Fabricated Affections {RepliRikuXVanitas/KH FanFiction}

Chapter 4: The Prisoner

Vanitas gleefully watched beyond the barred prison, feeling a satisfied smirk form on his lips. Just a few feet away was his prisoner from the Dark Realm; the Riku Replica... His target. Vanitas observed with hands behind his back, staring down with superiority at the one he easily tracked and caught. Inside a sullen prison behind metal bars was Riku chained down to the floor by both wrists. His head was sunken down, back against the wall with knees propped up against his chest. The chains crossed midway as he cradled his legs with his arms, the metal quietly clanking togethers with Riku's breathing.

The room was barren except the bars themselves, keeping it to a simple rectangular room smothered in black paint against the walls, floors, and ceiling. Vanitas was aware of the strategy Xehanort put in place, ensuring the chains attached to a metal flooring rather than stone. It was stronger, better...

Like the Master himself.

"Are you going to keep sitting there to gloat or you have something to say?" Riku asked with a muffled voice.

Vanitas straightened his back. He wasn't expecting a conversation. "Just waiting on Xehanort."

A scoff. "I would have went with you, ya know... Without all the threatening."

Vanitas scowled, his brows furrowing with disgust. "I need to keep you in line."

Riku finally lifted his head ever so slightly, just enough for his eyes to peer from their hiding spot. Vanitas met them; blue green regretful eyes met his golden ones and he held that gaze for a moment. Vanitas knew his face was concealed, however with the way Riku was looking he felt as if he knew exactly where his eyes were.

"Not sure if being a prisoner is better than the Dark Realm." Riku murmured. "Guess I'll find out."

Vanitas fell silent. He wasn't sure either.

His attention was brought over to the sound of a corridor being created and Xehanort exited from it's depths. The older man seemed displeased for reasons that were his own. Even with Vanitas' success a permanent lower plastered Xehanorts face as he studied the new prisoner up and down. Riku hid his eyes once again.

"Well done." Xehanort praised, though the frown still remained. "Only ten more to go."

"Are we just gonna leave him here?" Vanitas questioned.

Xehanort didn't bother to remove his gaze from the replica.  "You'll come in to feed him, but I'll handle the rest. I didn't expect you to locate him so quickly so I have no other assignments for you yet. I'm still observing the others, so for now you can get the replica something to eat and tomorrow I'll give you another assignment."

Vanitas gave his Master a curt nod. "Sure."

Vanitas eyed Riku one last time. Despite all the talk and clues Xehanort gave the replica didn't even flinch. Leaving his thoughts to himself Vanitas moved past Xehanort who refused to move and ventured through the door leaving the room. As Xehanort ordered it was time to grab food.

Vanitas walked down the long dark corridors of the castle, layer upon layer of black. Black carpet softened his steps, matching the black baseboards lining the walls. The walls were made of dark gray stone, Xehanort needed a little color right? Every so often Vanitas would walk past antiques from Xehanorts past or maybe a stolen item from another world resting on a small table. He would only examine such useless things momentarily, reason being mere curiosity.

The kitchen went well with the rest of the dreary castle with black tile, counters, utensils and black everything one could think of. Vanitas, not being the best cook in the world, at least had the knowledge of making a large batch of soup. It would keep for a while and easy to reheat so he wouldn't have to waste his time cooking every day.

Cooking every day for a replica.

The only reason he ended up in the Dark Realm was because he couldn't defeat the original Riku. If he had even an ounce of strength, defeating such a pathetic foe was easy. Vanitas couldn't comprehend why Xehanort wanted such a useless thing as one of his vessels.

"His vessel..." Vanitas muttered to himself. He removed his helmet, setting it to the side. "His... Vessel..."

He grabbed handfuls of random vegetables, chopping them viciously for the soup. Xehanort was his Master, he would do anything for his Master. He was tortured for him, beaten for him, risked death for him. Vanitas had been under his care for years, his first and only memories being of Xehanort. He knew the result of being dedicated to him, so why did Vanitas feel uneasy thinking about becoming a vessel? Why did it anger him so?

One last chop sent pieces of the vegetables bouncing off the counter and splattering to the ground. Vanitas snorted and threw what he chopped into a large pot, glaring at the pieces he lost. Instead of cleaning them up he used his dark powers to incinerate the pieces as his resentment was showing physically while the dark smoke lingered on his fingertips. The old geezer wanted him to be his vessel and also wanted him to be some maid? Vanitas turned on the heat on the stove high and threw in some water to the pot, seasoning it heavily.

"Disgusting..." He growled to himself, glaring into the pot as everything began to simmer.

Vanitas slammed a lid down.

*~*~*~*~*

"Here's your... Food." Vanitas grumbled as he entered the prisoners cell.

Riku didn't recoil but instead lifted his head and straightened his back. Despite how long Vanitas was gone, Riku didn't budge until the realization that food was available. As Vanitas stood there and was unamused, Riku slowly accepted the hot bowl from his hands. Vanitas narrowed his eyes through the helmet that had returned to his head before approaching the replica. Riku didn't so much thank Vanitas as he slurped the bowl.

"Guess I'll... Leave you to it." Vanitas murmured.

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

Vanitas froze with his back turned, his arm stretched out in preparation to create a corridor out of there. No corridor was made and instead he retracted his arm and peered over his shoulder to show the prisoner he was listening.

"Why do you guys need me again?" Riku questioned curiously, his tone of voice turning ever so slightly higher pitched.

Vanitas returned his head back to it's normal position; facing away. "You'll know soon enough."

He kept his answers vague... Short. The future was unknown to him if he revealed too much... The future was terrifying if he revealed too much.

Silence erupted between the boys for that moment, only the sound of Riku's chains clinking as he settled down the bowl gently. Vanitas resided there and waited for Riku to finish, wondering what he intended to do.

Finally Riku spoke, "Well... Thanks for the food. Did you make some for yourself too?"

Vanitas stiffened. This replica was stuck in a jail cell and asking how someone else was doing? Wanting to know if someone else was eating? What a fool.

"I made plenty for you." He replied sternly. Vanitas finally created a portal to exit.

"Well make sure you eat too, okay?"

Vanitas only paused for a heartbeat before exiting the cell without another word.