Chrona woke with a start, their nightmares plagued by the horrible act they had committed against someone they didn't even know. However, they immediately freeze after the first jolt, as their body locks up and reminds them that they had spent all night sleeping in a chair at uncomfortable angles. Even lying flat on the floor might have been better for them than this. As they began to work the kinks out of their body, hearing all their bones snapping into their proper places, the form before them began to chuckle. They looked as Darren blearily opened his eyes and genuinely smiled at Chrona. At first, they felt overwhelmed with kindness and hope, then felt their tear ducts burn. They contemplated how they had changed this person's life, possibly forever, and what does he do? He smiles at them like they hung the moon.

"You have black blood now."

Darren's fogginess seems to lift almost immediately "What?"

"You have black blood now." Chrona repeated.

"Ok, what does that mean?"

"It means you're going to be kinda crazy, forever."

Darren sat quietly, seeming to mull over the idea as he too worked out the stiffness in his body before shrugging his shoulders and letting out a non-committal sound.

"Anything else?"

Just who the hell was this guy?

"Did you hear me, I just said you'd be in a constant battle for your sanity for the rest of your life because of me, doesn't that bother you!?"

"Wouldn't have a life if you hadn't saved me."

"Darren!"

He lets out that hearty laugh once more "No, I'm not bothered."

"How?!" Chrona asks desperately.

"Don't we already do stuff like that everyday?" Darren answers "Sure to a lesser degree, but still. I wouldn't say my life is over or put on hold because of this, just the opposite."

Their tears won't stop. "You're already crazy, aren't you?"

Darren's eyes had looked betrayed for a moment, but only a moment. Chrona shivered.

"That's what my folks said, but I don't often put stock into the things they told me. I don't see why choosing to face challenges head on, with a smile, is such a bad thing. You know? Call me overly optimistic, but I wouldn't change that part of me for anything."

Chrona couldn't even begin to comprehend what kind of guy Darren is. He's much stronger than Chrona could ever be. Maybe that's why they felt so drawn to him.

"So?" Darren asks.

"So?" Chrona parrots.

"Is there anything else?"

Chrona bites their lip "If I'm being honest, black blood is kind of a new thing for the most part. You're one of a few people who has it, including me. As far as effects go, they seem to be different for everyone, so, if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye out and telling me if anything weird happens. We have no idea how it might manifest in you, but I'm going to do everything I can to help you through this, ok? I won't let anyone treat you the way they did me."

"You escaped, didn't you? That's why you're lost. Just like me." Darren all but springs up "I'm used to moving between towns anyway. We could be gone by morning, go somewhere new."

"No!" Chrona shouts "I mean yes, I escaped from a situation, but I'm already at my safe place. It's here in Death City with my friends."

Darren grew very silent and the air in the room seemed to slow. They couldn't breathe.

"Can we trust them?" he asks gritting his teeth slightly.

Chrona blanches. "Of course! It's complicated, but like I promised, no one's gonna hurt you or make you hurt others, I won't let them."

That does a great deal for softening Darren up again, but still Chrona can feel danger under the surface.

"Tell me, Chrona, why did you save me?"

"Because your soul reached out to me. Its crying hurt so much and yet ached so familiarly, it felt personal. I felt a pull that I just couldn't ignore. I knew abandoning you there wasn't an option." Chrona states passionately before ducking his head in embarrassment "I know you probably don't believe me, but that's the truth."

Darren chuckled before reaching his hand out and caressing it against Chrona's cheek. Despite their better judgement Chrona leaned into the touch, willing Darren to understand they didn't mean to hurt him. They were trying to save him, but good intentions and such.

"I believe you Chrona, just one more question. Who is responsible for doing this to you?"

"I-I'm scared." Chrona whimpers.

"Of what?"

Chrona's nails dig into their palms "Of remembering, of going back to who I used to be, of going back to her."

"It's good to get those kinds of things out, helps with solidifying your decision." Darren says undoing Chrona's grip and interlacing their fingers so that if they squeezed, they'd be ripping into Darren's skin "It's going to hurt and be hard, but if you'd like to share, I'm here to listen."

"Will you tell me your story too?" Chrona requests softly.

Darren locked up for a moment, darkness clouding his eyes before dissipating back to their normal state. He smiles at Chrona, but it's the saddest one they've ever seen.

"Do you really want to know?"

Chrona nods slowly, almost afraid they were pressuring the guy. However, his smile brightens, he yanks Chrona onto the bed next to him and holds them close. Chrona isn't sure how to feel.

"Ok, I'll tell you, but it won't be pretty."

Chrona shifts a bit till they feel comfortable next to Darren and sigh. "Mine won't be either."

The conversation only gets closer from there as Chrona quietly recounts their childhood with Medusa and their experiences with the black blood. Even introduces Darren to Ragnorok while they're at it, though their companion had little to say beyond petty insults and made a surprisingly quick exit. In the end, Darren sits through the whole recount patiently and provides support the entire time. Yet inside he was boiling. He'd find that witch, he knew he'd sensed a slimy presence on the outskirts, dead his ass. She wouldn't hide forever. Chrona seemed to not notice as their captivation lied with Darren's acceptance of them, flaws and all. After much coddling and attention, Darren eventually explained his story and Chrona felt everything fall into place. They had never been able to relate with anyone so much in their life until this point. Chrona realized they were two sides of the same broken mirror as Darren told him about his family and his less than lovely upbringing at the hands of abusive parents. Maybe fate had brought them together for a reason, but still...

"That doesn't explain how you ended up beaten half to death in an alley."

Darren chuckles nervously before seeming to duck his head in embarrassment. "A little parting gift from my family, didn't take too well to me leaving. Fuck them though, I don't care! I'm never going back to being suffocated like that ever again."

Chrona finally embraces Darren in return, well and truly comfortable. "Me too."

Darren smiles and leans back with Chrona lying into his chest. "So, what now?"

Chrona begins to shiver. "Now we go see Lord Death."