Note: Reflection and Perfection are in the same universe but told from different POV! princesspandi on tumblr is my art blog where I will post art of my fic! check it out if you wish! There should be a new pic of this chapter a few minutes after I post this. Thank you guys so much for supporting my little ideas.
46. Reflection - Crona
Consciousness came to her slowly. Faint memories of running down a hall and suddenly she felt the softness of the bed underneath her. Sighing, she rolled onto her stomach, pressing her face against the pillow. Sleep clung to her body as she awoke at a sluggish pace. Oddly, her bed somehow felt comfier than usual - not that she was complaining. She couldn't remember the last time her bed felt this nice; she must have stayed in a perfect sleeping pose throughout the night.
Rolling back over, she laid one of her arms against her forehead, trying to will herself awake. Strange, fabric pressed against the skin of her forehead as she did so. She couldn't recall if she put on a long sleeved shirt before bed; could have sworn she wore a simple t-shirt.
Even stranger, her mind felt fuzzy; she chalked it up to being half asleep. Peeling her eyes open, they adjusted to the dark room. Her brow pinched together in concern. Did she wake up before the sun came out? Her room was never this dark considering she had crappy curtains covering them. As her eyes adapted to the darkened room, she became uncomfortably aware that this was not her room at all.
Her eyes snapped open at that thought, springing upright in the unfamiliar bed. She couldn't clearly see everything, considering it was still pitch black, but it was enough for her to realize she was not in her home. Her hands rubbed their way up her arms, feeling the silky fabric of the pajamas she was currently in. No way, did she somehow lose a day? Was she kidnapped? No, she would be in a rougher state than this.
Anxiety crept its way up her throat as she glanced around the room. It was certainly bigger in dimension than hers and most everything was black. Throwing back the covers, she pulled her legs onto the side of the bed. Her legs were covered with a matching set of the top she was wearing and her feet laid bare. Pressing her toes into the plush carpet, she jumped out of the bed, stumbling forward a few paces.
Frantically, her eyes scanned the room; they landed on a nearby door. Heart racing, she dashed toward it, yanking it open to reveal an equally dark room. Her eyes, having adjusted to the darkness, spotted a sink off to the side - a bathroom. Blindly, she flattened her hand against one side of the door, hoping to find the light switch.
She flinched as the light brightened the room, having found the switch. Blinking rapidly, she waited a few seconds to get used to the new brightness. Staggering forward, she pressed a hand against her face, rubbing her eyes in hopes to help them adjust. She fell against the counter that held the sink and sighed wearily.
Her eyes focused on the pale hand that gripped the counter, something off about the way her hand appeared. Lifeless, she slowly raised her eyes from the shiny porcelain sink to the clear mirror. She blinked; rubbed her eyes, then blinked again.
Nothing could have prepared her for what she spotted in her reflection hovering above the counter. It was hard to breathe. Before her stood a male at around her age, he had golden eyes and dark hair. In his hair were three odd stripes that only encircled half his head. As she commanded her hand to raise, so did the corresponding one in the mirror. She froze, hand midair as she stared agape at him.
Was she dreaming? Her breathing escaped her in quick bursts as panic seized her. Her other hand gripped the counter tightly, knuckles turning white. Whatever expression or action she made was shown to her in the exact way by the male in front of her.
It couldn't be helped, she jerked back, slamming into the cabinet behind her. She yelped as burning pain spread through her head and back. Grimacing, she pressed a hand against her hair, ruffling it up. She had to be dreaming.
She barely had time to gather her thoughts as the door to the bedroom slammed open. Light mixed in with the bathroom light as a female with short blonde hair rolled into view, holding a gun in her direction. A choked scream escaped her oddly deep voice as she stumbled backward and straight into the shower curtain. Wobbling, she tore the whole thing down and fell into the tub. Silence followed, only interrupted as she groaned.
A loud, cheerful laugh echoed into the room. Crona couldn't see anything and she surely couldn't move now. Who were these people?
"Kid? What are you doing?" A voice rang out while the laughter kept going, signaling there was another person present. Her brow pinched together at hearing 'Kid' - was that who the boy was? With some difficulty, the people who burst into the room began to help untangle her body from the mess she fell into.
A bright light blinded her for a split second as two faces appeared over her. She meekly gazed up, examining their features. One had a giant grin and short blonde hair framing her face; the other had concern gracing her features and long brown hair tied into a low ponytail. The taller female held out a hand for her. Hesitantly, she grabbed for the hand. She pulled her up with ease, helping her keep steady.
"Ha! I can't believe you fell!" The blonde cackled, holding her sides. She apparently found this situation extremely funny.
Nervous, Crona brought her arms around her waist, becoming suffocating aware this was not her body. She was shorter than her usual self and things felt odd. The laughter quieted down as the realization that something was deadly wrong with her - him. The taller female stepped closer, causing Crona to lean away instinctively.
"Are you ill? You don't... look like yourself." She finished, unsure of the exact illness that was ailing their friend. She assumed they were friends? Siblings? It was hard to imagine them living in the same house without some semblance of familiarity.
Ah… well…" Stumbling over her words, she averted her eyes, glancing into the mirror.
What was she to say? She couldn't actually admit that she was someone else entirely. This wasn't her body. A warm hand pressed against her face, forcing her to stare back into the deep blue eyes of the female before her. The hands squeezed her cheeks, tilting her head around until she was satisfied.
"Patty… Help Kid get ready. I'll clean up here." She commanded slowly, side-eyeing 'Kid'. Crona gulped.
"Okaaaay." The one addressed as Patty sighed out, reaching out for one of Kid's arms. She took it, pulling Crona along out of the bathroom and toward a nearby closet.
She stood to the side watching Crona curiously. Tentatively, Crona reached out and opened the closet, only to be met with the fanciest clothes she had ever seen. Mouth slacking open, she stared. She couldn't move. What did this Kid guy usually wear anyway?
"Kid…" At the tiny voice beside her, she turned her gaze toward the pouty lip of Patty. "Did you hit your head?" Innocently, Patty reached up and combed her fingers through Crona's - Kid's - hair. Crona stood frozen, unable to move away from the wandering hands of the girl beside her. What would this person do in this situation? It was driving her insane having to cater to whatever normal actions this person would do. It was giving her a headache; or the bump that delicate fingers were caressing was.
"I… did." Crona responded low, afraid to speak out of turn.
"Is that why you are acting all funny?" She peeled her hand out from under Crona's hair and smoothed it down until she was pleased with it.
"Yeah…" An excuse she greedily grabbed for. A common cause of amnesia. Perfect. "I don't remember much." She choked the last bit out quickly, afraid to miss her chance to admit it.
"What?!" Genuine shock graced the round face of the other female. Then the oddest thing happened. Patty stuck both of her hands into her own hair and aggressively messed it up until there were short, blonde strands sticking out in many places all at once.
"Does this bother you?" She panicky shouted, not caring if her voice rose. Confused and slightly scared, she stared at her.
"No?" Her answer came out sounding like a question. Her response caused Patty to twist around toward the bathroom, hair still a mess, and shouted at the female about no symmetry.
"What?" The taller female stepped out, the shower curtain in her hands. "What are you on about Patty?"
"Liz!" Relief washed over Crona, concerned that she would have to guess the other's name eventually. "Kid doesn't care for symmetry! He lost his memories." Patty all but wailed out in distress. "There is a bump on his head."
Frightening, Liz jogged over and leaned in close to Crona. Without warning, she reached her free hand out and pressed it into the back of Crona's head, causing a stinging sensation. Crona wasn't used to such contact in such a short time, it was exhausting.
"No way…" The same panic was shown onto Liz's face as a million thoughts ran through her mind. "We have to get him to his father." She explained, speaking more to Patty.
They both brought their gazes back to Crona's direction at the same time. She felt her shoulders rise in fear, wondering who his father was. Would he be scary?
She wasn't given much choice. They helped dress her and they departed as soon as everyone was ready to. The shock of witnessing the house turn into a mansion as they exited the building stuck with her, even as they approached a school. It was hauntingly familiar.
Hallways passed in a blur as Liz led the charge to a looming door. Once inside, Crona wished they hadn't come here. Gallows hovered around the strange room. Crona pinched her fingers together, anxiety creeping inside her. It only spiked as the trio approached the solid black figure with a single skull mask.
Anxiety crept inside as she came to the realization of the school she was in. She knew where she was. The school her mother detested. And the person standing before her was Lord Death. Crona didn't hear the greeting he made.
"He bumped his head, he can't remember a thing." It was only when Liz spoke up that she was brought out of stupor.
"Oh, Kiddo." With a cheerful voice, Kid's father bounced up to her and all she wanted to do was curl up in herself.
One of her hands gripped her other arm as she stared up, unsure of where this would go. The skull mask dipped down until it was right in front of her. She couldn't help the small 'eep' that escaped her lips as he did. Although there weren't eyes present, she knew he was examining her closely. Something funny passed through her, sending a shiver up her spine. Moments later, he jolted back into standing straight, which startled everyone in the room.
"Okaaay, Kiddo will be fine." He cheered, bouncing in place.
"Really?" Liz sputtered in disbelief.
"Well, he should be fine by tomorrow. If not, bring him back to me." The tall, masked male explained.
"That's a relief. I guess we'll take it easy today." Liz suggested, crossing her arms.
Crona's eyes widen in disbelief of her own. Did he know she wasn't the soul of his son? Did he really fix whatever had occurred this morning? A few more questions similar to that line of thought entered her mind.
"That's a good idea, but first may I ask you two to step out. I need to speak to Kid alone." Although he had a cheerful tone, there was a hint of seriousness there.
Without a word, the two females left, eyes lingering on Crona's body as they did. Crona was frozen in place, shoulders rising up in fear of what was about to happen. Fear closed in around her throat, blocking off her air passageway. She found it difficult to breathe now that she was alone against the father of Kid. Did he know who she was? Did he know what she wielded and who her mother was?
"No need to fret." He cooed. "What's your name?" Shock graced Crona's face as he asked that question.
"C-crona!" Stammering, she all but yelled out her name. She felt a twinge of uneasiness at hearing the slight echo of her deeper voice. Nothing on the mask showed that he acknowledged who she was.
"Okay, Crona. I'm not sure how, but you switched bodies with my son." He explained carefully, making sure Crona would understand his next few words. She nodded in confirmation. "I still feel his soul inside, so It shouldn't last more than a day."
She nodded again out of joy that she would be back in her own body soon enough. That didn't go as badly as she thought it would.
Exhaustion rushed over her as she flopped face first onto the unfamiliar, but comfy bed. It was tiring entertaining the crazed idea of Patty and Liz showing baby pictures and videos of Kid growing up. They crammed more information about this guy than she would have liked to know. Actually, some information was helpful to her. She now knew she was in Death City where her mother lived for a time.
Lord Death was also helpful by explaining some basic knowledge about the city and who Kid's friends were. The loud, blue haired boy gave her a headache. Sighing, she rubbed her face against the blankets. Not caring if she did anything else today, she crawled pathetically under the blankets. Within minutes, she felt her conscious slip away.
What felt like mere moments, she blinked her eyes open, wincing at the light shining in from the nearby window. Groaning, she rolled over, pulling the blankets over her head. She always hated how the sun blinded in her in the morning. Wait.
Snapping her eyes open, she shot up in bed, glancing around feverishly. Her room! Elation filled her to the brim as she glanced down to her appearance. Yep, it was her body,the same scrawniness she became accustomed to. But something was off. She was clothed in something she wouldn't usually wear for bed. Tossing the blankets off of her, she dragged her legs over the side of the bed. Sleep pants in this heat?
Rising to a stand, she hurried to the hallway bathroom. Thankfully it was Ragnarok free as she stumbled in, feet dancing against familiar cold tiles. She stopped in her tracks as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. No. Slowly, she raised her hand to her head, carefully touching the ends of her hair. He cut her hair. It didn't look bad, but it was not something she was expecting.
She stared open mouthed at her reflection in the mirror, unable to comprehend how he managed to do this. Her eyes flitted around the bathroom, taking notice of small details that had been changed; cleaned? Backing out of the bathroom, she stumbled back to her bedroom.
It was her bedroom, but everything was different. She hadn't noticed when she first woke up. All her personal effects were organized carefully together. Something caught her eye. In a daze, she walked to her desk. She fell into the chair and swiveled around to face the hard surface.
Before her was a delicately written note, directed to her. It simply stated, 'I hope you find your freshly organized home to your liking.' She re-read those words a few times before it clicked that he actually wrote to her. She wished she thought of that. Below it in an elegant, cursive writing was signed 'Death the Kid'. Casually, she brought her hand back up to her hair, clutching the even but shorter ends of it.
She was at a loss and all she could think about was that he cut her hair.
47. Perfection - Kid
He knew immediately something was off. Sighing, he rolled away from the light that radiated in his face, hoping to get a few more minutes of sleep. He came to the aching realization that his bedroom was pitch black and therefore wouldn't have a light being on. Unless someone opened the curtains or turned on the light. Not yet opening his eyes, his brows pinched together in disappointment that Patty would concoct such a prank.
"Patty I swear to…." He trailed off, snapping his eyes open. That did not sound like him.
His eyes focused on the room slowly, taking in the off grey walls. Strange, did he fall asleep somewhere other than his own bed? He couldn't remember. His nose scrunched up in distaste as he realized what an awfully disorganized place he chose too. He propped himself up, observing more of the messy room.
Shelfs littered the nearby wall with clutter scattered about. Underneath the wall shelf was an equally littered mess. He gulped at the sight, feeling a wave of nausea strike him. Closing his eyes momentarily, he willed the feeling away. Whoever this room belonged to, he needed to teach them a lesson on organization. Exhaling slowly, he reopened his eyes and forced them toward the rest of the room.
It didn't help. He jerked forward, feeling the bile rise up within him. Tossing the covers away, he jumped up, feet slapping against the hardwood flooring below. In panic, he searched wildly for a bathroom. The room itself didn't house one, considering the size of the room. With that train of thought, he dashed toward the singular door and yanked it open, revealing a cramped hallway. Luckily for him, the bathroom was one door down and open.
Without a second thought, he jogged to it, his hand pressed tightly against his mouth. He slammed the door shut with on regards if anyone else was in the house and threw himself against the toilet. A mere moment passed as he dry heaved into it. Gradually, he pushed away from the toilet.
Wearily, he eyed his hands, taking note of their long, slenderness. Those were definitely not his. Especially with the chipped nails. He frowned, pulling himself to a stand. He leaned against the counter, eyes boring into the mirror before him. His brow furrowed in thought as he examined whose body he currently inhabited.
Pale, pasty skin, and big, blue eyes stared back at him. Although the hair was a nice, soft pink color, the way it was styled was horrendous. Grabbing for a nearby brush, he started combing his way through the locks of hair. He hoped he could tame this mangled mess this person called hair. As he busied himself with his current task, it wasn't long until there was a loud knock at the bathroom. Kid jumped in response, not expecting someone else to be here.
"Oi, you okay?" A gruff, male voice yelled through the wooden door.
Kid stood frozen, brush hovered over the top of his head. What would he say? What was the relation between the body he was in and the person behind the door. Swallowing nervously, he gently set the brush down.
"Yes." He spoke out, hopefully confidently enough that the other person wouldn't question him. He had no such luck.
"...What are you hiding?" The voice asked, obviously not believing something in the way Kid had spoken out. "I'm coming in." Alarmed, Kid leapt for the door, hand closing around the doorknob.
"There isn't anything to hide!" He yelped, his voice unfamiliar. It was soft, but high pitched enough to make him realize he was in a female's body.
The second of shock hitting him, caused him to loosen his grip enough for the other to shove open the door, knocking Kid back a few paces. He stood, wide eyed at the taller male before him. The black hair and silver eyes didn't cause alarm, but the scar on his face in the shape of an x most certainly did. He knew the description of the famed demon sword his father made him wary of. Did that mean he was in the body that wielded said demon sword.
"...You're acting weird." The taller male spoke, unsure as he lightly gripped the doorknob. An odd sound let Kid's lips, something between a whine and laugh. "Are you sick?" Although he was intimidating, there was concern in his voice as he stared down at Kid.
"...Maybe." He whispered, bringing one of his hands against his hair, remembering how odd some of the strands were angled.
"Medusa isn't going to be happy." He scoffed, whatever care he had being tossed out of the window.
Kid felt his blood turn ice cold at the name the other uttered. The nausea from earlier crept back up his throat, a burning sensation coating his throat. Kid must have appeared ghastly as the other male quickly back tracked.
"Although… I could convince her you were really ill." The demon sword appeared flustered as he said this, turning away halfway and scratching his chin. Kid watched eagerly, hoping he wouldn't face the witch. She would know for sure that he was not who he was supposed to be. "But," Kid's eyes raised back up to meet the other male's hardened gaze. "You owe me my favorite snacks." The taller male pointed a finger down at him, trying to appear intimidating.
"Okay…" He felt himself smile at the antics. It was as if they were siblings.
It wasn't long before Kid found himself hovering above the sink in the bathroom. The demon sword left him shortly after the bathroom encounter and explained to him - her - that he should stay inside until he got back. Not wanting to waste any time, Kid started fixing the mess of hair on the top of his head.
Thankfully, it didn't take him as long as he figured it would. Satisfaction only lasted as long as when he started to sweep up the discarded hair. After each task he completed, another one presented itself to him. Whether it was organizing the medicine cabinet, scrubbing the floor, or folding all the towels into neat squares and stacked nearby.
It only became worse as he finally exited the bathroom only to enter the room he had previously awoken in. He felt the gurgle of anxiety back in his stomach but forced it down with a newfound purpose. Surely whatever magic forced him here wanted him to help properly clean this disaster of a home. He would happily oblige.
Alas, his first obstacle was the tiny closet when he went in search of day clothes. He sorted through the sparse amount of clothes that were present and pulled together something simple but casual. He paused as he pulled off the t-shirt he was wearing when he woke, staring down at the slim figure of the person he was inhabiting. He placed a hand flush against their stomach, pinching the hipbone that was sticking out of the thin flesh.
His face fell into a deep frown. Surely Medusa wouldn't starve her own child, right? He was jumping to conclusion, obviously not comprehending the whole situation that was present. He knew nothing about the girl he was currently living as, other than a few facts. The demon sword acted as her family. Medusa was her mother. And she wielded said demon sword. From the stories he heard about the witch Medusa from his father, none were pleasant. But to starve her child, he couldn't fathom any proper parent would do that.
His hand fell to his side as those thoughts clouded his mind. Pity was the first thing he felt. He wasn't sure how long he would be in this body, but he wanted to make their life better in some form. More determined than ever, he quietly dressed and got to work.
It nearly took the whole day, but Kid managed to clean every corner of this house. He backtracked into the rest of the home and started at the entrance, making his way back to the girl's bedroom. He was in the middle of rearranging the shelves above the desk when a picture frame caught his eyes. His hand gently grasped the small frame and pulled it down from its spot.
Before him was a stilled picture of the pink haired female and the boy from before. As his eyes scanned it, he felt a small smile slip onto his face. Although the boy was obviously teasing her about something, she had on a joyful expression. She had a pleasant smile.
Cleaning away the dust that clung to the corners of the picture frame, he placed it back on the shelf, keeping it as even as he could with the rest of the trinkets and books that lined the wooden board. He finished decorating the small desk, taking a seat in the swivel chair.
He pondered for a moment, wondering if she would be confused about the way things appeared to be. A bit of guilt rested on his shoulders as he pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil. It took him longer than he would have liked to admit, but he finally wrote out a sentence that would hopefully explain how everything became organized.
He froze as he went to sign his name, feeling the door open nearby. Turning in the chair, he was met with the face of the confused demon sword. He felt himself swallow, curious as to what he was concerned about now.
"Did you… clean the house?" He asked, flabbergasted at the act Kid had committed in the pink haired female's body. Which he still didn't know the name of. His face fell slightly at that thought, wondering if she wrote it down somewhere nearby. He had been too busy cleaning to have noticed it.
"Yes…?" He answered after a few moments, hoping it wasn't a bad thing. He would be fine with it, but he didn't want the girl to be in trouble for it.
"That's new." He answered, hand lingering on the doorknob. "You sure you are feeling okay, Crona?" He asked, not hiding the concern he had for the young female. Kid perked up at the name that was spoken to him. Crona. He smiled at the thought, elated to finally know the name of the body he was occupying.
Not trusting himself with the answer Crona would have given, he nodded briskly, keeping his mouth in a thin line. The silver eyes of the man drifted toward the paper that was laid out before Kid. He instinctively covered it with one of his hands.
"What, are you planning on running away?" He asked, a tinge of hurt in his voice.
"What? No!" Kid yelped, fearing what brought that on. Did she try to run away before? He could only imagine the horrors that were presented to her if she tried to do so.
"More poetry then?" He asked, squinting his eyes at him.
"Yes…" He softly replied, turning away from the other male in hopes he would believe him. So far he was content with his one worded answers. Maybe she was quiet.
"Well, be careful where you lay it next time. Hate to see a grown man cry, again." At the tone in his voice, Kid tilted his head back to glance at him, catching the end of a smile.
Silently, the demon sword left him to his own devices, closing the door on his way out. Kid wondered if their relationship was always this good or he was only being this way because of her 'illness'.
Minutes passed as exhaustion rested on his shoulders, weighing him down. He wasn't sure if it was because her body wasn't used to such rigorous cleaning, or the fact it was hard keeping up appearances of someone you didn't know. With slow grace, he wrote out his name in his best signature. Leaving the paper on the desk, he stumbled toward the bed, curling up underneath the blankets. It was as if something was pulling him away. Although it was against his better judgement to go to bed before washing up, he couldn't fight the feeling that came over him.
His eyes closed and what felt like moments, they opened again to greet darkness. He breathed in deeply, already knowing he was in his familiar bed. Pulling himself to a sitting position, he winced at the pain that shot down his back. Reaching back, he pressed a few fingers against the back of his head. A bump laid where none should, causing a pinch of anxiety through him. What happened while he was in Crona's body?
His nose scrunched up at the question, not liking the double meaning. Choosing to ignore those thoughts, he came to a stand, casually walking to his bathroom. As the light spread out over the bathroom, one thing became apparent; he was missing his shower curtain. He stared at the empty space where it would have occupied, trying to dig through memories that weren't his own to figure out what happened.
The logical conclusion is that she fell, possibly from shock, and tore down his shower curtain. His hand idly reached upward back against the bruised spot. One of his eyebrows twitched as he wondered what other disaster she caused while here. This was the thanks he was given to the perfection he gifted her.
His mind kept reeling to the fact that she tore down his shower curtain.
48. Everyday Magic - Crona
Light crept over the leaves of the bushes and trees, casting a long shadow along the path she walked. Her pale hands gripped the fabric of her long black dress, finding some comfort in the soft material. Exhaustion wore on her as her shoulders slumped and her feet dragged. Dead leaves and twigs perished under the weight of her boots as she trudged along.
It wasn't long until the path opened up into a small garden, hidden among the trees. Releasing her dress, she raised one of her hands as she approached a hidden archway. Her slender fingers pressed into the cold material as she lingered in the entrance of the secluded garden. She peered out, blue eyes scanning what she could with the fading light.
Her eyes lit up in happiness as they landed on a dark haired figure. His back was turned away from her, perched on a nearby bench. At the confirmation of his presence, she moved forward, attempting to be quiet now. She only made a few steps before stopping again. Closing her eyes, she exhaled slowly, raising her hands palm outward. Blue pupils peeked out as her eyes dragged back open, focusing her stare at the back of his head.
Her brow pinched downward as she concentrated. The air around her tingled with power. A small wind circled her, whipping her hair gently upward. The short, pink locks floated around her, waving as she continued drawing power. Her dress ruffled only slightly, seamlessly unbothered by the energy flowing around her form. Bending the tips of her fingers inward, her hands trembled.
Her hands jerked toward each other and the power within released. A bundle of lights formed before the sitting male only to burst outward. A gasp escaped the male as he jumped back in surprise, head leaning back as he observed the balls of light around him. Gradually, the lights drifted around the small garden, casting a soft glow on everything visible.
Shakily exhaling, she dropped her arms, once more grasping the fabric of her dress. She could feel sweat slip down her neck, causing an uncomfortable feeling to linger there. A small sound of amazement left the male and she felt her lips tug up in a tiny smile. It was only a moment as he turned to face her, a giddy smile on his face.
"Crona!" At the sight of her, he came to a stand, rotating around the bench as he approached her.
"Hi Kid." She replied, staying where she was, hoping to hide the shake in her arms.
"That was beautiful." He exhaled, breathlessly.
Her cheeks flushed warm with color as he spoke. With a few long strides, he was standing in front of her. Not wasting a second, he reached out, gently taking both her hands in his warmer ones. She attempted to will away the shakes that followed if she used too much energy in one day, but ultimately failed. Her hands twitched slightly and his hands tightened around hers.
Swallowing, she gazed up at him nervously, wondering if he would scold her for such carelessness. None came, fortunately, only a loving gaze through half lidded eyes. Crona felt a shiver shoot up her spine at the raw emotion she spotted in his golden eyes.
"Crona…" Softly, he spoke, pulling one of his hands away from hers. Delicately, his fingers brushed the side of her face, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yes?" She murmured back, wondering what it was he wanted to ask.
"Let's dance." Her eyes widened in surprise, blinking up at him. That was the last thing she imagined he would say.
"What? But I can't dance…" She trailed off, averting her eyes downward. The hand he wasn't clutching, tangled itself into her dress again.
"I know." He teased, causing her to snap her eyes back to him.
Her eyes flitted around his face as she sized him up. His expression remained neutral, a tiny glint of amusement dancing behind his eyes. Sighing, she released a small 'fine', dragging her eyes downward. An excited laugh left him as he twirled away from her. With his back to her and his hand still clutching hers, he led her past the bench to the middle of the garden. She followed wordlessly, observing her dirt caked boots.
He turned back to face her, placing his free hand against her shoulder. Her eyes dragged up to study his face. The spell she cast earlier set a soft glow onto both of them. Releasing his hand, she slipped both of hers around his neck, cold fingers locking together. Kid followed suit, his hands wrapping securely around her waist. He pulled her closer, his cheek grazing the side of her head.
They moved in an awkward, clunky way. Her boots scuffed against the hard ground, dragging dirt, leaves and twigs with her. Kid on the other hand was more elegant and at ease, gently pulling her along. Embarrassed, she dropped her gaze to rest on his chest. It didn't help her that there was no music playing. In one swift movement, he stepped away, grasping one of her hands and twirling her. She stumbled around, snapping back up against him as they resumed where their hands laid before. At their movements, the lights bounced in succession to them, trailing along to their dance.
A chuckle left Kid as they shambled along, occasionally doing twists and twirls. Crona eventually gained some footing and managed to follow his movements with some grace. The longer they continued, the softer the light dimmed around them, Crona's magic waning.
Kid leaned away to stare at her, his eyes flicking around her face. She felt her mouth go into a thin line as she stared back. Sighing, he leaned forward once more. She sucked in a quick breath, her heart jumping inside of her chest as his warm forehead pressed into hers. Both their bodies came to a stop.
"Crona…" As he whispered, mint blew onto her face. "Thank you for the birthday gift." With his eyes half lidded, he beamed at her affectionately.
"It's only everyday magic." She whispered, not able to take the compliment fully.
"Yeah, but you were already exhausted from your training." He replied, angling away to get a better look at her. " I know it takes a lot out of you."
"I knew you would enjoy it, so I had to try." She felt her eyes drift close, her voice lowering.
"I love it." His forehead settled against hers once more as he tugged her flush against him. "I love you." His voice was barely audible, his nose brushing against her cheek.
"I love you too." She replied, pulling herself as close as possible as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They clung to each other in the dimming light as her magic slowly drained. It was only a few moments more until the lights faded away completely.
49. Umbrella - Kid
Rain.
On the rare occasion the sky decided to open up and have water pour from the heavens, was usually a pleasant one. At least for people who thought to pack the proper tools. Kid, being the over thinker he was, was sure to grab an umbrella on his way out of his house. Now, after dismissing Liz and Patty, stating he had to stay a bit late assisting his father, stood before the downpour.
The sky grayed with darkness, barely any light from the sun hiding behind. It didn't help that the sun was probably setting around this time. Popping open the contraption, he lifted it over his head. The damp, muggy air clung to his skin as he debated if he should set out yet. Doing a once over of himself, movement to his far left caught his attention. Raising his eyes, the slim figure of a familiar witch stood under the roof of the entrance of the school.
His mouth parted as he observed her. The humid air puffed up her pink hair, sticking it up in random places. Which would have irked him on any normal occasion, but it caused her to appear as if she just woke up. A fluttering feeling washed over him at that thought and he glanced away almost in shame. Not a moment after, a small whine left her lips, which caused Kid to glance back up at her.
She had moved, sticking her hand out to catch the raindrops that fell before her. The liquid coalesced in her palm before overflowing through her slender fingers. She pulled her hand back, a sigh leaving her lips. Kid noted she seemed distressed by the sudden downpour. Before he could stop himself, he maneuvered toward her.
"Kid?" She raised her pink head, catching sight of him before he made it to her side.
"Crona, were you going somewhere?" He asked once he approached. He acted indifferent at the way her plump lips parted at his question.
"Uh… I was. But…" She trailed off, averting her eyes upward to the stream of rain. He kept his gaze focused on her face as she did so.
"You can borrow my umbrella." He blurted before he even thought about it. Surprised, she jerked her wide eyes to his.
"What? But I couldn't… shouldn't intrude!" She squeaked, pressing her hands together. She pinched one of her fingers, staring at him.
"It really is no problem." He stepped closer to her. "Here." In defiance to her no, he held out the umbrella toward her, tipping it in her direction.
She simply stared at him with wide, doe like eyes. Her cheeks were colored pink as she hesitated to grab the handle. A whirlwind of emotion swirled through him as he stood there, offering the protection from the rain to her. He kept his face as neutral as he could as her cold fingers grazed his warmer ones. For a second, as he released the handle, his hand cupped hers before pulling back and hanging limp at his side. His hand curled into a fist. Crona awkwardly stood there, clutching the umbrella in both her hands as she stared down at him.
"Thank you…" She murmured, bowing slightly. He gave her a small nod as she stepped into the rain, umbrella raised above her. It covered the top part of her body.
As she walked away, he mentally cursed himself as to why he wouldn't have just offered to walk her to her destination. He pressed a hand against his face, eyes closing in frustration at his foolhardiness. He was so eager to solve her problem, that he didn't see a better solution right in front of him. Well, maybe his father would have a spare umbrella.
Before he could decide on a plan of action, the soft voice of Crona drifted over to him. He peeled his eyes open, blinking at her through the rain. She had turned around and was walking back, a worried expression on her face.
"Let's walk together…" She whispered, the rhythmic sound of raindrops puttering against the nylon material of the umbrella almost muting her. He couldn't believe it. His eyes widened as she raised her gaze to his, fidgeting with the handle. "You can drop me off at Maka's place. I'm sure she will have a spare umbrella for my trip back." She explained, hastily sputtering out the last sentence.
"Okay… sounds like a plan." He smiled warmly at her, suddenly glad for her indecisive nature. The corners of her mouth raised up in a small smile.
He stepped forward, his arm brushing against Crona's as they pressed together to stay dry. She naturally held the umbrella as she was the taller one of the two. They proceeded down the steps of the school and eventually found their way to the street. Their journey was mostly kept in silence as they walked. Faint sounds of city life peeked out from behind the rhythm of the rain as it beat into the ground around them.
A calm spread over him as he enjoyed the silent company of Crona. He peered at her from behind his eyelashes, trying to appear inconspicuous as he did. Most of the time she kept her eyes forward, staring off in the distance. Her cheeks were dusted with a thin layer of pink. His heart pounded in his chest with each brush of the arm against each other. He idly wondered if she was feeling the same as he was.
Too quickly for his liking, they arrived down the street where Maka and Soul lived. Maybe he imagined it, but Crona's pace slowed as they approached the door to their sandy haired friend's home. They both came to a complete stop only a few paces away from the entrance. The rain had slowed down to a drizzle by the time they arrived.
Crona twisted to stare down at him, a smile on her face. She shifted until she was facing him, holding out the handle of the umbrella toward him. "Here..." She whispered, her voice barely audible between them. Shakily, he reached up and gently grasped the end of the handle. The tips of his fingers ghosted over hers as she released it.
"Thank you, Kid." Her voice was still soft as she spoke, gazing at him with gratitude.
"Anytime, Crona." He whispered back, fearing that speaking and louder would break this spell that was cast over them on the way here.
She took a few steps back, ducking under the brim of the umbrella. She walked toward the door, giving it a firm knock. A few seconds passed and Maka's head poked out with a friendly smile. Kid gave a nod of acknowledgement as Maka waved toward him. The sandy haired female disappeared back inside. Crona's slender form paused at the door, tilting her head to gaze back at him.
He raised his head up, taking in the beauty that she was. A warm glow back lighted her form as she smiled tenderly at him. His heart leapt into his throat at the softness that she was exhibiting. If she wanted to murder him on the spot, she was well on her way. Face flushed, he smiled back as warmly as he could. Her eyes squinted for a moment before she raised her hand and gave a small wave. Then her body disappeared into the safety of Maka's home, the door locking behind her.
He exhaled, shoulders immediately slumping now that he was out of the eye of Crona. He staggered backward, pressing his free hand into his hair. Although it was warmer earlier, the night was bringing a cool breeze through the drizzling rain. It shot through his under dressed attire for this type of weather, but he ignored it. The fire of attraction was stronger inside as he strolled back down the street.
His hand fell toward his chest, where he covered where his heart would be. He flattened his hand over it, willing it to slow. He never understood the feelings that arose within him so fiercely when he was in the presence of his pink haired friend.
His hand tightened around the grip of the umbrella.
50. Party - Crona
Plastic shifted between her fingers as she peeled it away from the plastic cups it was concealing. Moments later, she tossed the plastic wrapping into the nearby trash can. The cups were joined shortly by matching papers plates and napkins. Taking her time, she arranged them to where both sides of the clothed table had equal amounts of each item. Her hands moved as if this was an act she practiced in her sleep.
She took one step back to get the full view of the table, blue eyes scanning over each stack of items. Without a sound, she pushed the right side of plates a little further to the left with a single finger. As she examined the table, she rested her thin hands against her swollen stomach, lost in thought.
Her body jerked upward at a loud noise emitting from somewhere behind her. It was followed shortly by a whine from a familiar voice. Turning to face where she believed it came from, she pressed a hand against her mouth. Even as she covered her lips, her laugh was hard to cover at the sight before her.
The nearby stepping stool was toppled over and partially covered by a long banner. The large canvas of paper shifted to reveal the dark head of her beloved. Golden hues gazed up at her from behind dark eyelashes, a hand tossing back the banner in disgust.
"Are you okay?" She asked, amusement clear in each syllable that left her lips. Her body leaned forward, but stopped at the realization she couldn't. Instead, she held out one of her hands, offering a semblance of help toward the male.
"I'm fine…" He grumbled, clearly not so mood wise.
He examined her hand, glancing up at her in question. His eyes landed on her stomach and closed them in thought. He ignored her hand, pulling himself to a stand on his own. Not taking it to heart, she stepped up to him, pressing her thin fingers against his shirt. Her hand moved on its own, dusting off invisible dirt that may have lingered there after his fall. He assisted her, swiping at his arms and pants legs after close examination.
"I did say I could help." She replied, her fingers lingering at his shoulder.
"You can't!" He exclaimed, snapping his head in her direction. "You are in no state to." He further explained, gently pressing his hand against her stomach.
"I'm pregnant...not helpless." She replied, tightening her hand against his shoulder. His brows pinched together and his lips pulled down into a frown as he helplessly stared at her. "How did you fall?" She sighed, faltering at the sight of him.
"I was trying to lean back to see if it was even…" He trailed off, averting his eyes from hers as embarrassment flared up on his cheeks. Ever the perfectionist.
"The least I can do then is to stand back here." She took a step backwards as she spoke. "And inform you if it is straight." She finished, bringing her hands back against her stomach as if to display she was in no danger.
Crona offered him a small smile as he observed her. Reluctantly, he agreed with a sigh, setting the step stool back to an upright position. This was a small victory against the overbearing male. She bounced on her feet a little, swaying back and forth in a small dance of triumph. As she enjoyed herself, Kid positioned himself back onto the steps, holding up the banner as far as he could. She dragged her blue eyes from one side of the banner to the other where Kid hovered with a nail and hammer.
"A little higher." As she spoke, Kid followed her orders, shifting the paper upwards.
Squinting, she made an attempt to determine if it was straight enough for the likes of him or not. Idly, she rubbed the top of her stomach. Kid's dark head moved, glancing over his shoulder down at her. Giving a warm smile, she raised her hand, pinching together her pointer and thumb to indicate it looks good. Satisfied with her approval, he hammered the banner in place, making sure to keep the noise to a minimum.
"Let's see how well your eyes are." Kid teased, moving back down the stool and to her side. As he approached, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She followed his movements, leaning her body against his thin frame. Crona felt herself grimace, the banner itself could have been worded better than 'Death's Baby Shower'. After a moment of observation, he gave a sound of approval, pressing his lips against the side of Crona's head.
"I told you I could help." A coy smile slipped onto her face as she gave him a side eyed glance.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you, love." He murmured into her hair, wrapping his other arm around her now as he enveloped her into a hug. She graciously accepted the affection, snaking her arms around his waist.
"I forgive you." She replied, burying her face into his shoulder, inhaling the sweet scent of his cologne.
They stayed huddled together, enjoying each other's warmth for as long as they could. Kid, although he was holding her tight, kept as much pressure as possible off of her stomach. It brought a pleasant feeling to swarm within her at the fact he took precautions when it came to her pregnancy. She focused on a nearby table behind him, burying her nose against his shoulder.
"I'm nervous." Her voice sounded so small compared to the silence of the mostly empty room.
"Of the party?" He asked, rubbing circles against her back.
"No…" She whispered, pressing her forehead into his shoulder now, hiding away from the world now.
"I'll be there with you." It didn't seem possible, but he drew her even closer to his body, cradling her body firmly. She bit her lip in worry about what the future would take them.
After a moment, he pulled away, bringing his hands to cup the sides of her face. He tenderly held her there, keeping her gaze toward him. His eyes held a softness she always adored about him. He was always kind and gentle with her, despite what fears she expressed.
"We shouldn't linger any longer, we have guests arriving soon." He spoke, a soothing tone weaving itself into his words. She closed her eyes momentarily, enjoying the few moments they would have like this. At least until all their friends and family dispersed. She decided she would have fun, if not for her, then for Kid. And the baby. Her hands dropped from his sides and back onto her stomach, feeling comforted by the fact that they were there; whoever their child would be.
Her eyes peeled open as she felt another pair of hands join hers. Kid had released her face and was now cradling her stomach, rubbing his thumbs against it. As she lowered her hands to his, she gave them a tiny squeeze of reassurance; in case he needed it as she did.
At the sound of the doorbell, they both jumped in surprise. It took only a moment as they recovered and both adorn a welcoming smile.