Yay, a chapter that is not so angsty! I knew I could pull it off sooner or later.
Song is Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine.
Enjoy!
-x-
Cosmic Love
-x-
A falling star fell from your heart
And landed in my eyes
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them
And now it's left me blind
"Terra, Ven. Just wait for me a little longer, okay?" Aqua whispered to her armor as it pulled Terra to the safety of the light. She floated down and down, farther into the darkness. If Terra could save Ven from his comatose state then the two of them would be able to save her. She knew they could The darkness grew around her and pressed in on her, the inky blackness blocking all her vision. She closed her eyes and fell.
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
She walked for what seemed like ages. She walked on without need for food or water, she just walked with Master Keeper held limply in her grasp. It felt like there was no end to the path; would she go on forever? No, she decided firmly, Terra and Ven would come for her. They'd save her. They'd save her and then they would go home. The three of them would be together again, just like they promised.
A single tear fell down her cheek. Why had things turned out like this? What had they done to deserve such a fate? She had defended the light all her life, fought on the side of good. How did she end up like this?
Aqua... She jumped, Master Keeper at the ready. Aqua. Her name floated by her in just a whisper. "Who's there?" She demanded.
Then she heard it.
And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat
I tried to find the sound
But then it stopped and I was in the darkness
So darkness I became
Ba-dump, ba-dump. What was that? Aqua thought. It sounded remarkably like a heartbeat. Ba-dump. Her eyes closed, concentrating on that little beat. Where was it coming from? An image of bright blue eyes and blond hair flickered past her and she gasped, "Ven?"
But nothing, the heartbeat stopped. "Ven!" She cried. Please give me a sign, she silently begged. Aqua held tighter onto Master Keeper, "please show me." She whispered before bounding off into the darkness to find the heart that was Ven's.
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out.
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of you heart.
She saw the white before she saw the rest of him. Her mouth dropped open the shock and partial horror. The figure before her wore the suit that Vanitas had worn but the coloring was white and black and the unversed symbol was on the helmet. Was this Vanitas? Or Ven?
"Ven?" She questioned uncertainly.
The figure noticed her and slowly walked towards her. Her muscles stiffened in anticipation but she made no move to attack or defend herself. The person stopped and the mask receded.
It was Vanitas. "No." He simply said.
"You!" Aqua shouted and went into her defensive stance.
But Vanitas made no move to summon his keyblade, he just stared at her with dull, gold eyes. "You are Aqua?"
"Of course I am!"
"I remember you."
Her stance relaxed slightly; he remembered her? "We've fought several times."
"And you beat me," he took another step closer. "I remember admiring your battle skills."
Aqua stared, what was he going on about? Why had he made no move to attack her? Why wouldn't she attack him? I should leave, I need to find Ven.
I took the stars from my eyes and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back.
Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump.
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
What? The heartbeats were coming from Vanitas? "Not possible," she whispered.
"I remember that you're the one who keeps making it beat." Vanitas continued. He held a hand over his heart, "you're the one that gave me reasons... for everything." He looked at her and gold met blue.
So I stayed in the darkness with you.
"What happened to you?" Aqua said against her better judgment.
"You." Vanitas's eyes burned, "you showed me the light, you burned me. I shouldn't even exist anymore but I exist because you kindled a fire, Aqua. You gave me a reason to live."
Her mind spun, what—how—did she do? Scenes from their previous battles went through her head, did she always think that he was holding back on her after their first meeting in Radiant Garden? Didn't she think there was something more to the boy in the mask? Her hand touched his cheek, it was cold but there was some warmth. Vanitas reached up and gently grasped her hand with his own. "You did everything to me, Aqua." He murmured.
Ba-dump.
He wasn't Ven. He wasn't Terra. But he was still a person. If circumstances were different, how would she feel towards this boy? Would she befriend him? Yes, she probably would. She probably would have even made a Wayfinder for him.
Ba-dump.
"Let me stay with you."
Ba-dump.
For the first time ever, a genuine smile form on his face. "Yes," he agreed. "Stay with me."