week 25

168

6/17

Cavity

There was a hole now.

It hadn't always been there but now it was and it wouldn't leave. Kid had to jump over it in the morning to get out of bed and he had to avoid falling into it when he was at work or around town. Getting into bed the hole was still there and it hurt with a steady intensity that staggered him. Made it hard to eat or drink.

Other people didn't mention it but Kid was sure they could see it. Could see it in his eyes when he looked at it.

The cavity left in his chest was much like the one that was now in the sky.

169

6/18

Engaged (Crona is using they/them)

"Are you ready?" Crona squeezed Kid's hand.

"Y-Yeah." Kid took a deep breath and knocked sharply on the Death Room door eight times. Crona's heart fluttered. Something like that now seemed so charming, so very what made Kid perfect to them.

There were muffled giggles from behind it and Lord Death called,

"Come on in Kid!"

He pushed open the door and they started the long walk up to where Lord Death, Spirit, Stein, Marie, Maka, Soul, Liz, Patti, Black*Star and Tsubaki waited. Kid had asked them all to be there promptly at eight.

"Okay. What's this all about Kiddo?" His father sang out cheerfully.

"Honourable father." Kid hung on to Crona's hand. "I want to request your blessing." Lord Death tilted his head.

"You've always had it, Kid, but for what?"

"So I can do this." Kid and Crona turned towards each other. Crona's eyes were already watering and Kid smiled shakily. He slowly went down on his knees. Their audience gasped and Liz clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Crona. You are the missing part of soul. All of your broken and jagged pieces fit to mine. Together we complete the balance. Before my father I want to ask you to marry me, imperfect as I may be." Kid paused before quietly adding, "Please?"

Crona nodded their head, tears pouring down their face. "Y-yes. I would be h-honored Kid." They sobbed. Kid smiled up at Crona, pulling a ring out of his pocket, and slipping it on their finger. Crona's smile lit up their face like the most radiant of sunrises, full of promise and hope. Kid stood up and kissed his fiance on the mouth. Unnoticed to them both, Black*Star and Patti was cheering and Stein was being cried on by both Marie and Spirit. Liz was sobbing arms thrown around Tsubaki. Lord Death quietly rubbed at his eyes under his mask.

"Well done Kid."

170

6/19

Saint (Crona is using she/her. The painting is 'Magdalen with the Smoking Flame by George de La Tour.)

"She's beautiful." Crona whispered as she stared at the painting. The Louve was getting ready to close but Crona had been stopped, staring. Kid sauntered up beside her. A gaurd was watching them, but Kid took his time.

"That's the Saint Mary Magdelan." The woman in the painting held a skull on her lap, almost caressing it while she stared at a lit candle. Her expression was distant and sad. It looked like the face of someone who had a lot of regrets. Kid took Crona's hand. "She's considered the patron of penitent sinners." Crona looked over in surprise, before looking back at the painting.

171

6/20

Sinner (Continuation of yesterday. Crona is they/them.)

"Did, did she do anything bad?" Crona asked after a moment.

"It's said that she was possessed by seven demons, but was exorcised. Afterwards she devoted herself to god." Kid explained.

"Pardon, the museum is closing. This way please." The guard who had been watching them finally came over, gesturing to the exit. Crona took one last lingering look at the painting, before following Kid.

They walked out into the warm evening. Crona leaned on a railing, looking up at the sky, trying to see the stars.

"You look a little like the painting." Kid's voice startled them. Crona blushed.

"N-no I don't. She was beautiful." Kid smiled.

"Crona. Beauty is like art. Subjective and in the eye of the beholder."

172

6/21

Vacation (RL AU. Crona is using they/them.)

Kid rolled over in bed, face smushed into a pillow.

"Let's not leave the bed today." His voice was muffled, but Crona still raised an eyebrow.

"Um, alright?" Crona moved closer to Kid. "Any reason why?"

Kid shrugged, still face planted in the pillow. "It's a sunday."

Crona smiled. Any one who said that Kid had no sense of humor didn't know him very well. Kid did have one, but most of the time it was tied down under the weight of his various responsibilities, crushed beneath Kid's desire to be perfect in everything he did.

Crona felt honored to one of the few to see Kid relax enough to let go and suggest on a cloudy sunday that they stay in bed all day.

"Alright Kid." Crona wrapped an arm around his torso and snuggled close.

173

6/22

Outcome

The outcome was always going to be the same. Order had to win. Chaos could not rule the world and balance had to be maintained. Anything that threatened this plain and simple truth had to be destroyed, for the good of the world and the human souls Kid had sworn to protect.

It shouldn't have mattered to him, when his father gave the inevitable order: Find and kill Crona.

Kid had always known that it was going to come down to this, death vs madness and that death had to win.

This fact didn't stop his foolish heart from breaking.

174

6/23

Replacement

"May I have a hug please?" Crona asked, curled up on the couch. Kid was organizing the living room around them. He stopped to look at his lover. Crona's eyes were deep and dark, shadowed by the lights. They were shivering slightly, every muscle tight. Kid carefully put down his feather duster and took off his gloves, laying them down. Kid sat down next to Crona, wrapping his arms around them.

Slowly, Crona stopped shivering and their body slumped as they relaxed.

"Sorry."

Kid kissed their forehead. "Don't ever be sorry for needing affection."