Chapter 11 Love is a Four Letter Word
"What do you make of it Master Eraqus?" Aqua asks her teacher over breakfast the next morning.
Master Eraqus leans back in his chair sipping his coffee slowly. His two older students had just relived the events of the night before which he had evidently slept through. He collects his thoughts and speaks carefully to his patient apprentices respectively waiting for his conclusions. "It seems to me that Ventus is finally opening up to us," Master Eraqus says. "He finally feels safe enough here to let his guard down. This boy Tay who died was so special to him that it isn't surprising that his death affected him so much. It must be one of the sources of Ventus' anger." Master Eraqus pauses as a new thought comes to mind. "I do not think Tay was the one who would hurt Ventus, did the two of you get a different impression?"
Terra and Aqua both shake their heads. Terra says, "From what Ven said, Tay cared about him a lot. I don't think Tay was the one."
"He wasn't."
Ven walks into the kitchen making the other three jump. They stare at Ven waiting for him to elaborate, but he just ignores them going to the pantry and coming back with a box of Lucky Charms. In the silence, he makes himself a heaping bowl of cereal and sits next to Terra digging in right away. The silence stretches on until Ven is just swirling the final soggy dregs of his breakfast around in his bowl.
"His name is Keric."
"The one who used to hurt you?" Master Eraqus asks softly. Ven nods.
"You said his name before," Aqua says her brow furrowed as she tries to remember. "Didn't you say he's a prince?"
Again Ven nods. "He's a lot of things."
"What do you mean by that?" Terra asks.
"Nothing," Ven says. "It doesn't matter. He's back on Carinol and I'm here. What happened is in the past and I just want to forget it all."
Terra throws his arm around Ven's shoulder. "Yeah, like I said, this is a whole new chapter for you. Leave all your old fears behind because I swear that Keric guy will never hurt you again as long as I'm around."
"Thanks Terra," Ven says with a small smile.
Aqua stands and picks up Ven's empty bowl taking it to the sink. When she returns Master Eraqus changes the topic saying, "For lessons today, Terra, Aqua I want you two to go for an endurance run." Both Terra and Aqua groan and make a face. Master Eraqus chooses to ignore this and continues, "Run the trail to the waterfall and back."
"What about me?" Ven asks.
"I am going to teach you how to summon your keyblade glider," Master Eraqus tells him and watches with amusement as the young boy's face splits into a wide grin.
"Really? That's awesome! Let's go!" He scrambles to his feet and runs out of the kitchen. Laughing the others follow in his eager footsteps as he races ahead of them.
"I guess he really is changing," Terra says with a smile. Aqua's smile fades into a look of deep thought. "What's up?" Terra asks her.
"Its just...I don't want to push him, but there is still a lot he isn't telling us," Aqua replies.
"Give him time Aqua," Master Eraqus says. "For now, let him be the happy kid he always should have been."
Aqua nods thoughtfully as they walk out the front doors and descend the steps meeting Ven and his huge grin at the bottom. "Alright," Master Eraqus says with a suppressed smile. "You two best be off." He claps both Terra and Aqua on the shoulder and, after exchanging a grimace, they start their run heading down the steps and in the direction of the woods beyond the mountains. Master Eraqus looks away as they disappear around a corner and finds himself face to face with Ven who is nearly bouncing up and down in excitement. His eagerness to learn is infectious and the older man is happy to begin.
"Summoning a keyblade glider is easy enough if you focus," Master Eraqus says summoning his keyblade. "Just imagine the feeling of flying as you toss your keyblade. If you can focus on those feelings and only those feelings, then you will be able to transform your keyblade." Master Eraqus pauses for a moment deep in thought and then tosses his keyblade high. As it travels in an arc, it transforms in a flash into a glider similar to Terra's but pure silver in color.
Master Eraqus gestures for Ven to try and Ven pushes all thoughts out of his head except for the memory of flying on the back of Terra's glider. He can picture the ground disappearing far below and remembers his stomach lurching at the change in altitude. Determined and hopeful, he throws his keyblade high and watches expectantly as it curves through its arc. But nothing happens. It crashes down skidding on the stones still stuck in its keyblade form. Disappointed, Ven's shoulders sag.
"Neither Terra nor Aqua got it on their first try," Master Eraqus says encouragingly. "Try again. Learn from the mistakes you made on your first attempt."
Ven summons his keyblade back into his hand and winds up to throw it once more. He sets his thoughts on leaving Carinol on the back of a glider and the feeling of freedom it gave him. With a deft movement he tosses his keyblade once more and once more it returns in the same state it left. Getting frustrated, Ven frowns angrily and tries again. Again he fails and the good mood he had from before has disappeared.
"Only thoughts of flying," Master Eraqus reminds him. "Get rid of all other distractions."
Blowing out a deep sigh of anger, Ven takes a moment to refocus. He goes back to sitting on Terra's glider. He can see the land rising away and feel Terra's hard armor poking him. Without opening his eyes he tosses his keyblade as high as he can. As it leaves his hand, he slowly opens his eyes to see it rise into an arc, and then fall without change for the fourth time. "What the hell am I doing wrong?" Ven asks now extremely annoyed.
Master Eraqus replies in a patient voice, "You must think only about-"
"I know, I know," Ven says cutting him off. "Think about flying. I got it."
Returning his keyblade to his hand once more, Ven concentrates hard to make another attempt. Terra's glider. Rising higher. Freedom. Escape. Flying. Opening his eyes, Ven winds up to throw his keyblade. A sudden breeze blows pulling at his t shirt and whistling in his ears. As he throws his keyblade, he realizes his thoughts have strayed as he could only think about the tendrils if wind dragging through his hair and swirling on his skin. It is too late from him to focus once more on his memory and he shrugs knowing he will just have to try again. But something amazing happens.
His keyblade reaches the highest point of its arc, but instead of falling back to the ground it disappears in a flash. Floating down to him instead is, a skateboard! "Oh hell yeah!" Ven exclaims happily. Rushing forward to examine his glider that looks so much different than the ones the others had. He quickly walks around the floating board with his mouth gaping. It is black with just a few accents of gold. Two wings stick out of the platform he would stand on to keep it balanced during flight and there is a pulsing green light on the end. With a whoop of excitement, Ven jumps onto to his new glider with a grin. It sways slightly under his weight. "Woah!" He shouts waving his arms to regain his balance and keep from toppling over.
"Ventus wait! You don't know how to-"
Ven pays no heed to Master Eraqus' words and instead shoots away on his glider. Or rather, the glider shoots out from under him and he falls on his butt, knocked off by its sudden speed. "Ow..." Ven says wincing as he rubs his sore backside. Master Eraqus walks up next to him looking down with exasperation.
"Ventus, that was foolish," Master Eraqus says sternly. "You could have severely hurt yourself. You must always think before you act or you will end up in situations you are unprepared for."
Ven opens his mouth to reply, but realizes Master Eraqus is right. He hangs his head and says quietly, "I'm sorry. You are right. I shouldn't have been quick to try it."
Out of the corner of his eye Ven sees a movement and he raises his head to see Master Eraqus offering him a hand which Ven takes after a half second pause. Master Eraqus pulls him to his feet and smiles slightly at Ven. "It is quite alright. Now Ventus listen carefully. When riding your keyblade it is important to keep your mind focused. Don't get distracted or you might fall. Now bring your glider back over. I want you to stand on it but don't go anywhere. Just hover and practice balancing..."
...
"Aqua, can we just stop and talk for a moment?"
"Master Eraqus will know if we stop running," Aqua replies not slowing as she glances over at Terra running to her right and half a step behind her.
"So what? He only sent us on this stupid run to keep us busy and out of his hair while he taught Ven," Terra says.
"Training is training Terra," Aqua says. "Master Eraqus was clear in his instructions and we must do what he asks."
"'Cause rules are rules," Terra mumbles under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
They continue to run without speaking. Terra periodically glances over at Aqua, but her eyes never waver from the path ahead of her. Sighing, Terra loses himself in his thoughts and doesn't notice the tree root on the side of the path until it catches on his foot. He crashes down landing hard on his hip and hissing as he grazes his knuckles on a sharp rock.
"Terra!" Aqua immediately comes to his side and helps him sit up ignoring the bright red blush of embarrassment that had crept onto his cheeks. "Are you alright?" She asks as she catches sight of his scratched hand. "Cure." A soft green light falls on Terra's hand and the cuts heal before their eyes.
"Thanks," Terra mumbles slowly getting to his feet. He avoids Aqua's eyes so she won't see his wounded pride.
"Oh my god!" He looks up startled to see Aqua looking at him incredulously. "You did that on purpose!" She shouts giving him a light shove.
"What?"
"You did didn't you! You just wanted to make us stop," Aqua frowns. "And here I was worried about you."
"Oh, yeah," Terra says rubbing the back of his head. "Did that on purpose." He tries to ignore the pulsating pain on his hip where he could feel a bruise forming knowing that now Aqua would give him no sympathy. He steels himself. Now's his chance. "Hey Aqua, since we've stopped already, can we talk?"
Aqua turns away from him, but replies, "What do you want to talk about?"
"I just...want you to know I haven't changed my mind," Terra says
Aqua turns slightly. "About what?"
"I'm going to keep waiting, no matter how long it takes," he says. "I can wait forever. I love you."
Aqua turns around completely facing him once more. She opens her mouth only to snap it shut again. Without another word, she looks away and sprints off down the path towards the castle. "Aqua wait!"
He chases her all the way back to the gardens. He catches hold of her hand as she runs down the mountain path towards the gold training rings below. "Aqua..." She doesn't pull her hand away but she doesn't turn her head either. She just stands completely still and Terra is suddenly at a loss for words.
"Terra...I thought I made it clear. I can't do this," Aqua says through gritted teeth. "You can't say things like that it's...it's..."
"The truth," Terra says in a serious voice. Aqua pulls her hand out of his and turns to face him. Before she can speak he continues. "Can you say that this isn't what you want? That you don't have feelings for me?"
"Terra, of course I have feelings for you, but-"
Terra takes a step closer and her breath catches in her throat. "Are you going to stop me?" He asks her and slowly moves in closer. He is a foot away. Now six inches. Now his lips are just a couple inches from his. His arms are around her, but hers are at her sides. Two inches. Only a two inch gap separates their lips all she has to do is close the gap. She has to think! This is crazy! But her mind is blank. Closer, closer.
"Woah!"
Terra and Aqua jump away from each other each instantly turning a bright shade of red. With heart hammering, they look around for the shout that had startled them, but see nothing.
"Holy shit!"
This time they both look up to see Ven on what must be his new glider. He comes around the side of the mountain wobbling slightly with his arms stretched out for balance. Looking down he spots them craning their necks up at him. "Hey guys! Check it out!" Ven shouts before diving straight down at them. At the last second he pulls up flying just close enough to their heads to make them both duck. Cackling, Ven turns around on his glider and sticks his tongue out at him as he flies back towards where Master Eraqus is.
"Oh god, do you think he saw us," Aqua asks fearfully.
"Nah he didn't," Terra says taking a step towards her. "Not that there was anything to see. We haven't done anything yet." She is still staring off at where Ven had disappeared around the mountain side again. He slowly returns to the position he had been in before and makes her jump slightly when he puts his hands around her again. "Now where were we..."
"St-stop Terra," Aqua stammers turning away. He freezes for a moment before letting his arms drop. She takes a step away and sneaks a look at him. Terra looks sad and a little hurt and she immediately wants nothing more than to jump into his arms and kiss his frown away. But she can't. Aqua always follows the rules and does what is right no matter what her own personal feelings were, and getting involved with Terra is definitely wrong. But, why does he have to be so handsome?! He really isn't making this easy for her. "I'm sorry Terra," she says softly and she really is. "But we have a job to do and I don't think we can be the best keyblade masters if we are in a relationship that is more than friends."
"I think we can," Terra says.
"But how could we focus on the worlds if we were focused on each other."
"C'mon, we can focus on more than one thing at a time."
"But what if we fight? How would be able to keep working together?"
"We fight already Aqua."
"But...it will be different."
"So that's what it is," Terra says looking at her strangely.
"What what is?" Aqua asks confused.
"You're afraid of changing how things are between us now," Terra says and her eyes widen in surprise knowing what he is saying is true. "All your logical reasoning is just to hide that you are just plain scared."
"I'm not scared!"
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
Terra begins to laugh and after a moment Aqua joins in. They laugh at the tension in the air more than anything and a minute later they are both grinning at each other all the uncomfortableness that always hangs around discussions of feelings is gone.
"Alright Aqua, you aren't scared," Terra says in surrender although his tone suggests he isn't convinced.
"And don't you forget it," Aqua says poking him hard in the chest in emphasis.
Terra glances in the direction of the castle. "C'mon we should get back. This is probably our worst time in years. Master Eraqus is going to want an explanation for what kept us."
"At least we can blame it on that stupid fall of yours in the forest," Aqua says as they walk at a brisk pace.
"Haha yeah..." Terra says rubbing the back of his head. "Forgot about that."
They continue to walk in silence neither knowing what to say. Soon they come around the mountain and the castle comes into view. Out front, Ven is still cruising around on his glider while Master Eraqus looks on occasionally shouting out instructions that Terra and Aqua can't hear at this distance. Terra grabs Aqua's arm and pulls her to a stop. She stops, but jerks her arm away shooting a worried glance in Master Eraqus' direction. "Aqua I have one last thing I have to say," Terra says and, a little apprehensive, Aqua gestures for him to continue. "I'm not saying that you are scared, but you don't need to worry. If things were to ever change, the fact that we are best friends, that we are a team, that we always have each other's back, will never change. Ever."
"I-I...thank you," Aqua says. She doesn't wait for him to respond and runs up the last steps that lead to the castle. Terra follows half a second behind. Master Eraqus takes his eyes off Ven to look over as the two of them approach. They stop next to him and he gives them both a frown.
"You two have been out longer than normal, did something happen?"
"Oh...well..." Aqua is at a loss for words still trying to wrap her mind around what Terra had just said to her.
"I took a nasty fall Master," Terra jumps in. "I wasn't watching where I was going and tripped over a tree root."
Master Eraqus nods accepting this excuse. "Well I hoped you learned from your mistake."
"Yes Master."
"Good," Master Eraqus says. Then addressing them both, "I might as well tell you now, tomorrow we are going to visit Master Yen Sid so he can meet Ventus and we can meet his new apprentice."
"Master Yen Sid has a new-" Terra is cut off by Ven's shout from above.
"I get to see another world!"
Ven's excitement unfortunately causes him to forget that he is on his glider. He takes half a step forward and loses his balance on the board. He teeters on the edge. "Wah...ah...oh...woah!" He windmills his arms trying to regain his balance, but he can't. With a final shout of surprise, he falls ten feet through the air before landing right on top of Terra knocking the older boy to the ground.
"Uhh..." Ven groans trying to get up as Terra struggles to sit up underneath him.
"Get off Ven," Terra grumbles pushing Ven off him.
"Oh fuck, sorry Terra," Ven apologizes as he straightens up.
"Ventus!" Master Eraqus face has darkened. "How many times have I told you not to use that word?" Ven just shrugs in response reaching down to help Terra to his feet. Master Eraqus pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a calming breath. "Ventus, you could have hurt yourself. You must focus on what you are doing when you are using your glider. It's just lucky that this time Terra was there to break your fall."
"Oh yeah. Lucky," Terra mumbles rubbing his hip that had been sore from his fall in the woods and is now hurting worse.
Choosing to ignore Terra's comment, Master Eraqus continues, "If you want to be allowed to visit other worlds Ventus you must not be so easily distracted or you will end up in bad situations. Do you understand?"
"Yes Master Eraqus," Ven says putting his hands behind his head and leaning back. "Sorry again Terra." Terra reaches down and messes up Ven's hair.
"It's ok kid."
"As I was saying," Master Eraqus says. "We will leave tomorrow for the Mysterious Tower. Master Yen Sid's new apprentice is named Mickey and he is curious to meet you three so be on your best behavior." Master Eraqus' last statement seemed to be directed at only Ven. "I'll leave the three of you to continue training. Terra, Aqua, help Ven master his glider and don't let him hurt himself."
Leaving his apprentices, Master Eraqus walks back to the castle to send Yen Sid a letter confirming that they will be there the next day. Behind him he can hear Ven's indignant shouts at something the others had said and the subsequent laughs of all three. He smiles, happy that Ven has finally settled into his new home.
…
High up and in the shadows, Xehanort watches with a smirk as the three keyblade apprentices chase each other around on their gliders. He had witnessed an interesting moment between the two older ones. A weakness he could exploit. With smirk he closed his eyes and melted away into the shadows behind him.
Stop it Xehanort you are sooo creepy! Spying on Terra and Aqua's almost kiss. Too bad Ven being Ven messed it up.
Oh well still love ya Ven!
Next up is the Mysterious Tower and Mickey. Does Master Yen Sid have any insight into Ven's past and his importance? ...Maaaaybe :)
Fun Fact: My softball varsity team beat our rival for the first time in 11 years! Take that bitches! Playoffs here we come!