[ He has a single, sharp moment of validation, in the space where Riku's gaze cuts away and his expression goes tight in the corners of his eyes and the corner of his mouth. Vanitas' own gaze narrows, hostile in his vindication, in the scent and feel of that little sting peeling off Riku around his shield, weakened by the drained margarita glass sitting on the counter.
But then Riku recovers, quick as if he's fighting, and pushes forward into Vanitas' space, and the tables turn. It's Vanitas' turn to betray the sting in the flicker of his eyes, in the way his mouth starts to curl into a sneer.
It would be no secret that Riku would know. No matter Vanitas has never spoken on it, Sora could feel him the same and Sora was this boy's best friend. He was open with his feelings, wore his heart on his sleeve, this wouldn't be something he would hide. And worse— Riku doesn't know the depth to which he's speaking. Vanitas, without a source of Light, is nothing but a black hole. If he doesn't turn that empty, hungry void outward, then he'll eat himself alive. In some ways, he's already doing it.
But Riku presents a challenge and Vanitas leans into it. Not just figuratively— but literally. His neck cranes and he narrows the distance between them further, holding eye contact with Riku unflinchingly. This close, when Riku speaks, Vanitas can smell the citrus and sugar on his breath. ]
We don't all need to survive.
[ Vanitas' voice has gone insidious for it's low pitch, barely more than a murmur; for the intensity in it layered through not only with his own greed, but speaking to the wealth of the emptiness in his heart. It's not really on purpose, the way he betrays that there's more going on under the surface than it appears.
Vanitas pulls back, maybe just half an inch, conceding the space, and in doing so agreeing to take part in this little experiment. ]
no subject
But then Riku recovers, quick as if he's fighting, and pushes forward into Vanitas' space, and the tables turn. It's Vanitas' turn to betray the sting in the flicker of his eyes, in the way his mouth starts to curl into a sneer.
It would be no secret that Riku would know. No matter Vanitas has never spoken on it, Sora could feel him the same and Sora was this boy's best friend. He was open with his feelings, wore his heart on his sleeve, this wouldn't be something he would hide. And worse— Riku doesn't know the depth to which he's speaking. Vanitas, without a source of Light, is nothing but a black hole. If he doesn't turn that empty, hungry void outward, then he'll eat himself alive. In some ways, he's already doing it.
But Riku presents a challenge and Vanitas leans into it. Not just figuratively— but literally. His neck cranes and he narrows the distance between them further, holding eye contact with Riku unflinchingly. This close, when Riku speaks, Vanitas can smell the citrus and sugar on his breath. ]
We don't all need to survive.
[ Vanitas' voice has gone insidious for it's low pitch, barely more than a murmur; for the intensity in it layered through not only with his own greed, but speaking to the wealth of the emptiness in his heart. It's not really on purpose, the way he betrays that there's more going on under the surface than it appears.
Vanitas pulls back, maybe just half an inch, conceding the space, and in doing so agreeing to take part in this little experiment. ]
You owe me for this. I won't forget.