Chapter Text
Day IV of our return
The new world is strange. We have parted and yet are still in close enough proximity I can feel everyone nearby. I am nervous about speaking to the others without Luxu's intervention.
Especially Aced.
Especially after what I did. What he did.
What we both did.
We are taking refuge in some sort of in-between land that Luxu - Xigbar - said would be safe. Nobody checks this area any longer. Its eerie though. And too white. Sanitized, like a medical wing.
Even in my limited vision I can tell that it's uncomfortably monochrome.
Regardless, the fact of the matter at hand is that I am afraid to speak to the others - to Aced - alone. But I need to.
If we are to work together i need to apologize and right the wrongs I've committed.
Wish me luck,
Invi.
—---
Invi closed her diary and tucked it into a drawer in the white expanse of her quarters in this world that never was, or whatever it was called. The room was sparse, a white bed, a white wooden desk, a night stand. No lamp. Just a white, pale, desolate expanse of a bedroom.
She really missed her plants and embroidered pillows and cushions. Missed any color that would have decorated her bedroom back home, back in daybreak town. Even her robes seemed duller in this place. Losing the vivid hues of blue and lavender. Everything felt bleached.
Frowning, Invi breathed a sigh and got up from her chair, tucking it under the desk neatly before leaving the room.
The hallway, just like the room, was stark white. Sterile. Unnerving. But she had to get used to it for now she supposed…
How did Luxu deal with this for so many years ..?
Pushing the thought out of her mind, she passed through the empty halls searching for the nearest source of life. Just like how darkness had its own "scent" light, or anything else really, had its own signature too. Invi liked to think that she was especially good at "scenting" people out. Compensated for her sub-par vision at least.
Lucky for her, there was someone nearby. Unlucky, however, that it was Aced.
Invi froze like a deer in headlights. Did he noti-
"Oh, Invi."
Shit.
"Hello Aced," Invi replied, hesitating for a moment as she tried to will her body to relax.
It didn't cooperate.
"Hi." He was short with her, not exactly friendly. Maybe she should leave? Or come up with an excuse? Was he going somewhere? Maybe she should continue to avoid-
"-vi?"
Oh. He's talking.
"Invi?" Aced repeated, "uh, you… alright? You're not exactly.." he gestured vaguely, "paying attention, are you?"
Invi tilted her head, "sorry I was lost in thought."
"What about?"
Why was he so… nonchalant? Amicable even? Invi bit her lip and turned her head away. "A lot of things."
"That's vague."
"..."
An awkward silence filled the room before Invi broke under the weight of it.
"How are you so casual?!" She demanded, turning back to Aced, looking up at him.
"Wh- casual?"
"Yes! After everything! Shouldn't you-" Invi raised her hands, "you should be furious with me! Hate me! Never want to speak to me!" She shouted.
"Why are you able to stand there and…" she lowered her arms, looking away. "You don't even sound upset. With anything…."
Aced seemed to be taken aback by her words, with his silence, Invi could only assume he was mulling everything over. These few seconds felt like agonizing years.
"Are you talking about before?"
"Yes."
Aced remained silent for a time, sighed, and turned away awkwardly. Invi could hear his steps as he moved, the flutter of his robes when he rubbed the back of his neck, as he presumably thought of what to say.
He grumbled before he replied.
"Look, Invi, we should probably go somewhere else to talk about this- I get it if you don't want to but-"
"No. Let's.
"Please."
"Alright."
Aced began to walk away and Invi followed soon after. Thoughts jumbling up in her mind like tangled threads. Before she knew it they were at one of the bedrooms.
Aced opened the door to let them both in, Invi assumed this must have been his room.
It smelled like him.
Definitely his room.
On one hand it should have reminded her of better times, where they would spend time together, grabbing the odd snack at the late hours of the night, talking about how old training memories.
But it only reminded her of their last days before the war. Of the regret and pain.
"Do you want to sit down?" Aced's voice broke her spiraling. He was already sitting on his bed it seemed.
"I…" she shook her head, "I'm alright. For now, thanks." She mumbled.
"Suit yourself."
"..." Invi didn't respond, but she didn't break the silence yet either. She didn't know how to start this heavy conversation. She could feel Aced staring at her. Waiting. This sort of pressure felt immense. Strangling. Like vines were choking her, or the snake she wore came to life and was constricting, preparing to-
"Hey."
He broke her thoughts again.
"Whatever you're thinking right now. Stop. I'm not going to do anything to hurt you."
Invi remembered flashes of blood and rage.
"R-right. My apologies."
"It's alright." He sighed and straightened his posture. "Look, you asked me why I'm not upset. Right?"
She nodded.
"I am upset." He corrected, Invi deflated, unsure if it was out of relief or not. "I'm just not upset at you ."
"What?" Invi's attention snapped to him, eyes wide.
Aced seemed nervous, just a little. "I… was upset at you, but I don't think I have the right to dwell on that considering…." He trailed off, gesturing to Invi's torso.
She stiffened, hand reaching slowly up to where he ran her through during the war. The faint white scar under her clothes was all that remained of a deadly wound.
"But it was my fault." She whispered.
"What?"
"It was my fault ." She spoke again, a little louder, more sure this time.
Hands clenched at her sides, Invi stared at the bleached flooring, trembling as she spoke.
"It was my fault Aced! If I had never said any of that- if I had never accused you of being a traitor! This- none of this would have happened!"
Invi's breath started coming in quicker bursts as she remembered all that she did, all that she said. "I-" she choked, "I'm so sorry Aced- this is all my fault. I-"
She was stopped by the feeling of Aced's hand on her shoulder. When did he move?
"Why did you?" He asked, sounding strained.
"What?" Invi looked up at him, tears threatening to fall unseen behind the mask.
"Invi, why did you think I was a traitor? After everything- all that we've been through! Why in the-" he was raising his voice, but he seemed to have noticed and caught himself.
He sighed and removed his hand, sitting back down on the bed. "Just… tell me why. I won't get mad. I don't think I have the right to be mad at you anymore."
“You have every right to be mad at me…” Invi protested, “I thought you were the traitor… first it was because you were making alliances, then you… you were so angry when we first crossed blades… I sensed something dark, and I was scared. And I truly… truly thought you had betrayed us.” She paused, lips pressed together into a thin line. “So I decided that ‘this must be it. Aced is the traitor.’”
Aced was silent for a moment, before sighing. “And then we fought, and then the war…and” He paused, Invi looked over to him, waiting for him to continue. “And then I killed you. I have no right to be mad anymore.”
Invi dug her nails into her palms and shook her head. “No! Be mad at me! You were chased out because I decided that you betrayed us! I didn’t even hear you out! Like I was supposed to - I was supposed to be the peace keeper and-”
“Invi I
killed
you!” He cut in, voice raised. “
Dammit Invi! I fucking murdered you in cold blood!
” He shouted, “Why the hell are you acting like I should hate you when it’s the other way around?! Why aren’t you upset with
me
?! I ran you through like you were made of paper!!”
She didn’t want to dwell on it. She didn’t like the phantom pains of memories of a war that was ancient history by now, yet so fresh for them all. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat.
“I… Because I deserved it…”
“
What
.”
Invi didn’t dare repeat herself.
“No. No no.
No.
Never say that again. Fuck’s sake Invi.” He growled and huffed, reached for Invi, took her hand and pulled her closer. “Look at me.” She refused to at first, causing him to repeat the request.
She pretended to look, turning her head slightly towards him, but then she felt the warmth of his hands, followed by his skin against her cheeks as he forcefully - but gently - made her face him.
“Look at me.” He repeated once more, and she did. She could make out the blurry image of his eyes under his mask. How his brows were furrowed in fury, but concern as well.
“Invi.” He began, “You did not deserve what I did to you.” He spoke slowly, but she could tell he meant every single word, and that only hurt more than the guilt she felt prior.
As if he knew what Invi would have said, Aced continued. “You did not deserve what I did. I hunted you Invi- fuck. I hunted you like some crazed animal.” His voice cracked a little and Invi felt him pull her into a hug.
“I hunted you down, I slaughtered you without a care - I was so…So angry. Fuck. I felt like a monster, ‘Vi. How the hell can you even look at me after that? And you’re here blaming yourself? Saying you deserved it?”
Invi didn’t know when she started crying. When the hot tears broke through and streamed freely down her cheeks. Her hands gripped the fabric of Aced’s robes tightly, fingers tangled in the rough-worn fabric.
“If…If I just did better at my role-”
“Shut up. Don’t give me that.” He held on tighter and sighed. Invi could feel something wet on the top of her head, even through her hood. Was Aced crying too?
“But I-“ She choked on a sob, her voice breaking as she felt months if not years worth of pent-up negativity escape freely. She couldn’t even give herself a chance to protest or form any words, she couldn’t even bring herself to scream. Only whimper quietly into Aced’s chest.
“I’m sorry…” She murmured. Aced only hugged her tighter.
He rested his chin on her head. “I’m sorry for what I did to you.”
“I-”
Aced interrupted her. “Don’t.” He pulled her away and backed up himself, holding her at arms-length. “I don’t need to have your forgiveness right now. Yes, I want it, but… it's really fresh, and I don’t… I don’t want you to say anything spur of the moment.”
“How did you know I was going to say that?”
“Because I know you.” He replied with a soft, sad sort of chuckle. “And… You need to give yourself time to…” Grieve? Think it over? Invi really didn’t want to remember any of it. She wanted to push it all aside and never think of it again. She didn’t want to be afraid of one of her best friends anymore. “Heal.”
“I’m fine.”
“We both know that’s not true. But you will be.”
She pouted, knowing he was right. Sighing, she gave a nod and hummed in reluctant agreement. “And you?”
Aced patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll be alright. I consider us even.”
Invi gave a slight smile, “Friends?”
“Yeah.”