Chapter 8: Risk Your Friend

It was evening, Ventus had been on his way to the bedrooms until he saw Terra standing there, leaning by the wall, staring down in deep thought.
He figured Terra would still be wide awake, trying to figure out how end the curse, but Ventus was still heart broken the fact he felt played, his heart was played, he knew the reason behind it and it wasn't Terra's fault, but it still hurt.

Terra noticed Ventus standing there looking at him, he turned towards him with an apologetic expression "Ven? I thought you were in bed already, everyone else is, why are you still up?"

Ventus grabbed his arm nervously "I couldn't sleep, but I did want to ask you something..." Terra blinked and was silent for a bit, until he nodded, allowing Ventus to continue. Ventus tried to look at Terra in the eyes but it was a little difficult "I know I asked this before but my heart feels like it can't accept it..."
"What's that?" Terra asked, tilting his head. Ventus found the courage to look him in the eyes completely now, the best he could anyway "You really don't love me like you claimed you did before?"

Terra could see the pain in Ventus' eyes, he knew deep down he was hurting because of what he said earlier, so he was expecting him to say yes... "...Hmm..." Terra began thinking of a reasonable answer, he did confirm with himself last night that he did in fact discover he loved Ventus this whole time, since day one, but maybe now he could...

Ventus waited patiently for an answer, wondering if he was going to get one, instead he got a hard stare from Terra, as if he was thinking deeply about something.

"I decided just now... I can't be with you... But one way or another, I'll still have you" Terra finally said, with a determined look in his eyes as he approached Ventus. Ventus stared at Terra in surprise as Terra came closer to him "What do you mean-"

Just then Terra grabbed Ventus' arm and dragged him off to a location far away from everyone else in the mansion, where no one could hear them.
Terra entered a bedroom that was on the other side with Ventus and closed the door behind them, letting go of Ventus for a moment to lock the door "Terra? Why did you-"

Once again Terra interrupted Ventus by grabbing his wrists and pinning him down on the bed "Ahg! Terra!?"
Terra then tore Ventus' coat off, followed by the second layer of his shirt underneath, Ventus understood what Terra was trying to do, he began panicking and began yelling "No! Terra don't! You don't have to do this!"

Ventus tried to escape by crawling away but Terra grabbed him and forced him to face him again "Terra! Stop!" Ventus shouted, terrified about what the man he admired and loved most was trying to do, his heart hurting even more "I don't want this! Please st- Mmn!"

At that moment Terra stole Ventus' lips and kissed him deeply, Ventus whimpering underneath him, clutching Terra's shoulders as his hands trembled in fear "Why...? Why Terra...?"

Terra then parted his lips from Ventus' and stared at him as he lie under him, tears forming in Ventus' eyes, his voice cracking in his tears "My heart hurts... I can't believe my best friend is going to..." Ventus thought to himself, pain overcoming his hurt heart even more than before.
"Ven..." Terra spoke, but this time his voice was friendly, like the old Terra he remembered, Ventus slowly looked at Terra, still with fear in his eyes "Look up" Terra continued with a smile on his face. Ventus was confused about the gentle smile but he looked up and noticed a green aura removing itself from both of their bodies and dissipating and finally, disappearing completely.

Ventus realized that meant the curse was lifted, he looked at Terra who had a smile on his face, but pain in his eyes "I'm sorry I had to scare you like that, Ven... Trust me... it was a hard decision to make"

Ventus' eyes went wide in shock "Y...You were... faking this whole act?"
Terra nodded, tears forming in his own eyes "I would never, ever, want to hurt you, Ven" he gasped as tears fell from his eyes "The curse could only be lifted if I kissed you... When you didn't want it"

Ventus' eyes lit up "That's why you..." Terra nodded to Ventus, remembering what he was doing before, as at that moment Terra leaned in and brushed a tear from Ventus' face "...I do love you, Ven, with all my heart"

Ventus' eyes swelled up again as he felt like crying, but with joy this time "Terra..." Terra then hugged Ventus close to him, holding him dearly, as if scared he would disappear. Ventus held onto Terra as well, very tightly but with love and care "Terra..."

Both Terra and Ventus, with tears falling from their eyes, didn't ever want to let each other go "Ven..." Terra moved back a bit so he could see his tear stained face "I confirmed with myself last night... that I was in love with you since before I can remember, for awhile now, I was too dense to realize it before but... I know now... I cherish you so dearly"

Ventus smiled warmly, brushing his face to rid the tears from it before looking at Terra again with that same warm smile "I'm so happy... Terra..."
Terra smiled with the same warmth even while Ventus was now the one brushing Terra's tears away. Terra gently took hold of Ventus' hand and placed it on his cheek, leaning into it "I love you, Ven"

Ventus nodded slowly before leaning in and embracing Terra lovingly, Terra letting go of Ventus' hand so he could embrace him in return.
"Come on..." Terra softly spoke "Let's get to bed now"

Terra was about to get up to leave but Ventus grabbed his shirt, making Terra halt and look back at him "What's wrong?" he asked, curiously.
Ventus smiled with real happiness in his voice "Let's sleep here, alone together"

Terra stared at Ventus in surprise for awhile until his expression softened into a warm smile "If that's what you want, Ven"
Terra then crawled into the bed with Ventus, holding him close, Ventus curled up, face into Terra's chest again, making Terra chuckle "You certainly like being down there"

Ventus huffed a small laugh in return "If there were bra's for men you'd be a D cup, that's why"
"A D cu-!?" Terra exclaimed in embarrassment, making Ventus laugh teasingly.
Terra huffed a sigh as he grinned at Ventus and ruffled his hair "You really are too cute"
Ventus and Terra both laughed together to their playfulness, it was peaceful, and they both embraced the peace as well as each other, warm hearts on a cold winter night.

Later, morning finally came, everyone was getting up, ready for another day, unknowing of Terra and Ventus finally being free "Huh?" Axel noticed the two weren't in their beds "Did they get up early?"
Aqua looked over as well, a little worried "Maybe they're downstairs"
"let's go then, we need to see if they are alright" Sora continued, everyone else nodded in agreement and rushed downstairs only to find them not anywhere downstairs "They're not here either?" Aqua began to worry more, Xion looked over at a room with the door closed which usually was open "Wait, maybe in there"

They all looked over and decided to try it, Riku grabbed the door knob and tried to open it "It's locked" he looked at everyone "Does anyone have the key?"
Axel smirked and took it out of his coat pocket "I decided to hold onto the keys to this place, in case we needed them. Roxas smiled at Axel "Thinking ahead I see"
Axel grinning to that compliment "Of course!" Axel then looked for the correct key, once finding it, unlocked the door and opened it.
They all looked in and with a sigh of relief from Aqua, found where they were hiding, Sora looked confused as he folded his arms, tilting his head "Why was it locked?"

No one knew why either, but they decided to shrug it off and walk inside to see Terra and Ventus cuddled together, sleeping peacefully.
Namine leaned in and shook them both gently to wake them up "Hey you two, wakey wakey"
Both Terra and Ventus woke up at the same time to being shook, they both looked up at everyone, Ventus speaking first with a cheerful smile "Oh good morning you guys"

Axel, swinging the keys around on his finger gave them a suspicious expression "Why was the door locked, huh?"
Terra and Ventus stared at each other before looking at Axel, Terra giving an apologetic expression "Sorry, we needed to discuss something alone"
Ventus mumbled under his breath "A very scary discussion"
Terra looking at him with concern "Ah, I'm sorry Ven"

Ventus shook his head "It's okay I already know now, we covered that last night"
Everyone stared at each other not sure what they were talking about "Well" Terra broke the silence "Let's get up". As Terra attempted to get up he was stopped by someone holding onto his waist,. looking over to find it was Ventus "I want to sleep in, Terra"

Terra chuckled and poked Ventus' face "It's time to get up"
Ventus frowned at Terra "I want to cuddle more"
Terra blushed from him saying that while everyone was present "V-Ven you know everyone is still here"
Ventus laughed playfully "Then I don't have to repeat myself"

Terra smirked and pushed Ventus' face into the bed teasingly "Mmf!"
Terra then let go, laughing to Ventus' funny sounds he was making.
Roxas noticed something different about them "Wait... Terra and Ven are actually happy together? Then... Did you finally break the curse, Terra!?"
Roxas asked, eager to hear that he did in fact do so.

Terra nodded "It wasn't easy, but we did, we broke the curse"
Aqua gave an expression of relief to the point she could cry "I'm so relieved, thank goodness"
Sora leaned in towards Terra and Ventus curiously "Well? What did you have to do?"

Terra and Ventus exchanged awkward looks, then staring at Sora again, not knowing how to answer that, but both Ventus and Terra smiled at each other and at the same time spoke "It's a secret"
"What?" Sora said with disapointment "Come on you can tell me!"
Both Ventus and Terra chuckled, Terra being the first to speak "Sorry, I can tell you, but it's between just to the two of us, so I can't'

Sora pouted, leaning back and placing his hands on his hips "I don't get it"
Kairi smiled at both Terra and Ventus "Maybe it's best we don't"
Aqua nodded "Anyway, Christmas is here tomorrow, you guys want to celebrate with us?"

Ventus rose his arms excitedly "You bet!" followed by Terra nodding and genuinely smiling "I've been waiting to do so for awhile now"
Everyone came out of the room, chatting, enjoying company, and most of all for Terra, being free.