Vanitas x Female! Reader ☆ Pure Shores ☆

18. Until the Seas Run Dry

"How is she?"
Vanitas looked up at the voice, seeing Riku and Sora stood in the doorway to the small bedroom, their faces ashen.
He sighed, getting to his feet with a wince, the bedframe his support.
Wiping his bandaged hands awkwardly over his pants, he let out a long shaking breath.
"Resting. I patched her up as best I could." He glanced down at her sleeping face, seeing the slight wrinkle between her brows, the unsettled twist of her lips.
"She has surface wounds..." he trailed off again, looking between them, troubled. "She will recover from those...."
"She's strong, she'll be okay." Sora mumbled, crossing to stand beside his brother at (Y/N)'s bedside.
Vanitas placed a grateful hand on his brother's shoulder, his eyes never leaving the sleeping form.
Riku cleared his throat lightly, resting against the door frame. "What of Saix?"
Vanitas's shoulders drooped further.
"Rzoaiie, it's too soon I know."
"No. You were right to ask." Vanitas said, turning to face them both. "We can't leave him here."
He took a deep breath, his nostrils pinched.
"You and Sora must return with the envoy."
Sora looked stricken. "What? No way am I leaving you behind!"
(Y/N) stirred in the bed at his exclamation, making soft whimpering noises as she wriggled, trying to get comfortable.
"Not here." Vanitas murmured, nodding to the hallway outside the room.
Filing out, Vanitas pulled the door closed with a soft click behind Riku, before turning to face them in the gloom.
"I appreciate your concern Sora, I do. But it'll be a lot safer if you travel with the envoy and Riku."
"But what about you?"
Vanitas rubbed at his eyes, trying to push away some of the exhaustion settling into his bones.
"Give it...a day. Send an envoy for me tomorrow night..." Sora's mouth opened in retort, but Vanitas cut him off. "Feel free to come meet me, both of you. But right now, you need to take Saix home and let the King know what transpired here. It'll be a lot safer for everyone that way."
Riku folded his arms. "You're still in danger here, and you're wounded."
"I know. But I have to make sure (Y/N) is okay before..."
"You might not be able to protect her as you are-"
Vanitas fixed Riku with an angry glare. "Nothing will happen to her whilst I am here to prevent it."
Riku turned away, his expression doubtful, but he didn't press it any further.
Sora spoke up, hoping to diffuse the situation somewhat, at least between the other two.
"We should have the Royal Court look into Vexen's death again."
Vanitas nodded. "Take the Viix sample with you. Evidence."
He remembered how he had chastised
(Y/N) for not telling him she had kept the arrow, but honestly, he could laugh from the relief that she had.
Sora glanced at the closed door, his expression anxious. "Will she be okay, after only one day?"
Vanitas's expression turned black. "I...can't." he shook his head. "I have to leave sometime."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
Riku sighed. "There is one person."
Vanitas narrowed his eyes. "You mean...? No."
Riku suddenly looked angry. "One day is not enough Vanitas."
"She doesn't need him."
"I'd say to ask her, but we both know she's gonna say she's fine."
"Because she is-"
"No. Because she knows to say otherwise would hurt you." Riku gave a small huff in derision. "(Y/N) will always consider your feelings. Can you say you do the same?"
Vanitas darted forward, gripping Riku's shirt with both hands, slamming him back against the wall.
"Vanitas, stop it!" Sora exclaimed, pulling at Vanitas's shoulders.
The two males stared one another down, eyes blazing.
"She's strong." Vanitas spat, his face inches from Riku's.
"But not indestructible. She needs support. I know you're not selfish enough to be blind to that."
Vanitas searched Riku's eyes, mouth a taut line, his breathing heavy.
Sora hovered uncomfortably beside them, torn.
Finally, Vanitas released Riku's shirt, turning away from him.
There was a pregnant silence in the air.
When Vanitas spoke again, his voice was thick. "I can take care of her."
He glanced back at them both. "You have your orders."
Sora and Riku exchanged a glance, their expressions sombre.
Without another word, Vanitas pushed past Sora into the small bedroom, the doubtful eyes he felt on his back conveying their lack of conviction.
He supposed he couldn't blame them, but their disbelief made an uncomfortable lump rise in his throat, his stomach tightening in anxiety.