Chapter 14 – Doesn't Change Anything

Angel stared at the tender pink skin covering her left hand. Two days after Free's lesson and her hand was mostly healed up. Another day and her hand would be completely healed. Curling her hand in a fist Angel's thoughts drifted to Evan. It had been harder than she thought to contradict his wavelength. She had hated the feeling of being so different from her childhood friend. She hated having to go up against Evan. But despite all that she was going to do it again.

Angel sighed, shifting her gaze to the open window beside her. Death City was quiet. The kind of quiet that meant something was coming.

"It's time," Sully said. "He was standing beside the bench Angel was stretched out on. His arms were crossed over his chest and his face set in a blank mask. Sid stood beside him in an identical pose.

Angel turned her head meeting each pair of clear blue eyes. She exhaled slowly. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

The twins looked at one another.

"Yes," Sid said.

"Are you?" Sully asked.

Angel swung her feet off the bench, and planted them firmly on the ground. She rested her elbows on her knee, and her eyes glued to the floor. "I am."

"You can't have any doubt."

Angel looked up at the sound of her father's voice. Kid had his hands stuffed in his pockets. His two-toned yellow eyes never wavered from Angel's matching eyes.

"No one can get close enough to Cassandra except me." Angel wasn't sure who she was trying to reassure, herself or her father.

"Can you convince her you're loyal only to her?"

Angel took a deep breath. "I will do whatever it takes." With those words, she knew she would.

Kid nodded. He let out a deep breath, shifted his feet, and took his hands out of his pockets. Then finally said, "Angel, no matter what you hear just know that I love you and you will always be the most important thing to me."

Angel felt her surprise filling her face. Her father rarely uttered any sort of affection toward her. Hearing him say how much she meant to him had her on her feet and wrapping her arms around him. He hugged her back, awkwardly at first then lovingly.

"I love you too, Dad." Angel said as she pulled away.

Kid smiled, "Good luck."

"Thanks," a genuine smile spread across Angel's face. "Let's go," she said to Sid and Sully.

Kid watched his daughter and her weapons as they left.

Evan sat straighter in the temporary classroom at the Gallows Mansion. The DWMA may have burned down but Kid insisted on continuing classes so no one would fall behind. Evan wasn't listening to the lesson Professor Mifune was giving. He was focused on the empty seat next to him. Angel hadn't been in any of her classes or shown up to Free's training last night.

Evan had an uneasy feeling in his gut. He had that feeling ever since he had seen Angel and Kyoki in the alley on their mission to Slooth. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't shake the feeling something was going to happen, and it wouldn't be good. Sure, he had acted normal around Angel and the gang, but doubt of where Angel's allegiance rested swirled in the back of his mind. She had made him promise to trust her and he wasn't certain he could keep that promise.

"Evan?" Gold Star was standing in front of his desk frowning.

"What?" Evan shook his head snapping back to reality. He looked around surprised to find the classroom completely empty.

"Free's waiting." Gold Star glanced at the door where Masa was waiting along with Mark and Mamoru. They had training to get to and Evan was holding them up.

"Oh, okay."

Evan grabbed his books, and silently followed the others. He hung back from the group keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of Angel. He felt a stab of disappointment every time he heard footsteps and realized they weren't hers. Worry gripped him as he got to the backyard and Angel was nowhere in sight.

Free shot a sideways smile at the group gathered in front of him. "So, for today we will…"

Evan couldn't concentrate on what Free was saying. Instead his eyes had roamed to the wall of windows that looked into the dining area. Evan felt his brow furrow as he watched a strange scene play out.

Kid sat at the head of the table talking, most likely giving orders. Liz had her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes fixed on the table top. Patti was doodling as carefree as usual. Black Star tapped his finger on the table top clearly bored. Mifune and Tsubaki sat next to each other paying close attention to what Kid was saying. Stein had a cigarette in his mouth and leaned against the wall with mild interest coating his features. Crona kept fidgeting in his seat and looked uncomfortable, but he always did. Maka sat opposite of Kid her eyes following Soul as he paced the room.

Evan kept watching each person in the room. This hadn't been the first time his parents and his friend's parents had called a meeting. But something seemed very odd about this one. For all intents and purposes the meeting looked just like your average group discussion, but as Evan watched he knew it wasn't. He could practically see the tension and unease wasting out of each person there. And the deadness in Kid's expression had a chill running up and down Evan's spine.

As if sensing Evan's gaze Maka looked out the window focusing on her son's gaze. She looked at him in such a way that he wanted to believe he was seeing things. The last time he had seen that look on his mother's face was three years ago when she left him. That one look was all it took for Evan to put the pieces together.

"I need to go." Evan shot to his feet and didn't wait for a reply from Free or the others. He took off at a dead run heading for the remains of the DWMA. He could tell with every part of his soul that Angel was there. He prayed that he would get to her before she did something she'd regret.

He stumbled to a stop at the base of the concrete steps leading to the empty and where the DWMA had once stood. Kid had the debris cleared and was in the process of making up new building schematics. There were exposed areas that led to the academy's underground levels. Evan felt Angel's soul coming towards him.

Angel stopped at the top of the stair with Sid and Sully, in their weapon forms, gripped tightly in her hands. A sack was slung across her back. He didn't have to ask to know it was filed with book from Lord Death's library. Evan met her yellow eyes and flinched at the lifeless expression in them. Her hair was pulled back and the three white lines on the left side of her hair matched her pale skin.

"Evan, you need to leave." She said her voice as hard as diamonds.

He shook his head, "No. So, your plan for helping Kid out of this mess with Cassandra is to do exactly what she wants?"

She swore. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

"I don't have time for this."

"Make time."

Evan stared at Angel.

"I have to do this." Angel spoke so softly he almost missed what she said. "I've had enough of Dad's lies. Cassandra promised to tell me everything I want to know."

"At what price?" Evan began moving up the stairs, he walked slowly so she wouldn't feel threatened. "Do you really think she's going to give you something for free?"

"The price doesn't matter."

"Do you think your father would be proud to hear you say that?" Evan watched her flinch away from his words. He hated saying it but he needed her to see the flaws in her thinking, he needed her to stay. "He saved your life by making a promise he didn't keep and here you are doing the same exact thing."

"It's not the same!"

"It looks that way."

"I won't go back on my word like he did."

"Is that what you told Kyoki back in Slooth?" Evan couldn't help the stab of hurt he felt when her eyes widened. Angel didn't want thim to find about the meeting. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't," she whispered.

"Why?"

"You're the only one who could talk me out of this. You're the only one that could change my mind." Angel inhaled slowly, and spoke on the exhale, "But I have to leave. I have to know what my father won't tell me."

Angel was trembling from head to toe by the time Eva reached the top step. He stopped in front of her leaving just a few inches between them.

"We can find another way, Angel."

"Not this time, Evan."

He wasn't sure what he was doing but he knew he couldn't let her leave. He closed his eyes, leaned forward, and pressed his lips to hers. She stiffened as his lips met hers. Just as he was beginning to pull away she snaked her arms around his neck, and pulled his lips back to hers. He wrapped his arms around her waist closing the gap between them. He heard her weapons fall to the ground but he didn't care. All that mattered in that moment was being with Angel. In that one kiss he showed her just how much he cared about her. And he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she felt the same.

"Stay." He said.

"I'm sorry, Evan." She closed her eyes and pulled out of his arms. "This doesn't change anything."

He frowned. Maybe it was his imagination, but it sounded like she was lying. He caught her gaze for a moment before she looked away. She was lying. His kiss did change something, but she was still going to leave.

He grabbed her hand and spoke with more force, "Stay."

She shook her head, and blinked rapidly to clear away the tears in her eyes. "I can't stay when all Dad does is lie to me. I can't stay knowing someone is willing to give me information I want. I can't stay."

"There's always another way." Evan said.

She pulled her hand out of Evan's, and picked Sid and Sully up. She took a few steps bac and raised her weapons to Evan. Tears streamed from her eyes.

"Angel, please…"

Whatever else Evan was going to say froze in his throat. Angel kept her weapons raised but her eyes dropped to the floor.

Cold laughter drifted toward them. Kyoki appeared from the shadows a nasty grin on his face. "Sorry to interrupt your lover's spat but we have a schedule to keep." Kyoki's blood red dreadlocks were tied at the base of his neck and he wore black from head to toe. His black katana was slung across his shoulders like he didn't expect a fight from Evan.

Evan met Angel's gaze. He knew what was coming next and didn't fight it. She shot Evan, both shots hitting him in the center of his chest. He let the wavelength projectiles launch him backwards and down the stairs. He didn't feel any of it as his world turned black.

Angel sat on the edge of her bed in her new room at cassandra's lair. She had come straight here after giving a full report to Cassandra on what happened when she left the DWMA. She explained in full detail what she did to Evan because Kyoki had insisted she do so. Cassandra was glad to hear Evan Albarn had feelings for Angel that could be used against him. But Angel wasn't so sure if that would be the case next time they met. Then she told the witch that she had taken out her father, Gold Star, and Mamoru. Angel had lied through her teeth when she said she no longer felt anything for her father and friends. Cassandra was pleased to hear all Angel reported. Once the report was finished Angel had received a tour of the lair from Kyoki. Kyoki said Angel was free to move about but she didn't feel like doing much.

Sid and Sully hadn't said a word through the entire thing. Their bedroom was right across the hall from hers, but they didn't want to leave Angel alone. She hadn't wanted them to leave either. Sully was stretched out on the floor snoring lightly. Sid was sitting on Angel's bed fighting off sleep.

Angel's left hand was pressed to her lips as she remembered Evan's kiss. She wanted to remember the moment forever. She wanted the chance to kiss Evan again. But she didn't think she would ever get that chance now. Not after what she did to him.

Angel curled up on top of the blankets at the foot of the bed. She buried her face in the mattress and allowed herself to cry. She would allow herself just one night to feel. After that she would bury all the feelings she had for her father, her friends, and especially Evan.

Evan came to in the dispensary. The clean stench of bleach was what told him where he was. He slowly opened his eyes taking in the small room. On his right side Maka had her head resting on his bed and her hand tucked into his. Just behind Maka on the other bed in the room Soul was awake and staring at the ceiling.

Evan thought it was odd to see his parents looking so exhausted. He couldn't have been injuries that badly, could he?"

He looked down at his chest remembering Angel had shot him there. White bandages covered his chest with a few specks of red seeping through.

He remembered falling down a set of stairs. He saw a few bandaged spots on his arms. He lifted his left hand and carefully touched his face. He flinched when his fingers brushed against his forehead.

"Easy," Soul said rising from the bed. "There are six stiches on the left side of your forehead, two on your chin, and three next to your right eye."

"That it?" Evan tried to joke, but he knew it wasn't working.

Maka lifted her head. "How are you feeling?"

Evan didn't answer. He knew that if began talking about himself in even the smallest way he wouldn't be able to stop. He had kissed Angel, then was shot by her, and watched her walk away. The pain in his heart was overwhelming. But he wasn't about to let Angel go, not when he had just kissed her. Not when he knew she felt the same way he did.

But Evan needed to ask something before it was too late. Evan locked gazes with Maka. "Did you know?"

Her shoulders sagged. "Yes."

Evan now understood the look that Maka had given him. She knew his feelings for Angel and she knew Angel was going to leave. The "whys" and "hows" didn't matter. It was too late to change what had been done, but he would do whatever it took to change what came next. Evan knew exactly where to start.

"Thank you, Mom."

Maka's and Soul's stunned expressions were enough to put a smile on Evan's face.