Yay, Kirona week! :D You ready? 'Cause I'm ready. I nearly worked myself to death with SoMa week, (Cronashy's exaggerating again) but now I'm ready for some Kid and Crona. These two are adorable. Fave/follow and review, guys; we're just getting started! (BTW, all of my Kirona fics use she/her pronouns.)
Unprecedented
Chapter 1: Kirona Week Day 1, Bubble Baths
Description: Kid proposes setting an in ground swimming pool in the backyard of Gallows Mansion. The request is met ecstatically by Patty and Liz, who arrange a party for the grand opening. However, Patty and Black*Star fill the entire pool with bubble soap before the party.
The clock in the shape of Lord Death's mask ticked quietly on the wall. In the next room, Patty was laughing raucously over a videogame of hers, and Liz could be heard on the phone. Usually Kid would demand his partners be quiet when he was trying to focus, but on that particular day, he was grateful to have a little background noise. It helped silence some of the intruding thoughts in his head that would otherwise distract him from the task at hand.
Although, the noise stopped helping once Kid got used to it, and the thoughts came back. Thoughts of her.
Kid groaned a little, gripping his hair with both hands as he planted his face into the table. She governed almost every one of his thoughts lately, and for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. It was true that she was sweet, and cute in an innocent way. She had an infrequent smile that lit up a room when it happened to appear, even if it was as small as a slight upward pull at each edge of her delicate lips.
Kid pulled his hands away from his hair before he let out a small sigh. All right, it wouldn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out why she was distracting him; the Demigod of Death had a crush. A crush on the daughter of one of the fiercest and most destructive witches to ever cast a spell.
The paper in front of Kid stared him in the face. Calculations, measurements, and various numbers were scrabbled about it in an asymmetrical manner that made the young Reaper cringe. It disgusted him that he had written it himself, albeit distractingly. He sighed, slowly sitting up and grabbing the paper in the process. He couldn't focus; he needed another opinion.
"Liz! Patty!" He called into the next room. "I need to ask you something!"
There was a slight fumbling noise, shortly followed by Liz stepping into the room like she had been looking where she was going and hadn't ran into a lamp while texting, with Patty skipping behind her.
"What's up, Kid?" Asked Liz, sitting down next to him. Catching a glance of the paper, she remarked, "Looks like you're planning to buy a new house, just by looking at those numbers. That's a lot of cash."
Kid shook his head. "Actually, no," He said. "You see, I'm trying to figure out how much money it would take to install a swimming pool in the backyard and…"
"WE'RE GETTING A POOL?!" Patty screamed happily. "We're getting a POOL, big sis! A POOL!"
Kid flinched. "That is, if you want. I would be happy to get it if you two thought it would be a nice idea. Now please stop squealing, Patty, you'll make my eardrums shatter," He muttered slightly.
"Are you kidding?!" Liz beamed, grabbing her meister's shoulder and shaking him ecstatically. "We've always wanted a pool!"
Kid's voice wavered as he tried to shake her off. "B-but they require maintenance! They need a filter, which needs to be cleaned, and you need a net to get bugs and leaves and debris out of the water and the chlorine needs to be replenished regularly and-!"
"We'll do all of that!" Liz assured him, finally letting go of Kid's shoulder. The dizzy Grim Reaper immediately lost his balance and fell unceremoniously from his chair. "We'll do it; we promise! Right, Patty?"
"WE'RE GETTING A POOL!"
"She agrees," Liz assured him, while Kid tried to pick himself off the floor. "We've got to have a pool party as soon as it's finished! When do you think it'll be done?"
Kid opened his mouth to speak, but Liz babbled on, "Everyone needs to come! Soul, Maka, Black*Star, Tsubaki, Crona…"
Kid lost his grip on the table and slipped to the floor once again. Crona would be coming. Crona would be coming to his pool. Did she know how to swim? Would she like his vision for the new pool? Would she be wearing a cute swimsuit? Did she think he was cute, too?
"Back up. Reverse. Get out of there," Kid groaned again, gripping his hair once more. "Just think about the pool. Think about telling Dad what you've got in mind. Think about ordering all the supplies and hiring workers. Don't you dare think about Crona. Don't consider the fact that teaching her how to swim would be endearing. Don't wonder if she prefers one-piece swimsuits or two. DEATH THE KID, STOP THIS IMMEADIATELY!" He shouted at himself within his head. As Liz and Patty chattered on, Kid curled into a ball of crush-induced anxiety upon the floor.
Kid attempted to block out thoughts of Crona by trying to focus on the pool. After all, Crona had nothing to do with overseeing the construction and design of Gallows Mansion's new attraction. The structure had to be precise and symmetrical: A large, perfectly circular in-ground pool, coated on the inside with smooth black tile. Spread across the pool floor in contrasting white tile would be the symbol of Lord Death's mask. The front would have a staircase leading into the water, with a ladder to the rear. At the midway point, the previously four-foot-deep pool floor would begin a gradual descent to a final depth of eight feet at the opposite side, below a diving board.
"Absolutely perfect," Kid sighed to himself. He stood on the edge of the pool after the entire month it took to complete it, watching it fill with water. "I'll pour in the chlorine tonight, and tomorrow we'll have our little party," He smiled.
"With Crona," He suddenly reminded himself. "In your pool. At your house."
Kid stiffened slightly, liquid nervousness forming on his brow. He turned around, walking swiftly back into the mansion.
"I need to clean," He said swiftly. If Crona was coming, the house had to be prim, without the slightest blemish. He refused to make a bad impression on her, even though she had been to the mansion before. As a result, Kid went to bed exhausted and smelling of Windex.
It felt as if he merely blinked, and suddenly the sun shone down on him from the window. Kid glared a little at the sunlight streaming onto the floor, before he quickly realized that he was flopped onto his stomach with his hair in disarray, his limbs are at odd angles, and his duvet was crumpled around him in a formation that resembled a rat's nest.
Liz glanced up from her task of making breakfast when a high-pitched scream of horror sounded from upstairs, followed by a loud thud and a cry of pain. The elder Thompson sighed. Lately it had been happening more and more often when her meister would sleep asymmetrically and scream like a teenage girl in a horror movie because of it, then fall out of bed only to hit his head.
True to Liz's assumption, Kid stumbled down the stairs about ten minutes later, fully dressed, but still yawning and rubbing his head.
"Took you longer than normal to get down here," Remarked Liz, handing him a plate of pancakes to take into the dining room.
"I spent a while combing my hair," Kid admitted. "I hate it when I get bedhead."
Liz shrugged. "At least your hair doesn't get curly when you sleep. Although speaking of bedhead," She paused and glanced around, "Where's Patty?"
"Here," Yawned the blonde as she dragged herself down the stairs.
Kid raised an eyebrow as he sat at the table. "Patty, did you stay up late last night?" He asked disapprovingly.
Patty's eyes widened, and she rapidly shook her head. "Nope!" She exclaimed, a little too quickly. "I didn't stay up late planning a pra-!" She suddenly threw her hands over her mouth, her gaze darting about wildly and skittishly.
Kid narrowed his eyes slightly, but before he could question her further, Liz waltzed into the room carrying a plate piled high with flapjacks. "Eat up, guys!" She grinned. "The guests arrive at ten, so you have an hour and a half to get ready!"
Kid choked on his pancake, prompting Patty to slam her hand on her meister's back to try and dislodge the food from his windpipe. Crona was coming in an hour and a half.
After he managed to breathe again, Kid leaped from his chair. "There's no time for food!" He shouted. "The mansion must be spotless! Refreshments must be prepared! Party decorations must be arranged in an ideal symmetrical fashion!" He proclaimed.
"But I want breakfast!" Whined Patty. Kid ignored her as he left his place at the table and raced into the next room. Patty watched him go for a minute, but once he was out of earshot, she turned to Liz and pointed to Kid's half-eaten pancake. "Do ya think he's gonna eat that?" She asked.
Kid spent the next hour and a half checking and double-checking the entire mansion, save the rooms of his partners, for inconsistencies. When one appeared, he corrected it as precisely as possible. Liz and Patty decorated after finishing their breakfast, but Patty left a half hour before the guests arrived. Kid and Liz were too busy to notice, however, and remained absorbed in their work until the guests arrived.
Kid froze and dropped his duster when the sound of his Westminster Chimes doorbell echoed through the house.
"I'll get it!" Called Liz. Of course, with Kid's luck, the first guest was the most anticipated.
"A-am I on time?" A timid voice answered. "I tried to get here on time."
Liz smiled down at the pink-haired mesiter. "Don't worry; you're a bit early."
"E-early?" She said softly. "I'll just go home and wait then…"
Kid sprinted out into the foyer and skidded to a halt behind Liz. "You don't need to!" He yelled quickly, trying to catch a glimpse of her from around his partner. "You're welcome to come in! Being early is perfectly fine!" He said.
"Oh. Okay. If you say so," She replied. Liz moved aside to let their first guest in, and Kid finally laid his eyes on Crona.
She wore a simple dusty blue sundress, sleeveless except for spaghetti straps that had been tied in neat bows atop her thin shoulders. An extra layer of fabric flowed from the top of the dress for about four inches, forming small ruffles where it fell. The dress ended at her knees, and beige flip-flops adjourned her feet. Kid began to feel as if his heart had been replaced with a hyperactive rodent on a hamster wheel.
"The others should be getting here soon," Liz smiled as Crona walked in, slowly closing the distance between herself and Kid. "Kid, why don't you show her to the living room?"
Kid found himself having difficulty forming words. "U-um… Of course," He finally managed, "Right this way."
The rest of the guests arrived shortly, and after everyone changed into their swim clothes, Kid led them all to the back doors.
"All right, everyone," Kid said, trying to avert his eyes from Crona. She wore a simple black one piece with white accents and patterns in the shape of fish, and it was nearly as charming as her sundress. Kid couldn't care less what anyone else was wearing. "Thank you for coming here today. This is a celebration over a month in the making…"
"Quit talking and let us get in the water," Interjected Soul. Chuckles spread throughout the group, and Kid rolled his eyes.
"Fine, then," He said curtly. "Ladies and gentlemen, and Black*Star," He added, "I present to you Gallows Mansion's new pool!" With that, he threw open the door with a flourish.
Kid waited, examining the faces of his guests. For some reason, there was no applause. They simply stood there in stunned silence. Kid sighed a little.
"Look, I know it's striking, but I think it deserves a little applause," He said.
Tsubaki pointed into the backyard. "But… Bubbles," She said, dumbfounded.
Kid blinked. He chanced a glance behind himself at the backyard, but quickly turned back to the rest of the group, golden eyes wide. He made some sort of incomprehensible sound, akin to the noise made by a horrified dog after just swallowing a squeaky toy, looked at the pool again, and turned back once more. His breathing and heart rate had sped up enough that he looked like he might explode, but the young Reaper gradually took deep breaths to calm himself down while his friends looked on in stunned silence.
"Patty," Kid said slowly, as a smile spreading across his face that was more intimidating than a scowl. His younger weapon shied back as he continued, "Why is my pool full of bubble bath?"
"IT WAS BLACK*STAR!" She immediately shouted.
Kid narrowed his eyes slightly, but his disconcerting grin remained plastered across his face as he turned to the ninja. "Did you both fill my pool with bubble bath?"
Black*Star looked uncharacteristically nervous under Kid's gaze, but he beamed anyway. "We thought we'd pull of a nice prank to break in the new pool!" He laughed.
"So that's where all my money went," Tsubaki softly spoke to herself.
"But no one'll want to swim in that!" Yelled Soul, pointing at the pool. "I came here to get in clear, refreshing water! That's practically a giant bathtub!"
Liz sighed, crossing her arms. "Well, this was a waste of time."
Maka put on a positive smile. "Come on, guys! It's still a party, and there's food and… Stuff," She broke off, her own optimism running out on her.
"Whatever," Muttered Soul, stepping outside. "I'm grabbing some sun anyway."
"Me too," Agreed Liz. "I guess we've still got a patio, a snack table, and a cooler filled with soda. We can just hang and tan."
There were murmurs of agreement from the others, followed by a loud "yahoo" from Black*Star, as the group stepped outside. Kid's grin finally fell, and the raven-haired teen covered his face in his hands in misery while he slumped down against the wall. It was supposed to be perfect. The pool water was meant to sparkle in the sun and ripple gently as Crona stepped in. Black*Star would disturb the entire pool with a cannonball jump, and then Liz would bring out the beach ball. Kid's chance to impress Crona had failed. He wasn't so much mad at Patty and Black*Star as he was utterly dejected.
"Um… Kid?"
Kid paused in his self-mourning. A frail hand set itself upon his shoulder, and its owner murmured, "Are you okay?"
The juvenile Grim Reaper turned his gaze upward, causing his eyes to meet a pair of navy-blue irises. His heart skipped a beat; Crona was looking into his face with concern etched across her child-like features.
Kid gulped and tried to find oxygen; their faces were very close to each other. "I… Yes, I suppose," He spoke.
Crona smiled a tiny bit. "That's good," She said, straightening up. Kid finally managed to breathe out, but he couldn't help but feel like he wanted her closer again. "Sorry about your pool," She added while Kid stood. "But… I kind of like the bubbles," She admitted, rubbing her arm as if she was afraid of going against what appeared to be the popular opinion.
Kid tilted his head to the side. "Really?" He asked, to which she nodded.
"I like bubble baths," She said. "Soul says it's childish, but I never got to have them when I was little."
"No, no," Kid interjected, "You're entitled to your preferences. Even I find bubble baths relaxing from time to time," He confessed with a smile. To his delight, the near constant tension in Crona's shoulders seemed to ease when he spoke.
"Then… Do you want to swim with me?" She enquired.
Kid felt as if fireworks were shooting out of his soul. She liked it. She liked the pool, she liked bubble baths, and she had asked him to swim with her. He wasn't a failure, nor was his party, and his crush seemed genuinely eager to spend time with him.
In a spontaneous action, Kid smirked and murmured, "I'll race you."
Crona barely had the chance to process what was happening before Kid took off like a shot out the back door and towards the pool. She smiled, sprinting after him. With her long legs, she quickly caught up to him, and they jumped in the pink bubble-filled water simultaneously.
"Hey!" Shouted Liz, who was sitting in a nearby lawn chair. She had been sunbathing when she was suddenly splashed by Kid and Crona. "What gives?"
Kid's head burst from the water, smiling broadly as bubbles covered his head and shoulders. Crona surfaced beside him as he replied to his partner, "I have a pool; am I not allowed to swim in it?"
"YAHOO!" Hollered Black*Star, suddenly dashing over to the pool and jumping in as well. "BUBBLE FIGHT!" Immediately he began throwing bubbles at Kid, who stepped protectively in front of Crona. He spluttered as he tried to wipe the soap off of his face.
"Revenge shall be mine!" He cried, but still smiled as he threw bubbles back. Liz smiled a little as she pulled the beach ball out from behind her chair.
"Kid, catch!" She shouted before throwing it. The young Reaper grinned, catching the inflatable ball and spiking it towards Crona. She smiled as she swatted it back, glad she had convinced Kid to come outside and have fun.
That rare, playful smile on the face of her crush was worth more to Crona than anything.