Vanitas groaned as he woke up to the irritating sound of his 6am alarm, his head was somewhat pounding from the night before. He sat up in bed with an audible grunt and pinched the bridge of his nose. He used to be able to drink a lot more with alot less repercussions in his 20s but waking up the day after a night of heavier drinking nowadays was just one of the many signs he was getting older. He reached for a water bottle off the nightstand next to the bed, and took a swig of the water. "I feel like shit." He muttered to no one.

Wait, to no one? He looked to the other side of the bed where Xion was sleeping soundly. Well, he couldn't actually see her. Her body was cocooned underneath the white duvet with not an inch of skin showing. She looked more like a human caterpillar under the plush material. At least she didn't try to wake up with him this morning, though he couldn't help but briefly wonder why. That's when a slight pang of guilt twitched in his chest and he remembered throwing the bottle. He hated his wife, sure, but he didn't want to be that guy. He didn't want to feel like she drove him to that. Still, he just shook off the small bit of guilt for what he said, since he truly had felt like everything he had felt in the moment was justified.

Vanitas instead took advantage of the fact Xion was not 'up his ass' today and got ready in peace for once. The hungover man enjoyed a nice hot shower to help his headache before getting ready for work. He then went to the kitchen with a big breakfast in mind to make up for the fact he didn't have dinner the night before. He wondered in passing if he would be able to stomach the meal but he was starving. He would take the risk against the potential nausea thanks to the previous night's bad decisions. Vanitas made himself eggs, chicken, bacon, and english muffins to fill his appetite; something about the act of cooking in peace started to make him feel better. He even took his time plating it. Vanitas was eager to finally enjoy a meal alone, he supposed. Not like they would eat together all that often. Xion rarely cooked and honestly, his own cooking was better than anything Xion had ever made him. In turn he himself never cooked for her unless it was a special occasion or she pestered him enough. He was glad she wasn't there to steal little nibbles off his plate for once.

As he sat at the table and ate he noticed the broken glass and spilled wine was all cleaned up, not even a remnant stain remained on the wall. That made sense to him, as Xion was obsessive about cleaning the house. It was to the point it was all that he would see her doing when he initially got home from work-or really, the bar. He just figured she didn't have much else to do all day as she was excessively boring. She didn't work as her inheritance paid her side of the bills, and she seemingly had no more aspirations after they got married so she didn't attend college courses either. While she claimed to have all sorts of hobbies Vanitas never saw her actually doing any of them…she was only ever cleaning and clinging to his arm. Though, if he were to actually recall anything that she claimed she did he wouldn't be able to tell as he only pretended to listen to appease her.

Vanitas began to think that despite yesterday's horribleness, just maybe there was a silver lining. Perhaps Xion was actually angry or scared of him enough to leave him alone for the day. He briefly reconsidered again if he wanted to be the guy whose wife was afraid of him but once again concluded that the label was just too distasteful for his liking. Still, it might have bought him some peace and quiet for the morning. He would just enjoy it now and Vanitas promised himself he'd shape up moving forward.

…

When he was done with his breakfast, he cleaned his plate and headed to the living room. For once he wasn't in a rush out the door deliberately to avoid someone. He took a seat on the couch, and looked around at the room before he decided to look at his phone. It was a strange occurrence not feeling like he wanted to leave right away, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. The room was still and eerily quiet, it was a similar feeling to when he was a kid and he would wake up before his parents did; except, he certainly wasn't hoping she would stir anytime soon. Yet, there was a certain chill in the air that Vanitas could sense, something about the silence was oddly heavy despite its charm.

Mirroring the morning, his day at work went without so much as a peep from the wife. He was used to numerous texts from her throughout the day of things like unfunny jokes, references and memes he didn't quite get, or just attempts to start conversations while he was trying to focus. It would mostly just be emojis and texts or pictures attempting to be cute with little 'I miss yous' attached. On the rare occasion she may even have attempted something a tiny bit more salacious, though never anything too over the top as she was a little too boring for that. However, today it was absolutely barren in his notification bar. For once he felt like he could actually stay on track with his tasks without having to turn his phone off. His coworkers even noticed a bit more pip in his step. They couldn't even tell he woke up somewhat hungover that morning.

After work he stopped by the bar again and had a decent time without anyone bugging him, even with the fact that Kairi happened to be there again and she shot him dirty looks whenever he gazed her way. Yeah yeah, point taken. He thought, but he wouldn't let it ruin his mood again. Actually, he didn't think there was anything that could dampen the day for him at this point. He knew, however, when he inevitably returned home his 'little vacation' would be over.

He stood on his front porch and he huffed as he mentally prepared himself, just as he usually did. He figured Xion would be extra emotional or clingy from not speaking to him all day, he imagined she would glob onto him like glue until it was time for bed. Yet surprisingly, when he went into the house it was absolutely silent. He looked down the hall a little, where he expected Xion to come rushing down to greet him. Instead he saw an empty living room, an empty kitchen, and no indication that anyone was even home.

"Xion?" He called out with a raised eyebrow. He took his shoes off and had a brief look around. It didn't look like she was there, but her stuff wasn't gone either so it was not as if she had finally left him. "Babe?" He tried, thinking a pet name would lure her out. He put his hands on his hips as it slowly dawned on him that perhaps…she really wasn't there. She was usually always home around this time even if she walked to the food shop nearby, she would always tell him first. As he made his rounds again through the kitchen he happened to spot the back of her short black hair just out the back window above the sink. She was sitting on the deck outside. A bit puzzled, he opened the sliding door and made his way out onto the wooden terrace.

Xion sat on the swinging chair attached to the overhang roof reading a novel. She wore some casual blue shorts and an old baseball tee, nothing of note that would suggest she went out anywhere. So why hadn't she text him all day or come when he called?

"Xion." He said again, crossing his arms and leaning against the open sliding door frame. Xion made no movement to look at him or turn around. After a few seconds he uncrossed his arms and took a few steps forward into her field of view. She finally looked up and acknowledged him, yet, she didn't say anything. She didn't look irritatingly cheerful and jump out of her seat to hug him, nor did she look frightened from the night before. She looked fine…if not utterly indifferent.

Vanitas gave a suspicious look and tilted his head. "Is...everything alright, Xion?"

Xion's blank look livens into a face of confusion before she reached towards her ear and removed what looked to be a hidden earbud. She was listening to music in her earphones for once, and not super loud on the living room speakers like she normally did. He realized she had not even heard him calling for her, "Umn…yes..I'm perfectly fine. Why?" She shrugged.

Vanitas had to admit that something so mundane shocked him, as it just wasn't her style. "You are? I'm just confused, that's all...Are you okay?" He asked, assuming that she may have been upset from the previous night-even if it went against her usual MO- and that was the cause for this weird attempt at a cold shoulder.

She seemed to pause for a moment before shrugging, putting her earbud back in, and continuing to read. She, effectively, tuned him out. To Vanitas that meant the answer was likely 'yes she was upset', but still he had not seen her act so timid around him in quite a few years.

Vanitas stood there awkwardly for a few more moments before eventually walking back inside. He was surprised by this strange turn of events. Was this her shrugging him off? Was she finally over the act of groveling everytime he did something wrong? Xion has always been quick to forgive him, and the few times she wasn't it only took a small gesture to get back into her good graces. Not that he wantedher forgiveness but this weird behavior of hers had got him thinking maybe throwing the bottle was worse than he initially thought. A part of him wondered why he should care but he already knew he had crossed a line he wasn't okay with. He decided that maybe when he made dinner for himself tonight, he should also serve some for her…since she loved eating with him and would practically force him to eat with her. Or, she would hover nearby when he did eat alone.

"Gahh...It couldn't be that bad though, right? I mean, she always forgives me." He said, ignoring the slightest guilt that tried creeping back into his head.

Vanitas went up to their bedroom and changed out of his work clothes into a pair of joggers and a tank top. He thought about what to make for dinner as a part of his gesture to smooth things over, maybe something she liked? Vanitas wasn't particularly interested in necessarily going out of his way or apologizing, but he felt like it was the least he could do to at least acknowledge his resolve. At the same time, he chastised himself for even giving two shits when she should've known better than to bother him when he was obviously in a mood. Regardless of whether he made any attempt at all, he knew Xion would come back around at any moment.

He went back into the kitchen to prepare for dinner. After some time had passed, as he prepped some vegetables and boiled some water for pasta, Xion slipped back in from the patio. His golden orbs followed her as she walked past him and into the livingroom and up the stairs. Vanitas cocked his head, perplexed that he didn't receive so much as a glance. She didn't even look slightly interested in what he was making. Whatever… She'll get hungry eventually. He thought to himself.

It was another hour before he heard her come back down, Vanitas was already well almost done eating by that point. There was a plate in front of him he served for her that was lukewarm and would likely have to be microwaved, but she would have to do it herself. Suddenly, Vanitas's nose twinged from the scent of perfume and he looked up as Xion stood before him under the archway leading into the kitchen. He nearly dropped his fork after seeing the way she was dressed; a black sleeveless crop top with a mesh neckline and matching mini skirt set that he had never seen before, a leather jacket she wore once, fishnet stockings that were definitely brand new, and dangly silver earrings he bought for her on their anniversary MANY years ago when they still did anything big for it. She looked dressed to be 10 years younger and on her way to the nightclub in a brand new outfit. It was jarring to say the least.

"I'm heading out Vanitas, I'll be back later." She nodded at him before turning on her heel and heading for the door. Vanitas picked his jaw up off the floor and stood up from the dining table, following after her. She sat on the storage bench next to the front door and laced up a pair of black boots. Something about the sight sort of ticked Vanitas off.

"You're leaving? Where are you going?" He demanded to know, absolutely bewildered by what was happening.

"Out with Aqua and the girls…You know who they are." Xion replied rather casually and stood up. She checked herself out in the standing mirror on the wall, and once she felt sufficient she reached for a small purse and took out her phone.

Vanitas felt annoyed, the one time he was trying to extend some sort of olive branch and she wasn't even going to stick around for it. Also, what was with the skimpy outfit? She never wore clothes like that, in fact, it was news to him that she owned anything of the sort. Vanitas watched as Xion's eyes remained glued to her phone before opening the door to leave. She didn't even say goodbye, attempt to hug him, or pester him for kisses.

Something in Vanitas majorly stirred, be it curiosity or outrage, he was tempted to follow her out. "Wait...Xion!" He called after her. He wanted to know what was going on, so he trailed her out onto the lawn. He watched Aqua's car pull up with a few of Xion's friends he was familiar with…and Kairi. He stopped in his tracks as they made eye contact.

"Y..yes? Vanitas? What is it?" Xion asked, pausing and turning back to him. Her nickname for him was absent, but she looked at him with genuine concern in her eyes. She seemed curious as to why he was following her, she already informed him of her plans after all…it was almost like he was the weird one for finding this all backwards. Vanitas looked back to her and blinked as his mind searched for something to say.

He felt strange, why was Xion acting so weird? He enjoyed being left alone, sure, and the idea of her finally getting out of the house should be a good thing. Yet, something about this sudden flip made Vanitas's stomach churn.

"What are you...planning on doing tonight, Xion?" He managed. He tried to seem calm despite sounding upset.

She blinked in shock, "Just…out drinking with the girls. I just told you…" she frowned and looked at him like she was confused. She looked at him like this was normal. She looked at him like she wasn't a sappy annoying crying blubbering idiot that sucked out his attention whenever she got the chance. But with the car full of people staring at him he couldn't exactly put all that into words. Was he being gaslit? Was this what gaslighting felt like? He did it to her so often, he wasn't sure if this was the role being reversed.

"I'll be home in a few hours..okay?" She tilted her head and reached up, putting a hand under his chin. She seemed to hope her words would help him not seem so concerned and worried.

He crossed his arms, as he fell silent for a moment. Vanitas could feel his temper building up as he felt more and more patronized. Nothing about this situation sat right with him. While she wasn't being clingy, something about what was happening felt arguably worse. He felt his control on the situation melting like butter.

"And if I say it's not okay, Xion?" He raised an eyebrow and scowled down at her. She retracted her hand and looked shocked.

Xion raised both of her eyebrows and looked back at the girls waiting in the car before stepping closer to vanitas and speaking in a whispered tone so only he would hear "I mean…I figured you would want the house to yourself for a while. To unwind and all that?" She put her hands unto her leather jacket pockets. "Besides…You're always at the bar after work…I didn't think it was a big deal."

Vanitas gasped, shocked that Xion even knew that. He knew that she knew he went out from time to time, but he was unaware of the extent of her knowledge. "How...do you...know...that?" He muttered.

She gave him a look as if he was being irrational and she couldn't understand it. "Because…" She looked at the ground then back at him, as to emphasize the obviousness of her statement. "The bartender is one of my best friends? I didn't know it was meant to be a secret Vanitas…but..the girls are waiting so I have to go. I'll be home in a few hours." Then Xion walked away before he could say anything else.

Aqua glared at him one more time through the window as Xion got into the car before they drove off. Vanitas was angry, irritated, and absolutely confused. His wife, who he hated so much…who spent all of her time clinging to his heels like an annoying dog and wouldn't leave him alone…and flipped a switch into an entirely different person. In essence, this was more or less what he wanted: time and space alone…but the bizarreness of it all was just too much to ignore.

The moment she drove off, Vanitas went back inside the house. In his mind, he was too angry and enraged to really do much else. He just plopped down on the sofa and fumed. Where the hell did this attitude come from? He wondered, practically grinding his teeth. And since when did going out with friends mean dressing slutty? And the audacity to throw the bar in my face, that's totally different from being out all night, it's like an hour or two after work MAX!

After 20 or so minutes and Xion hadn't returned, Vanitas slumped back and hung his head. "Why do I even give a shit?" He gazed at the ground and wondered aloud to no one. He should be enjoying the fact that she is out of his hair, but instead he was pissed off.

"If I ever try to go out without her she throws a fucking hissy fit and starts crying. But no, she gets to act like she owns the fucking place and looks at me like I'm an idiot for questioning her. What a joke." He scoffs.

Vanitas should have been seizing the opportunity to do what he wanted to do but instead he raged for a while longer, where he switched between pacing the living room or bouncing his knee on the couch. In an effort to cool off he poured himself a drink but it did little to quell his anger. He wanted to wait until she got home. He wanted to confront her. He wanted to get dressed and go out himself to see how she liked it. Instead he laid on the couch and stewed in his bitterness, convincing himself he shouldn't care while boiling over from the-in his eyes-apparent hypocrisy. Eventually, he fell asleep.

Deep in his heart and mind, certain questions stirred. Would it not be better to have a wife that left him alone? Would it not be better if she got her own life? Maybe they could even get officially separated if she meets someone new. Yet, that alsoannoyed him. Something about seeing her so timid and normal and not in his face was…strange? Worse? He didn't know…but it bothered him.

…

Vanitas woke up to the sound of Xion's gentle foot falls and shuffling in the entry hallway. She removed her heels and began to ascend the staircase ensuring she kept as quiet as a mouse. She seemed unaware Vanitas was still in the living room. Vanitas sat up with a jolt and rubbed his eyes, the clock on the TV stand read '1:34 am'.

"You're home?" He croaked and faced her direction, this stopped her in her tracks and even seemed to make her jump slightly.

"Oh! Vanitas…You scared me. Did you…wait for me?" She chirped. Her voice seemed slightly delayed but not slurred enough to reveal any sort of drunkenness. Instead, she seemed to be around the bend of having been drunk at some point in the night. Xion was always an affectionate drunk and Vanitas briefly wondered if she had been that same annoyingly affectionate self around others. "Why didn't you head up to bed?" She asked.

"Uh...sure, yeah." Vanitas waved his hand and dismissed her words. He then stood up and crossed his arms. "Hey, Where did you go by the way?"

Xion leaned on the stairway banister as if to get a better look at Vanitas in the dark. "Oh, this place across town that Aqua knows. We mainly just ate, drank, and danced. It was fun." Xion shrugged with a smile. After a moment of silence between the two, she turned to continue up the stairs, yet Vanitas stopped her.

"Wait, so you actually went out drinking?" He was flabbergasted even more. "Was it like a special event?" He asked in a tone that suggested irritated confusion. He approached the banister.

Xion looked at him once more, confused as they had already had this conversation before she left. She shrugged before her eyes darted to the ceiling for a moment. "No, just for fun." They made eye contact once again and there was yet another moment of silence. Vanitas held a look on his face that wasn't positive. In fact, it was closer to that of a doubtful grimace, did he not believe her? Or rather, did he doubt her motives entirely?

After some more of the prolonged tension and Vanitas's steadily building hostility, Xion attempted to advance upstairs once more. He stopped her yet again and this time her smile was definitely gone.

"Wait." He demanded.

Xion turned to him and looked exasperated. "Vanitas, what is it? It's very late and I'm tired." She pouted, but the context was all wrong. She was not giving him puppy dog eyes or batting eyelashes in order to beg something from him, if anything she acted as if she wanted to leave his presence as soon as possible.

Vanitas knew Xion was a lightweight. It was already hard enough to keep Xion away from him on a normal day but when she became intoxicated she was practically glued to his skin. Her affection and stupid emotions became 100x times worse. Vanitas could only imagine what she acted like while drunk on a dance floor with him not around. His golden eyes glowed with suspicion and contempt, and all he could think of was awful things to accuse her of. Why was she so tired now when she was just fine staying up all night to party 'with her friends', especially when she neverwent out before to begin with?

Vanitas then asked her in a short tone, "And just why did you suddenly decide to go out tonight, Xion? You didn't even mention it until you were leaving."

"Because I was invited?" She shook her head. "There was a new girl in town that Aqua knew and we thought it would be fun to take her out and show her around…" Xion rationalied. Vanitas knew she must have meant Kairi, the redhead from the bar. "Why are you asking me this…you never care when I do things around the house?"

"Because I actually had plans to spend time with you this evening, but you practically ran out the door while I was making dinner." He countered with a scoff.

Xion blinked at him, slightly taken aback. Maybe she was surprised that he had cooked something for the two of them for once, or maybe she was confused about whatever he had planned. Regardless, she did not look at him in fear like she did when he threw the bottle; nor did she immediately bow her head and apologize like she usually would have at the revelation.

Xion didn't take the blame for when he was explicitly trying to be awful to her and she didn't offer forgiveness when he never asked for it. She just looked at him like he was crazy.

Xion looked at him as if the entire way she acted up until that morning: hanging off his arm, begging for his attention, never giving him space, being obnoxious and clingy and irritating…she acted as if none of that was real.

"Vanitas, I don't know why you're upset with me. I didn't know anything about us spending time together today and you didn't mention it when you came home. Didn't I annoy you being home all the time? I'm sure some space didn't hurt you all that much. I'm going to bed now…if you're gonna keep being all weird you can just sleep on the couch." She concluded rather firmly before heading up the stairs to bed and ignoring anymore of his calls.

The sound of the bedroom door slamming shut lit off all of the pent up energy Vanitas had built from the argument and sent him into a fuming rage. It added salt to his wounds and gave him half a mind to go up there and start pounding on the door, but he didn't even want to see anymore of her stupid face. He instead sat on the first step of the stairway and shook with anger, he crossed his arms and gripped his skin until his knuckles turned white; all the while muttering curses towards her to himself.

Vanitas-for the life of him-could not figure out why he was so livid. His annoying wife, which he hated with a passion, was suddenly not annoying anymore. Yet in that moment he hated her even more. He felt gaslit and patronized with the way she was speaking to him, as if hewas the crazy one for wondering where she went and why. It wasn't like she was always asking him when he would be home or where he was going on his days off. It wasn't like she invaded his bubble for sport. No, no…hewas the one being overbearing and crazy. Fucking ridiculous. He thought to himself.

However, deep down Vanitas wondered if this had anything to do with his own behavior and him shattering the glass bottle. Should he feel guilty? Did he cause his drastic change? Ultimately Vanitas refused responsibility, but he did wonder if this strange mood of hers would last. Did he miss the way she was, annoyingly waiting for him to come home and always craving his attention? Not even slightly. He hated all the stupid things she said and the way she pestered him…but was it better than being ignored?

Vanitas then began to wonder if this was his opportunity to seek out a new affair. After all, if Xion decided to go out like that again he would have the house to himself all night. He perked up a bit at the thought before slumping back down on the step. After all, what had really changed? If Xion was going to keep up whatever tantrum she was throwing then the only difference was that she now had a social life…but he was still trapped in the same situation financially and socially. He could try bringing a girl or two over, but that would not save him from the hell that he languished in.

After what felt like an hour, Vanitas had finally calmed down enough to go back to bed. He headed up the stairs since he refused to sleep on the couch only because she told him too, fuck her.

When he entered their bedroom Xion had long since fallen asleep. She was tucked way under the duvet on the farest side of the bed, wrapped in a cocoon just like the night before. Only this time there was also a pillow next to her left side. Their bed was king sized and he tended to sleep away from her already, but there was now a literal wall between them. A wall of fluff. Her pathetic display at keeping him away only served to annoy him, but not enough to really act on it. Vanitas got into bed himself and stared at the ceiling for a while as the day's events wore on him.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he still wondered when things would 'go back to normal' and that surely Xion couldn't stay upset with him forever. It just went against her nature thus far. While it may not have been 'better' at the very least he looked forward to not having to deal with her attitude.

Soon enough Vanitas fell into a dreamless sleep, far away from her and her plush fortress.

A/N: Sorry this took longer than planned, the holidays have kept me busy. If it hasn't been apparent until now I'm not the best with grammar; particularly run on sentences. Sorry about that, I try to minimize my use of commas but I rely on them like a crutch too much.

Anyways, I hope to get the next chapter out sooner provided I have more time to write. Thanks for reading,

-Toast