KH - Dive into the Void [Vanitas x Reader]

00: Shroud

Golden eyes plagued your dreams. It was the only part of the boy that you could remember. The pure anguish that shone through the deep pools were what made them so unforgettable. You could drown in those eyes if not for the fact that you only saw them in your sleep.

Beyond that, the only other thing you could remember was the vast expanse of darkness that always shrouded the boy. It masked most of his features, which was part of the reason why you couldn't consciously recall what he looked like. The shadows ebbed and flowed around him like water, gathering in pools at his feet before flaring up to flood the open air again.

It scared you whenever those shadows strayed too close. For the most part, they stayed near the boy, but every once in a while, they would reach a tendril out to you. It never got close enough to touch you, but that didn't stop you from worrying. Whenever the shadows approached, strange things happened. Scenes would flash through your mind, or your heart would clench and scream, or an unbearable pain would tear at your body. More often than not, it was the first of those.

The scenes never made much sense since they appeared out of context. Once, you saw an unconscious blond lying on a barren ground. Another time, you saw an old man standing in the middle of a field of giant keys. The most memorable scene, one that you'd witnessed several times, was that of a boy curled up on the floor as his body was wracked by silent sobs. His eyes would always be partially open, and you could see an endless stream of tears race down his reddened cheeks. Even if you felt no physical pain when watching this scene, your heart cried out for him in a way that tormented you anyway. You longed to wipe away his tears and envelope him in a conforting hug, but the vision would disappear as quickly as it had come, and the shadows would retreat back to the shrouded boy.

The dreams always ended the same way. There would be a sudden burst of light, and when your sight adjusted, you would find that shattered pieces of stained glass were showering down around you. Despite all of that, what stood out the most were a pair of piercing, golden eyes. On the surface, they were set in a harsh glare. Just underneath that, you found a pleading gaze. However, the moment you tried to look any deeper, the dream would end and you would awaken. And then forget.

Fortunately (or perhaps, not), the dream would always leave you with one last whisper. Dive into the void.