Wilting Light (Vaati x reader)

Bellum, the God of Dreams

   Vaati had left the air heavy as the both of you started back to the house, walking in without knocking once you got there. Inside, in the living room, Agnan's mother, Marthie, sat on the love seat next to her son, in the middle of a conversation. Vila sat on the ground next to the fireplace, carefully studying a damaged piece of paper in her hands. As you and Vaati walked in, the three turned their heads to look at you, their expressions nervous. Vila was the first to stand up, shoving the paper she had been studying in her pocket as she did so.

   "Uh...(Y/n)? Can I speak to you for a moment? Privately."

   You and Vaati exchanged a knowing look, mentally reminding yourself of how he said you were going to behave if they decided to question you about what they saw. You looked back at Vila and nodded. "What is it?" you asked.

   Vila put a hand on your back, leading you into the hall. When she answered your question, her voice was low so that the rest of them would not hear. Internally, you heard Vaati's voice say, Just act clueless or something. You hoped that, just this once, you could be a decent liar. "Why didn't Vaati come back for so long?" she whispered. Then, after a moment, she added, "I'm pretty sure you know. I know it was wrong to lie to you, but I know you two were talking to each other before he came back."

   You inhaled deeply. "I don't know. He wouldn't tell me. I guess it was some big bruise in his pride, I guess. I don't know." You forced your breathing to remain steady as you answered her question, hoping with everything within you that your lie passed off as truth. Really, though, it was a half-truth. You knew that what made him decide to stay had something to do with that pain, but you did not know what.

   Vila tilted her head, frowning. Oh, goddesses! Still, you kept yourself from taking a big, deep, panicky breath. Perhaps your cover wasn't blown yet. "Oh... Then why did you lie?"

   You averted your eyes, furrowing your brow. It took you a few moments to think of something; you tried to make it look like you were hesitating to reveal something embarrassing. "I guess because I wanted to keep people from questioning me."

   Vila frowned but gave you a small smile a moment later. "Yeah, I get ya."

   Nervously, you returned the smile. She didn't seem too bothered by the perspiration on your hands. Perhaps she didn't think it was because you had lied, but rather because you were unwilling to admit the truth. Yes, that had to be it.

   You glanced over at Vaati, almost surprised to see what could have easily been mistaken for a true look of guilt; his eyes avoided contact, staring at the ground, and his eyebrows were furrowed. His bottom lip puffed out slightly as if he was about to cry. He held this countenance as he spoke, and based on the sympathetic looks he was getting, his lies were being passed off much more easily. Hopefully you hadn't said something that contradicted anything he was saying.

   A moment later, Vila started towards them, with you close behind. She noticed everyone's quiet as they looked up to her. Vaati kept the act up, and Agnan and his mother simply had blank faces. The girl didn't dare say anything, taking a small step back. Agnan, noticing this, looked back at Vaati. "You know... That wasn't your fault. You did everything you could. There was no stopping it."

   "I know," Vaati responded, "but..." He sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind." He stood up, having settled down on the couch a few minutes before. "I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."

   You watched Vaati go by, furrowing your brow as he refused to meet your eye until the others couldn't see. His slight glare as he walked past was no act.

   Neither was his gesture for you to follow.

   You blinked, giving Agnan, his mother, and Vila an uncertain glance before you turned, following Vaati. As he walked into the room, he turned to face you, his expression showing nothing of what he felt.