a/n: yay for fast updates! you guys will most likely get one a day tbh, and there's about 15 chapters in total which means 10 more after this!
a-far-off-memory
The air was tense as the group returned to the living room and set their bags down. Zexion was trying to calm Demyx, who was nearing hyperventilation, Vanitas was brooding in the corner, Axel was nervously stoking the flames, Ven and Roxas had resorted to holding hands, Sora and Kairi were huddled together, and Riku was pacing. Naminé simply sat, looking calmest out of all of them, clearly deep in thought as she watched the flames in the fireplace.
Suddenly, Riku's pacing stopped. "Riku?" Sora questioned, looking up at his boyfriend.
"Earlier, when we were looking around...you heard something in the basement too, didn't you?" the silver-haired teen asked, aqua eyes intense.
Slowly, Sora nodded. He looked around. "Did anyone go downstairs?" he inquired.
"Ven and I only went upstairs," Vanitas answered, making his way over.
"The rest of us stayed here," Zexion added, hugging Demyx tightly.
A chill went through everyone at that. And then Ven spoke up.
"When I was up in the attic...I saw something. A shadow of some sort. I told myself it was just a raccoon or something, but...it was too big. It was something else," he said slowly, his free hand fiddling with his shirt while his other hand clutched Roxas' harder.
"Guys, stop," Kairi whispered, violet eyes shining with tears. "I don't wanna hear this stuff."
Axel sighed. "From now on, no one goes anywhere alone. If you go anywhere, you go with at least two people. Got it?"
Silently, everyone nodded. Not even Vanitas had anything to say to that, having gripped the reality of what was happening.
"We aren't alone in this house," Naminé stated firmly, folding her hands on her lap. "But we'll be okay as long as nobody does anything stupid. No heroics, okay? We need to stick together."
"What we need to do is figure out a way to get out of here," Vanitas muttered, scowling. "I don't wanna be a sitting duck—I wanna find out what the hell is keeping us here so that we can leave." It was easy to tell that he was struggling with the whole situation; after all, it was he who had most adamantly denied that the house had anything wrong with it.
"Well we can't just rush into things, because that would be stupid," Sora murmured, raking a hand through his hair. "We need some sort of plan."
"How can we plan when we don't even know what we're up against?" Axel pointed out as he stood, anger seeping into his tone. "We're fucking clueless right now. We should have just stayed home!"
"Oh don't even," Riku threatened, moving closer to him and jabbing him in the chest with his finger. "This whole thing was your goddamn idea, Axel. I didn't even want to come!"
"Then why did you?" the redhead asked, his voice a growl. "No one forced you to, Riku."
"I came for Sora," he bit back, aqua eyes burning. "And you put the idea in his head, so don't even say that we should have stayed home when this was all your idea!"
Axel shoved him hard, making him stumble back. "Shut up, Riku! Just shut up!"
Riku smirked, crossing his arms. "What? Can't handle the truth?"
A snarl left Axel as he pounced, tackling Riku to the floor. The others were stunned into silence, watching as the two best friends grappled, until Sora finally screamed at them to stop.
The brunet let go of Kairi and ran over, trying to pry them apart. He was then joined by Vanitas, Roxas and Ven, and the four of them succeeded in pulling them apart.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?!" Roxas demanded, blue eyes burning.
"You two are best friends!" Sora added, cobalt eyes hard. "You shouldn't be fighting each other like this!"
"He has no right to complain!" Riku snarled, fighting to free himself from Sora and Ven's hold.
"And he has no right to blame this shit on me!" Axel spat, fire burning in his emerald eyes. "I didn't force anyone to come here!"
"Both of you just shut up!" Vanitas exclaimed, golden eyes darting between the two. "You're both being dickheads right now, and this is the last thing we need to deal with!"
"Let's just agree on the fact that none of us have the right to complain because we all made the decision to come here," Ven said calmly, ignoring Riku's struggles. "I get that we're all a little frustrated, but we can't fight. We need to all stick together."
This stopped both Riku and Axel from struggling. Cautiously, they were released, and then their eyes met.
"Ventus is right," Riku murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "We shouldn't be fighting because we're both frustrated." He took a deep breath. "Sorry, Ax. You're my best friend, and I...I shouldn't be putting this all on you."
Axel sighed, scrubbing his face with his hand. "I'm sorry too, man. I love you, buddy."
They embraced then, and all the tension dissipated.
"We do need a plan though," Naminé sighed, leaning her head on her hand. "Vanitas is right—we're sitting ducks right now."
"What I need is to find somewhere to pee," Zexion muttered, laying his head on Zexion's chest. "I don't suppose anyone came across any kind of bathroom?"
"We did," Riku told him. "It was like, the third or fourth door on the right, I think."
The slate-haired teen looked up at his boyfriend. "Help me get there?"
"O-okay," Demyx stuttered, clearly not thrilled about leaving the room. "But someone else needs to come with us then."
Everyone was silent for a moment, until Axel finally sighed. "I'll go with you guys, I guess. Let's just go and get back quick, okay?"
Both of them nodded. Demyx stood, then reached down and lifted Zexion into his arms. "We'll be right back, then," he mumbled, heading toward the doorway.
Roxas wrapped his arms around Axel's neck, standing on his tiptoes to give the redhead a kiss. "Hurry back," he said softly, hugging him.
"I will. Don't worry, Rox," he replied, offering a smile. He kissed the blond again before disentangling himself, taking his hand and squeezing it once before letting go and following Demyx amd Zexion out.
Roxas bit his lip nervously, watching them disappear down the hall. "I don't like this..." he murmured, wrapping his arms around himself.
Ven stood to hug his twin. "Don't worry, they'll be okay," he told him firmly, rubbing his back.
"What if they don't come back, Ven? I...I can't lose him..." Roxas whispered, burying his face in his brother's shoulder.
"Rox, don't think like that," Sora said gently, moving to join the hug. "We have to believe that they'll come back."
"Yeah, no need to get yourself all worked up," Kairi added, voice soft.
"I guess," Roxas sighed.
But then five minutes passed, and they hadn't returned. The group started to worry then—what was taking so long?
Five minutes became ten. Ten became fifteen.
Finally, after twenty minutes, Roxas snapped. "I need to go look for them," he choked out, blue eyes filled with moisture. "I-I can't just wait here any longer. They might need help."
"Well you're not going alone," Riku said firmly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'll come with you."
"Me too," Sora volunteered.
Riku shook his head, aqua eyes soft. "I need to know that you're here, safe. Please, Sora, stay here," he whispered, reaching out to lace their fingers together. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"But Riku—"
Riku lifted a finger to his lips, silencing him. "No, Sora." Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to the brunet's lips. "I'll be okay, but I need to not worry about something happening to you. So please, for me, just stay."
Naminé stood, placing a hand on Sora's back and smiling gently at him. "I'll go with them, Sora. I'll make sure nothing happens."
Sora's eyes filled with tears, while Kairi stood and exclaimed, "No! Nami, you can't!"
"Yeah Nams, let me go," Ven offered, moving to stand beside Roxas.
"No," Roxas said quietly. "No, I won't lose you and Axel. Stay here, Ven."
"Roxas!" Ven gasped, blue eyes wide. "I can take care of myself!"
"I know, but I'd feel better if you stayed. C'mon Ven, just stay. Please?" the older twin pleaded, pain in his blue eyes. "I need to know that you'll be okay."
"Roxy...we do everything together. This is no different!" Ven protested.
Roxas sighed. "Vanitas, make sure he stays please?"
The golden-eyed teen walked over and firmly took Ven by the arms. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to him. I promise," he told the blond with a nod.
Roxas breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
Riku leaned down and kissed Sora one last time before heading toward the door. Kairi stood to hug Naminé, tears slipping silently down her cheeks, before the blonde sister gently pulled away. She smiled at her younger sister and brushed her red bangs out of her face, wiping the tears away before kissing her forehead and joining Riku.
Roxas reached out and grasped Ven's hand, giving it a firm squeeze. "We'll be back with the others," he promised, letting go and joining the other two. "Stay safe, guys."
Sora and Kairi clutched each other, both crying. Vanitas was now hugging Ven, who was doing his best not to cry.
"You guys be safe," Vanitas replied. "I'll take care of everyone here."
Riku nodded. "Thanks, Vani." His eyes locked with Sora's. "I love you, Sor."
A sob left the brunet. Riku's words sounded far too much like a goodbye for his liking... "I love you too, 'Ku," he choked out, feeling Kairi clutch him tighter.
"Stick together, no matter what," Namine told them, her expression serious. "No more splitting up."
"Don't worry," Kairi told her older sister, sniffling.
The three left the room then, and Ven broke down. Kairi and Sora moved to the couch, crying into each other's shoulders, while Vanitas gently pulled Ven toward a chair and sat, pulling the blond onto his lap and just hugging him.
"I don't want to be here," he sobbed, clutching Vanitas' shirt. "I just want everyone back here and I want us all to go home!"
"Shh," Vanitas hushed him, rubbing his back. He pressed a kiss to the blond spikes, burying his face in Ven's hair. "I know, Ventus. I do too. I know you're scared—and you know what? I am too. I'm not gonna try and deny it any longer. But we gotta be strong, and we gotta be smart. We will make it through this night, and so will everyone else. Got it?"
Slowly, tear-filled blue eyes looked up and met gold. He saw sincerity there, and some of the fear in his heart eased. His head tilted ever so slightly in a nod, and then he hiccupped as the tears began to subside.
"Don't cry anymore, okay?" Vanitas murmured, brushing away the tears with his thumb. "You're too pretty to cry."
A strangled laugh escaped Ven at that. "I'm a boy. I'm not pretty," he whispered, the smallest of smiles on his lips.
"There's that smile," Vanitas said, amiling that genuine smile again. His hand moved to Ven's chin, and he grasped it gently. "I think that boys can be pretty. And you happen to be very pretty, Ventus."
The blond blushed, wanting to divert his his but finding himself unable to. "I guess I'll take that as a compliment, then," he murmured, lips parting slightly as Vanitas' face neared his.
"As you should," the black-haired teen replied before slowly kissing those parted lips. It was something he'd been wanting to do, though he'd denied it to himself. After all, Ventus was so pure and good, and...well, Vanitas knew that he was a dick. Xion had told him as much when she broke up with him and moved away. He hadn't wanted to do anything to ruin Ven's goodness, but seeing him so upset...he could resist it no longer.
Ven responded to the kiss just as slowly, his brain going into overdrive. Vanitas was kissing him. Kissing him. It had been his move.
Vanitas tasted like some kind of forbidden fruit, that Ven knew he shouldn't have but wanted nonetheless. It was an intoxicating taste, one that he wanted more and more of. And so his lips parted further in a clear invitation, one that Vanitas immediately accepted.
Their tongues met almost tentatively. Ven was shocked at how unsure of himself Vanitas seemed; it was quite...endearing, really. It was cute that he was nervous.
But slowly, the black haired teen regained that confidence that he was known for, pushing against Ven's tongue more firmly. The blond reveled in the feeling, slowly surrendering and allowing Vanitas' tongue full entry to his mouth.
It was when they heard Sora and Kairi giggle that they remembered that they weren't alone. Breaking apart in embarrassment, they both looked to the couch to find two tear-stained faces turned their way, small smiles on their lips.
"It's about time," Sora said with a quiet chuckle as he wiped the tears from his face. "I was waiting for this to happen."
"I think we all were," Kairi added, choking out a laugh. "It was so obvious that you both liked each other, but neither of you realized it."
Ven buried his face in Vanitas' chest in embarrassment, while a scarlet blush colored the older teen's cheeks.
"Oh man, this is a first!" Sora pointed out, smile growing to a grin. "Vanitas, blushing? I didn't think that such a thing was possible!"
"Shut up," his brother muttered, thoroughly embarrassed.
"Oh, come on, Van. We're happy for you two," Kairi told him with a soft smile. She wiped her tears away, smile growing. "You two were like, made for each other."
Ven lifted his head from Vanitas' chest then, smiling and blushing as their eyes locked. He felt as if his heart would burst from happiness when the smile was returned, the older teen leaning down so that their smiles met in a gentle kiss.
"When we get outta here...will you go on a date with me?" Vanitas asked softly, blush intensifying. It was so cute and out of character that Ven let out a giggle.
"I thought you'd never ask," he replied, laying his head on Vanitas' shoulder. "I'd love to."
Sora had never seen his brother smile as wide as he had in that moment.
a/n: hah gaaaaay
what do you guys think happened to demyx, zexion and axel? you'll find out soon, i promise :3
predictions of what's going to happen next? i'd love to hear what you guys think!
until next time! and don't forget to check out my other stories!
afom out~