[Kingdom Hearts AU] Someone to Watch Out for You

Meteor Shower

'...you will still be haunted by the hearts of those you left behind. The very stars will lose their lights before you are able to reunite with them.'

"Being a Keyblade Master is all I've dreamed about!"

"Well, you're not the only one."

"I know. You, me, and Ven all share the same dream."

It was the core memory that helped to form the many after. It was the goal they all wanted to strive for in the weeks, months, and years that followed. When did it all change? Why did it all go so wrong?

Ventus woke up with a start. The lingerings of some bad dream haunted him, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it was about. He wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. Instead, he worked his worn body up, shuffled over to his closet to get out a pair of slippers, then all but sleepwalked out into the castle gardens.

Everything this late at night felt like a dream. The moonlight set a pale glow on the flowers, and even a few fireflies were lazily roaming about. Ventus lulled his head upwards toward the stars above him. From there he saw a streak of light cross the sky. Then another, and another right after it.

"A meteor shower, huh?" the boy mused. "Just like the night before we left..."

Ven carefully laid his body down, still looking up at the stars. There was just something about them that gave him the smallest bit of comfort. It was as if someone had wrapped him in a warm blanket. Like a heart filled with nothing but light. The warmth he felt only served to remind him of his own exhaustion. He didn't know when he closed his eyes, but when he opened them again, he caught a glimpse of Minnie placing a heavy blanket on top of him.

"You don't have to do that." Ven groggily told the queen. He even attempted to sit up to show he was -at the very least- awake.

"And let one of our best knights catch a cold?" Minnie softly laughed. "I don't think so, mister."

Ven laughed along with her. He took the blanket in his hands and wrapped it around his shoulders.

"Thank you." he said in thanks. "Did I wake you when I went down the hall?"

"Oh no, not at all" Minnie disagreed with a small shake of her head, "I was still awake. Ortensia wants to send some of the bunny children over in the morning, so I wanted to make sure everything was as fire proof and shatter resistant as possible."

"Are they that bad?"

His only answer was a laugh.

A small silence came between them after. It wasn't anything uncomfortable- in fact, it only served to remind Ven of the times he, Terra, and Aqua would sit at the plateau in the Land of Departure and talked about nothing in particular.

"Queen Minnie," Ven quietly spoke up, "I have a question."

"What is it, Ven dear?"

Ven held his blanket close to him. "Would you be mad if I said I wanted to go back to the Land of Departure for a day? I just... I just want to see something. Might even pick up some of my old things if they're still there. I'll be right back after- I made a promise when I became a knight and I don't want to break it."

Minnie's initial reaction was a small recoil.

"Well..." the queen carefully started, "I would certainly be worried about you the entire time. Is that what you want to do? To go back home?"

The word 'home' made a lump form in his throat. Was the Land of Departure even his home anymore?

"I... I don't know." he softly admitted.