Adopted

Chapter 5

                “Hey Ven! How was school?” Aqua asked; popping her head out of the doorway to see her surrogate son enter their clustered home.

             “It was great!” he answered, sitting on the kitchen counter watching his mom simultaneously do paperwork and make him an afternoon snack: pizza rolls.

                She took out the burnt black meal out of the smoking oven, “Did you make more friends?” she inquired as she set down a plate and began piling the “food.”

                “I did! I’ve told you about Sora and I’ve got another friend!”

                “Oh really? Boy or girl?”

                “Boy.”

                “Oh Ven! When are you gonna get a girlfriend?”

                Ventus’s eyes went wide, “Mom!”

                Aqua chuckled, “I’m kidding...now eat up!”

                The boy sighed, he loved moments like these. He was really close to his adoptive parents, that he was proud of. He took one of her culinary masterpieces and took a small bite, “Oh yeah and his name’s Roxas!”

                “Go to your room.”

                “What?”

                “Take your food and go to your room. I have to talk to your dad.”

                Ventus looked at his frantic mother confused. She looked on the edge of crying her eyes out or slapping him in the face, “Why? What’s wrong with Roxas? Mom what’s…?”

                “VENTUS! TO YOUR ROOM NOW!” Aqua slammed her fist down on the counter, causing the plate to fall and shatter; porcelain and pizza rolls flying everywhere. Her face contorted in anger and her nose fuming.

                Ventus felt tears begin springing out of his eyes before running out of the house. He didn’t know where he was going…he just felt the need to be out. He had felt hurt he had not felt in a long time; not since his dad. He had never been yelled at by Aqua or Terra...but what was wrong with Roxas? He ran and ran until he bumped into something.

                Or someone, “I’m so- sorry I-I have to go,” he sobbed, but before he could dash away again a hand caught his arm in a firm grip.

                “Hey are you alright?” The stranger asked him, giving him a perplexed look.

                “I- I have to go ple-please let go.” He pleaded, desperately trying to pry the hold off of him.

                “Ventus…”

                Ven looked up at the man, “Vanitas?”

                The sophomore nodded and guided him to a bench. He hadn’t realized he had run all the way to the park.

                “What’s wrong?” he asked, his golden eyes shining with worry, “Do you want me to take you home?”

                “NO!” he suddenly shouted before Vanitas calmed him again, “I- I can’t you…I just can’t.” Tears began falling from his bright blue eyes. He was crying right in front of a boy he barely knew.

                The other sighed before smiling at Ven, “Okay I won’t take you home but you gotta tell me what I can do to help you. I’m not leaving you a mess like this.”

                “I don-don’t need anything. Thanks Vanitas but I gotta-“

                “Like I said I’m not leaving you. If you don’t want to talk about it to me how about Sora?” he suggested.

                “No…can we just stay like this?” Ven asked timidly.

                Vanitas nodded understandingly. The two stayed on the bench, talking occasionally but mostly in a calming silence…a comforting one. When the sun finally went down and stars began popping out of their dark blankets Vanitas felt a pressure on his shoulder. He smiled down at the boy who had begun sleeping on him.

                He brushed some blonde hair out of Ven’s face and let his head rest on his lap, stroking the golden locks that matched his eyes. He sighed and placed a gently kiss on Ventus’s ear…not out of lust but out of care. Besides he wouldn’t have to know.