A/N: A guest asked me to do this pairing, so I hope they enjoy it. I don't usually write Crona as a guy, but I think I did okay…? ^^

And sorry it took forever. Writer's block stalked this story, and I kept getting ideas for others, so I could never get back to this one.

Soul Eater's not mine… though that'd be kind of cool if it was…

6: Uneasy Popcorn and Jellybeans

Little Bird

He knew he couldn't stay hidden in his little room in the darkness of the Academy's basement forever, but the thought of doing so soothed him. He wouldn't have to go outside into the bright sunlight, wouldn't have to run into the countless people with their endless stares and whispers, wouldn't have to sneak around to avoid said people, wouldn't have to do anything. He could just stay there all day.

Crona smiled at the thought, raising his head from his knees before resting his chin on them. It had been about a week since he'd come to live at Death Weapon Meister Academy, the place he had been taught to hate but now took refuge in. Despite their stares, they were nice people, at least from what he could tell. Besides…

The pink haired meister's eyes lit up a little as he hugged his knees close.

…Maka always came to visit him and ask him how he was. She was always so nice and nothing like Medusa, patting Ragnarok on the head, completely unfazed by his indignant cries.

Crona's smile suddenly fell, and his arms around his legs tensed when he realized he hadn't yet seen Maka that day or really anyone for that matter. He'd been all alone in his room, never leaving Mr. Corner and thinking deeply. The last he'd seen Maka was when she'd been carried into the Academy's infirmary after the run in with the witch spinning spider's thread: Arachne, his own aunt. When Miss Marie had come down to visit the day before, she'd said Maka could barely move her feet, but not to fear, Professor Stein believed it was all a matter of time, most likely a week or two.

Judging by the light outside his window, he guessed it was a little past noon. He'd spent half the day without seeing anyone. Even if he didn't want to go outside and see people, he didn't mind if someone came to see him, but he only fancied the company of one or two people. Miss Marie usually came with Maka, so perhaps if Maka couldn't come Crona would be lucky and see Miss Marie instead.

As if on cue, the black blooded meister immediately heard footsteps coming down the dark, cobblestone hallway. However, the closer they got, the more he began to register they couldn't possible be Miss Marie's footsteps. They tapped the ground in an uneven, random beat, almost as though the owner was skipping.

Crona supposed it could be Miss Marie skipping, more than likely in a pleasant mood, but for some reason, the image just seemed off.

The footsteps slowed outside the door, but the great plank of wood didn't budge. By now, Crona was a little nervous, his eyes fixating on the door as he imagined who was outside. Could it be Miss Marie, trying to think of something to say when she opened the door? No, she'd never done anything like that in the past. Maybe she would if something had happened to Maka, and she didn't know how to break the bad news to him.

Crona whimpered at the thought before another idea struck him. What about Black Star, raising his foot with the intention of kicking the entire door down? He never came to visit him but there was always a first.

That thought made Crona squeak and shrink back into the cold of the corner, covering his eyes with his arms. He expected to hear crunching wood and a horrendous slam! as the projectile of the door collided with the far wall, but nothing happened. Only a silent squeaking, followed by very slow footsteps.

As slow as every footfall, Crona's raised his head.

A curious faced blond girl stood before him, head tilted to the side and legs stretched out to either side as though she had to brace herself at the sight of him. She had the puffiest looking shorts he'd ever seen, expanding around her thighs like balloons and her bright red shirt was probably the cheeriest thing in the room, beating his red and white blanket.

Crona didn't say a word; neither did the girl. When she cocked her head to the other side, his mind clicked, and he recognized her. She was the partner of the little Shinigami.

"Are you a bird?"

Crona's eyes narrowed, making him the curious one. Exactly what kind of question was that? Slowly and hesitantly, he shook his head, frowning in bewilderment.

The girl raised an eyebrow and put a finger to her lips, saying, "But you're all caged up in here, like a bird."

The black blooded meister realized it was probably true, judging by the way he never went anywhere and sat in his cell, waiting for people to come to him. He never ventured out to meet the people, unless his new friends were with him. Like a bird that couldn't leave without its owner.

The thought didn't bother Crona in the least. Birds were safe in their cages, enclosed so danger couldn't get in. The owner wouldn't worry about them if they were locked up and safe, and they'd be able to watch and protect their pet when it was out in the open.

The blond haired partner of the Shinigami didn't seem to agree with that in the least. Next thing Crona knew, his wrist had been seized, and the petite blond was hauling him upright. When he stammered a few incoherent phrases, the girl translated them into words she deemed appropriate and answered the question she had formed for him. "I can't let you stay in this cage, little bird. If I do, a nasty cat will come and swallow you whole. Then you could be forever trapped in its stomach, fluttering around with nowhere to go and in absolute darkness."

Crona didn't say anything, only continued to stumble and cry out softly as his excited companion pulled him along. The thought of being trapped again in darkness like when he was little was too overwhelming, so he let himself be plucked from his cage and led into the world.

-/-\-|-/-\-

Outside was bright, a drastic change from his dark room, and his eyes burned as they adjusted to the sudden alteration in light. It felt like the sun was burning his retinas, and he shied away from everything before him, rousing the attention of the Shinigami's weapon.

"I know it's bright, little bird, but you'll get used to it," the blond said with a giggle, pulling him down the agonizingly long staircase and away from the safety the Academy's walls offered.

With every step away from his cage, Crona gave a quiet hum of distress, to which the petite girl would assure him, "You're alright, little bird."

The young blond led him through the cobblestone streets, turning tight corners and walking down short and lengthy staircases. She pointed out buildings she thought looked funny, including one she giggled at immensely before telling Crona it kind of looked like his demon weapon's face. After Crona twisted his head enough, he could see the high arching roof's resemblance to Ragnarok's face.

Of course, as soon as Crona cracked a smile, Ragnarok had sprung from his back like a lion on an antelope, shrieking indignantly about what was so funny, the stupid building looked nothing like him.

After Crona had apologized profusely, Ragnarok gave one last blow to his meister's nose and trickled between his shoulder blades, muttering in irritation. With an uneasy smile, Crona looked apologetically at Patty, only to find the girl on the ground, holding her sides, and shaking with laughter.

Confused, Crona inquired softly, "What's so funny?" but he didn't get a response from the giddy weapon.

For the rest of their walk, they were both silent. By now the sun was high in the orange, cloudless sky above Death City, threatening to drool on them all. Patty would glance up at it and giggle every so often, but that was all Crona heard her say.

When they returned to the Academy, Crona was a little sad to see his new acquaintance disappear down the hallway with a wave before she skipped out of sight. He'd liked the girl's company, even if he didn't know her name or why she'd done what she did, and he was glad to be her little bird for the day.

Slowly pulling his lumpy pillow from the bed and dragging it to his corner, he sat down and hugged it close to him. He gazed around the room with a frown, realizing he was all alone again. He was back in the darkness with only his blood to keep him company, and he began to consider maybe even caged birds get lonely.

-/-\-|-/-\-

He didn't know he'd fallen asleep in his corner until a bright, singing woke him with the words, "Come out and fly, little bird! The sun is high in the sky!"

Eyes opening groggily, Crona blinked wearily at the overjoyed face of the blond from the previous day. With a startled squeak, he sank deeper into Mr. Corner, stuttering, "W-What are you d-doing here?"

"I came to see my little bird," the girl laughed, grabbing his hand just like the day before and hurriedly tugging him to his feet. "Come on! I've got a great idea!" Crona had no choice but to follow the hyper weapon.

As the cheerful girl skipped down the dark hallway towards the stairs leading out of the Academy's basement, Crona couldn't help but smile a fraction, happy the blond had come back for her little bird.

Out in the sunlight again, Crona was relieved when his eyes adjusted quicker to the light than the previous afternoon. He still flinched and tried to shield himself from it, but it was more out of habit than anything else.

His joyous partner pulled him down a wide street only a few blocks from the grand staircase that led to the Academy's doors, singing some incomprehensible tune to herself. Crona wanted to ask where she was taking him, but before he could, the blonde's singing immediately stopped so she could spout out the words, "Here we are!"

Crona looked up, eyes going wide at the appearance of the stylish building before them. The immaculate glass windows and doors allowed him to see the sizeable amount of people within the little shop, and he looked up at the sign, growing weary at the words in thick, black letters.

Before he could turn around, the Shinigami's partner pushed him through the doors, creating a merry jingle from a bell suspended over the door.

"Hey, Patty," a dark haired teen near the door greeted with a bewildered look. "That was pretty quick." His eyes shifted to Crona, and he frowned, looking even more confused as he adjusted his glasses and inquired, "I assumed you were going to get Kid."

"Kid's all busy at school," the blond, now Crona knew her name was Patty, said, tugging her pink haired captive forward. "I have him instead!"

"Um… yeah, sure," the taller teen said, wiping his hands on the black apron he was wearing before saying, "I'll tell Master we've got someone to take Clay's spot; you can get him a uniform, alright?"

"Right!" Patty cheered, bringing Crona along as she explained, "Don't worry, it's fun and easy."

"W-What is?" Crona demanded through trembling teeth as he was pushed through a doorway covered by a thick, maroon curtain. "W-What do I have to do?"

Before he got an answer, a clump of fabric was thrown into his arms and Patty's head poked between the heavy curtains and into the cramped changing room. "You're going to be a waiter because one of ours went kaput and got sick, and we've got too many people to handle. All you have to do is go around and ask people what they want to eat and bring it to them."

"W-What?" Crona cried indignantly, legs turning to pudding. "I can't do that! I can't deal with a job like that."

Patty's head tilted to the side and she frowned, answering, "Sure you can, little bird. I'll be with you the entire time, so don't start freaking out. You'll be alright."

And then her head was gone, leaving Crona with a quivering soul and a uniform in his shaking hands.

-/-\-|-/-\-

Serving people wasn't as difficult as Crona had originally thought, and it was a big help having Patty by his side. Even when she wasn't there, the other café workers helped out. The one who'd first greeted Patty at the door, Crona believed his name was Akane, was very kind to him and patient when he got confused with the variety of beverages.

When the café closed and all their customers had left, the few waiters and waitresses sat in one of the rooms in the back, talking and drinking tea, the best Crona had tasted.

"I d-didn't know you worked," the meister murmured quietly when he finally found the courage to speak.

Patty grinned at him, answering, "Me and Big Sis used to work here all the time when we first got to Death City, but when we began growing closer to Kid, we stopped. We come back every once in awhile if they're low on people, like today."

"Yeah, thanks for the help," one of the girls said. Crona had seen her hurrying around the café and had immediately noticed the twin pigtails she kept in her hair like Maka. Crona liked that about her.

"Do you guys just go home, then?" Crona inquired softly, focusing his attention on the bottom of his empty tea cup.

"We do last minute cleaning up first, but then, yeah, we all head home," the teen named Akane said, stretching his arms above his head before standing and addressing Patty. "But I think we've got that covered. You guys can head out if you want."

"'Kay," Patty replied with a grin, turning to Crona before breaking out into another fit of giggles. This time when Crona asked what she thought was so funny, Patty leaned forward and began straightening the bow tie around his collar, answering, "It's been lopsided all day."

-/-\-|-/-\-

For the whole week, Patty kept returning to her little bird. The day after working at Death Bucks Café, Patty took Crona to the town square where something akin to a flea market was set up. Both Patty and Crona got lost in the surprising amount of books for sale, and by the time the end of the day had come around the owners of the stalls were packing away their wares, both meister and weapon were lost within the colorful artwork and vivid details of a long fairytale.

The morning after that, Crona was dragged along by Patty and introduced to a few students and some of the staff from the DWMA. Crona wasn't exactly the most social on this day, but Patty quickly got his attention by pointing to someone she considered one of the fat, vile cats a little bird like Crona had to look out for. Crona wasn't exactly sure if the skinny, very well endowed figure in the witch's hat was someone he considered vile, let alone fat, but when the purple haired woman turned on the two with an indignant look at being called plump, he could see where Patty envisioned the ferocious, feline characteristics.

The next day, Patty brought Crona to visit Maka, surprising the scythe meister greatly. The paralyzed teen kept asking Patty how she'd managed to get Crona out of Mr. Corner, to which Patty would giggle and shrug, same as always. They also ran into Maka's partner who greeted them calmly, and the blue haired assassin who unnerved Crona to the point he was hiding behind Patty.

It was Wednesday when Patty didn't come to visit Crona until late in the afternoon, and the weapon apologized, saying she'd had to go to class, but was ready to make it up to the pink haired meister. So, the delighted blond brought Crona to where she lived with her older sister and meister in Gallows Manor. She showed him around most of her home, before stopping mid tour and turning on Crona with a crazed look and demanding, though it sounded more like a solid plan than anything, "Wanna make a cake?"

Twenty minutes later, both teens were in the kitchen surrounded by numerous bowls and pans, wooden spoons and metal measuring cups, and bags, bottles, and containers of ingredients everywhere. Crona's hair had turned white from all the flour, Patty had rained on him, and Patty hadn't managed to mix a single thing in the large yellow mixing bowl where they'd attempted to put most of the ingredients. Even Ragnarok had been hit by their cooking catastrophe, popping up from beneath Crona's skin for only a few seconds to give a snide remark to the two and ended up getting struck in the face with a glob of molasses which sent him scrambling about Crona's shoulders in frenzy.

Besides Patty's outbursts of insane chortling, and Crona's soft laughs he hid behind his hands, neither of them said much and both had to keep straight faces when Kid entered the kitchen after returning from the Academy and hearing the commotion they were making. He seemed surprised to see Crona, but soon went into a frantic state at the unsymmetrical appearance of the kitchen. Both Crona and Patty inched out of Gallows Manor without the panicking Shinigami noticing and returned to the school without any interruptions.

When Crona was back in his usual corner, clutching a pillow tightly in his arms, Patty sat down across from the meister instead of waving good-bye like she usually did. Crona looked mystified for a few seconds before Patty asked, "How are you, little bird?"

Crona thought about the question for a second, shrugging before a thought came to him. "It's nice to be out of the cage when there's someone to take care of you. I'm still not comfortable being outside the cage, but for some reason, lately when I'm away from Mr. Corner, I feel…"

"Happy?" Patty questioned, showing a knowing grin. "You're having fun?"

Crona thought about the feelings he'd been having all week, from the moment the ecstatic blond had pulled him out of his comfort zone, to the second they'd tried not to giggle when Kid saw the two of them covered in flour and sugar in a mess that used to be a kitchen.

Very slowly, he nodded, recognizing the feeling he usually felt whenever Maka had come to visit. Was he happy with Patty's company, the same way he was with Maka? Is that why he felt so comfortable around her, away from Mr. Corner and out of his cage? He was having fun?

Patty smiled at his answer and stood, leaning forward to dust a layer of flour from Crona's hair. Turning on her heel, she skipped out the door before leaning back in for just a second to whisper, "Good night, little bird."

The door silently clicked shut, leaving Crona in complete darkness besides the small portion of light the dying sun had to offer as it shone through the window. Crona listened until Patty's footsteps disappeared down the hallway and smiled. "Good night."