shriek of anger and shock, Larxene is knocked on her back and doesn't rise as Sora, Donald, and Goofy approach. "No…" She moans. Her eyes find Sora's as he leans over her. "No!" Her struggling attempt to get back up fails. "I refuse to lose to a bunch of losers! I…"

Wisps of darkness start to come off of her. Her eyes widen, hands reaching up for the bits as they float away.

"I'm fading?!" She says, staring in horror. She screams, "No! This isn't...the way I...I won't…" The last of her disappears, cutting off her last words.

The barrier around the room disappears with her and breathing hard, Sora puts his exhaustion aside. With a grin, he sprints over to Ven coming into the room with Riku and Kairi.

"Ven!" Sora shouts and launches himself at him. Ven staggers under his weight, but Sora manages to keep them both upright. "We found you," Sora says, gripping tight to Ven, feeling tears collect in the corners of his eyes. He doesn't notice the slight hesitation Ven has in hugging him back.

When Sora pulls back, eyes shining with tears of happiness, Ven can't do more than stare. At Sora's spiky hair. His pointed chin. The familiar shape of his eyes despite them being the wrong color. "Y-you look just like him," Ven stutters aloud without meaning to.

"What?" Sora asks. He tilts his head the same way he used to do as a child. "Like who?"

Ven knows the illusions are broken, but he still glances to the side to see if Vanitas is there, marvelling at the semblance Sora has to him. Vanitas, of course, isn't there and Ven can feel the curious stares of the others. "I mean…" He says, not wanting the others to think he'd lost all has marbles in the last ten years. "You've grown up so much."

Sora smiles sadly at that. "You too, Ven," he says and pulls Ven into a second hug. One Ven does a better job of returning. But Sora pulls back suddenly. "Are you hurt at all?" He demands, looking Ven over critically.

"I'm fine, Sora," Ven says with a smile. Ven can't help but laugh at Sora, little Sora, being as bad of a mother hen as Aqua used to be. Sora isn't laughing though.

"Did the black coats go after you?" He asks, still looking for any injuries. "We've been so worried. Are you sure you aren't hurt?"

"He's fine, Sora," Kairi says, calming him down. She slips her hand into his and Ven's smile widens into a knowing smirk that makes them both blush.

It's then that Ven notices Donald and Goofy behind Sora.

"Hiya, Ven," Goofy says with a wave. "It's good to see you again

"You too-" Ven starts to say, but he's interrupted by the sound of clapping behind them.

Namine steps out of a dark corridor, continuing her slow clapping until she is a few steps from them.

"My, that was a fun little fight, wasn't it," she says. She throws a smirk in Ven's direction and he does his best not to gulp. "Nice to see you again, Ven. I have to say I'm impressed you made it this far."

"Hey!" Sora stepping in to get in front of Namine. "What do you want?"

"To offer congratulations, of course," she replies, looking over all of them. "You beat the fools."

Keeping his keyblade up, Sora takes another step towards Namine. "You said if we found Ven, you would let us go."

Namine fixes him with a coy smile. "I did say that, didn't I?" She says, moving closer. "And I always keep my promises. Especially to you." Her fingers brush Sora's cheek, making him flinch.

Kairi starts forward, but Riku grabs her wrist. "Don't anger her," he whispers in her ear.

Over Sora's shoulder, Namine smirks at Kairi, caressing the Sora's jaw. Her hand moves up into his hair and she leans into his cheek. Her lips are an inch away from his cheekbone when the cold, blunt side of Sora's keyblade pushes into her stomach.

Sora steps out of her reach, never lowering his keyblade. "Are you going to let us go or not?" He asks and Namine's gaze turns icy.

"You are free to go, but…" She raises a hand to point at Ven. "I have grown too fond of my toy to let you take him away."

Namine flicks her wrist and from her hand Ven sees something dark and smoke like flying towards him. He gasps, covering his face. It washes over him, cool like water, but not wet.

The sound around him deadens. Dropping his hands, he sees the white walls gone. He is in a dark dungeon. Agrabah's dungeon, he remembers. And he is alone.

"Sora!" Ven shouts, spinning around. "Riku! Kairi!"

"Ven!"

A hand grabs his and he is spun around to face Vanitas.

"It's not real, Ven," Vanitas says, dragging him up the stairs to the cell door. "She's tricking you."

"I know," Ven says, stumbling in Vanitas' wake. ""But it's so - wait!"

Vanitas reaches the door and doesn't slow. He lowers his shoulder like he is going to knock it down and Ven can do nothing but brace for the impact. Which never comes. Another wave of coldness washes over him and they're in an ornate bedroom.

"What…" Vanitas stares at the surroundings. "But I broke the illusion."

"It's a new one," Ven whispers. He looks with horror at the dark city out the window. "This is Carinol." Taking a step back, he pulls Vanitas with him. "We have to go back."

Ven turns around only to crash into someone behind him.

"Hello, Veni," Keric says, reaching out a hand towards Ven's neck and licking his lips. "I've been waiting for you."

Vanitas yanks Ven back and, without letting go of Ven's hand, he slams his fist into Keric's face, knocking him down with one punch. "C'mon!" Vanitas shouts and turns back to the window. With a few running steps, they jump together, crashing through the glass.

Suddenly they're plunged into water. The salt stings Ven's eyes and Vanitas' hand still clasping his makes it hard to swim, but Ven doesn't let go. The two of them kick for the surface above them, but out of nowhere a fat, gray tentacle comes and wraps around Ven. His shout comes out in a stream of bubbles as he is dragged down.

Fear flashes in Vanitas' eyes. A stream of bubble comes out as he mouths Ven's name. Their hands are almost ripped apart, but Vanitas manages to swim after him. His dark keyblade appears in his hand and he chops through the tentacle, pulling Ven away with him once he's free.

They tumble sideways and collapse onto dusty ground. "Ven." Vanitas coughs. He helps Ven sit up. "She's layering them. The illusions. Every time one breaks there's another." Vanitas runs a hand through his hair. "I can't stop her."

"What are we going to do?" Ven asks, panicked. A shadow is cast over them and he looks up to see Neoshadows falling down towards them. "Vanitas!"

"Shit!" Vanitas lunges over Ven, shielding him. The Neoshadows crash into them and they're knocked flat to the ground.

Ven can barely breathe. He's buried in too many Neoshadows and Vanitas on top of him isn't helping. But then all of a sudden Vanitas' weight it gone.

"Ven!"

The Neoshadows are dragging Vanitas away. Their hands manage to stay connected for a moment, but Ven can barely see him through the pile of Neoshadows and then he's gone. And Ven is grasping empty air.

"No, no, no, no," Ven whispers, closing his eyes. He can't be trapped here alone. He can't be trapped when he just found his friends again.

Concentrating, he looks to find his light inside. It's small, but he takes all of it pushes it out in a blast that knocks the Neoshadows away. They vanish in the blinding flash.

The blast sends him sliding across the dirt and when he comes to a stop he's face down without the weight of the Neoshadows on him.

Spitting out dirt, Ven pushes himself up slightly, recognizing the gorge from the Pride Lands. Vanitas is lying a few feet in front of him, lifting his head as well. Vanitas' eyes widen.

"Ven!" He shouts, reaching out. But he's too far away.

Another shadow falls over Ven. He looks up and screams, the hooves of a wildebeest coming down on him, sharp and ready to-

"Stop!"

Ven cracks his eyes open to see not a Wildebeest, but Namine standing over him.

"No," she says, but she's not looking at him. "Zexion!"

Ven twists to see a teenage boy in a black coat standing on the steps down from the 4th floor. His slate colored hair is half in his eyes and with a large book open in one hand, his other hand is pointed at Namine. A thin, barely visible line of silvery magic chains her hands and he holds the other end. With a tug, he makes her stumble away from Ven.

"What are you doing?" Namine demands, trying and failing to shake off the magic.

"What I should have done a long time ago," Zexion says, looking at Ven who pushes himself up slightly.

"Which is what, Zexion?" A man with pink hair steps out of another dark corridor. He has a scythe in hand and a hard look trained on the slate haired boy. "Betrayal? I advise you to think very carefully about the consequences on your next move."

"I have," Zexion replies. A flick of his wrist and the chain on Namine's wrists coils around her whole body, trapping her in place. The pink haired man starts to storm forward, but Zexion waves his hand again and a wall of fire springs up, dividing the room in half and trapping Namine and the man on the other side.

Ven doesn't even notice his friends until Riku and Sora are hauling him up by his armpits. "We got you, Ven," Riku says as they set him on his feet.

From the other side of the fire wall, the man with the scythe roars in fury and it sounds like he's trying to cut his way, but Zexion seems unbothered. He takes a step towards the keyblade wielders who close ranks on instinct.

Zexion raises his hand once more and a dark corridor appears behind them. "Get out of here," he orders, but they don't move. More forcefully, he insists, "I'm trying to help you."

"Why should we trust you?" Kairi asks.

Zexion doesn't answer her question, his eyes settling on Ven. "You want to get away from Namine? This is how you get out."

The fire wall starts to flicker and Ven nods stepping back towards the corridor. "Anywhere is better than here," he says and others follow with more apprehension.

Zexion watches them step through the corridor. They look less than happy to be trusting him. At least, thanks to Namine's poking at Ven's memories, he knows just where to send them and when they step out of the corridor, they'll know he really is on their side.

There is a whoosh behind him as the firewall falls and Zexion smirks to himself. Too late, he thinks and envelops himself in his own dark corridor.

A moment after he disappears, Marluxia's scythe cuts through the space where he used to be.

Ven stumbles out of the dark corridor, his knees threatening to give out. The corridor had been cold like Namine's illusions and it sends him panicking that he had made a terrible mistake in trusting the boy in the black coat.

He looks up from his shoes and gasps, really falling to his knees this time. He's back in the alley of Traverse Town. In the spot where Zack's body had been. There is nothing there now - no body, no blood - but Ven still sees Zack sprawled out there when he closes his eyes.

"Ven?" Sora is shaking his shoulder. "Ven."

Ven turns to him realizing his entire body is shaking.

"What's wrong?" Sora asks.

Taking a shuddering breath, Ven looks up to Riku and Kairi standing over him with matching expressions of concern. "Y-you said Zack is alive," he whispers and Kairi nods quickly.

"He is, Ven. He's fine."

Words aren't enough to reassure him. "I need to see him," Ven says, his hand touching the cobblestones, searching for proof the Zack survived.

"We'll go get him," Kairi says and her, Riku, Donald, and Goofy head out of the alley leaving Sora to continue trying to calm Ven down.

"What's wrong, Ven?" He asks, keeping his voice soft. "What do you think happened to Zack? Is it because of what Namine did to you at the end?"

Pressing his lips together, he shakes his head. "No...before...she…"

Sora waits patiently, letting Ven take his time to get his composure. His hand on his shoulder keeps Ven anchored. It keeps him knowing this is real.

With another deep breath, Ven explains to Sora. "The last time I saw Zack, before I lost my heart, he was beaten up...so bloody...so…" Ven brushes his fingers against the cobblestones again. "I'm so afraid he didn't make it. That I didn't act fast enough and I didn't save him and he -"

"Hey." Sora cuts him off forcefully. "You did save him. He's fine. And he's been spending the last ten years trying to find you."

Ven forces himself to nod. He wants to believe Sora. He wants to believe that Zack is okay, but he can't until he sees it with his own eyes.

"Ven?"

Ven looks up to see Zack at the entrance to the alley, frozen staring wide eyed. Alive. "Zack?" He whispers, relief flooding through him and making his legs too weak to stand.

With a shaky gasp, Zack rushes forward, throwing himself onto one knee beside Ven. Ven reaches out and pulls him to him, crashing their chests together in an attempt to feel every part of him at once.

"Zack," he murmurs again. He presses into Zack's shoulder, breathing him in, and feels Zack do the same to his neck. "You're not...Vanitas didn't..." Hiccup like sobs make it hard to get the words out. "You're alive."

Zack pulls back, laughing slightly. He cradles Ven's face between his trembling hands. "I was going to say the same thing about you," he says in a choked voice.

Ven laughs too and wraps his arms around Zack's neck. Pulling him close, Ven gasps as their lips crash together

They kiss too hard, too desperate, but it has never felt so good. Ven clutches the back of Zack's shirt, twisting the material in his fists, never wanting to let go. He's crushed by Zack's arm around his waist, but he wouldn't want it any other way.

When they have to, they part for air and Zack rests his forehead on Ven's. "I looked for you," he says, his voice breaking. "I looked everywhere and I tried...I tried so hard…"

Ven pulls him into a hug once more and Zack buries his face in Ven's chest. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ven. I couldn't protect you. I couldn't save you. I couldn't -"

"Hey," Ven interrupts him and gently pulls Zack's head up to look him in the eye. He wipes the tears from Zack's cheeks and keeps tracing his thumb along Zack's cheekbone as Zack leans into his hand. "What happened wasn't your fault." Ven tries to say fiercely, to make Zack believe it and let go of any guilt, but his voice shakes with emotion. "It wasn't your fault," he repeats and leans in to claim Zack's lips again.

It's another bruising kiss and this time, when they need air, they only part a moment before crashing their lips back together. Zack tilts his head to a new angle and Ven sighs, tangling his fingers in Zack's hair.

A piercing wolf-whistle rings out followed by a chorus of laughs.

Ven breaks their kiss, but stays close, leaning his cheek on Zack's as he turns his head. Cid, no doubt the whistler, grins hugely from the alley entrance along with the rest of the Traverse Town gang.

Ven smiles back at them, but can't stop his gut from clenching at the sight of Cid's gray hairs and the teenage girl, the spitting image of Aerith, with her arm around Riku's waist. Ten years is a long time and there's a lot that's happened that he has missed.

Zack stands and takes both of Ven's hands in his. "Go say hi," he says softly, pulling Ven up.

Ven is barely on his feet when Yuffie's patience gives out. She crosses the length of the alley in record time and pulls Ven into a hug that knocks all the air from his lungs. "You're okay!" She says and leans back, lifting him off the ground despite him being a few inches taller. "And you're here and…"

She sets him back down and Ven is able to hug her back easier. "You're okay," she whispers into his shoulder.

"I'm okay," he whispers back.

A hand touches his shoulder and he looks up to see Cloud. Letting go of Yuffie, Cloud hugs him next. A little stiff, but Ven can feel him shaking slightly. Before Cloud has even pulled away completely, Tifa's on him and squishes him in a tight hug to rival Yuffies.

"You...I...I can't…" she tries to speak, but words won't come out. Ven squeezes her back, not needing words to know what she was trying to say. Tifa pulls back with a sob and turns to Cloud who already has his arms open for her.

"Kid…" Cid's voice is gruff and his jaw is working the toothpick in his mouth with extra vigor. He grabs both Ven's shoulders in a tight grip. He doesn't say a word, eyes searching Ven's face for something. Ven smiles hesitantly and Cid grips his shoulder. "Fuck, you scared us, kid," Cid says, smothering Ven in a hug.

"Sorry," Ven whispers.

Aerith is waiting when Cid releases him. "Welcome back," she says softly and envelops him in a gentle hug.

"Thanks, Aerith," Ven says. He turns to Leon next who thrusts his hand out.

Ven smiles at that. Some things don't change. He shakes Leon's hand, meeting his stoic gaze. He tries to drop his hand after a moment, but Leon doesn't let go. Keeping a tight grip, he pulls Ven into a one arm hug. With a sigh and a slap on the back, Leon lets go of him.

"Ven?"

Ven turns to Riku, standing with his arm still around the girl that is a mini version of Aerith.

"This is Marlene," Riku says, edging her forward.

"Hi, Ven," Marlene says, smiling. "It's nice to meet you. I mean," she laughs. "I know we've met before, but I don't really remember."

Ven smiles back at her. "It's nice to meet you too," he says, holding his out his hand.

Ignoring his offered hand, Marlene throws her arms around him in a quick, tight hug. "They've all missed you so much," she whispers in his ear before pulling back.

A hand rests on Ven's back and he leans into Zack's touch, just wanting to be as close to him as he can. Zack's other hand finds his and intertwines their fingers. "How are you feeling?" He asks. "Are you hungry? Tired?"

"I'm fine," Ven replies. He looks to Sora, Riku, Kairi, Donald and Goofy. "Thanks to all of you."

Zack meets Sora's eye. There's something tense in the look they exchange that Ven can't place. "So you did have his heart."

Sora shakes his head. "I wasn't the one who woke him up," Sora replies. "Namine said it was my Nobody. Roxas."

"Roxas," Zack repeats softly. "He believed me..."

Ven lets go of Zack's hand and reaches into his pocket. "I didn't see who woke me, but they left this."

He pulls out the pin he'd given Zack and that he'd found on the arm of his chair when he awoke. Zack takes it rolling it between his fingers with a smile tugging at his lips.

Ven glances at Sora. "What's a Nobody?" He asks. "And who's Roxas?"

"It's a long story," Sora says and Tifa steps forward, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I think you all have long stories to tell," she says, looking around at them. "But that can wait until you all have a place to sit and some food in you."

She steers Sora towards the bar, keeping one arm protectively over his shoulder and putting her other around Kairi's. The rest of the crowd follows after with Ven and Zack bringing up the rear.

"Wait, Ven." Zack pulls him to a stop. He smiles, holding up the old pin from Shibuya. "I've been waiting a long time to give this back to you."

Zack carefully pins it to Ven's shirt, letting his hands linger on Ven's chest a moment longer than he needs to. Ven smiles his thanks and leans in to meet Zack's lips in a kiss.

He doesn't have to stand on his tiptoes to kiss him anymore. They've grown up to be nearly the same height. Zack's hair twisted in his hands is longer, his muscles harder.

With a sigh he wishes didn't sound so much like a sob, Ven breaks their kiss. He stares at the ground, blurring from the tears in his eyes.

"Hey."

Zack tips Ven's chin up, wiping away the tear that falls. "What's wrong?"

Not trusting himself to speak, Ven buries his face in the crook of Zack's neck. "T-ten y-years…" He manages to get out and holds onto Zack tighter.

Zack sighs, kissing the top of Ven's head. "I know, Ven," he whispers. "I know."

Ven wants to speak of all the time he's lost. He lost his heart and woke up ten years in the future with a body that isn't his. He might look 25, but Ven still feels 15 and he cries into Zack's chest, doubting even he would ever understand that.

"It's okay," Zack murmurs in his ear. "We take it slow. We'll figure it out. Together. Alright?"

Ven nods and finally lifts his head, sniffing as Zack brushes his hair back from his face.

"I'm not going anywhere, Ven," Zack says. "I want to do everything I can for you."

Ven sniffs again. "Hold my hand?" He asks in a soft voice. "And never let go."

Zack takes Ven's hand and gives it a squeeze. "Of course," he says and starts to pull him towards the bar. "You're not alone anymore."

Yuffie is waiting at the door, foot tapping impatiently. "Quit hogging him, Zack," she says, pouting like a child. "The rest of us are dying to hear his story too." She grabs Ven's arm and drags him into the bar which means that Zack gets pulled along too.

Inside, Ven spots another familiar face. "Mickey?" He says and the mouse turns to him from where he is welcoming Donald and Goofy back.

"Ven!" Mickey shouts and hurries over to give him a hug. He lets out a relieved laugh, looking Ven over like everyone else has been doing. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"It's good to see you again," Ven says and glances at the two women coming up to him. The older woman stretches out her hand.

"Hello, Ven. I'm Master Amiddon. I'm an old friend of your master, Eraqus," she says and Ven shakes her hand.

"You know Master Eraqus?" He asks, surprised.

The smile Master Amiddon gives at that is a little sad, but she nods. "I haven't seen him in many, many years," she admits, and gestures to the younger woman beside her who looks to be a year or two older than Ven. "This is my apprentice, Ryla."

"Nice to meet you," Ven says, shaking her hand as well.

"Likewise," Ryla replies, looking at him like she's sizing him up.

"Here we go!" Tifa calls out, coming out of the kitchen a tray of drinks. Cloud follows with stacks of sandwiches.

Zack hands a drink to Ven and takes one for himself. They take seats, side by side, around the huge table the others had made pulling the small tables together and the sandwiches are passed around.

"So, Ven," Cid says, over the noise. "What happened to you way back when?"

All eyes turn to Ven and he shifts a bit closer to Zack. He squeezes a Zack's hand harder. "After Vanitas, took me from Traverse Town," he says, not speaking of what had happened in the moments before that. "He bright me to the Keyblade Graveyard and made me form the X-blade with him. And we joined back together. I had to fight him off in my heart to gain control back."

He pauses and looks around at everyone. "Does anyone know what happened to Aqua? Or Terra and Master Eraqus?"

His heart sinks to see all their heads shake.

With a sigh, Ven continues, "I saw Aqua for a moment, once I took control. And then I smashed the X-blade to keep it safe from Xehanort and I thought I died. I thought it would kill me."

"Sora's heart took your's in," Zack says. "He saved you and helped you heal."

Ven meets Sora's eyes across the table and smiles. "I guess I owe you again for that," he says.

"Pay me back by never disappearing again," Sora replies with a smile.

Ven smiles back at him. "Deal," he says. He finishes his story, saying, "After that, I woke up in that place. And it was ten years later." Looking to Sora and the others, Ven asks, "How did the five of you end up there?"

After exchanging glances, Riku decides to be the one to speak. "I guess we should start from the beginning," he says. "It all started when Sora stole Cid's Gummi ship…"

Sora watches Ven as Kairi talks about their journey through Castle Oblivion. Ven's head is on Zack's shoulder as he listens, but his eyes have drifted off to the side and he still has a bit of that dazed look he's had since Sora first saw him in the castle.

Everyone else had finished their sandwich, but Ven has barely touched his. After ten years, he should be hungry - starving, Sora would expect - but he's only picked off a little bit of the crust.

Zack presses a light kiss in Ven's hair and his attention seems to snap back for the most part. Giving Zack a smile, Ven looks back at Kairi and Sora does the same as she says,

"The guy in the black coat made us the portal back here and we escaped before the barrier he made came down. And then we were here, and you know the rest."

Amiddon and Ryla had been especially interested in what Sora, Riku, and Kairi had been able to tell them about the black coats' plans. Tilting her head thoughtfully at what Kairi had said, Amiddon turns to Ven. "What about your time in Castle Oblivion?" She asks and all eyes once more fall on Ven.

He looks down at his lap to avoid them. "It was terrible," he says and Sora practically winces at the broken tone of his voice.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Zack asks Ven and Ven shakes his head.

A long, heavy silence falls on the room. With a small, forced smile, Ven looks up. "You know what I do want though? A shower," he says. "A shower and maybe some new clothes."

He indicates his clothes that are obviously too small and everyone cracks a smile at that. "Sure thing, Ven," Zack says. He stands and Ven does the same. "You can wear my clothes. We're practically the same size now, I think."

Sora watches Zack lead Ven to his basement room with a frown. There is still a lot Ven isn't telling him. Whatever happened to him at Castle Oblivion still seems to be weighing on his mind. They've got Ven back, but Sora has a nagging feeling that it is going to be a long time before Ven gets back to his old self.


CONGRATULATIONS! You have survived the slow torture of Zactus angst and made it to the fluff. The glorious, glorious fluff.

RoseShine 76: Reunions for everyone!

Amestri: Ima keep the happiness going for awhile because holy shit do Ven and Zack deserve that rn

Life is crazy and stressful and I have two exams and a lab report due this week along with all my normal homework so of course I said "fuck that" and finished off this chapter today instead of doing all of that

#noregrets

AND IT HAPPENED! I SMUSHED VEN AND ZACK BACK TOGETHER AND I'M NEVER TEARING THEM APART EVER AGAIN!

maybe ;)