Chapter 20: "Tilted" Christine and the Queens
Author's Note:
So, I promise…. I really am trying to be better at updating. However, I've hit a bit of writer's block. So… if you like this story and you want to see more, then I have a bit of a request! Send me a song title that you want me to write a chapter to. I've got a bit of a playlist in my head of how I see the story playing out. But I like trying new things and I want to break out of this block. Anyway! Enjoy.
Maka stepped back, and dropped her arms before looking up at Crona.
"Maka?" Crona's face registered several emotions, too quickly for Maka to process, before seeming to settle on a horrified surprise. "Maka? I'm s-s-so-sorry for barging in. I d-d-didn't think… I mean ummm… I'm s-sorry what are you doing here?" Though their face still showed a shocked sort of horror, Maka knew it wasn't because she was here, but more the fact that Crona felt they were intruding and were horrified that they had done so.
"Crona, you know I'm nothing but happy to see you! But what are you doing here? I thought you had moved overseas or your mom had sent you to boarding school or something like that? I haven't seen you in nearly five years!" Maka couldn't stop babbling while she examined her old friend.
Crona dropped their arms, and Maka was aware of how painfully thin they were. The over large men's jacket that they wore partially concealed the thinness of their arms and the bones that must jut out from their collar and torso. The jacket did not taper, but instead feel heavily to Crona's thighs, which were concealed in baggy drop waisted pants.
"Ummm, I'm uh. I'm here because well I'm dat— know the owner."
"Oh? I haven't met the owner. I'm here with his brother, Soul." Maka felt the words trip out of her mouth, and she was unsure why her voice had jumped up on saying Soul's name. "I mean… I'm not with Soul. I mean I did come here with him, but I don't…" Maka trailed off and instead looked brightly up at Crona before hugging them once more. "I mean it's just such a nice coincidence!"
At that moment the music stopped abruptly and a flurry of quick words could be heard muffled through the wall.
"It's largo, not…."
"I know! I'm…."
"Obviously not….."
"This is why I do—"
"Oh, pleas—"
Maka started hesitantly toward the door the voices were hissing and slithering through, though quickly stepped back when Soul burst through. His shoulders were tight, and he was arguing over his shoulder with what looked like an older version of himself.
"Yeah— well I was never good with the rules anyway. Remember?" He looked forward at the last moment barely catching himself before he stepped into Maka and Crona.
"Shit, sorry...uh guys." He pulled himself back sharply in a jerk to stop. Running one hand through his hair he turned and called over his shoulder, "Wes, someone's here."
The older version of Soul stood up from his place on the piano bench and moved gracefully toward the trio standing in the doorway.
"Crona, ah Meine Liebe. Wie ich dich vermisst habe."
"Wes," Crona murmured while blushing, "We should speak English in front of the guests."
Maka had never heard Crona speak so fluently, nor with such affection before. She glanced over at her friend, and noticed the faintest tinge of the blush fading from their cheeks.
"And you must be?" Maka turned toward the man addressing her, as he poised his question.
"This is Maka." Soul said gruffly. "We're partners at the college."
"A pleasure, Fraulein." Wes smiled warmly at her before slightly inclining his head, and Maka couldn't help but return the grin.
Soul glowered at his brother as he switched back and forth between English and Germanic endearments with ease.
"Wes, who's this? Why are they here?" Soul knew his voice was rough and compared to his brother's kind and thoughtful introduction lacked the social niceties required.
Though he did not verbalize the sigh, Soul could feel his brother's disappointment.
"Crona, this is Soul. He is my younger brother that I mentioned was studying at the college."
"S-ss-o nice to meet you." Crona stuttered without looking at him.
Soul glanced over at Wes, just barely catching the softness in his brother's mouth and eyes as Crona spoke. They quickly disappeared as Wes felt Soul's eyes on him.
Soul smirked. He wasn't the only one in too deep.
"I actually know Crona from a few years ago." Maka piped up with an unmistakable warmth in her voice. "What an amazing coincidence that brought us together again." Maka's grin was beatific as she looked at her friend and his brother. "It's been such a harrowing few days, but to be here now I feel so lucky."
"We-well what should we do? I can wai-wait on the business I have with Wes." Crona looked swiftly at each of them, their eyes skimming over Soul as if terrified of him.
"Well, I think the beach is out." Soul gestured toward the windows, where the rain had started up again in earnest.
"Mein Liebe, you're soaked to the skin."
In all the commotion, Soul hadn't even noticed that the pink haired person was dripping water onto the floor. Maka also seemed to realize at that exact moment as well, and in the same moment crossed her arms quickly over her chest.
Her shirt looks damp. She must have hugged Crona. Soul mused, and was slightly annoyed by the ping of jealousy that rushed into his brain. He shrugged.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"What?"
"Hmph." Wes snorted before turning back to Crona.
"What?" Soul asked again.
"I'm going to go change." Maka gave him a strange look, before turning toward his brother "I can show Crona where the bathroom is. If you want?"
Crona gave a small laugh, "Maka, I know where it is. But I'd b-be happy to go upstairs with you. I n-need to change as well."
Soul cringed at Maka's unintentional awkwardness, but quickly schooled his features when she glanced back at him.
"We'll be right back. You'll be ok?"
He wasn't sure why she was asking until he saw her eyes flick slightly to his brother. He almost laughed, but caught himself at the last moment.
"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. "Though Wes and I may start day-drinking."
Maka snorted, "Do what you want."
Crona smiled, "It's a go-good dd-day for it."
"Hmm. We do have some alcohol here somewhere." Wes mused. "And I can make some food for everyone. I think we have…"
"NO!" Souls shout startled everyone. "I mean no. Don't go through the trouble. I'll order something." Soul tried to smile to cover his outburst.
Wes grimaced at him before smiling, "Soul, I have managed to improve my culinary skills. But to be fair, I was never very good before."
Wes turned and headed to the kitchen. "Let's look for something to drink then. Take your time upstairs. We'll be here." He smiled warmly at Crona over his shoulder.
The two headed toward the stairs, and Soul could just barely hear Maka begin to ask questions as they started their ascent upstairs.
"Well, we're well and truly fucked."
Wes paused slightly before responding, "Speak for yourself, little brother."
"Oh come off it. You're practically falling over yourself with Crona."
"Hmph. Evans men never would fall over themselves."
Still staring a little at the staircase, Soul wasn't looking at Wes, but could still see the air quotes as his brother emphasized the phrase.
"Fine, if you say so." He shrugged before sitting heavily on a stool while he watched his brother open first one kitchen cupboard and then another. "But I still say we're fucked."
"Ah ha!" Wes exclaimed emerging from one cupboard with a bottle of Rumple Minz and a bottle of Monkey 47.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me."
"What?"
"You seriously still drink this stuff?"
"Shaken not stirred."
"Oh my god, your British accent is terrible." Soul rolled her eyes before continuing, "Besides, Bond drank vodka martinis, dumbass. And I was referring to the schnapps."
"Oh, well Crona loves it in hot chocolate." Wes shrugs and put the bottles on the counter. "And this is what we've got little brother."
"You don't even have any mixers?! I'm not a psychopath. I'm not drinking gin straight or even on ice. Especially after last time."
"Pft." Wes chuckled a little before putting a kettle of water on, "well when we order food. We can probably get some ginger ale or something. But the selection will be pretty thin."
"On ice it is."
Maka gingerly came down the stairs. She was mildly worried about Wes arguing with Soul, but she wasn't really sure why she cared. Crona walked in front of her and peered back when Maka's footsteps faltered on the steps.
"E-ev-everything o-okay?" Crona grinned up the few stairs, and Maka felt her heart warm. She had dearly missed her friend, and seeing Crona now brought all sorts of memories to her mind. She shook her head and smiled back warmly.
"A lot happened to bring me here. I-I messed up a bit back home." Maka tried to speak with a conviction, but the words fell softly to the floor like dust motes, nearly invisible.
Crona stepped up toward Maka carefully, and reached out to Maka slowly. "Sometimes…" Maka leaned down the steps the strength in Crona's voice drawing her in, "...messing up brings you closer to a new truth." Crona's hand fell, and they stepped the rest of the way down the stairs, before tossing words over their shoulder like favors at Mardi Gras, "and sometimes it just means you messed up." Crona's grin this time held none of it previous warmth, instead it made their face appear almost twisted, as if in pain.
"W-what?" Maka tried to step back, but the stairs tripped her up, and instead she fell back on to the stair falling heavily onto her ass.
Crona's face instantly contorted back, "Oh- Oh n-n-n-no. Ma-Ma-kkka. I-I'm s-s-so s-so-rry." Maka flinched when Crona started to the stairs.
"M-Ma-ka. I-I d-d-do-don't know wh-wh-what ca-came o-o-ver me-me." Crona's stouter grew more pronounced as their emotions ratcheted higher and higher. "M-my m-m-mother wo-would sa-say th-that t-t-to me."
"Yo— what's takin so long?" Soul walked into the entryway tousling the back of his hair in agitation. "Wes won't let me drink until you guys come down." At this point he looked up and Maka had made herself stand and schooled her face into what she hoped was a natural expression.
"Sorry," she laughed forcefully, before coughing and trying a more natural sound. "Whew, I must have had a frog in there!" Maka continued when her forced laughter died sadly at the bottom of the stairs. "Uh- anyway, I was coming down the stairs and tripped a bit, so Crona was coming back up to help me."
Soul raised an eyebrow at the both of them, his lip curled slightly in what Maka could only assume was disbelief.
"Uhhh, ok?" Soul turned and his voice continued as he walked back toward the Maka assumed the living room or kitchen. "Well Wes made you guys some Rumple Mina hot chocolate, so come get it while it's hot."
"M-Ma-ka, I-I r-real—"
"It's ok, Crona." Maka said as she passed them on the stairs, "I know what crazy parents can do." Maka tried for a normal tone as she said this and then turned back and smiled more naturally than her tone had conveyed. "Really. Don't worry about it." She held her hand out. "Let's go get moderately intoxicated?"
Crona smiled back, and this time their smile was tentative but warm, before gingerly slipping their hand into Maka's.
Soul glanced up from his place in front of the TV as Maka and Crona finally made their way into the room. Soul felt his hand twitch slightly on his glass and tried to smother his reactions. Seeing Wes and playing music with him had jacked his emotions into an open arena. Now he couldn't seem to corral them back into their respective cages. Maka especially was pulling everything higher than he was accostumed to. He had settled for being moderately attracted and interested in her, but fuck if his brother hadn't relased a shit-eating gladiator trying to rile his heart up.
Soul flicked his eyes toward his brother who was carefully bringing the drinks into the living area. "Well Soul has officially vetoed any music." Here Wes actually pushed his lower lip into an exaggerated pout. "So, instead I told him he had to find something to do." The smirk Wes presented was only visible to Soul, and he scowled openly at his brother.
"You ok, Soul?" Maka's concerned tone and facial expression nearly made him roll his eyes with how fucked this weekend had quickly become. He had thought he'd be sleeping and Maka would swim or something. They'd effectively avoid pretty much everything and when Maka felt guilty enough they'd go back. He hadn't expected to be required to be social. Maka needed to heal. He needed to figure out why the fuck he had decided that was his problem.
"Fuck." He whispered, before saying a little louder, "Yeah. I thought we could watch a movie. You like horror?"
Maka perked up immediately, "Like B-rated horror? Where you get grossed put by bugs bursting out of skin and infecting a whole town…"
"That sounds like some real F grade horror there, Maka." Soul chuckled, but quickly amended his statement, "I mean I love those kinds of films!" He held up his hands and shrugged, "but Wes has some higher class horror tastes than I do. He insists there be a plot." Here Soul overtly rolled his eyes and shrugged again.
"Oh get on with it," Wes called from the couch, one arm laying on the arm of the couch holding a gin on ice, the other wrapped casually around Crona's waist.
"Alright, alright." Soul turned away, wondering know if horror had been the best choice. Do I need to sit with Maka? Is she expecting me to hold her hand? Fuck, why did I do this?
He flipped through his brother's Amazon Prime settling on one of his old favorites, a movie that had legitimately fucked him up as a kid.
"Mirrors?!" Squeaked Maka before she cleared her throat, "I mean oh yeah, I've seen that one." Then she took a huge gulp of Rumple Mina hot chocolate and ended up coughing so hard Crona had to pat her on the back.
"Is that ok?" Soul hazarded a quick look over to where Maka sat on the couch next to Crona, leaving the other side open for... me. Soul took a bracing sip of his own gin.
"Yeah!" Maka waved her hands at him wildly. "Pefectly fine." Then she forced the grating sound like the laugh she had faked earlier. At the sound, Soul watched as Wes peered around Crona and discreetly examined Maka as if she were sick. Soul laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. "Alright, then if no objections," he paused and looked over at his brother and Crona, "let's get started!" He resolutely grabbed the remote and taking the five steps to the couch he sat down carefully next to Maka.
Pressing the enter button on the remote, he settled back into the cushion. Maka sat stiffly next to him, which was unnerving, especially when she jumped and squinted her eyes, as the security guard slit his throat. He tried to mimic Wes's nonchalant arms in the opposite end of the couch, but he worried that if he let his grasp on his drink tighten any more he'd shatter the damn thing.
Soul closed his eyes and took two or three deep breaths. He nearly jumped off the couch when he suddenly felt a short whispered breath on his neck.
"Do you mind if I hold your hand?I think I'm scaring Crona more when I squeeze during the jumps…" He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly to find Maka closer than he had imagined, her eyes large in the near darkness from the screen and the pouring rain outside.
"Uh, yeah," he whispered pulling his arm off the back of the couch and around Maka's head. He laid his hand in between them and Maka easily slipped her fingers through his, before pulling her feet onto the couch under her. Then suddenly he could feel her leaning against his side, her hand clenching his tightly as the reflection of the main character's sister began to rip her jaw off. As the blood poured out of the actress's mouth, Maka's fingers clenched tightly in his own. His arm was effectively pulled across her body as she leaned closer to him.
He tried to settle down, but his body was tingling where she leaned against him, and his fingers were slowly losing feeling.
"Yo, I gotta use my fingers you know." He whispered into her ear a little while later, when the son had disappeared and the sheen of water glinted from the floor on the screen. Maka turned her face to him and grimaced before mouthing 'sorry'. Then she loosened her grip a little, only to tighten quickly once the son was pulled into the water and began to drown.
"I thought you'd seen this?" Soul couldn't resist whispering in her ear. He saw the small flyaway hairs near her ear move with his breath, and with his other hand he started to reach out to tuck them behind before he caught himself.
Maka turned once again to face him her face only a few inches from his own, "I have, but this one really scared me when I was little! It's a nostalgia thing." Her whisper was animated, and though her face was turned toward him, she hadn't really turned her eyes on him.
"SHHHH!" A sound issued from Wes's side of the couch effectively breaking the moment for Soul who had been about to lean forward and close the few inches between Maka and himself.
Maka straightened, "sorry!" She stage whispered toward Crona and Wes.
Soul was able to keep his reactions in check throughout the rest of the movie, and when they reached the end he relaxed against the back of the couch.
He thought Maka might drop his hand, but she just settled into the couch as well. Though she turned more toward Crona and began animatedly asking Crona their opinion of the movie.
Soul saw Wes get up and stretch. He knew it would be better to drop Maka's hand and let this go, but it felt so normal. He didn't really want to lose that feeling, so when Wes turned to look at him he got the expected raised eyebrow. He raised one in return and quirked the corner of his mouth.
Wes merely rolled his eyes. "I'm getting some more drinks. Refills anyone?"
A chorus of yeses rang out. Wes turned and started to walk out of the room, "Ah Crona, Mein Liebe, why don't you call the pizza place while I get drinks. I think the number is on the fridge." He didn't turn around, so Soul couldn't read his facial expression. He knew what Wes was trying to do though.
"I can, if you want Wes." He tried to volunteer.
"No, no it's ok. Crona is practicing." Wes said.
Crona smiled warmly for the first time at Soul, "Th-thank you. I-I can d-do it." Then they stood up and followed Wes out.
Soul turned his head slightly to look at Maka. His head lay on the back of the couch and Maka mimicked his action.
"So," she began. "Mirrors, huh?"
Soul's lips twitched into a half smile. "Am I going to wake up tomorrow and find all the mirrors painted over?"
Maka laughed. This time it was a full real sound. Her eyes closed and her smile was huge. "No!" She giggled out, "but when I first watched this with…." she paused and her smile fell quickly from her face, "uh… well when I first watched it I went home that night and I actually did paint a few of the mirrors in my house." The smile returned slowly if not to her whole face, it twinkled slightly in her eyes. "Papa caught me when I started painting the main bath mirror. He was furious!" She laughed again a little sadly this time, "he wouldn't let me watch any TV for about 6 weeks after that, and I wasn't allowed to go to friend's houses either." Her voice was strong, but Soul noticed how she stuttered over the word friend.
"Wes and I watched it when I was about 11, I think. Anyway, he dared me to watch it so that I could play with him and his friends. He said it was 'initiation'." Soul lifted his free hand since his drink was empty and gave an exaggerated air quote. "Needless to say he'd never seen it either. He made me retell him all the important plot points, then used the information to say he'd watched it." Soul chuckled, "I should've been mad. But I think it started my love of horror films." His shrug slightly moved the two of them, and Maka seemed to realize how close she was to his body and his face. She seemed to shift slightly, but it didn't feel like she necessarily shifted away.
"Ok!" Wes came back in at that moment holding another tray of drinks. "Crona has successfully ordered drinks. And since you have nearly terrified the shit out of everyone here," Wes pointedly looked at Soul when he said it. "Crona has requested their favorite movie, and we're going to watch that once the pizza comes." Wes said with a heavy finality.
"Whatever's cool, bro." Soul laid his head back on the couch and relaxed into the energy surrounding him.
Maka felt slightly drunk. At first, the hot chocolate had felt strongly of alcohol. Now, her drink felt as weak as her head continually buzzed a protest. She distinctly felt the warmth of Soul seeping through her sweater and warming her torso. She wondered if the heat had begun to creep into her face or if she was feeling the beginnings of the drunk blush.
Instead of pursuing any of the tangents running through her head, Maka took another sip of her drink. Then she braced herself for the question she had been passively wondering all night, "So," she stage whispered toward Crona who had come back with Wes after ordering the pizza, "You and him?" She waggled her eyebrows at her friend and smiled warmly. She could tell that Crona was happier than Maka had ever seen them, and Maka wanted to see if the cause was the Soul-look-alike or something else.
Crona's smile made their face glow for a slight second, before they schooled their features into their typical slightly worried frown. "I-I don't kn-know wh-whatchu m-mean." Crona's stutters were more pronounced again, but their small smile betrayed the bits and pieces Maka wanted to know.
Still wrapped slightly in Soul's arm, Maka placed her drink on the table and reached the same hand toward her dear friend. "I'm happy if you're happy."
The doorbell rang and Soul shifted. Maka felt an almost acute sense of foreboding, but she chose to ignore it. Soul shifted again and got up to answer the bell.
"It's probably the pizza." Wes said from the floor, his head laying on the couch and resting on Crona's his mop of white hair spilling over their baggy pants, his eyes closed with drink in hand, he looked distinctly regal.
Wes had guessed correctly, and the group roused themselves and began to eat pizza with a drunken gusto.
"Let's take a picture." Wes smirked at Soul as he said it.
"No, Wes come on. No one wants to take a picture right now. We're all a bit daydrunk."
Maka spoke quickly, "I'd love a picture. I haven't seen Crona in years!" She smiled warmly up at Soul, and once again realized how close they were sitting. They all sat in various positions on the floor around the low coffee table. Wes was almost directly across from her and Crona sat near their shoulders occasionally touching as they ate their pizza. Soul and her however… He sat at one end of the table leaning against the couch. His legs aware sprawled out, and without relaxing it she had sat between them and leaned back against his chest. As she looked up at him, she also realized she was leaning against him again. She pulled herself back sharply.
Soul's eyes flashed confusion before he seemed to also relate their arrangements and moved slightly back, while shooting his legs. Now her right thigh was pressed against his left, but his legs weren't unintentionally sprawled around her. He bumped her shoulder slightly and she leaned against him once more.
"So, yes to the picture?" Wes looked between the two of them with a sly grin that made Maka feel like he was setting them up for something when she didn't know the consequences.
"I w-would al-also like a p-p-pict-ture." Crona whispered quietly, face to the floor.
"Crona, say it with feeling. You have a want and that's ok." Wes had reached out his hand and gently lifted Crona's chin as he said this. He smiled at her, and the look in his eyes made Maka's heart melt.
"Ok! Let's do it!" She knew her voice was too loud, but she moved forward anyway, pulling Soul with her.
Leaning against Crona's left, Maka pulled Soul down beside her by his waist. Everyone adjusted slightly, and Maka felt Soul's arm move around her waist, as his head lay against her shoulder with the lightest touch.
The snap of the picture took her out of the moment. Then it was a flurry of movement as everyone set themselves back on the couch with their pizza slices and Wes began the movie Kubo and the Two Strings on the tv.
Partway through the movie, Maka placed her empty plate on the table and relaxed into the couch laying herself slowly onto and against Soul's side. Crona had fallen asleep, partway through, and Wes had roused them enough to lead them to bed. Or Maka assumed anyway. The movie engrossed Maka as she watched the small young boy lose everything, only to have to continue fighting even after the fact.
She heard a small snore, and looked over to see Soul's head lay against the couch, his eyes closed, and his mouth slightly open. Laying against his chest, Maka pulled her feet up under her, settled back comfortably, and allowed herself to feel safe and warm for the first time in awhile. Soul's slow breathing, and the various claymations on the screen slowly lulled her further into a sense of security, and as her eyes grew heavy, she let herself drift into a comfortable sleep.
