In this, Crona's gonna be a girl because that's how Maka - and I - see her. So there.
Making every kind of silence
Takes a lot to realize
It's worse to finish than to start all over
And never let it lie
And as long as I can feel you holding on
-Perfect, Hedley
Maka's breath exploded from her in a cheap imitation of a relieved laugh. Soul fell out of her hands and clattered to the floor, where he transformed back into a human. The dust had cleared just enough so that Maka could see when Crona slumped forward into her arms, and Maka tried to laugh again when she realized they'd been here before. But this time was different.
This time...
"It's okay now, Crona." Maka patted her back. Why was her breathing so shallow? Maka slid to her knees, cradling Crona's head in her lap. "C-come on. We should go." There was a a cut high on Crona's forehead, and blood was beginning to pool in the dip between the corner of her eye and her nose. Maka wiped it away gently, staining her glove. Soul move behind her, coming to sit at Crona's head, and she felt the weight of his hand on her shoulder. "...Crona?"
Crona's eyelids twitched, and opened half way. "Maka? Maka, I'm really sorry. I didn't...want it to be like this."
Maka smiled. "Don't be stupid, Crona. Apologize later. We really have to get going, everyone's waiting for you."
"Are they?" Crona's voice was rough, and Maka realized absently that something was seeping into her clothes, making them stick wetly to her skin where she held the other girl. Crona's eyes began to slip closed again, and Maka shook her.
"No, Crona...no! We really...we really don't have time...you can sleep later, too." Maka swallowed thickly and tears filled her eyes. "Once we get back...everyone wants to see you, Crona, so you can't...you can't..."
"...I'm really scared, right now." Crona's eyes were out of focus now, but she smiled. Maka choked back a sob. She hadn't seen Crona's smile enough, not nearly enough. But it was okay, because she'd being seeing it more from now on. Crona would have a lot to smile about now, right? "Am I dying? Maka, I don't know how to deal with that."
"That's alright, Crona." The tears spilled over, streaking through dirt and blood on Maka's face. "Because you're fine, and we're going to get out of here, so you don't have to deal with it."
"I'm sorry, Maka." Crona's eyes closed.
"S-stupid, you said that already." Maka shook her gently again, but she didn't open them this time.
"I'm sorry..." Her head fell to the side, and she pressed her face against Maka's stomach. She had started crying as well, her tears slipping from behind closed lids.
"Please stop saying that." Maka whispered, tightening her arms around Crona. "Soul, help me get her up." Soul didn't move, and remained silent.
"I'm really, really, sorry..."
"Crona...stop..." Maka pleaded, but the other girl had gone silent. Maka's fingers dug into her shoulders. "Crona, if you keep this up, I'll never forgive you."
But this time, Crona didn't respond.
Gonna say right now, Crona is my FAVORITE character.
I also love Tsubaki, but Crona is my absolute fave.
I listened to Save You by Simple Plan when I was writing this, too, but I picked Perfect in the end.
