Two Years Ago

Approximately Arc 8: The Successful Loop

A roar like thunder exploded beyond the shadowy, dark ceiling. The world itself seemed to shake under the footsteps of a god, followed by grunt and snarl and fists on flesh, every one dusting Petra with sand. The ceiling groaned, the battle raged, Big Brother Garf furied. He was so strong—and cool, when he wanted to be. Meanwhile, Petra could barely stand.

She could barely survive these things.

Unable to get herself out of danger without needing someone to save—"Petra! There you are!"

That voice, the worried cry of her name, was at once a song in her heart and a thunderstorm to bog it down. Petra winced away in shame as hurried feet skidded to a stop before her. "Jeez, you really get around, kid! It's so hard to find you sometimes. But I guess Garf going ham up there re-lit your fire."

Subaru always found Petra.

Always.

He was always coming to her rescue. He always saw her as an equal—before anyway. Before she proved how much of a kid she was, once again. "I'm sorry…"

"Petra? Hey—"

She sat upright, away from the comforting embrace she wanted and didn't deserve. "I'm sorry, Subaru," Petra managed. "I only cause you trouble. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that all I do is… is cause you trouble, Subaru!" she cried, the big baby. People were dying somewhere, probably, and Petra was just…

"Y-you should just—"

"Bull-shit, I'm leaving you to die! Do you have any idea what you're saying?!" Subaru took a breath, calmer despite the sandy cracks splitting above the ceiling. "Listen, Petra… I'm sorry, too. Okay?" What was he apologizing for? Subaru took a knee, getting to Petra's level with a hand on his heart. "I'm sorry I didn't properly respond to your confession earlier. You see, I'm not used to things like that. Especially when they're coming from somebody I care about. I froze up, and I played it off as a joke in front of everyone. That was a really insulting, messed-up thing to do. I dunno what I can do to make it up to you," Subaru croaked, to Petra's stunned silence, "but, please! Please, give me the chance to do so, Petra!"

He was really aching over how much of a child she's been. Shame ravaged hot up and down Petra's body. "O-oh, that silly little thing? I-it's not so big a deal, really—"

"It's not silly! These are your feelings we're talking about!"

Always such a hero. "But it's just like you said, Subaru. You're right. I am just a kid." This clearly pained Subaru; he hated having to hurt Petra, then and now. But it was their reality that hurt her, not him. "I have no idea… about Subaru Natsuki. I have no idea… what he likes and dislikes. What makes him laugh, or why he laughs so hard. Why he's like this, laughing while greeting every morning after a sleep full of nightmares. Nothing. I don't know anything about Subaru. Not like Emilia does, or Betty, or Sister Rem or Sister Ram—"

"And that was totally my fault!"

Petra was too surprised to think of a comeback: why was Subaru taking so much responsibility for a child's love?

"I should've made a better effort of getting to know you, too," Subaru explained, the shaking above hastening his words. "Most of those guys you mentioned, Petra? They—! Th-they love me despite how messed-up I am; how, even though I lie about what I dream about, they're still ready and willing to fight by my side."

"Even Sister Rem?" Before this attack started, Rem had tried and failed to bury the hatchet with Subaru. Her courage inspired Petra to be just as mature, and…

And look where that's got me.

Subaru finally moved, sighing. "Sister Rem's got her own feelings to sort through, just like all of us. But that's not the point! She doesn't matter to me as much as you do right now! You're like—!" Subaru gulped, gazing off to the side with the reddest face. Adorable. "You're like a sister to me, Petra. M'sorry."

His weakness hurt; he had no reason to be so apologetic. "Why's something so nice a thing to feel bad about?"

"Because…! Because… I know it hurts you, too." He told this to the balled fist against his knee. "I know it hurts to always look at that distance between yourself and another; someone you admire, someone you wanna notice you the exact same way. I know how gross and petty that feels, and I know how… irresistible it is, that urge to lose out on reason and good sense, to the point where you feel your own life will prove that you're worth their notice at the very least! It's offensive… and abusive. Manipulative. It all-around sucks," Subaru sighed. "It sucks to be a child when it comes to love, Petra. Believe me. I know painfully well." He donned a smile, one that was weak and full of pain, but wholeheartedly honest. Petra's heart soared. "And yet, I'm alive. And because I'm alive, I'm learning more about love everyday. Everyday, I'm learning about what she actually expects of me and wants, and it's the same in reverse. We learn what pushes each other's buttons, so that we do it when it's safe to laugh and be laughed at! Y'know what I mean?"

Only that Subaru could smile and persevere—like a grownup would. He was silly and weird, but a man through and through. "I can't believe Emilia's scolding in front of everyone actually got through to you."

A cute, awkward laugh. "Y-yeah, among other things…" Subaru shook his head. "Petra, I'm going to ask you for an awful and selfish request. Are you willing to hear me out?"

She laughed; she had to laugh. Subaru was always so cool and calm in times like these, when it mattered most. "I guess if there's no promises attached, I'll give a listen. Sure."

He took her hand as though proposing. "Petra Leyte, will you be my friend?"

Something stirred within. "Wh-what?" It was strange enough to spark apprehension. Weren't they already—?

"Please, I'd love to become your friend for real, Petra. Even though you have a crush on me, and even though you know I can't reciprocate… and even though it'll probably hurt as badly as it does Rem… I'm asking that you stay by my side, Petra. You're too precious to me, I wouldn't wanna cut you out of my life. But I don't want this to be the end of our days together 'cause of this pain you're feeling now, so, please! Please, teach me more about Petra Leyte, and I promise I'll do my best to help you love the real Subaru Natsuki! Or hate," he chirped, desperately. "It's really up to you. It's your choice. All I want is for us to start over, and love one another like adults do."

Snorts spilled into Petra's hand, her attempt to quickly smother them. "Subaru, that's such a nasty thing to say to a little girl."

"Th-that came out wrong! It was in the heat of the moment! Just, please, don't repeat any of it to Mili or Ram. Or Frederica! Especially not her."

"Don't worry! I won't tell a soul!" Laughter continued in waves, the warmth washing over and throughout Petra again and again. That's right, Petra thought. Nobody needs to know about this. It'll be our precious moment, mine and Subaru's, restarting from square one.

"That, of course, means no suicidal hero games. "

Petra blanched at that familiar condescension. "I wasn't planning on any—!"

"You were." Subaru's eyes were no longer friendly, but not harsh either. "I know you that much Petra, c'mon. And I'm pullin' the plug on 'em now: I won't have you going off on some stupid mission to play the hero. It's an irresponsible use of your life."

Petra flushed, feeling painfully transparent. "Funny, coming from you, Subaru."

"Yeah, well." Subaru stood tall, a smile on his face. "I hate myself, Petra. That's one of the first things you oughta know about your hero!"

It was so sudden and scary that Petra didn't know how else to feel but apprehensive. Subaru had no reason to think so little of himself… but what did she know about how he felt?

"Thankfully, I got lovely people like you that make me give juuust a bit more of a damn." Subaru was grinning now, so hard his eyes squeezed shut. "So keep yourself alive, Petra! Or else I'll hate myself even more!"

His laughter was a more painful song now in Petra's heart. "How… how else can I help?"

"By sticking by my side, of course. I need you there, just as much as I need you to watch my literal back as we cross this deathtrap of a city."

Petra couldn't hide her wonder, but she smothered it with an affirming nod. She was actually going to be able to help Subaru after all!

"I won't fail," she said. "I promise. I've gotten really good at making ice spears thanks to Emilia and Big Sis Rem."

Subaru ruffled her hair. "I know, I know. You're far from incapable in combat. Not like yours truly, who's minus a loli right now. So, you'll be my backup loli!"

"Don't call me something so ugly and strange, Subaru!"

"Ha! Noted." He didn't wave her off, and he ruffled her hair again—like a brother would, but one who finally saw how much his sister had grown up. That's how it felt now, anyway. "Don't worry, Petra." Subaru's voice, his smile, his bright and life-loving eyes all sparkled. "You save me every day, just by being here with me. One day, I'm sure you'll understand what I mean by that. One day, you're gonna know that you rescued me a long time ago."

Petra understood not the feeling but what he meant; he knew of the useless emptiness swallowing her from the inside. It hadn't gone away, but for the first time since confessing, Petra felt as though it could.

She chose to trust Subaru, just as Petra always had.

Two Years Later…

Daphne wanted to know of the base, instinctive desire which drove Subaru to throw his lonely self into the jaws of the Witch of Gluttony. At least, that's what he deciphered from his rusty "Gluttonese;" it's been a few years since last dealing with one of these obtuse bastards.

As such, Subaru didn't allow himself to think twice, not even about this insane, sudden reality: "To save everyone I care about from horrible, pointless pain."

"Ahhh," Daphne exhaled, almost laughing, "a tale as old as I am, maybe even longer if we're being open-minded~"

Subaru felt she was referring to the Witches' Tea Party from three years ago. "Yeah, yeah, I don't learn my lessons. Sue me. I'm only human." He sat up, propping her torso against the half-opened sliding door.

"No one does!" said Daphne, stumps shooting upright. "Nobody learns! Not until it's too late."

"In my defense, ya aren't making it particularly easy to just… ask everyone to let themselves be tortured by you guys."

Daphne's grin dropped entirely. "Ah. So Sekhmet finds her resolve. Or, it would be more accurate to say, she's truly lost her patience."

Sekhmet had been particularly curt and upset. Subaru thought her to be a cold killing machine, which she was, but…

There was actual thought behind their actions: that was no longer a theory, but a fact. Daphne talking to him like this should have proved this sooner, but…

Chills wracked Subaru's arms and spine. "Holy shit." He couldn't breathe, not easily. "H-holy—I-I mean, th-this shouldn't be that surprising. I kinda had a feeling this whole time, but… So you guys aren't really zombies?" They were in full control?

Daphne's head cocked. "Whassat?"

"Err, undead who slaughter the living en masse."

"Hmm. I suppose that I am, if that's the case."

"N-not the point!" Subaru took a breath, collecting himself. "Okay. So, my actual point: what the hell is going on?"

Daphne yawned demonically. "Tell me about it." She smacked her lips like a sleepy elder god with that voice. "I don't really know what Chid-Chid's endgame is myself, if she's submitting or…"

That. 'Submitting.' That's exactly what Subaru was talking about. It was maddening. "Why?" he snarled, confused by it all. "Why do you all keep acting so goddamn reluctant before doing some of the absolute worst shit to my friends?!"

What lesson were they trying to teach with all this pain? With this reveal, the Witches' Tea Party felt startlingly more relevant than it had the past two loops.

"I mean, don'cha also think it's kinda sad?" Daphne wasn't smiling. "You just wanna keep your people safe and happy. We all understand that."

"Clearly." They took sadistic glee in ensuring safety was Subaru's top concern.

"Take it from someone with a brainless, selfish desire herself, Subarun: to satisfy this is at once easy and impossible. I understand the agony, being denied a solution to such a simple formula. Indeed I do. If Sekhmet really isn't pulling her punches once it's time, then it must be quite the challenge to preserve the well-being of your inner circle while also tryna keep them happy. Such is the essence of gluttony! Too selfish by its nature to permit multitasking, or thought of any kind beyond the basest of the base desire—!"

"You think their happiness is one of my top priorities?" More than saying that, it hurt to hear Daphne gasp softly; even the monster was shocked by the hero. "I know myself, and I know I'll break at the seams if I agonize over everything I say to them on every loop."

If only Subaru could take his own advice to heart, his seams breaking with every one that died in vain.

"I can't worry about my friends right now," Subaru told himself aloud. "I'd like to put them through as little pain as possible. At least until I figure out your deal. Which brings me back to my original question, Daphne: again, what the hell?"

"Who do I look like, Chid-Chid?" Daphne giggled.

"Well, forgive me for being as confused as ever around you. Why are you even talking to me?"

Daphne frowned. "I dunno," she chirped, double-voice echoing. "Why are you talking to me, Subarun?" Daphne continued as Subaru blanched, stunned by the simple question. "I don't mean to find answers, obviously. What I mean is, I'm sure I've done some pretty nasty stuff to your friends. And yet, you're talking to me as if we're old friends having a normal conversation. Everything about this is weird. Makes my tummy feel weird… Ah," Daphne exhaled, grinning suddenly. "But I suppose that's how you've always been, Subarun."

"Don't flatter yourself. The only reason I'm not dunking you in the cistern is because I want some answers."

"Interesting. And what's your plan for when I don't feel like giving any?"

"You're giving me plenty with every response so far." Daphne choked. That just made this whole situation even stranger. "Where're the others, anyway?"

"Oh, they wanted to see what you would do. So! We let you find me~"

Subaru wanted to laugh. Of course they were watching the capital—or perhaps the castle—like hawks. Minerva and possibly Sekhmet, too, could travel the land easily and inconspicuously with those identity-obscuring cloaks. It was like dealing with the Gospel again: any change in what they anticipated acted as a signal flare of Subaru taking action in response to their attack.

Echidna… Just what are you up to? Why are you doing this?!

"Okay," Subaru sighed, growling. "Alright, if word games are what we'll play, that's fine. You can be vague, cryptic, whatever. Either way, you're coming with me back in pieces. I'll have Beatrice squeeze you for all you're worth." At least, then, they could learn more about their enemy's physiology.

"I can easily defend myself in this state." Daphne smiled, her teeth big and threatening. "Or have you forgotten what occurred just a minute ago?"

"Okay, sure. You can hurt me but not kill me. I figured that was—"

"What makes you think I can't kill you?" Her tone was a threat.

Subaru held fast. "Because you chose not to even hurt me."

Daphne's hanging jaw staggered. Subaru could only think of a contrast then and there: a big smile towards his vow to eliminate the Great Rabbit. "Oh?" she said at last.

"What?"

"What?"

"What was that reaction?" Subaru cried. "And you stopped attacking when you realized it was me like a switch was flipped or something! What's with you?!"

"Well, that's simple. I just don't wanna hurt ya!"

"Because Echidna asked you not to?"

Daphne yawned. "Chid-Chid just wants you to contract."

"...Ha." So that was really it, huh? It was as simple and horrible as that. Until now, Subaru had denied the possibility because of how pointless it seemed from Echidna's perspective, but now?

"Did you already learn this, Subarun?"

He shook his head, unable to help but grin. "Always had a feeling she wasn't through with me… That complete bitch of a Witch!" Subaru snarled.

"That's not very nice," said Daphne. "It's not like Chid-Chid wants to hurt ya either."

Subaru barked out laughter. "What, is she a mud monster, too?!"

"'Mud?' I don't know what you're talking about," Daphne purred like she totally did. "This is my body. My flesh as it was four-hundred years ago."

Nonsense. A Witch's mad ramblings. How deep does this horror movie go? No, Subaru refused to believe Echidna wasn't the one pulling the strings. She clearly planned this slaughter. "Where's she hiding, anyway? If Echidna wants to talk, I'd be more than happy to hear her out, at least. No need for all this pointless dying!"

"Chid-Chid is in a separate location, awaiting your willing cooperation." Daphne tried rubbing her chin, only to wriggle a stump in front of her. "Although, it looks like she has it. Subarun, why aren't you seeing Chid-Chid?"

"I don't know. You ask me."

"But I did." Daphne un-tilted her head. "Sorry, Subarun. I don't know as much as the others—all I know is that, if Daphne's out, then it's time to feed." She grinned wide, but Subaru suddenly didn't feel threatened by its clacking, uttering the words, "This is an unusual break, but I find that I don't dislike it. Talking with Subarun always makes my belly a little bit satisfied."

"You guys are even more incomprehensible than back at the Tea Party. And I think even the last two loops." Subaru gave a laugh, then laughed some more. He was so in over his head—and not just him, his suicidally loyal friends and their versions of "helping" him. Now, apparently, the ones tormenting them were just as lost.

None of this made any sense.

No. Subaru balled his fist tight around his despair. There's a reason all this is happening. There always is. Don't get overly emotional now. His only job was to keep following the trail; move forward, like Emilia and Crusch had advised. "Daphne," said Subaru, startling her a little, "how come you… don't want to hurt me? How come you feel bad for me, if you're still willing to hurt me and my friends?"

Daphne frowned, an actual one this time. "I don't know, Subarun. I don't know why I want to eat your friends specifically, but at least, when it comes to you, all I can say is… that I like talking with you, Subarun. I haven't had a normal conversation with someone outside of my sisters in over three years, and four-hundred before that." She yawned, echoing ghostly throughout the cistern's chamber, over its churning waters. "My belly feels weird, and it's not just hungry either."

Subaru denied the way his heart panged for this confused creature. Their situation was chillingly familiar. "The only thing I'm understanding here is that you all got a choice. You're clearly choosing to act as you do, talk the way you have to myself and my friends. But… not to attack? Your hand's being forced? I dunno. And I've been wracking my brain, trying to understand the deeper meaning to it all… But you really just made it so simple, Daphne. And stupid: you're actors with cheap special effects. Which means, I wanna know your director's vision. In other words, don't spend another line of dialogue fucking around with me: if you really like me, then help me! What the hell are you guys doing here, and what the hell does Echidna want?!"

Daphne's mouth made an 'o.' "Subarun, I'm wonderin', how many times have we encountered one another since the Witches' Tea Party?"

He gasped, shaking. "Since Sanctuary? This's our third loop."

"H'ah. Wow. You've come this far so quickly; even distanced yourself from your friends instead of being half-assed like back then." It was the first time he heard her cuss.

"Oh, I'm still only half an ass," he replied without thinking.

"What a waste. You should portion yourself more evenly, Subarun. The whole of you is like a three course dinner, friends included. I think you deserve to be delicious to your fullest potential."

"Are we still talking about my personality, or are you just hungry?"

"Hee-hee, both!~"

Subaru almost cracked a smile; that's how messed up he's become since meeting Daphne all those years ago, when her every word confounded and horrified him. "You're so weird, Daph."

"'Daph?' If anyone's peculiar here, it's you, Subarun!" Her grin receded to a small smile. "And yet, you've always treated us with the basest of respect, as befitting one capable of thought interacting with another. Even now, in a nightmare such as this. So, thanks for that, Subarun."

Her weak, layered voice ached in a way Subaru hated. This was a monster who'd killed Petra, and devoured Frederica and Ram horribly the loop before. There were hundreds more, probably, between the two loops, and thousands over the course of four-hundred years thanks to her crimes. Subaru had zero right to treat Daphne respectfully, if not for the scores of names he didn't know, then the pain she'd put his beloved maids through.

And yet, Subaru couldn't deny the part of him that did, despite all this, treat Daphne like she was a person.

"I have no idea why I'm like this," he said. "Don't try twisting my head, though, thinking it's something more than what it is: gratitude for saving me back at the Sanctuary, and… I guess, I'm just realizing, some mangled version of sympathy for right now."

Daphne grinned. "You dare? I'm intrigued~"

"I mean, it's not that big a deal. I get what it's like to be trapped in a hell you didn't choose. And that's what it's looking like."

Shock, an emotion that wasn't perverted, overwrote Daphne's face.

Daphne was a person with emotions, clear as day. Just like Satella, however twisted, was a person capable of compassion. And Echidna, for all her sociopathy, granted him mercy in overcoming her own twisted scheme.

Nothing made sense: him, the Witches, this setup, none of it. "I just don't understand why Echidna would be doing all this again." To Daphne's curious grunt, Subaru explained, "If Echidna was fine giving up before, why is she going out of her way this time? And why help her?"

"I don't know," Daphne sighed, trailing into another yawn. "It's hard, staying awake… All I understand is that we don't have a choice in the matter. Same wagon as Subarun..."

And then the Witch of Gluttony went ramrod-straight, all of her limbs—the nubs beneath her black dress of a cloak, too—splaying outwards. Her nostrils flaring, gulping all the air in the cistern as Subaru felt eyes on his back at the exact same time.

Subaru whirled, on his feet.

Across the whirlpool, failing to hide behind the corner of a corridor in time, was a dress whose whites stood out in the shadows just as much as her head of orange hair.

"P-P-Petra?!"

"Food."

Subaru was already running. "PETRAAA?!"

"HUNGEE!" Flopping flesh dogged his sprint.

Petra's body looked ready to run. "S-Subaru, who is—?!"

"Petra, what the fuck?!" He scooped the wincing girl in a bridal carry as he passed her by, a frantic squelching writhing near his heels. Petra gave a short, sharp "eek;" it was glued to his shadow for several jerks of the dank corridor, a pointless branching to the left. All the while, an occasional twang sang from Petra's palm, her dismayed growls and Daphne's excitable grunts following each indicating their effectiveness, if not the rhythmic shattering of ice.

"S-Subaru—?"

They were going to die again. "What the hell, you damn teenager?!" he panted frantically—running, talking, breathing, thinking, everything. "Who in their right mind let you come down—?!"

"Subaru, she's getting closer!"

"DAMN IT!" Subaru collapsed to his knees, the metal pads sparking on the stone as he gathered Petra's legs, tucking her into him as he curled himself around her. She yelped, crushed, but—If Daphne doesn't wanna hurt me, then I won't let her lay a hand on Pet—! Boiling hot, cauterizing agony cleaved through Subaru's bicep; jerking away from the pain, there was a tear, and stone slapped with a spray of blood.

Subaru screamed horribly, Petra—underarm, clinging to his straps—wailing apologetically.

Daphne munched on Subaru's arm like a celery stick, laughing between bites all the while. It burned, it hurt. He was going to die like this, idiotically.

Petra's snotty, wailing cries of "Huma!" cut through him, Daphne in the corner of her eye vaulting side to side every time. Seating Petra with his forearm, Subaru screamed as he poured the pain into power for his legs. "Damn it!" It hurt. "Damn it, damn it!" He wanted to die. "Damn it ALL!" Petra needed to live. He couldn't let her be eaten alive.

The first door—the first potential haven—that came up, Subaru took it, throwing himself through and then shut against it. The slam cut down the energy and the horrific, wet echo of Daphne's torso lunging after them, snarls whipping hungrily in layers of reverb. Now they were muffled, and getting closer.

What could Subaru do to save Petra?

"What can you possibly do to save her, boy?" Sekhmet had asked—she'd her senses when wondering that.

"'P-power of Water, heal this damaged body.'" A blue glow warmed the gore blazing with hot spikes up Subaru's arm. He was sure the only reason he wasn't screaming right now was adrenaline. "Heal this damaged body, heal this damaged body, please-please-please… please, heal him. Heal Subaru…" The water-like glow that warmed Petra's quivering, determined features suddenly darkened with a collapse, a gasp for breath.

A sob. "Subaru," Petra croaked, "m'so sorry."

"Petra."

"M'sorry—"

"Hey, Petra." She lifted her weary, soaked face. "Hullo~" Subaru wriggled his stump, painless, as though he'd been used to it for weeks.

She gave a weak giggle-snort, but a giggle-snort all the same. "The heck, Subaru?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Now that he's calmed her down. "Petra—wh-whoever, else, too… why? What are you doing here? Do we at least have backup coming?!"

"N-no..." Petra grasped the orange braid on her shoulder, throwing it back. "It's just me. And it's way more complicated than this, but, Subaru, we're worried about you! I'm worried about you! You were actin' weird this morning—!"

"That's no excuse, Petra! That's no reason to put yourself in danger! Are you serious?! I thought you let go of tryna be my hero!" At least on the battlefield: that's what the successful loop seemed to ensure, anyway, on top of letting the lovestruck child down like an adult rather than a teenager. "Petra—"

Her glare whipped up to meet him. "This's way bigger than something silly like that! Clearly! Subaru, how couldja think to deal with crazy monsters without any of the others?!

"Or the Knights of Lugnica?!" Petra snarled, eyes flashing wetly. "You're okay with being tortured by that thing?! Seriously?! What the—what is wrong with you, Subaru?!"

"Because the others are adults who understand when something messy needs getting done!"

"Funny coming from you. Are ya really so scared of us 'getting messy' that you don't think Emilia coulda helped?"

"Petra—!"

"Mind you, I'm not the one who gave his arm for a 'dumb teenager.'"

"And I'm running out of them. You got a plan, hero?"

"I didn't even know what your deal was until a minute ago. I couldn't believe you were actually ready to give yourself like that."

"You didn't see all the Knights standing around?" She must have snuck into the sewer through another entrance; something they wouldn't be guarding, like a storm drain

"I did, in fact. Good lot they are, up there and not down here, saving us."

It was a bad look for Subaru. He almost had no right to scold her. "I was about to get some answers until you showed up, Petra."

"Yeah. I realized that when it was too late." She gazed guiltily off to the side, but fixed Subaru with her glare once more. "All the more reason, Subaru: what was your big plan? Did you not care about living or dying, so long as it saved everyone? Is that why Betty was being so weird and vague about all this?!" Tears came with the rising of her tone. "How could you do this to her? To us?!"

I could do it because you all are kinda hypocrites. But Subaru understood her pain, and he hated it. "And if that's the case, so what? So what?! It's my call as the king, not yours, a maid!"

Petra held fast, wincing from his harshness. "I knew I was probably gonna die here." Fear was firmly contained in her glare, radiating it. "I knew there was a good chance I wasn't gonna see Meili or the others again… but I also knew, there was an even higher chance of me regretting this for the rest of my life if I let you go and do something crazy alone!"

"Petra…" Did she even hear herself? "Petra, this kinda thinking isn't right. You're just throwing your life away—"

"As if you're any better?! Don't make me laugh!" Her voice cracked, then her shoulders throbbed with gasping sobs. "I can't believe you, Subaru. I can't believe you're still… just so ready to die… "

Petra's voice weighed with guilt; she tried with all her might to keep it contained, to herself. Trying not to make it about her. Petra understood that it wasn't her fault Subaru felt this way, but her heart believed she'd failed him all the same. He understood her that much.

Subaru wondered how much she understood Meili. She must have a better idea than he did before the checkpoint.

The metal against Subaru's back boomed and shook; he threw his arm and body in front of the shrieking Petra, but everything seemed frozen in time.

And then, a low, cat-like growl—a throaty whine layered with a demon's groan. A whine that lashed out in a scream of frustration, another slam on the door. Subaru and Petra winced at once, but all stilled again.

"Stop talkin' Subarun… M'so hungry… Please don't make this sadder than it already is, it's been centuries since I've eaten—!"

"I'm not about to take sympathy on someone tryna kill us, Daph! C'mon!"

"Right," Daphne exhaled with a laugh. "I guess that makes sense."

Of course it made sense. It was only natural.

"Subaru, scooch over a sec." He did, just to see what Petra was up to, and found her hands in a dark, wet stain on the stone. She breathed in deep, and out, and, "Huma." The dampness slickened, cracking as the sheen crept by, growing towards the door, under it.

Only then did he realize the pipes above—dozens of them, feeding from the streets and bending towards the cistern several halls down, through the wall. Petra was getting her hands dirty in wastewater.

The invisible effort was released with a gasp, whatever she'd done on the other side of the door accomplished. Or so Subaru thought, a cackle hissing beyond it.

"I can break out of this ice easily, Petra," said Daphne.

"I'm sure you can—Daph, was it?" Waddling on her knees, Petra laid her palms and cheek against the door. "Daph, I know you're really hungry right now. So hungry that it's making you mad, I bet. I get that way, too! Subaru calls it 'hangry.'"

A soft laugh. "I wish I could take that with me. It's a good one."

"A-and I know you're only like this, because, because I blundered in on your talk with Subaru like an idiot. I'm sorry about that! I really am!"

"...Your ignorance is dangerously spotty, but… you're kind, Petra."

She smiled as though she'd done something to change this situation. "Daphne, I can tell you like Subaru. I can tell you didn't wanna hurt him. But if you hurt me, then Subaru's gonna be really sad. He probably won't forgive himself! So… I know this is asking for a lot, but could you please let us go just this once?"

Was Petra for real?

"I don't know if I could do that, Petra." Was Daphne serious, too?!

"But you held back from hurting Subaru!" Petra cried. "And if you don't wanna hurt him, and try with all your might for as long as you can, then there's a chance you can save him from being hurt even longer!"

"Petra—" She violently shrugged him off. "This's pointless," he hissed.

"It's worth a shot," she whispered back.

"You might only have a few seconds, Petra." To those words, they both went statue-stiff. "I promise you, this ice will not hold my hunger back."

Subaru shook, and so did Petra, laughing with tears in her eyes: "So you'll try?! You'll let us go?!"

"I'll do my very best to hold back, for as long as my tummy allows," Daphne purred. "But just this once. I'm sure to go absolutely mad with hunger tonight."

"Daph…"

"Thank you! Thank you!" Petra cuddled up in Subaru's one-arm embrace, gripping a leather strap tight.

"Think of it as a token of my appreciation for our chat, Subarun! And sweet Petra~ Oooh, I kinda wanna eat her anyway~"

Subaru gripped the handle. "Just think about flowers and clouds, ya crazy Witch!"

He threw the door open, the moment doing so Daphne jumped—away with a scream. He and Petra did the same, powering in the opposite direction. Several turns, several groans and snarls following in the distance, led them bursting through an alternate entrance to the sewers. The Knights guarding it watched with gaping eyes and falling swords as the king and his maid emerged.

Subaru lost everything—even some years of his life—as he collapsed back first upon the door, shutting it with a metal thunk. Petra was panting in his neck, her little back expanding and falling as fast as his own heart raced. Her breaths were hoarse, tearful.

"Petra…" She was alive. She got them both out alive. "Petra!" He wrapped his arm tight around her.

"S-Subaru?!"

He pulled her back, blinking away his relief. "Petra… You were amazing, Petra! You saved me! Both of us!" He reaffirmed his half-embrace.

Petra peeped, stiff, only to relax with a choked giggle. "I guess I did, Subaru—" She grunted as she tried to peel away, to look him in the eye.

Subaru couldn't let her go that far from him, suddenly. "Sorry… just… can we just stay like this? For a minute, Petra?"

She flinched in his arm. "Th-the Knights are watching—"

"You aren't facing them, Petra. Your identity's secured. Just… keep to me like this. 'Till we reach the castle. 'Kay?"

Her arms fully wrapped around Subaru's torso, fingers lacing on his back. "You're such a baby, Subaru. It's so uncool."

"Yeah, yeah…"

A truck hit Subaru in the back, lurching him forward. "Wha'?!" He scrambled away, the Knights of Lugnica surrounding him and Petra.

A huge set of jaws split through the door, halfway to biting a hole through it. "I'm hungee," it growled, motionless, before squeezing around the metal.

The One and Only Petra Leyte