A/N: hey look it hasn't been 3 months this time
Seriously though, thank you to everyone who's stayed with this fic! Especially to those of you who leave reviews, it makes my day every single time!
The little Flood did not know how to navigate. It skittered back and forth across her handlebars, leading her glider in a winding path through the Lanes Between. Was it actually guiding her to a destination? Or was it just trying to get her lost, so she couldn't rescue Vanitas?
But then the dry, abandoned world came into view, and her stomach turned. Below was a darkness so deep she could feel it from here. Perhaps it was part of the world itself. Something about the barren place just felt wrong.
Her glider stalled as she hovered over the world. Logically, she knew that Void had brought Vanitas to this cursed place as bait to trap her again.But what choice did she have? She couldn't leave her friend with the monster.
The Flood scampered up her arm and curled itself into the crook of her shoulder. Then it tapped on her helmet and gestured to the world below.
"Don't worry, I'm not giving up because of a little darkness." She scratched it behind its antennae before casting one last Cure and opening a portal through the world's barrier.
When she emerged on the other side, the scene that spread before her didn't make any sense. From high on her glider, she could see Terra and Ven and—who was that girl?—helping a limp Void onto Terra's glider. How had all of them found Void before she had? And where was Vanitas?
She noticed a pumpkinlike Unversed around the other side of a large rock. Another cage, just like the one she'd been trapped in. She let out a breath of relief. Vanitas must be in there, but as much as she itched to check on him, he would be safe for a few more minutes. Void was the more pressing issue.
She descended on her glider, her metal boots clanging against the hard ground when she jumped the final few feet. She dismissed her mask but left the rest of her armor on.
"Void!"
Her once-kidnapper's cracked mask jolted up to look at her. As for the rest of him, he was still limply laid across the front of Terra's glider. What had happened to him?
"Void?" Ven frowned, head tilting. "But he's—"
Void started coughing loudly. The Flood on her shoulder cringed and scrambled down to him. Before she could stop it, it had dissolved back into its creator.
Traitor. It was ridiculous, but she wished that it had stayed to help her.
"Cut that out." Terra shook Void's shoulder roughly. "You're just—"
Aqua stalked forward and silenced him with a glare. "Just because I'm here to help with Void doesn't mean you're forgiven for what you tried to do, Terra."
Behind him, the other girl's eyes widened. How had she gotten mixed up with all the keyblade wielders? The Master wasn't going to be happy about that—but then again, she'd gotten Vanitas involved. She could hardly judge Terra and Ven for working with this girl.
No, but there were plenty of other things she could judge Terra for.
"Aqua, I didn't do anything to your Vanitas," Terra insisted.
Her Vanitas. That sent a strange jolt through her, but she didn't have time to dwell on that.
"Oh, really? Then why did you tell me you destroyed him, Terra? What could that have possibly meant?"
Rage boiled under her skin. Was this what darkness felt like? She didn't know. Didn't care. She just knew that she'd defended Terra to their Master, and he'd proved her wrong. He'd tried to kill an innocent boy. Even if he hadn't succeeded, that didn't make things right.
Ven's head swiveled between them, confusion etched on his features. She was glad to know he was alright, but—were his clothes covered in gashes? Light, had Terra lethim fight Void?
"Uhh… Aqua?" He spoke up, inclining his head towards Void, who'd gone completely still. Was he still breathing? No, she shouldn't worry about that. It would be a gift to the worlds if he was eliminated. Even if he was nothing more than Master Xehanort's pawn, he couldn't be allowed to spread the Unversed.
"Not now, Ven." Aqua locked her glare back on Terra. "I want to hear his explanation for this."
"Do you? You didn't want to listen to me before." Terra crossed his arms. "Besides, I don't think I'm the one you should be asking."
He stepped aside, giving Aqua a better view of Void. He was struggling slightly now, though it wasn't doing much good. He couldn't even roll himself over onto his back. Well, at least he wouldn't be hurting her or Vanitas any more. Still, it was strange seeing the monster she'd worked so hard to escape reduced to this.
"Aqua," he rasped. Maybe his coughing hadn't been as fake as it sounded. "You have to get out of here."
Her brow furrowed. She wasn't sure what she'd expected her once-captor to say, but it wasn't that.
"You're not in any position to be making demands, Void."
Terra snorted behind her, but she didn't turn to see why. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Ven's mouth opening and shutting. He kept quiet though, thankfully. She would deal with her two irresponsible (and worse) friends later.
The masked boy finally managed to roll over, grunting in the process. The metal of the glider had to be digging into his back. She wouldn't feel sorry for him, though, for all that he almost seemed like a real person then. He breathed slowly, shakily, before speaking again.
"Am I in a position to beg?"
Her mouth opened wordlessly. Void had always been so arrogant, hiding any weakness under sharp remarks and his mask. But his voice wasn't biting or sarcastic now.
"Begging won't stop us from taking you to Master Eraqus," Terra interjected. "Come on, spit it out. I know you kidnapped Aqua and lied to her. If you don't tell her, I will."
What was there to tell? She knew that much already. Had Terra learned something else while fighting Void in this barren wasteland?
A shaky laugh snuck through the cracks in Void's helmet. "If I tell you, will you leave? You can't stay here."
"Why not?" She asked.
"Because!" He snapped, but that seemed to take all of his energy. His tense muscles grew limp again. "I can't—I don't want you to—"
"Void—"
"He'll kill you!" He burst. His chest heaved as he sucked in air.
"Who?" Terra's eyes narrowed. Aqua didn't appreciate him butting in—she'd put up with Void for days; she could handle him now. Even if his demeanor was completely different, and he sounded like he… actually cared?
"Xehanort," he gasped out weakly. "He could be here soon. Take me to your Master, whatever, just—leave!"
His voice was desperate. Too desperate to be fake, but it didn't make any sense. If Xehanort was coming, shouldn't he be happy? They were working together, right?
"Master Xehanort would never kill Aqua." Terra clenched a hand on Void's shoulder, making the boy hiss.
"Terra…" Ven started.
Void let out another ragged laugh. "Just like he'd never shatter a kid's heart, right?"
Ven winced. Aqua's attention snapped to him.
"You know what he's talking about?"
"He said that was an accident!" Terra said, and she whirled on him instead.
"What was an accident?"
"Believe me, it was no accident," Void said. "You know that, right, Ventus?"
Her younger friend's head swiveled between the three of them. Aqua's thoughts were spinning just as much. Shattered? Was that how… was that how Ven had lost his memories? And why did Terra and Void of all people know?
Ven's voice was strained. "Please, I… I don't want to talk about it."
The girl who Aqua had forgotten about stepped close to Ven, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I can't pretend to know what's going on, but arguing with each other isn't going to help. It wouldn't hurt to leave. We can always talk about this elsewhere."
"Unless that's part of his plan to escape," Terra replied, but his tone calmed significantly.
"You might be right, but I feel that something's… wrong, with this place."
The girl and Terra shared a silent conversation with their eyes. Had she picked up on the feeling of darkness the way Aqua had? And why did Terra trust her judgement so much?
"Alright." He nodded. "Ven will take you on his glider."
Ven grinned and slapped his shoulder pauldron. His armor flashed over him, hiding his excited face from view. "My glider's different from Terra's, but it's still really cool! You'll love it!"
But then Void took in a sharp hiss. "Too late."
Aqua summoned her keyblade as a dark portal opened across the plateau. But… if Void was already here...
"I'm sorry, Aqua," she thought she heard him whisper as he curled in on himself.
And then Master Xehanort strode from the portal.
XXX
Vanitas wanted to scream. They hadn't listened. Why hadn't they listened? Was their hatred for him even stronger than their pathetic senses of self-preservation? Xehanort was here and he was going to kill them, kill him, kill Aqua—
After everything he'd done to keep her out of trouble. Everything he'd risked. All of it was going to fall apart.
He could still feel blood pooling in the back of his helmet. He really should've been unconscious by now. Maybe that would be best; then he wouldn't have to see Xehanort destroy the one person he'd ever cared for.
"Aqua," the old man greeted her as if they were friends. Vanitas grit his teeth; Xehanort didn't deserve to speak her name. "I am pleased to see you escaped this abomination's clutches. And you must be the Cinderella I've heard so much about."
The Princess gasped. "Who are you?"
"You don't want to know," Vanitas whispered, catching her attention. His fading vision was still stuck staring at the sky, but he felt her brush against his leg. "Run. You're a Princess, he won't want to hurt you."
"But…" She trailed off. Too stupid to run, then. Why had he even bothered? Probably the concussion ruining whatever sense he had left.
"I am a friend." Xehanort's voice drew nearer. "I learned that Terra had succeeding in capturing the mistake I created. I am here to help put an end to him."
So that was the angle the old man was going to play. Vanitas could've laughed. It was just like his lie to Terra before. But why keep up the act? Was keeping the trio's trust more important to him than keeping Vanitas as a pawn?
Did he somehow know that Vanitas had already failed to forge the X-Blade? That he was functionally useless? ...Well, if he hadn't before, his crumpled state atop the glider confirmed it.
"He's lying," Vanitas hissed through his pain. "He's using you all, just like he used me. He wants Terra to—"
Xehanort tsk-tsked. Too close, oh Void, those slow steps would reach him any second.
He didn't want to die. He really, really didn't want to die. Not like this.
"Come now, boy. Surely you must have known this was going to happen."
"No." Ventus's voice. Quiet, but firm as he moved to stand in front of Vanitas. What was the idiot doing? Did he think he could stand up to Xehanort? Void, why was he standing up to him?
"Hmm?"
"I… I know what you did," Ventus said. "I don't understand it all, but… you're the reason I lost my memories. I don't want you near me or my friends."
"Ven—" Terra started to say, but Xehanort's chuckle cut him off.
"So you've learned the truth, have you? I suppose you have questions, then."
"I've got a question." Aqua stepped away from Vanitas—no, why was she going towards Xehanort? She needed to get out of here! "Why did you send Void to kidnap me?"
Vanitas stopped breathing. This was it. It didn't matter, he knew logically, since Xehanort was going to kill him anyway. But his heart still wrenched at the thought of Aqua finding out his identity like this. He should've just told her when Terra gave him the chance.
Xehanort was silent for a moment. Vanitas still didn't dare breathe, not even when the throbbing in his head made him want to cry out.
"I instructed Vanitas to do no such thing."
He finally let out the breath. There it was. If Aqua didn't get it by now, she really was an idiot.
He screwed his eyes shut, thinking that maybe dying wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Van… Vanitas?" Aqua's voice cracked. He'd missed hearing her say his name. Even now, his stupid, pathetic heart jumped.
"That's what I tried to tell you," Terra said. "Whoever you think Vanitas is, that's not him. This is him."
"No… it… he can't."
He couldn't take it—not knowing, not seeing her face as she said those words. He poured the last of his strength into gripping the edge of the glider, heaving himself upright, staring into her eyes.
And for once he thought he had a whole heart, because it shattered again.
XXX
He's lying. Void can't be… light, he can't…
She knew it could be a trap, but she couldn't stop herself from approaching Void, from staring into her reflection in his cracked mask as he struggled to sit up.
Thin tears ran down her face. Her hair was still disheveled from her armor and the fight with Void before. The fight where he'd tried to choke the light from her. Her Cure spells had healed any bruising, but she could still feel the shadow of his hand around her throat.
The same hand that, if Xehanort was to be believed, she'd held as they danced.
"Aqua…"
The same hand that now reached towards her, that drooped as she flinched away.
Now that she knew to listen for it, she could hear the note of Vanitas's voice in his. It was distorted slightly by the helmet, but it sounded closer to the sad-eyed boy from the ball than the arrogant monster she'd fought. Which one of those voices was his true one?
She shook her head violently. "Don't—just don't."
She was going to be sick. He'd lied to her. He'd hurt her. What had he possibly hoped to gain, if kidnapping her hadn't been on Xehanort's orders?
"What did you want from me?" She burst, gripping her keyblade like it was a lifeline. Even if she knew she couldn't turn it on Void—Vanitas?—just yet. Not until she knew for sure.
Not until she saw his face. But light, was she strong enough to face those eyes she'd worked so hard to protect?
"Nothing," he breathed. "Everything."
"Light, Vanitas, stop playing games with me!"
The others around them fell away. Right then, it was just her and the boy who might be a monster, or her friend, or—in another life—something more than that. But not now, not now.
"I don't expect you to believe me." He shook his head, his fingers brushing the side of his mask, as if he could hold the broken thing together, keep the truth from seeping through the cracks. "I don't think I'd believe myself either. I was stupid. So, so stupid."
If that wasn't the most Vanitas thing she'd ever heard, she didn't know what was. A small, choked sob escaped her.
"I'm the one who was stupid, to think you actually cared."
He flinched, curling his arms around himself. The same action his Scrappers made when they started wisping out of him.
"No, stop—not now," he growled at the monsters, and they were sucked back into his skin. She hated how much that explained. It was his Flood that had guided her here, that had once led her to escape—
Wait.
She'd watched that first small Flood's creation, while Void—while Vanitas—had been lost in a nightmare. It had been created just as involuntarily as these Unversed now. Yet still it had helped her.
Light, how was she supposed to explain that?
Swallowing, she stepped closer to Void—to Vanitas again. His head hung low, but his shoulders tensed at her approach.
"Will it be you, then?" He whispered. "Will you kill me?"
Her eyes widened. The quiet acceptance in his voice caught her off guard. Made her even now want to reassure him, tell him everything was going to be okay—but she wasn't going to lie like he did.
When he realized she wasn't going to answer, he again spoke in a brittle voice.
"I'd rather it be you."
Her throat tightened. He—wanted her to kill him? If anyone had a reason to, it was her, but—
Oh light, her heart couldn't take this.
She dismissed her armor's gauntlets and wiped her eyes on the back of her non-keyblade hand. Then, with a gentleness he probably didn't deserve, she pressed her fingers against the cracks in his helmet.
He trembled beneath her hand as the glass broke away, shards collecting in the empty space beneath his chin. Matted clumps of black hair snuck out from the damaged helmet, and she brushed them away from his eyes.
His scared, tear-filled, gold eyes.
"Heal," she whispered before her mind caught up to her pounding heart. Vanitas's visible eye widened as the green glow surrounded him.
"What—?"
"Aqua, what are you doing?" Terra's voice called from several paces off, where he'd been talking with Ven and Xehanort. She couldn't believe she'd let herself be distracted for so long—what had the older Master told them? Was he really as innocent as Terra seemed to think, or had Vanitas's words been true?
Her mind told her to trust Terra. Her heart, confused as it was, wanted to believe Vanitas. Her own power to sense darkness didn't pick up anything from Master Xehanort—but she'd seen him emerge from a dark portal. That couldn't be a good sign.
"Ah, it seems that abomination has gotten to her. What a pity. I had thought a Master would be able to resist his dark influence, but…" The old Master trailed off.
"Aqua?" Ven asked. For all that he'd stood up to Xehanort before, he now seemed at ease standing next to him and Terra. What had the Master said to him?
Only the girl—Cinderella, Master Xehanort said her name was—looked at Vanitas with anything resembling sympathy. But even she stuck close to Terra.
Could Aqua really do this? Trust the words of a boy she barely knew—a boy who probably lied about everything that mattered?
"You shouldn't have done that," Vanitas said, leaping from the glider and summoning his dark keyblade.
Fear shot through Aqua. Her foolish flash of sympathy would be the end of everything. Just when she thought he would strike her, his body angled towards Xehanort and her friends.
"Now he has an excuse to kill you," he spat. She caught a brief flash of his gritted teeth. "Sounds like he's already told your friends I brainwashed you, or something."
"They—they wouldn't believe that!" Would they? Aqua herself couldn't tell if Xehanort could be trusted. Her main evidence against him was an accidental confession from Void—Vanitas—over Command Board. And the dark portal he'd arrived through… and, of course, the primal fear in the boy's eyes now.
Vanitas shrugged. "Xehanort can be very persuasive, when he wants to be. But… you still might be able to fix this."
"How?"
He turned towards her, his one visible eye still glistening.
"Kill me."
Then he raised his keyblade high, and rushed towards her.
XXX
"Aqua!" Terra called, running towards her. What was she doing? She'd healed the monster, and then he'd turned on her. Just like Terra had expected. Just like—
His eyes widened. He'd seen this scene before.
A masked boy, keyblade held high overhead, poised to strike—
The vision had come right here, when he'd last spoken to Master Xehanort. Had he seen the future? He'd never heard of keyblade wielders having that power before.
He shook off the memory. Aqua needed him in the present.
Except when he tried to reach her, he slammed against something solid. He fell back with a curse that he hoped Ven was too far behind to hear.
"What?" Ven was already beside him, banging his armored fists against the near-invisible barrier. An accidental curse was the least of his worries, though. "Aqua!"
If she could hear them, she didn't show it. She cartwheeled aside as Vanitas shot Fire and Blizzard towards her. He was wide open after casting the spells, but instead of closing the distance she fired off a few weak spells of her own. They missed him, ice shattering in front of his feet. Then Vanitas was shouting, if his wide gestures were anything to go by. Was the barrier soundproof?
"Come on, Aqua, fight harder!" Ven pleaded.
"What's happening?" Cinderella asked when she caught up to them.
"It is as I said," Master Xehanort intoned somberly. While his brows were upturned in sympathy, he seemed in no rush to destroy the barrier keeping them from the battle. "You told me that Vanitas had captured your friend. It appears he has poisoned her mind too deeply for her to break free."
"No," Terra breathed. "There has to be a way! Just help me get in there!"
The Master shook his head. "I cannot. This barrier is Aqua's own construction. If I destroyed it, it would only give Vanitas an opening to harm her."
"Why did she do it?" Terra clenched his fists. "She didn't have to fight him alone!"
"But she's not even fighting him!" Ven pressed the visor of his helmet against the barrier.
He was right—Aqua's infrequent attacks were half-hearted at best, mostly ending in their keyblades locked together, both trying to push the other back. The only consolation was that Vanitas barely seemed to be fighting much harder. Maybe he was just waiting for the chance to drag Aqua completely under his power. If Vanitas had no one else on his side, he must know that Terra, his friends, and Master Xehanort would destroy him easily.
"I don't understand," Cinderella whispered. "I was so sure he just wanted… but I suppose that was wishful thinking. I let myself believe he wanted the same things I did."
Terra's heart broke when he looked down at her crestfallen face. Her heart was so strong, so full of love. She shouldn't have to watch this. She'd seen enough darkness in her life.
Hesitantly, Terra reached to take her hand. She met his eyes and gave his hand a soft squeeze. When this was over, they'd sort everything out between them, but for now it was enough that she didn't hate him for trying to destroy Vanitas.
"It's not your fault. He even tricked Aqua, and she's one of the strongest people I know." He gazed back through the barrier, and Cinderella's hand tightened around his.
"Then she'll be okay," she said. "Believe in her, Terra. If she's anything like you, she'll make it through this."
He glanced at her, eyes widening at the simple show of faith. She might not know Aqua, but she believed in Terra, and in his friends by extension. It wasn't empty words, either. He could feel the tingling of light where their hands touched.
Maybe, if he could share some of that with Aqua… could that give her the strength to fight back?
He dismissed the rest of his armor, wincing when he remembered he was still in his fancy outfit. But it couldn't be helped; he needed to get to his pockets. He dug for his Wayfinder, but instead his fingers closed around the keychain he'd found in the storage shed.
"Hold this for a minute." He passed it to Cinderella, then could finally reach his Wayfinder.
"What's this?" She gasped as she held the glass keychain up against the sun. "It looks just like my glass slippers."
"Weird, huh?" But Terra didn't have time to explain what it was or how he'd found it. He was busy searching for a scrap of light to share with Aqua. Unfortunately, he remembered he'd run out during the last fight with Vanitas. He hadn't picked up any D-Link Crystals since then.
"Gah…" He shoved the useless charm back into his pocket. "Ven, do you have any D-Link Crystals saved up?"
"Yeah, I fought some Unversed before Vanitas grabbed me. Why?"
While Terra explained his plan, Master Xehanort raised an eyebrow.
"...Do you think it won't work?" Terra asked the older Master, suddenly feeling foolish. D-Linking with Aqua was hardly a plan at all, but at least it was something. He hated standing around uselessly while his friend was in trouble.
"No, there is the possibility that it might. Connections of the heart are fickle things." Master Xehanort frowned as his gaze was drawn back to Vanitas and Aqua's battle.
That was when Terra realized that it wasn't much of a battle anymore—somehow Aqua had gotten Vanitas pinned on the ground. Even when she released him, he curled up and didn't try to fight back. She'd won without any extra help after all. A sigh of relief escaped him; he should've known to trust her.
"Apparently even for those with only half of one," the Master murmured.
But before Terra could decipher the Master's words, his stomach lurched. The ground shifted beneath his feet; he was flying—no, the earth was rising, obeying the command of Master Xehanort's curling fingers. He heard Ven's shout as the boy fell beside him, but he could barely see through the rush of wind, and—
The rising pillar of earth ground to a halt, leaving Terra's stomach far below. Despite his dizziness and sudden desire to throw up, he braced himself with Earthshaker and tried to stand. Ven was by his side in a heartbeat, steadying him at his elbow.
"Terra, I think Vanitas might've been telling the truth."
"No, there's—Master Xehanort must have a reason for this." He stared across the new pillar and locked eyes with the old Master.
He was smiling. Somehow Terra didn't find it comforting this time.
"Ever the idealist." Xehanort's lips quirked further upward, revealing a glint of teeth. "An unusual trait for one with such a deep well of darkness."
Terra winced and curled his fist over his heart. Master Xehanort hadn't judged him for his darkness before. That had been the hope he'd clung to while flying to this barren world—that when all his friends had abandoned him, Xehanort would still be here.
But… his friends were here. They hadn't abandoned him. Ven, and Cinderella—
Cinderella! She wasn't on the pillar. Hopefully she was safe below.
"I don't care what you think," Ven told Xehanort while summoning his keyblade—it must have fallen when the ground had surged beneath them. "It doesn't matter if Terra has darkness! He's not going to use it to help you make the X-Blade, or—or whatever it is you want!"
Master Xehanort chuckled. "Believe me, boy, you have no idea what I want."
Terra blinked. Sometime in the shuttersnap between sight and darkness, the Master teleported behind his friend.
"Ven!" Terra shouted. What was happening? Master Xehanort wouldn't—!
Those idealistic fantasies fled him when Master Xehanort grabbed Ven by the back of his helmet. Through it all, his yellow gaze remained fixed on Terra.
"And you have no idea what I'm capable of."
Ice cracked from the Master's fingers. Shattered Ven's helmet, revealing one wide blue eye; shot down his armor, locking his limbs in place. His frozen, gaping profile silhouetted against the darkening sky.
Without another word, the Master that Terra had trusted dropped his friend over the edge.
XXX
"You—you idiot!" Vanitas snarled, sounding more like Void with every passing minute. "You can fight harder than this!"
She could. She could, she wanted to, her blood screamed with it. Rage, confusion, pain. She couldn't release it in monsters the way he could. But it would hardly come out in her strikes either.
He was still crying. She saw it every time their blades came close enough to collide—wet drops painted his golden eye a stinging red.
Monsters didn't cry.
A boy who asked her to kill him did.
"You don't want this," she murmured, unable to speak much louder through the tightness in her throat, the ice that crystallized in her chest. Nevermind that none of his Blizzard spells even came close to hitting her.
"You don't know what I want!" He screamed. His blade stabbed towards her, more accurate than any of his magic—but still wild, easy to knock aside. Her training urged her to take the opening her parry provided.
She didn't. Because he was right—she didn't know. She had no idea what he wanted. That made him dangerous. But it also meant that if she didn't find out now, she never would.
"Then what do you want, Vanitas?" She choked out.
They were close enough that she could see the shudder pass through him as she said his name. The laugh that followed was a mangled sound.
"What do I want?"
He was back in her space, cutting and slashing with reckless abandon, no power backed up the strikes.
"You asked me that before, you know," he said when the shafts of their blades locked. "Make a wish. Anything you want."
She gasped, giving him an opening to shove her back. But the pressure against her keyblade didn't intensify.
"It was you." She knew that, she knew that, but hearing that memory under these circumstances sent a shock through her. That shooting star was between her and a handsome boy she'd danced with, not her and this, this—
She didn't know what to call him. Not a monster. Not when his eyes leaked sparkling tears and his weapon never left a trace on her skin.
"Sorry to disappoint," he said, but his sarcasm couldn't cover the hurt grimace. Maybe the mask was meant to hide more than his identity. All his emotions played plainly across his face.
He finally forced her back and blasted Blizzard and Fire towards her again, rapid bursts that forced her to dodge and skid across the dusty ground. Vaguely she wondered why he never used Thunder. The homing bolts would make up for his lack of accuracy—but maybe that was the point.
Maybe he wasn't just reckless with rage and fear. Maybe he was just as confused as she was, maybe he didn't want to hurt her—
—Or he was trying to lull her into a false sense of security. He'd never had a problem fighting her before. Had he?
Light, she couldn't handle these thoughts. She'd chase herself in circles faster than his keyblade could catch her.
Well, if she couldn't catch her thoughts...Then she would just have to catch him.
The next time he came in close to attack, the next time their keyblades screeched against each other, she grabbed the hilt of his weapon and quickly stepped back. The tug and momentum sent him sprawling forward to the dirt. From there she crouched over him and dug her armored knee into his back. She had to throw aside her keyblade so she could hold his wrists down. A hiss of pain escaped him as his own keyblade vanished, but she kept her position.
"Are you gonna finish this or not?" He asked through panting breaths. "Your friends still need you. You're wasting time."
She looked up and to her left, where Terra, Ven, Cinderella, and Xehanort still stood outside her barrier. No one was attacking. She was surprised they hadn't tried to break through to finish off Vanitas yet, but she'd consider it a blessing.
"I can't help them when I don't know what we're up against." She shifted her weight, making sure not to give Vanitas an opening to throw her off—not that he seemed to be trying. He just laid there limply, the unbroken side of his helmet pressed against the dirt. His yellow eye stayed trained on her. Somewhere along the way, it had finally dried.
She knew from the sting of salt that hers hadn't.
"Why did you do it?" It wasn't the question she'd meant to ask—that would've been what is Xehanort planning? Or maybe how am I supposed to trust you after what you've done? But it was what her heart wanted to know. Needed to know.
He kept staring at her. It couldn't have been comfortable for him; it required looking out the back corner of his eye, with the angle his neck was twisted. It was still uncanny, seeing the face of her friend on the body of her enemy. She remembered how easily he'd lifted her when she'd almost passed out. His skintight clothing now showed off the strength that his formal suit had hidden, but it had still been him, those arms gently carrying her…
"You're still beautiful."
His words were barely a murmur. That didn't stop shock from flooding through her, warming her face and making her all too aware of her position on top of him. And of the fact that she'd been staring, too.
"Flattery won't get you anywhere." Her voice stayed cold, thank the light.
His eye widened, though she wasn't sure why. Had he expected her to melt at one little compliment? She was stronger than that.
"It wasn't flattery. It's just a fact." A soft smile tugged his lips. In that moment, despite his beaten position and the fragments of glass cradling his face, he looked just like the Vanitas that she had shared her light with.
Light that she'd given on purpose. When he'd been the one to steal it from her before.
"Stop it!" She shouted, gripping his wrists tighter, grinding them into the dirt. "You—you don't get to say that! Not anymore!"
He grit his teeth, shut his eyes.
"I… you're right." He swallowed. "I'm... sorry."
Her breath caught in her throat. "What?"
"That's… what people say when they feel regret, isn't it?" His eye opened, searching her with a questioning tilt to his brow.
"You regret kidnapping me?" She scowled. "Of course you would. You wouldn't be here wanting to die if you hadn't."
It was a low blow, she knew. But right then she didn't care. If he was still trying to manipulate her, after everything…
"No," he said. "I don't regret kidnapping you."
"Then why are you—!"
"I'm sorry I hurt you!"
She went silent, her mouth hanging open dumbly.
"I was stupid. I didn't want… I didn't want you to know. That I was this… abomination."
Water pooled in his eyes again. She hated it. Why did he have to look like he was hurting as badly as she was? He deserved it…
Because he's an abomination, right? But her gaze softened as she watched him cry. He had darkness in him—but so did Terra, she knew. She couldn't call him a monster for that, any more than she could hold her friend's nature against him.
"No," she whispered. "You're not an abomination."
His eye widened. "What?"
"You might have darkness in you, but you still had a choice," she explained, letting the comfortable layer of anger settle back over her. "You chose to do what you did. You can't blame that on what you are."
"I—you think I had a choice?" He spat. For the first time he tried to squirm out from under her, but she kept him firmly pinned. "I didn't ask to be ripped apart! I didn't ask to be Xehanort's pawn! All I wanted was—"
He cut off abruptly. There were a million questions for those three sentences alone, but Aqua knew there wasn't time. While they might be mysteriously preoccupied right now, her friends or Xehanort could break through any moment. She had to pick her questions carefully.
"All you wanted was what?" Curse the part of her that still, after everything, wanted to understand him. This might be her only chance to get information on Xehanort, if he was the real threat; she should be asking about him. But her heart had a clearer path to her voice than her mind.
Vanitas took a deep breath and slowly released it. What remained of his fire seemed to fade in the process, until his body was still and cold.
"...It doesn't matter anymore, but...I just wanted... to be whole again," his voice quieted. For some reason, his gaze flickered towards her friends outside the barrier. Was he jealous? Of their light, maybe?
Aqua didn't know. She didn't even know if she believed him. But… those were the same sad eyes she remembered.
"And how was kidnapping me supposed to make you whole?"
He laughed mirthlessly. "At first I thought I could use you. You've got so much light… but you're still a normal person. You couldn't handle it."
"Are you talking about the dizziness after you took my light?" She frowned. Not to mention the horrid emptiness that had consumed her. But neither of those things had killed her… she was surprised he would give up just because of those side-effects.
"I didn't know that would happen. None of the Princesses ever reacted when I stole their light."
"You kidnap girls often then?" She found herself snapping. He tried to shake his head, then seemed to realize how stupid that was while it was pressed against the ground.
"No. Just you."
She couldn't read his voice. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"...Do you feel better?" He asked in confusion.
Light, he was going to be the death of her. And he wouldn't even need his keyblade to do it.
"If you had others to take light from, why kidnap me?"
A million words questions were wrapped up in that single one. Why did you dance with me? Why did you tell me I was beautiful and skip rocks with me and stare at the stars? Why did you write that letter and escape the castle with me instead of capturing me again?
The more she thought about it, the less it made sense.
"Because, I…" he swallowed, "I was too weak to kill you."
...What?
She let him go. That wasn't the proper reaction after finding out someone had thought about killing you. But her limbs had gone limp at some point after processing his words.
He used the opportunity to roll over onto his side and curl into himself, like he was anticipating a kick to the gut.
"That's why I won't apologize for kidnapping you," he murmured, not meeting her eyes. "It was that or kill you. Xehanort wanted you out of his way. I was stupid to think I could hide you from him forever…"
Her eyes flashed to the old man talking with her friends. If he'd ordered her death, how much worse would he do to them? If Vanitas's words could even be trusted. But it made sense—that might even explain why he'd demanded to take her keyblade when she was a prisoner. Everyone knew that keyblades were the only remnants left behind after a wielder's death.
She leaned back on her heels, holding her arms around her knees.
"Then… why did you? Capture me instead of killing me, I mean?"
From his curled position, he met her eyes. And she had a feeling she knew the answer.
"Because you cared, Aqua. Even if it was fake, even if you only liked Vanitas and hated Void… you made me feel like…"
"Like what?"
"...Like I wasn't a monster," he finished softly, averting his eyes.
"Vanitas…" Light, how was she supposed to feel about him now? Could she really hate him when he was trembling on the ground, baring the part of his heart he hadn't shown as Void or Vanitas?
"That's why I want it to be you to… put an end to me. Not Xehanort. Not Terra, or Ventus… Please, Aqua."
Before she could tell him that no, she wasn't going to kill him—he couldn't make things right if he died; she wouldn't let him out that easily—the ground began to shake. She looked behind her to see a giant plateau rising from the ground towards the heavens. It was eerie, seeing it move but not hearing the rumble, with how her barrier spell blocked sound.
"Void," Vanitas muttered as he sat up.
"What? Are you trying to tell me there's another Void now?"
Just when she thought she couldn't be more confused, his cheeks pinkened.
"No, it's—nevermind. Question time's over. Xehanort's decided to stop waiting."
He sat up and pointed to the top of the plateau, where sure enough, she could make out the tiny silhouette of the hunched man. Standing away from him were Terra and Ven. Cinderella had been left at the base of the pillar, craning her neck to see them.
"I've got to get up there." Aqua scrambled to her feet—only to be stopped by a hand around her wrist.
"Aqua, don't you get it? He's going to kill you."
The earnest pain in his expression clawed at her. Maybe she could at least trust that he didn't want her to die. Normally that would be a low bar to reach, but the fact that he'd disobeyed Xehanort's orders to try to save her… It wasn't enough to make her forgive him. But maybe it was enough not to hate him.
"And if I don't try, he'll… he'll kill my friends." She swallowed and peeled his fingers off of her wrist. "I won't let you stop me."
She stepped back, sure that he would still try something, but he just stared after her with a desperate look in his eye. The half of his mask that remained reflected her own worried expression. If Vanitas, who'd been strong enough to kidnap her, was this terrified of Xehanort… did she really stand a chance?
"Wait," he whispered, reaching out to her again before thinking better of it. His fist clenched at his side. "I won't stop you, but… can I help you?"
"You—what?" She blinked. Was he—after everything he'd done to her—
He shrugged. "If you don't kill me, Xehanort's going to. I might as well give him hell first. And… who knows. Maybe we'll actually win."
He didn't sound confident. More resigned, if anything. But she knew from experience that he was a good fighter; they would have a better chance together. If she trusted him.
Trust was the wrong word. She still didn't trust him, but she could tolerate him. For the sake of her friends.
"...Alright." She nodded, hoping she wouldn't regret this. "We can take my glider—"
She cut off when she heard a bloodcurdling scream. Aqua spun, and her blood ran cold.
Vanitas had held her up for too long.
She was too late.
Ven was falling from the plateau.
A/N: I hope this reveal was satisfying! It was kind of surreal writing it after building up to it for so long.