"So still nothing…" Frowning, the young woman stands seated on the ice cool lab table, a torn dress shirt draped over her form, scratches stiches all over her body, bruised of black, blue and purple plastered all over her frail features. She cradles her head.
"Nothing." His back turned to her answers.
"Eibon I…" Apologetic, her features soften sadly at him.
"It's not your fault we'll try again tomorrow understand?" Eibon tells her.
"I understand." She bows her head in understanding.
"Thank you." Eibon nods his head.
"Where is she!?" The two furrow their brow at the dark demonic voice hearing the sound of screaming, thrashing and chaos outside.
"Oh for…" Exasperated, she rolls her eyes just as the door slams open to the tall towering figure, the claw with the worse death embedded into the claw dig deeps into the door tossing it to the side.
"You aren't allowed to leave the grounds." Angrily, he snarls scowling at her.
"I can do whatever I damn like Death." Crudely, the woman scoffs shaking her head at him.
"Need I remind you of the position you're in?" Icily, he snaps snarling at her trying to scare her only making her scoff.
"And need I remind you of yours!?" Scowling, she places her hand on her hip only then for her to eyes to widen.
"What!?" Defensively, Death snaps sharply.
"Wait don't tell me…oh for…you're jealous." Mockingly, she snickers shaking her head at him, a small smug smirk upon her lips.
"Excuse you?" Scowling, his claws seethe shake.
"You're a child trapped inside the body of a god! You cannot comprehend what you're feeling so you think taking it out on me is mature? Is reasonable?" Roaring, she snarls snapping at him.
"…You have long served your purpose need I remind you of that?" Tensely, he slams his claw into her making her wheeze as she is thrown back pinned to the wall.
"And yet I'm still here. Tell me does it make you angry knowing Eibon's seen what you delude yourself into thinking belongs to you? It's my damn body I can do whatever I want with my body, I can allow anyone else to see what's underneath I don't belong to you understand?" Hoarsely, she smirk cracks spreading out from behind.
"Urgh!" Death drops her as she comes crashing down wheezing.
"Really? You think fear will make me be obedient? It's going to take a lot more than that. Maybe when you're older and have actually matured I'll offer an ear." Antagonistically, Ava chuckles, shaking her head at him, cradling her bruised bloodied throat.
"You whore!" Enraged, Death snarls scowling raising his claw at her.
"Look I've given you what you wanted from me now it's time you comply to your side of the deal…" Fed up, she snaps at him.
"…" Silently, Death seethes snarling, his claws digging deep into the coal black palm of his claw, changing into a fist fidgeting fury flowing through him.
"We're done here. If you want to find another playboy, be my guest you and I both know there's a certain someone who'd be happy to take my place…" Poisonously, Ava heaves, clutching her blue bruised throat turning to roughly brush past Death. Scowling, she heads into a certain room, where a certain pair of shaking raw red watch on before clumsily catching up to the woman, glued to her trouser leg as they head to bed, hearing the hushed whispers of comfort towards the crying child clinging to her side.
Alarmed, Ava jolts up at the voice groaning, cradling her head as she feels a hand on her shoulder.
"Mother?" Worried, Kid questions her clearly concerned for her.
"Kid don't…don't scare me like that." Tiredly, Ava sighs slumping her shoulders exhaustion etched into her fatigued facial features.
"Sorry." Kid steps back sighing.
"Wait why am I…?" Lost, Ava glances from side to side brow furrowed when seeing her in her bed.
"Father put you to bed last night he found you on a sofa." Kid reveals to Ava.
"Oh that son of a…" Ava begins seething, cradling her head.
"Mother are you and father okay?" Concerned, Kid asks.
"Yeah it was nothing you need to concern yourself with." Ava sighs slumping her shoulders.
"But I'm the reason aren't I? I brought up Eibon…" Kid begins fretful.
"Sweetie…" Softly, Ava places her hand on her son's shoulder squeezing his shoulder.
"Who is Eibon? Why are they associated with dad? Why is it causing such a rift between you two?" Lost, Kid demands from Ava making her grimace glancing to the side.
"Eibon isn't exactly causing the rift, sweetheart." Sighing, Ava says to him.
"But why are…?" Kid begins befuddled, baffled.
"Look you complain about dad keeping secrets from you he does the same to me you're not alone on this boat Kid." Gently, Ava assures her son.
"But…but you're his wife you two tell each other everything!" Kid perplexed points out bringing a strained smile to Ava's lips.
"Not everything. Kid when you've lived as long as me and your father have you…learn things about the other like they aren't perfect, but you need one another to balance that out understand?" Ava attempts to explain to Kid.
"I…suppose." Kid bows his head lost conflicted crossing his arms over his chest.
"Look just…just don't fret about it yeah? It's fine." Firmly, Ava assures her son.
"But who is Eibon?!" Kid asks lost.
"Eibon is…complicated that's all I can say I'm afraid." Ava bows her head sliding her hand off Kid's shoulder scratching the back of her neck conflicted.
"Right…" Kid bows his head solemnly.
"Love you sweetie." Sweetly, Ava leans in pecking his temple.
"Yeah…love you too." Kid sighs dejected turning his back to his mother, going to get ready for the day leaving Ava alone as she places her head in her hands, groaning having no real what clue what to say simply gaping, ignoring the woman sneering smirking smugly at her, leant against the podium of her bed, smirking sadistically at the struggling mother before her….
"What's wrong with you?" Spirit furrows his brow noting his boss's sorrowful demeanour, noting the still silence of the usually goofy death god, it unnerved Spirit slightly. Usually, Death would happily talk to Spirit, bring out some tea, he would usually a chirp chipper host for him to act so…despondent was worrying Spirit thought not to mention not seeing Ava in sight was another thing Spirit had taken note of.
"Ava and I had a fight." Feebly, Death bows his head solemnly sadly, in a slump similar to how Spirit acted almost at the thought, Spirit couldn't help but ponder if this was what Ava and Death had to deal with on a daily basis. Still for the two gods to fight…it was rare, a rarity not many would see, the only reason Spirit picked up on it was when he saw how deflated Death was, in the corner all huddled up.
"You and Ava? Must have been something big for you to get into a fight." Impressed, Spirit remarks brow raised taken aback.
"We have been married for eons spirit its natural for couples to argue." Sighing, Death deadpans.
"I'm sure so you in the dog house or…?" Smugly, Spirit smirks teasingly wiggling a brow bemused.
"See that's the strange thing, she insisted on sleeping on the sofa." Innocently, Death tells Spirit.
"She did?" Spirit raises a brow taken aback.
"Said she didn't want to sleep next to a liar." Death grumbles.
"I didn't even know you used beds." Spirit exclaims.
"Oh I do it's a good place to cuddle Ava." Animatedly, Death gushes giddily at the memory making Spirit smile softly at the sight of lord death so joyous, it was funny so many feared the god of Death he knew why but seeing the god people feared so much, the god of a concept so many feared, so many tried to avoid, so many tired to do dire things to escape, to see the figure so many feared now act like some goofball was something else.
"Right anything else? If you know what I-" Suggestively, Spirit teases wiggling a brow earning an angry tick mark from the reaper.
"Reaper chop!" Death snarls slamming his fist on Spirit.
"There is nothing you need to know about my and Ava's bedroom life you already had a glimpse from when you snuck into our house." Annoyed, Death growls, grumbling at the memory staring at the bloodied beaten Spirit, ruby red gushing out of his fatigued form.
"Oh yeah heh that was a funny memory." Meekly, Spirit smiles scratching the back of his head noting the darker shade of ruby red staining his hand.
"For you maybe not for someone who woke up to find some stranger having woken up their child." Bitterly, Death remarks.
"Yeeah…so what happened this morning?" Curious, Spirit asks intrigued.
"Well Ava is always falls sleep first so when I knew it was about the time she slept I picked her up and out her on the bed I don't know why she'd want to sleep on the sofa when there was a perfectly good bed in use." Calmly, Death explains to Spirit.
"Um Lord Death…I don't…" Spirit begins brow furrowed.
"Good morning Lord Death!" Chirpily, the loud booming voice of Justin interrupts as the priest enters the room.
"Yo, yo yo what's going on Justin, Spirit Justin can't read my lips because of my mask from now on can you repeat everything I say." Happily, Death greets the death scythe before turning to Spirit.
"Eh that's annoying, it'll be fine if he just takes off his earphones." Irritated, Spirit argues.
"Here we go repeat after me, Justin the reason you were called here today is to receive a new mission." Easily, Death ignores Spirit beginning the message.
"Eh okay hang on a sec, Justin the reason you were called today is to receive a new mission." Taken aback, Spirit gawks as he then recites said message to the blonde before him.
"Understood what is it?" Justin asks him.
"This is an important mission you know that right now the pursuit of the kishin is assigned to the far seeing Azusa right." Death exclaims.
"The pursuit of the kishin is assigned to Azusa as you know." Spirit summarises.
"However, there's a limit to what you can do with just those eyes so I'd like you to join the purist and move around the world as the legs and investigate" Death continues on.
"But she can only do so much with her eyes that's where you'll come in you're going to be her legs." Spirit translates.
"Hey that's not what I said! Repeat it properly for now on." Annoyed, Death scolds Spirit.
"You're taking too long to explain it." Impatiently, Spirit sighs closing his eyes exasperated, a part of him having no idea how Ava dealt with this childish side of lord Death. Honestly, he had to admit he respected how patient the woman could be then again, she hadn't lived over a hundred years and not learn a fair few things.
"Say that again…" Darkly, Death snarls, his voice darkening, lowering in a growl.
"Fine, fine not my fault you got into a fight with your misses and she refused to help you deal with him." Spirit sighs furrowing his brow.
"Reaper chop!" Death raises his hand swiftly slamming down upon Spirit making Spirit squeak slightly fearful for the hit.
"Hm? Is everything alright?" Innocently, Justin asks as he removes his earphones, blinking a fair few times at the two.
"Everything's fine. Now then here's what I'm hoping will happen. If you make enough noise during your search you may be able to flush out the cowardly kishin from wherever its hiding. Do you understand your assignment?" Death tells him.
"Oh what a truly wonderful assignment. I accept the mission with great pleasure." Jushtin falls to his knees, proclaiming it.
"I'm counting on you to succeed." Death tells him.
"Right!" Justin nods his head determined to accomplish the mission that is to find the location of the kishin.
Silently, Ava sits on her seat, turning the page presented before her, feeling her fingertips brush against the sharp scraps of parchment paper. Her ears flinch from the sound of skin on parchment scraping against the other, feeling her nails drawing patterns into the paper as she reads the text, her gold hues dark, glued to the ground below trying to ignore the faint figure in the background, feeling her eyes on her, piercing her soul.
He's lying to you again. He's spinning his webs, trying to trap you again. Ava grimaces at the voice, feeling her breath brush against her neck, breathing down her throat, feeling her muscles tense up. She bows her head, feeling her free hand tense up, feeling her fingertips dig deep into the plush pillow of her palm, feeling her curt crescents dig deep into her palm. The sharp sting swiftly silences the woman, her arms wrapped around her, trapping her, holding her…
"Stop…" Ava whispers lowly under her breath, sweat sliding down her temple, feeling the piercing three eyes upon her, glued to her, feeling his skin soon join in, coiled around her like a serpent, squeezing her, trapping her…
"Ava." Sternly, Spirit calls out to her making her blink baffled, taken aback.
Astonished, Ava jolts up at the voice, hearing the low groan of a chair being tugged backwards, hearing the sharp scraping sound of wood brushing against the floor below, seeing fibres of the carpet thrown down be tossed to the side. She looks up, looking bored up at the redhead standing tall, towering over her, his hand on the chair opposite her. His fingertips coil around the chair almost asking for permission making her sigh sadly, unimpressed as she bows her head, returning her gaze back to the book below.
"No dirty mags?" Mischievously, Ava wiggles a brow bored, leaning into her palm, turning another stray page, deciding to amuse the man before her.
"You need to stop fighting with lord death." Sternly, Spirit states crossing his arms over his chest just as Ava arches a brow bemused.
"And you need to stop intervening with matter that don't concern you." Curtly, Ava counters coldly, her brow furrowing at the pages below her.
"As Lord Death's scythe I have to deal with his…moods!" Mad, Spirit snaps scowling, furious at the woman before him.
"Spirit you're the last person I would ask on marriage advice." Ava deadpans stating the fact of the matter making Spirit stagger back, placing his hand on his chest wincing when feeling the sharp sting of an arrow impale into his chest from her cold curt words.
"Look he's been giving me hell since you two fought." Frowning, Spirit sighs sliding down to the seat below taking the seat opposite her as he leans over the desk looking pleadingly at the god before him, begging, beseeching her to spare and forgive the god of death.
"Don't be so dramatic." Annoyed, Ava scoffs sighing waving her hand brushing him off.
"Look I can help you." Spirit sighs desperate.
"Spirit no offence but your advice is the last thing I want when it comes to marriage." Sighing, Ava reminds Spirit combing her fingertips through her hair, her coal locks being tugged back, feeling the sharp sting of stray strands being tangled up by her locks.
"Hey, he could go off and cheat on someone due to this petty feud." Furious, Spirit snaps scowling.
"Eh okay." Lazily, Ava shrugs leaning back in her seat.
"How are you okay with that?" Stunned, Spirit squeaks taken aback by her words seeing her stretch her arms a bit, craning her neck from side to side, hearing the crisp crunch of bone making Spirit shudder at the sound.
"Spirit I've been with the man for longer than most humans, seeing such things is not surprising." Scowling, Ava explains exasperated.
"And you're okay with that?" Spirit repeats still stunned, doing a double take.
"You act as if I haven't had my own fair share of partners." Playfully, the amused Ava snickers smirking, shaking her head at the thought.
"When you were dating him!?" Shocked, Spirit squeaks slightly.
"Well first off we never dated we didn't even court and yeah that was before when I was just messing with humans." Ava deadpans stating the fact of the matter.
"Messing with…humans you sound as if you're one of those gods from mythology." Snickering, Spirit snickers.
"Well let's just say everything has a sliver of truth, something comes from a source. My name's been around the block a fair few times though they do enjoy changing it." Bored, Ava leans back, looking over at her nails. She was no saint she knew that for sure but she couldn't have been the first to fool around with people, Death no doubt did as well, they each had a life separate from one another. They weren't each other's firsts well he certainly wasn't hers that's for sure. She assumed Death had fooled around as well after all she couldn't be the only one intrigued by humans, fooling around they interested her. They were amused with their reactions, with their weird devotion to her acting as if she were some god. It was fun playing with them, seeing how far she could make them go…maybe she was a bit cruel at times. It was fun at first but within a blink of an eye as soon as she turned her back, her playthings would be dead just like that…she just couldn't leave them alone.
"How OLD are you?" Scowling, Soul furrows his brow at her.
"Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her name." Coyly, Ava smirks smugly at the fact of the matter
"I just…I don't know just give him a compliment or something." Spirit offers just as Ava's eyes narrow noting the faint gleam of a certain mirror behind them.
"Spirit for goodness' sake just leave me alone and if he tries anything…" Annoyed, Ava snaps snarling at the reflection of a certain grim reaper squeaking back at being caught red handed, sweat dropping, his hands up in surrender when seeing the woman's wrath.
"H-Hey what are you doing!?" Scared, Spirit calls out as she grabs the book she was reading from.
"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING SENDING YOUR LACKEY IF YOU WANT TO APOLOGISE SAY IT TO MY FACE!" Furious, Ava yells as angrily she reels her hand back, tossing the book at the mirror, cracks spread out throughout the mirror. Shards come crashing down making Spirit squeak slightly at the fact turning to watch helplessly. Angrily, Ava turns on her heel storming off, bloodlust oozing out of her as she leaves the library leaving Spirit to clean up her mess…
"Ava hey!" Happily, Marie calls out to Ava currently on a warpath seeing, snarling, bloodlust emitting out of her furious form, stomping, storming through the school grounds only to perk up at Marie.
"What?" Ava turns to furrow her brow at the two.
"You okay?" Concerned, Marie asks noting her leaning over the balcony of sorts seeing the cracks spreading forming upon the rubble rock of the balcony looking out at Death City, many students fleeing from the sheer fury flowing through the angry Ava.
"Sorry just not in a mood." Apologetic, Ava pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Something wrong with Kid?" Confused, Marie quirks her head to the side it was rare to see her so angry the only reason to see her like this was her son, Maire knew how protective Ava was over her little boy.
"No just my husband being a pain in the ass." Angrily, Ava seethes snarling grinding her teeth together.
"Oh my I know why don't you join Crona and I for some tea!" Merrily, Marie perks up at the thought unaware of Crona flinching from it.
"Crona will you be alright with that?" Tentatively, Ava asks Crona not fazed if they said no, Ava knew how different one to one sessions could be compared to other sessions.
"Y-Yes if you don't mind." Meekly, Crona whimpers bowing their head.
"Eh it's fine it'll be nice to get out the manor." Ava considers.
"I heard Kid did a party the other day." Merrily, Mina smiles unaware of Ava's furrowed frown.
"Did he?" Confused, Ava questions making them both furrow their brow befuddled from Ava's answer.
"Wait weren't you there?" Tensely, Crona whimpers.
"It's all foggy." Frowning, Ava winces cradling her head at the sharp searing sensation in her throbbing temple, ignoring the faint figure watching in, leant against the balcony of the academy, smirking sadistically, a sly smirk upon her lips, her gold glaring into a similar shade to her own.
"He lied to you…he's lying to you. They are all lying to you…" Ava winces when feeling the sharp stinging sensation in her head.
"Oh my…how about we all go get some cups of tea?" Tentatively, Marie suggests smiling softly.
"Will Professor Stein be there?" Confused, Crona asks as Ava flinches from the thought, a dark look in her eyes.
"Not that I know of…" Obliviously, Marie smiles unaware of Ava's grimace.
"Fine by me you sure you're okay with that Crona?" Ava asks them once again.
"O-Okay." Crona bows their head meekly following the two adults towards the laboratory, heading inside.
"There's a microphone in the pen plant it in professor Stein's lab."
"Here you go." Gently, Marie places the cup down on the table as Marie sits opposite of Crona while Ava sits between them both.
"Thanks Marie." Thankful, Ava smiles at the cup, taking the cup offered.
"Still can't believe it for the lady of the god of Death you sure have a sweet tooth." Teasingly, Marie winks makin Ava roll her eyes.
"Most are rather surprised by it, still you sure you're okay with tea Crona? I know it can give quite the jitters." Ava asks him.
"It's okay. What a cute cup." Crona smiles down at the cup.
"I'm surprised you managed to bring stuff in." Impressed, Ava takes note of the plants all over.
"There was nothing but research implements in here. I had to bring the rest of the stuff like that cup in here myself." Marie recalls.
"Well it certainly could use a woman's touch. If Kid were here he'd be having a fit on the floor." Fondly, Ava smiles softly at the thought.
"Well something I worry about is that if I overdo it Stein will get angry. Crona are you worried about something too?" Marie asks them.
"Um well um…" Crona begins but…
"Hey why don't I get tea!?" Roaring, Ragnarok sprouts out from Crona's back.
"I thought what Crona eats you sort of eat." Frankly, Ava deadpans unfazed.
"I didn't even think you could eat Ragnarok I didn't think you had a mouth." Marie points out.
"Idiot I have one I can drink too." Ragnarok reveals his teeth.
"Right sorry about th-AAAT!" Alarmed, Marie jolts up from her sear rushing towards the kitchen as both Crona and Ava flinch from the sudden ring of metal, hearing her sharp scream.
"Marie?!" Alarmed, Ava jolts up from her seat rushing over to the woman's side.
"Okay Crona now do it!" Ragnarok hisses at them.
"Y-Yeah…" Crona takes out the pen as a small singular arrow spews out of the tip of the pen, leaping into the cups below before placing the pen to the side of their seat.
"Do you like sugar in it?" Marie asks peering in, a bump on her blonde roots.
"S-Salt or…pepper make it spicy." Swearing, Ragnarok exclaims.
"Um…" Ava peers into the living room. Sharing a look with Marie.
"O…Okay got it." Innocently, Marie goes with it making Ava sigh as she sits down, returning to her seat.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Amused, Ava chuckles as she picks up the cup, taking a small sip unaware of Crona's eyes pinned upon her shaking, quivering, quaking.
"Sorry to kept you waiting now then what is it you wanted to talk about?" Marie soon joins in taking a small sip of the tea as well.
"I should go." Ava sighs as she stands up making both woman's eyes widen when hearing their words.
"You sure?" Marie asks.
"Yeah if I don't Death will get worried and then Kid will panic and it'll be a mess I'll have to deal with…again." Ava sighs tiredly exhaustion etched into her fatigued features.
"You sure you're okay?" Marie questions her, concern clear upon her facial features.
"Yeah…just…just tired." Tensely, Ava smiles clutching her head, grimacing, glaring at the figure gently tapping against the window, a grin crookedly clear upon her facial features, feeling her nails scrape against the window, digging deep into the glass as cracks spew out from the window.
"You take care of yourself you hear?" Marie smiles softly at Ava.
"You too and Crona if it does get too rough you can come talk to me." Ava assures them.
"T-Thank you m-Miss Ava." Crona smiles sadly bowing their head.
"Night." Ava salutes the two heading to leave.
"Night! Honestly you wouldn't think that she was the wife of lord Death heh…" Marie says farewell watching her fleeting figure leave.
"Well it's getting late I should go home." Crona stands up from their seat.
"Feel free to come over anytime oh hng on Crona isnt this your pen?" Marie calls out revealing said pain to the anxious mess.
"…Yes." Dejected, Crona bows his head sadly taking said pen.
"Get home safely!" Smiling, Marie tells him as Crona leaves, solemnly.
"Well…did you do it?" Crona perks up at the sound of a familiar frog as he makes his way into the dark depths of the hallway turning to the frog on top of the crate with a radio of some sort by her side, spinning the dial upon said device.
"I'm back." Stein's voice resonates from the radio.
"Welcome home Stein." Smiling, Marie greets Stein.
"I can hear it! How did you get that woman to swallow it?" Ericka cheers.
"It was easy we put it in Mari's and Ava's coffee." Proudly, Ragnarok beams brightly.
"Wait you got Lady Ava too?" Amazed, Ericka gasps.
"Yeah seems there's trouble in the sack if you know what I mean." Mischievously, Ragnarok teases smirking smugly.
"I-It's not like that." Shyly, Crona whispers bowing their head, a ruby red tint to their cheeks.
"Medusa is going to be real pleased with you Crona! Bagging not only Marie but Lady Death! We got to see what's going on over there!" Ericka smirks eagerly moving said dial.
"Ava please." Pleadingly, Lord Death's voice resonates.
"Just don't Death don't. Sending your lackey to get this argument to be over with if you want to say sorry say it to my face." Furious, Ava angrily snaps at her husband.
"I have nothing to apologise for." Defensively, Death deadpans.
"Neither do I." Aloofly, Ava sneers turning her back as the sharp slam of the door echoes ending the conversation.
"Oh ho trouble in paradise. Let's see how the other microphone is doing." Erika chuckles changing the dial once more.
"Ava and Crona were just here." Marie's voice reaches the speaker.
"Ava was here?" Stein furrows his brow as Crona notes his tone tense, tight.
"Yeah, hey I haven't seen you hang around her for a while did something…?" Curious, Marie begins but…
"Nothing happened." Sternly, Stein snaps curtly coldly cutting Marie off.
"Oh…okay?" Marie answers uncertain.
"To think that snake contained a microphone and a bit of Medusa's magic with that Stein and Lady Ava's insanity will increase with him just being near her and Ava's insanity will slowly eat her insides!" Cackling, Erika snickers smirking at their win.
"Eh what was it this time?" Stein changes topic.
"They doesn't seem used to life at the academy yet and I can tell its bothering them. But they are a good kid so sweet and quiet." Marie gushes.
"Not even suspicious what an idiot." Erika snickers as Crona grimaces from the praise.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, they'll adjust to life at their own pace. Crona and the other students are what make teaching at the academy worthwhile." Earnestly, Marie confesses.
"It's getting late I'm going back to my room now." Unable to listen anymore, Crona bows their head turning to leave.
"Oh Crona Medusa will be so proud of you for doing so well." Erika tells Crona consoling comforting them almost or at the least trying to as the frog watches the fleeting figure of Crona leave, a grim grin upon their lips.
*So...what do you think of Ava and Death now? Or how they were in the past?*