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daybreak-academy-fanfic · 3 months

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Kingdom Hearts AU: Lay In the Fire: Part 4

Summary: In which Ventus presents Aqua a traveler to feed on, with the promise that she will keep her alive. Things get messy from there.

Notes: Another thing based on luxmoogle’s vampire AU. Sponsored by Tove Lo’s Come Undone from her studio album, Sunshine Kitty. Much longer this time and with 60% of my usual shenanigans. 😘

Word Count: 3,847

Series: Stupid Kids: 1. Drink Deep: 1, 2, 3, [4]

AO3 Link: here

Ven was pacing. He couldn’t help it- his heart just wouldn’t calm down no matter how hard he willed it to.

Not long after parting from Aqua, Ven decided to write a note. That note ended up outside a certain room. Inside that note was an invitation and the location of one particular dress that had been suggested by Aqua. Now all Ven could do was wait. He tried to bide time by cranking the phonograph every so often, and he even checked the record to make sure it wouldn’t skip once he allowed it to start turning.

And, of course, he paced.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caught Ven’s attention. In that moment all his fears went away, and just as quickly a new wave of emotion set over him. Sabrina was at the door of the ballroom. Not only was she on time, she had also put on the suggested dress.

As Sabrina stepped further into the ballroom, everything in Ven froze just so his heart could leap right out of his chest. She was beautiful. The dress Aqua had suggested hugged Sabrina like a glove. The long skirt had a similar fullness to the circle skirts Sabrina was used to, and even boasted a silk underskirt for retaining modesty should she spin a bit too fast. Should Aqua ever decide to wear it again, Ven knew that all he would see was Sabrina. Crushed purple velvet was for Sabrina now- always and forever.

“Aqua’s really been hoarding dresses for decades, yeah? This is something my grandmother would wear.” Sabrina informed Ven once they were close enough.

“It definitely fits better than I thought it would.” Ven quietly mused. She didn’t quite seem to notice as she further scrutinized the dress.

“We’re not even the same size. Can you imagine being a whole half foot smaller than she is just to fit this?”

“No I can not.”

He almost let it slip that it was because he could only see her in it now, but he bit his tongue just in time. The odd moment must have been felt by Sabrina. She placed a hand on her hip as she stared him down.

“So did you invite me to the ballroom just to stare at me in one of Aqua’s older dresses, or is there a better reason?” she questioned.

Ven’s heart jumped right back into his chest again.

“Oh! Right.” he remembered. He gave her a pointed finger to indicate that she needed to wait for something. She then watched as Ven went over to the phonograph and turned its crank completely. Once the turntable was spinning, he placed the needle down on the record and went back to Sabrina. He offered a hand out to her as his face shown nothing but sincerity.

“A dance.” he offered. “Just one. That's all I ask.”

Sabrina looked at his hand, then at him. A mean little thought at the back of her head told her that he was testing her trust. The last few days were more than enough not to; his vampire master couldn’t keep her fangs to herself, he never directly told her that said master was watching, even though they both knew she was. But those were all issues that Aqua needed to address. It wasn’t Aqua that Sabrina was physically alone with right now. Aqua wasn’t the one she wrote letters to when her caravan was away.

Did she even need to not trust Ventus at this point?

“Slow dancing isn’t my thing.” Sabrina eventually said. Her smirk toward him was timid at best. This wasn’t going to be comfortable.

However, Ven was patient.

“Humor me.” he said back, holding his hand out a bit further.

Sabrina remained looking at him. Without ever looking away, she took his hand. She would let him lead- at least for now.

Aqua had spent half a year teaching Ventus various ballroom dances. They had both laughed at the time that they may never have proper balls or galas to show his dance moves in. There was one thing Aqua did tell Ven that was coming back now- read the cues, even if you may think you’re the one leading. Your partner may work to a different tempo, and that would be fine; so long you don’t run over another set of dancers. But adjusting would be a mutual effort. It also had to be done without any words being exchanged. That was what ultimately made dancing tricky. You could both be excellent dancers, but without reading each other and adjusting to your shared needs, everything could fall apart quickly.

For that reason, Ventus started slow and cautious. This was how he always approached Sabrina at first, so it made sense to dance the same way. Sabrina was too rigid, refusing to look anywhere but at Ventus, so he adjusted by allowing them to dance a bit further apart. This put her at a better comfort level. It would be her to bring them back in again once she gained a feel for the music’s tempo. That much made sense to both of them- Sabrina was the one who took time in knowing just what she was comfortable with and what she wasn’t. Offering herself to a vampire in exchange for knowing its familiar had been Sabrina’s idea. Sabrina remained at the castle after, even when she could have gone back home once she felt well again. Her presence still was a gift, not a right. And it all culminated in one important thing; her trust in Ventus.

As the song came to a close, and a new one replacing it, the two slowed in their dance but did not move far apart.

“Thank you.” Ven told Sabrina with full honesty.

“It wasn’t that horrible.” Sabrina retorted with a roll of her eyes. “Just another reminder that Aqua’s training you to be a fine gentleman- and not a feral monster like the rest of us.”

Ven’s face turned to disgust.

“You’re not a monster. Or feral.”

“I’m sure Papa would love to hear that one.” she laughed. She looked at him- a tricky little smile etching the corners of her lips. “You know, he talks about you. Always asking when I'm going to bring you around again. So, since we’ve shared a dance in your little hovel, why not spare one at mine? Eye for an eye, dance for a dance.”

He immediately wanted to agree.

“I’d have to ask…” Ven started to say. He soon shook his head. “I would love to escort you back home. It would be good to get some fresh air too.”

“The nightlife really shines in our camp.” Sabrina smiled. “A heart like yours might just explode from the energy.”

“I can do my best. Isn’t that what matters?”

“I suppose so.”

The two smiled at each other. Sabrina happened to glance down, noting that their hands were still knit inside each other. That was when she finally realized they were still so close. She stepped out of their circle like she was avoiding a snake.

“I should… go get my stuff ready,” she mumbled, “If I'm going home tonight.”

Ven nodded, allowing her the right to leave. She nodded back, not looking him in the eye, as she quickly made her way out of the ballroom. He could see her even as she left eye range. For a moment, he wondered how much longer she would be like a ghost to him; always there, but slightly out of reach. He only hoped it wouldn’t be for much longer…

They weren’t even able to reach the outskirts of the camp before hearing a cacophony of “Sabreenie! Sabreenie!” call out to them. Not long after, a bundle of kids came running up to pull at Sabrina’s dress. It only took one to notice Ventus- and they were the loudest of them all.

“Sabreenie brought a boy with her!!!”

The children let out a collective ‘ooooh’ at the discovery. Ven could feel his cheeks heat up. Sabrina wasn’t taking any of it. Her mouth opened, prepared to reprimand them, but someone managed to beat her to it.

“Give them space, you hoodlums.” the voice of the caravan’s patriarch, Sabrina’s Papa, told the children. “You still have to feed the horse and help Mama with dinner.”

“Yes sir.” the children replied with sad voices as they went back to the camp, heads down in despair. The patriarch laughed, then turned his attention to Sabrina and Ventus.

“Ventus!” Papa happily greeted. “It’s been awhile since you’ve been around. How have you been?”

“Fine,” Ven anxiously said, even rubbing the back of his head. “Do you mind if I stay for dinner tonight?”

“Did you miss our big pot of stew? It’s never the same way twice!”

Ven took a glance to Sabrina. “Something like that…”

Getting accustomed to the traveler’s camp again took quite a bit of effort. There was always someone who needed attention somewhere. And since Ventus was a familiar, yet not quite family, face, he was taken this and there to many questions and even more requests for help. He didn’t even get to see Sabrina until after everyone was able to eat, and even then, she had purposely sat down on the opposite side of the bonfire. Her tricky eyes flickering back at him, while he likely looked pretty lost from it all.

There was always someone dancing too. Men and women and children, taking turns and switching partners and making it hard to tell who was sitting at any time and who was part of the crowd. One of the current dancers had thrown Ventus into the fray. The poor vampire’s familiar found himself spinning in ways he’d never done before. In almost every ballroom dance, no one could consider you getting dizzy from not being able to spot where you’re going. The only time Ven was able to stop spinning was when he bumped right into someone’s arms.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” he started to say before realizing who had caught him.

It was Sabrina, and her face looked awfully smug.

“Having fun?” she asked- that smug look really went right to her lips.

“I don’t think I’m good at dancing this quickly.” Ven sheepishly admitted.

“Humor me.”

Ven’s heart jolted. He gave her a nod and started to take her lead.

Dancing at the traveler’s camp was like the opposite of dancing in the castle’s ballroom. Sabrina was leading, and it was Ventus who needed the assurance of trust to keep dancing. Their movements together were quick. It became a marvel that they could become synchronized so well. Not quickly, mind you, but with enough trust they could work with each other’s dancing comforts.

Ven didn’t realize how exhausting it all was until Sabrina made the decision to move them away from the bonfire and toward the wagons. It was so prominent that he didn’t even realize that she was taking him to a specific wagon until it was too late.

“I got to see the inside of your house,” Sabrina told him, “So now you get to see inside mine. Eye for an eye, dance for a dance, and home for a home.”

Ven blinked.

“Are you sure?” he asked, but she had already opened the door at the back of the wagon and entered. The boy blinked a few more times before his legs finally moved him forward. There were three floating steps to get inside the wagon.

Inside was like a world all its own. Sabrina had barely decorated the inside, and what she had usually consisted of a deep purple with a hint of blue. Her bed was placed against the long wall on the left, and her chests of clothing and other precious items were on the long right wall. At the front of the wagon was a small area that resembled a desk, sitting on top was a bottle of ink and a writing pen. Ven flushed in realizing that it was the place she must sit when they write their letters to each other.

He now understood why they always carried the smallest trace of lavender to them- her whole wagon had the aroma.

“A bit smaller than you’re used to, I’m sure.” Sabrina smirked. She was already sitting quite haughtily on her bed. Her shoes had been removed and placed carefully by the chests.

“It’s… comforting.” Ven carefully admitted. He sat next to her on her bed before adding, “It’s a lot like you.”

“You think I’m comforting?”

Ven’s face flushed a deep red.

“You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Sabrina laughed, enjoying his mild discomfort.

“Why do you always laugh at me?” Ven questioned, refusing to look at her.

“Because you’re hopeless.” came the sure answer. “That’s what I like about you.”

“You like me? That’s news.”

Sabrina chuckled as she shook her head. She’d never fully admit how she felt about him. The meantime felt a lot funnier.

“Before, you asked me what I meant by a comfortable relationship.” she then told him. “Since we’re as alone as we’re going to get, I think you deserve to know.”

Ven put his hands in his lap. He prepared himself for whatever she was going to say next with controlled eagerness.

“For me,” Sabrina said to him, “There are no loving or caring relationships unless you trust the other person. You have to believe them enough to defend them when no one’s looking. Being comfortable in a relationship means that you can trust someone with a secret. Believe them when they tell you theirs. To invite them to a space special to you, like, say, the place they call home, takes so much love and trust and safety and-”

“Did you ever learn to say ‘I love you’ in a normal way?”

His boldness had shocked her. At the same time, she was absolutely thrilled by it.

“Not at all.” she smirked, moving closer to him. “Are you requesting that I make an attempt to?”

Ven smiled as he also moved close.

“Nope.”

The two were chest to chest now. Sabrina had even extended her arm over his body to keep herself steady.

“What if I use my actions instead?” she challenged. “Would you try to stop me?”

Her eyes were so dark, so relaxed at the sight of him. Ven felt like he was falling into an abyss. His head felt so light, it was no wonder that his eyes fluttered to the top of his skull when their lips were just breaths away.

“Never.” he promised. Seconds after, their lips touched with chilling static overcoming their bodies. Neither wanted to let go.

It got heavy fast. Ven found his hands roaming to cup Sabrina’s face as the kiss deepened. Sabrina was the one who led them down against her bed. From there, her hands roamed from his chest to his back, clenching his clothing to keep him as close as possible. Ven became the first to vocalize his lust. It didn’t take long for him to coax one out of Sabrina as well.

Note to self: Aqua was never allowed to touch Sabrina’s neck. Only Ven could taste her there. And only him from now on.

The two broke apart for all of a moment. Ven took the opportunity to sit back up, intending to undo the buttons on his vest and shirt. Sabrina stopped him by placing a hand over his.

“Not here, not now.” she told him. Her eyes clearly wanted differently, but even in this heated moment her mind was as rational as ever.

Ven looked like a child who had denied dessert.

“But I thought…”

Sabrina brought him closer, allowing their foreheads to touch.

“Not here, not now,” she repeated in a smaller, sincere voice. He understood.

“As you wish.” Ventus husked before leading them back in for one passionate kiss after another. No one else in the world mattered anymore.

Ven didn’t want to leave. Climbing around her had already been an exercise in patience, and now looking at her continue to sleep made him feel guilty. They didn’t even do anything. Except for a few kisses. …and even fewer bruises from getting a bit too engrossed in each other with the skin contact available.

Not that he felt guilty about those. He was actually quite proud of them, if he was going to be honest with himself.

“I love you.” Ven admitted in a hushed whisper as he stroked a thumb against Sabrina’s cheek. A small hum came from Sabrina’s lips. He took it as an answer. Smiling, Ventus left Sabrina’s wagon. He made sure no one was watching before transforming into his owl form to fly back home.

He would sleep well for the rest of the night. The ghost of Sabrina’s presence haunting his dreams with warmth.

The next morning was spent on autopilot as he got dressed and prepared Aqua’s breakfast. And of course she noticed. And thankfully she didn’t comment on it. As they spent the rest of the morning in the library, Aqua studied him.

He was still reading Giselle, but he certainly wasn’t looking at the words. It was then that Aqua made a choice. She carefully closed her book to give Ventus all of her attention.

“You know, I’ve been doing some thinking.” she told him.

“Oh yeah?” Ven mused, lulling his head over to look her way.

“I think we could join the travelers for a season. Perhaps winter. The Baron might be a bit lonely, but I’m sure he could manage for a few months.”

Ven’s eyes shot wide open.

“Are you serious?”

The vampire gave a firm nod. Ven’s eyes then lit up with joy.

“Winter would be perfect!” he agreed- his voice getting a bit too loud from his own excitement. “You could cover almost all the way up and it wouldn’t look out of place- especially since I don’t think anyone rides in the wagons while they’re traveling. Oh! That means we’d have to get you new veils! And gloves!”

Aqua laughed as her familiar started to form a list of needed items out loud.

“I wonder if we’d have to make our own wagon, or if we can borrow one. If that’s the case, then we’d have to spend time building it. And we can build it to have faux windows! It would be perfect, and no one would ever know! And if they do ask, we just say you have severe allergies to various pollen. We’ve done it before, and no one’s asked after. And since we’d be traveling somewhere new, it would be an even better excuse!

“But what about your feedings? We can’t use the same person every time- it would look suspicious. Trying to go after someone different would be weird too. If it’s someone from the camp, they’d pick up a pattern pretty quickly. And there’s no guarantee there’d be wildlife where we go… We might have to work on that. If only there was a way to preserve plasma for long periods of time!”

A smile was on Aqua’s face, and it surely wasn’t going away anytime soon. Everything was just as it should be.

For now.

She didn’t want to admit it, but Sabrina spent the next morning taking too long trying to reach for a hand that wasn’t there. She knew it wouldn’t be there, but she still tried.

The bed felt a lot colder too, now that she thought about it.

Curse that idiot.

Curse him to the best-worst place in all the cosmos. He deserved every inch of it.

And yet, every bit of her felt light. The good mood allowed her to pick out one of her favorite skirts before heading out to the campfire for breakfast. She must have slept in, considering the only ones still around were her caretakers. She must have also been smiling, or otherwise looked far off, because Papa gave her a rather bemused double take.

“Did you sleep well last night?” he carefully probed.

“You know? I think I did.” Sabrina agreed, her voice sounding as if she was just finding this out now.

“Is the boy that came last night still here?” Mama then inquired.

Sabrina shook her head.

“He couldn’t stay. The schedule’s kinda rigid back at home for him.” A small pause. “Not that I wouldn’t mind him staying over again.”

Her caretakers exchanged a knowing look with each other- they knew something about Sabrina that it would take her years, if ever, to fully understand. And the thought pleased them, to say the least.

“Are you hungry?” Mama asked. “There are still some omelets left over. Plenty of fresh fruit too.”

“Did someone manage to find strawberries?”

“They did!”

“Then I’ll take the rest.”

The small family laughed. Breakfast then went on rather smoothly. She talked with her caretakers about her adventures while riding, and giving cryptic remarks on her time with Ventus when her caretakers asked about them. None of them noticed as a man came walking up to camp.

“Pardon me.” a new voice spoke up. Sabrina and her caretakers looked to the voice. It was a young man with brown hair and determinate blue eyes. He looked to her caretakers before zoning in on Sabrina herself.

“Are you the maiden with the white steed that glides through the woods at night?” he asked. His voice was stern and clear.

“I am she.” Sabrina agreed. “Who are you, and what brings you to ask?”

The mysterious man bowed to her.

“My name is Terra. I’ve come a long way in search of what lurks in the castle overlooking the village. I was hoping that you would aid my knowledge. Many of the villagers do not know you by name, but have seen you close to the area.”

Sabrina cocked an eyebrow. She looked the man over from head to toe. He dressed rather practically, for what it was worth. His well defined abdominal muscles faintly pressed against a black, long sleeved cotton top. The canvas trousers he wore sported the same deep brown as his coat- which in and of itself looked quite worn at the ends of the collar and back paneling. Even more noticeable were his boots. Made of rough leather, they were exceptionally clean for someone who must have trekked through some mud to get to the traveler’s camp. To finish the look off, the mysterious man wore elbow length work gloves and a shallow, wide brimmed hat that wouldn’t last long in higher winds.

After taking in his physical features, Sabrina noticed something almost poking out from the coat’s semi-closed lining. The man was wearing a leather belt across his chest- attached to one of the loops was a stake pointed and poised for an attack. Seeing this, Sabrina put on a sickeningly sweet smile.

This man was a vampire hunter.

Well then.

This poor sucker had no idea what he was in for.

#kingdom hearts fanfiction #kingdom hearts #Ventus #Sabrina #Aqua #luxmoogle

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daybreak-academy-fanfic · 3 months

Text

Kingdom Hearts AU: Lay in the Fire: Part 3

Summary: In which Ventus presents Aqua a traveler to feed on, with the promise that she will keep her alive. Things get messy from there.

Notes: Another thing based on luxmoogle’s vampire AU. Sponsored by Tove Lo’s Come Undone from her studio album, Sunshine Kitty. Much longer this time and with 60% of my usual shenanigans. 😘

Word Count: 2,495

Series: Stupid Kids: 1. Drink Deep: 1, 2, [3], ???

AO3 Link: here

Aqua was no fool. She knew the moment when both Ventus and Sabrina looked to her that something was amiss. When Ven came to the library as promised, he didn’t so much as acknowledge Aqua. She only let it go because she knew her familiar was still a child -a human- with all the growing pains and emotions that went with it.

Even though they would all be rather trivial in the long run.

The two sat in their usual places as they read. Tension slowly filled the room with each turn of the page. Each little flutter of paper was becoming a grinding wood saw instead. It was unbearable. Aqua had to break the silence.

“Did you two have a good walk?”

“It was alright.”

Aqua pursed her lips together. The cheerful, almost lovestruck, Ventus from this morning was gone completely. This wasn’t normal.

“Ven, did something happen?” Aqua gently probed.

Everything in Ventus’s body clenched. She gave him time, but the answer was killing her. Just as she assumed he wouldn’t say anything at all, he asked a question in a voice she didn’t recognize.

“Why did you do it?”

“Pardon?”

Ventus looked at his master. A fire was laid in his eyes. A fury that Aqua could barely remember the last time she’d seen firsthand.

“You promised me, Aqua! You promised you would hold back!”

Aqua gently closed her book, planning on giving her familiar a gentle talk. It was easy to forget things you always knew- especially when a new variable was added to the usual routines.

“Ven, you know it’s not always easy to-” she started, but he cut her off quickly by slamming his hands into the table.

“I don’t care! You ruined her trust in me! In us! You could control it if you wanted to, and you didn’t!”

Aqua’s eyebrows furrowed. “Now wait a minute-”

Ventus stood up. A storm was pouring now, and there was no calming it.

“She knew you were watching Aqua. She knew without us even talking about it! I like her, Aqua. But I can’t get close when you don’t trust me enough to be alone. With anything. You’re suffocating, Aqua. There are times when I just… just hate you!”

Now it was Aqua’s turn to stand up.

“Ventus, you will not talk to me like that.” she warned. It only added fuel to the fire.

“I want to travel with her, Aqua. I want to explore the world just like she does. But I can’t. I can’t because of YOU.” He pushed back angered tears before finally hitting on an explosive thought. “You know what? I hate that I’m your familiar! I can’t do anything alone because you’re there even if I didn’t want you to be, every emotion is shared, barely any thoughts and most actions I have are my own, and it’s so… so BULLSHIT! You should have killed me when you had the chance. I bet baby humans taste a lot like veal. Then you’d just be some sad old lady in an empty old castle, wearing the skin of a-”

“Silence!” Aqua demanded.

Ventus’s mouth immediately snapped closed. His eyes, however, flashed with incredible hatred, and his fists were clenched tight enough to turn his knuckles white. Even though he couldn’t verbally communicate now at Aqua’s wish, his body still made his emotions obvious.

It took everything in Aqua to calmly walk closer to him. Standing tall, Aqua refused to look weak at a moment like this. There were still rules. This was still her castle. And he, for better or worse, was her familiar and he would listen in one way or another. He had to.

“You knew the risks, Ventus. You accepted them, and still are. There is no turning back from that.”

Ven’s glare darkened.

“Furthermore, I wouldn’t have let you undertake those trials if I didn’t think you could handle them. To commit to them. I’ve made a mistake, yes, but letting you become my familiar is not. Always remember that.”

Ven slowly unclenched his fists, but his face remained steely.

“We can discuss Sabrina’s visit more in the morning.” the vampire then told him. “When we’re able to think with clearer heads. Now, resume as you were, and good night.”

At first, all Ventus could do was shake his head. With permission to speak once more, the only words he said to her were “You’re awful, Aqua.” before leaving. She did not stop him. Her anger also had to calm at this point before pursuing him further. Aqua’s gaze turned downward, noticing the book Ven had been reading. It was a novel based on a ballet.

Its name was Giselle.

It was late at night when the door to the guest room opened. Sabrina, far too deep into sleep, didn’t notice. Like a ghost, Aqua strode in without a sound. She went to the bedside and looked over the sleeping traveler. The young woman’s naturally light-curled hair spread behind her as she slept on her side. It would have made for a beautiful painting; a beauty with coal black hair and snow white skin that glowed under the moonlight, dancing in careless circles across the haunted woods. The spirit of midnight wildlife itself.

“Why are you so special to him?”

Aqua raised her hand to graze it over the traveler’s cheek. Sabrina stirred, slightly, but did not wake up. Unafraid of being caught, Aqua moved her hand from Sabrina’s face to her neck. There she could feel the pulse of a heart that refused to cease beating. It had been through much this past day. It could have also been seen as mocking. Blood had the voice of its owner, after all.

Instinct told Aqua to kill the young woman. She had already lost so much blood, and oh-so much could be regained within a day. One last long, deep drink would do the trick. Just like last time. Aqua could dispose the body right outside the travelers’ camp. No one would be any the wiser.

But Ven would know. It would be impossible for him not to.

Aqua carefully pulled her hand away. Staring at Sabrina for several moments, she then bent down low to the traveler’s ear.

“I don’t know whether to bless you, or to curse you.” Aqua admitted in a soft, low voice. “You’re neither sweet or sour either, so perhaps that’s natural.”

Aqua’s lips touched the traveler’s earlobe.

“Does he really make you happy? Show me, traveler.”

A small groan escaped Sabrina’s lips as Aqua moved away. She moved and shifted in the bedsheets as if she were threatening to waken in defiance. Soon, what seemed to start as discomfort became pure contentment. Even a smile crossed the traveler’s lips.

“Ven…” Sabrina sighed in a single breath, still fully asleep.

Aqua was beginning to understand the pieces she couldn’t before. She left the room as quietly as she entered.

The vampire’s next bedroom visit was to her familiar. He also was sleeping at this point of the night.

He had gone to sleep angered. Ven’s body was bunched in a tempered child-like position and his brow very noticeably furrowed. If he was dreaming, they were surely filled with angered images of Aqua herself.

“Is she that important to you?”

Aqua sat at the edge of Ven’s bed before gently rubbing her thumb against his forehead. It was something she used to do when he was much smaller. Nothing ever gave her more of a shock than noting just how tiny he was, but how strong his heart would shine. Even now, three times that height, Aqua couldn't quite believe it. He was still so young, yet so experienced. No other familiar could outshine the one Aqua had chose. No one would ever compare. He would be hers for now and ever- their lives dependent on each other. It made so much sense. It was meant to be.

But was it enough?

“Share the same dream with her, only for tonight. Let it be my first apology.”

Aqua watched as her familiar’s body went from clenched anger to relaxed calm. A small sigh escaped from his lips. His subconscious mind was now in a much better place. In a world of dreams, he and the traveler could have all the time in the world. They could travel the universe together, dance for months without another soul to stop them, and even indulge in a bliss that only came from close intimacy. It would be the perfect dream.

Aqua got up, making her way to the door. She took one last look at Ventus as he slept.

“I can’t let you go. Not now.”

And with that, she quietly closed the door.

A bath was waiting for Sabrina when she stepped into the washroom that morning. Still very, very hot, she wondered for a moment if they kept a pet dragon around the castle too. She smirked as she went to her bag to pull out two bottles of bath oils. They were of her favorite scents- lavender and peppermint. Each bottle got three drops exactly into the hot water, then carefully swirled around with her own hand.

Once satisfied, Sabrina stripped down to her essentials. A small hiss escaped her lips as her toes entered the water, but it did not stop her from getting in further. It felt good, she wouldn’t lie about that.

“Another bride, another groom, another sunny… honeymoon. Another season, another reason, for making whoopee..” Sabrina started to sing. She had no reason for it- but she also hadn’t had a good hot bath in awhile. Who wouldn’t want to sing?

“Picture a little love nest, down where the roses cling. Picture that same sweet love nest, see what a year can bring. He’s washing dishes, and baby clothes. He’s so ambitious- he even sews! But don’t forget folks, that’s what you get folks, for making whoopee.”

Sabrina picked up the sponge provided and gently applied soap to its surface. She admired her own body as the sponge glided over her arms and legs. The place where Aqua had fed was healing pretty well. At this point Sabrina could almost say a bug bit her. Or perhaps a very perturbed rabbit.

“Another year, or maybe less, she feels neglected, and he’s suspected… of making whoopee.”

Bubbles filled the bath as she continued to give her body a good shrub. She was going to drag this out as long as possible. Getting to bathe in a castle was already a dream to many- to do it while a vampire was also present was the wet dream of risk takers everywhere.

“He doesn’t make much money- only five thousand per. Some judge who thinks he’s funny, says you’ll pay six to her. He now says ‘Judge, suppose I fail?’ The judge says, ‘Then drudge… on off to jail!’ You better keep her. You’ll find it’s cheaper. Than making whoopee.”

Finishing the song, Sabrina afforded a small laugh before sinking further into the bubbles. This was heaven.

After willing herself out of the bath, Sabrina dressed in a tunic and riding breeches. Her cape would suffice for a cover in this weather. Not that it mattered when wind hit you in whatever direction it wanted when you were flying. What did matter was having her hair also flying in whichever direction, and so she carefully pulled it back into a ponytail. Before leaving the bedroom, Sabrina looked herself over in the mirror. She smiled at the reflection.

“What a bitch.”

Giving herself a wink, Sabrina left the room.

The one good thing about coming in through the castle from its front was now knowing how to get to the dining hall from the guest quarters. Which also meant she could grab something quick to eat before attending to her neglected horse. Even better was the absolute lack of castle staff. She didn’t need to run into anyone who would have questioned her. Just one slip into the kitchen, picking out some fruit for her and Nightmare…

“If you wait a bit longer, I’m sure Ven could make a more substantial meal for you than two apples.”

“Es Cristo.” Sabrina cursed. She spun around to find Aqua within two arm’s lengths of her.

Aqua smirked. “Surprised you, did I? That’s a first.”

“I’m usually expecting you to be stalking around.” Sabrina shot back. “Not right behind me.”

Sabrina looked down. A part of her suddenly felt guilty for taking food from the kitchen. The other part wondered why the hell that mattered when the person standing in front of her had almost drank her dry not two days before. Either way, she know felt like she had to explain herself without an escort to vouch for her.

“I wanted something quick to eat before taking Nightmare for a ride. She’s been in that stable alone for a few days now- I’m sure she’s getting antsy.” A small pause, then, “Am I allowed to come back after?”

“Is there a reason for you not to?”

Sabrina gave a slow nod. So the vampire didn’t dislike her that much. Was that a good sign? Would she fake it because of Ventus? There were still quite a few things Sabrina didn’t understand about Aqua, but for right now it wasn’t her priority.

Her neglected horse, on the other hand, absolutely was.

Once Sabrina had left, Aqua went on to arrange her own morning snack. She hummed as she worked. She also didn’t turn around when Ven entered the kitchen.

“I can make you breakfast.” he told her. Even in his voice, she could tell that he had furrowed his eyebrows. “You’re still my master.”

“There’s no need,” Aqua dismissed with a wave of her hand. “As much as I enjoy how much effort you put into meals, I would like to make something of my own for once. Something simple.”

Ven raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll work on Sabrina’s breakfast instead.”

“She won’t need it.”

Ven’s whole body froze.

“Why not?” he questioned. There was a small pause, then an almost accusatory, “What did you do?”

“I assure you, I did nothing to her.” she assured him. “She’s taking care of her horse this morning. I believe she plans on coming back after.”

“That’s… good.” her familiar mumbled, taking back his emotions slightly.

“Would you prefer that she went back to her people?”

For this, Ven didn’t answer.

For the first time since the conversation started, Aqua turned to face Ven proper. She gave him a mysterious smile.

“The phonograph in the ballroom is still working, I believe.” she then told him. “It might do someone good to have a little light exercise there.”

The thought caught Ven off guard.

“Huh?” was the first reaction. “What are you…?”

Aqua continued to smile before leaving him to consider what she was implicating. When it finally hit him, Ven flushed a deep red.

“Oh.”

#kingdom hearts fanfiction #kingdom hearts #Ventus #Sabrina #Aqua #luxmoogle

2 notes · View notes

daybreak-academy-fanfic · 3 months

Text

Kingdom Hearts AU: Lay In The Fire: Part 2

Summary: In which Ventus presents Aqua a traveler to feed on, with the promise that she will keep her alive. Things get messy from there.

Notes: Another thing based on luxmoogle’s vampire AU. Sponsored by Tove Lo’s Come Undone from her studio album, Sunshine Kitty. Much longer this time and with 60% of my usual shenanigans. 😘

Word Count: 3,117 words

Series: Stupid Kids: 1. Drink Deep: 1, >2<, ???

AO3 Link: here

Ven felt a bit better the next day. Preparing a meal for one more person kept him a bit busier than usual. He still gave Aqua her morning meal, as per the rules of a standard house.

“You’re really happy this morning,” Aqua noted with a slight tease in her voice.

“Am I?” Ven mused. Not once did he look up from arranging Aqua’s meal in front of her. The motions were far too familiar to mess up. “Haven’t really noticed.”

Aqua let out a light laughter.

“You know,” she then entertained, placing her handkerchief in her lap, “You can tend to her while I eat. I can clean up as well so you have time to redress her wounds.”

Ventus almost tripped. “Really?!”

His master gave a firm nod.

“Thank you Aqua!” he gratefully said. He gave her arm a quick squeeze to further show his appreciation, as hugging her was a bit complicated at the moment, before dashing back into the kitchen. Aqua couldn’t help but let out another laugh.

Ven almost tripped multiple times as he got Sabrina’s breakfast ready. His gait was all but a skip as he took the tray to the guest quarters. Making it through the door almost led to another near-spill. When he looked to the bed, his surprise caused him to jump, making the liquids on the tray fall out of their vessel.

“You’re sitting up!” Ven gleefully remarked. “Are you feeling better today?”

“Watch this.” Sabrina taunted. With some effort, she scooted her body close to the edge of the bed, then brought her legs down to the floor. Nervous, Ventus quickly put the tray down on the washstand but he didn’t need to help. Sabrina was standing on her own. A bit wobbly, perhaps, but certainly not bedridden anymore.

“Practiced all morning before you got here,” she even boasted, giving him a wink and a click of her tongue.

“Are you sure that’s safe for you right now?” Ven carefully asked.

Sabrina sat down at the edge of the bed.

“I traveled while having cold sweats from a fever. I almost got thrown off a horse because it got spooked by an animal. I had my blood taken from an actual vampire, and lived to tell the tale so far. I think working on standing again with the safety of a bed behind me is the safest thing I could probably do.”

Ven laughed- one riddled with more concern than amusement.

“You really don’t give up, do you?”

“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.” She told him in a firm tone. “Now bring that tray over here, I’m hungry.”

“And there she goes,” Ven mused with a roll of his eyes, picking up the tray regardless, “Boasts about herself and not giving a lick of gratitude to someone who spent all morning on her meal.”

“Because I haven’t tasted it yet,” she informed him. “Give it.”

“Alright, alright. Sheesh.”

Ventus did not trust Sabrina’s motor skills the same way she did, so he placed the tray beside her on the bed. He then sat on the other side, just in case she needed help.

And, boy, did Sabrina try not to need any help this morning. She took her slice of toast (topped with marmalade and watercress) and carefully picked at it so she could take smaller bites. It was a test to herself. She had proven that enough of her gross motor skills were functioning well enough, now it was time to prove her fine motor skills too.

She took her time, making it look like a practiced stage production. While she sat tall, Ven idly considered for a moment that it wasn’t a surprise her caretaker called her princess. Her manners while eating were perfect despite the unconventional dining area. The consideration she took on what to eat was looked over with a critical eye. She even held her pinkie out while drinking from the teacup! Had he not been sitting near her so casually, it would have been easy to mistake Ventus for Sabrina’s servant instead of Aqua’s.

“You rushed this, didn’t you?” Sabrina asked once she had finished everything on the tray.

Ven jumped with a start.

“H-how?” he started to stammer. He quickly shook his head. “I mean, Aqua is always given her meals first. Being lady of the castle has that privilege.”

Sabrina nodded. “Naturally.”

“This morning she gave me permission to send you breakfast instead of waiting and cleaning up for her. I guess the change of pace made me rush a bit. But most everything was done beforehand- around the same time I made Aqua’s breakfast.”

That made Sabrina quirk an eyebrow. She didn’t say anything against it, though.

“Was it bad?” Ven ventured to ask as he got up, taking the tray with him.

Sabrina gave an indifferent shrug. Once more, not truly bothering to elaborate on her thoughts.

“Well…” Ven awkwardly went on to say, “If you need anything, let me know. When you feel up to it, I can help you around the main areas of the castle as well.”

Ventus did not wait for her to respond. Instead he made his way to the door. Just as he touched the handle, Sabrina declared,

“Wait.”

Ven did so at the same speed when Aqua requested something from him. He turned to look at Sabrina again.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Sabrina laid back on the bed, apparently well worn from a good meal and making her body return to its usual productivity.

“Since this is a castle, my princess self would like to know something.”

Ven raised an eyebrow, carefully shuffling the tray in his hands.

“What is it?”

Sabrina's mouth became a cunning smirk. “Any secret passages? You know, in case the villagers decide to plan a siege against the monster on the hill.”

Ven blinked. The thought lulled around in his brain for a bit longer before realizing what she was truly asking.

“There is one.” he agreed. “But it’s quite a walk, are you sure you want to explore it?”

“As if I have anything else to do than benchmark myself.”

The familiar looked the traveler over. Soon a smile etched across his lips with excitement.

“Now?” he asked, just to be sure.

“Give or take.”

His smile grew even wider.

“Let me return and clean these dishes, and then I’ll come back up.” he promised. “As much as I trust your ability to stand, I don’t feel the same about your walking just yet.”

“What a gentleman.” Sabrina smirked.

Her sassiness wasn’t going to stop him now. Ventus finally opened her door to head back to the kitchen, his steps were light and giddy. Before going back to her, he went to check on Aqua. It was routine by now that she would be reading in the library. Always the same spot, but not always the same book.

“Sabrina and I are going for a walk.” Ventus announced to his master. “She wants to see the emergency corridor. If that’s alright by you.”

Aqua looked up. For a moment Ven swore he saw a flicker of concern, but Aqua’s voice was as calm as ever.

“So long as she doesn’t plan on sending her kind after us, I do not mind at all. Will you still be joining me afterward?”

“Of course!”

“Then go. I’m sure she’s practically out the door as we speak.”

Ventus nearly jumped for joy.

“Thank you so much, Aqua! You have no idea how much it means to me!”

And with that, he bolted out of the room. Aqua had to give a small laugh. The small worry she had for her familiar, however, lingered.

Sabrina was not at all charmed by the entrance to the escape corridor. It wasn’t well hidden considering its location- the buttery. The stone door with an impressive arch had more than enough space around it to know it was a door you could go through. Sure, you had to navigate through a few racks of wine, and multiple barrels of still fermenting juices, but anyone could have seen it.

“This is a choice.” she decided with a disappointed click of her tongue.

Ven, who had been opening the door, took a look back at her.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

Sabrina used her arms to gestures around them.

“The buttery? That’s where the secret escape route is?”

Ven gave a small shrug. “I think it’s pretty clever,” he admitted. “I mean, think about it. The kitchen and the dining hall are the heart of any building. The buttery is usually only used by servants- no one else would know it exists. Not even average guests.”

“But the door isn’t even hidden.”

“Some of the most obvious things are. Also happens to the most dangerous things too.”

With a grunt, Ven was able to push the door open. Sabrina took a few steps forward to see what she would be dealing with. The corridor wasn’t much to speak of- both walls and steps made out of the same stone that the rest of the castle was laid in. There were no slits in the walls for minuscule lighting. Once that door closed, the two were going to be in pitch black darkness until their eyes adjusted.

“This is already a lot more steps than I was expecting.” Sabrina mumbled.

“It’s all about the perspective. Imagine trying to descend them with angry villagers at your door.” Ven mused, meaning for it to be a joke. All he got back in return was a perplexed glare.

With the plath open, the duo began the trek downward. Ventus remained ahead of Sabrina, guiding her down the steps even though the darkened path was more than clear. There was only one exit at this point, after all.

Ven had only gone down this secret path a few times in his life so far. The first was when he was much, much younger, and Aqua wanted to ensure his safety in case someone came for her. Every time after was to make sure it was still secure. It was a path he would take when flying in owl form wouldn’t have been safe. In good time, he could make the path down in less than 10 minutes. His record so far was roughly seven minutes and twenty-eight seconds.

With Sabrina still weak, the time it took was quite a bit longer than that. They had to pause three times just for her to sit and catch her breath again. At one point Sabrina had made them stop for so long, he worried that she had fallen asleep again. By the time they got to the other side, a door matching one that started the journey greeting them, the afternoon sun was already starting to wane.

“Help me with the door.” Ven told Sabrina. “We have to pull it open.”

“Right.” she agreed with a nod.

Using what looked like large brass knockers, Ventus and Sabrina took a firm hold before pulling as hard as they could. Slowly and carefully, the door started to move from the frame, allowing light to stream through before it became almost blinding.

“Oh wow.” Sabrina remarked once her eyes adjusted to the outside light again. She moved forward without waiting for Ventus. On the other side of the emergency corridor was a beautiful meadow filled with sweet smelling flowers that Sabrina wouldn’t even begin to name. The sunlight bounced off each one like jewels. By the time Ven closed the door and noticed she was nowhere near him, Sabrina had already ventured to the near middle of it all. She unconsciously found herself starting to sit down in the flowers. Her arms laid out beside her as if she were comfortable in bed all over again.

“You okay over there?” Ven mused once he was next to her again. He also started to lay down, keeping his hands over his stomach and just close enough to her that no little stem blocked his view of her calm face.

“Shut up, there are poppies in these flowers.” she told him- far less bite in her voice than usual. “Just let me relax. Those stairs were steep and many.”

Ven chuckled a little, but did as she requested. He gazed up at the clouds with mirth. One was shaped like a lumpy crown. Another looked like three circles joined together to make a pair of mouse ears.

A small noise started to come near Ven. It took him a moment to realize Sabrina was humming. The thought of it caught him off guard, to say the least.

“Papa taught me that song,” Sabrina then said- shocking Ven even more. As if she sensed his astonishment, she added, “I can feel you staring at me. You do that a lot.”

“How can you tell? Your eyes are closed.”

“Despite current circumstances, my fight or flight reactions are still an active part of me. Being stared at invokes those, you know.”

“Ri-ight.” Ven smirked. Then a small thought came to him. Before he could stop himself, he had to ask, “Why do you leave your family so often? They worry about you just as much as Aqua worries about me.”

Sabrina raised and lowered a shoulder in indifference.

“It’s quiet here. And that’s a commodity back there.” she claimed. She turned her head to him- her dark eyes now open and bearing into his soul. “Isn’t that why you left your family for Aqua? For solitude? To find yourself? I can tango with a vampire because of you. But who -or what- led you here?”

Ven’s body clenched slightly. He looked away from her. A cloud passing by looked like a bird.

“I didn’t know my family before Aqua. I was abandoned on her steps as a baby.” he admitted. “I wouldn’t leave her for anything. That’s why I want to be her familiar.”

Sabrina looked Ven over.

“I bet you would have been a traveler.”

Surprised, he looked back at her.

“What makes you think that?”

“Not every caravan picks up strays like mine does.” she said, simply enough. “Then again, there has to be strays to take in to being with, don’t you think?” A small pause. “You’re so lucky Aqua claimed you before Papa and Mama did. You’d be twice as fat and probably married off by now.”

“Gee, what an opportunity I’ve missed.” Ven chortled. Even Sabrina had to laugh a bit at the thought- not that she thought herself wrong, either.

“Besides,” she went on, looking up at the clouds as well, “Is there anyone else in the village that looks uncannily like you? Not a bit. There’s only one sense of your helpless idiocracy around here, and it belongs to you only.”

“Thanks…?”

“You know I always give the best compliments.”

“And being incredibly humble too.”

“Now you understand.”

They both laughed. The sound of their shared content fluttered through the flowers like butterflies. As silence came in, peace joined with it. A breath between them was the simplest form of intimacy between the duo at the moment.

“I’m so delirious right now.” Sabrina laughed to herself. To Ven she said, “You wanna know a secret, Ven?”

“What could you have that would be worse than ‘I’m a familiar’ and ‘the one I’m tied to is a vampire’?”

That got her to laugh. He liked her laugh. Her real laugh. It didn’t happen all that often.

“I’ve called myself a changeling before.”

Ven quirked an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

Sabrina nodded. “One of the Willis, specifically. Faerie spirits of heartbroken women whose lovers abandoned them. Usually at the altar, or for another woman.”

“Oh…” Ven moved a bit before venturing to ask, “So you’ve been in a relationship… that ended badly?”

To his surprise, she shook her head.

“Not really. Mostly because I can’t connect with people outside the caravan long enough to have a comfortable relationship.”

“Are you in a relationship now?”

Sabrina lulled her head over to look at him. Her smirk was particularly mischievous as she asked, “Why? Jealous?”

“No!” Ventus immediately blurted out. He then caught himself, giving a small, forced cough before correcting with, “I mean, you called it a comfortable relationship, not a meaningful one. Or even a loving one. What does a comfortable relationship mean to you?”

For a long time, she didn’t answer. When she did, her voice was much, much darker than what it had been moments prior.

“She’s watching us right now, isn’t she?”

“Huh?” was Ven’s first reaction. His next was knowing exactly who she was talking about. Of course he knew Aqua was watching. As much as she liked Sabrina, there were still many things the vampire had to accept before fully trusting the human. Leaving her familiar alone with one for too long (and still so close to her grounds) was one of them.

“Aqua doesn’t have anything to do with our conversation, Sabrina.” Ven told her, his voice taking a more defensive tone.

Sabrina carefully worked to sit up. Ven mirrored her, knowing and fearing the direction their talk was heading into.

Sabrina’s eyes only narrowed at having his eye contact. “Where is she, Ventus?” she once more asked.

Vne could feel the small flare of anger course through his body. And yet, his eyes betrayed him- flicking to a certain window in the castle where, indeed, Aqua was watching them under the guise of needing more light to read her book. Sabrina’s glance matched his own. She didn’t see Aqua. But she knew. She could feel that gaze like she could with Ven right next to her.

“I’m going to bed.” she decided, groaning slightly as she worked her weary body up to its feet.

Ven’s heart immediately felt like someone had dunked it in icy water.

“What? Why?!” he asked, also scrambling to his feet. “It’s barely time for dinner yet.”

Sabrina didn’t acknowledge him. She held her word in making her way back to the castle. It even looked like she would walk back around to the front entrance instead of taking the emergency corridor again.

“Sabrina!” Ven called out, both desperate and exasperated at this point. It was what got her to stop. She looked back at him- her face blank.

“I’ve lost a lot of blood, and I’m tired.” she told him, simply enough. “You can help me back, but don’t expect any more sincere talks.”

Ven’s mouth floundered for a moment. Eventually, all he could do was nod. He let her take the lead, and not a single word was had between them for the rest of the day.

#kingdom hearts fanfiction #kingdom hearts #Ventus #Sabrina #Aqua #luxmoogle

2 notes · View notes

daybreak-academy-fanfic · 3 months

Text

Kingdom Hearts AU: Lay In The Fire: Part 1

Summary: In which Ventus presents Aqua a traveler to feed on, with the promise that she will keep her alive. Things get messy from there.

Notes: Another thing based on luxmoogle’s vampire AU. Sponsored by Tove Lo’s Come Undone from her studio album, Sunshine Kitty. Much longer this time and with 60% of my usual shenanigans. 😘

Word Count: 2,813 words

Series: Stupid Kids: 1. Drink Deep: >1<, 2, ???

AO3 Link: here

A lone snowy owl sat on a turret from the old, abandoned castle. Small for its type, but no less sharp, it was waiting for something. The vantage point from the turret was excellent to get a sense of the world surrounding. Nothing could escape the eyes of a keen owl from here.

In the village, many were asleep. Those who were not still lingered around the tavern, or kept a candle burning for the chores that couldn’t be done during the day. Servants for a local lord were also out and about. Many were off duty, others were likely gathering secrets to report to their master later.

The owl could even see the outskirts of the traveler camp. An odd troupe, those. Their presence led to crowding of the market streets and the rise of noise complaints. Many were unfounded, some were very rarely justified. The travelers did what they could to survive (it was why they traveled to begin with), and being a momentary nuisance simply came with that. They had made camp there barely a week ago. They would likely leave in a month’s time. When they would be back was determined by many factors, but the current rate seemed to be every year and a half if the weather worked in their favor- or if better land was found.

A small fleck of white in the woods caught the owl’s attention. Coming through the trees was a pure white horse. It moved through with practiced dexterity; almost becoming a phantom in its speed. On it was a maiden with a long velvet cape and wavy hair pulled into a bun, partially kept in place by several meticulously placed braids. The owl sat a bit straighter now.

This was who it was waiting for.

Horse and maiden made their way closer to the castle. The owl left its post as the duo were almost to the castle’s gates. It reached the gates the same moment the other two did.

Seeing the owl and blocked gates caused the maiden to pull on her horse's reins.

“Whoa, Nightmare.” the maiden commanded. The horse did as it was instructed.

The owl descended to the ground. In a flash, the owl disappeared and in its place was a young man -perhaps not much older than the maiden- with wispy blonde hair and gentle blue eyes.

“You’re late.” the young man told the maiden- a small smirk etched on his lips.

“Don’t even start.” came the short response back. “And never have children, by the way. Gotta wait for those sneaky brats to sleep before you can sneak out.”

The young man smiled. “I’d like to think they take after you, Sabrina.”

“Shut up.”

He couldn’t help it, the young man let out a chuckle at her expense.

The maiden, Sabrina, made a disgusted face as she dismounted from her horse. She gave her beloved companions a few pats, and even an apple she had pulled from a side bag attached to the horse’s saddle.

“You treat that horse better than most men, you know.”

Sabrina looked to him, cocking an eyebrow.

“Jealous, Ventus?”

Ventus -who usually went by Ven in more informal settings- scrunched his nose.

“No way.” he denied.

Now it was Sabrina’s turn to give a bemused snort.

With their odd greetings exchanged, Ventus opened the gates for Sabrina and Nightmare to enter. He didn’t need to tell Sabrina were the stables were- she already knew. This wasn’t her first time inside the castle’s walls. Inside the castle itself was a different story.

“You don’t have to do this.” Ven said to Sabrina as the went through the castle’s foyer. He hadn’t quite meant to say it outloud. A part of him that he couldn’t name was nervous. This was a big moment- for him, for her, for their relationship as a whole…

“And yet, here I am.” came the rather dismissive answer. “Is she waiting in the parlor or the library?”

“Parlor.”

Sometimes Sabrina scared Ventus. Fearless and stubborn, it sometimes gave the impression that she simply didn’t care for her own wellbeing. Sabrina knew better than anyone who Ventus was tied to. This same person she wanted to meet in their own home for once. It felt far too personal. So few have been so close to these walls, let alone want to. And then there was Sabrina. She either really valued the time she was able to share with Ventus, or she secretly had a death wish.

He hoped for the former- his conscience knew the latter had to be true too.Why else would she do this to herself?

Ventus opened the grand doors to the parlor and let Sabrina enter first. Waiting for them there, standing in the middle of the room with their silhouette highlighted by the roaring fire behind them, was the lady of the castle.

“You’re entering the den of a vampire, child.” the blue-haired beauty told Sabrina. “Once that door closes, there will be no turning back.”

“I see greetings used as thinly veiled warnings are absolutely normal here.” Sabrina smirked. “I’m aware of the risks, Aqua. Ventus and I have been talking about it for months through our letters.”

Ven’s face flushed a bright pink at being reminded of the letters. What had started as curiosity had become a regular routine. There were more than a few things Ven had confessed to in their letters together- ones that he had Aqua read over just to make sure he had her permission to say them. Today’s meeting was because of him, and as a joke no less. But now it was real. Now it was no longer a joke.

Aqua was going to drink from Sabrina’s blood in return for spending time with her familiar. A small trade for taking the vampire’s most valuable and beloved possession on excursions away from the safety of home. Not for long or too far away, of course, however a similar trade should still be employed. Nothing ever came for free.

Aqua gave a nod.

“Come,” she bid the young woman. By her own freewill, Sabrina came closer.

“Know that you are safe here, for what it’s worth.” Aqua then told Sabrina. “I promised Ven I would let you live. However, there is always a chance for instinct to take over. Do you accept this risk?”

“A small pain for having a friend, madam.”

Aqua smiled. For what it was worth, she liked Sabrina. Not completely, but enough.

“Ventus, prepare a damp cloth for cleanup.” the vampire then told her familiar.

“Yes ma’am.” Ven agreed with a bow. He took one last glance at Sabrina, his eyes flicking with excitement, before leaving.

“He’ll be back shortly,” Aqua assured Sabrina. “For now, we can begin.”

“Alright,” Sabrina agreed with a nod. “Which arm do you prefer?”

“That is entirely your choice. I wouldn’t recommend your writing arm- the puncture will sting for quite awhile, so I’m told. Are you familiar with bloodletting? Particularly with leeches?”

“I’m familiar with leeches, but I’d never purposely have those things on me.”

Aqua gave her a nod. “I see. Well, for the times those leeches crept up on you, this will feel similar. It may even be done just as quickly.”

“I enjoy how simple you make this seem,” Sabrina smirked as she raised an arm.

“It can be.” Aqua mused with an equally impish smile. “Especially when the other party is more than willing to comply.”

With that, Aqua took a gentle hold of Sabrina’s arm. She could feel the traveler’s blood flow from underneath her fingers. A strong pulse- always a good sign. Aqua’s fangs bore on their own from instinct. Without any further warning, she bit into the soft skin of the traveler.

The initial bite sent a sting up Sabrina’s arm. She flinched at the pain by reaction- being kicked by a horse (which has happened multiple times in her life so far) felt a lot worse. The part that felt the weirdest was Aqua’s gentle sucking and precise tongue gliding over the puncture wound. Not a single drop of blood escaped Aqua’s mouth. In order to distract herself from what she assumed would take only a few moments, Sabrina likened the vampire’s drink to a cat. The concentration, the precise movements, even the not-quite-human texture of the tongue. It was the best she could think of.

Aqua drank in the blood slowly. Blood never tasted the same way twice in her experience. There was something in Sabrina’s blood. Something that stood out. However, Aqua couldn’t quite place it. It certainly wasn’t the blood of another occult- that tended to have a bit of bubbliness to it, like champagne. No.. Sabrina’s blood was… sweet? No, sour. No… Was it possible for the taste to change? Aqua started to drink a bit deeper, to further pin what made this blood so different.

Something was wrong. Sabrina was starting to feel lightheaded. She tried to take calm breaths in and out, figuring that Aqua would let up eventually. The vampire did not. It didn’t even look like she would let up.

“Aqua, I think that’s enough.” Sabrina said. “Some of that still belongs to me.”

Aqua didn’t even slow down.

“Aqua!” Sabrina snapped. “Aqua, stop!”

The young woman tried to pull her arm free, but Aqua’s grip was firm. If anything, she dug her nails in even deeper to keep Sabrina still. It wasn’t going to stop Sabrina. She pulled and tugged with every force she had. Everything was proving to be useless- from the elbow down, Sabrina’s arm might as well had been in rigor mortis. She had no control or agency over it.

And that was rather concerning, to say the least.

“Aqua! Aqua stop, that’s enough!” Sabrina continued to demand. Now she was attempting to use her other hand to force Aqua’s off. Just a bit of leverage, just a little bit of catching her off guard…

“Aqua! Aqua, I’ve lost too much. I’m so dizzy, I can’t stand up much longer. Stop. Stop!”

Panic was the worst thing Sabrina could do, yet it was the only option. Her heart pumping faster only allowed Aqua to drink deeper. That mysterious taste coming in even faster, and becoming even more mystical.

Ventus had no idea how close his timing was. He took one look at the scene and knew exactly what was happening.

“Aqua! Get off of her!” Ventus called out, dropping the wet cloth to get his master off of his friend.

He never needed to touch her. At the sound of her familiar’s voice, Aqua finally let go of the traveler’s arm. But it was too little too late. Sabrina’s sight had already grown dark, and the world cold. Her body hit the ground in a crumpled heap, no longer able to get back up.

You might as well had filled her body with steel. Ironic, considering the lack of iron actually in her body right now.

Her hearing came back first. Someone was near her, scratching some wooden surface and clinking chinaware every so often. The noise grated on her ears. Opening her eyes was more of an annoyance. She could have been lifting weights with the struggle it took. Her eyes recognized light first, then color, and then shapes.

So she was in someone’s bedroom, and it sure as hell was not hers. It was pretty spacious though. The canopy bed she was laying on was as soft as a cloud, while also boosting enough space to fit five other people comfortably. The color of the canopy curtains were faded from age, but constructed from a durable linen- just heavy enough to keep the cold out, while also being light enough to allow a regular airflow. Across the room was a fireplace. The fire inside was burning strong, but not enough to overwhelm the room with smoke. Sabrina lazily considered for a moment that she had fallen into a picture book she had been read as a child- one where the princess took a vow of silence to save her six brothers from being swans forever…

Sabrina lulled her head to the side. Her bedside had a washstand with a moderate space beside the basin for towels and such. It quickly became clear on what had been making the sounds from earlier.

“Scheisse.” she ended up slurring.

Ven, who had been preparing food on the washstand’s open space, didn’t even look over to her. There was a rather bemused grin on his face, however.

“Disappointed?” he playfully asked, pouring water from a pitcher into a tall stoneware cup.

“I’m not dead.” she snapped back- her tone making it hard to tell if she was truly annoyed at the fact, or relieved.

“Are you able to lift your arms yet?” Ven asked as he carefully brought the cup over to her.

Immediately, Sabrina tried to lift the arm Aqua had drank from. A sudden shock of pain coursed through her arm. The hurt escaped as a sharp gasp from the traveler. Ven also gave a flinch in sympathy. Making a disgusted face at herself, Sabrina then worked to raise her other arm. The effort nearly wore her out again- the little lift she had accomplished fell right back onto the bed like a stone.

Sabrina glared at Ven with as much venomosity she could muster.

“Even spiders have the decency to paralyze their victims.” she spat at him.

“You were the one who decided not to go under.” he reminded her.

“And I’d be dead if I had, now wouldn’t I?”

All Ven could do was offer a shrug and bring the cup closer to her lips. Sabrina leaned forward as far as she could, trying not to look desperate for something her body really needed right now. After making sure she had taken several sips, Ven brought the cup back down.

From there, the two were silent.

“Sabrina, I-“

“Don’t apologize for Aqua.”

“But what she did-“

“Is nothing you need to apologize for.” she sharply insisted. “My hands and feet feel like they’re dunked in a bucket of pins. My head is pounding so hard, it’s a double edged sword knowing my heart is still beating at all. You didn’t cause that. If the vampire was truly sorry she broke a promise, she’d be here and not her proxy.”

Ventus stood a bit taller.

“I asked to take care of you.” he informed her.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to.”

“Because you felt guilty.”

Ventus recoiled, refusing to look at Sabrina. His grip on the cup had tightened. So much for asking for a bit of gratitude. Not that he had wanted her to die. He didn’t want that at all. She was safe now in one of the castle’s guest rooms. He brought her a pretty decent meal and plenty of water. Sure, the marks where Aqua had drank looked pretty bad right now, but with a bit of care and medicine, it would clear up in a day or two. Sabrina could return home in four day’s time and no one would suspect a thing.

“Ventus. I’m not mad at you.”

Ven looked up at Sabrina again. She looked so weak- so oddly child-like in vulnerability. His heart clenched the longer they kept eye contact. He diverted his eyes for a moment when he realized he might have been staring a bit too long.

“So… you know German?” he carefully asked. He even absently rubbed the back of his neck for a moment.

“Only the words that matter.” she claimed with a shrug.

“Any other languages you know?”

“Only with the words that matter.” she repeated with a cunning grin. “Wanna know what ‘figa’ means?”

“No thank you,” Ven decided, spinning on his heel to quickly go back to the washstand. Sabrina watched his hustle with an even broader grin. He was kinda cute in his hopeless naivety. Just a little.

“By the way,” Sabrina mused with a click of her tongue. “Are you going to feed me, or is the smell of chicken liver and baked bread just there for torture?”

“Oh! Right!” Ven remembered. “There’s also lentil soup and dandelion tea. What do you want to start with first?”

“Which one would be the least awkward for an invalid such as I?”

“Probably the bread.”

“To feed me like a baby bird?”

“Look, it’s your choice.”

“Fine, fine. Beggars can’t be choosers and all that. Baby bird me, vampire proxy. On the double.”

“Some attitude you have. Guess I'll just hold back on sharing that dark chocolate lava cake Aqua and I were going to have for dinner…”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Well if you’re going to be mean, you’re gonna have to face the consequences.”

“You’re terrible. Horrible. The worst human-like thing on the planet.”

Ven couldn't help but laugh.

#kingdom hearts fanfiction #kingdom hearts #Ventus #Sabrina #Aqua #luxmoogle