Disclaimer: I own nothing but the feeling of being 100% responsible for this.
Ben's Note of EPIC Awesome: Because the word EPIC doesn't know the meaning of lowercase letters. That and Sheer is still on vacation. Hi guys! Let me tell you, I've been waiting to write this one since the arc started! *squee* What? Guys can squee too, it's not weird. This is focus less on our beloved Kittystair this time… but you'll see them in the chapter, don't you fret.
KCL: You're the dark one? Good thing you love these updates, otherwise it'd be weird… Anyway, glad you like it! Neb is, indeed, one of my favorite characters because he can literally od anything he wants and get away with it.
Rianbow Swirl: Thanks for the advice. And yes, Neb and Lizzie… they're so funny that they hate each other, but they can still be adorable.
Prompt 60: Burdens
Maddie felt like she was at a funeral. Normally funerals wouldn't be described as awkward… but this was Maddie. If she was at a funeral, then everything was completely awkward.
That was what it felt like when Sven and Maddie sat on a bench outside the Musty Muffin. Sven was awkwardly shaking in fear as Maddie sat next to him. Obviously Sven was nervous, but Maddie couldn't help be a little upset. Nothing wrong with love. There wasn't. So why was Sven so adamant about not feeling it?
"Sven," Maddie said after a moment. "Why don't you want to love? Not just me… but anyone?"
Sven flinched… but sighed. "I d-d-d-d-don't want to hurt y-y-y-y-you," he stammered. "L-l-l-l-like my parents."
Maddie nodded slowly. "Sven, this might be hard… but what happened to your parents," Maddie said carefully. "What about them made you hate love?"
Sven hesitated, looking at Maddie. "Y-y-y-y-you'll hate m-m-m-m-m-me," he said, his voice shaking. "You won't like me anymore, nope! Proof that Peeta was right, love kills, yep, yep, yep!"
Maddie inwardly scowled. If Peeta weren't already dead, she'd drown him in a tea pot. With tea inside of it, of course. She didn't like the thought of Sven being broken down by someone who probably didn't even care in the first place.
"Sven… I won't hate you," she said. "Peeta told you a lot of things… and I know it's corrupted you as a person. But listen me Sven… I'm different. You've been threw a lot… and I'm here for you. I'm silly and goofy because I want people to see me as a help meet. I don't care what happened in the past… I just want to help you. Because Sven I… love you."
Sven's eyes widened in fear… but he surprisingly didn't freak out. Instead, he looked at Maddie silently…
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…and finally said, "I killed my own parents."
Silence.
"I d-d-d-d-d-didn't mean to, no, no, no, no, no! My parents l-l-l-l-l-loved me. B-b-b-b-but that's what Peeta said killed them. I d-d-d-d-don't remember doing it, and it scares me that I'm so dangerous I don't even remember doing it! Love… Peeta said l-l-l-l-love killed them. Eep! You l-l-l-l-love me! No! No, you can't! I don't want to hurt you either! I don't want you dead! I c-c-c-c-care too much for you to be dead! No love, no love, no lo-"
Sven was silenced. Not everyone was sure what happened between Maddie and Sven that night. Some believed that Maddie put a finger on his lips and managed to calm him down. Other's think Sven continued his breakdown until he was too exhausted to continue. Neb, however, knew differently. Because he was the author and he could tell everyone exactly what happened after he built suspense.
Maddie silenced Sven with a kiss.
Sven panicked for a brief moment… only to relax and kiss Maddie back. When they parted, Maddie looked Sven straight in the eye, no sign of silliness in her eyes. "Sven Blue… I'm sorry," she said, hugging him. "I do know that you didn't do it. I know that you would never do anything that evil. And I know that love wasn't involved. I don't know what happened to your parents Sven… but you won't ever hurt me. Because I love you more than probably my hats… and coming from me, my hats are everything. This might be out of the norm… but heck with the norm! Sven… to help you with your burdens more easily and be closer to you… could you please be my boyfriend?"
Sven looked at Maddie in fear… only to give her a quivering smile. "I won't… hurt you," Sven said. "I w-w-w-w-won't let m-m-m-m-myself hurt you. I'll l-l-l-l-love you… if you l-l-l-l-love me too."
Maddie smiled with a giggle. "Then I guess we love each other then," she said. She almost kissed Sven again before she stopped herself. "We'll… go slow, ok?"
Sven nodded… only to kiss Maddie. Maddie was surprised at first… only to roll her eyes with a smile into the kiss when she saw Neb winking at her from across the street. Typical Neb. Always ending a scene with a bang.
Later that night, Kitty and Alistair were looking up at the stars on their bench when Kitty's mirror phone beeped. Kitty grabbed it and checked it. A smile and a few tears appeared on Kitty's face as she finished reading.
"It worked," she said, pocketing the phone.
Alistair smiled. "Another perfect couple, formed by Kitty and Alistair," Alistair chuckled. "Think they'll be alright?"
Kitty smiled up at the stars. "If we can get through suicide attempts, family deaths, and kidnappings… they can get through anything," Kitty said and cuddled with her boyfriend.
BN: *cries so much all his fans are soaking wet* WAH! THESE GUYS ARE GROWING UP SO FAST! IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL! IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO CRY! … Eh, I'm done. This chapter, like I said, wasn't focused on the couple this fic was named for… but instead a couple Kitty and Alistair indirectly made. I found it nice to write for a different couple, but still keep Kittystair in focus. Besides, this was just the foundation for the next chapter, and also the Maddie/Sven story, which I can confirm at this point. (Surprise villain in that one. Bet you can't figure out who it is!)
Also, speaking of villains, each of my EAH stories will star a main villain. Her Number is that mysterious guy in the prologue and Sins of Love is the Witchdoctor. Who can accurately guess who the villain of this story is? Here's a hint: it's not Slender or Peeta.
Like? Hate? Meh? Let me know via review!