XV.
It takes a solid thirty minutes to calm down Miki, another fifteen to work through… whatever it is she's dealing with Tomoe. That breakdown nearly has manifested guns but that's fine. Homura has shot Mami before. She'll do it again in a heartbeat.
Still, Madoka is here, black ribbons (an eyesore) and all, and she defuses everything and everyone and sends Miki home. She tucks Tomoe into bed like she is the senior, the strong one as ever, and then turns to Homura as they leave the senior behind.
Only then does she burst into tears.
A glee like withering maggots curls in her stomach. Madoka is strong, so strong, but even with all that strength, she cracks and breaks only in front of Homura.
Her stomach curdles with rage and pleasure and she threatens to upchuck all of Tomoe's tea.
"is it true?"
Her head is starting to pound. Homura keeps her voice level as she replies, "Is what true?"
"Everything."
She should lie, hold it to her chest. But the black ribbons make her teeth clench. The truth will end this faster. "Yes," Homura says without hesitation. "Yes it is."
Madoka's face freezes over, quiet and thoughtful. Then she smiles weakly. The ribbons in her hair make it worse, darkening her pale face despite being so small and harmless.
Homura hates the color with a feral, burning passion and says, before she can think better of it, "You're better in red."
Before the consequences of her actions can hit her, a headache bursts from between her eyes. She swallows and her knees threaten to give.
The world spins and Homura fights it, fights with all she has and she doesn't know why and it-
It doesn't work.