Chapter Text
Seventeen-year-old, blond-haired, blue-eyed Ventus was relaxed—maybe a little too relaxed. With the car window cracked and the soft humming of his headphones dangling from one ear, Ven was in danger of falling asleep. He and his young foster parents, Aqua and Terra, had already been driving in their steel-blue Chevy Malibu for five hours—only eight more to go. Why, you might ask? To meet Terra’s family out in the lovely ghost state of Wyoming.
Ventus had only been with Terra and Aqua for three years, but it had felt like his whole life, with the level of trust and love the three shared. He’d gotten so used to calling them by their first names, he never called them Mom or Dad. But it didn’t make any difference—he still felt strong paternal love and guidance from both of them. It was unspoken, and there was no pressure about titles. Ven admired them both greatly.
Aqua was a prosecutor who primarily handled cases involving domestic abuse and relationship settlements. She was a tall, chic woman with short blue hair and equally blue eyes that were kind and caring. She was never at a loss, always strong-willed and fierce. Ven had learned a lot from her about self-worth, holding his head high, and standing up for himself—lessons he wished he’d known growing up in various foster homes. He loved Aqua dearly.
Terra, who looked like he’d be tougher than Aqua, wasn’t. He was easygoing, calm, and always supportive. He worried more than Aqua did, but Ven didn’t mind. He was grateful for all of it. Terra was a tall, brunette man with blue eyes who worked as a weatherman for King5 and was very well recognized in town, where they lived in gloomy but beautiful Seattle, Washington. Ven could go to Terra with anything, and Terra would put him at ease.
Ventus couldn’t ask for a more picture-perfect family. He was especially excited to meet his grandpa, Eraqus, who owned the ranch they were heading to in Wyoming. Now, Ventus—like many teenage boys—wasn’t exactly thrilled about going to a farm. He wasn’t really the outdoorsy type. Ven didn’t like to get dirty. Getting on a horse wasn’t exciting. He loved writing, binge-watching drama movies and shows, playing video games with friends from school, and astronomy. He’d brought the camera Aqua had given him, thinking maybe he’d try photography while he was there. But he wasn’t sure.
Terra had been super excited for Aqua and Ventus to spend time in his childhood neighborhood, so both Aqua and Ven—though the Wild West hadn’t exactly been their idea of fun—decided they’d do their best to enjoy it. They didn’t want to ruin anything for Terra.
Much of the trip had been smooth—no problems, great music, and even better (worse) singing. After a super long drive, they were finally in their last hour, and Ventus was getting a turn behind the wheel. Aqua had fallen asleep; she’d started the drive early that morning. Ven had only recently gotten his license, and Terra sat in the front passenger seat, casually guiding him.
They were headed to Jackson Hole and apparently getting close. It was so dark out they had the brights on, and on that narrow road, they were the only ones in sight. Ventus had turned on The Violent Femmes, knowing both he and Terra liked the band. They shared laughs about the lyrics while Ven kept his eyes on the road. Terra did too.
So when they saw a flash of something—and then black—they were both concerned. They tried to stop, but with how fast they’d been going, it wasn’t soon enough.
They hit something. Ven’s heart sank.
“What...was that?” Aqua said, raising her head from the leather seat and rubbing her eyes. She didn’t get a response. All she heard was the sound of two car doors opening quickly. She sat up and followed suit. The cool night air hit her face, and she gasped.
Both Terra and Ventus were gathered around a young man who had seemingly been hit by their car.
“Excuse me! Hey!” Ventus said, shaking the boy, holding him in his arms. The boy was still breathing—Ven knew that much. He was red all over, with scratches and scrapes from hitting the pavement. Ventus noticed the boy’s dark raven hair, spiked and wild. Ven checked the boy’s head—no gashes. He sighed in relief. The boy was just sleeping. He was heavier than Ven, maybe even a little taller. Ven felt, deep down, that the boy would be okay.
But it troubled him—why would someone run into the road in the dead of night?
“I’m calling the police. Maybe they can identify him and get an ambulance,” Terra said, pulling out his phone. Aqua sighed. Ventus knew what was coming next.
“Ven... you were driving?” Aqua started.
Ven nodded, already feeling tears threaten.
“He just sorta ran out into the street and stopped. I only bumped him a little…” Ven said, looking down at the boy in his arms. The boy began to stir. A curse escaped him.
“Fuck… I’m... FUCK,” the boy groaned, struggling to sit up in Ven’s hold.
“Whoa—stay still. Help is coming,” Ventus said gently.
The boy’s eyes shot open—and locked with Ven’s. Ventus froze.
He’d never seen eyes like that before—yellow and almost ghostly. Ven was entranced.
“I don’t need any fucking help. I’m leaving. Thanks for nothing,” the boy snapped, standing up. Aqua rushed to him. Ventus followed.
“Young man, you’ve just been hit by our car. Please, let us help you,” Aqua said, having overheard the exchange.
Terra stayed near the car, still speaking to the policewoman on the phone.
“Mind your own fucking business...” the boy muttered. He shoved Ventus away and tried to walk—but stumbled and collapsed.
“Fuck!” he yelled, too weak to continue.
Terra hung up and walked over to them. “They’ll be here soon. Apparently this has happened before. They think they know who this kid is. He’ll probably need a hospital trip, but he’ll be fine,” he said calmly.
Both Aqua and Ventus looked relieved.
Terra turned to the boy. “And you. I think you better count your blessings we’re not worse people. I don’t know why you wanted to die, but it seems you’ve got a guardian angel or something.”
The boy scoffed, all fight gone. His face showed nothing but irritation and pain.
“What’s your name?” Aqua asked, kneeling beside him.
He looked away. “Fuck off. I wanna go home,” he muttered.
He was a smartass, for sure.
Ventus got a better look at him: a flame-print, short-sleeved button-up—the kind you’d see someone wear in the early 2000s—over a band tee, black skinny jeans with chains and straps, and the most goth cowboy boots imaginable: skulls and sharp spurs. Ven couldn’t help but smile. It was all so tacky. But somehow, the guy looked cool.
Ven had just hit a suicidal mall goth cowboy with a car... and the guy was cursing out his foster mom.
Who the hell was this guy?
They didn’t get a name—not until the cops and the ambulance arrived.
“Oh! It’s Vanitas. How are you holding up, kid?” the officer asked.
Vanitas turned away but didn’t resist.
Then an older man stepped out of the police cruiser when he heard the name.
“Vanitas!” he shouted.
Vanitas, now lying on a stretcher, visibly flinched. Terra, Aqua, and Ventus watched closely.
“Y-Yes, sir,” Vanitas replied softly—mouse-like, in a way no one had heard him speak all night.
A few cops laughed.
Ven saw the look of terror on Vanitas’ face.
He froze.
The old man walked close and whispered something in Vanitas’ ear. Tears sprang to Vanitas’ eyes as he was loaded into the ambulance.
Ventus started to walk toward him, but a hand stopped him. One of the officers.
“Look, son, you’re not from around here—never seen you before. But you look about the same age as Vanitas. I’m telling you this for your own good: don’t get involved. He’s bad news. I get a call about him every couple weeks.”
Ven frowned. “Do you know where they’re taking him?” he asked simply, brushing off the warning.
The man glared but answered. “St. John’s Medical Center. It’s not far.”
He walked away.
The ambulance drove off. After giving their information to the police, Aqua and Terra checked the car for damages. There were none.
Soon, like everyone else, Aqua, Terra, and Ven got back into the car—Aqua driving this time.
Ven was the first to speak.
“So... are we close to Grandpa’s farm?”
Terra turned to look at him from the passenger seat.
“Yeah... Honestly, it bothers me how close we were, and then some bullshit happened,” he muttered.
“We were right around the corner,” Aqua said quietly, looking at the GPS.
They finally arrived at the old farm. After a long bumpy ride through fields and dirt paths, they reached a large house. They parked and quickly unpacked.
To be continued....