Vanqua Week–Day 3: Wayfinder
“You know what those fruit really mean, right?”
Aqua glanced at him, her mouth hanging open mid thought.
“Yes,” she said carefully. “An unbreakable connection. I read about them. Even just the shape, it’s a reminder that you’re never really alone. That all those stars up there are the lights of different worlds shining down on you.”
Vanitas watched her. He wasn’t sure why he even broached the topic, but hearing her speak of those Wayfinder charms she made had just reminded him of something he overheard.
“I’ve been to those islands too, you know,” he told her. “Saw some lovesick idiots handing them over to each other.”
She turned her head away. “Well, there are different types of love, Vanitas.”
“I suppose now, I have even more people I’m connected to, more I’d like to see again. And I do believe in the power of those charms. After all, Ven and Terra both came back to me. They protected me when I needed them most.”
It was hard not to seethe. He had come a long way, but there was still a bitter jealousy when he thought of their connection.
“Still, you didn’t do it right.”
Aqua gaped at him. “Huh?”
“You’re supposed to eat the fruit, aren’t you? Maybe that’s why it took so long for you all to get back.”
Her cheeks darkened. “Well…”
He should have been mad, but seeing her embarrassed like that made it a little hard.
“What’s the matter? You’re the one who said there’s different types of love.”
“Yes, but…” Her eyes darted away. “I don’t… want anyone to get the wrong idea.”
“So, you wouldn’t share a fruit?”
He meant to add a ‘with them’. His sentence ended far too abruptly.
She was looking at him now, yet he couldn’t return the gaze.
“Well…” she spoke. “I don’t know. Maybe… if I found the right person.”
He scoffed. “You sure those idiots aren’t bad enough? You really wanna tie yourself to someone else?”
She groaned, her head falling to her hands.
“Why am I even talking about this with you?”
“What about you, huh?” she asked, her reddened face lifting to gaze at him. “You don’t get to ask me that without me asking you in return.”
“Tying my fate to someone,” He grimaced. “It sounds like how I forged the–”
“No,” she spoke. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to.”
“I don’t know how it could be anything else for me.” He looked away. “What moron would ever…”
Dammit, now he was feeling embarrassed. He didn’t want to think about it.
The idea of those Wayfinders was to lead those friends back to each other. They were made based on that star-shaped fruit from the islands, ones shared by those who never wanted to part at all.
No one would ever dream of tying themselves to him like that, not voluntarily.
A hand reached for his, making him jolt. Aqua’s face was there as he spun around.
“You know, you found your way back too.”
He stared at her. “I never had one of those charms.”
“I know. But maybe… there are other things that form connections.”
“Trying to kill each other is certainly one way.”
She frowned. “Come on, I’m being serious.”
“What? Are you saying you want a connection with me?”
He probably shouldn’t have asked so straightforwardly. He half expected her to laugh in his face or grimace or even jump back in disgust.
But no. Her face turned red.
Nothing had surprised him more. All he could do was watch her as he sat frozen in place, willing his mind to make sense of what was happening.
“I don’t think it would be so bad,” she blurted out. “You’re far from the person you used to be.”
He couldn’t meet her gaze anymore, not when his own face heated up.
“...You sure. You might regret thinking that.”
“But you know, it might not be a bad idea,” he spoke, rationalising it. “If I’m going to defeat you one day, it makes sense to stay connected.”
“Keeping your enemies closer, huh?”
He let out a laugh. “So, better not get me one of those charms. You won’t be able to get rid of me.”
It should have been a nightmare to anyone. But Aqua only smiled at him.
