xXx-awaken-from-the-deep-xXx

Ventus was put through a quick bout of physical therapy by the Three Good Fairies to get him back into shape the moment they returned to The Mysterious Tower.

He hadn't appreciated the abrupt manhandling at first, but quickly turned thankful when he regained his sense of movement like he was used to.

Master Yen Sid thereafter gave him a swift summary of everything that had happened while he'd been Asleep while dinner was prepared.

Nerves and tensions were high during their meal as the looming Second Keyblade War dampened the mood.

He and Aqua had taken a moment for themselves, encouraged by the others, to have their own small Heart to Heart.

He had a goal to focus on, and Aqua was by his side. He felt… happy, that at least they'd been reunited for the moment.

Aqua's weight pressed against his side as she began to doze while clutching her Wayfinder as they sat on the stairs outside of the Tower. He felt his body buzz from the contact, and clenched his fist to fight the foreign emotion, "Aqua?"

She hummed in response, and Ventus couldn't help but chuckle a little inside, "We should head back in."

Aqua breathed silently for a moment before inhaling deeply with a sigh, "Alright." She pulled away and opened her eyes, standing woozily as she took one last look towards the stars. Ventus stood with a small stretch before relaxing. "...Ven?" He turned to her curiously as she continued, "Do you think… I know it's not appropriate, but… do you think, if you don't mind-" Ventus blinked at how….. nervous she sounded, "Wouldyoumindstayingwithmeforthenight?"

Ventus paused as he took in her words, slowly realizing what she'd asked him and blushed, "Hm?!" He floundered internally for a moment, "Uh-uhm, Aqua, y-you do realize what you just asked me, right?!"

Aqua's cheeks were quickly growing red before she covered her face with her hands, "I-I know! But I don't want to be alone, when this might be our last chance to- no, that's not!" She died inside from embarrassment, "I just! I'm scared and I don't want to be alone, and we only just reunited, and I-!"

Ventus calmed down and relented as he patted her shoulder, "You just wanted a sleepover?"

Aqua glanced down at him shyly before nodding, "Y-yeah."

Ventus grinned, "I'd love to!" He was honestly a little nervous about sleeping himself. He'd already lost twelve years to it.

Aqua relaxed and placed a hand on her chest in relief, "Th-thank you, for understanding, Ven."

Ventus nodded hastily, "No problem!"

Aqua took his hand and pulled him along as they hastily decided who's room they'd share before splitting to get ready for bed.

Ventus changed into his nightclothes in his borrowed room and finished putting on his nightshirt in a slight daze. This sort of thing wouldn't have fazed him previously, yet somehow…

Somehow, it was like he'd gained some level of maturity he wasn't prepared for.

Was it because he'd spent such a long time within Sora, that he'd gained some insight through osmosis? He vaguely understood Sora's feelings, the confusing jumble of emotions and affections towards his friends.

Was being a teenager supposed to be this hard?

There were times he'd thought he'd felt Aqua's Heart while Sleeping over the years, as her Heart seemingly cried out from the Dark.

Maybe their Hearts really had crossed.

Ventus rubbed his neck awkwardly, as he tried to massage out the building tension in his shoulders.

He was just having a sleepover with his closest female friend, It was totally fine, they weren't going to do anything-

Ventus shook himself hastily and brushed his teeth for good measure before heading out of his room towards Aqua's.

Each step made his nerves buzz further in anticipation as he tried to reason with himself.

He stood before her door for a long moment before taking a long slow breath and knocking lightly, "Aqua..?"

There was a shuffle, and then a small commotion before Aqua opened the door frazzled and red faced, "Ssh!" She glanced up and down the hall before hastily pulling him in with a muted squeak. He nearly fell over when she released him as he pinwheeled his arms back into proper balance before turning to his friend.

She stood at the closed door with a hand on her chest for a moment before turning to him, and Ventus was enchanted. "V-ven, sorry about that." She awkwardly twirled a piece of hair around her finger, as he abruptly realized she'd grown out some of her hair in the time she'd returned to the Worlds before him, "I didn't want anyone- well, uh- y'know."

Ventus blinked before he covered his mouth and smothered a vaguely hysteric giggle as he allowed himself to chuckle in relief. Aqua pouted at him, "Ven!"

"I- s-sorry Aqua, it's just… you're so cute right now and I can't help but-" He paused at his words, as he realized what he'd let slip while his face turned red along with Aqua's in shock. They stared at each other, both beyond their usual levels of embarrassment before Ventus turned towards the bed, "Y'know what? Let's just- go to sleep. Yeah. Today's been. A lot."

Aqua blinked before she laughed lightly at herself and moved to the opposite side of her bed, "Right." She was exhausted, yet, they both couldn't help but stare at the bed as a brand new hurdle they had to overcome.

Before her Mastery Exam, Aqua and Ventus wouldn't have had any issue with having a sleepover. They'd done so less as they'd aged, but Terra had usually been with them then, too.

There were even times Aqua would wake up with Ventus in her bed, cuddled up close as nightmares had forced him to flee from his room in the dark of night.

Yet now they stood there, twelve years later in this new present, overwhelmed by the fact that Ventus was a guy and that Aqua was a girl-

Ventus covered his eyes and took a deep breath, "Aqua?"

"Hmm?"

"I think I'm in like with you."

Aqua paused at the confession before asking in bewildered confusion, "...In like? Not love?" Did she feel hurt by that?

Ventus let his hand rub down his face until he held his cheek and refused to look her in the eyes, "I don't understand it myself, and I know now's not the best time… But you're the most special girl in all the Worlds to me. Whether my feelings are of true love or not… I can't honestly say I know that for sure, yet." He shyly looked at her, "And besides, I thought you just saw me as a little kid."

Aqua clasped her hands and minded her fingers as she bowed her head in thought. She'd never really thought about liking either of her best friends, but even though Ventus had been Asleep while she'd traveled through the Realm of Darkness, clearly, something in him had changed.

Not a lot of course, she knew he was still Ventus… but there was just a little something more now.

She'd certainly changed a lot herself, for as much as she was still the same.

Aqua took in a calming breath and slowly exhaled as she met his eyes, "I think…" She paused again as a thought struck her.

She had constantly been drawn to Sora for comfort and to fill an unspoken void in her heart.

Yet now, as she stood there, the pull and desire she'd desperately tried to curtail was aimed towards Ventus.

It had been Ventus she had been sensing within Sora that had drawn her to him.

She smiled, "I think I'm in like with you too."

Ventus brightened before making himself at home by settling into her bed with a dramatic and lazy flop, "Then that's settled." Aqua stared at him blankly as he looked up at her innocently as he pulled up the covers, "What? Now that that's out of the way, it's kind of easier to sleep."

Aqua felt a part of her deflate as the other part laughed at her foolishness. She chuckled lightly and pulled the cover back to settle in, and in a brazen move to give herself confidence, she snuggled up to Ventus and held him close.

He squeaked in surprise with a deep blush, but adjusted to her as they maximized their own comforts as well as accommodating the other. It took a moment of awkward shifting, but they finally found what worked best, and Ventus couldn't help but grin widely to himself as Aqua tucked him into herself. "Seriously Ven, how could you think confessing was going to make sleeping easier?"

Ventus chuckled lightly as he nuzzled into her, "Less boundaries?"

Aqua frowned, "Really?"

Ventus huffed, "No, I figured you'd just wanna hold my hand all night."

Aqua went silent, "And now we're wrapped up in eachother."

Ventus was quiet as sleepiness immediately began to settle his frayed nerves and anxieties, "I won't say I understand it, but… I really missed you, and I was lonely."

Aqua's face crumpled a little while she tried to hold back a fresh wave of emotions as she held Ventus just a little bit closer. "I'm sorry… I was gone for a lot longer than I'd thought."

Ventus was silent for a moment, "Thank you, for coming back for me."

Aqua smiled tiredly as she buried her face into his hair with a nod while too many words clogged her throat and left her speechless.

"Sweet dreams, Aqua."

"...Sweet dreams, Ven."