"This is total bullshit, we said no tabloids or magazines! Just newspapers and news stations! God, shoulda hauled that guy out on his ass as soon as he said something about dating-"

"Star, sh," Kid muttered; Black Star looked over to where his friend sat, his eyebrows pulled together and face set into a deep frown. He was reading the same article Maka had just texted Black Star about; it wasn't from some big magazine, it was just a gossip rag made in Death City (and the fact that it was local was all that mattered). News stations all over the country were already catching wind of the story the magazine had printed, and he had no doubt they ordered it; why wouldn't they, when Kid's face was plastered on the cover like this?

Should we be calling Lord Death "Young Master"?

Ten reasons the teen god may not be as mature as you think!

The article was just a bunch of crock, of course, bringing up stuff about him being "catty" at the press conference and "letting" Soul be attacked (as if that were somehow his fault), going on dates... Black Star had really just skimmed it, too angry to see anything straight.

"... Do you think I need to be more like my father?" The question startled Black Star from his own thoughts, and he looked over where Kid sat. He was gripping the magazine tightly, pages taut and eyes trained on the article, down near the bottom. Black Star walked over, peering over Kid's shoulder. It was a two page spread, complete with pictures of Kid at the press conference the day before, and a couple of grainy photos of Kid and himself (though he was blurred out) out for dinner or lunch.

"Possibly the most controversial point to talk about is that he [Kid] doesn't act anything like his father," an anonymous source tells us. "He used to be a bright and happy- well, kid. Ever since the late Lord Death passed, Kid has changed tremendously, and not in a positive way. I hate to say so, but whether it be the shock of losing his father or being thrust into a position of authority so quickly, I just don't think Kid has had time to process the death and mature the way he needs to to be able to lead us as a people. Lord Death never would have tried to make us make nice with witches."

"Anonymous source my ass," Black star muttered, his hand resting lightly between Kid's shoulder blades for a few seconds. "They pulled that shit outta their ass, this is all politics! They just wanna make you look bad!" Kid smoothed out the creases where he'd gripped the magazine, closing it gently and setting it off to the side. He closed his eyes, leaning back against his chair, and steepled his fingers near his lips.

"It doesn't matter, Star," he murmured, entire body still except for his mouth. "Regardless of whether someone I trust said that or whether it was someone I don't know personally or whether they just made it up- the public is going to agree. It's going to put a huge dent in my support." Black Star crouched down, resting his chin on the arm of Kid's throne, looking up at him. "I don't- I can't quite-" He paused, clearly unable to word what he wanted to say. Black Star reached up, putting a hand over one of Kid's, and Kid leaned closer to him in response.

"I'm not human enough," Kid settled with finally, and a soft breath escaped Black Star's lips. "For the public to trust me, to look to me as a leader- I'm not someone they can empathize with. I'm too closed off for them, but I know-" Another pause; Black Star squeezed Kid's hand. "I think," Kid amended finally, "that if I tried to be what they wanted me to, I'd just... Crumble." The last word was so quiet Black Star wasn't sure if he'd heard right, but the fact that Kid wouldn't open his eyes when Black Star didn't respond right away told him he probably had.

"And you can't afford that," Black Star said after a few minutes, and Kid nodded, relaxing a bit.

"I can't," Kid agreed quietly. "I- This controlled madness in me, it needs to stay controlled, and I don't think I could keep it that way if I wasn't... This way." Black Star felt guilty for a second, for wanting Kid to return to how he'd been before his father's death, but the feeling faded quickly. Neither of them spoke for several minutes, the only noise in the room the muted chatter from the students in the halls.

"Okay, so what's the game plan, then? We gotta make sure the public stays swayed in your favor, or it could cause problems with the peace negotiations." Black Star stood, picking up the magazine again and flipping to the story about Kid; Kid watched him, not seeming to have an answer quite yet. Black Star flipped through the magazine a bit, seeing if there was anything else in there relating to Kid.

"No more dates," Kid said after a few minutes. "That seems to be something they're really stuck on, my teenage hormones," he snorted, "and me being irresponsible."

"Done," Black Star said easily. They had hundreds of years for dates, assuming Kid let him stick around that long. "What else?"

"We hold another press conference- smaller this time. A few journalists from local news stations and newspapers, handpicked by us. Maybe Maka can do that part, she would know best because of her father, mm?" It wasn't an actual question; Kid was already up, moving around the room and organizing things, then sitting back down with a pad of paper and a pen. "They can ask me about my personal life, about the attack, about my plans for the coming years- whatever they want. It will allow me to seem in control of the situation by approaching them before they approach me. Should I ask them in advance for lists of questions? Maybe that's tacky, I am the one offering them the interview after all. I'll just make a list of things they'll probably ask and practice answering them." He was still talking to himself, and Black Star was content to lean against his throne and look over his shoulder as he wrote everything down.

"It'll have to wait until we're not watching Angela though, fuck-" Kid paused, seeming almost surprised at the obscenity that had come from his mouth.

"I'll keep an eye on her while you're at your interview, Kiddo, don't worry." Black Star reached down, plucking the pen from Kid's grasp and moving to cross out the dates Kid had written, but Kid stopped him.

"What? No, I want you there." That gave Black Star pause and he straightened, catching Kid's eye. The two stared at each other for a moment, not saying anything, then both started to speak at the same time.

"Of course, if you don't want to be there, it's fine, I suppose I just assumed-"

"What are we, Kid?" Black Star's question made Kid's words die in his throat, and they were both silent again, Kid still meeting his gaze.

"We're... Friends," Kid said slowly, eyes searching Black Star's face for any reaction. Black Star didn't give any, sensing that wasn't all Kid wanted to say and waiting for him to continue.

"No pressure," Black Star said after a few more seconds of silence. "I'm here no matter what. I just want to be clear; it's something they're probably going to ask you anyway, right?" Kid was saved having to answer by Maka throwing open the door, stomping in with the magazine in hand.

"Unbelievable!" She said indignantly, scowl on her face, and Kid went back to writing on his pad (silently now) while Black Star and Maka verbally tore the article to shreds.

** A/N: okay, rewrote the chapter now that i'm not in the middle of passin out after over 24 hours of no sleep?

thinkin about making a forum to reply to guest reviews, especially cos they've been some of the most helpful! i didn't relize how hard i'd made it to read the dialogue, sorry bout that

someone also pmed me about chapter transitions, so i'll try to work harder on those as well! i might go back and fix those 2 things in earlier chapters if i find the time

please review if u have anythin 2 say, constructive or not!