Vanitas x Female! Reader ☆ Pure Shores ☆

14. Above Board

“Excuse me, but who has been living with a human the longest? I think I know how a kettle works!”
At the abrupt yell, (Y/N) started, a yellow plume of mustard powder covering her forearm.
With an aggrieved sigh as she dusted off her hands, she headed for the kitchen, a series of clangs and a stream of angry Leviathaiaan growing in volume.
Pushing open the door, (Y/N) stood at the threshold of her small kitchen, aghast at the scene before her.
Sora was glaring up at his brother, fists clenched, eyes narrowed. Vanitas wore a smug, holier-than-thou expression, the kettle held aloft, just out of his brother’s reach. Riku and Saix looked on in amusement and interest, eager to see who would be the first to back down.
Around them, the kitchen was a wreck. Coffee grounds littered the work surface, forming a steady trail that pattered onto the butchers block. A sack of rice was slowly deflating from the tear in its side. Pans, cups and plates cluttered the sink, and a single fork stood upright in a mangled loaf of bread.
"What is going on in here?" 
Vanitas’s eyes flicked in her direction.
“Good, you’re here. Tell Sora how I can make the coffee.”
(Y/N) leant against the door frame, rubbing gently at her brow.
“Okay. I need to go to the market, while I’m gone can you please-“
“You’re going to the market? I should come too.”
“Vanitas, I appreciate that, but I’ve been going to the market my whole life
and-“
“What’s a market?” Sora frowned at his brother.
“It’s a place where humans all go to get supplies, but with Munny. They don’t trade.” Vanitas explained, clearly enjoying his role as the human-whisperer.
Soras eyes were wide with awe.
“I can manage Vanitas, but someone needs to stay here to-“
“What is it you need? I can go.”
(Y/N) hesitated. “I don’t know. Will it be safe for you to go?”
Vanitas pushed past the others to stand before her, a hand resting on her shoulder. “Hey, I’ll be fine. I know the Market well enough now, and Demyx can help me out. Or Shiki.”
(Y/N) gave him a flat, dark look.
Vanitas raised his hands as his mouth curved into a smirk.
“I’m kidding- no Demyx.”
(Y/N) gave an exasperated sigh as she turned to leave, but Vanitas caught her arm gently, stepping into the hallway with her. He leaned down, his voice hushed.
“If it means you stay here where it’s a hell of a lot safer, I’m more than happy to go. We haven’t attempted the commune yet – the army could already be on its way.” He met her eyes evenly. “Don’t argue with me on this, please.”
(Y/N) searched his eyes briefly, before nodding silently. She dove a hand into her apron pocket. “Here’s the list. Don’t be long, and be careful.”
Vanitas grinned at her. “I’m the epitome of careful, (Y/N).”
He pushed past her, shrugging into an overcoat as he made for the door.
(Y/N) turned back to the others, feeling a stab of anxiety upon finding Saix’s hateful glare upon her, and dealing with the other three without Vanitas.
Sora and Riku however,  were oblivious, talking amongst themselves quietly.
She drew herself up, before clearing her throat loudly. She was met with quizzical stares.
“Alright, while Vanitas is at the market, you guys can help me clean this mess up!”
For a brief moment, she saw an indignant pout flicker over Soras face, and with it he looked so much like Vanitas, (Y/N) had to stifle a grin.
But Saix was less than polite.
“Preposterous that you order us to clean like you have the authority.” He hissed, arms folded.
(Y/N) pursed her lips. “You’d be so rude as to refuse someone who put you up in their home? Or are Leviathai exempt from manners?”
Riku sighed, pushing up his sleeves. “She has a point. I’d be happy to help.”
Sora shrugged at Saix, before pushing up his own sleeves. 
Begrudgingly, Saix followed suit, his eyes darkened with malice.
Breathing out a shaky sigh, (Y/N) looked up at the clock, her body tense as she willed Vanitas to hurry.

 ☆

 “So these are called… coffee beans?”
Sora held a large ladle, brimming over with beans that he’d scooped from the floor.
“And they're used to make a drink?” he brought his nose close to sniff delicately at them, before recoiling sharply.
“Your brother loves the stuff, has it every morning.” (Y/N) smiled fondly. “He’s made it himself a few times, with mixed results.” She confessed, a finger to her lips.
Sora rolled his eyes at Riku, who shook his head knowingly.
Relative peace had settled over the group as they cleaned, managing to slowly bring the kitchen back into some semblance of order, with only minimal complaining.
“Hey, this is totally ruined. Is there anything else we can use?” Riku asked, holding up the tattered remains of the rice sack.
(Y/N) dried her hands quickly on a cloth, smoothing her hands over her apron.
“Hmm. I think I have a jar big enough, hold on I’ll go check.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded, heading down the corridor and turning into the store, certain that after she’d used the last of the rosemary, she hadn’t bothered to refill the container.
(Y/N) drew up sharply, Saix standing before her making her start, heart pounding.
“Saix, it’s you! I thought you’d gone upstairs to wash up.” 
He remained dead silent, his fingers tightening around the sheet of paper in his hand. Confused, (Y/N) approached, peering over his arm.
“Oh! Our writing practise.” She reached over slowly to take the page. “Vanitas showed me how to write some things but I didn’t-“
Savagely, Saix crushed it between his hands, crunching it into a fist, before carelessly tossing it across the room.
Horrified, (Y/N) moved to retrieve it, but her arm tugged painfully, popping at the socket. A vice like hand gripped her, pulling her back and forcing her down. She pushed back, her knees shaking, but Saix loomed over her, his voice acerbic.
“Let’s get one thing straight human,” he snarled, spittle spraying her face.
(Y/N) whimpered in disgust, trying in vain to pull away.
“You think you have the Prince wrapped around your little finger, all beguiling eyes and flirtation, thinking you have a right to involve yourself in our affairs? Well, you don’t. You are disgusting.”
He shook her abruptly. “And Prince Vanitas wouldn’t look twice at a two-legged Quinahhrit (Harlot) like you.”
He pulled her to her feet, before shoving her roughly against the shelves, the glass rattling and tinkling behind her. He leaned in again, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Stay away from the Prince.”
(Y/N) nodded quickly, her lip trembling and her arm throbbing with pain. Saix strode from the room, leaving a terrible silence in his wake.
(Y/N) looked around the room aimlessly, feeling deeply hurt, holding in her tears as she sucked down great gulps of air, wishing Vanitas back.
Rounding the counter, she scooped up the paper, unfurling it with shaking hands, her fingers smoothing the creases fervently. She sniffed and let out a gasp of air, her throat burning, and her cheeks red hot. She traced her fingers over the words Vanitas had written, her childish imitation scrawled underneath it.
A knock on the door frame made her jump violently, her heart thumping. Eyes snapping up, she spotted Sora in the doorway, his expression immediately concerned.
“Is everything…okay? I heard a noise.”
(Y/N) wiped her nose with the back of her hand hurriedly, avoiding Soras eyes as she gestured at the cabinets.
“Oh, yes! I banged my elbow is all, it really hurt.” She said with a huff of laughter, making a show of rubbing her elbow soothingly.
Sora nodded, his eyes unbelieving and smile uncertain, but he didn’t press it further.
“Whats this?” he asked, mercifully changing the subject as he came to stand beside her.
“Oh, it’s nothing, just some notes, that’s all.” (Y/N) said, trying to wave Sora away, her hands covering the page, afraid he too would react badly.
“C’mon, lemme see.”
Gently, he pried the paper from her grasp. (Y/N) looked on worriedly as his eyes scanned the page, gnawing at her thumbnail. But, to her surprise, his expression softened, and he smiled.
“You know, my brothers really different now.”
(Y/N) tensed. “What do you mean?” she asked warily.
Sora put the page down, his head tilting to look at her.
“He just seems…” Sora paused, searching for the word. “Happier.”
(Y/N) blinked at him perplexed. “He wasn’t before?”
Sora sighed. “Yeah, but I think the pressure of being the next King gets to him.” Sora flexed his arms, puffing out his chest. “He’s always gotta be the biggest, the baddest, the stongest. Any weakness is failure.”
(Y/N) looked down at her hands, remembering his anguish over not protecting Sora, his need to step in where Ventus was concerned.
“But with you…” (Y/N) looked up as Sora paused, his expression warm.
“He gets to be gentle.”
(Y/N) snorted softly, her voice shaking.
“I don’t think he knows the meaning of the word.”
“He’s not like that with anyone - except me and our mother of course.”
Somehow, the thought of Vanitas being a mama’s boy made (Y/N) smile despite herself, touched by a side of him she had never seen.
However, she raised an eyebrow at Sora.
“That’s not how he tells it.”
Sora gestured at the paper, a knowing smirk on his face.
“I bet he didn’t tell you what this says.”
“No, he didn’t.” she murmured slowly, frowning hard.
She wasnt sure she wanted to know. Whatever it was had angered Saix enough to become violent, to threaten her – warn her away from Vanitas.
She looked up at Sora with wide, questioning eyes, half afraid of his answer, but desperate to know.
Sora traced each word with his finger as he spoke.
“I'm glad that your voice was the first thing I heard today.”
(Y/N) gasped, felt her eyes fill up with tears again, but this time, they were happy.
But she paused, gently jogging her shoulder that throbbed with pain, her happiness wavering.
“But maybe...I’m a bad influence on him.” She whispered sadly, tempering her hopes.
Sora nudged her hand with his.
“Our mother says that Vanitas and I are different.”
(Y/N) grinned. “Like the light of the Lunarrii and the dark ocean floor?”
Sora laughed. “Right. But see, I believe that the people you have, the ones who matter, they make you strong. Vanitas is no different. He just likes to think he is.”
(Y/N) was mouthing a quiet ‘Thank You’ to Sora, as a sudden bustle behind them diverted their attention.
Vanitas was struggling through the door, laden down with bags and boxes.
As Sora rushed over to help him, (Y/N) cast one last glimpse at the crumpled scribbles, before stuffing it hastily in her apron. Her heart was pounding and her mind was reeling. She wiped hastily at her cheeks, her hand fluttering gently at her chest. Vanitas met her eyes, his smile growing, voice lilting, cheeks stung red from the cold, raven hair tousled.
“Miss me?”