Woo. Finally. College started for me, I apologize.

"No. No. No! The chairs need to be 2 cm to the left. No, your other left! Stop. I will do it myself." Kid barked at the unfortunate maid who was helping set up. Though he wouldn't admit it, he wanted everything to be perfect for the small dinner with Crona, his way of attempting to restart after the disastrous one the lanky boy had endured weeks ago. He shooed the maid away, telling her to go worry about the kitchen workers rather than him. Meticulously, he moved the décor to his exact specifications, hardly letting a fork out of place ruin his work.

Once he judged the table and its accessories to be in their proper alignment, he went to his room and began fix himself to look more presentable. His hair was going to bug him the entire time, not that he never attempted to do so with hair dye. But the white strips sickeningly mocked him every time he looked at a mirror. He sighed. A knock at the door distracted him for a moment. He trudged over, opening it.

"Ye- father? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Sorry kiddo, something came up and I have to attend to a few things with the war. Will you be okay having dinner by yourself?"

"I am 18."

"I know, but you still remind me of when you were a little boy." Death chuckled. Kid felt slightly embarrassed even though his face didn't show it.

"I will be fine. Though I had hoped you would be here. I invited Crona to dine with us…"

"Crona? I thought you two weren't getting along."

"Well after some… thought, I came to realize that it would be for the best to reconcile with him and try to understand. I am still upset about the massacre, but that won't change anything so the best course is to talk since he willing to and hasn't posed any sort of threat while he has been here." Kid stated as a front. Death stared at his son for a moment.

"Well I am glad to see you are trying to work it out with him. Stein has been telling me that he is making progress, even if it's slow, he tries. At least you are too." He ruffled Kid's hair, much to the boy's annoyance. Death laughed and turned to leave.

"Good luck with dinner." He left. Kid closed the door, fixing his hair and sighed. He still had a little bit of time left until he had to return to the balcony. While sitting on the lavish bed, he pondered Crona's words. He knew while upset with the other that he would glare. But, he didn't know if he really did like the boy enough to look at him the Crona thought he was. 'Do I still like him…? I mean, I don't really know much about him or who he is...' he rubbed his hand on his face groaning.

Getting off the bed he found himself back on, Kid headed back towards the balcony. Once there, he leaned against the wall. There was a soft breeze as the sun was beginning to set, painting the skies in orange and pink hues.

"Kid?" a voice called out. He turned, seeing the very same lilac haired boy that plagued his thoughts. The boy was peeking out from behind the door frame.

"You can come in, you weren't interrupting anything." The boy nodded and came out. The white outfit he wore suited him nicely. Turning slightly to look behind him whispering something before facing forward and slowing walked forward, his hand holding his arm. Kid met him half way.

"I am glad you decided to come. Though you are early."

"Oh I… I'm sorry. Maka didn't take long picking an outfit and she wanted to make sure I wouldn't get lost."

"She isn't out there, is she?" Kid looked over Crona's shoulder.

"N-no. I asked her to go…" The awkward silence that filled the air. They avoided eye contact for a moment before Kid slightly coughed.

"Crona. Would you join me at the balcony table?" Kid held out his hand. The other nodded, hesitantly taking the offer and being led closer to the outside. The thin boy took in the fresh breeze and stunning colors of the outside world bringing a sparkle to the normally frightened eyes. Kid snapped himself out from staring too long before quickly turning towards the boy.

"Before dinner starts, Crona, I offer you my formal apology in regards to my actions of the last few weeks." He bowed slightly. Crona stepped back.

"Kid, you really don't have to do that. I… I don't deserve it"

"The apology? Was the bowing a little much?"

"No… all of this… I really… I know Maka tells me otherwise… but I really don't deserve any of this treatment." Crona whined, starting to shrink back a little.

"You are a prince. Technically, we are the same." He stated.

"I'm no prince. Even if I was born to Lady Medusa… I… I can't ever see myself as an equal to you… I have killed so many people… I hurt you… and your kingdom…" Crona rubbed his eyes to try not to cry. Kid was quick to go over to him.

"Crona. Crona, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. What do you need? Water?" Kid worried, trying to comfort him.

"I just… don't understand how anyone can be so nice to me… when I'm just like her…" His voice seemed to dull slightly and Kid helped him over to sit in the chair.

"Then Maka will help you. Tsubaki will help you. Stein will help you. I will help you to understand. I know I can't make it right. We can't bring back those people. But we can try to help you." He smiled softly at the lilac hair boy, bringing a blush to his cheeks. He turned away and took a breath.

"T-Thank you." Kid's gentle hand left his shoulder as he went to the other side of the small table. He tried to engage the other with talks about the garden or other things in order to keep Crona from feeling uncomfortable. The slender boy expressed his interest in a little patch of flowers he found, describing them as having delicate white petals and thorns running down the stem. Kid actively listened, watching the boy's eyes light up when he tried to describe them.

Dinner was served sooner than expected, neither of them realizing how much time had passed during their chat. Crona's shoulders were visibly lax and he started showing color in his face, a good sign. When he took a bit of the food, his eyes seemed to sparkle with fascination even though he tried not to show his enthusiasm. Kid chuckled.

"Do you like it?" The other nodded.

"Good, you can have as much as you want." The verbal confirmation seemed to ease him and he began to eat more of what had been served, curiously trying everything he was given and taking in the various flavors that infiltrated his mouth. He never imagined food could vary so drastically each day or that so many different tastes and smells existed. Kid just watched him, hardly touching his food as he got lost in Crona's enthusiasm. It didn't occur to him how much he hadn't eaten until his stomach growled at him. A maid came over to take the younger boy's plate, asking if he cared for more to which he ecstatically replied 'yes'. She left, leaving Crona no alternative with what to do. Looking at Kid felt slightly awkward as the other was eating.

"Crona. Do you like being here? Past and situation aside, do you enjoy being here?" Kid asked, looking down at his plate while cutting some of the meat. It caught the other off guard. All he had ever said was that he didn't deserve it. But, did he enjoy this? Peace? Serenity? Tranquility?

"This… place is beautiful. I doubt I would want to be anywhere else. There is no pressure here, no one looming over me telling me I am worthless."

"Then, would like to stay here? Not as a guest or prisoner, but living here. With Maka and with… me?" Kid set down the utensils, looking at the other with pleading gold eyes that drew Crona in. He paused however, thinking carefully. Sure he would be able to finally have a sense of normalcy, but there was still the hesitation.

The war was still on going.

His mother was still alive.

He was scared of the outcome. Scared of his mother coming back for him. He knew he wasn't ready to rebel against her, that if she came, he wouldn't be able to fight back. But even then, all the fears burned away as he stared into the prince's sunlit eyes, impressing upon him the feeling of security.

"You don't have to go through this alone. I will stay right here with you and help you the best I possibly can. Please, won't you live here and stay?" He hit the breaking point. Salt laced tears raced down Crona's pale face as the words comforted him gratefully.

"I just… don't want to hurt you again. Or Maka. Or anyone." His voice hitched as rubbed the tears away. Kid quickly got up and came over to his side, taking one of his hands.

"You will never have to hurt anyone anymore while you're here. I swear to you. We will never force you to do that." The chair screeched loudly against the floor as Crona moved, embracing the other tightly and crying loudly into his shoulder. Gentle hands moved, one around the crying boy's waist and the other soothingly stroking his hair.

"I will be right here. As long as you need…"

So... After the next chapter (CH. 11) i'm going to need to find my plot notes for this story.

But anyway, if you want to check out more stuff

I am smolragebaby on tumblr and instragram. Ask me questions or if you just want to chat, I'm totally up for that too.