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Breakfast had been quiet, BlackStar not speaking, and Kid not wanting to force him to. The bell for classes rang, he ignored it, refusing to leave his best friend's bedside. He waited patiently as BlackStar stared at the wall, hand in one of his, lost deeply in thought.
"Kid?"
He was startled by the break in the silence, but hid it well enough, keeping his voice calm and even, "Yes?"
"I'm scared."
His heart clenched at hearing the simple phrase come form the shorter teen. BlackStar never admitted to being afraid, to worrying: that was what Kid did, BlackStar was the one who always set him straight. He tilted his head, thoughtfully, acknowledging the statement, "Of the rumors?"
BlackStar shook his head, a tremor going through him, "Of being alone."
For as long as he could remember, Kid had been there. Then the Thompsons had joined them. BlackStar had never had to be alone... until Shinigami had called Kid away to begin his training, and Kid had taken the sisters with him. BlackStar had been all alone then, the students around the school either afraid of him or annoyed by his personality; that fake happy mask he'd put up to hide how lonely and afraid he was.
That had changed with Tsubaki. She'd been sweet and honest and genuine. She didn't pretend to like him, she truly did. She didn't make fun of him for claiming he was going to surpass God, she believed him; pledged herself to help him achieve his dream. She took away the loneliness that Kid's absence had left, the same way that he took hers. They were a perfect pairing, her softness to his brashness, her cool logic to his straight-forward enthusiasm, her quietly shy nature to his proud protectiveness.
It was Tsubaki that made his smiles real, who allowed his masks to fall away. Tsubaki who'd never minded when he spoke endlessly about a certain death god, who didn't mind standing back and smiling when Kid was around and BlackStar practically attached himself to the shinigami's side. Tsubaki who had taught him how to dance just so he could see Kid's flabbergasted expression that he could. Tsubaki who had shared her hopes and dreams with him, of finding her brother, talking to him, bringing him home. Tsubaki who had never wanted to be the heir of her family's talents and abilities, who wanted nothing more than to help people, who hated hurting others. She'd wanted to be a healer or teacher, never certain enough in herself to come to a final decision about it and always changing her mind from one asking to the next.
And now she was dead. His Tsubaki, who'd smiled as his unchecked soul wavelength tore through her slender frame, whose warm body had dissolved in his arms despite his pleas, his desperate hold. His Tsubaki who'd finally spoken to her brother but was unable to convince him, whose gentle spirit had been crushed under the weight of evil that had consumed her brother. His Tsubaki, his sister, who he'd loved more than anybody save one. His Tsubaki, who had been forced to murder innocents, who'd thanked him for killing her!
BlackStar didn't even realize the tears were coursing down his face until Kid pulled him into an implacable embrace, "You're not alone, Star. I swear it, I'm not leaving you ever again."
The words sounded nice, and he wanted more than anything to believe them, but they had a hollow ring. If he wasn't executed outright, if he wasn't expelled... Kid would still have his responsibilities, his own partners, his own missions; and BlackStar would be left alone again, because no one wanted him. No weapon was going to trust a Meister who'd devoured the soul of his own partner, and no Meister was going to partner with a freak like him who'd once been one of their own. BlackStar might as well be a witch, the ostracism would be nearly the same.
The sound that ripped from his throat was less sob than it was choked-off, hysterical laughter. Kid had never lied before, not intentionally, but there was no way he could ever keep this new promise of his. Though if nothing else, it drove home just how alone Tsubaki had been as well; she'd had the same plastic masks as BlackStar had, only ever calming down enough to be herself around him, and possibly Maka. BlackStar was the only one who knew Tsubaki inside and out. He owed her so much: he owed it to speak for her.
"Sure thing, Kid. I'd... Like to be alone for a while. I have a speech to think about, don't I?"
The arms around him loosened, but didn't leave, "Already trying to test me? I'm not going anywhere- Don't argue -I had Liz and Patty bring my books, I can keep up with class from right here. I'm not leaving you, but if you insist, I will sit quietly in the corner and work on my books so you can think in peace."
BlackStar couldn't help the smile, small though it was and nothing like his old ones, and nodded, "Yeah, alright." Thank you, Kid.
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