I wasn't sure how/if this story was going to continue after DtV ch 4, but then I realized this was more Sora and Vanitas focused, where DtV is Ava/Skuld/Ludorr focused… so I think I can still write both and have it work out. Maybe. -nervous laughter- This was half written before I went full force on EtW so... -cringe-
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You could always see yourself in me
A brand new way to live vicariously
I wanted to show you the world through my eyes
But you had to let me go, just let me go so I could live my life
-Emery, Safe
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Vanitas knew he'd entered the Dream.
He could almost feel the Nightmare symbol on his back.
Yet he walked forward through the dark and the fog, its cloy a familiar embrace as he slowly felt the grit of pavement appear beneath his boot.
His clothes continued to shift and change, now gaining fitted black pants and a black skirt-cape replacing his frayed past.
Only his boots seemed to deign to stay his companion, along with his chin guard.
The fog began to separate as the darkness rolled away from his skin, depositing him in another's Dream.
A girl stood in the lamplit gloom of the street. Long black braided hair, blue-and-gold eyes.
A familiar pink cowl with gold and aqua details. Cream skirt and half cape lined in pink.
A Foreteller, the one of the Fox.
He stood a few paces from her, shocked to see someone from the hazy past.
He'd disguised himself as- "To think I'd see you again."
The girl blinked in shock as she became defensive, pulling her balled hand to her chest as she took a half step back, "What do you mean by that?"
He studied her for a long moment, feeling the rush of familiarity and yet complete loss of connection. They didn't have time for this. He closed his eyes and shook his head. Vanitas took a few steps towards her before slightly pivoting to the side. "I think it's time someone takes care of that idiot. I certainly can't do it as I am."
The Foreteller was clearly disturbed by his behavior, but he continued on. Their time was short and there was much to be done. He pointed to the building in the distance, "Go to the 104 building at 1:04 this afternoon. There, you'll meet the one you've been Hoping for."
The dream abruptly melted away, Vanitas waking up in Sora's place and gripping the crown necklace under his (their) fingertips. He took in a deep breath before slowly sitting up, the Flood that had been resting on him flailing as it grunted in annoyance.
The two shared a glance before the Flood melted away into his shadow.
Vanitas glanced at the time displayed on the computer monitor.
12:55pm
...He'd really shorted himself on time.
Swiftly, he began to close every window open in the internet browser before clearing its search history. He then had the computer restart as he grabbed the supplies he'd purchased and threw them hastily into Sora's inventory.
'Sora.'
He heard a mumble in the back of his head as he grunted, getting out of the cubicle he'd spent the night in.
He went over to the counter, bright and chipper in a frightening impersonation of his host. He ensured no other charges were due and made his way out of the gaming cafe, nearly jogging by the time he reached the top of the stairs, 'Sora. You gotta wake up. We have like, five minutes to get across town.'
This seemed to wake the other up, 'Huh?! What do you mean across town-!'
Vanitas sighed as he took a step back and put Sora back into the driver's seat as it were, 'We gotta get to the 104 building by 1:04pm. It's what I told your mother.'
Sora seemed to mentally pause for a time calculating before jogging into a back alley and immediately flowmotioning up its side, 'Why didn't you wake me up sooner!?'
'I tried, but you sleep like the dead.'
Sora felt his eyebrow twitch as he carefully navigated by side streets, alleys, and rooftops. It was misting and cold, and it was honestly a total pain in the ass to flowmotion so quickly through it.
Mist actually hurt once you sped up enough.
Vanitas tutted at his thoughts, 'Such language. I know I didn't teach you such vocabulary.'
Sora flushed a little as he carefully scaled down the closest building that still had cover before blending into the pedestrian traffic, staring at the 104 building with a mixture of annoyance and anticipation, 'I live in a fishing hub, Vanitas. What gave you the impression I don't swear?'
'You're supposed to be too-good, and too-naive to speak like that.'
Sora pouted at the observations before he almost tripped over his own feet.
A connection, long since frayed and withered with age and sadness, at his own attempts to cut it out and ignore the way it Hurt.
It was as if there was a snap, and suddenly that old pain became iron taught, with immeasurable strength and loving warmth as a paused umbrella spun on black booted feet. He raised his hand, only for the girl the he immediately knew was the same that he'd met for a short moment in The Final World-
Her hand snapped forward and caught his raised one, tears in her eyes as she met his gaze, "Sora-!"
She pulled him close, their clasped hands and umbrella between them as she hugged him close to her with her now free arm. He was stiff in this stranger's hold, yet warmth flooded him as tears came to his eyes.
'Mother-!'
He clenched his teeth and eyes for a moment before he relaxed into her hold, "...Mom?" His voice was unexpectedly hoarse.
The girl lowered the umbrella to hide them further, voice tight with emotion, "Yeah."
Joy ran through his blood- joy he hadn't even known he could have at such a reunion. He hugged her with his free hand and he laughed with a sob, "I found you!"
She nodded, seeming to be at a loss for words as she slowly pulled back and met his eyes, "Let's go home."
He rubbed his face messily before smiling widely, "Yeah!"
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'Were you ever taught about Stranger Danger?'
He mentally sighed exasperated, 'Vanitas-'
Sora was awkwardly following after his mother, realizing this was not exactly his smartest move-
But also knowing it wasn't the first time he'd ended up in a stranger's company.
At least she hadn't decided he wasn't worthy of his Keyblade and knocked him out for it.
He pouted at the thought as Vanitas laughed raucously at his memory of meeting Leon.
A car door opened, and Sora followed his mother's direction.
His hackles were fully raised the entire car-ride, despite Luxord, no, Ludorr's (Brain's?) explanation of events. Between he and his mother, both were rather invested, yet his own suspicions never really seemed to cease.
'Something's not right.'
His mother was suddenly rigid and ice cold in her tone and stare, "Ludorr?"
'Void help us, she is pissed.'
Sora didn't have time for the Darkling's musings as his fight and flight kicked in.
Luxord sighed, "Yes, Master?"
Ava was sweet as honey and cold as ice, "Where are we going?"
Vanitas started laughing unhinged as Sora felt himself break out in a cold sweat, 'Vanitas please not now.'
Luxord took a deep breath, "I have orders related to the rogue, however, you aren't familiar enough with Sora to understand that something is wrong with him."
This startled Ava as Sora glared ice daggers at Luxord's profile, "Wrong with me?"
'Busted!'
Luxord extrapolated on his data gathering to Ava, seeming to reassure her that while he had known it was Sora the whole time, he didn't want to bring up her hopes of meeting her son if he was wrong.
The car pulled up to a gated facility, Ava seeming familiar with the place as the car was allowed through.
As they drove to where they would be parked, Ava took his hand, and with a reassuring glance she tried to ease his trepidation.
But he'd spent too long with only Donald and Goofy as his companions to truly trust so blindly- not in a situation such as this.
Wearily he looked back to Luxord, "So what do you want with me?"
Luxord explained his findings from study and reports. Sora's random paralysis, lack of physical sensitivity, his strangely high threshold for pain, or general poor demeanor.
The Gambler wasn't wrong.
The man gave him a stern and pointed look that brooked no argument, "Stay by my side, and you will be perfectly free to do as you wish. Leave, and the military will hunt you down, and your mother will follow foolishly after you. Don't try it."
The two stared one another down as Sora balled his fists, unhappy with the situation but also understanding the grace he was being given, "...Alright. I'll... trust you, Luxord."
The Gambler nodded as he glanced at his mother before going into the medical facility.
There was a lot he wouldn't be able to answer for.
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His physical examinations and treatments took the better part of the afternoon, eventually triggering his hunger back in full-force. Every test was tiresome in its own way, as he would occasionally watch his mother struggle through his basic paperwork.
Eventually his blood sample came back as a baffling match to his mother's, of which Luxord swiftly took charge of dealing with.
(They would be unbelievably played off as half siblings, for the record.)
After some time, Ava recruited him to help her finish his paperwork for all of the information she had no way of knowing how to fill.
The rest of his health tests returned (he'd need to have a constant supply of holy water and other miscellaneous items), as Luxord had one final wrench to throw into the works before he would be allowed to release them home.
Sora would need to join the Military Academy, and pass an entrance exam test of 60% at his current age-grade level to be forgiven for his rogue status.
It was going to be difficult, considering his lack of computer skills.
'I'll have to crash course it for you so your mother can help you study.'
'Do you… actually want to help me with that?'
'I kinda prefer to not be in jail, if I were one to be honest.'
Vanitas had a point.
Sora agreed to the terms- it wasn't like there was much of a choice.
His mother definitely scared him with the abrupt gold cast to her eyes at the sign of his being threatened.
'A fox protecting her kit. She'd tear them flesh from bone in seconds if they tried to take you from her now.'
Sora grimaced at the imagery.
Finally they were released close to midnight, the three tiredly getting into the car and driving to what was a new location to the brunette.
He was almost asleep by the time the car stopped, doors opening for their exit as Sora nearly slumped out of his seat had it not been for his seatbelt. He scrambled up and out of the car, Luxord giving a cheeky grin as Ava whapped him lightly on the shoulder, "Thank you Brain for your help today."
"Of course, it was my pleasure."
Ava gave the driver a bit of a look as she rolled her ice blue eyes and looked Sora over. The two of them stood on the sidewalk before the car doors closed on their own, and the Gambler drove away.
The mother and son duo stood there for a long moment before she turned, suddenly incredibly tired, "Alright… Oh! Skuld's probably worried sick…"
Sora followed the fretting Foreteller as she pulled out a golden keycard and swiped it, allowing their entrance into the opulent condo-complex.
'Luxord is loaded, he's just gotta be.'
Sora made an annoyed face as his mother glanced at him, causing him to straighten out his features. He smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, "Who's Skuld?"
Ava stared at him for a long moment as the elevator doors open, seeming to have an internal crisis before slumping a little, "She was placed into my care along the way to… this side? I'm not really… exactly sure of the why's and how's of our arrival in Quadratum." She nervously minded the bottom of her hoodie, shifting a little as if she were nervous.
The doors opened, and Ava led him down the hall to their final destination, N105.
Sora and Vanitas simultaneously couldn't help but think, 'Of course there's a 10.'
The 5… ah right. The Unions.
The man enjoyed his irony, clearly.
Ava let him in as she quickly glanced around for her roommate.
On the couch drowsed a girl of similar age, long black hair and clearly dressed for bed in black sweats and a plain black night shirt. Ava softly spoke to her as the other blearily came back to awareness, noticing him with a jolt and standing.
He stared at her for a moment before she came over into his space, looking him over as he did his best to not feel nervous being scrutinized so thoroughly, "Uh… hi?" He put on an uneasy smile, "I'm Sora, and you must be… Skuld?"
Skuld took a step back as she nodded, extending a hand as he took it in a light shake, "Yes, I'm glad to finally meet you. Ava left this afternoon without explaining anything, so I've been worried…"
He glanced at his mother who looked abashed, nodding as he returned his attention to the other, pulling his hand back, "Sorry about that, I was… kinda surprised by this afternoon too. I uh.. Well, sorry for intruding into your home so suddenly…"
Skuld blinked at him before glancing back at Ava who seemed even more embarrassed. The brown-eyed girl returned her gaze to the brunette with an easy smile, "Actually, Brain owns this Condo. We just live here for him."
For him?
Clearly he was making a face because Skuld giggled, "He's kind of our benefactor." She turned to Ava, "So he's staying with us?"
Ava nodded, "Yes. I figured he could stay in Brain's room while we freshen up the guest room…"
Sora looked around, "How big is this place?"
Ava smiled, "There are five rooms, one of which is the Master with an extra bathroom within- that's Brain's, and one regular bath-laundry room."
Sora rubbed his hair as Vanitas took that info in, 'Loaded, man…' The brunette tried to keep his face straight but Vanitas was really… something. It was hard to get used to having an active voice in his head.
...Not...that he should get used to that anyway-
Auron laughed as Sora grimaced, 'I think it's a little late for that thought, Sora.'
Ava and Skuld were observing him again. He shuffled, "Uh…"
Ava decided to have mercy on him and smiled, moving over to him to gently take his hand as his guide, "Sorry, this is all sort of surreal."
Sora nodded, Skuld watching and moving silently behind him.
Ava opened the first door that had a view of the entrance. She guided him in, revealing a simple large bed with grey covers and white pillows, a small bathroom and shower combo near the door, and otherwise black and white furniture.
Luxord clearly liked his monochromes.
Skuld gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "I have work at the cafe in the morning, so I'll be going to sleep now. Have a good night, Ava, Sora." His mother nodded to the girl as Ava released him, seeming to still be a little nervous as Skuld left.
Sora turned to his mother as he thought, 'I might barely know her but... mom's acting weird.'
Ava huffed, dropping her arms as if she were annoyed with herself, "I know it's sort of late and it would probably be better to let you sleep… but… I need you to meet our last housemate."
The brunette blinked, "Uh, sure… if it's not too much trouble."
Ava moved close to him, going through motions of uncertainty before gaining resolve and nodding, "Follow me, and be quiet."
Sora watched her for a moment before following, stepping lightly on the plush carpet as Ava opened the door to the room across from his own.
There was a soft light in the room casting a warm glow on pastel colored walls, various stars painted by hand daintily as they moved closer to a crib. Ava peered in first as Sora stopped, suddenly realizing that this was a nursery.
He observed Ava, confusion filling him as he took everything in.
He'd just met his mother.
And now... there was a baby?
Ava glanced back at him and was quick to note the confusion and almost hurt on his face.
She bit her lip before gently lifting the swaddled newborn from its crib as she stepped over to him, speaking soft and low, "When I was pulled from Destiny Islands… When I left you and Aeros behind- I didn't know-" She shuffled, fighting to keep from curling into herself as she bowed her head slightly. She breathed for a moment before looking him in the eyes, frightened just as much as he was unsure of how to take this, "She's your baby sister. Her name's Rota, and she's thirteen weeks old…" Ava didn't really know what to do just as much as he didn't.
Oh.
He… he needed to know about this now in case she started crying.
Sora observed the baby in his mother's arms, slowly coming to the realization that he was an older brother now.
Sora could feel Vanitas wanting to comment on his thoughts, but clearly deciding to leave him to it.
Ava breathed in sharply, "Sora- I'm.. I'm sorry…"
He blinked at her, confused as he realized he was crying. Hot tears were making trails down his cheeks as he stood dumbfounded. "I-" He sniffed as he rubbed his face, speaking hoarsely as he tried to keep his volume low, "I don't even know why I'm crying."
Ava watched him completely lost, just as much as he was.
He laughed breathily to himself, "What a mess." He was so tired.
Ava bit her lip for a long moment as she looked down at his little sister before she met his gaze, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you and your father."
Sora sighed, sniffing as he ran a finger under his nose to try and put himself back together, "I- I know. You left me letters… the Wayfinder, and my necklace." He placed his fingers on the piece of warm metal, "I might have been without you for sixteen years… but you missed all of them, and went from me being a baby to…" He motioned with his hand his current state, "This."
Ever hedging on the brink of Death as he continued to defy its call.
Ava closed her eyes with a heavy and weary sigh, "It's a lot for the both of us to take in."
Sora nodded as he hesitantly stepped closer.
Ava watched him before shifting in such a way that he could better see his sister's face.
He could tell she had bright blonde hair, reminding him of Naminé. He smiled slightly, "I'm a big brother now…"
Ava nodded slowly, "Yeah…"
He rubbed his hair, "I guess I should be a good example and do well on that test, huh?"
Ava blinked at him before huffing a quiet laugh, an odd affectionate expression on her face, "Right."
Cautiously he moved closer before carefully hugging his mother and sibling gently, barely touching, but accepting things as they were.
Ava's tension bled out of her as she cried softly into his shoulder.
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It was three in the morning, yet Sora couldn't find it in himself to sleep.
Sure, he'd tried, and could honestly sleep anywhere as exhaustion weighed heavy on his bones.
Yet, as he sat in a stranger's bed, covers pulled away as he sat hugging his legs, his head resting upon his knees as he looked out towards the skyline...
He missed his father badly.
'I Love you.
I'm Proud of you.
I'll be praying for your safe return.
Promise me you'll come back.'
Sora closed his eyes, tears allowed to freely fall as he thought of his father who he'd left behind.
He'd broken his Promise.
He hadn't returned.
He'd faltered, faded, and dimmed in the setting sun's light.
Kairi, the true witness of his brave front as he gave her his final words as his Heart creaked dangerously.
One last smile to strengthen her.
It wasn't her fault.
It was the path he'd chosen.
Had a year already passed so quickly since those final aching moments on their Island?
He never got to say Thank You.
