Running From Myself

Disclaimers: All Kingdom Hearts characters are owned by Disney and square Enix and are all copied without permission. I have made this story for fun and not profit.

Writer's Note: This was on my mind for a while now and I thought I could maybe make it into a story.. This is also the first story I've ever written about Terra, so I may have a bit of trouble with how he would act and getting his mannerisms right.. So please bare with me? This story might be kinda irrelevant, but I hope you like it anyway.

*One-Shot*

Terra stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, his bright blue eyes filled with anguish and pain as he took in the sight. His skin looked pale and his hair was a mess, more so than usual. He then took note of the half-moon circles which had begun to spread beneath his eyes.

Each night since he had returned from the dark depths of oblivion, he had the same dream; the same nightmare. He was forced to relive the mistakes he had made time and time again; forced to relive the pain he had caused to all those who had become involved. He could still see the deep sadness on their faces as they had tried in vain to reach him within the dark depths.

As more of the memories of what he had done to both of his dearest friends, his breathing began to increase, his hands slowly balling up into tight fists. With an anguished yell, Terra slammed a fist into his reflection, shattering the mirror into a thousand pieces. Terra gritted his teeth as hot blood seeped out from the gashes of his hand. He cursed under his breath but froze as he heard a voice from outside.

"Terra?"

Terra stiffened at the sound of Ventus's voice. Terra was breathing shakily as he tried to calm himself.

"Terra, is everything okay?"

"I'm fine!" Terra lied, turning back to his reflection.

He let out a sharp exhale of breath as he took note of the broken mirror. Subconsciously, Terra moved his injured hand, wincing as white, hot pain rushed through his injuries. Methodically, he began to remove the slivers of glass from his skin, sucking in a pained breath as he removed the glass. Terra gritted his teeth as he very carefully began to wrap a swathe of bandaging around his injured hand, cursing under his breath as he did so. How was he going to explain this to the others?

He turned back toward the shattered mirror, staring back at his multiple reflections and was shocked to see the reflections.. Smiling back at him.

'You can't escape what you've done.' said his thoughts, causing him to freeze in place. 'Deep down, you know you had gone down the wrong path and now you're facing the consequences.'

Terra gritted his teeth.

"I tried to protect them.. But they-"

'They what?' countered his thoughts. 'Couldn't see how much of a monster you've become?'

Terra growled and once again clenched his hands into fists, his left hand burning as fresh blood wept from the open wounds.

'Are you angry because you know I am right? Don't try to deny it. You are nothing but a MONSTER to them!'

"Shut up!" Terra hissed through a clenched jaw.

His multiple reflection's smile only continued to grow wider, seeming to enjoy watching his inner struggle.

'They are AFRAID of you.. Your own so called 'friends'.. And do you know why? It's Because you allowed yourself to give into the darkness within your heart and fall past the point of no return.. Because you had lost all control of yourself.. You are a failure, tainted by the darkness within your own heart and they will NEVER see past the monster you've become.'

Terra let out a roar of rage, which was accompanied by a loud explosion of magic. Terra stood there seething as he held his still smoking Earthshaker Keyblade, staring at the molten glass and charred rubble that had once been a mirror. Terra didn't bother to turn around as he heard the door to the room smash open as Ventus and Aqua hurried into the room.

"Terra! We heard an explosion! Are you okay?"

Terra could hear the frantic tone in Ven's voice but refused to turn around.

"Terra.. What happened to your hand?"

At hearing the sound of Aqua's voice, Terra sighed and he at long last turned around.

"I need to be alone.."

This caught Ven and Aqua off guard, he however refused to look at them. He started to leave the room when he stopped in the doorway.

"We're going to need a new mirror."

With those words, Terra made his way out of the room, leaving his confused and concerned friends behind.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Terra sat alone on the Summit looking out toward the castle of The Land of Departure. The wind blew through his hair and clothing as he stared off toward the castle. Images of the castle in ruins flashed through his mind, causing him to clench his eyes shut and he turned his head away. When he opened them again, his gaze landed on one of the pools of water that collected in the many sections of the mountainside. As he gazed into it, his eyes grew wide as he caught the sight of himself with silvery colored hair and cold amber eyes. He pulled back in horror as he saw the reflection seemed to be grinning cruelly back at him. Terra gritted his teeth as he clenched his eyes shut, a single tear slipping down his face.

"No.. I-I.. I'm n-not.."

His voice snagged as he choked back a sob that was threatening to escape. Terra looked down at his reflection again which was soon disturbed by the ripples appearing upon its surface. It was then that he was aware of the tears slipping freely down his cheeks. His shoulders shook as quiet sobs wracked his body.

"T..Terra?"

Terra's eyes snapped open at the sound of Ven's voice and he froze, still looming over the rippling pond.

"Terra.."

Terra took in slow and shaky breaths but refused to turn around. He heard two sets of footsteps behind him and knew then that both Ventus and Aqua were present.

"Terra, please.."

The brunette closed his eyes again at the sound of Aqua's voice. He found to steady his breathing but found it to be difficult. When he felt Aqua's hand on his shoulder, Terra found his throat going tight again.

"I.. Wanted to be alone.."

He felt her hand leave his shoulder and he fought against the feeling of returning anguish overtaking his heart.

"Terra.."

Terra didn't turn to face Ventus as he continued to stare into his rippling reflection. He cleared his throat as another choked sob made itself known.

"I'm not worth it.."

"Terra.. Terra, this isn't LIKE you!" said Ventus, sounding hurt.

"Well, I haven't BEEN myself in a long time, now have I..?"

Terra inwardly winced. He hadn't meant to sound so cold and callous.

"Terra.."

He could hear the sadness in the blonde's voice but Terra still refused to turn around.

"Please.. I just.."

Terra trailed off as he took in a slow and shaky breath. He closed his eyes tight, the familiar feeling of tears once again making themselves known. He expected to hear the sounds of his two friends walking away.. But no sound came. There was no sound of the grass rustling to signal their departure. He once again felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing him to go stiff.

"Terra.."

The sound of Aqua's gentle voice, only caused the pain his Terra's heart to grow stronger. Even with what he had done to them.. All of the pain he had caused them.. They still refused to keep their distance.

"Terra, it wasn't your fault.." Aqua said softly.

Terra tightly shut his eyes as another wave of emotions overtook him. He let out a choked sob to which Aqua gently pulled him into a tight hug, her hand gently rubbing his back. Terra in turn wrapped his arms tightly around her as the tears spilled from his tightly shut eyes. His shoulders shook violently as he began to openly sob.

"I l-let myself fall into darkn-ness.."

"Ssshhhhh..." whispered Aqua, gently stroking his back.

Terra continued to cling tightly to her as he continued to openly sob into her shoulder. Aqua continued to hold him close to her as she continued rubbing his back. Terra needed her now; he needed her and Ven right now. Ventus made his way over to the duo, soon joining in the tight hug.

"Please Terra.. Please don't cry?" he whimpered. "This wasn't your fault.."

Tears were starting to fill Ven's eyes as well.

"Please? Y-you're gonna make us both cry i-if you don't stop." he joked.

Terra could tell Ven was trying to laugh but found it came out as more of a soft whimper. Terra looked up and sure enough, he could see both Ven and Aqua had started to tear up as well. For what seemed like the first time in a long time, his eyes met with Aqua's.

"You are our friend, Terra.. And nothing is ever going to change that." she assured him gently.

Terra took slow and shaky breaths as he choked back another sob. Aqua moved her hand up and gently brushed away his tears with her thumb.

"It's going to be alright.. We're all in this together.."

After gathering himself Terra managed to give her a weak little smile. Aqua smiled in return before once again pulling him into a tight hug. Ventus soon managed a smile of his own as he joined into the hug as well. No words were spoken as they all held their embrace for what seemed like forever. Terra's smile grew in strength as he held his two best friends in a tight embrace. He could feel the pain within his heart slowly beginning to fade away and be replaced with the love he had for his friends.

An eternity passed before the friends finally let go of each other and they turned their gazes toward the sky. Up above, the sky which had once been a stormy grey began to grow brighter as bits of the cloud cover had begun to clear away to reveal the light of the mid-morning sun.

As the welcoming warmth of the sun encompassed all three friends, Terra found his tears had dried, and he wasn't crying anymore. Terra closed his eyes as he felt a weight was no longer on his shoulders and he opened his eyes, his gaze going back to his reflection in the water. His eyes caught those of his reflection and slowly, the image of his silver hair and golden eyes faded to once again become their natural colors, causing Terra's smile to grow.

Terra turned to look back toward the castle and smiled as he caught sight of the clear blue sky. The pain and doubt he had held onto for so many years had finally gone away.

He no longer had the dark feeling of despair or the feeling of being completely alone. His friends would never abandon him and he was no longer afraid.. Because he know that with the strength of his friends at his side, he was never alone.

~fin

Author's Note: And so ends another story.. This story had on my mind for a while and I'm not entirely sure what inspired me write it, but in all honesty I had a range of emotions while writing it.. I hope you all enjoyed the story and have a great day