#also don’t look too hard at kairi I was running out of steam when i got to her so she looks a little rougher I’m so sorry queen | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thehourglassisempty-blog · 7 years

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Quiet me.

((omg this took so long to think of cuz we’ve done Aqua Ven angst BUT THEN INSPIRATION also this is longer than a drabble. whooops.))

Leave a “Quiet Me” in my ask, and I’ll write a drabble about my character trying to calm yours down [be it from crying, from lashing out, feel free to specify.]

It was high time that Xehanort learned that even broken glass could cut you.

It was an offhand comment. One in retrospect he should have let pass unsaid. He was smarter than that to understand that words held weight to them in certain circumstances, smarter to realize that he wasn’t completely folded into the company of half-pint heroes quite yet and hadn’t exactly earned the privilege.

Ven had made an admirable attempt to best Riku- the co-trainer of these Keyblade Cadets with Merlin and Yen Sid -in a sparring match, but found his speed and rusty skill leaving him face first in the dirt in the wake of even a neophyte Master’s competence.

After Riku gave his critique and encouragement, a short laugh from Ven later had Aqua walking over to take care of him. Like a mother, in how she had instinct to protect. Like a child, in how she never strayed from Ventus’s side.

“Oh? Is this the great and terrible Master Aqua I have come to fear? You’ve softened to nigh uselessness. Mothering a boy that should be weaning off of such things.”

His smile was meant to be good-natured, his words meant to be the subtle insulting antics of close friends. The smile lingered on his features while everyone else fell silent and stared before softening to a slight smirk that didn’t match his troubled brow.

Sora was gaping, his shock and fear perhaps most evident and springing from his sleeve to his open mouth. Kairi had covered her mouth, brows slanted to aid the daggers in her eyes. Donald has covered his face and Goofy was thoughtfully gnawing on his hat with wide eyes. Riku’s gaze- normally dubious when directed at Xehanort -tightened. Lea suddenly burst out laughing, clutching his stomach, which was somewhat of a relief until Xeha realized Lea was laughing at him, not his joke. It was a laugh of absolute pity that wished his poor soul some necessary luck.

Ven and Aqua, meanwhile, had been frozen in a tableau from the moment the words started. The Master crouched in front of her seated charge. Ventus, with those big, round, dopey eyes, had been looking betwixt Xehanort and Aqua several times, fearful, offended.

“H-he didn’t mean-” The boy started, but fell silent. He held up his hand, “Aqua-”

She stood. Like clockwork, smoothly oiled by years of careful discipline as evident by how her joints unrolled with uncanny grace. She waved her hand aside, and in blinding light her blade was drawn.

“Fight me then. Let me show you the Master Aqua you should fear, monster.”

The words were instantly, petrifyingly cold.

Everyone’s gaze trained on Xehanort, who stood there for a moment. He pouted, and in an act of disgruntlement said, “It was a joke, do none of you have any sort of humor?”

“I dunno, Xeha,” Riku replied, “Maybe you and Aqua should take a turn fighting each other, see how you two compare.” The mean-spirited turn didn’t go unnoticed, and he got dagger glares from his two friends. To which he threw up his hands, “Okay, okay, I’ll mediate and make sure things don’t go too far.” He stepped up to help Ven to his feet. The two exchanged words, then a few with Aqua.

“I don’t see the point.” Xeha crossed his arms and turned away, “I was only trying to show camaraderie-”

“That’s... not really how, though.” Sora finally picked his jaw up, “Dude, and you say you think before ya talk.” He then called over to Riku, “And come on, does this really merit a spar?”

Aqua was the one who replied, turning around and brandishing her Keyblade, “We should test each other. It’s in our best interest to get a taste of the enemy, right?”

“Xeha’s our friend now!” Sora sighed, tired of repeating the argument and jutting his neck out further and further into the guillotine, “We make him say sorry and let it be!”

“Sorry.” Xeha agreed, “it was careless-”

“You’re not careless.” Aqua’s eyes narrowed, icicles intent to stab.

Thick silence crawled back in.

Kairi pressed a curl of hair to her mouth before saying, “She’s right.”

Lea only waved his hand, “Bye, Xeha.”

“You’re all enjoying this too much.” Sora sighed.

“I dunno if Master Yen Sid would like this...” Goofy muttered.

“I dunno if King Mickey would, either.” Donald added.

Aqua and Xehanort’s gazes never strayed, meeting each other like mirror twins in cold resolve. Xeha stepped forward and summoned his blades. Riku briefly stepped in to hold his hand between them, “Look, no actual murdering, okay?”

Ven rushed up to Aqua, scared to touch her like this even if they were friends, “Aqua, he’s not worth it!”

Sora shook his head, “You guys can just talk this out, you know! Xeha wanted to make a joke, Aqua’s taking it a little too personally, there we can all go back and-”

“3,” Riku started.

“Guys, come on-”

“2,”

“Riku! you stop that-”

“1.” Riku finished rather apathetically, lifting his hand and backing away.

And instead of instantly clashing blades the two continued standing. Staring. Not even strafing to find the perfect chink in their armor. Just standing and staring as Yen Sid’s new art installation in his courtyard.

“Bor-ing.” Lea yawned, and walked away. Kairi and Ven huddled with worry. Sora was about to ask Donald and Goofy for back up, but snapped his words back when he realized the duo had gone to get people in larger authority than Riku and Aqua.

“I can prove to you my heart is far from weak.” Aqua hissed.

“Far from weak, yes.” Xeha said. “Because you’re more than merely weak. You’re nothing compared to so long ago-”

And with Aqua lashing first, Xeha felt he could be confident in saying he didn’t start it. He could also be confident in getting something out of this by saying her first strike was going right for his face.

There was a cry of alarm that echoed through their little audience as Xehanort and Aqua enacted what was more than a silly spar. It wasn’t a duel, either. It became a macabre dance, her grace and his composure coming together with their skill to gouge the earth beneath their feet and narrowly miss mortal wounds. Riku tried to step in, only to be held back by Kairi and Sora to avoid the path of Aqua’s brutal Thundaja.

“Cut it out!” Sora yelled, “That’s enough!”

Xeha and Aqua came to a standstill only held by the timid tension of Keyblade against ethereal blade, faces inches from each other and hissing like steam summoned by the sweat on their brow.

“How’s this for weak?” Aqua growled. Her voice cracked, a glimpse of what lay beneath.

“Unimpressive.” Xeha answered before jumping away.

To which Aqua replied with a Firaga Burst that left the doors of the tower charred black.

While Xeha tried to find his footing after having to dodge such a thing, he was left on the defensive. No attempt to match her strikes, only attempts to block her strikes heavy with her rage.

At least until Riku and Ven managed to grab Aqua while Sora and Kairi dragged Xeha back. It was hard to tell in the heat of battle, but now that it all had come to a close, what had been taken for sweat on Aqua’s cheeks was tears.

“WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF WEAKNESS?!” She suddenly screamed. While she writhed, Riku and Ven tried to soothe the normally calm master. “WHAT DO YOU KNOW, YOU COWARD!” Xeha shoved Sora and Kairi’s hands off, watching as Aqua tried to resume her vendetta against him. “What do you know when all I’ve seen you do is run before things get too bad? You tried to kill me and guess what?!” Riku and Ven were supporting her now, their eyes downcast and hold soft, “I’m still here, Xehanort! And you’re still here no matter how many times I try to-!” She cut herself off with her own disgusted noise.

Ventus tugged her away from Riku, deciding that she wasn’t murderous anymore and he could handle it, but not without a cold glare. Aqua tried to shove him away, but Ven only wrapped his arm around her shoulders and placed his hand on her arm, “Aqua, that’s enough.” Not harsh. A gentle murmur.

Xeha’s face had become the same unreadable state he’d known for too long. Vacant and detached from whatever he came to witness. He ignored Sora’s scathing “I hope you’re happy” somewhere off to his side. He rolled his shoulder, noticing how sore it was and suddenly realizing the burnt smell under his nostrils was his own clothing.

“It was unimpressive, Master Aqua.” He said, walking forward with a blithe sort of apathy. She raised her head snarling, Ven the only thing from keeping her restrained until Xeha made a small bow and finished, “Impressive is not what I would call your abilities. Perhaps I have every right to be scared of you.”

Aqua’s fury dropped, turning into a knotted mess of confused features.

Their gazes met not with hatred and tension, but some sort of bizarre understanding before Xehanort turned around and hopped up the steps and back into the tower without another word.

When Yen Sid and King Mickey strode through the very same door to glean what order they could from their warriors tearing each other at the seams, they were met with a courtyard stupefied into silence.

#;written in the stars #;the star of fate #;light is brightest in the dark #((this got so lengthy omg???))#thespellweaver

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