[Mirror Image]

[Vanitas X Sora, vague Vanitas X Ventus]

This reflection is not his own.

Each time Sora gazes into his mirror lately, he sees himself like he should – same hairstyle, same jaw line, same irises, same nose, same cheekbones – and yet it is not him.

This boy in the mirror…

He is more muscular than Sora. He is the same age, but his lips sneer and his eyes glare, as if he were more experienced, more mature. And his hair; it's as black as burnt wood, as black as the night, as black as tar. His eyes haunt the most: they are tinted a bright gold, molten amber inflamed with the sparkle of gold jewelry and the unforgiving coldness of a distant winter sun.

Sora can't escape his dark twin. His black-haired, golden-eyed self is in every mirror, every window, and every shiny, reflective surface.

And the mirror image can speak. It grins wickedly and has a deep, alluring, nearly expressionless version of Sora's own voice. It taunts, "You didn't fully destroy me, Ventus. And now I've found you. Your adorable little vessel that looks almost identical to me. What, you couldn't live without me? You missed me so much that you decided to find your heart a temporary host that resembles me?"

And Sora shudders, confused and afraid and not wanting to be sucked into his dark mirror image's charm, and yet he slowly is.

"Fine, Venny-boy, don't say anything. I'll just have fun with the Other Me instead." And his gaze goes from staring into Sora's chest at his heart to looking Sora directly in the eye, gold meeting blue, fire meeting water, sun meeting sky. "Hello, Sora," he almost purrs, and he presses one hand against the glass. "Ventus probably wasn't kind enough to open his heart to yours and share memories. So you have no idea who I am, do you?"

Sora shakes his head, his eyes wide in shock, his body frozen in a gape at the mirror in his bedroom. He had no idea another person was even in his heart, let alone –

The black-haired version of Sora sighs and shakes his head. "Too bad. That makes me feel silly, because now I have to introduce myself." He looks up, face serious, and leans in close to the glass. "My name is Vanitas."

"Van… itas…" Sora sounds out breathlessly, fear seizing his lungs and squeezing lightly. Vanitas nods, another eerie smile breaking out on his lips.

"Yes, that's right. And you know, I like you, Sora. You're a big hero, but you're a hero with a smidgen of Darkness inside of you. Almost… Heartless-esque. An anti-Sora, you might say. And even a touch of Nobody. You're like a funhouse of special abilities, aren't you?" And he laughs crazily in Sora's face, his dark chuckle rebounding as if from inside the mirror, a glass prison. "Funny. You're like Ventus, except without the ability to make a χ-Blade. But still, you are very unique. I wonder: what makes you the 'chosen one'? Why is your destiny so intricate?" He scowls, his fingers squeaking against the glass until they form into a fist, and he brings his backward only to slam it against the mirror in anger. "Why do you deserve to succeed all the time? Why is your existence so valuable?"

Sora curls into a ball and covers his head with his hands, his eyes squeezing shut. "I don't know, I don't know! Leave me alone, Vanitas! Please!"

"No…" Vanitas says, panting a little to quell his rage. "No, I don't want to leave. I don't want to stop existing, to go back to where I was. I like it here. You frustrate the hell out of me, but I like you, too. I liked Ventus, even if I still hold a grudge on his for trying to end me." He smiles suddenly, and reaches out to stroke the glass, as if he could touch Sora. "I'll be tame. I'm sorry. I'll be civil and tame, if you let me stay, Sora." And he offers his most innocent look, but Sora isn't sure if he's buying it.

Still, Sora feels compelled to comply. He shakily approaches the mirror and lines up his hand with Vanitas's. For a moment, he can feel warmth coming from the other side. Then, only the cool touch of a looking glass. "A-alright," the brunet agrees quietly. "I'll let you stay, Vanitas. Just… don't become furious again."

Vanitas smiles as softly as he's capable. "Oh, I swear to it, Sora," he says quite convincingly this time.

Sora knows that it's a lie.