Title: Promise of Freedom
Rating: T
Summary: Daniella lived a pretty peaceful life with her parents and sister, but what happens when a pink-haired boy enters Daniella's life?
A/N: This is my first Soul Eater story, so I hope I keep Crona in character. Hope you enjoy! :)
1
"C'mon, Jozie!" I called to my sister who was racing with me on our bikes. "You're slower than the mine turtle!"
"You're gonna eat those words!" Jozie cried.
"Nom, nom, nom!" I joked. I laughed with triumph as the driveway of our home came into view, but it caught in my throat as I saw someone with pink hair slumped by the sidewalk. I braked as hard as I could, and got off as my bike toppled over.
"Quitter!" Jozie cried, but soon braked as she saw why I stopped. "Holy crap!"
"H-Hey!" I gently shook the person, who was wearing what looked like a dress. "A-Are you okay?"
"Is it a guy," Jozie asked, "or a girl?"
"I'm gonna say, maybe a guy." I shrugged. "Anyways, they're not waking up. Should we take 'em home?"
"Are you crazy?" Jozie yelped. "They could be dangerous!"
"Do you see a gun or a knife on this dude?" I asked her.
"Well, no. But still, I don't think Mom and Dad would be happy about us bringing some pink-haired stranger into our house, ya know?"
"Yeah." I looked back down at the person with determination. I didn't care what Mom or Dad thought. I was going to help this person, no matter what! I heaved them over my back.
"The hell are you doing?" Jozie cried. "Are you crazy Daniella?"
"Yes I am." I said, getting back on my bike. It was going to be harder to get back home with this person on my back, but something told me it would be worth it. "The race is back on!"
"It's not fair," Jozie said. "but you can eat my dust, sucker!"
"In your dreams!" I cried as Jozie sped ahead of me. I pedaled the bike as best I could until I was in the driveway.
"Jeez," Jozie smirked as she helped me get off my bike and put it in the garage. "I can't believe I actually won for once."
"Just this one time!" I swore as Jozie opened the door. "Just once!" Jozie and I placed the person on the couch as Mom came in.
"Who the heck is this?" Mom half asked, half yelled, not caring about who won the race this time.
"That's what we need to know." Jozie said. I turned and got a good look at the person. They had pink hair and a figure sort of like an hourglass wearing a long black dress.
"The question I have," I said to no one in particular. "Are they a guy or a girl? And are they going to wake up?"
"I know how to check if they're a guy." Jozie grinned.
"Jozie Kate Heenan." Mom scolded, using Jozie's full name. "You are not going to do what I think you are."
"I'm not, Mom." Jozie sighed. "I was kidding. 'Sides, they're probably a girl. I mean, what kind of guy would wear a dress?"
"Have you ever seen that one episode of the Rugrats?" I asked her. "They put Tommy and Chuckie into dresses because dresses 'aren't just for girls'."
"So," Jozie said. "Cartoon logic doesn't apply in 2013."
"Just wait a few more years." Mom said. "At the rate we're going, we're going to be in the Jetsons soon. Anyways, where did you two find her?"
"Daniella found 'er." Jozie pointed to me.
"She collapsed on the sidewalk." I explained. "I wasn't just gonna leave her there."
"What's going on in here?" Dad came in the room.
"Jozie and Daniella found a girl outside and brought her here." Mom explained. Dad looked at the girl on the couch.
"Are you sure they're a girl?" Dad asked. "They could be a boy."
"We'll ask when they wake up." Mom said.
"If they wake up." I grunted.
"Don't be so negative!" Jozie said. Then, we heard a small groan and a boy's voice.
"Wh-where a-am I?" he stuttered. We all turned to the voice and saw the pink-haired person sitting up, looking at us with wide eyes.
"Hi, sweetie." Mom smiled gently. "What's your name?"
"Wh-Why sh-should I t-tell y-you?" they stumbled over every word.
"Chill out." Jozie said. "We're not gonna hurt you." She extended her hand to the person, who just shrunk back. "Okay, nevermind." Jozie's hand retreated.
"Are you a boy or a girl?" Dad asked.
"Dad!" Jozie and I exclaimed.
"What?" Dad asked. "There was confusion on that, so I decided I'd ask."
"I-It's o-okay." The person stuttered. "I-I'm a b-boy."
"Alright then." Mom smiled. "What's your name?" The boy hesitated.
"C-Crona." He said.
"Cool name." I smiled. "Hey, uh, you okay? You were collapsed outside on the sidewalk."
"I-I was?" Crona blinked. "Wh-Where a-am I?"
"You're in our home." Mom said.
"A-are we in Death City?" Crona asked.
"Death City?" Jozie blinked. "What the heck is that?"
"S-So," Crona faltered. "Th-that's a n-no then."
"Sorry, hun." Mom said. "But we'll find out where that is. Did you live there?" Crona nodded.
"D-Do you know how to get back?" Crona must've felt more confident, because he started stuttering less.
"Sorry," Mom said. "but you're welcome to stay here if you like."
"Jessica." Dad said to Mom. "Can we talk about it for a minute? Girls, you stay with Crona." Dad and Mom left the room into the kitchen.
"So… uh." Crona clutched his arm shyly. "What are your names?"
"I'm Jozie." Jozie introduced. "And this is Daniella."
"I can speak for myself, ya know." I playfully punched Jozie in the arm. She pretended to be hurt. Crona blushed.
"I don't like girls…" he said, probably to himself. "They make me nervous."
"Ah, jeez." Jozie sighed. "Learn to live a little, dude."
"Don't push 'im." I said. "He doesn't have to like us if he doesn't want to." After a minute of awkward silence, Mom and Dad came in.
"Alright." Dad said. "Mr. Crona, you'll be staying with us until we find out where Death City is. Is that alright with you?"
"I-I guess." Crona stuttered.
"Are you hungry?" Mom asked. Crona shrugged.
"A little." He said.
"Daniella," Mom turned towards me. "Could you go get Crona something to eat?"
"Sure." I said. "He can come with me so I don't get him something he doesn't like. That okay with you, Crona?" Crona shrugged.
"I guess." He said.
"Well, come on then!" I urged him over to the kitchen. "So, what'cha want?"
"I guess I'll have that." Crona pointed to some ham in a bag.
"Ham?" I asked.
"S-sure." I smiled.
"Sure thing!" I took out the bag and closed the refrigerator. "You want me to heat it up?"
"I-If you w-want to." He stuttered.
"Alrighty then!" I cheered, took the ham out of the bag and onto a plate, and put it in the microwave. "So," I propped my elbow on the counter. "What's Death City like?"
"Um…" Crona paused.
"It's okay." I said. "You don't need to tell me if you don't want to." The microwave dinged and Crona and I jumped. I snapped my fingers. "Damn, it got me again."
"Hah!" Jozie cried, coming in as I took out the plate with the ham.
"Ya might wanna let that cool for a minute." I said, handing the plate to Crona on a hotpad so he wouldn't burn his hands.
"Th-Thank you." Crona stuttered.
"Not a problem!" I smiled. "No, if you'll excuse me, I've got some homework I need to do."
"Shit." Jozie said. "We had homework?"
"No shit we had homework." I bopped Jozie.
"Son of a bitch." Jozie said, then grabbed her backpack and raced upstairs.
"Uh…" I turned back towards Crona. "I-I finished."
"Wow, dude." I blinked. "You eat fast."
"I-It wasn't much." Crona admitted.
"Oh," I shrugged.
"Uh… C-Could you sh-show me a-around?" Crona asked.
"Sure thing!" I smiled. "Come on!"
After I had finished showing Crona around the house, I was in my room battling the most wretched evil an eighth grader can face. Algebra homework.
"Hey Daniella!" Jozie called from outside. "Dinner's ready!"
"Food!" I cheered, put my pencil down and raced outside to the kitchen where Mom was putting out the milk. I noticed the table was set for four. "Is Crona eating with us?" I asked.
"I don't know." Dad said. "Why don't you go ask him? He seems to like you the best."
"Crona's got a crush on Daniella?" Jozie faked surprise. "Why would he?"
"Shut it." I growled at Jozie as I went to the living room to Crona who was sitting on the couch. "Hey." I greeted. He looked up and nodded a greeting. "You feeling okay?" I asked, sitting down next to him. He nodded. "Well, okay then. We're about to eat dinner. Are you hungry?" He shook his head.
"N-no." Crona's voice cracked and he looked like he was about to cry.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked. I saw some tears roll down his cheek. "H-Hey! Don't cry." I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "Why so sad?"
"I-I want to go home." Crona said, crying into my shoulder.
"It's okay, Crona." I gently rubbed his back, like the way Mom does when I'm crying. "We'll find a way to get you home. I promise."
"You promise?" Crona sniffed, pulling away.
"May rats gnaw out my eyes if I'm lying." I said. Crona gave a small smile and I heard his stomach rumble. "C'mon." I said. "Let's go get some dinner." I turned my head. "Mom!" I called. "Set another place for Crona!"
Dinner was surprisingly quiet that evening. Neither Mom nor Dad pestered Crona and there were no smart remarks from Jozie. After dinner, I headed back to my room to finish my homework and read for a bit until bed time. As I was finishing the last sentence of chapter fifteen, a question popped into my head. Where would Crona sleep? I went outside and saw Crona go into Jozie's room.
"Hey, Crona." I greeted. He turned around and saw me.
"Oh, h-hey." He blushed.
"What'cha doing?" I asked. "Jozie doesn't like people going into her room."
"Oh, th-that's Jozie's room, then." He clutched his arm. "I-I'm sorry. I was j-just looking for a p-place to sleep."
"Oh," I smiled. "I was just about to ask you about that. Where do you want to sleep tonight?"
"I…" he paused. "I don't know."
"Want me to go ask Mom?" I asked.
"I-I'll come with you," Crona said. "i-if that's o-okay."
"Sure thing!" I smiled. "Come on." We headed to the kitchen, where Mom was putting the dishes away. "Hey, Mom!" I said. She turned her head.
"Hi, Daniella. Hi Crona." She smiled. "What's up?"
"Crona needs a place to sleep." I stated, straight to the point.
"Why not your room?" Mom suggested. I blushed bright red.
"M-Mom!" I cried. "He's a guy! Do you have any idea how awkward that is?"
"So?" Mom said. "Dad and I do it all the time."
"Well, that's different!" I said. "You two are married for crying out loud. Crona and I aren't."
"You could be, someday." Mom winked and my face paled. "Still, it shouldn't be a problem."
"I-I promise I won't d-do anything." Crona blushed at Mom's comment.
"F-Fine." I said, regaining my voice. "C-C'mon, Crona."
Once we were inside my room, Crona faced the wall.
"What the heck are you doing?" I asked him.
"I-It would be r-rude to w-watch you ch-change." He stuttered.
"At least you're being polite." I shrugged as I changed into my pajamas. "So," I began, "Where do you want to sleep tonight?"
"I-I'll sleep on the floor." He said. "I-If that's okay,"
"That is most certainly not okay," I said, putting on my shirt. "I'll sleep on the floor. You can use my bed if you want. You can turn around now," Crona turned around, a bright blush on his face.
"A-Are you sure that's okay?" He asked.
"Totally." I said, grabbing some shirts to use for a pillow. "Don't worry about it."
"O-Okay." Crona nodded, getting into my bed. "Well, good night then."
"Good night." I smiled, then turned off my desk lamp and to sleep on my make shift bed.
Well, tried to at least. I couldn't get to sleep for some reason.
Around one thirty in the morning, I heard a voice.
"Is she asleep yet?" It was male, not Crona's.
"Be quiet, Ragnarok." Crona said. "I'm trying to sleep."
"So?" 'Ragnarok' said. "I asked if that girl was asleep or not."
"I think she is." Crona said. "No be quiet or you'll-ah!" I shot up.
"Crona?" I half yelled. "Are you okay?"
"Stop it!" Crona said. "You're hurting me."
"C-Crona?" I got scared. "What's going on?"
"Eh?" Ragnarok's voice rang out. "So you're awake, huh?"
"Damn right!" I said, "So what the heck is going on?"
"Oh, just messing around." Ragnarok said. "No big deal."
"You'd better not be lying." I sighed. "So, why did you want to know if I was asleep or not?"
"You know," a pause, "I don't remember. Good night!" I waited until this Ragnarok person had left, but I didn't hear anything.
"You okay, Crona?" I dared to ask.
"Y-Yeah." He stuttered.
"You'd better be." I said. "Good night."
"Good night." With that I fell asleep.
So, how was it? Good? Bad? Let me know! :)