Bleeding heart
Hands laced behind his back, Vanitas waited defiantly in Lockhart's office, chin tilted up. A laptop whirred on her desk and she confirmed a request on her tablet, light glimmered on the silver teardrops in her ears.
The vice-chief put the tablet down on her desk. "You are here because you breached protocols," she stated. "You disregarded orders from a High-tier member and snuck into Hollow Bastion-"
"I did not sneak into Hollow Bastion," Vanitas countered.
She smoothed the crinkles in her sleeveless jumper. Baggy pants and black combat boots paid tribute to the soldier's uniform Zack always wore. "It's considered sneaking if you fail to log in your location," Lockhart sternly lectured. "You were supposed to be on standby at base," she pounded a gloved fist on the table, a mug rattled, "and after returning, you ignored summons from me." A stray strand of hair escaped the high ponytail on her head. "I call it a breach of protocol."
"Vanitas, what's wrong?"
He wrapped his arms around Sora, crushing his brother in a vise grip. "My mentor died... he was murdered."
Tifa tapped a stylus on the tablet as the laptop screen blanked. "You are assigned to eliminate heartless in People's Park today," she waited for a reaction, "accept the mission from the monitor in the reception and be on your way."
He did not move.
"I never had a chance to thank him," he eased his bear hug when Sora squirmed. "He didn't see my first solo mission report." Vanitas rolled on his back and regarded the blank ceiling. "I was always a sarcastic twit..." he trailed off.
Sora patted Vanitas' head, the latter closed his eyes. "I'm sure he understood you."
Letting his hands drop to the sides, Vanitas gritted his teeth. "Isn't there an investigation going on for... for Zack's murder?" He willed his voice not to crack, dark circles ringed his eyes, he forgot to eat breakfast this morning. "I want to be part of it," he vehemently stated, "he was my-"
"Strife is already part of the investigation," Tifa cut in. "The enquiries are progressing slowly, you don't have to worry, we are doing all we can to find the culprit."
Do it faster!
The clock ticked to eight in the morning and he reached for his twin when Sora clambered off the bed. "Are you going to work today?"
"I'll stay with you if you want."
Sunlight filtered through the pearly curtains, why was it so damn bright? It hurt Vanitas' head. "You'd like Zack, he's really good when it comes to mentoring." He buried his face in the comforter. "And he's got a lot of patience, he'd be perfect for teaching you, your anxieties would melt away."
Bristling at the way the vice-chief brushed him off, he clenched his fists. "Eliminate heartless?" he growled. "I don't want a mission, I want to find whoever murdered Zack!" Vanitas hissed. "I'll accept any punishment later, please," he hung his head, "let me in on the investigation."
She worked on the laptop; her fingers flew over the keys. "What will you do after you find the killer?" Tifa asked without looking. "Are you going to disregard orders, again?" She paused. "You are notorious for not following the rules; Zack may have tried to cover it up, but we always know." Lockhart's arm rested on the table. "We do not entrust high profile missions to Association members who refuse to obey the dictum."
"My mentor is an angel," Zack said and smiled.
"He used to call me Puppy."
Sora chuckled.
"I wish..." A telltale prickle stung Vanitas' irises. "I could thank him." A tear bled from his eye. "I wanted to make him proud; I wish… I listened to him more..."
The silk screen parted as Leon entered the office, the boss seemed to age overnight. "Devise an exam for a new High-tier member," he commanded and Tifa accepted the set of guidelines. "The evaluation will take place in a few months time," Squall continued, "scrap the squat competition; there is no one who could top the resident champion."
"I think he'd like his name there," she softly giggled. "We should make an honorary plaque for him."
What are you doing? Stop!
"What do you mean you are having an evaluation for a new High-tier member?" Vanitas' voice cracked; he did not care anymore. "You don't have time for this," he insisted and agitatedly flailed his arm. "You should be focusing on-"
"Why are you still here?" the vice-chief interjected icily. "If you follow orders, I may consider your placement in the investigation." Leon ignored Vanitas, eyes glued on the screen. "I'm not as lenient as Fair," she tilted her head and her wine red eyes darkened threateningly, "carry on with your defiant attitude and you won't be promoted from your rookie rank."
The words dried in Vanitas mouth and he trudged out of Tifa's office. His feet hurt and he looked at Sora's shoes pinching his toes. A pair of faded jeans frayed at the knees and a long forgotten shirt, one size too small, hugged his body tightly. Making his way to the teleportation moogle, he stopped in front of the floating creature.
"Elixir for you, kupo," the moogle handed him an amber bottle of thick liquid and he managed a half-hearted smile at it. "Elixirs heal both the mind and body," it sang. "Its food for the soul~"
He arrived in the reception and braced against the wall. Nausea clawed upwards from the pit of his stomach. Stalking towards the work monitor, Vanitas determinedly accepted his assignment.
He will complete the mission, he will listen to the KBWA's orders, he will do anything to find the scum who killed Zack.
"Vanitas, I'm sure Zack is proud of you," Sora pulled a t-shirt over his head. "He wouldn't want you to do anything reckless. So... so don't overwork yourself, okay?
Yellow is the color of happiness, a psychology textbook once stated. He understood little of what the author portrayed and later on wondered why he wasted time reading psychology text books when he hardly knew the material for the upcoming exams.
He worried about his twin's condition, Vanitas left the house, looking ready for murder; and a bolt of pain arced through Sora's temples.
"I got this at a bargain shop overseas." Athena pointed to a bold art print on her wall. Luminescent dots on a shimmering background of a color between cyan and sea-green. "I look at it when I'm missing the sea," she chirped, hands on her hips. "The painting was done to evoke souvenirs of the ocean, if you listen to a soft piano concerto while viewing it, you can imagine yourself at the edge of the sea." She beamed.
A stand on her table held several earphones, their wires wrapped neatly together. Sunlight spattered the lemon yellow couch under the window and a fresh pine scent wafted from the shaggy wool carpet underfoot.
Wright joined Sora at the wall displaying the modern art and frowned. "They call this contemporary art," he drawled, "I on the other hand, call it a mistake."
"You know about art Mr. Wright?" Sora questioned, eyebrows raised. Athena furiously defended her precious art from Phoenix's scathing scrutiny. "Maybe I should read up on art?" Sora mumbled. "Will it help me become a better lawyer?"
The orange outlines floating around the office exhausted his eyes. He tried to focus on the next piece hung on the wall, a weird half-faced thing and when Mr. Wright graciously offered his comments, Cykes glowered at their boss. Sora moved to the next silver gilt frame while the two bickered.
"What can you say about this?" Athena stabbed her finger on another colorful print, a checkered skirt swished with her movements. "Admit it, this one is really art."
Phoenix crossed his arms thoughtfully. "It's very colorful," he admitted. The canvas showed a forest of multicolored trees crowding at the edge of a waterline. "It's pretty," Wright finally conceded, slate irises warm, "I'd say you have decent taste."
At this comment, the duo dissolved into good humored squabbling, head spinning, Sora crashed on the couch and rubbed circles on his forehead, his co-workers re-toured the modest office and Cykes suffered more of Phoenix's sarcastic criticisms.
"Does your head hurt?" Sora quickly scooted when Pearl bent to press his forehead with a cool cloth. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she offered the towel and he wiped his face.
"My head hurts," he confirmed. A comma shaped jewel sparkled at her neck. "My brother gets headaches from second sight because it's too strong," he muttered, "I think I have the same problem," he confessed and groaned when a lightning ache danced from the top of his head and struck his eyeballs.
Pearl wracked her brains for a solution. Whenever a migraine cropped in her head due to excessive channeling practice, mystic Maya would sneak her out from under her mother's strict supervision; and take her to walk the mountainside. "Fresh air and open spaces really helps with second sight headaches," she informed as an idea formed in her head. "We can go to Sunshine Coliseum," she offered and remembered the rookie's social anxiety when he deflated. "Um... Mr. Clavius, you don't have to go with me, I can ask Mr. Apollo or Mr. Wright… I'm sure they'll be happy to-"
"I have work," Phoenix callously claimed. "And so does Polly. Why don't you go with Pearls?" For a person citing work, he sat comfortably next to Sora. "You can give him tips to manage the second sight," he addressed Pearl. "And you," he turned to Sora, "will talk to her and gain experience on how to interact with future clients." Sora shivered. "I know I'm asking a lot, but accidents always happen, sometimes the person you depend on, leaves you when you least expect it."
Sora did a double take as Wright smiled, hints of sadness in the crinkles around his eyes.
11:45 a.m.
Los Angeles
Sunshine Coliseum
People crowded the front of the coliseum, a giant piece of artistic architecture with slanted roofs and an emblem of the sun. A blimp floated lazily above the building, advertising a live tour and away from the bustle of people and content to study butterflies flitting above a patch of violets, Sora pressed his palms to his eye sockets and inhaled deeply. The orange outlines receded in this park of sunshine and sweet smells and he raised his head to couples picnicking on the lawn or children kicking a ball across the grass and screaming gleefully.
A loaded silence stretched between him and Pearl as she fidgeted with the hem of her kimono and uneasily tried to initiate conversation, he interjected politely a few times, searched for suitable phrases to continue the discourse and gave up when the sentences evaporated in his mouth.
Striped balloons, white, red and yellow, soared across the partly cloudy sky. A sharp gust blew from the west, multicolored petals drifted to the air.
"How are you feeling?" Pearl timidly asked after a long silence.
The headache calmed down. "Better," Sora muttered. A flock of pigeons pecked around his legs. "But I can still see those," he pointed to the mountain peak and the pagoda in the sky. "Why…" he framed the question in his mind before attempting to speak it, "why do we see things that aren't there? The KBWA operatives all have this second sight; my brother had it ever since I could remember."
Pleased by the way he opened up, Pearl explained, "We don't see things that aren't there." She fretted when Sora scowled in confusion. "This reality you see, is the realm of magic, it exists alongside the material world. Our ancestors lived in a world where these orange outlines were solid." She brushed her fringe when another breeze ripped across the park. "However, the worlds are slowly converging." Pearl raised her dainty face to the sky. "The mountain peak and Pagoda gate are two different worlds which slowly came closer to our planet; you can see them now because they are very, very close."
Huh? What? Sora attempted to make sense of her words. I don't understand what she's saying. Different worlds?
"The Association never taught you about other micro-planets?" she asked.
Stalls ringed the coliseum, a set of steps led to the stadium proper and the police mascot, the Blue Badger, danced near the middle of the park and offered candy colored balloons to passing children. Trees bloomed in clusters near the fence; peach blossoms peeking through dark green, glossy leaves.
"I'm only there to learn Keyblade wielding and combat." The memory of training prompted him to rub his sore arms. "Nox, my trainer," Sora clarified, "is also a Keyblade wielder." He sprinkled seeds on the ground. If his clients found out he waved a giant murder-key around, would they still want him to defend them? "I'm also taught elemental magic." Sora couldn't resist opening his palm and showing Pearl the flicker of flames, a flush of pride seeped in his cheeks.
She clapped respectfully. "Spirit mediums aren't taught any combat abilities," she lamented and her hand hovered over the fire before it died out. "For several reasons, sometimes, we channel a dead person and they can use our powers to hurt other people." Pearl pulled the lilac bauble clasping part of her fringe. "So the KBWA didn't teach you any history, maybe you should go to the library and research on it?"
No thanks. I have enough on my plate with client cases and work.
Steam wafted from a few stalls near the coliseum, people waited in lines to purchase food and drinks. More vendors put up shop on the lawn and children gathered around an ice-cream seller.
"Do you want to take a look around?" Pearl suggested brightly and unable to say no to her enthusiasm, Sora languidly rose.
The birds at his feet scattered in a rush of wings.
"The Fey clan and the KBWA are well acquainted," Pearl continued as she dug into a bowl of strawberry shaved ice. Meat sizzled on grills, the aroma of fried octopus balls leaked to the air. "When the Los Angeles branch was first established, a member of our family was the leader. Mystic Maya is the current family head…" she trailed off abruptly and stopped by a hamburger stand.
Sora waited patiently for her.
"Mystic Maya had an older sister; she became a lawyer and mentored Mr. Wright." Sora's eyebrows arched in mild surprise. "Mystic Mia was murdered, I... I don't know the details but since then, Maya faced a lot of hardships and I couldn't always be there for her."
They ambled near the Blue Badger and Sora speed walked past the mascot when it tried to place a balloon in his hand.
He bought a packet of shrimp chips and munched on them, debating whether to leave half for Vanitas. "Maya is always smiling," he added and clamped up when a group turned in his direction.
"She became a lot happier after meeting Mr. Wright," Pearl gushed, a blush staining her porcelain cheeks. "Mr. Wright and mystic Maya are perfect for each other." Sora blinked. "But sometimes he talks with other girls and it makes me mad." Pearl crumpled the plastic bowl in her petite palm, "he should only have eyes for mystic Maya," she declared.
Blanching at her determined glare, Sora finished the chips and regarded the empty foil packet woefully. His mouth watered at a noodle stand. "I'm hungry," he announced and waited, hands in his pockets.
Pearl inclined her head to the stall. "You can go ahead, I'll wait here."
Oh...right. She isn't Vanitas, or Trucy. Sora painfully shuffled to the back of the queue, keeping a generous space between himself and the person in front. I can do this! I'm fine!
Returning with two bowls of noodles, Sora collapsed on the grass, cold drops of sweat shining on his face. He forgot his order when he arrived before the stand owner, mixed his words and finally managed to choke out what he wanted. Pushing his muffler down, blew on his meal and slurped.
The park buzzed with life and laughter, Pearl joined him on the springy grass with a mug of steaming hot chocolate and kept her head bowed when a group of guys passed by and stole not so discreet glances at her. Sora plucked this courage and glared at them, one of them smirked at him haughtily before leaving. Rattled by the experience, he renewed his attack on the bowl, ashamed of himself.
"Noodles?" he pushed the extra bowl towards her and she brightened. "Is Ms. Maya still affiliated with the KBWA?" Sora enquired and Pearl nodded. "What does she do?"
"Advisor," Pearl said. "She told Mr. Leon to add a free hamburger station in the reception, along with the potion and water samples; but he refused."
Of course she'd be endorsing hamburgers out of all things.
"Mostly, she advises them when they run into a problem..." Pearl paused. "They called her in recently, to do a murder investigation."
Sora put his chopsticks down. "Hmm..." he forced a smile and wondered if Vanitas had lunch.
Mission accepted. The monitor beeped in confirmation. Eliminate Emblem heartless in People's Park.
A low ranked assignment, Vanitas noted, but the exorbitant pay made up for it.
He missed his stalker companions and poked his head in the living quarters on Basement floor 7. The Grey Knight exited from one pristine room, chopped hair in messy spikes, and lumbered to the showers. Avoiding him, Vanitas teleported to the reception, lingered for a while and when it became apparent Goofy and Donald would not turn up, he angrily proceeded to his target destination.
The taxi stopped opposite a traditional styled mansion and he climbed out. The anthropomorphic duck and dog waited at the entrance to People's Park and gracing them with an obliged smile, Vanitas sauntered inside, noting the lack of crowds.
"Vanitas," Donald quacked, "let's try working together."
A violent protest automatically rose on his tongue; he could eliminate the heartless by himself. Gritting teeth, he joined the duo and they devised a strategy with lowered heads.
"As usual, I will defend, Donald will be the rear guard and Vanitas the vanguard," Goofy advised. "Take care our paths don't tangle with each other," he further stated, "but we should always stay within reach, in case we need help."
I don't need help. Vanitas nodded to his companions and summoned Void Gear.
The weapon's teeth glinted like blood covered rubies.
He scarcely noted a fluid darkness creeping across his arms, the organic body suit materialized as he fought; a silver guard formed under his chin and he scrabbled at it distractedly.
Heartless spawned in droves. The first wave cropped on the pavement, wisping through the cracks overgrown with withered grass. Air pirates fluttered on flimsy, mauve wings and sunk their claws in his hair. Enraged, he flung his Keyblade and it shredded through a bunch of green requiems, grey caprices and tangled in the hook of a golden bat.
Smoky glass hid his face and snarling, he retrieved his Keyblade and slashed a ghost. The monster dematerialized with a snide giggle and grinding his teeth audibly, Vanitas gave chase, stopping when a thundaga erupted out of Donald's staff and claimed his prey.
Void Gear hung loosely in his hand as more heartless filled the empty space. He whipped around, a sensation of being watched crept across his nape but he did not sense anyone nearby.
Goofy threw his shield at a heartless charging for the Black Saint, Donald touched his staff to the grass and a ring of protective fire surrounded Vanitas, charring the crowd of bandits eagerly reaching for him, he delved back into battle. A claw ripped his suit; and a fist knocked his helmet.
Cracks skittered across the world.
A chunk of steaming ice bowled into his side and he flew into a tree, gasping in pain when the thick trunk cracked under impact.
Irritably tearing off his helmet, Vanitas aimed a dark cannon and shouting a warning, let the glittering stream of darkness rip. A grin bloomed on his pallid lips, stretching into a maniacal smile as Donald herded the stray heartless with bursts of emerald wind magic, and Goofy forcibly punted them into the line of fire. Vanitas guffawed as a thousand crystal hearts spun to the late afternoon sky. Magenta glitter against a smear of sunset orange.
He laughed till he choked. He giggled till tears swam in his eyes.
His side cramped, his shoulder blades ached.
Outside the Park fence, a man pulled a noodle stand and played a whistle. The pit of his stomach ached for food; instead, Vanitas slumped on a bench and compiled a mission report on his smartphone.
Donald joined him, Goofy stood in front. "You should eat something," the dog prompted and was ignored. "Vanitas-"
"I'm not hungry."
"Fair would want you to eat." Goofy's features drooped sympathetically. "Go get some." he cocked his head at the stand, "Noodle's Noodles? Gawrsh." The dog flailed long limbs. "I mean, Eldoon's Noodles?" he confusedly peered at the wooden cart.
"Fair isn't alive to boss me around anymore," Vanitas barked. "I'm writing the report; you two do whatever you want."
His overbearing companions refused to budge and in a blink of an eye, Goofy grabbed his phone and a bowl of steaming, salty noodles smacked in his lap. The scalding broth sloshed on his jeans, burning his skin. Inarticulate from anger and sorrow, Vanitas dumbly stared at the wavy strands of noodles swimming in an appetizing, brown broth. His mouth watered against his will.
He slowly ate the noodles, golden irises fixated on the setting sun. His eyes burned. He wanted them to burn.
"Thanks for the meal," he mumbled to Donald. "Thanks for looking out for me," he titled his head politely to Goofy who broke into a toothy smile. "I'll be going home now," he straightened from the bench and tottered on his ill-fitting shoes. "We'll meet in Leon's office tomorrow to get paid, both for the... the Agrabah mission and this one."
A handful of pale stars dotted the sky when he finally made it home.
Angel
Past midnight
Sora's bedroom
He lingered at the door before climbing into bed and facing the wall. Vanitas groped along the comforter, fingers clasping his twin's hand. He squeezed tightly and closed his eyes, praying for sleep.
The silken shroud slipped from the corpse's face and little Vanitas screamed his lungs empty.
Zack perched on an outcrop, two blinding white wings sprouted from his shoulders; ocean spray beaded his hair and dampened the feathers drifting to the floor. Cobalt light flickered against the grotto's wet walls and wading through the sea of glistening ivory pearls, Vanitas emerged at the edge, boots threatening to slip on the pebbly, pearly beach.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
His mentor turned, a blood red apple cradled in his palm. The scar on Zack's cheek was gone.
"Come back," Vanitas murmured. Zack launched off the outcrop. "Where are you going?"
White wings spread across the inky wetness of the sky. Feathers fell like rain.
Vanitas clawed the air for the angel and Zack watched him with soft, sapphire eyes.
"I'm proud of you." The familiar voice echoed everywhere, from the foam tipped ocean waves, from the sand. Pearls and coral sang. "You will make an excellent Keyblade wielder," Zack grinned, folded his wings.
And vanished, sucking the light with him.
Jerking awake, Vanitas slid to the floor. He curled over his pillow and waited patiently for dawn.
A/N: The last part of the fic was inspired by a scene in Crisis Core, when Angeal sprouts a wing and Zack calls him an angel (my memory is fuzzy on the details, but that scene touched me). Regret is clawing a hole in Vanitas' stomach and his depression spilling on Sora.
Please read and review, constructive criticism, random comments and theories are all appreciated.