cozyrosies

[cozyrosies]

stop why is this so funny??

[cozyrosies]

Requited Desires

Erenville x WoL reader

Description: During an innocent mission, Erenville utters a phrase that has the Warrior of Light reflecting on her relationship with the gleaner, and the desire that lingers under the surface.

NSFW 18+

Sunshine filtered through the foliage of the trees and water sloshed underfoot as you waded through shallow water as swiftly as you could manage. It seemed like everything from your knees down was soaked through thanks to the task your companion had assigned you, but being the Warrior of Light had acclimated you to the discomforts that tended to come hand in hand with adventure.

You finished placing the last of the punutiy feed in the clear water, settling your hands on your hips and giving yourself a satisfied nod. Once you were sure the feed wasn’t going to be disrupted, you began your trek back to where Erenville was distributing his. As you neared the Viera, you heard the water begin to churn as something large and heavy approached. You fell into place next to Erenville, watching with a delighted smile as the full grown punutiy came to a stop in front of him. “There she is,” he stated, and you couldn’t help but direct your gaze towards the handsome Rava.

Though your time spent with Erenville had been somewhat limited, you couldn’t help but admit you’ve developed an attraction to the stoic and thoughtful man. Your admiration ran deep; his knowledge of the different beasts and areas of the realm and his dedication to his job as a gleaner only enhanced the allure already provided by his, admittedly, breathtaking appearance. Dark, smooth skin, eyes of liquid gold, and a velvety soft voice that dripped with unintentional charm every time he deigned to speak. He treated you with nothing but respect, and proved himself to be a gentleman through and through. You often found yourself lost in your own imaginings as you watched him, only to blush and redirect your gaze when his eyes drifted to yours. And perhaps you were just hoping, but you could swear you often felt the heat of his own gaze follow you in return.

You couldn’t help but feel that same heat spread through your body at the thought, only amplified when the Rava opened his mouth once again. “Yes, there’s a good girl,” he praised the punutiy, a pleased smirk on his lips. The phrasing had you drawing in a sharp breath, your face growing pink as it unexpectedly stirred something within you. You cursed Erenville’s sharp hearing when you saw one of his furry ears twitch before he turned to raise a brow at you. You looked away and cleared your throat, unable to hold his intense gaze while his words were still echoing in your head. He was talking to the adorable punutiy for crying out loud! You felt somewhat ashamed for taking something so innocent and twisting it in your head.

Unbeknownst to you, Erenville quickly picked up on the reason for your flushed face, crossing his arms and closing his eyes with a small, knowing smirk before shaking his head. “Come, let us make our way back to the boat. She knows where to go,” he said.

You followed him along the bank, a comfortable silence falling upon the both of you as you trekked through the damp grass. Well, mostly comfortable aside from the fact that your brain kept replaying his words of praise, and imagining how it would feel if they were directed at you in a… less than innocent scenario. Your distraction cost you, foot slipping on a particularly muddy patch and sending you sliding down the bank towards the water.

You yelped in surprise, but a strong hand shot out to grip your arm and tugged you back up. You bumped into Erenville’s solid, warm chest and he placed an arm around your waist to steady you. “Are you alright, my dear?” he asked, and you felt your face heat up once again at not only the unexpected term of endearment, but also in embarrassment at your out of character clumsiness.

“Yes, thank you… I suppose I was a bit lost in my thoughts,” you replied with a small chuckle. You were well aware of the warmth of his arm still around your waist, and you glanced up at him to see his bright gold eyes gazing at you under heavy lids.

“Would you care to enlighten me on the thoughts that had you so… distracted?” Erenville asked, his lilting accent sending shivers down your spine. Your eyes drifted down to his lips for a brief second before meeting his gaze once more, and you swore you could see his eyes darken momentarily.

“I… think I might,” you replied in a low voice, momentarily biting your lower lip. “If we didn’t have rather pressing matters to attend to,” you continue, reminding both him and yourself that Wuk Lamat’s safety was depending on you. He looked at you intensely for another moment before nodding and stepping away, his hand sliding down your spine before releasing you completely.

Erenville cleared his throat before speaking, “let us carry on, then.” The rest of your journey was once again spent in silence, although this time it carried a heavy tension. The way your skin tingled with the memory of a touch, however, left you hoping for the possibility of something… more.

________________________________________

That night, you settled around a campfire with your comrades, hearts lightened thanks to your successful rescue of Wuk Lamat. Laughter broke out over a joke she’d made, your own fading away as you glanced across the fire to see Erenville’s attention focused on you. His golden eyes were molten in the firelight, his expression unreadable. Familiar warmth filled you, and that gave you the courage to hold his intense gaze. One corner of the Rava’s soft lips tilted up, before he redirected his attention back to the story Wuk Lamat was now animatedly telling the group.

When exhaustion finally settled in for most of the party, you dispersed to your bedrolls while the fire died down to nothing but glowing embers. You lay on your own for what felt like an eternity, thanking the stars that you were far enough away from the others that you didn’t have to suffer Alisaie’s snoring (though she would never admit to doing such a thing). You had turned on your side and closed your eyes for a couple of minutes, planning to drift off into sleep, when you heard soft footsteps approaching.

Years of training and living almost consistently at the edge of danger had you tensing up, quickly looking over your shoulder only to find Erenville, hardly more than a shadow in the dying firelight, standing over your bedroll. He had removed his ever present rucksack, and now only donned his undershirt and trousers. A soft breath escaped you at the sight, his lean but defined muscles much more obvious without the layers of clothing.

“If you tell me to go right now, I’ll walk back to my bedroll and leave you be. Should you ask me to stay, however… I cannot promise to be a proper gentleman,” he purred, voice low and full of dark promises. You turn his words over in your head, but only for a moment.

“Stay, Erenville,” you requested, voice breathy with need. His gaze was heavy lidded as he waited a beat before quietly settling behind you, his larger form pressing against your own. You turned your head to look at him, your eyes filled with the same need you saw reflected in his own. His gloveless hand reached to caress your neck, breaths mingling, before he finally leaned in and pressed his supple lips to yours. Excitement and anticipation flooded you, your mind racing at the confirmation that the Rava seemed to want you as much as you wanted him. The kiss was tender for all but a moment, before Erenville’s lips forced yours open and his tongue slipped through.

You had long ago determined that Erenville was a serious and task-focused man, and you now realized this same focus applied to more than just his job as a gleaner. He kissed you slowly but thoroughly, his tongue attentively sliding along yours in a way that had you moaning into his mouth. The Viera’s hand slid down from where he loosely gripped your neck, brushing over the curves of your breasts and making you arch into his touch. When he reached your waist, he paused and broke the kiss to rest his forehead against yours, both of your breaths labored as you gazed at each other. “Do you want more, darling?” he asked, his voice lower and more sultry than you’d ever heard.

“Yes, Eren- please…” you begged, back arching and bottom pressing back against his narrow hips and making him hiss through his teeth at the friction.

“Tsk, so eager,” he hummed with a smirk. “Shall I see just how eager?” he continued, waiting for your breathy confirmation before his hand slid lower, dipping beneath the waistband of your loose sleep shorts and panties. His mouth found yours once again, tongue parting your lips while his hand cupped your aching center. You reached your arm up to caress Erenville’s head, your fingers finding purchase in the soft hair at the base of his ears and drawing a low groan out of the Rava.You couldn’t help but roll your hips into his hand, the pressure not quite enough to satisfy the need burning low in your belly.

Long, deft fingers parted your folds with expert care. You gasped into Erenville’s mouth as he swiped a digit along your dripping slit and circled your clit slowly and methodically. He broke the kiss to allow you to catch your breath, both of you glancing down at where his hand worked underneath your clothes. You whimpered at the sight, attempting to spread your legs further but finding your movements restricted by both your clothing and the Rava’s body. The male chuckled, his warm breath teasing your hair. “Allow me to assist you,” he cooed, pausing his ministrations to tug your garments down your legs. Erenville sucked a breath through clenched teeth at the sight of your exposed center and thighs glistening with your arousal. “Oh, how I wish to have a taste… However I cannot afford us being caught, and when I do finally get my mouth on you, well… I plan to take my time.”

A whine escaped you at the thought of Erenville’s head between your thighs, which he gently shushed. “Shhh, sweet girl. We don’t want to wake the others,” he whispered against your lips, while his hand made its way back between your legs. He tucked his free arm under your waist, angling your lower body back against his and allowing your thighs to fall open further. You now felt his straining erection pressing into you, hot and heavy even through his trousers.

“I want you, Erenville,” you begged shamelessly, rocking yourself back against his impressive length and drawing a strained grunt from him.

“In due time. ‘Tis another thing I wish to do… thoroughly. However, I couldn’t go another moment without at least watching you fall apart for me. Perhaps I am a weak man, but I am a man all the same.” His words ghosted over your skin like a warm breeze, leaving goosebumps in their wake. The Rava’s fingers once again found your aching core, moving quicker than before as he traced from clit to entrance and back. “Fuck,” the rare swear sounded utterly sinful coming from him. “I can hear just how aroused you are.”

Your head fell back as he sank a long digit inside shortly followed by another, curling them in a come hither motion that had you seeing stars. “O-oh, Eren’ please,” you pleaded, rocking your hips against him in earnest. You clawed at the strong forearm he had wrapped around your waist, nails no doubt leaving marks on his smooth skin. He swore again at the feeling of your juices soaking his hand, and you felt as much as you heard his groan of appreciation.

“Have you imagined this before, darling? I know I have. I often imagine you astride my lap, the stars outlining your glorious body as you ride me,” he confessed in a tone that has your body clenching tight around his fingers. “Oh-ho you like that, do you? Do you enjoy the idea of riding my cock?” The Rava spoke lowly and quietly, his words only for you. His digits plunged into you without abandon now, curling and hitting your sweet spot with every thrust. White hot flames seemed to flood your veins as your climax approached and you bit your lip hard enough to nearly draw blood in an effort to keep from crying out.

“There she is, there’s my good girl,” Erenville purred the praise you so desperately longed to hear, sending you careening over the edge. His lips claimed yours to greedily swallow your cries as your body spasmed and released around his fingers and onto his hand. His deep kisses turned tender and soft as you descended from your high slowly, trailing from your lips, to your cheek and onto your neck where he stopped to nuzzle you. He carefully withdrew his fingers, rubbing his hand over your core to elicit a couple more shockwaves before you clenched your thighs closed with a whimper, making him chuckle against your skin. You watched in hazy wonder as he brought his glistening fingers to his mouth, your body clenching in need once again at the sight of him licking them clean, his molten gaze never leaving yours. “You are delicious.”

You turned over to face the Rava, drawing his face back to yours while your thumb stroked the smooth skin of his cheek. You could taste yourself on his lips when you kissed him, his groan echoing yours as you deepened the kiss. You reached between your bodies, hand gliding down his abdomen and greedily mapping out his lean muscles through his shirt. Erenville chuckled against your lips when he felt you slip your hand underneath the material, fingers tracing the ridges of his hard stomach in appreciation. When you reached his waist, hand brushing against his still hardened length, he gripped your wrist firmly to halt you. “Not tonight, my dear. We’ve already been playing with fire, and if you get your hands on me properly I fear I won’t be leaving your bedroll tonight.”

“Maybe I’d prefer that,” you offered, smiling warmly at Erenville. He propped himself up on his elbow, chin in hand as he gazed softly at you in return.

“As much as I wish it could be so…” he started, your heart dropping as you awaited possible rejection. “Do not misunderstand me, darling, I would never wish to hide you from anyone. However, our duty here is to assist Wuk Lamat as claimant to the title of Dawnservant. It would be remiss of us to distract anybody with this… development at this time.” Your heart warmed at his reassurance, and you offered him a soft smile as you nodded. “Despite my seemingly impure intentions tonight, I truly wish to earn your affections. Beyond physical, I mean.”

Your eyes widened at Erenville’s declaration, heart pitter-pattering in your chest so hard you were sure his sensitive ears could hear every beat. “I desire the same, Erenville. Very much so.” The Rava closed his eyes for a brief moment, a smile still gracing his lips. He looked so beautiful and at peace that you couldn’t help but lean in and place a chaste kiss on his cheek. Those golden eyes you were so fond of opened, gazing at you in something akin to wonder. How you longed to stay in this moment, surrounded by his warmth and comforting scent. Unfortunately, the Rava broke away from you and sat up. He helped you back into your panties and shorts before smoothing your hair away from your face.

“This is where I take my leave,” he whispered, before kissing you long and hard as though he was fighting against his own desires to stay. Eventually the kiss was broken, and Erenville stood. “Goodnight,” he said, your name rolling off his tongue in farewell.

“Goodnight, Eren’,” you whispered in reply. You closed your eyes as you listened to his footsteps retreat, and despite your longing to fall asleep next to him, blissful exhaustion from your release overtook you quickly. As your consciousness faded you had a single thought on your mind: though you had started and finished so many adventures over the course of your life, you had a feeling the next one might be the most special yet.

________________________________________

The following morning…

“Alright, is everyone all set to head out?” Alisaie questioned cheerfully, as though she hadn’t spend the majority of the night sawing logs. At everyone’s affirmation you convened at the edge of your campsite and listened to Erenville’s directions on how to best travel to your next destination. When he finished explaining, he crossed his arms and settled into his typical stance.

“Erenville! What manner of beast gave you those?” Alphinaud exclaimed, brows drawn in worry as he examined the Rava’s forearm. Sure enough, crescent shaped scratches littered the otherwise perfect skin, and you cursed Alphinaud’s superior observation skills as he fretted over the gleaner.

“Yes, pray tell, Erenville. What kind of beast got a hold of you?” Krile prodded. Then, to your utter mortification, she turned to you and hid a sly giggle behind her hand. You struggled to keep your expression neutral while Alphinaud set to healing the minor injury.

“Er, well… she was a lovely little creature. Quite sweet, if a bit… over enthusiastic. Just a few small scratches, nothing to fuss over,” Erenville supplied with a sheepish shrug. Your face flushed pink, and remained so as you and your comrades finally departed, ready for the next part of your adventure.

[cozyrosies]

managed to pry myself away from Shadowbae for one playthrough and i'm quickly becoming an Astarion girly...

[cozyrosies]

she has me (and Astarion) in a chokehold

[cozyrosies]

~ Shadowheart ~

One of my first Baldur's Gate fanarts of companions~

I've got prints available on my INPRNT if you are interested!

Close up! I'm really happy with how she turned out!

There is also a spicy version available on my Patreon~

[cozyrosies]

new beginnings

prints | patreon

[cozyrosies]

so my plan to romance someone other than Shadowbae this playthrough didn't work out... also i still love my Tav

[cozyrosies]

i romanced Shadowheart during my first playthrough and i’m having such a hard time going for anybody else this time 😅 i want to get a taste of some Astarion but it’s an actual struggle.

started a second playthrough ~ absolutely in love with my Tav. Her full name is Tavlyn & she's a bard.

[cozyrosies]

started a second playthrough ~ absolutely in love with my Tav. Her full name is Tavlyn & she's a bard.

[cozyrosies]

War of Hearts

Chapter 2

Enter: Vanitas

The castle walls seemed to loom over you as you made your way through the grand hall, the distant sound of your friends’ voices and laughter ricocheting off the dense stone and echoing back to you as you traveled at a slower pace behind them. Your muscles ached slightly from your morning exercises, and your eyes still burned from lack of sleep. To be perfectly honest, you were dreading meeting your Master’s former peer and his pupil solely because your tired mind was struggling to even form complete thoughts. You were sure to make quite the impression on them at this rate. A dull headache began forming behind your eyes, and you pulled your hair free from its tie in an effort to ease the pressure.

A streak of black flickered in your periphery, making your heart race as memories of pressing shadows rushed back into your head. You gasped and spun towards the source, brow furrowed as you looked around at the blank stone of the corridor, spotting nothing out of the ordinary. ‘Lack of sleep must be getting to me,’ you thought to yourself, hand clutched to your chest as you tried to calm down from your momentary fright. You continued on, shaking your head at your own paranoia. You brushed off the uncomfortable feeling of being watched, attributing it to your exhausted state.

The sounds of your comrades’ voices grew louder as you approached the grand room where Master Eraqus held the exams and important meetings. You quietly slipped into place beside Ven, placing your hand gently on his shoulder to alert him of your presence. He shot you a bright smile, his contagious enthusiasm lightening the weight on your heart and making you return it with a small smile of your own. Aqua and Terra spoke in low tones on Ven’s other side, but you weren’t able to catch the details of their discussion. The echoing of boots on the stone floor had you turning towards the front of the room, watching as Master Eraqus made his way to address you, followed by an older, harsh looking man. His head was bare, and his deeply tanned skin was a stark contrast to the white beard he sported. His sharp yellow gaze seemed to pierce through you, making you shiver as his eyes landed on you. The small grin he gave you made your skin crawl, your instincts making you quickly break eye contact, only for your own gaze to land on the figure trailing behind him.

Your breath caught in your throat at the sight of the, presumably, young male. Even though he was across the room, you could sense the dark power radiating from his being. He was tall like Terra, with a tight bodysuit that hugged the curves and ridges of his muscles. The suit was so black it seemed to consume the light around it, with red lines outlining it in a way that alluded to what hid underneath the material. When you pulled your gaze from his impressive physique, you immediately noticed that his face was entirely covered by a mask so opaque you could see the room reflected in it. An uneasy feeling settled in your stomach as you took in both of the strangers, and you knew you weren’t the only one that was put off by the darkness they both seemed to emanate. Aqua had shifted into a less care-free stance and Terra’s hand was now gripping his Keyblade, although he held it downward so as not to seem like a direct threat. Even Ventus had lost some of his bright, excitable energy and was now eyeing the old man and the masked male warily.

When the trio stopped a few feet from you, Master Eraqus addressed you in a deceptively positive tone. “My pupils, it is my pleasure to introduce you to an old friend and comrade of mine, Master Xehanort.” You reluctantly drew your gaze back to the older man, stiffening when you noticed the way he seemed to be sizing up Ventus next to you, an unsettling grin twisting his features almost menacingly. You had to physically force your body not to step in front of him defensively as you didn’t want to offend your Master or his guests. Master Xehanort chuckled to himself before speaking, his deep and gravelly voice grating against your ears like nails on a chalkboard.

“Your Master speaks highly of the four of you, so I look forward to assessing your abilities. I have high expectations,” he stated plainly. “I’ve brought my own student, Vanitas, in the hopes that you might learn from him and he from you.” His comment prompted a harsh scoff from the masked boy next to him, and you saw the grin slip from Master Xehanort’s face for a split second before he schooled his expression to a smaller and noticeably tighter smile. You had always thought of yourself as particularly perceptive, and you were sure you saw something dark flash through his eyes in the short moment his expression changed. You shifted your attention to Vanitas, jolting slightly when you noticed him seemingly looking directly at you.

He tilted his head, and even though his mask hid his features you could feel his intense gaze focused on you. You shivered involuntarily once again, however this time it wasn’t due to feeling uneasy. You couldn’t quite name the feeling that washed over you, something foreign but not wholly unpleasant. You gathered yourself, realizing that your demeanor had been anything but welcoming thus far, and gave Vanitas a small smile in the hopes that it would ease the tension in the air. He huffed a humorless, short laugh before turning his head away so that he no longer appeared focused solely on you. Your smile faltered, and you clasped your hands in front of you and began to awkwardly fidget with your fingers as you turned your attention back to Master Eraqus. ‘Well, that was weird…’

As much as you respected your Master, and you truly did, you couldn’t bring yourself to pay much attention to his long winded recap of his time training with Master Xehanort. Your gaze kept flickering from Eraqus to Vanitas unconsciously, though the masked stranger hadn’t turned his head back in your direction. It wasn’t until the old man himself spoke that your focus snapped back. “I look forward to our time together. I hope it will prove to be… fruitful,” he croaked. You couldn’t help but wonder what the heck that was supposed to mean, and you were decidedly not a fan of the tone of voice he used to address your group.

“Master Xehanort will be staying in the vacant room in the west wing of the castle, and Vanitas will be using the extra room in the students’ wing. I expect that you all will be gracious hosts and help him feel comfortable during their stay with us,” Master Eraqus explained, looking at each of you pointedly. It took you a moment longer than it should have to realize where, exactly, Vanitas would be staying.The only empty room on that side of the castle was at the very end of the hallway, directly across from yours.

As though he read your mind, Master Eraqus called your name and spoke, “would you be so kind as to show Vanitas to his quarters?”

“Of course, Master,” you responded respectfully. You glanced over at the masked man and smiled once again, albeit nervously. He stepped forward, his intense presence making you want to shrink back but you held your ground. “This way,” you said as you headed out the doors and into the labyrinth of halls that made up the castle. You heard Aqua politely strike up a conversation with Master Xehanort, asking about his travels. Her comforting voice faded as you made your way deeper into the castle.

Vanitas was so silent at first, you could barely even hear him walking behind you. However, you could somehow feel his gaze focused on you despite the fact that he was out of your line of sight and wearing a mask. It made you incredibly self conscious, but you fought to keep your gait steady and your demeanor confident. You had a feeling you did not want this guy to see you as a weak link. This, of course, didn’t go to plan. As you rounded a corner and headed towards your rooms he decided to speak up for the first time.

“So, princess,” you jumped noticeably at his sudden words, and you didn’t miss the quiet chuckle he gave in response. “How exactly do you expect to become a Keyblade Master while you’re trapped in this shiny castle?” His voice was deep with a sharp edge to it, a hint of throatiness as he finished his sentence that had you hanging on his words. You stopped in front of his door before turning to him.

“Well… Our training grounds are outside. I’d be happy to show you once you get settled,” you offered evenly, not wanting to dig too deeply into what his words actually implied. He tilted his masked head at you, seemingly dissatisfied with your answer. He scoffed,

“What a waste.” You bit your tongue at his comment, not looking to start a fight with someone you had just met 15 minutes ago. He shrugged dismissively then, saving you from having to respond.

“Anyways,” You introduced yourself to him, although you had a feeling he probably couldn’t care less what your name was. “I stay in that room there,” you point at the door directly across the hall. “You’re welcome to let me know if you need anything.”

“Gonna give me full access to your room already, sweetheart?” Vanitas asked, his voice dipping dangerously and making you blush at the implication.

“W-well, no. I just meant– if you…” you stammered, cringing at the heat you felt creeping up your neck and into your face. You clasped your hands in front of you, once again fidgeting awkwardly with your fingers.

“I know what you meant,” he replied dryly, his heated tone gone. At that, he turned and opened the door to his room, looking back at you momentarily to add. “Just make sure you lock your doors at night, we wouldn’t want any monsters sneaking in.” His door closing harshly echoed the way your heart beat against your ribs. You stood dumbly for a long moment before rushing into your own room, leaning against your closed door once you were inside. You rubbed at your still-red face, thoughts racing as you wondered who, exactly, Master Eraqus had invited into the place you called home.

You sighed in frustration before reaching over to lock your door.

A/N: So, as you can see, I took some liberties with both the layout of the castle and Vanitas in general. As far as the castle goes, I'm kind of out of touch with the specifics of BBS and I honestly couldn't tell you what kind of layout it has, if we even know it at all. In this story, Vanitas and the reader are both somewhere in their 20s because I'm a grown woman and I prefer an aged up and mature Vanitas for obvious reasons.

[cozyrosies]

War of Hearts

Rating: E (eventually)

multi-chapter, Vanitas x Reader, slow burn

Chapter 1

Come to me, in the night hours

I will wait for you.

And I can’t sleep, cause thoughts devour

Thoughts of you consume.

A sharp, broken gasp cracked through the stillness of the night that had covered your bedroom in a blanket of darkness. Sweat slid down your skin, dampening your nightclothes and making you shiver as the cool night air blew through your open window and chilled the droplets against your feverish body. You placed a hand against your forehead, breathing heavily and attempting to bring yourself back to the real world and farther from the shadow-filled abyss that was your dream. A blink of your eyes sent previously unshed tears spilling down your cheeks so you squeezed them shut in an attempt to halt the salty flow.

Once your breathing calmed to something close to normal, you opened your eyes and turned your attention to your open window, your gaze hastily seeking the comfort of the glittering night sky over the Land of Departure. Two weeks now… two weeks that you had spent every night falling endlessly into the darkness, grasping and clawing and soundlessly screaming through shadows so thick you could swear they were pouring into your throat and filling your veins with every labored breath. It felt like eternities passed, time nonexistent in this forbidden place. You couldn’t even summon your keyblade here, the one thing you’ve found you could always count on. Every time you would reach into the abyss, fingers desperately trying to grasp onto something solid, only to come up empty.

Except for tonight.

This time, when you watched your hand nearly disappear into the blackness, you felt a startling warmth caress your chilled skin. A shape began to form before you, somehow even darker than the already all-consuming shadow you found yourself stuck in. You automatically latched onto the warmth, finding an odd sense of comfort in the unknown presence. You reached out with your other hand, your body moving of its own accord as you sought to close the distance between yourself and the only source of warmth and life in this place. The form shifted then, and a flash of bright golden eyes sent you tumbling back into consciousness, your own eyes flying open with a gasp. You don’t know how long you lay there, mind racing as you tried to make sense of the new development in your recurring nightmare. All you could be sure of was that you would not be getting any more sleep tonight.

Only when the first rays of daylight began to spill into your bedroom did your trembling completely cease. You slid from your bed and dressed, mindlessly slipping on your training gear before combing out your knotted hair. You rubbed at your burning eyes, no doubt in your mind that Aqua would be questioning the dark circles underneath them as soon as she saw you. With a resigned sigh, you made your way down to the training area outside of the castle.

You began your stretches, allowing your mind to clear as you focused on the comforting and familiar burn and tug of your muscles as you loosened them. You knew it would be awhile before your comrades joined you, but you were okay with taking some time to ground yourself before interacting with them. Once finished, you released a deep breath and shook out your arms and legs before calling your keyblade forth. A sense of peace washed over you in gentle waves as you grasped your weapon, borne of your own heart and soul and connected to you in the same way your bones fit together in your body, making you who you are. All lingering thoughts of creeping shadows and suffocating darkness faded into the background as you shifted into your battle stance.

For an hour you gave in to the pull of your keyblade, honing your physical combat skills as you worked through the training course that Master Eraqus had established for his students. Just as you could feel your magic begin to thrum through your keyblade, begging to be unleashed, your three comrades had made their way from the castle and up to the training grounds. Their bright smiles, albeit sleepy in Ventus’s case, greeted you as you dropped your stance and waved at them. Just as you anticipated, Aqua’s expression shifted into a look of worry as her gaze traveled over you, no doubt seeing the exhaustion even through your smiling facade. Both of her hands gently rested on the sides of your face, azure eyes searching your own. “Good morning you, are you feeling okay?” she asked gently. Ventus stood by Aqua’s side, looking equally as worried after hearing her concern. Terra placed a large hand on your shoulder as he passed, pausing to look down at you and giving you a quick squeeze in his own way of offering comfort.

“I’m fine, guys,” you chuckle lightly, unable to be annoyed at your beloved friends’ outward displays of concern for your wellbeing. “I just couldn’t sleep, so I came down here early to get a head start on training.”

Aqua said your name softly, before replying. “You haven’t been sleeping well for the past couple of weeks, are you sure there isn’t something else going on?” You placed your hands over her own on your face, giving her a squeeze before dropping them as you stepped away. You looked at her and then to Ventus, smiling at them in a way you hoped was reassuring and not obviously forced.

“I guess I must be having weird dreams or something. It’s no big deal, really. I promise!” You were relieved to hear Terra summon his own keyblade over your shoulder, signaling that he was ready to get started and giving you an excuse to turn your attention elsewhere.

“You can talk to us any time if you need to, you know that right?” Ventus offered. You ruffled his hair fondly, laughing as he groaned and swatted you away.

“Of course Ven, thank you,” you replied with a genuine smile. With that, both he and Aqua summoned their keyblades and the three of you made your way over to join Terra in your routine training.

“We’ll be wrapping up early today,” Terra announced before you began. “Master Eraqus says we have guests staying with us for the next few weeks. An old friend of his and his student, apparently. They’re due to arrive by lunchtime.” Aqua nodded and Ventus jumped excitedly in place, clearly looking forward to meeting someone new after having such limited contact to the worlds outside of the Land of Depature. You hummed in response, barely comprehending what Terra was saying as you fought off your lingering exhaustion. You were sure to make quite the impression on these strangers if you were all but falling asleep on your feet.

Throughout the next few hours, you kept a barrier wrapped around your mind in an attempt to fight off the memories of your restless night. However, you struggled to keep all of the shadows from slipping through the cracks, feeling deep in your very heart that the being that found you inside the void of your own dream was somehow…

Familiar.