Overeager, Vanitas is mid-lunge when Riku springs up unexpectedly. The whole weight of him connects with Vanitas' chest, both boots against his broken armor, and it knocks the breath out of him as much as the legs from beneath him.

Vanitas lands hard between two tables, knocking two unoccupied chairs askew. One if his arms tangles through the legs of a stool and Vanitas grunts on his inhale. It might not have winded him so much if he weren't already fatigued, if the burn of Elden's magic didn't still simmer in his chest.

Vanitas clambers to his feet, using the tables and chairs go assist him on the way up. He laughs, breathless and angry, and pushes himself away from the table to launch himself at the other boy again.