Notes:
THIS CHAPTER IS A LEMON. It contains important plot points, but there is arguing and graphic sex. I really sweated over this resolution, and I'm still not sure if it feels right or not. Let me know what you think!

Massive shoutout to LokiGirl99 for suggesting that emo-powered Reaper energy would probably wreck a room! And another to UndeniableMisconceptions for all their encouragement and for writing a great anime-canon-based story called Safe Space. You should totally check it out!

Chapter 24

There was no cover on The Gallows' wide main staircase, which taxed Maka's already-strained nerves. The house was unusually quiet, but there had to be staff around. Someone who might see her and tell Kid she'd been creeping around like a pathetic stalker. Who might see her patting the carved ebony handrail in farewell.

Maka didn't want to run into the Thompson sisters, either. She'd already had one verbal set-to with Liz and didn't want to imagine what Patty might do to her the next time they saw each other. She wondered if either of them would still be friends with her when the dust settled. At the very least, things would be different—another change she'd have to process. Maka had grown closer to Liz and Patty over the last year, and she'd miss beauty nights, girl talk, Liz's fashion advice, and goofing around with Patty. Maka had to rebuild her relationship with them, get her emotions under control, and keep her breakup from interfering with the resonance team's work. But she needed to get her stupid notebook from Kid's room first, and she didn't think anybody could blame her for wanting to deal with one hard thing at a time.

Luck was with her, and Maka arrived at Kid's door unseen. She stood, hands clasped tightly behind her back, preparing herself. She'd spent so much time in Kid's suite that it almost felt like her space, too. Losing this room full of lovely memories stung, too. But she'd have to be in it less than a minute, and she was tough; she could do it. She turned the cool silver knob and sprinted to the walk-in closet, where she searched in vain for her notebook. She knew she'd left it on top of the center storage island. Somebody had moved it, which meant it could be anywhere. Maka slapped the island's granite top in frustration. Her stress flared into anger, which, In her opinion, was infinitely preferable to being scared.

I want out of here, dammit!

Maka charged back to the bedroom, wildly scanning polished surfaces and plush seats. She avoided it as long as possible but finally had to check the top of what used to be "her" nightstand. And that meant looking at the bed. Where was the quilt? She loved that quilt, and even it had disappeared, replaced by a bleak-looking black blanket.

And sooner or later, she would be replaced, too. Maka thought longingly of the beautiful, sweaty, embarrassingly intimate things she and Kid had done on that bed. He would do all those things with another girl someday. Trail his tongue teasingly up someone else's inner thigh, snuggle a different body, and whisper his professions of love into another ear. And for the rest of her life, Maka would have to deal with the knowledge of it. It was impossible to keep her soul bond with Kid locked down forever, and when it opened, she'd have a direct link to a man who knew every inch of her body and soul but didn't want her. Maka thought of him coming inside someone else, loving someone else, and it gutted her. Choking back a sob, she turned and nearly smacked into Kid as he stepped out of his study. Maka's first instinct was to run, but he was between her and the hall door. Her second was maintaining ego-saving dignity, and she went with that.

"What are you doing here?" Kid demanded, hoping he didn't look as stunned as he felt.

How do I live without her? I miss her.

"I'm working on something with your dad, and I need my team notes," Maka matched his icy tone, proud that her voice didn't waiver, "He told me you were out."

I love him so much. I don't want to let him go.

Kid huffed dismissively, "My father lies a lot."

He was pale and had dark circles under his eyes, which infuriated Maka. Kid had everything he wanted, so why was he looking all hollow-eyed and tragic? Too many late nights sitting at his mother's bedside? Whatever the cause, it didn't stop him from being hot as hell, while Maka knew she looked like a train wreck. A train wreck that hadn't shaved its legs, combed its bangs, or put on a decent shirt without ketchup stains. Her fists clenched, and the movement hurt her splinted finger, pissing her off even more.

"You lie, too," she said acidly, "Let me find my stuff, and I'll get out." Kid grabbed her shoulder as she tried to walk past and spun her back to face him.

"Not until you tell me what you and my dad are doing." His hand was like a statue's—cold, hard, and utterly immovable. She couldn't break his hold, and being helpless was more than Maka could stand. The Reaper energy in her soul boiled to the surface.

"Let go!" she yelled, "I only came over here because I think I can help your crazy fucking mother, so just let me find my notebook, you bastard!" Violet sparks sizzled over her fingernails, and dark mist coalesced around her.

"Why would you do that?" Kid snarled, producing his own cloud of purple-tinted rage, "Why the hell do you care what happens to my mother?"

Power clashed and crackled between them. A finger of lightning scorched the wall near the bathroom door. A second sent Kid's armchair skidding into an 18th-century serpentine chest.

"I don't give a shit about her!" Maka screamed as a lamp shattered, "But I care about what happens to your dad. And I'm a fucking idiot, but I still care about what happens to YOU!" She stopped abruptly, horrified by her confession. They glared at each other for a breathless moment, their faces glowing in the iridescent light of their anger, inches apart. Then, Kid closed the gap.

The kiss was hard, almost violent. By the time it ended, they were groping frantically at each other inside a swirling vortex of purple light and death energy. Maka scrabbled at Kid's shirt buttons, frustrated by the brace on her finger. Her t-shirt was easier to get into, but Kid was equally frustrated by the clasp on her bra. Or lack thereof. He couldn't even feel the damn thing, and after a few seconds of searching, he solved his problem by yanking the bra right over her head and taking her shirt with it. They caught on her hairclip, and Kid growled impatiently. He gave an energetic tug, and the whole mess popped free. Maka's hair cascaded wildly over her shoulders, producing little sparks that pricked Kid's fingers when he dug them into it.

She had most of his buttons undone by then and was tugging at his shirt tails, unable to get the right side untucked. Maka was ready to rip off her splint, but Kid brushed her hands aside and finished undoing the shirt for her. She pushed it off and yanked him close, reveling in his scent and trying to ignore how good his skin felt against hers. Kid grabbed her ass and lifted her, groaning as Maka wrapped her legs around his waist and her warm weight pressed against his erection. Fury and passion buffeted the room, flinging pillows and nearly setting fire to the curtains.

Kid carried her to the bed, nearly tripping over her sandals when she kicked them off. He pressed her down, reaching between them to undo his belt buckle while he toed off his shoes. Maka heard the rasp of his zipper, followed by the rustle of hastily discarded trousers. She dragged her panties down, and without a word, Kid drove his cock inside her. Maka dug her nails into his back, gasping against his shoulder while he rammed into her, and Reaper energy sizzled between their bodies. There was no soul resonance, only his own pleasure, but Kid didn't dwell on it. He didn't have time. It only took a few deep, hard thrusts, and he was coming. Lightning arced over the room, and he cursed into Maka's ear, straining and shuddering as he emptied himself inside her. When his mind cleared, he realized that she was still moving against him, unsatisfied and frustrated, something that had never happened before. He opened his mouth to apologize, and she slapped her hand over it.

"Shut up!" Maka snarled. Hooking her leg behind his, she flipped them over, keeping him inside her. "Shut up, shut up! I'm not DONE with you yet!" she sat up and braced her palms on Kid's collarbones to steady herself while she rocked frantically on him. It was their last time together, and she'd be damned if she was going to be left hanging. Kid couldn't do anything but concentrate on being pinned down and ridden, and it pushed him to the brink again. Maka beat him to it this time, arching backward with a scream as she found her release. Kid seized her hips and worked her up and down on his shaft until he came again with a primal cry of triumph.

The smoky death's heads and light dissipated. One final, weak spark knocked a painting off the wall, and it clunked hollowly on the floor. Maka slid forward and off of Kid, turning her back to him and drawing her knees up. She was suddenly and uncomfortably aware that her underwear was dangling from her left ankle and that her skirt was pushed up to her waist. She batted it down over her damp thighs, feeling lonely and exposed. Kid reeled to his feet and into the bathroom, hoping his robe would make him feel less cold and vulnerable. It didn't. Nor did it help the shame and mortification spiraling in his brain. He'd just fucked his girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend. For the first time, there had been nothing romantic or sweet between them. They hadn't even been nice to each other. It had been selfish, rough, and utterly empty. Kid felt unloved and used, and it looked like Maka did, too. Or maybe she was just mad. He stood beside his bed, not sure what to do. Their harsh breathing was the only sound in the room for a long time.

Kid finally spoke. "What was that?" He asked, turning his head so he wouldn't have to look at her, "Breakup sex?"

"How would I know?" Maka sounded flat and detached, "You're the one who said I don't matter to you anymore." She bit her lip hard because there was no way she was going to let him hear her cry.

Kid dashed to the foot of the bed to confront her, "I never said that!" he exclaimed wildly. "You're the one who didn't want me. I needed you, and you wouldn't even talk to me. I never, ever said you didn't matter to me!"

"Yes, you did!" Maka sat up violently. She crossed her arms over her breasts, curling forward in humiliated embarrassment, "You knocked me into a wall because you were so afraid I'd hurt your mom when I was the one getting my finger ripped off! And you never even came to see if I was okay." Her hair was obscuring most of her face and bugging the hell out of her. But she'd have to uncover her chest to push it out of the way, so she left it, "And even after that, I still came back for you. I heard you tell Liz that your mother is all that matters to you now and that she's the only thing you can't live without. The only thing! I heard you say it!"

"Holy shit," Kid flung himself onto the mattress and knelt before her, "No, no, no. I wasn't talking about my mother. I was talking about YOU!" Hot tears welled up and burned his tired eyes, "You were the one I was afraid for. I was so scared that Maman would rip you apart right in front of me! I panicked, and I didn't watch my strength when I tried to get her off you. I didn't mean to push you like that; I swear I didn't. But when you heard me talking to Liz, you were the person I said I couldn't live without."

Maka finally clawed her hair back and fixed a hard, green gaze on him. She looked fierce, magnificent, and utterly beautiful to him. "You said we should break up. If you love me so much, why would you ever say something like that?" She demanded.

"I didn't know," Kid whispered. You were blocking our link, so I didn't know what you felt or why you were so mad at me if it wasn't because I smacked you into a wall. I didn't understand, and I was so confused and angry. I just needed to be with you, and you sounded like you hated me. Because your mother got hurt, and so did you, and it was all my fault."

Maka stared at him like he was crazy. Maybe he was. Maybe they both were.

"What happened to me wasn't your fault, And what happened to my mom isn't either!" she cried, "She wanted that assignment. She chose to leave me. I thought she was doing something brave and important and wonderful out in the world, and the whole time she was just a fucking babysitter!" the word was like poison in Maka's mouth, "And I know that you didn't shove me on purpose, but thinking that you weren't worried about me, that I didn't matter to you….I couldn't stand that."

She dropped her head and retreated under her hair again. Her shoulders shook, and Kid watched a silent tear fall onto her skirt. He reached out hesitantly, not sure if she wanted to be touched. He brushed his fingertips over her upper arm, making as little contact as possible. She reached up and covered his hand with hers, not holding it, but not pushing him away, either, "So much always has to come before us," she said in a tiny voice, "School, our resonance team, and our families. All the trouble and bad shit in the world. I want to know…I have to know that after all that stuff, I come first with you. Maybe it makes me weak, or girly, or whatever, but I NEED to be important to you!" She sniffed hard, then grabbed his hand and broke into hacking, convulsive sobs.

Kid leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. "You are the best thing in my life. Nothing else even comes close. You're the most important thing in the world to me." He tried to hold it together, but his vision blurred: "You can't shut me out, though. I can take almost anything except you walking away from me and not telling me why. Everybody leaves me, and nobody ever explains. My mom, Miss Marie - even my Dad. I hate….being…left!" Kid's tears mixed with Maka's and ran over their joined hands.

I don't want to leave you. I love you!" Maka sobbed.

Kid sat back so she could see him. "I love you with all my heart. And I want you to stay with me. Forever, remember?"

She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stared deeply into his eyes as she dissolved her block on their link. The soul bond snapped together with a jolt, as strong as ever—stronger because it had been tested and tempered by forgiveness and understanding. Their souls crashed together and were rocked by waves of each other's heartbreak and worry. But behind that came love. Their love. Right where it had always been, waiting for them to come back to it. They held each other tightly, grateful to feel treasured, safe, and whole again.

"Forever," Maka said, snuggling into Kid, "Sounds absolutely perfect."