The muffled cries were worse than the loud ones.

Xehanort stared at his window rather than through it, the pane of glass offering no substantial distraction from Eraqus's sobs through the wall. He regretted informing Eraqus about hearing his crying every night if this is what it led to. His words had only served to stifle, not soothe.

Of all things, guilt was the last thing he wanted to inflict at a time like this.

He rolled onto his back, barely able to make out the ceiling in his dim room. The hairline fractures in both of their hearts couldn't be mended by either of them. If he had to give a reason for listening to Eraqus express their shared anguish in silence, he supposed he was wary of pressing too hard, shattering the fragile glass.

Then again, neglect was another form of harm. Xehanort took a steadying breath, kicking his bedding off and quietly leaving his room.

He slowly opened Eraqus's door, trying to keep quiet. Eraqus's crumpled form in bed gave no sign of hearing Xehanort walk in and close the door behind himself. Using the pale light from the open window as a guide, Xehanort picked his footing carefully across the messy floor to Eraqus's bed.

After everything, he couldn't help feeling concerned that Eraqus could allow a potential intruder into his room so easily, known threats or not.

"Eraqus?"

Barely a whisper, his tone finally caught Eraqus's attention. He raised his head, disheveled locks of hair falling into his face like wilted flower petals. "Did I wake you?" rasped Eraqus, voice soft despite the fact that they both knew they no longer had neighbors.

Leaving that train of thought behind, lest he start crying before reaching who he'd come in to comfort, Xehanort shook his head. "No, I couldn't sleep either."

Eraqus blinked, as dense as he was endearing. "Then…?"

"As you were." Xehanort had been in Eraqus's bed before, though not in such dreary circumstances. He crawled in under the blankets as Eraqus settled back down. Hesitating for a moment, he laid a hand on Eraqus's shoulder, marveling at how warm he was through their nightclothes. When Eraqus made no move to shun his touch, Xehanort maneuvered himself closer, palm sliding down to Eraqus's chest, right over his heart.

Pressed this close, Xehanort could feel every rise and fall of Eraqus's breaths against him. Once Eraqus seemed used to his hug, Xehanort relaxed too, eyes falling closed.

It was difficult to tell if the pain in Xehanort's chest was his own or their shared grief. Perhaps it was natural that someone whose heart held the same loss as his own would resonate and echo within his. For a moment, it was as though he'd come to Eraqus to hold him close and staunch his own wounds rather than comfort Eraqus. Secretly, unknown to himself, perhaps he had.

Eraqus shivered despite their cocoon of blankets. "If you knew… why wait until now? To be with me?"

Xehanort bit back the instant reply that he had come in rather quickly that night, knowing Eraqus meant the entire month beforehand.

"Because I thought it may be kinder to let you have your peace to mourn," he admitted into Eraqus's dark hair. "And because I can't fix anything."

All eleven were gone, beyond their power and reach.

"So you thought it would be pointless?" asked Eraqus, more curious than anything else.

"Well… yes." Xehanort heard a sniffle and his heart panged. "I'm sorry. I'd only wanted to be courteous."

Eraqus made a sound between a sob and a laugh.

Suddenly, Eraqus was facing him, bright eyes moist in the split second Xehanort got to see them before Eraqus threw himself into Xehanort's arms, burying his face into his shoulder and crying anew. Xehanort reflexively held him close, snuggled together more intricately than they had been before. Eraqus choked out a sentence, somehow. "You can always be here with me- please, please stay."

Xehanort stroked Eraqus's hair, his cheek pressed against Eraqus's shoulder. Between the two of them, Eraqus wasn't the only dense one. "I've got you," he murmured. They were wound together, ankles crossed and knees nestled comfortably, all so they could practically be one together.

Was there anyone, a heart like Xehanort's or not, who could weather a loved one weeping as Eraqus did without feeling? Like a sinkhole had finally collapsed in his core, Xehanort mirrored Eraqus's pose as a cry tore itself from his throat.

Relief.

Bittersweet but good, like rain on a parched field.

He hadn't been able to let himself go as Eraqus had, hadn't been able to do anything but let the swirling darker emotions pass through, but Eraqus knew how to expel it as best he could, just like this.

They cried for what felt like hours but could have been anything. Time had no hold on them.

When Xehanort finally felt calm again, the stars were still their only celestial company. He breathed hard, realizing he'd been clinging to Eraqus's shirt collar like a lifeline. Eraqus hadn't been so different. They both found each other's eyes, bloodshot and weary. Eraqus managed a watery smile. "I've got you too, you know."

"You do," agreed Xehanort, hushed but sincere.

Eraqus's affection always radiated out from him like a warm glow, and that moment was no exception. Still smiling, he stroked Xehanort's cheek. "May I?"

May he?

Adorable. Light only moved first in chess.

Xehanort closed the gap between them, barely letting Eraqus finish his last syllable, his kiss soft and urgent against Eraqus's lips.

This, too, had been a rarity in the past few weeks, as though they'd been waiting for the right moment again, to have some permission from an unknown source which would never speak to them.

Eraqus melted into the kiss, fingertips easing into Xehanort's shorter hair.

Whatever else they had to say to each other was said with shallow, sweet kisses. No sooner would one break a kiss to take a breath that the other would chase him playfully, as if they were new to being lovers.

Eraqus took Xehanort's hand in his as their kisses became lazier, still clasping hands as they fell asleep.

-BREAK-

Their home had been too peaceful lately. It was the sort of peace that came with death, with too quiet of halls.

When Xehanort opened his eyes, welcomed to the sunlit realm of the living by Eraqus snoring on his chest, the peace he felt was different. It was serene. Better than that- healing.

He let the minutes pass by, gently rubbing Eraqus's upper back until Eraqus meandered into consciousness with a yawn. "Hm?"

"It's just me." They weren't used to this yet, waking up in each other's arms. Xehanort kissed Eraqus's temple. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, actually," said Eraqus, realization hitting him as the words left his mouth.

Xehanort could still see the traces of fatigue on Eraqus's face from many restless nights. His skin was gray under his eyes and he seemed tired despite the attempted cheer. That was alright; Xehanort hadn't expected one night to be enough for either of them to bounce back.

"Let me fix your hair."

Eraqus raised his eyebrows but sat up anyway. "It's that bad?"

"Yes."

Eraqus's laughter drew a chuckle from Xehanort as he reached around for a comb. Finding one on the bedside table, Xehanort sat cross legged behind Eraqus. He gently tugged Eraqus's hair ribbon free. Eraqus shook his head, letting his hair flow against his shoulders. "You're spoiling me," he remarked.

Xehanort started at the ends, combing up as he smoothed out each section. "Isn't that what partners do?"

The question wasn't fully rhetorical, but Eraqus didn't answer it. "What would you like? There must be something I could do for you too."

He thought about it. Truly, Xehanort was the type to simply do as he wanted, needs already met by his own devices. Eraqus's desire to reciprocate was so loving, so him, but he couldn't find anything he desired from him that Eraqus had yet to provide.

Xehanort pressed a kiss to Eraqus's neck.

"Let me take care of you."

Eraqus tilted his head back and closed his eyes. He took a shaky breath and sniffled. Xehanort almost asked after his well-being again, but Eraqus clarified. "I'm okay- just happy."

Light seemed like such a delicate thing.

Xehanort knew Eraqus's light was strong, a spark inside of him which hadn't dimmed despite all of the despair and loss they'd experienced. Many people would have been pushed to beget more darkness had they gone through their recent losses. Eraqus had taken it upon himself to cultivate a stubborn brightness- unknowingly drawing Xehanort all the closer, the shadow growing with the light.

As he patiently worked the comb through Eraqus's hair, Xehanort's mind wandered further.

The future beckoned him as it always did, a nagging glimmer of something beyond himself which told him that one day, he'd have to move far from home. Home, he kept finding, was only ever a stepping stone. Eraqus was light, and Xehanort saw more than light in himself, more in their world than Eraqus seemed to want to.

These moments had to be savored. He kept combing past when it was necessary.

He couldn't voice it aloud, the quiet part of himself that knew this place wasn't his forever, not the way Eraqus seemed to think it could be.

Eraqus, the true heir.

"Do you know how to tie it?" asked Eraqus, holding up the black ribbon and turning to look at Xehanort over his shoulder.

He memorized the way the morning light framed Eraqus just then, cast in the heavenly way which was usually reserved for nostalgia, for perfect childhood days which were gone from them.

Breathless, he remembered how to speak.

"How about you show me?"

-BREAK-

Days passed, and it soon felt more like Eraqus's good nature during waking hours was less of an act and more genuine. He was hopeful, eager to learn all he could in class, and at Xehanort's side at every chance he had.

Xehanort was pleased. He couldn't help but reflect Eraqus's improving emotional states. Gradually, that too large of classroom was less painful to sit in, their teacher subdued but at least able to get through full lessons.

Generally, Xehanort took pride in being practical.

Therefore, he couldn't quite explain why he left for town alone, telling Eraqus that he wanted to step out for a brisk walk and not letting Eraqus catch up. His feet carried him to the flower shop they both frequented too much as of late. He didn't buy a single white flower.

He came directly back, knocking on Eraqus's door before he could rethink his choice.

Eraqus opened the door, already in a buoyant mood. Once he saw the vase of flowers in Xehanort's arms, he paused. "Oh? Flowers?"

"Freesias." As if that explained anything. Xehanort stepped inside. Eraqus had made a valiant effort to clean his room, though the both of them were contributing to the clutter now. He pushed aside a few papers on the window sill to set the vase down, admiring the yellow and pink blooms. "They're resilient. I think they'll even survive in here."

"Hey," teased Eraqus. "Any dirty dishes are on you." He paused, standing by Xehanort. "May I ask why you got me flowers, aside from the obvious?"

It was a partner sort of thing to do.

But more than that,

"It seemed unfair," started Xehanort, unsure of how to direct the stream of emotion within himself into words. "That our fallen friends should be the only ones to get flowers. You're here. You're alive. I-"

Eraqus threw his arms around Xehanort's neck, kissing him with such passion that Xehanort could have lost himself in it entirely had Eraqus's face not been damp with more tears. Despite feeling it for himself, from within his own heart and inside of Eraqus's, it didn't seem like it should be possible for joy to be so heavy.

-BREAK-

They'd perched by the classroom window hundreds of times before for chess games. This time was no different, a stolen hour from their duties with cups of tea and a newly set board between them.

"We're both going to pass, I know it," said Eraqus, grinning over the board. "Don't you feel good about it?"

"I'm more than confident in my abilities, yes," confirmed Xehanort. "Yours too, I guess."

Eraqus scoffed, picking up a chess piece and tossing it in his hands. "Come on," he said, conjuring his old energy. "Keyblade Masters! We can do anything together- like two knights!" He set the piece- one of his white knights- back down. "Strong, unpredictable, and able to take leaps and strides behind enemy territory. Nothing could stand in our way."

"True, we're formidable."

Xehanort could agree with Eraqus's assessment of knights, though it wasn't how he saw them.

No, they were more like mismatched bishops. They each started on their designated path- one dark, one light, never able to capture their opposite no matter how far they went. Even if they were on opposing sides, they'd be safe from the other.

At least, as Eraqus leaned in for a kiss that tasted like their favorite tea, he hoped so.