Chapter 2

"Are you doing ok, Crona . . .?"

"I-I've been managing . . . how's Maka?"

"She's . . . Been managing . . ."

". . . T-that doesn't sound good . . ."

"She's just a little upset right now."

"Upset! Oh I don't know how to deal with people when they're upset!"

"Calm down. She's ok I swear."

God, I love it when he tugs at his hair like that. He's so cute. Now if only I could wrap my arm around his shoulder to comfort him. Maybe I could. We've been talking like best friends for over a year now. I bet he's warm and tense. What if he is tense and my touch helped him to relax? I might pass out from pleasure if my touch calmed him.

As my arm reached out to him Maka popped into my head . . . Oh how can I put an arm around another man while my significant other was at home, most likely crying her eyes out. My hand landed short of its destination, only making it to the pink haired relic's shoulder. The touch made him jump ever so slightly and glance my way. I put on the sweetest smile I could.

His lip twitched up ever so slightly but the curve made all the difference. Even if it was the faint essence of a smile, it lit up his whole face, brightening his eyes and thinning the stress lines under his eyelids. My heart pounded fast at the sight of his perfectly round eyes glancing my way, my way! Many times I had looked over his face when he wasn't paying attention, admiring his perfectly symmetrical features.

I am ashamed to admit I was melting; like a Popsicle . . . and I hated myself for it but I couldn't take my hand off his small boney shoulder; so small, so fragile, so perfect. I wonder if it is equal to his left shoulder.

"Kid . . . ?" Crona's sweet timid voice broke me from my trance. I met his eyes directly to let him know I was listening. He bit his lip, which only made the room feel hotter, "Can . . . Can I tell you something . . . ?"

"Of course."

"And you . . . you won't laugh at me?"

"Never, I promise."

"I . . . I don't like . . . living by myself?"

I cocked my head, "You don't?"

He shook his darling head, "It's always so quiet . . . And normally I'm used to that, but . . . I-I like it when you visit, you're always so nice . . ."

My heart skipped a beat at his words. I never knew he liked my visits, I've been coming to see him since Soul's funeral and he's never given me any indication that he wants me to come back. The sweet angel continued and I listened intently.

"E-even Ragnarok doesn't want to come out that much anymore . . . this house is so empty . . . when you're not around . . ."

I was frozen for a moment, trapped in the echo of his words. This isn't something a boy like Crona normally does. He's so isolated and he likes it. But now he's telling me he's lonely? I didn't know he could get lonely. It looked good on him, in a sad, absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous kind of way.

My hand slid on its own, moving to the base of his neck, "Crona, you know why I can't stay with you . . ."

"I-I know. I-I'm not asking you to stay. I just . . . wanted to tell you . . ." Crona set his dainty chin on his frail knees. I could feel my hand moving again, slowly making its way to his shoulder farthest from me.

". . . . I'm glad you told me. You can always tell me what you're thinking. Don't be afraid to talk to me, ok?"

The idea of my delicate cherub opening his mind to me gave me chills of pleasure. I would love to get inside that sweet head, poke around in his innocent thoughts and come out enlightened.

". . . . Thanks kid . . ." He whispered softly leaning my way, leaning my way! His head almost touched my chest and I almost had a heart attack.

The walk home was rainy and a little chilly. I creaked open the door to Maka's apartment, automatically getting a sick feeling in my stomach when I caught a whiff of what she was making for dinner . . . Our anniversary dinner. Don't get me wrong it smelled amazing and if I hadn't of just been with him I would be glad she got herself to make something so exquisite. But on this particular moment, I wanted badly to close the door and leave her to eat with herself. She might even be happier that way.

But, since she most likely already heard the door opening, I stepped inside and pulled off my wet jacket.

She was the first to make conversation, ". . . .Hi."

"Hey . . ." I replied hanging up my jacket then fixing the coat rack so it was symmetrical.

"How's . . . the girls?"

"Good. They wanted me to give you their love."

"Oh that's nice . . ." She sighed, her eyes full of sorrow as they watched me walk over to the perfectly symmetrical dinner table to join her.

"We just watched a movie . . . nothing too exciting . . ."

"Just a movie . . .?" Maka asked tried to get me to lock eyes with her.

I matched her gaze and spoke softly and genuinely, "Yes, just a movie."

She nodded dropping her gaze back to her meal. The sight of her made me want to flip the table over and overwhelm her with every possible kindness I could think of; make her smile and laugh and feel special, feel feminine. But I sat down in the old wooden chair across from her and began to eat . . .