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No matter where you are, I will always come and find you.
Ventus clutched his Wayfinder tightly in his hand. It burned against the skin of his palm, almost like a brand or a reminder of why he was here in this place again. Back in the Realm of Darkness. The Wayfinder always served to be an important connection between him and his friends. It drew on their strengths when he needed them in his time of need, and he knew it did the same of Terra and Aqua. But this time, there was someone else he was trying to find.
Someone who did not want anything to do with him.
But Ventus had always been stubborn, and there was an imprint in his Wayfinder that he became aware of once the thrill of the Keyblade War ended.
When he first stepped into the Realm of Darkness, he felt all sorts of wrong. The darkness itched as his skin. It made him want to curl up or scratch at his skin until it bled. His own light reacted badly to it; a shining beacon in a realm of shadows that wanted nothing more than to swallow it completely. But despite the dangers it held, Ventus had to come here. He had to step into this world once more in order to find the person he was desperately searching for: Vanitas.
The two of them split ways after the War.
Vanitas chose to become one of the shadows once more while Ventus tread the path of light. They had roles they needed to play. There were things they both had to do. But now that the war was over, there were things that needed to be done. Loose ends needed to be tied up. He didn’t know how to exactly start, but he did know that there was a tug on his heart that he didn’t feel there before.
His heart began to ache the moment he first stepped into the Realm of Darkness. Ventus never knew what the tugging meant until he explored the Realm of Darkness more.
The two of us will always be connected, Ventus. That won’t change.
Ventus took a deep breath and forced himself to walk forward.
The darkness in the world made his skin crawl. It made him want to return to the Realm of Light. To somewhere safe. But Ventus forced himself to keep walking. His Wayfinder gave off a faint glow, a tiny beacon of emerald light. Aqua always told him that their connection would always bring them together. It was how they can always find their way back to each other no matter how many worlds separated them. Now, Ventus was depending on that connection to lead him to Vanitas. Their hearts were already linked, no matter how fragmented they were, but there was nothing wrong with having extra help.
Vanitas did force a Link between them back then during that fight, after all.
What I am…is Darkness.
But Vanitas could be so much more than what people had planned out for him.
Ventus knew that. They both knew that.
So, he forced himself to keep walking.
What are you doing here, Ventus? You don’t belong here.
“Neither do you,” Ventus spoke aloud. He ignored the way the shadows moved. The Heartless were drawn toward him the same way they were repelled by him. Darkness would always be attracted to the light. It would always fear it. Realizing that, Ventus did shed his armor at some point. The armor was only an extra layer of protection that didn’t do anything. He knew wearing it made Aqua feel safe. But he and Terra knew it wouldn’t do anything for them. It was why Ventus took such a risk in coming here alone, searching for someone that no one really knew or would miss.
Of course, I do. I’ve told you before. I am Darkness.
Ventus shook his head. “You’re not just Darkness. Chirithy. You’re your own person like the rest of us.”
A dark laugh echoed around him. Naïve. Do you really think that?
“Yes.” He kept his gaze forward. In the distance, he could see the faintest glow of the moonlight. The only source of light found in the Realm of Darkness. It was the place where those who sought the light would find the briefest relief. Riku told him about it once. And this was where Ventus felt his heart react when he felt Aqua in trouble. The only place that offered the briefest reprieve from the dangers this realm held. “Your home is with me.”
Home? With you? After everything? Don’t make me laugh.
Ventus fought the urge to frown.
Of course, he would be difficult.
But he can be just as stubborn.
“If you really think that, you wouldn’t have left something behind for me to track you down,” Ventus argued. “You would have left instead of remaining here.”
This is my home, Ventus. There is nowhere else for me to go.
“Yes, there is.”
Another laugh but the presence receded somewhat.
Ventus took a deep breath; this was going to be difficult. Then again, it was to be expected when it came to Vanitas. Nothing was ever easy. Not with him. Not between them. Not with what Xehanort had done to both of them, traumatized and scarred in a way that not even time can heal. It was only together that they can finally begin that process. But they were also two halves. And neither of them truly remembered their time together as ‘one’ person. It was okay, though.
They can figure that out together.
He arrived at the dark beach, watching the waves and listening to the water.
Ventus.
“Vanitas.” He stared at the water even as he felt something stir behind him. A presence fully formed behind, that familiar weight in the air that pressed down on his shoulders. It felt familiar. It felt right. The Wayfinder in his hand seemed to burn brighter, recognizing the presence that had forced itself onto it. Taking a deep breath, he turned around to face his other half.
Golden eyes stared back at him. For once, Vanitas didn’t have his usual helmet over his face. Perhaps he realized it was pointless in this world. Against him. Not when Ventus already knew what Vanitas looked like and trying to hide his emotions behind his mask did little. Not when Vanitas spoke, the emotions he felt carried themselves in his voice.
Ventus.
Ventus took a deep breath. “It’s time for you to come home, Vanitas.”
There is no home for me, Ventus. I’ve already told you this.
He shook his head. Ventus took a step forward toward him. “No, your home is with me. I already said this to you.”
You like to be annoying, don’t you?
Ventus held back a huff. So stubborn. He took another step forward, holding out a hand between them. The Wayfinder continued to give off a faint glow in his other hand.
Vanitas raised a brow. That damn thing again? That won’t help you down here.
“It helped me find my way to you,” he explained, keeping his eyes on him. “It lit my way to you.”
Here I thought you didn’t feel our connection.
Ventus shook his head. “I don’t,” he confessed. “Not the same way you do. But even without it, I will always find you.”
Don’t flatter yourself, Ventus.
Sometimes, he really wanted to shake him. Ventus huffed this time, reaching out to grab his hand. He felt Vanitas jerk, nearly tugging his hand back, but Ventus tightened his grip around him. There was a spark of a connection between them. It lit up with life, the chains that have always been there growing tighter. But instead of thinking these chains as a leash, Ventus came to think of it as the proof of their bond.
It took a moment before Vanitas slowly began to relax.
You should be home, Ventus. Not here. This isn’t where you belong.
The Wayfinder glowed brighter.
“I am home.” Blue eyes stared into gold. “This is where I belong. With you. Maybe not here, but no matter where you go, I’ll find you. That’s what you told me, remember?”
I did it to scare you, you idiot. I didn’t think you’d actually come all this way.
Ventus smiled, feeling Vanitas slowly relax.
“Yeah, well, I’m stubborn. I’m not going to leave you behind again, Vanitas.”
Vanitas was quiet, golden eyes searching him. Then he sighed, taking a step forward. As soon as their foreheads touched, Ventus felt right. The trinket in his hand glimmered, half of it shedding its emerald light to turn into ruby.
“You’re such an idiot,” Vanitas murmured.
A soft laugh escaped from him. “So are you.”
Vanitas eyed him before sighing again.
Ventus smiled, eyes closing as he relaxed into Vanitas’ touch. “Welcome home, Vanitas.”
The darkness was quiet for a moment. Then: I’m home.