XX.
Madoka holds her through an inferno of emotion, a tidal wave of guilt and desire. Nothing happens. SHe's simply embraced with compassion and gratitude. It's a mistake. It's a bad idea, simply put.
And yet Homura cannot stop.
Magical girls make selfish wishes.
Homura had assumed her selfish wish was to protect Madoka with her own two hands. Wasn't that enough? Wasn't that everything?
But… what if she'd been mistaken or refused to see the truth? What if… what she'd wanted was… something else? Something darker… something wrong…
Homura watches from far away as a grief seed is pressed against her hand. The world screams back into color and sound and she is vividly aware of the world and of Madoka's soft hands gently rubbing circles into her palm and it is not enough. Her gem grows darker and darker and for a moment, Homura wonders, thinks, believes, prays, that this might be the end.
But Madoka's hands are warm and gentle and slowly the world comes back into focus.
"Thank you, Homura-chan," Madoka says kindly. "Don't worry, I'll make this right."
Homura squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. That's not possible. Her soul is ruined, stuck inside a gem. She can't be saved. There is no helping Madoka, let alone Madoka.
And yet.