It's lost on him, until Riku says it, that this isn't the first time Vanitas has stripped him. The last time had been in a similar state of duress, though worse, because Riku had been so close to gone that had Vanitas been thinking practically maybe he might not have bothered to try and bring his guttering lantern back to life. Watching the light wink out of his eyes would have been easy for him months ago, before he ever got to this place. He might have even relished the opportunity to be the one to do it.
Now, the thought makes his skin crawl.
His eyes flick to Riku's face. He isn't quite looking at Vanitas, his eyes somewhere else, not just by their placement but by the shadows lingering in them. Those green-eyed spirits haunting them even here. Vanitas can't really blame him— Riku might have been out in the town, but Vanitas had been here. Even pushed to his limit, he can't quite turn off the vigilance wiring his muscles tight.
He turns away from Riku as the other boy continues undressing, tossing over his shoulder: "Take better care of yourself and I won't have to."
It sounds casual, and under the current circumstances would be unfair, but there's a weight to the statement. Vanitas, after all, can cut to the quick of Darkness much easier than anyone. He's seen the way Riku acts. He's seen the patterns. He finishes undressing with his back to Riku as he walks toward the stool, with clinical efficiency and without a shred of modesty. He kicks aside the rest of his clothing in a heap without watching where they land.
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Now, the thought makes his skin crawl.
His eyes flick to Riku's face. He isn't quite looking at Vanitas, his eyes somewhere else, not just by their placement but by the shadows lingering in them. Those green-eyed spirits haunting them even here. Vanitas can't really blame him— Riku might have been out in the town, but Vanitas had been here. Even pushed to his limit, he can't quite turn off the vigilance wiring his muscles tight.
He turns away from Riku as the other boy continues undressing, tossing over his shoulder: "Take better care of yourself and I won't have to."
It sounds casual, and under the current circumstances would be unfair, but there's a weight to the statement. Vanitas, after all, can cut to the quick of Darkness much easier than anyone. He's seen the way Riku acts. He's seen the patterns. He finishes undressing with his back to Riku as he walks toward the stool, with clinical efficiency and without a shred of modesty. He kicks aside the rest of his clothing in a heap without watching where they land.