The broken boy who failed to be the blade

"I am hungry, but I hate the feeling I get seeing that kicked puppy look on your face more than the feeling of hunger. You look pathetic.." But there was little bite to his words, meaning it more like a compliment.. but with Vanitas, compliments were still a heavy work in progress.

Taking another bite with his hands, he simply began to take small nibbles of the chocolate cake, ignoring how messy it might be.

"I do not!" Ventus whined. Realizing he was pouting again, he quickly tried to change his expression in an attempt to prove Vanitas wrong, only for his face to twist up and end with a deeper pout.

As Vanitas continued to make a mess, Ven tried to keep his own fingers clean as best he could. He reached for another small piece before going for one of the fruits.

"Fine.. Then by your own logic, this is mine.." Vanitas took a piece of the cake with his fingers, eating the small nibble, before attempting to shove a larger piece straight into Ven's face.

"H- hey!" Ventus protested, attempting to shove Vanitas' hand away. Wiping off his face and allowing himself a small taste of the treat, Ven had to admit he wanted more. It was perfectly sweet. Of course he wouldn't fully admit it out loud and give Vanitas the satisfaction.

"I know this is yours," he stated with another huff, holding the container in his hands but not moving further.

"I don't want something like this if it belonged to you first. I could easily read the hesitation on your face, so if you really want to give it up to me that badly.. we'll share it instead. I'm not accepting anything else."

With his mind made up, Vanitas reached into the container to grab one of the bits of fruit, bringing it to Ven's lips. Should his other try to protest in any way, he would simply pop it into the other's open mouth to silence him.

A pout formed as Vanitas spoke, frustration bubbling back up as he was so easily read. "That doesn't matter. I'm still giving it to you." Ventus huffed, turning his head away.

As food was brought to his lips, Ventus hesitated for a moment, frozen with how to respond. As much as he wanted to continue with his protest, Vanitas made it clear enough he wasn't allowing him to say no as the food was forced on him.

"I was close enough," he grumbled, accepting the container without pulling it away, opening it and staring at the contents within.

Vanitas stared at the cake for a moment in silence, neither smiling nor scowling, his frustration fizzling out but his smug look from before never returning. Instead, he simply stared through half-lidded gaze before shaking his head.

"Idiot, you've told me before that I shouldn't eat things like this with my hands anymore, but you didn't bring enough utensils for both of us.." the darkheart knew the cake belonged to Ven, and he was likely eagerly looking forward to eating it later on. As much as Vanitas wanted to stand his ground of not 'playing nice', he hadn't the heart to simply take what was Ven's..

With the look on Vanitas' face as he stared at the cake, Ventus thought they might be disappointed with his offering. Were they hoping for something less sweet? It was difficult to fully read them.

Once Vanitas spoke, it just confused Ventus further as he struggled to fully grasp what the other was offering.

"I never said it was permanent. I only agreed this one time to play nice, because you asked," He was quick to snap back, brows furrowed in his frustration as he huffed. Ven wasn't going to get anywhere if he expected Vanitas to play nice forever.

"More than fair wouldn't be tagging on extra conditions for my reward. I backed off when you told me to, that alone is fair."

He turned his head away, but yellow eyes darted back to the container held in his other half's hands, stomach twisting. Damnit, he was hungrier than he thought..

"... to another. An act of kindness always leads to another." Ventus grumbled, lowing his arm so Vanitas could take the container.

Vanitas' answer wasn't completely wrong, but the added insult should've resulted in the food being taken away until his lesson was properly learned. Still, Ventus couldn't help giving in. Both of their frustrations were already running dangerously high and he was already at his breaking point for this 'lesson'.

Sure enough, upon Ven's return Vanitas did reach for the container, curious as to what his other half had brought - but as it was taken and held up from him, irritation settled in quickly.

"This wasn't a part of our deal, Ventus," he hissed quietly, but wouldn't reach to take the container by force. No, he would allow Ventus to have his moment, even if it irritated him in kind.

"Stop pretending this deal of yours had clear rules to begin with. I'm just looking for a few words to finish my phrase and then you'll get your reward. That's more than fair."

Ventus couldn't help feeling a little amused at the way Vanitas' attitude quickly shifted to match his earlier frustrations. Of course he tried not to show it too much on his face if he wanted to avoid any further teasing from the other. It was still nice to have the roles switched, even for just a short moment.

"Uh?" If Ven had actually seen the look that came across Vanitas's face, he might have been amused at how the darkheart watched him leave. Was it.. a good idea to let him go off like that?

But he did tell him to wait..

A couple minutes passed before Ventus returned. A plastic container in his hand hid away Vanitas' 'reward'.

Once he was standing in front of the other, Ventus offered out the container. If Vanitas made any gesture to take it, Ven would quickly pull back, holding the container as high as he could and out of Vanitas' reach.

"I believe that remains to be seen, Venty. You shouldn't make such open accusations, you might give me ideas for later," but he knew better than to act upon anything that might risk making Ven legitimately angry.

His situation was precarious enough as it was, being brought back only by the thin veil of kindness shown to him, and Ven's inability to let him go to his fate.. but that kindness could just as easily be take away at any time, should he really cross a line.

"Pretty sure sand is the only thing I can afford right now." Ventus mumbled. He attempted to sound serious, but there was a slight tease to his tone.

Stuffing his wallet back in his pocket, he was quiet in thought for a long moment before an idea hit him. With a quick gesture telling Vanitas to wait, Ventus turned around before walking away.

"It's about time you understood," Vanitas big back the urge to tease him even further, knowing it would only end up souring Ven's mood further, and effectively ruin his fun little game.

"So you just wanted a free meal before going back to being a jerk, got it." Ventus grumbled. It was a simple enough request, but the fact it didn't even feel like a deal anymore frustrated him. He really walked right into this one...

"Well, if you expect me to act a certain way, I should be given a reason to do it. You of all people should know that I'm not exactly interested in playing nice with people I don't care about, especially those people who were once my enemy.. I don't have to do anything you tell me to do, and yet here I am willing to bend my own comfort to suit you."

"That's not even how rewards work!" Not only was Vanitas getting under his skin, but Vanitas being fully aware of that fact seemed to be what frustrated Ventus the most. That look on their face said everything.

At this point it felt like no matter what he said, they would either twist his words or have them continue going in circles.

"I can, you 'light warriors' are all stupid and trusting to a fault, so the blame is entirely yours to bare," Vanitas raised his shoulders into a dismissive shrug, still wearing his grin.

"You're already off to a bad start..."

Ventus rolled his eyes. Vanitas' answer wasn't exactly the catch he was expecting, but he knew there had to be something to the other's behavier.

"Oh Venty, so suspicious.. There's no catch, at least this time. I'm just humoring you for being such a big boy all on your own," his voice cooed, lips pulled back into a teasing grin.

Ventus hesitated for a moment before stepping up so he stood just in front of Vanitas. "S- stop being mean."

Falls on top of. "Hi."