Just as I've explained in Dandelions to Vulpes, if you aren't reading the other fic, you're gonna need to because they effect one another.
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Come all you weary, you cripples, you lame
I'll help you along, you can lay down your canes
We've got a long way to go, but we'll travel as friends
The light's growing bright, further up, further in
-Thrice, Come All You Weary
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Vanitas stretched in Sora's body, feeling more invigorated and alive after fully (and carefully) scrubbing himself down, along with doing a thorough wash of his clothing. He had to play a little guesswork on drying the clothes without blasting the stall door open, but with a little patience he managed it.
After he'd come out of the stall fresh as a daisy, the worker led him to the cubicle he'd be staying in with varied instruction, and shortly delivered his ordered food. He ate, chuckling to himself over the ridiculousness of his current situation.
The meal may not have been exactly to his taste, but the personal joke he got out of it took it to fine dining levels of enjoyment.
He started up the computer in his tiny abode, quickly beginning research to figure out just what was going on in this city he and Sora found themselves in.
'To think you can use technology so efficiently.'
Vanitas twitched as a Flood the size of a small cat manifested from his shadow. He glanced at it, surprised that it didn't leave him feeling more empty. He was still connected to it, but it was… different.
It twitched up at him silently as he simply told it to stay close. It snuggled up in his lap as he frowned at it.
'I forgot all about you.'
Auron hummed good naturally as Vanitas rolled his eyes and continued his search. 'Couldn't be the old man's apprentice and not understand how technology worked. Unlike this idiot.'
Auron sighed, 'I am not entirely against the use of such devices, but my years as a monk of the Church cost me a great deal of time and understanding.'
Vanitas shrugged, not overly interested in the man's story, but having the vague sense that the things he was saying didn't entirely line up somehow.
'I've lived two very different lives. I think there are others like me who recall "before," but cannot actively… make use of those memories. Coming here to this land allowed me to reconnect with my first story.'
Considering Sora had rewound time more than once to cheat Xehanort of his win, Vanitas could believe the Guardian's words of having lived two lives simultaneously.
Vanitas paused, eyebrows furrowed as he caught a number of news articles related to the military's work in protecting the city from the invading Gigas. The more he read into the stories, the more he couldn't help but grind his teeth in agitation, 'You people really don't understand how to keep a low profile, do you?'
Auron seemed to decide that was as good a time as any to go silent as Vanitas ran his hands through his-Sora's hair. He winced, immediately catching a snag before glaring upwards.
Looking through the given basic supplies he'd purchased, he found a comb and immediately went to town in the nest that was his-their hair. Carefully he went through each section, unsnagging and generally grooming his neglected hair.
Sora really needed to take better care of himself.
A good hour later and a small bundle of lost hair later (via a few snips from his Flood or general loss), Vanitas could finally smoothly run his hands through his scalp with minimal difficulty. He couldn't help but smile slightly to himself, feeling oddly accomplished.
Vanitas glanced back at the computer screen and scowled at the headline, Mysterious Rogue Assisting the Military Against the Invasive Gigas! Finally, some clues about the mysterious Mage and his Summon!
He reviewed each related article. Four months of compiled sporadic information that slowly built up Sora's height, clothes, and guessed age. The same was slowly compiled of Auron, both sticking out like sore thumbs in their bizarre clothing.
Shifting, he flopped back onto the futon-couch he currently sat on and stared up at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. The small flood skittered onto his chest and curled up, immediately getting comfortable and going to sleep as if it were a house pet.
'If he's not going to be careful, he's going to get himself unwillingly captured by the military.'
Sora's abrupt involvements in battle were disruptive. It wasn't particularly a bad thing that Sora was assisting in the military stings against the somewhat stronger Gigas. No, it was the fact that it threw off the military's tactics, and caused chaos on the field. Luckily, Sora had the habit of throwing quick heals to the soldiers, so no one had died due his actions, per say…
But it was making the general Government twitchy.
Those who could use Magic were well documented, and those who were proficient in any form of combat were also well documented.
Sora was both in spades, a singular force to be reckoned with on the field, and the Government had nothing on him. Articles even going so far as to check outer cities and settlements with far more inferior paper trails were dead-ends.
He was powerful, and there was no guarantee he couldn't abruptly turn heel and ravage the entire field, taking out both sides and devastating Quadratum's defenses.
Vanitas groaned softly, shielding his face with his arm, 'This isn't like your usual World hopping, you know. There's consequences to your continued actions that are far-reaching.'
Huh?
Vanitas jolted, suddenly feeling himself pulled out of reality and unintentionally tossed back (hard) onto his Heart Station. He laid there stunned, more of his suit having pulled away into an odd inverted copy of Sora's present clothing. Now he had a black high neck quarter-sleeve shirt and the idiot's jacket (the plaid with red and black inverted, same base black color but the grey and red details swapped). A quick check to his cheek affirmed his helmet's metal guard. He sat up, noting that the change stopped at his familiar red belts, frayed navy and red skirt still present. He grimaced as he stood, his back hurting from the abrupt switch and subsequent landing.
He sharply pulled his arms back, making a satisfying crack as his shoulders and back muscles relaxed. He sighed, stretching out his body as he eyed Sora's Station wearily, 'Where the hell have you been?'
Sora seemed to pause for a long moment before he appeared within his Heart. The other came to the edge of his Station (the horrible creak of glass and metal aside) and balked at Vanitas from a distance, "When did you get here?!"
Vanitas scowled at him, "I've been here, idiot. The minute you let Ventus into your Heart, I got dragged in also."
Sora stared at him with wide eyes before hopping over, causing Vanitas to abruptly backpedal, "Hey, what do you think you're doing?!"
The brunette landed gently, taking a few steps closer before stopping, placing his hands on his hips as he looked over Vanitas's cracked-but-sealed Station with confused wonder, "...Do you want me to use the Power of Waking to-"
"No."
Sora jumped as Vanitas stalked over and snatched him by the collar, the brunette suddenly acknowledging the change in Vanitas's attire, "I am Darkness. I have nothing tethering me to this World but your stupid, broken, meatbag of a decaying body." He shoved Sora lightly, causing the other to stumble as he continued, "I'm going to help you. It's your fault I gained mortality, and I'm more than happy to end it here with you, thanks."
Sora stared at him dumbly, "But, Vanitas-"
He raised his hand to the other's face, interrupting him, "Sora. My past self wasn't being poetic and overly dramatic when I told you that you both complete me. We are brothers. Ventus, who I possessed. Whose existence was ripped in half by that stupid Old Goat, ripping away half of his Heart, his Soul, and giving me a doll of a body to exist in separately- that's what was stolen from Ventus to create my 'base.' You on the other hand. First you patched up Ventus so he could continue- so that we could both survive. But then you gave me your face. A half baked identity to call my own. Then, years later you strolled in, a stupid little toddler who ate my essense and gave me flesh. My blood is your blood. I have despised you more than any other for giving me, a piece of the collective Darkness, mortal flesh."
Sora gaped at him before taking in a breath and giving him the most annoyingly determined face, "So because of that, you don't deserve to have the chance to exist freely as your own self?"
Vanitas clenched his fist, "I don't deserve that level of kindness." The brunette certainly didn't have the strength left in his Heart to complete such an arduous task anyway.
Sora took a half step closer, "I don't believe you."
The two stared at each other tensely, challenging the other before Vanitas smirked darkly and took a step back with a slightly dramatic bow, "Make use of me Sora. You have already tasted The Dark for yourself, partaking in its vile cruelty as you sought to turn it into something good, welcoming even. You are a friend of The Dark, resistant to it in a way no other of Light has managed."
Sora furrowed his brow, "I'm not at all resistant-"
Vanitas got up in his face, "Your Heart is strong. Like solid steel, it bends, it can even brake, but it can be melted down and reforged into something even stronger. You get up again, and again, and again as others degrade you, steal your power from you, break your body and spirit… You stand victor over many. You were strong enough to have the time to be pulled from fading into Darkness, your Heart bright enough to reconnect with those you cherish. You may concede to the thought that Kairi was the one who made you human again, but you were still a Heartless- one of high intelligence just like Ansem, Seeker of Darkness."
Sora moved away from him warily, hands balled in stress, "If that's true, then why did the Light of Kingdom Hearts destroy him and not me?"
Vanitas smiled, "Because you still had Light- not just yours, but that of the Princess to protect you. Though, I suppose your Keyblade may have shielded you as well. You are the one who has been given the Blessing to Open the Doors of Kingdom Hearts."
Sora pursed his lips as Vanitas raised an arm forward and summoned the ꭙ-blade, "Or were you not given the Key to the Kingdom?"
Sora gasped, Kingdom Key appearing in his hand as he glanced down at it and the blade held in Vanitas's hand. The darkling huffed, tossing the most powerful of all Keyblades at his feet, "Stop demeaning yourself so much. The enemy desires to weaken you at every turn because of your untapped and ever-growing potential."
Sora blinked, the ꭙ-blade disappearing in a flash of light as he returned his blue eyes to meet Vanitas's red gaze, "You changed my very essence Sora. You've already taken a piece of me into yourself. Make use of me as you see fit, even if it takes my very life to regain and heal your own."
Sora tensed, "But… I don't want to take your life for myself. That's not-"
Vanitas sighed, a bone weary sigh of someone who was tired of everything, "You have a family, Sora. Countless people who you've connected with, who desire your wellbeing and return." He moved closer to the brunette, "If what's left of me can solidify and piece together your shamble of a life, living as a part of you in full… It's more than I even deserve after all that I've done to the Worlds and its various inhabitants. Nothing would bring greater justice then giving you your life back."
The two glared at the other for a long while before Sora slumped, "If I can avoid it-"
Vanitas rolled his eyes with a scoff, "It's not like I'm telling you to absorb me this very second, Sora. I do kind of like being myself." He shrugged, "But if it comes down to it, I'll force the issue myself. I'm just giving you the courtesy of warning you ahead of time."
Sora frowned at him, an odd look crossing his face, "You...aren't as bad as you like to make yourself out to be."
Vanitas barked a (slightly unhinged) laugh, "You wish. Now, do me the favor of ordering a number thirteen again and having them write Idiot on it."
Sora blinked in confusion, "Wh- huh? Why would I do that?!"
Vanitas smirked, "Because the Old Goat would have hated it. There's also the plus of having it be the truth."
Sora stared at him for a long moment before pouting, "Now you're just making fun of me."
Vanitas shrugged, "Everyone's an idiot, stupid. You aren't that special."
Sora huffed, "But you just said-"
Vanitas whacked him on the shoulder, "Just shut up and let me laugh at everyone who wronged me with one dumb joke."
Omurice had never been used for such sweet revenge.
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Some time later Sora, per Vanitas's stern instruction, read through the articles he'd found and left up on the computer screen while petting the Flood he'd left behind.
'...Oh.'
'Oh is right, stupid.'
Sora sighed, scratching his head as he glanced down as his crossed ankles, 'I didn't realize we were being monitored like that…'
Auron sighed, 'An oversight on my part.'
Sora flopped to his side, running his fingers through his hair as he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, '...Vanitas?'
'What.'
'...Why is my hair so soft?'
'Sweet Void, take me now. Have you- Have you not heard of conditioner?!'
Sora flushed a little, abashed, 'Wh-no, my dad uses conditioner all the time… I just never thought that I needed to.'
'No wonder your scalp itches, dummy. Use it sometimes- maybe you'll actually be able to brush your hair.'
This was not the sort of thing Sora would have ever thought Vanitas would nitpick him on, 'Is this really what we're gonna discuss right now?'
'You wanna go back to talking about your poor stealth skills and being wanted by the government?'
'...No.'
'Then I'm telling you how to take better care of yourself, dork.'
Sora sighed, running his fingers over the crown necklace he always wore. He frowned, noticing that it was oddly warm, 'Did you do anything to my clothes?'
'Other then scrub them clean and dry them?'
'...I meant my necklace.'
Sora could almost feel Vanitas's confusion, 'No? Why?'
He mulled over his thoughts before speaking, 'My necklace is warm.'
'Sora-'
The brunette groaned with an annoyed eye roll, 'What I mean is that it's abnormally warm. Like Magic, or something.'
There was silence for a long moment, 'Step back for a moment.'
Sora furrowed his brows in confusion until he suddenly understood. He closed his eyes, taking a step back as he opened them within his mind. Vanitas was already standing before him on his Station, closer then expected but not invasive. The darkling closed his eyes and disappeared.
A moment passed, before the other returned, "It feels like it's reaching out to something, a connection."
Sora blinked, "A connection?"
Vanitas nodded, crossing his arms over his chest and placing a hand under his chin guard. (If Sora were to be honest, seeing his inverted clothes along with Vanitas's usual suit was beyond bizarre.) "You know that stupid phrase you Light people have started picking up again?"
Sora stared at him blankly for a moment, "Let my Heart be my Guiding Key?"
Vanitas nodded, "The necklace is acting similarly. It's reaching out to a connection, but it's one that was forged into it at its creation."
The brunette stared at the darkling for a long moment before he tensed with a light gasp, "What are you saying?"
Vanitas looked him in the eyes, "Who made that necklace, Sora?" He took a few steps closer to the other, "Wasn't it your mother?"
Sora stared wide eyed and almost slack jawed, "Y-yeah, but how do you know about th-"
"Then she must be here, in Quadratum." Vanitas sighed lightly, "Go to sleep Sora. Proper sleep, with your hand on that necklace."
"...Why?"
"I'm going to trace that connection and make use of your Dreams." Vanitas rolled his shoulders with an odd face for a second before locking his gaze with the brunette, "I'm going to reunite you with your mother."
ReConnect.
