It is early the next morning when Vanitas starts to stir. Blue eyes lazily slide open, taking in the sight of sunlight streaming in through the fluttering motel window curtains. Sleep is still heavily clinging to his gaze, and he absently notices that someone put a blanket over him during the night.
Memories of yesterday come back gradually and Vanitas sits up once he recalls where he is.
‘Mornin’,’ Prompto greets him from across the room, sitting attentively over by the door.
Vanitas looks at him curiously, slowly noticing that the second bed has been left untouched.
‘Did you stay up all night?’ He yawns, rubbing his eyes.
‘Guess so.’ The sharpshooter only shrugs as Vanitas looks to the nearby electronic clock on the bedside table.
It’s still early in the morning, just past 7:00 am.
‘Motel breakfast should be open for business.’ Prompto offers. ‘Hungry?’
‘Sure.’
Vanitas takes off the blanket and slides off the bed. He has to pause to recalibrate himself, however, when his small feet slam down onto the ground with much more force than he’s used to.
Right… he’s a lot smaller now. Great.
He looks up at the bed with disdain, noticing the height difference. Remembered agitation comes back as he’s once again reminded of the current state of his body. Vanitas tries to forcibly squash it down, though, as he and Prompto head outside and down the stairs towards the lobby. Vanitas, for his part, is still surprised that the motel even has a lobby, let alone a cozy dining room where breakfast is being served buffet style. The only other motels he’s seen before had been rundown buildings with a standard check-in desk and no common areas, so this was already a much fancier upgrade than what he’s used to.
Walking into the dining room itself is a new experience. There are people chatting, murmuring together in little pockets his ears have trouble picking up all at once. There’s not that many people up this early, but still… it’s been a while since he’s been around so many normal people.
Once they find a place to sit, breakfast proceeds as normal, with Prompto teasing Vanitas for his newfound aversion to one of his favorite drinks.
‘What the hell? Why does it taste horrible now?’ Vanitas complains into his coffee, making a disgusted face. He normally drinks it black, and had been looking forward to having a cup, but even with more than five sugars and creams mixed in, the liquid still tastes horrible.
‘Looks like your taste buds shrunk too.’ Prompto tries to hide his laughter with his own mug and calls their waiter back over to order a different drink.
Once they’re finished with breakfast and have returned their room key, Vanitas looks around the semi-empty Hammerhead parking lot for a glimpse of either Cindy or Cid. Neither of them is around though, as it’s still much too early for the garage to open up for the day.
‘We’ll be back again sometime soon, don’t worry.’ Prompto says, noticing Vanitas’s distracted gaze. ‘I bet Cid’ll get a kick out of you.’
‘Yea.’ Vanitas agrees, though something about leaving without saying goodbye has his stomach in knots. He never got the chance to say it last time, not just to Cid and Cindy but to everyone else here on Eos.
It feels wrong somehow to get in the car without it.
‘Did you ever call Noct?’ He questions, opting for a distraction.
‘Huh?’ Prompto unlocks the car and opens the door. ‘Oh, yea. I texted him when we brought the key back.’ He holds up his phone for emphasis.
‘Didn’t he ask you to call instead?’ Vanitas can’t help but tease with a smug grin. ‘Disobeying orders from the King? Not a good look.’
‘First of all, I’m the one with the phone here, so I’ll do whatever I please.’ Prompto teases right back. ‘And second of all, I’m part of His Majesty’s royal retinue, so I have the perks of bending the rules.’
‘Wow. What a rebel.’ Vanitas’s voice drips with sarcasm as he watches, unimpressed, as Prompto gets in the car.
When he goes to get in as well, though, he finds that the door is locked.
‘Keep the sass up squirt, and you can walk all the way to Insomnia.’ Prompto mock threatens with a grin.
Vanitas rolls his eyes in response before instinctively reaching out a hand to summon his keyblade. The action is second nature, one he’s done thousands of times with ease.
But as he reaches for the connection to the blade in his heart, though, nothing happens.
Vanitas startles, blinking with confusion. He does the action again, and again for good measure, but still his keyblade does not heed his call. He looks at his small hands, flexing them with a frustrated brow.
First messing his body, then his emotions, and now this?
‘Uh, Vani?’
The child looks up to see that Prompto has now reached over to open the passenger door for him. He has a questioning look on his face.
‘You okay?’
Vanitas shoves his hands into his pockets to hide them.
‘Yea.’ He lies and gets into the car just as the engine roars to life.
The ride to Insomnia is much longer than the one they took yesterday to Hammerhead. Vanitas can barely sit still throughout it all, squirming in his seat and leaning up on his knees to view the sights. Soon after leaving Hammerhead, they pass the Lucian Checkpoint and drive down the long bridge across the water towards the Crown City, where Ignis, Gladio and Noct are waiting.
The outside of Insomnia still has a ways to go in being restored, as a lot of the outlying neighborhoods survived the initial war with the Imperials, but were long since left abandoned for over a decade. It’s clear just driving by that the crown currently has other priorities, and Vanitas isn’t surprised to learn that Noctis elected to help his people rebuild their essential places of living first.
‘Pretty much everyone had taken shelter in Lestallum during the Endless Night. It was the only place with reliable light that could fend off the daemons.’ Prompto says as they drive on through some odd twists and turns in the outlying neighborhoods. ‘Once the light came back, though, people returned to their homes, and there was just… nothing there. Noct wanted to help them first before anything that wasn’t ‘strictly necessary,’ as Iggy calls it.’
‘Like Gauldin?’ Vanitas questions, noting that as the further in they drive, the more the city comes alive with lights, signs and businesses.
Marks of life showing through.
‘Yup. Gauldin was always more of a touristy place anyway. But now that the other nations are back on their feet, we’re gonna need it in tip top shape if we ever wanna make friends with Altissia again for trading.’
‘You guys had a falling out?’ Vanitas raises an eyebrow, confusion showing on his face.
Last he heard Lucis had been friendly enough with the Altissia, at least enough to have their crowned prince married there. From his and Prompto’s conversation yesterday, he knows hat the place was destroyed, but what does that have to do with their relationship with Lucis?
‘Uh… something like that.’ Is all Prompto says on the subject.
Vanitas hums, giving him a suspicious look. He decides to let it go, though, as the city grows busier. There are traffic lights at seemingly every turn now, and a multitude of people are out and about walking the streets.
‘Seems like a lot of people here.’ Vanitas says, having a bit of whiplash as they enter the heart of the city.
Not even an hour ago the place had been a ghost town.
‘Yea, a lot of them wanted to move into Insomnia, so we’ve been focusing more on that for a while. It’s a fraction of the size it once was but, it’s gotten pretty bustling in some parts.’ Prompto grins. ‘Even got some nice stores running lately. Iggy’s got a favorite coffee shop again, too.’
Vanitas huffs out a small laugh at that, knowing exactly how particular Ignis can get with his coffee. It’ll be good to see him again. Noct and Gladio too.
It shouldn’t be that much longer now.
The rest of the ride is spent in comfortable silence until they come upon The Citadel. It’s a towering white building, with pristine iron gates at the front, spotless glass windows, and an immaculate, noble red carpet laid out in front of the main show-stopper entrance.
The sight of it nearly takes Vanitas’s breath away. It’s probably the single most extravagant thing he’s ever seen in his humble, desert-dwelling life.
Just as they are heading towards the front gates, though, Prompto directs the car onwards to a seemingly dull, ordinary building. The blonde holds up a card to the garage entry kiosk, and Vanitas realizes belatedly that this building is more important than it seems when they drive down deep into the indoor parking garage and come up to a hidden guard station.
‘Identification.’ The guard says as he holds up a hand to stop the vehicle. He gives a sweeping glance to the car, before recognition comes over their face. ‘Oh, it’s just you Prompto.’ The man greets his fellow Crownsguard. ‘Back so soon?’
‘Yup.’ Prompto grins. ‘Got a stowaway the King is expecting.’ He nods towards Vanitas, who is busy trying to peer into the mysterious dark tunnel ahead of them.
The guard appears questioning for a moment of two, looking towards Vanitas with a critical eye, but ultimately decides not to ask further questions as he waves them through.
‘All clear.’ He calls to the other guard manning the gate. ‘Go on ahead.’
‘Thanks, Josef. See you at the next staff meeting!’ Prompto says and laughs at the man’s answering groan as they drive onwards through the gate.
The mysterious tunnel takes them underground, the walls lit up by lights of royal gold. The car expertly weaves through the secret pathways before spitting them out into the blaring sunshine. Vanitas winces and holds a hand up to his eyes as Prompto wheels the car around a pristine, expensive-looking fountain in the center of the hidden driveway they’ve found themselves in.
‘Your reunion awaits.’ Prompto grins as he stops the vehicle, already catching sight of some people waiting for them at the top of the stairs ahead. ‘You ready?’
Vanitas takes in a breath, hesitating to follow his friend’s line of sight.
‘No.’ He admits, feeling as if he can barely breathe.
For over ten years, he’s wanted this reunion, but now that it’s really happening, he’s not sure what to do with himself.
‘Need me to pinch you?’ Prompto’s question has Vanitas immediately leaning away with apprehension. ‘Just to you know, make sure it’s real?’
‘I’ll manage.’ He says, his prickly tone clearly telling Prompto to keep his hands to himself.
The sharpshooter only nods with a mischievous grin and gets out of the car, leaving Vanitas alone to put on a brave face. The first thing he hears through the open car window is the telltale sound of Ignis’s light footsteps and the thundering gait of Gladio’s boots.
‘Right on time.’ Ignis says, sounding impressed.
‘Yea, for once.’ Gladio huffs.
‘Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?’ Prompto huffs as he shuts the driver’s side door. ‘Geez, give me some credit, would ya?’
‘I suppose this time we should give credit where credit is due.’ Ignis admits.
‘Yea, you got him here safe, that’s what counts.’ Gladio agrees, looking towards the child still hidden away in the car.
Vanitas doesn’t meet his eye and instead takes a deep breath before opening the door and stepping out into the light. His gaze immediately takes in the sight of his long-lost friends for the first time in over a decade. Gladio’s hair is longer now, and he looks taller and much more rugged than he was before if that’s at all possible. Ignis looks the same as ever, though, still as polished and proper as Vanitas knew him to be, but his hair is more smoothed over now.
And is that a new pair of glasses?
The two of them together practically tower over Vanitas, the child having to crane his neck to look up at them properly.
‘Well there he is.’ Gladio crosses his arms with a grin. ‘Little man of the hour.’
‘Yea, emphasis on little.’ Vanitas shakes his head, before pausing, looking up at them through rapidly blinking eyes as suddenly all coherent thought leaves his brain. ‘Uh… hey guys.’
His words linger in the air for maybe one or two seconds, before suddenly there are strong arms squeezing the life out of him.
‘Hey guys?? Is that all you have to say?’ Gladio asks, his tone teasing. There is something in the undercurrent of his voice, though, that Vanitas can’t quite name. ‘Geez, you’re just like Noct.’
Vanitas does his best to retort but is only able to wheeze out a breath.
‘Just like Noct in words, though much smaller in size.’ Ignis says as the voice of reason. ‘You may want to let up a bit, Gladio.’
‘Yea before you break him in half.’ Prompto laughs.
‘Whoops.’ Gladio says, though his tone holds no remorse. Either way, he does oblige by lowering his strength to that of a normal hug, before letting go and stepping aside.
Ignis is much gentler as he crouches down to extend an embrace to Vanitas. Their hug is a bit awkward, as Ignis misjudges Vanitas’s height, but they both manage it just fine. From this distance, Vanitas is quick to notice that there are peculiar looking scars around Ignis’s eyes, though he doesn’t bother to ask about them.
‘Goodness… I was not expecting you to be this little.’ Ignis says in disbelief.
‘If I keep hearing stuff like that, I swear I’m gonna shrink even more out of spite.’ Vanitas complains, causing Ignis to chuckle as he pulls away.
‘My apologies then.’
The four of them divulge into easy conversation thereafter, a happy reunion full of jokes, hair ruffles and playful jabs. All the while, though, Vanitas can’t help but notice a certain someone’s absence.
‘Where’s Noct?’ Vanitas finally asks once Prompto is done regaling the tale of their drive into the city.
‘Let me inquire after his current status.’ Ignis says, checking his phone. The device plays something quietly into his earpiece, and Vanitas looks up at him suspiciously, observing that Ignis is not looking at the screen as he taps away. ‘Apologies, Vanitas. He had meant to meet you here as well, but his meeting ran a bit long.’
Vanitas hums, keeping his expression neutral even though something in his chest stings with rejection.
‘Sounds boring as hell.’ Vanitas says nonchalantly, crossing his arms to hide his disappointment.
‘Yea, be grateful you don’t have to sit in on one. You’d be bored outta your skull.’ Gladio chuckles and looks towards Prompto. ‘Remember the one about Leide?’
‘Yeesh. That one was a doozy just listening to the sum-up.’ Prompto laughs. ‘Yea remind me never to complain about my job ever again.’
Vanitas looks between the two of them, feeling disgruntled that he’s not understanding their reference. He isn’t able to dwell on it, however, as something dings on Ignis’s phone.
‘Perfect timing.’ Ignis says. ‘We’ll join Noct in the throne room.’
The Citadel is everything that Vanitas had thought it would be from what his friends had told him in years past. Turns out a good deal of the building was miraculously left intact, so rebuilding had been a breeze. The Citadel itself was bustling with people now, numerous individuals attending to their duties of keeping house. Vanitas is still reeling as he takes in every marbled detail of the place, every intricate painting or recovered relic of the Lucian royal family.
He never thought he’d be here one day; and it was surreal to have the chance to walk through these halls, knowing just how much this place means to his friends.
‘What do you think of the city, shorty?’ Gladio’s voice pulls Vanitas’s attention back.
‘You want the honest answer or the polite one?’ Vanitas smirks.
‘Smartass.’ Gladio huffs.
‘You guys obviously put in a lot of work.’ Vanitas obliges him truthfully, stopping to look out at the city scenery. ‘Can’t imagine it’s anything like what it used to be though.’
‘Not even close.’ Prompto hums. ‘But we’re getting there.’
‘There are numerous plans underway to improve the lives of the citizens in Lucis.’ Ignis nods, adjusting his glasses. ‘This is only the beginning, but we are all hopeful we can restore everything back to its former glory, perhaps even beyond.’
Their journey to the throne room takes them to an elevator with black marble walls and golden plated paneling. Vanitas fidgets in place during the ride, suddenly having to resist a very weird, sudden childish urge to hit all of the buttons on the wall at once.
From there, they head through a golden door, and enter a spacious waiting room. There are three older people on their way out. They’re wearing important-looking black and gold robes, and are discussing something in hushed tones as they head towards the elevator. Vanitas watches them with interest as they pass by, wondering who they are.
‘Geez, council’s as active as ever.’ Gladio mumbles once they are out of sight.
‘Council?’ Vanitas tilts his head.
‘The council.’ Ignis explains as they continue onwards. ‘They are an advisory group to the King.’
‘Thought that was your job?’ Vanitas squints his eyes at the advisor as they pass by some lavish, intricate paintings hanging on the wall.
‘It is.’ Ignis hums. ‘Though, think of them more as experts in the traditions and historical teachings of Lucis.’
‘You could just call them what they are; old stuffs.’ Gladio grumbles, causing Vanitas to snort.
‘I second that.’ Prompto grins.
‘I’m going to pretend I did not hear that.’ Ignis lightly chides as they come upon a set of heavy-looking marble doors.
Ignis knocks three times in perfect succession, before pushing the doors open without waiting for an answer. Vanitas peeks past him, noting just how obnoxiously huge the room beyond is. It has floor to ceiling black and gold marble, with expensive trappings and banners of gold and cobalt blue. An elegant carpet runner of ruby red stretches from their feet all the way up to the throne, and there are two sets of stairs leading up to it. If Vanitas squints, he can just barely see the silhouette of Noctis sitting there. He’s talking with someone, who takes a sheet of paper with a bow before scurrying down the stairs and past their group, the heavy doors sliding shut on their way out.
Once it’s just the five of them, Noctis stands and descends the stairs at a leisurely pace.
‘Special delivery for his royal majesty.’ Prompto says by way of greeting as he walks further into the room with Gladio close behind. ‘One long lost buddy, brought here safe and sound.’
Vanitas hangs back, standing rooted in Ignis’s shadow as his gaze is caught on the King.
‘Thanks, Prom.’ Noctis says casually. ‘Hope it’s free of charge?’
His voice causes Vanitas to let out a relieved breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. After all this time trying to commit Noct’s voice to memory, he’s overwhelmed to hear it in person again. It’s older now, more flecked with age as he speaks, but familiar all the same.
‘Uh dude, it’s me.’ Prompto goads. ‘I expect my payment of your finest Crow’s Nest cuisine sent my way post haste.’
‘You would.’ Noctis snorts as he finally makes it to the bottom of the stairs. His eyes search for Vanitas, raising an eyebrow upon noticing that the dark-haired child still hasn’t moved.
Ignis turns to Vanitas, placing a hand atop his small head encouragingly.
The touch causes Vanitas to flinch out of his stupor, and he takes a deep breath before approaching Noctis. He’s grown older just like the others, his hair tamer and missing its usual spikes, and there’s a beard where there wasn’t one before. But his eyes, they’re the same. The same ones that crinkled whenever Noctis heard a stupid pun, or squinted with concentration when reeling in a fish, or glared with determination when ready for a fight.
The same eyes that always held a certain fondness for Vanitas, and still do now as the two approach each other after so long apart.
It’s that fondness, that familiarity, that has Vanitas spouting his next words.
‘Man, you got fuckin’ old, huh?’
…
Everyone immediately bursts into hysterics, including Noctis himself. The King’s shoulders shake with laughter as he approaches Vanitas, scooping him into an embrace.
‘Missed you too, brat.’ He scoffs.
Vanitas can’t keep the mischievous grin off of his face, before suddenly it fades away, and he’s left clinging to Noctis as if afraid to ever let go again.
The reunion of the five wayward friends extends throughout the rest of the morning. It’s spent in comfortable companionship; trading new stories, laughing at fond memories, and perusing through old pictures.
‘Wait wait wait.’ Prompto can barely keep the grin off his face. ‘Here’s the best one.’ He laughs, holding up a photo showcasing Noctis getting his ass thrown off a cliff by a cactuar. The camera work is shaky, but Vanitas can clearly be seen in the background laughing hysterically.
‘You told me you got rid of that one.’ Noctis swipes for it, but Prompto holds it out of reach.
‘Not a chance. It’s one of my favorite memories.’ Prompto snickers. ‘I still put it under my pillow every night for good luck.’
‘You’re full of it.’
Their group has long since moved from the throne room and are now settled into Noctis’s royal suite. The space is gigantic, even bigger than the throne room. The floor plan includes a master bedroom, numerous bathrooms, two extra bedrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, spacious living room, study, dining room and also another unknown room linked to Noctis’s. Vanitas hadn’t bothered to ask about that one when they first arrived, merely gawking at the luxury of it all as he was given the grand tour.
It was like its own fancy house within an even fancier castle, and his brain, which was used to sleeping wherever his body dropped in the dirt, had a hard time processing it all.
‘Keep your face like that and it’ll stick that way.’ Gladio had teased him, before laughing at the rude gesture Vanitas threw him in retaliation.
Today was currently the beginning of the weekend, so Noctis’s schedule was rather lax now that his previous meeting had ended. As a precaution, though, Ignis had seen to it that the rest of Noctis’s schedule was cleared for Vanitas’s impromptu return party, and the advisor is currently in the kitchen making lunch for all of them, just like old times.
‘Okay Vani, found it. Here, have a looksee.’ Prompto says as he takes a seat on the floor at the living room coffee table. He slides a big album of old pictures in the child’s direction.
Vanitas takes the book, curiously flipping over pages. Prompto has several photo albums like this one of their journey from twelve years ago, and it’s clear that they mean a lot to him from the way they’re encased in sturdy, hardcovers books with labels and colored index tabs. It’s probably the only organized thing of his that Vanitas has ever seen, and he takes care flipping through the pages.
This book in particular contains all of Vanitas’s time with them, and he had been in awe when Prompto had brought it out. Everything they’d done together, every step of the way, was contained within this single book. It had a lot more pictures than he was expecting, too, for how little time he’d actually spent with them in the grand scheme of things.
The first photo is a snapshot of Vanitas wearing his typical dark suit. He’s looking at Noctis with a cautious gaze, the two of them talking as the Prince fishes on the beach of Gauldin Quay. The photo perfectly encapsulates everything Vanitas had been feeling back then. A scowl is on his face, his body tense as if waiting for a fight, and his arms are crossed, a notable unconscious boundary between the two of them.
Looking at the picture now sparks something in Vanitas, like what he would imagine a stranger might feel looking at himself from the outside.
He doesn’t like it.
The next photo is from the same angle as the first. Ignis are Gladio have joined the picture now, all of them surrounding Noctis near the shoreline. They are talking about something, more than likely grilling Vanitas for details about where he came from. That first meeting was not too long after the guys started their journey from Insomnia, and happened just when the four of them had stopped at Gauldin by chance after destroying an Imperial outpost.
Looking over the picture now, it’s clear from their expressions that they’d all been on edge, but at the time Vanitas hadn’t really cared. If he had died back then, by these strangers or by any other means, what difference would it have made?
He’d already given up everything he ever knew by that point.
Either way, their caution towards Vanitas didn’t last long. The following pictures showcase that fact during dinner that night, when Ignis had cooked them Battered Barramundi and they’d talked for hours around the campfire. At the time, it was so easy to fall into their group, so easy to relax and let himself be in the presence of these odd strangers. Vanitas hasn’t looked at or thought about these photos in years, but it’s clear to him that they broke through something in his heavily guarded shell that night. The guys must have felt the same way about him, too, as there’s nothing but smiles on their faces in the pictures.
Vanitas runs his small fingers over each one, trying to commit the feeling of them to memory.
‘Man, that was a really good night.’ Prompto says absentmindedly, a small smile on his face.
‘Kinda felt like Noct had found some stray puppy or something.’ Gladio drawls from his seat on the recliner.
‘Believe it or not, that’s kind of how I felt too.’ Vanitas says, fidgeting to get more comfortable on the floor. He’s currently sitting across from Prompto and Gladio, in between the coffee table and the couch, with Noctis looking at the photos from over his shoulder.
‘I assume you are looking at photos from that first evening.’ Ignis hums from the kitchen nearby. ‘Vanitas certainly fit right in since the beginning.’
‘Yea he did.’ Noct says fondly. ‘Stray puppy or not, you sure left an impression on us that day.’
‘Yea, right after you kicked me.’ Vanitas looks up at Noctis accusingly.
‘Got you outta my way, didn’t I?’ Noctis shrugs, no remorse in his eyes or tone.
‘Certainly ‘kick’started your impeccably strong friendship, I would say.’
‘Don’t even think about it.’ Vanitas whips his head around to glare at Ignis.
Vanitas’s intolerance for puns could only be outmatched by Noctis’s hatred of beans, and Ignis knew that fact very well.
‘My lips are sealed.’ The advisor promises, though there is a small smirk on his face as he is chopping up some vegetables. Vanitas watches him for a moment or two, raising an eyebrow as he notices that he is not looking down at the cutting board.
‘We’re just getting started, shorty.’ Gladio says, getting Vanitas’s attention before he can think on it further. ‘Keep flippin’.’
‘I’m doing it.’ Vanitas sneers. ‘Impatient much?’
Gladio only snorts in response as Vanitas turns to the next page. The photos here showcase the five of them piling into the Regalia the next day. They’d driven straight to Wiz’s Chocobo Post on one of Prompto’s whims after learning that Vanitas had never heard of a chocobo before.
The following shots are of Vanitas meeting Wiz and his flock, with one in particular showing him riding atop a chocobo for the first time.
Present day Vanitas pauses at the photo, staring at it with nostalgia.
He could still remember that chocobo. Her name was Duchess, and she was a young bird with blushing pink feathers. She was so easygoing and sweet, and was very quick to form a bond with Vanitas right off the bat. Wiz had said that the pink chocobos are the most gentle and sociable with humans, and he had immediately paired him and Duchess together when he learned that Vanitas had never met one before.
The two of them got on like a regular house on fire after that. They rode together all over Eos alongside the guys, battling monsters and daemons, and winning tons of racing medals at the Post.
Vanitas truly hoped, selfishly, that she was still alive.
‘Is the Post still around?’ He asks, his gaze far away.
‘Oh yea, the place is still up and running.’ Gladio hums, taking a swig of his beer. ‘You should see it now. It’s got three times the chocobos and four times the space.’
‘We used them a lot during the Endless Night.’ Prompto nods. ‘They were the best ways to get around without a car.’
‘The Post never had light, did it?’ Noctis asks, one dark eyebrow raised.
‘Not for some time.’ Ignis says. ‘The chocobos were moved to Lestallum for their safety before power could be converted to other outposts. Their quick transportation proved essential in those times for the engineers and glaives.’
‘I see.’ Noctis hums, and Vanitas looks up at him. He’d forgotten that Noctis had been gone for ten years too, back when he was stuck inside the crystal, and likely wouldn’t know anything about what happened during the Endless Night either.
It gave Vanitas some comfort, to know that he wasn’t alone in that way.
As conversation regarding the chocobos dies down, Vanitas turns over the next few pages of the album, coming across photos of their first time in Lestallum. There’s a picture of the entrance to the city, and more capturing the stalls and people in the crowded streets. It was in Lestallum that the guys had finally propositioned Vanitas to purchase some new clothes, and a photo can be seen of him in his dark suit, sticking out like a sore thumb in a clothing store with Ignis holding a shirt up to him inquisitively.
‘I remember that day. Man, you were so damn picky.’ Gladio rumbles with a laugh.
‘I picked something, didn’t I?’ Vanitas snorts as he quickly flips to the next page, seeing himself wearing his preferred clothes in the rest of the photos.
He’d wanted his new outfit to match the others more than anything else, a symbol of leaving his old life behind and merging into his new one in their group. In the end, after much trial and tribulation, they ended up finding him a black shirt, pants and boots from around town, and Ignis was able to alter one of Noctis’s old jackets to complete the look.
It worked like a charm, too, as when Vanitas sees himself posed together with the others near the lookout point, he can’t help but remember how good it felt to be included.
‘There he is. That’s the Vani I remember.’ Prompto grins, leaning forward to place his crossed arms on the coffee table. ‘I still want that jacket that Iggy whipped up.’
‘What happened to it anyway?’ Gladio hums, his brow furrowed trying to remember.
Vanitas pauses at the question, sitting up straight, his shoulder touching Noctis’s knee.
‘It was burned.’ He says, his voice bitter as he remembers back to that night when Xehanort had destroyed those clothes, after Vanitas was taken back to the Graveyard. He had other things with him then too; a couple photos, keychains, a few small trinkets.
All of them, burned to a crisp.
There was nothing left for him to remember them by, only the memories.
His words have everyone pausing as a heavy feeling comes over the room. Vanitas doesn’t bother looking any of them in the eye, and instead flips ahead a few pages. The photos proceeding their initial first impressions of Lestallum showcase their meetup with Talcott, Jared and Iris at the hotel. Something painful comes over Vanitas as he looks at a photo of Jared and Talcott smiling together by the fountain near the front entrance.
Jared’s passing was the first time Vanitas had truly encountered death and was able to even remotely understand the sheer aftermath it can cause. He still remembered little Talcott, putting on such a brave face as he recounted his grandfather’s death to Noctis with clenched fists and tears in his young eyes.
‘Wait!’ Vanitas suddenly blinks, gathering everyone’s attention as he turns to Prompto. ‘Talcott! That was him! On the beach yesterday.’
It takes a second or two before understanding slowly comes over Prompto’s eyes.
‘Yea, you totally ditched him when he was just trying to help you.’ He shakes his head. ‘Talk about rude, dude.’
‘I didn’t recognize him.’ Vanitas defends himself, staring in disbelief at the picture, as if his gaze will punch a hole right through it. ‘And Monica… did I ever meet her?’
‘Not likely.’ Noctis says. ‘We barely ever saw her ourselves really.’
‘She’s one of the Crownsguard. One of the best, actually.’ Gladio explains.
‘So, you’re saying I ditched them for no reason.’ Vanitas says, an exasperated twitch coming over his brow.
‘I would assume so.’ Ignis says, choosing this time to announce that lunch is ready. ‘They also mentioned something about a horse? Vanitas, would you be able to advise further on that? It was quite odd in the report.’
Vanitas doesn’t answer, only sinking further down in his seat as if he wants the floor to swallow him whole. Doing so has his back rubbing up against the couch, however, and he sits up with a barely audible hiss, the friction irritating the still healing wound he had completely forgotten about on his back.
Thankfully, no one notices.
‘It sounded like the perfect getaway plan.’ Prompto says with a snort. ‘But then again Talcott did say it was kind of hilarious to see a kid hanging onto a horse for dear life.’
That has them all laughing, including a snicker from Ignis, and Vanitas glares at them.
‘You guys suck.’
Lunch comes and goes, and more time is spent reminiscing before eventually afternoon descends upon the citadel and Ignis receives a particular phone call.
‘Vanitas,’ Ignis gathers the child’s attention as he hangs up his phone. ‘Given what Monica and Talcott had reported, and your current status, I took the liberty of making an appointment for you to be looked over by a pediatrician.’ Ignis says, clicking something on his phone. ‘We should now make our way to the medical wing of the Citadel.’
‘What?’ Vanitas complains, his face scrunching with protest. ‘I’m not going to a damn doctor.’
‘It is also King’s orders.’ Ignis says, adjusting his glasses.
Vanitas immediately looks at Noctis in betrayal.
‘Quit complaining.’ Is all Noctis says as he lightly slaps a hand against Vanitas’s shoulder and stands up. ‘It’s protocol for kids entering the city to get looked at by a doctor. Besides, when’s the last time you went for a checkup?’
‘Wow… You really did get old.’ Vanitas looks at him, speechless. ‘What the hell happened to the Noctis that shirked responsibilities and hated veggies?’
‘He’s still there I’m afraid.’ Ignis says with a long-suffering sigh.
‘Just better at hiding it.’ Noctis agrees with a chuckle.
‘Well, while you guys go to the doc’s, I’m gonna check in with the Marshal.’ Prompto stands up and stretches.
‘Finally gonna report in on time?’ Gladio teases.
‘Yup. Not gonna push it with this one considering I pretty much bailed recon duty with the new car.’ He says, though looks at Vanitas with a wink. ‘For a good cause though.’
Vanitas hums, none too bothered by that, and is instead stalling to get up as he’s not particularly looking forward to this supposed appointment.
‘I’ll head out for a little while myself then.’ Gladio comes to stand next to Vanitas, though does not deign to move further until the child does.
‘Gonna check in the Jaida and Poppy, I take it?’ Noctis asks good naturedly.
‘Wait… who?’ Vanitas looks up at Gladio with a raised brow.
‘Oh yea, Vani. You wouldn’t know.’ Prompto grins and slaps the big guy on the back. ‘Gladio’s married now. Only one of us so far to have a family of his own.’
‘Got a little girl.’ Gladio practically beams with pride. ‘Her name’s Poppy.’
That information has Vanitas immediately standing up in shock.
‘Wait…’ He looks at Gladio with surprise, opening and closing his mouth as he struggles to process this information.
‘Woah, I think you actually just blew his brain, dude.’ Prompto comments with a laugh.
‘You’re a dad now??’ Vanitas questions, his shock too important to ignore.
Gladio only smirks in response and turns to the leave the royal suite. Vanitas, not one to be ignored, stubbornly follows after him into the pristine hallway.
‘What? You got a problem with that?’ Gladio doesn’t look offended though, more bemused by Vanitas’s stuttering.
‘No, but…’ Vanitas says, at a loss for words.
‘A lot of things have changed since we last saw you.’ Noctis ruffles Vanitas’s hair, who swats at his hand in response, unhappy with being chided like a child. ‘You’ll catch up, don’t worry.’
‘He’s speaking from experience.’ Prompto says as he shuts the suite door behind them.
‘We’ll fill you in on every last detail.’ Ignis says, and somehow Vanitas calms with those words, knowing they have all the time in the world now to do so.
‘How have you been faring, Vanitas? Any issues with eating or sleeping?’
‘Fine.’ Vanitas frowns, casting a glare at Ignis and Noctis, who are quietly listening in on Vanitas’s wellness exam from across the room.
He still feels betrayed by the two of them, having figured out about a third of the way through his following of Gladio that they were all trying to distract him from their true destination; the medical wing. Vanitas had tried to refuse the appointment, but when you’re not even four feet tall going up against the literal saviors of the world, it was a battle he was simply never going to win.
Still, Vanitas is visibly sulking as the doctor shines light in his eyes and looks in his ears. She’d earlier taken his height and weight, tutting to herself as she marked numbers down on her chart. He could only guess what that meant, but he never got the chance to ask as she had simply moved on to taking his blood pressure. She is very thorough from what he can tell, and seems to know quite a few things about him already. He wouldn’t be surprised if Ignis had filled her in on his rather, unique situation so to speak. After all, if she was trusted enough to already be working in the royal medical wing, then she could obviously be trusted with knowing that Vanitas is actually a teenager currently stuck in a child’s body.
‘What would consist of these so-called appropriate snacks, Doctor Senju?’ Ignis’s voice snaps Vanitas out of his thoughts.
He hadn’t noticed how the conversation had already moved on.
‘Mostly healthy, easy to digest foods. Like yogurts, fruits, non-sugar cereals. I’ll give you a list before you leave, but it mostly depends on the child and their preferences.’ She says, causing Vanitas to sneer and Ignis to nod as he notes some things down in his phone.
The doctor hums and looks over her chart before turning to Vanitas once more.
‘Speaking of which, Vanitas how are your teeth? Any abnormal pain?’
Vanitas only shakes his head, causing her to hum.
‘That’s good. Still, a trip to the dentist would be recommended. Won’t be long until you start to lose those baby teeth, after all.’
‘Noted.’ Ignis says.
‘…Dentist?’ Vanitas tilts his head.
‘Yes, the dentist. To look after your teeth.’ She explains, though Vanitas looks at her with a vacant stare.
‘You’ve never been to the dentist before, Van?’ Noctis asks.
‘Nope. This is my first time at a doctor too.’ The child shrugs.
The doctor seems a bit taken aback by this fact, while Ignis and Noct don’t even bat an eye.
‘Glad we came here today then.’ Noctis mumbles. ‘Protocol or not.’
‘Indeed.’ Ignis concurs.
Both of them miss the way Vanitas grimaces at their exchange.
He doesn’t like this, being looked after and prodded.
‘Let’s proceed’ The doctor says, composing herself and unwrapping her stethoscope from around her neck. ‘Vanitas, I’m going to listen to your heart and lungs now, okay?’ She asks, waiting for him to reluctantly nod before putting the two buds in her ears and placing the flat disk over his heart. ‘Take a deep breath.’
Vanitas does so, watching her curiously as she moves the strange scope around his chest. Once she moves to listen against his back, however, he flinches when the device grazes over the wound hidden there.
She pulls away from him immediately.
‘Are you hurt here?’ She asks.
‘Uh…’ Vanitas pauses, unwilling to look up at Ignis and Noctis, who have both perked up with interest at the exchange.
The doctor doesn’t wait for his answer and politely asks him to pull up his shirt.
Vanitas looks at her as if she’s crazy.
‘What? No way.’
He’s already just barely tolerating the exam, now this?
‘It wasn’t a question, Van.’ Noctis says, getting up from his chair.
Past experiences prove that when backed into a corner, Vanitas will often refuse any form of help. As a result, he’s hidden countless wounds and bruises from them back in the day in an effort to not be chided or coddled, and it seems those habits are continuing now even over a decade later.
Vanitas and Noctis stare at each other for a few long moments, before the child sighs and turns away, not wanting to get into this in front of a stranger.
Looks like there’s no hiding it now anyway.
He allows the doctor to gently pull up his shirt, and she takes in a breath at the sight of the angry purple and yellow bruise spanning most of his back.
‘This looks like some sort of bullet wound.’ The doctor says with a furrowed brow.
‘What?’ Noctis asks, quickly coming over to see the damage for himself.
He grimaces at the sight of the wound. There’s another one too that goes down Vanitas’s side, appearing to be a bruise from some type of blunt weapon.
‘When were you shot, Vanitas?’ Ignis asks. He is the epitome of calm, and hasn’t moved from his seat, though is listening intently all the same.
‘Yesterday.’ Vanitas shrugs, looking over his shoulder. ‘Didn’t get a chance to heal it last night since I was so tired.’ He says, then gathers a bit of darkness at his fingertips. ‘I’ll get rid of it now, though.’
‘With magic?’ The doctor asks, and her worried tone causes Vanitas to stop.
‘Yea, what else?’ He asks, looking at her as if she’s stupid.
‘I would strongly, strongly recommend against doing that.’ The doctor says, gently touching the outer edges of the wound. Vanitas shivers at the touch and leans away from her. ‘A young child’s body is not compatible with magic, and similar things such as potions or elixirs are out of the question.’ She explains, looking to her King with determination. ‘I can recommend other forms of treatment for the wounds.’
Noctis looks at her for a moment or two before nodding, not bothering to put up a fight.
‘Well, you heard her, Van.’
Vanitas looks at the two of them with a glare, not particularly happy to be having this conversation.
‘It’s fine.’ He insists, his tone hard and guarded. ‘This happens all the time.’
‘That was when you were a teenager, Vanitas.’ Ignis corrects him. ‘Best not to push things now in your current state.’
‘But-!’ Vanitas goes to protest but is cut off by the doctor.
‘Pardon, but what do you mean this happens all the time? Did someone hurt you?’ The doctor presses. From her tone alone, Vanitas can tell that the action of harming a child is probably a very punishable offence, one that a lot of people would probably get their panties in a twist over.
Yea, he wanted no part of that.
It was fine. So he got hurt a little? Wouldn’t be anything new.
‘Not really.’ Vanitas tenses and crosses his arms, catching eyes with Noctis.
The King looks at him, taking in his expression before sighing.
‘We’ll look into it.’ He says, deciding to let the matter go for now in favor of finishing the appointment. ‘What are your recommendations for treating it?’
The doctor gives her King a look but asks no further questions. She dresses up Vanitas’s wounds, with clear instructions of how to care for them while they are healing. It appears that with a wound this damaging to such a young child, most medicines would be too harsh, so she prescribes pediatric approved medication to ease the pain.
Vanitas tries to protest that doesn’t need it. That he’s fine, it’s not even bleeding and they’re only bruises at this stage anyway, but he’s shot down real fast by all three adults in the room.
He glares at them, a gnawing feeling in his chest taking shape as he’s unheard.
The rest of the visit concludes with the doctor examining Vanitas’s reflexes and motor skills and administering some immunization shots. By the end of it all, Vanitas is practically squirming in his seat, having had enough of being poked and prodded.
‘I’ve been made aware of your current… predicament, Vanitas.’ The doctor explains. ‘And I would like to take the time to ask if there’s anything abnormal about your body that you would like to go over?’
Vanitas thinks about that question, figuring that he can humor her at least. There are a few things he would like an explanation for anyway.
‘I got really tired in the middle of the day and early at night.’ He admits, seeing no reason to ignore it. The tiredness had come out of nowhere and startled him quite badly if he were being honest.
He doesn’t want a repeat of it.
‘That is probably a result of your body getting used to its new current state.’ The doctor nods. ‘My advice would be that if you’re feeling tired, then don’t try to fight it. Your body knows what it needs. It’s perfectly normal for children your age to take naps, and they can even sleep up to 13 hours each night.’
‘Geez.’ Vanitas says absentmindedly, half expecting Ignis or Noct to quip some sort of joke or whatever. But surprisingly both of them are quiet, whispering to each other across the room.
They’ve been eerily attentive throughout this whole visit.
‘Anything else?’ The doctor prods gently.
‘My emotions. They’re different.’ Vanitas says with a furrowed brow as he looks down at his small hands.
He doesn’t like how intense they are, how much harder they are to control. The Unversed too, why don’t they funnel out his emotions anymore? It doesn’t make any sense.
‘That’s to be expected. Children tend to feel high levels of emotion and it can be difficult to regulate them at first.’ She explains calmly. ‘But I’m sure you’ll get a grasp on them with time as you grow older.’
As you grow older… Those words do not sit well with Vanitas at all.
It implies he’s stuck like this, not just for now but for forever.
He hates the thought of that. It hasn’t even been two days and already he’s going mental.
There has to be a way to get his proper age back. There has to be.
Despite Vanitas’s musings, the doctor’s visit wraps up with Ignis going on ahead to pick up medications and vitamins from the pharmacy while Noctis fills out paperwork at the front desk.
‘Please call if either of you have any questions, Your Majesty.’ The doctor bows respectively.
‘We will. Thank you for your time.’ Noctis says, shaking her hand.
Vanitas doesn’t offer her a goodbye, only quietly slipping out of the doctor’s office with Noctis.
Vanitas notably sulks for the rest of the late afternoon in the royal suite. Both Ignis and Noctis give him space, probably assuming that he is still angered over being tricked into the doctor’s visit. In truth, though, he couldn’t care less about that anymore, and has instead been brooding over how he’s stuck in this new body.
Vanitas huffs, leaning against the living room’s floor to ceiling windows from his spot on the floor. From up here, the people down below look like ants, and that’s exactly what he feels like in this moment.
He’s never felt so vulnerable before in his short life. He’s so small and fragile now.
Was this the price that he had to pay to come back here? If so, he has more than a few crude words to share with the Astrals.
The sound of something sizzling catches Vanitas’s attention and he steals a glance at Ignis, who is busy making dinner in the kitchen. Noctis had gotten an urgent call some time ago, leaving just the two of them in the suite for now.
Vanitas should be happy. He should relish having all of them close by again and be happy to have this second chance to live on Eos. But Vanitas has always been stubborn as hell when things don’t go his way. Especially when his ego has been knocked down a peg or two.
If this really is the price he must live with from now on, he knows it will take a great deal of time before he learns to accept it.
In the meantime, a distraction may be in order.
Vanitas stands up from the floor and approaches Ignis. The kitchen connects to the living room and dining room via an open floor plan. From his vantage point, Vanitas can see as Ignis is preparing something to put in the oven, though he appears to be doing so by memory and touch alone. The child watches with interest as the advisor never looks down at his work, though makes his way around expertly with a grace he’s come to expect from Ignis in his element.
Vanitas enters the kitchen. His footfalls are nearly silent, his darkness acting as a natural cushion on command under his feet. In the past, he has startled Ignis and the others many times on late afternoons such as this one.
This time, though, Ignis easily hears him approaching.
‘I see you’ve finally decided to join me, Vanitas.’ Ignis hums.
Any words that Vanitas had wanted to say are gone in an instant, replaced by a question.
‘Do you though?’ He boldly asks.
Ignis hesitates at the sudden pointed question.
‘Ignis.’ Vanitas calls again when he doesn’t receive an answer, not willing to let this go.
The advisor lets out a sigh through his nose and presses his lips together solemnly.
‘I do not, Vanitas.’ He admits. ‘There was an accident. In Altissia.’
‘Prompto said that the whole city got destroyed.’ Vanitas tilts his head, remembering their conversation. ‘Tell me what happened. All of it this time.’
Ignis turns off the stove and the burners, giving Vanitas his full attention.
‘Noctis had to form a covenant with Leviathan, the tide mother.’ He starts.
‘One of the uh…’ Vanitas pauses, remembering back to his encounter with Shiva. ‘The Astrals, right?’
‘Yes. Or ‘gods’ would be a more understandable term.’ Ignis supplies. ‘To form this covenant, Lady Lunafreya had to call upon Leviathan to lend power to Noctis. Although, things did not go according to plan.’ Ignis sighs, leaning against the counter. ‘The Imperial Army intervened, and Lady Lunafreya was slain by the Imperial Chancellor.’
‘That’s…’ Vanitas pauses. What even was he supposed to say to that? He had thought that she and Noct would be married by now, but there had been no mention of a Queen, and no other throne next to the King’s. ‘I was sort of wondering… where she was.’
She was the reason Noctis left on his journey in the first place, and Vanitas knew that Noctis cared about her deeply.
To find out that she died must have really sucked.
‘Hers is a loss we all feel deeply to this very day. Especially Noctis.’ Ignis frowns solemnly. ‘She gave her life at the Alter of the Tide Mother, and was already passed by the time I reached them both.’ His face then grows stony, hardening with memories. ‘The Chancellor, Ardyn, threatened to kill Noctis in front of my eyes. I put on the ring of the Lucii to save him.’
‘But doesn’t that, you know, kill people?’ Vanitas asks incredulously.
He never even saw the ring before. To him it was merely some mystical item brought up in stories. But Vanitas remembered that much at least.
‘I was ready to pay that price, but instead of my life, the ring took my eyesight.’ Ignis says, no remorse in his voice. ‘The scars have since healed over these many years, and the pain is non-existent now that both the ring and the crystal are gone forever.’
‘So it’s just a regular injury now?’ Vanitas tilts his head, trying to understand.
So, the ring and the crystal are gone, more than likely intended to die alongside Noctis, but the King had survived his sacrifice, and was now ushering in a new era without the power of those items.
Shouldn’t Ignis’s injury be cured then?
‘Indeed.’ Ignis says. ‘Though, I have lived with it for such a long time now so you needn’t worry, Vanitas.‘
The child frowns, though, his eyebrows scrunched with thought. Something in him suddenly needs to look at the injury, as if there’s an itch deep in his chest to see the wound for himself.
‘Let me see them.’ Vanitas says.
Ignis looks taken aback for a moment, though takes off his glasses and crouches down to Vanitas’s height without protest. Vanitas lets out a breath as he examines the wounds, and Ignis allows the child’s touch as Vanitas places his fingers on the raised scars.
Vanitas looks over the injury with a critical eye. Wounds, like illnesses, are not made of light, but instead are their own brand of darkness. He’s learned from Xehanort that everything in life is made up of one of the two, and Vanitas grew very skilled in telling which one is which in the Graveyard, back when all he had was his own darkness to repair his injuries.
If Ignis’s wound was made by a holy ring, his darkness would not be able to cure it, but now that the ring is gone…
Vanitas calls a bit of darkness to his fingertips and taps at the wound under Ignis’s left eye, where the scarring is more prominent. His small features twist in concentration, as slowly, ever so slowly, he finds the spot on Ignis’s face where the darkness of the wound is most prominent. Using his own darkness like a sponge, he expertly siphons the injury out, pinching his fingers together as if he were merely plucking a flower out of a garden.
In no time, Vanitas is repeating the action with the other scars littering Ignis’s face, until he much more resembles the Ignis that he remembers from the past. The man himself is silent, letting Vanitas work. If he feels anything at all, he does not show it.
Once Vanitas is finished, Ignis hazards to speak.
‘What was that, Vanitas?’
‘Look at me.’ Is all Vanitas says in response.
Ignis only sighs, however.
‘Vanitas, you know I cannot.’
‘Look at me, Ignis.’ Vanitas repeats the demand, causing Ignis to raise a brow.
Eventually the advisor lets out a small sigh before doing as asked, and Vanitas watches as Ignis blinks with surprise, his pupils shaking before being blown out into comically large saucers.
‘I…’ Ignis says in awe, quickly standing up with a startle.
Vanitas only waves a hand in hello, watching with interest as Ignis’s eyes shift to watch the movement.
‘Vanitas, I say… I…’ He is at a loss for words, his eyes shifting every which way, taking in every detail of the pristine kitchen.
At that precise moment, however, the two of them are interrupted by the sound of someone frantically pushing buttons into the keypad of the royal suite. The door is burst open, revealing a disheveled looking Prompto.
‘Vani!’ The sharpshooter calls.
‘Over here.’ Vanitas calls back, watching with confusion as Prompto runs towards the sound of his voice.
Vanitas startles, letting out a confused squawk as he is hit with a sudden tackle hug.
‘I’m SO sorry, Vani!’ Is all the blonde says in explanation, scooping Vanitas into his arms and squeezing tightly.
‘What?’ Vanitas squirms, raises a dark brow. He is tense from the sudden embrace, though notices that Prompto is carefully not touching his side or back.
‘Noct texted me and Gladio.’ Prompto’s words are frantic. ‘He told us you had a bullet wound.’ Prompto pulls away to look at Vanitas seriously, his eyes glassy with guilt. ‘I totally didn’t even put the pieces together. I’m such an idiot! Yesterday, I shot one of your Unversed, didn’t I? Man, I’m so sorry!’
‘Oh that’s what you’re freaking out about?’ Vanitas says, unbothered. ‘It’s whatever.’
‘It’s not whatever! Dude you’re only four! I coulda killed you!’ Prompto disagrees wholeheartedly. ‘What medicine did they give you? Is it really that bad? Let me see. Are you bleeding??’
Vanitas makes an uncomfortable face at the sudden fussing and attempts to pull away from Prompto, who is not keen on letting him go just yet. While Ignis is known for being the mother hen of their group, Prompto could easily be a frantic fusser too when push comes to shove.
Speaking of Ignis, though, the advisor seems to have gotten over his earlier shock as he attempts to gain control over Prompto’s blathering.
‘Vanitas is going to be fine.’ Ignis assures, causing Prompto to look up at him. ‘We were given clear instructions of how to heal the wounds. Now, if you’re truly feeling so sorry, perhaps you could help Vanitas to regularly change-‘ Ignis suddenly pauses his train of thought, looking at Prompto with incredulity. ‘What in the world is that on your face?’
‘Huh?’ Prompto tilts his head. ‘What is what on my face?’
‘Is that a beard?’ Ignis frowns with disapproval. ‘How long have you been walking around looking so unkempt?’
‘What are you talking about? I’ve had this beard for years! Why would-‘ Prompto suddenly pauses, as if puzzling pieces together. ‘Wait a minute… how do you know that? You’re over there, but I’m over…’ He lets the sentence trail off in disbelief. ‘What the hell? You can see me?!’ He asks, flabbergasted.
‘It would appear so.’ Ignis says, his tone holding the same awe as he puts his glasses on, before making a face as they appear to distort his newfound vision.
‘But?! How?!’ Prompto gapes.
Ignis then turns to Vanitas.
‘Perhaps you would like to explain what just happened, Vanitas.’
‘I took the injury away.’ Vanitas says nonchalantly while looking down at the swirling mass of darkness in his hand. ‘You know how I can control darkness right? Well, sicknesses and injuries are a form of darkness. So, I just plucked it out of you.’ He explains before sneering up at Ignis. ‘I tried to do that to myself earlier, but you all said I shouldn’t.’
‘Plucked it out…’ Ignis slowly repeats the words, still in shock.
‘Sweet. How long have you been able to do that?’ Prompto looks at Vanitas with interest.
‘Since…’ Vanitas pauses. How long has it been exactly? With the time travel, it was hard to tell. ‘Forever, I guess.’ He eventually settles on saying. ‘First time I’ve ever done it to someone else though.’ He hums, remembering that there was a certain pull that happened. Something much more than his own will that compelled him to act.
Might be worth looking into it later if that itchy feeling came up again, but for now Vanitas was willing to let it go as a mere compulsion to help Ignis. After all, Ignis has done a lot for him, so he was simply returning the favor.
He could live with that.
Ignis looks at Vanitas, before noticing the darkness seated in the child’s palm.
‘Is that the darkness of the injury?’ He asks after a moment of contemplative silence.
‘Yea. Though it’s harmless now. Unless you want to eat it or something.’ Vanitas snorts, letting the darkness slowly fade away.
Really, who would consume darkness to heal someone else? Sounds like an idiotic idea if Vanitas had ever heard one…
‘So Iggy’s blindness is gone? Just like that?’ Prompto asks once the dark swirling flecks have disappeared into the air.
‘Just like that.’
As expected, it didn’t take long for Noctis and Gladio to notice Ignis’s recovery. Especially not when Ignis himself let the cat out of the bag by instantly berating the two of them as soon as they walked through the door.
‘Truly, how long have you three been walking around in such a state?’ Ignis had sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose.
‘Quit your whining.’ Gladio said. ‘It’s not like you ever complained about our beards before.’
‘Pardon me, but I did not know they were THERE before.’
Despite Gladio’s words, Ignis did not in fact, quit his whining.
Having his vision restored is a blessing to be sure, and Ignis has expressed his gratitude to Vanitas multiple times, but to suddenly be brought into the light with no warning after over a decade of darkness… yea he was definitely struggling to find his equilibrium again. His depth perception was the worst part, too, as he had bumped into walls or furniture quite a few times already. Even so, Ignis did not accept any help, wanting to figure this out on his own.
‘I will get there.’ Ignis said. ‘Just, give me some time. I will find my way again.’
To his credit, Ignis was able to pull himself together enough to finish preparing dinner and soon after the world wore on into the night.
‘So then he was all, ‘looks like you found a good excuse. I guess I can let it slide’ with that totally stone face of his.’
Prompto’s words and laughter floats in one of Vanitas’s ears and out the other as he struggles to stay awake. When he was taking the darkness from Ignis’s eyes, he had felt fine at the time, but somehow, he’s grown steadily more and more tired as time progressed. And now, after barely an hour or two have passed, he’s practically falling asleep in his chair.
‘You’re lucky the immortal didn’t remind you of how mortal you really are.’ Gladio teases while picking up their plates and heading towards the kitchen. ‘That recon mission was already out of protocol, and you had to bounce early.’
‘I had explained it all to Cor once we heard the news.’ Ignis says smartly. He’s tinkering with his phone at the table, something he would have berated the others for in a heartbeat, but apparently he is letting it slide for himself as he attempts to work the device without his hearing aid.
‘Vanitas’s comeback became a bigger priority. Prompto can fly high again some other time.’ Noctis sets about cleaning the table, before turning his gaze to Vanitas when he notices the child’s eyelids have started to droop. ‘You tired, Van?’
‘Uh oh, probably about that time.’ Gladio says, checking the clock on the wall.
‘That time?’ Prompto asks as he follows Gladio into the kitchen to help load the dish washer.
‘Poppy usually falls asleep right after dinner.’ Gladio shrugs, setting the plates into the sink and turning on the water. ‘Must be a little kid thing.’
‘I’m not tired.’ Vanitas protests.
‘You have seemed rather exhausted since dispelling the injury.’ Ignis observes, and Vanitas can tell that the advisor is feeling guilty without even having to look.
Ignis has never taken well to causing others to be inconvenienced, after all.
‘This body sucks.’ Vanitas says by way of explanation as he rubs his eyes. ‘No energy for magic, and this should have been gone by now.’ He snarls, gesturing to his side and back.
Normally, injuries such as these would be gone after 24 hours, a true blessing in disguise as some Unversed wounds could be downright deadly back in the day. Now though, they are stubbornly clinging to Vanitas, a showcase of how weak he’s become.
‘Then don’t you think you should rest?’ Prompto prompts. His face is also twisted with guilt, causing Vanitas to roll his eyes.
Really, Prompto has nothing to feel guilty over. He’s had way worse after all. And handling both him and Ignis at the same time was going to be a chore in and of itself.
‘I will when I want to.’ Vanitas snarls, but there’s no energy, no bite to his words.
The rest of the room slowly gets the hint and grows into casual conversation soon after that. Prompto breaks out a game of Scrabble, a favorite pastime of theirs whenever they would stop at a motel or a caravan. Vanitas deigns to watch instead, switching between helping Gladio or Noctis to pick out words. Eventually, though, Vanitas can barely keep his eyes open and ends up leaning on the arm of the couch, hiding his face in his folded arms and closing his eyes.
Thankfully, no one calls him out on it. There is only a lull in the conversation for a moment or two before they all continue to play with hushed voices.
At some point, though, the game must have come to an end as Vanitas feels someone gently pick him up. He startles and squirms immediately to be put down. He hates being picked up and carried against his will, and the thought of it now in his current state has his stomach twisting.
‘Relax.’ Noctis says gently, sitting back down on the couch so that Vanitas doesn’t fall out of his arms. ‘It’s just me.’
‘I can walk on my own.’ Vanitas protests, his voice small with sleep.
‘Bedroom’s that way.’ He can hear Gladio say from somewhere behind him, but he doesn’t bother to open his eyes and look.
‘Give me a minute.’ Vanitas mumbles stubbornly, rubbing his eyes. ‘Ugh, why am I so tired?’ He groans, frustrated with himself.
‘Vanitas, perhaps you should let Noctis take you to bed.’ Ignis says gently, knowing it cannot be easy to be stuck in a child’s body with a teenager’s mind. ‘It has gotten rather late, and none of us will think lesser of you for a moment of weakness.’
‘Yea or I could do it!’ Prompto pipes up. ‘Just call me Uncle Prompto, and I’ll tuck you in.’
Vanitas makes an unimpressed sound but doesn’t bother budging from Noctis’s arms as sleep continues to call him. Slowly, after a minute or two of silence, Noctis stands up again with Vanitas nestled securely in his arms, and walks towards some unknown destination.
This time, though, Vanitas relents and allows it, too tired to protest otherwise.
‘Why is it that whenever Noct’s around, we’re always chopped liver?’ Vanitas can hear Prompto quietly complain through a haze of fast approaching sleep.
‘Maybe you’re just Van’s least favorite.’ Gladio teases.
‘Seems like the most probable reason.’ Ignis concurs.
‘That’s not true! You take that back!’
Vanitas feels a smirk coming to his lips in response, cracking open one eye to watch them bicker from over Noct’s shoulder, before he’s inevitably pulled into sleep.
Bonus Scene:
‘Hey Prompto?’ Vanitas asks while the two of them are driving across the bridge to Insomnia.
‘Hm?’ Prompto tilts his head, eyes focused on the road.
‘After Noct went inside that crystal,’ Vanitas starts, watching as Prompto’s face falls in response. ‘What happened to you guys?’
‘Oh.’ Prompto says. ‘Well, we all pretty much stuck around Lestallum for a while.’ He sits back in his seat with a complicated expression. ‘I took a lot of trips to Hammerhead. You know, to help Cindy.’
At this, Vanitas gives him a side eye, but chooses not to interject.
‘We all did actually. We stuck together for a long time after Noct vanished.’ Prompto grips the steering wheel as his eyes grow hard. ‘Then after a while all three of us just… drifted apart. Iggy was always busy helping out where he could. Gladio too, he’d go away on these long hunts.’ Prompto says. ‘It really wasn’t often that the three of us got together after that.’
Vanitas frowns, looking down at the floor of the car. He supposes that without Noctis, there wasn’t really a reason for all of them to be together. Granted, Vanitas didn’t know much about their individual roles in the Crownsguard, but he picked up enough to know that they were all a part of Noctis’s retinue.
And if there was no King? No one to guard? Well then…
‘I bet you were all glad to see him. When he got back.’ Vanitas says quietly.
‘You couldn’t keep the grin off our faces.’ Prompto says, brightening up. He reached over and playfully pats Vanitas’s shoulder. ‘Same now that you came back too. As we always knew you would.’
Dream Eater Allyphant Creations 
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