#pfadventures

"N-Namine!" She was standing in his doorway, looking not only tired but slightly nervous, as if she’d tried to sleep before but couldn’t. Maybe he was way off base, but it seemed a lot of people suffered from chronic nightmares. Plus, he certainly didn’t mind company.

"SURE!"

Today was a special day, for more reasons than one. The end of the wintry vacation was fast approaching, and the time would soon come when they all had to return home. So Ven wanted to make the most of every moment. 

Ever since the ball, Ven had been sort of dating Vanitas. While they hung out occasionally, and surely smiled a lot, it didn’t feel as magical as it had that night. He was determined to change that. He wanted Vanitas to know how much he really cared for him. He’d done a bit of eavesdropping, trying to figure out exactly what Vanitas would like for Christmas. Everything was so perfectly planned.

Dressed up in a warm sweater and jeans, he was almost too warm due to his nerves. He adjusted the fake puppy ears once more before checking to make sure the matching tail wasn't sticking out at an odd angle. A carefully wrapped box full of homemade cookies (with some help from mom) tucked at his side.

Ven hoped it wasn’t too much, dressing up and all. He wanted to be as playful and romantic as possible, but quite frankly, he had no idea how to do that. Fred kweh'd reassuringly from his shoulder. The little chocobo, a gift from Vanitas, had been such a trustworthy companion as of late.

The lounge was rather empty, perhaps everyone else was still asleep. The fire blazed in the fireplace, filling the room with its smoky aroma. Warm morning light filled the room, casting long shadows. What he hadn’t noticed was the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling above them.

Nervously, he approached Vanitas in the lounge, where they’d agreed to meet this time. The other was his normal, practically flawless self. His dark hair reflecting the light of the fire, his golden eyes so bright and full of kindness. 

Blushing softly, he held out the present with a sweet smile. “Merry Christmas.”

A million things had happened since Ven's arrival at Fanelia. He'd asked Namine to the ball, only to be reunited with Vanitas soon after. Something had stirred in him that day, an undying fire of passionate puppy love that still dominated his emotions. But although things were going...well(?) with Vanitas, he never forgot about Namine.

The ball was a disaster for Ven. The raven never once left his mind, distracting him from his date. The situation that unfolded caused him to leave the ball, only to have Vanitas follow him. The magical night passed without much more excitement, just a lot of hugs and crying, and maybe some cuddles, but what of Namine? He knew she'd made it back home alright, but did she go alone? Was she lonely at the ball without him?

I have to apologize to her. 

After a long while of mulling over the perfect words, he found himself outside her door, shaking with anxiety. She'd be mad. She had every right to be. So he simply crossed his fingers and prayed they could salvage their friendship.

Knock knock.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAIR?! WHY IS IT GREEN?!"

Saix was gone for the weekend as promised. Ven sat on his bed, cuddling Fred, his baby chocobo, and staring out the window. The snow had stopped falling outside, but the chill remained. He'd taken the time to clean his half of the room, since he'd been hiding in it for the past few days. Reading and thinking had become a thing for him since the ball. He would've mourned the sudden change in demeanor if he wasn't certain it was just a phase. It'd get better, and he'd work it all out.

"Fred...are you ready to scare that meanie?" He lifted the bird, making eye contact with it. Fred chirped in denial. Such a kind creature. For such a young thing, Fred was incredibly smart. Must have been a chocobo thing.

He had holed himself up, afraid to confront Namine about the ball. He'd ran away and he owed her an honest apology. Fred had helped him figure out what to say. He'd rehearsed it over and over with the bird. 'I'm sorry Namine. I didn't want to hurt you so I ran away. I'm okay now, sonthings can go back to normal.' But could they? They were just friends...so probably. He'd get right on that as soon as he got back at Saix.

He took Fred over to the other half of the room, opening Saix's drawer. He tried to place the chocobo inside but he rejected. "Kweh!"

"It's just for a minute!" Ven complained. He chased the panicked animal around the room until he managed to catch him. Fred struggled but Ven put him in the drawer shutting it quickly. "Sorry, but just this once..."