- I just wanted to thank everyone for all the support! I also recommend going to my art blog at .com. I am going to post an art piece for each chapter I write from here on out. Thank you again!
36. Dreamer - Crona
Rays of orange and pink painted the sky as the sun fell beyond the watery horizon. Wide, doe like eyes peered over the water's surface toward the sandy beach that resided not too far off. Pink locks drifted on top of the water, coalescing together as she attempted to be as still as possible. She didn't want to give away her position. Gentle waves brushed past her rosy cheeks as she scanned the beach. It wasn't long until her blue eyes landed on a couple of figures along the shore.
There were three of them this time. Her eyes drifted over the two females, one with long brown hair and the other with a short yellow bob - almost like hers. They shifted over to the dark haired male, standing near them. She couldn't stop the smile from slipping onto her face as she stared at him. Even at this distance, she noticed the way his pants were rolled up to his knees as he explored the shallow water.
Silently, she slipped back under the dark, cold sea, her eyes adjusting to the new darkness that surrounded her. She blinked, eyes shifting toward the rock that jutted upward and out of the water. With a flick of her dark tail, she pushed her way toward it, eyes never leaving her destination. It was only when an equally black silhouette obscured her vision that she jerked to a stop. Her hair concealed her face for a moment before drifting back lazily behind her.
"And where do you think you are going?" The words slithered out of its slimy mouth and her eyebrows pinched together. Before her was an all too familiar black eel with a stark white 'x' on his forehead.
"Just...Closer." She whispered, wrapping her arms around her thin waist as if to protect herself. She jutted one hip out her tail snapping in the opposite direction. She knew Ragnarok followed her, Medusa never let her stray far without him. Not that she didn't enjoy his company at times.
"That's not a good idea." He replied, swimming around her, pressing into her short, pink hair. It caused a shiver to shoot down her spine as he appeared on the other side of her pale shoulder. His face rubbed against her, his skin chiller than hers.
"I'll be careful." Her eyes followed him around as he moved back in front of her.
"As long as you don't get spotted. You know what will happen." His snark reply barely masked his actual concern for her. She sighed, blowing out a few bubbles around her face.
"I won't." Determination set into her eyes as she clenched her hands into fists. She raised her hands and jerked them downward, sweeping her tail behind her to propel forward. He moved out of her way, a grunt escaping the eel. She could feel him following closely behind, almost as if he was her shadow.
This wasn't the first time Ragnarok stopped her before she came close to land. And it wouldn't be the last. He cared, but he was tied to Medusa's magic, unable to disobey her direct orders. Luckily, Crona found a loophole. Ragnarok could lie to Medusa as long as he held up his end of at least attempting to stop the young pinkette. It worked in her favor immensely once that came to light. As long as she didn't actually get spotted with evidence against her.
Ever since then, he would accompany her, give her a warning, and she would be on her merry way to observe the humans on this island. At least, a certain human - thoughts of the dark haired male entered her mind. She felt her heart clench together as she approached her usually hiding place, a giant rock that protruded above the water. Pressing her hands against it, she raised herself back out of the water. Only the top of her head was visible as she glanced around, thankfully the beach wasn't in view from behind the rock. Pulling herself further out, she peered around the rock, hoping they didn't leave in the time it took her to get over here.
Relief washed over her as she spotted them, still in the same area. She was plenty far away, enough to where she couldn't hear them, but was close enough to admire all she wanted. They were talking among themselves as Crona admired the way their bodies moved. She felt herself round the rock more, observing them in awe.
The one in particular was the boy with dark hair and three stripes. It was so interesting to her. How was his hair like that? She honestly didn't know if humans were just born like that, but maybe they were. Maybe it was normal. She rested her cheek against one of her hands that was pressed against the rock. A sigh escaped her lips as she lovingly enjoyed the glimpse she had into their lives.
He had ventured a little further down than where he was, clutching a weird, cylinder shaped object that hung off his neck. He brought the object up to his eyes scanning the ocean through the gadget. Thankfully, he was staring off in another direction. Her cheeks flared up with warmth as she fantasized him spotting her. It wouldn't be good. He could never see her. But to have his beautiful gaze land on her would kill her on the spot. She couldn't handle the thought.
Wincing, she felt the slimy body of Ragnarok brush against her back, poking his head out from under the water. "Oh, it's pretty boy again." His remark caused her to sputter, unable to deny it entirely. He was pretty. More than any treasure she found within the depths of the ocean. She removed one of her hands from the rock and pressed it against her bare chest, hoping to calm her heart.
As she watched them interact with each other, their actions and motions became almost comedic as they spoke. Her heart ached as she strained to hear them. Alas, the distance between them was enough to silence any sound coming her way. With a small grunt, her eyes surveyed the space around her. She was in luck, not too far off from the beach was another, much smaller rock, but one nevertheless.
Her head disappeared back under the surface, propelling forward by pushing off the rock she was currently next to. Ragnarok never missed a step, following closely next to her, casually bumping into her every now and then. She ignored him for the most part. As she approached the rock, the sandy bottom rose immensely. She was basically crawling, hoping to minimize the amount of waves she caused. She was not going to be spotted now, not when she was so close to hearing his voice for the first time. It was what urged her forward, even as Ragnarok wrapped around her waist as if he was trying to stop her.
He slid off a moment later as they arrived at the rock. She curled her tail under herself and lifted out of the water, once again. Her hair stuck to her face as she pressed into the rock, heart racing as now half her body was exposed to the chilling air. Instantaneously, their voices erupted through the air when she broke the water's surface. Her hands trembled against the rock as his deep voice stood out from the other two. Eyelashes fluttered closed as she listened.
The words didn't matter to her. All that mattered was that she finally could appreciate human vocal chords. It surprised her how similar they sounded to her when she was above water. It caused her to wonder if they were all that different after all.
"You really think you will find something?" One voice asked, annoyance shining through each word.
"I know what I saw Liz." His deep voice responded. Okay, so one was named Liz. Cautiously, heart in her throat, she felt the need to see which one had spoken. The only thing stopping her was Ragnarok who, before now, hadn't noticed he poked his head out, body wrapped back around her waist. She frowned down at him, curling her thin fingers around his body. A small noise of protest left him as she pried him off of her, casting him away from her.
"That you saw a magical person in the sea?" The Liz person countered, trying to get through to the male.
"You mean mermaids!" A high pitched voice butted in as a few splashes were heard. Crona tensed at that, trying to pinpoint how far away they were. Uneasiness pricked at her skin as she understood they were talking about her species. Have they seen her before? Surely she wasn't that careless. She shoved those worries as far down as she could.
"Yes, as Patty said, a mermaid. Or a merperson." A giggle could be heard as the girl known as Patty squealed as the male acknowledged her. A loud sigh was heard from farther away as to what she assumed was Liz walking away.
"I'll leave you to it. I'm not standing in the sand, cold and hungry." Her voice drifted farther away.
"Kid!" Patty yelped as a few more splashes were heard as she exited the ocean, returning to the beach. His name was Kid! Her interest was immediately piqued as she registered his name. It was the strangest of the trio. "I'm hungry too." A whine was heard shortly after.
"You can go Patty, I won't be much longer." As the words left Kid's mouth, a cheer erupted from Patty, as, to what Crona assumed, was her running off in the other direction.
It was silent now. The waves gently crashed against the shore. It was soothing listening to the rhythm it made. She hadn't heard Kid in a while and curiosity got the better of her. At a snail's pace, she proceeded around the rock. Her wide, blue eyes glimpsed around, arms shaky. Within seconds, the male known as Kid was in her view. He was still in the shallow water, staring at the setting sun, his dark eyebrows scrunched together.
Awestruck, she sat there, frozen and hanging over the rock. Crona was never this close before and could never tell what his features looked like. His eyes flitted around the open sea, hope clinging to them. A small gasp left her mouth as she realized they were gold. A true treasure indeed.
He seemed so tall, but then again, she really didn't have a reference for human height. Would she be taller if she had legs? Questions swarmed her, most she didn't have answers to. She knew so little about human culture, it pained her. A frown was present on his face as he scooped out the area, wandering down the shoreline a little closer to the rock she was hiding behind. Although he had moved, she decided it was ok and he wouldn't look at a rock. How naive she was.
When his golden eyes met her pale, blue ones in a simple glance, her heart stopped. Mouth agape, she lurched behind the rock, a gasp leaving her. No way. No way. Her mind raced as blood pumped through her ears. It wasn't a moment later when there were hurried footsteps splashing and a choked 'hey' that she was sure was directed toward her.
In her moment of panic, she dived forward, forgetting how shallow it was this far up and landing flat on her stomach. She sputtered, flailing around like a literally fish out of water, before she eventually propped herself up. She thrust her body upward, curving her tail against the water as she dived head first toward the deep - in the same fashion a dolphin would. This time, thankfully, despite all her splashing, she successfully submerged herself in the water.
She propelled forward, retreating to her precious rock from before. She curled herself around the rock, her black tail, wrapping against the hard surface for support. She exhaled heavily, fearing for her life. There was no way he didn't see her. No way he didn't hear all the splashing. Did he see her dive into the water? She was screwed.
Cautiously, she peered out of the water, only allowing her eyes to be out. Her wide eyes landed on the male who was standing near the position she was at previously. He was waist deep in the water now, scouring the area. Her heart never slowed down. She could make out bits of words like 'Hey', 'Come back!' and so on - urgency filling his voice. Her panic was still evident as she felt the cold body of Ragnarok press into her unusually warm back. It was refreshing to feel him there, even as he hissed out her name.
"Does he have proof?" He pressed his slimy mouth into her hair, resting it against her ear. She involuntarily shivered at the contact, never removing her eyes from the harried human. He flailed around in the water, the sun's light failing his vision.
"No." She hastily whispered back, her mouth still underwater as she peered at the male. He was alone. His two friends from before didn't seem to believe him in the first place. She had to be safe from Medusa's wrath.
"Good." Ragnarok grimly replied, fighting off the magic coursing through his body. She brought a hand to pet the side of his body, trying to find comfort in his ever cold temperature.
Kid eventually waddled out of the water, wetness clinging to the fabric of his clothing. It clung too tightly and she felt her cheeks flare up with a different kind of panic. He was physically displeased as he retreated back across the sand. She risked sticking more of her face out into the now cold air as the sun was almost completely set. She watched him go, regret filling her. He paused, glancing back toward the dark sea and she flinched back instinctively. He seemed like he didn't find anything and kept walking, shoulders slumped downward.
Her body lifted more out of the water, clinging to the rock again as she watched him turn into a tiny blur in the distance. Although he left displeased, all she felt was elation - at least once the adrenaline died down. A smile graced her lips as she pressed her back against the rock, sliding back down into the water. Her eyes fluttered closed as she wrapped her arms around her thin waist, not stopping until her butt touched the sandy ground of the ocean floor.
The risk was high, but the reward was worth it. His eyes are gold. A childish giggle left her lips as she went through the mental images she had captured of him. She knew she could never meet him like she was. Instead, she would dream of the friendship she could have had. Medusa controlled a lot of aspects of her life, but not this one - as long as she stayed far enough away, she could be a dreamer as long as she wished.
37. Mist - Kid
Loud and boastful, BlackStar jumped holding out the pool stick he was clutching. A shrill left the sandy haired girl as she pointed an accusing finger toward the blue haired male. Kid couldn't stop his eyes from rolling at the accusation Maka claimed. He could already tell that BlackStar won fair and square, Maka was a sore loser. Watching the scene between his friends, he took a small sip of the drink in front of him.
Beside him, Tsubaki removed herself from the table with a sigh of her own, going to BlackStar's side. Her calming presence managed to keep them quiet for exactly thirty seconds before BlackStar demanded a rematch from Maka. She agreed - they shook hands on it.
Although the bar was crowded, the two were clearly making the majority of the noise. Glancing off to his left, he realized he was now alone at the table as the pinkette that was placed next to him disappeared. His eyebrows raised in question, but eventually chalked it up to them going to the bathroom.
The sound of breaking glass caused him to shoot his gaze back toward his rowdy friends. From what he could tell, BlackStar had broken the drink he was holding. The pieces were scattered around their feet and he promptly ignored them, bending down to start the round of pool. This was getting out of hand.
Not wanting to witness anymore, at least not for that moment, Kid pried himself out of the chair. He maneuvered around a few people as he headed for the exit. Brisk air entered his lungs as he closed the door behind him. His golden eyes scanned the empty street as he noticed the mist had set in even thicker than when they arrived. The chill of the air sunk into his bones, coating him with a refreshing chill. As he exhaled, he walked a few paces down the left, wanting to put some distance between him and the entrance of the bar.
He wasn't going to leave, but he needed to clear his head as his friends made fools of themselves. As he passed the alleyway between the bar and another building, he paused. Although the mist was thicker here, he didn't miss the pink hair of Crona leaning against the wall.
"Crona?" Their name left his lips in surprise, not expecting to see the pinkette outside, alone. In response, they raised their head to give him a glance. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he approached his friend, feeling uneasy with being in an alleyway.
"Hey," They whispered, a puff of visible air filling the space around their head. Their eyes were puffy, as if they had been crying.
"What are you doing out here alone?" He asked, concerned for his friend and the state he found them in.
"My head felt fuzzy…"They replied, chapped lips pressing together for moisture. His brow furrowed as he approached them, mimicking their position against the wall. "I needed air." They added on as he situated himself against the cold brick.
"Why didn't you tell Maka?" He started to suspect they were having a panic attack in the crowded bar. Usually Maka was the one to help Crona, considering she was usually glued to their hip. Why did Crona not pull Maka aside?
"She was busy. I didn't want to bother her." Crona strained out, a frown pressing onto the corners of their mouth. It was probably more of the fact Maka was facing BlackStar in a game. Their loud mouth friend frightened Crona, even more so when he consumed alcohol. He studied their face, not blaming them for their choice.
"I could have accompanied you." He murmured quietly, not sure why he suddenly offered it. Not that it was a lie, he would have escorted them without complaint. Their head jerked upward as they met his gaze, surprised at his words.
"I… I didn't think of that." They admitted, pink appearing on their cheeks in embarrassment. Their shoulders raised up as if they were trying to hide their discomfort. Their arms wrapped around their thin waist, head downcast. "Sorry."
"Don't be." He tried to reassure them, not wanting to make them feel as if their choice wasn't the right one. If Crona didn't want anyone, he shouldn't have pried them for answers on why they didn't. "It's okay to be alone."
"I…" They paused, their words hanging in the air between them. Kid waited for them to continue but their face was scrunched up in distress. He didn't want to cause them more alarm, knowing it was easy to relapse into another attack. It was probably best he left them be. He would inform Maka of their whereabouts in case something went wrong.
"I can lea - "
"No!" He barely got out a word as he was promptly cut off by his taller friend. He had raised his hand as he pointed out toward the street, but was stopped by slender fingers clutching his sleeve. He merely stared at it, unsure about the contact - what it could entail. His eyes raised to the top of their head, examining the pink locks through the darkness.
"I don't want to be alone." They raised their watery, blue eyes up at him, hand trembling. A sharp pain shot through his heart at their expression. His face softened as he lowered his arm, letting it hang loosely at his side. They still clutched to his sleeve, readjusting themselves to stare at the wall instead.
"Okay." He replied, still watching them for a moment longer. He followed their lead and brought his eyes to stare at the dirty wall across from them.
In silence, they stood together in the cold, misty alleyway behind the bar. Crona clung to his sleeve, fingers going red from the pressure. He allowed them to, letting them have whatever comfort they needed in that moment. He could have gone back inside and pulled Maka aside so she could help, but Crona seemed determined that he was the one to stay.
So he stayed, hoping the comfort he did provide was enough. During so, he took the time to enjoy the silence the night life consisted of as he originally intended to when he exited the bar. Having a quiet companion was a plus.
38. Burning - Crona
It was calm that night. Her blue eyes were glued to the dark sky, admiring the bright stars that were painted across it. The area was filled with the crackle and pop of the nearby fire and the low hum of conversation. She was crouched near one of the tents, pulling out the blanket she brought. Wrapping it around her shoulders, she turned just in time to see Maka approaching her with two steaming mugs.
"Hot cocoa with marshmallows, as requested." Were the words that left Maka as she handed off one of the mugs to her. She graciously took it.
"Thank you." She softly replied, blowing the steam that floated out of the hot liquid. They both strolled back to the rest of the group, taking their designated seats around the fire.
Snuggling with the blanket she retrieved, she pulled her knees up to her chest, setting the cup of cocoa against them. She took a tiny sip, not wanting to burn her tongue. Wincing, she stuck her small, pink tongue out into the cold air having burned it regardless of her carefulness. That was going to bother her later.
Glancing curious eyes around the fireside, she observed her friends. BlackStar and Patty were singing a song together, ignoring Liz's plea for them to stop. Liz realizing the attempt was futile, turned her attention to Tsubaki, who was sipping her cup casually. A sharp giggle left the dark haired female as Liz whispered something, an inappropriate grin on her face. Eyebrows pinching together, Crona immediately turned away, not wanting to know what they were discussing.
Her gaze found their way to Soul and Maka, who in their newly announced relationship were cuddled close together. Soul was seated on the largest chair they brought, blanket wrapped tightly around Maka, who was perched on his lap. A small smile found its way onto Crona's face, elated for her friend's happiness. She deserved it. As she stared, Soul leaned into Maka's ear, whispering a secret known only to them. It caused her sandy haired friend to smack his shoulder, a protest forming at her lips.
Crona, eyes wide at the implication, brought her warm drink back to her lips. What was in the water tonight? It seemed the majority of their group was feeling frisky. A loud laugh left Patty as she stood up, leaving the circle they formed. Remaining seated with an expression not usually presented on the male, was BlackStar. His face was stark red. Now make that everyone but her and -
Her eyes flitted to the dark haired male, who sat directly on the other side of the fire from her. His golden eyes were downcast, so he hadn't noticed her staring - yet. Her lips idly pressed into the ceramic mug, not yet taking a sip. She studied him, completely in a trance by the glow of the flames flickering against his pale face. He was strangely quiet as everyone else relaxed in conversation - not like she was making an attempt to converse as well.
She hadn't noticed how long she was gawking at the young death god through the burning flames, but eventually his warm, half-lidded gaze collided with hers. Her blue eyes widened as he acknowledged her with a warm, affectionate smile. She felt her heart stop, but only for a moment. Behind the lip of her mug, she produced a smile of her own, her cheeks flushing up. The flames flickered between them, igniting a feeling she hadn't experienced before. He was so handsome when the glow of the fire highlighted his facial features. Did his eyes always radiate with such warm vigor?
Both kept eye contact, a bundle of emotions filtering through their gazes. Unspoken words she wasn't sure she knew the language for. Soon the warmth became suffocating. In that moment of panic, she bit down on the mug, flinching almost immediately as a sound of pain left her. Her teeth throbbed as she pressed a hand to her mouth, applying pressure on her lower lip. That was going to be tender.
She pulled her hand back, spotting the smear of dark blood against her finger tips. Great. She could mentally hear Ragnarok calling her an idiot for having googly eyes at three stripes. Scowling at his words, she came to a stand, untangling herself from the comfort of the blanket. Setting aside her mug, she felt a small hand against her elbow. She turned to meet the worried gaze of Maka.
"Are you okay?" She asked, apparently not too wrapped up in Soul as she noticed her distress.
"I'm fine, bit my lip." She waved her friend off, embarrassment rising up on her cheeks. If only Maka knew.
Maka accepted the answer with a nod, releasing her elbow. As soon as she did, Crona found herself retreating back to the tents. Crouching down, she pulled her bag out from inside one of the tents. Now where did her first aid kit go? She paused at the sounds of footsteps behind her. At their approach, she turned and raised her head to see who had followed her over. A second time, her heart stopped.
"Kid?" She gasped, tasting the salty, metallic blood against her lips.
"Are you okay?" He hovered over her, concern clearly written on his face as he mimicked the question Maka asked her. Her gaze dropped to his outstretched hand, offering his handkerchief. She snapped her eyes right back to his, unable to process the cloth.
"Y-Yeah." She gulped, hunched over her bag, frozen. She was unable to make a move, heat rising inside her body at the fact he was so close.
"Here...for your lip." He leaned toward her now, becoming even closer to her. His hand still offered the handkerchief.
"Oh, okay." In her stupor, she wasn't sure how to respond. She raised her hand to meet his outstretched one. Her cold fingers collided with his warmer ones as she wrapped them around the fabric and a jolt flew through her body. She pulled it back to her, pressing it against her mouth, eyes averting toward the ground. A small thank you escaped her as she realized how rude it was not to thank him for taking the time to walk over and offer this.
A chuckle left him, which caused Crona to peer up at him, still awkwardly crouched. She was met with a soft gaze. She would not survive the night with the burning sensation welling up inside her - not with how he was staring at her.
"I'm sorry I caused you to bite your mug." At his words, her shoulders tensed as her whole face was filled with heat. She whipped her head away from his view, her shyness getting the best of her. Was he teasing her? A horrid thought crossed her mind. She was sharing a tent with him tonight. The only thing saving her from erupting into flames on the spot was remembering that Liz would also be present.
It would be a long night.
39. Out of Time - Kid
Her sword clattered to the ground as the deafening sound of a gun echoed through the room. His eyes widened as her frail body jerked backwards from the force of the bullets as it entered the left side of her body; shoulder, hip, and arm. She stumbled back, a shaking hand pressing into one of the wounds. She hadn't had time to harden her blood. It felt like years as he watched the few seconds pass of this tragedy. With strength he wished he acquired earlier, he ripped from the arms of his captors. Spinning, he kicked the two that were holding him straight in the face. They flew back, giving him enough time to race forward.
He scrambled toward Ragnarok, a spark of energy shooting through him as he scooped him up - connecting their souls. Gripping the handle, a strange feeling overcame him. He never held a sword before, especially not one of black blood. He was surprised he was even compatible with the demon sword, but figured it was a perk of being a death god. The person in front of him held the gun out, ready to shoot him next. Using his enhanced reflexes, he easily dodged the bullets being shot at him.
Everything passed in a blur as he dispatched the offenders in the room. He stood, hovering above the last person, Ragnarok raised overhead. He breathed heavily as he pulled himself together, his arms falling to his sides. Souls floated around the dimly lit room, coating what could be seen in a red glow. He held the demon sword out and he happily slurped down the evil souls. It was only when a small whimper brought him back to why he slaughtered the whole room.
Snapping his gaze toward the sound, he rushed over to the thin body of Crona. She was propped against the nearby wall, clutching her currently bleeding shoulder, her arm limp at her side. The dark liquid stained the floor underneath. He fell to his knees near her, raising Ragnarok toward her body. He surprisingly slipped silently back into her. She groaned, shifting in her spot.
"We have to hurry." Were his hurried whispers, pulling off his jacket. With his mind fueled on adrenaline, he pulled Crona to him, ignoring her quiet grunts of pain. Her chin rested on his shoulder, leaning against him while he bandaged her up. Wrapping his arms around her, he covered her left side in the jacket. He finished off his basic medical knowledge of applying pressure to a wound by tying the sleeves taut around her upper chest. Once he was sure it was secured, he gently pried her off of him and back against the wall.
"Kid...I'm sorry. I should have…"Her words trailed off as he positioned himself to carry her. He quietly shushed her, drawing her back toward him. He lifted her bloodied body in his arms, letting her uninjured side rest against his chest.
With ease, he maneuvered through the room to the only door. This place was a maze, if he remembered correctly. It must have been pure luck when Crona found him. As fast as he could, he ran forward down the hall. Each door he checked only led them to an empty room. No exit in sight. Luck wouldn't help them back out it would seem. There were a lot of voices down the hall to their right.
He paused, listening to see if they would come this way. And they were. Panicking, he dashed the other way, slower than he would have been if he wasn't carrying Crona. All the doors that were laid in front of them were locked and Kid feared if he stayed to break one down, they would be caught. The stampede of footsteps followed his exact path, no matter how many turns he took. It didn't take long for at least one of them to catch up.
The sharp sound of a gun went off in the echoing hallway as he lurched forward. Crona gasped with him. Pain scorched through his left side. At the realization that the pain he was experiencing was a bullet entering and exiting the thigh of his left leg, he felt true fear. His body moved on its own, opening the nearby door and stumbling in.
"Kid!" She hissed as he fell forward, her body dropping to the ground along with him with a painful thud. He flipped over and kicked the door shut with his uninjured one. He brought a trembling hand to his thigh, dark red blood dying his fingers. A growl escaped him as he forced himself to stand, one hand still pressed against his leg. Thankfully, there was a shelf nearby, which he promptly shoved against the door to block the entrance of the room.
He staggered backward as another pained whisper left Crona as she attempted to get his attention. He limped toward her, reaching for her as he kneeled. His arms were around her the second he approached her, holding her tightly against him. The black blood of Crona stained his white dress shirt as he clung to her, fear radiating off of him. She trembled.
"Kid…" After a moment of silence, she spoke up, her breathing uneven. He stayed silent, listening to what could be her last words. "We aren't both going to make it." His arms tightened around her thin form, an agonizing 'stop' slipping between his lips. He refused to believe this was happening.
Guiding her one usable hand, she shoved him back harshly. He allowed her, hope leaving his body. They weren't going to make it, after all this time. He brought his gaze up to meet her determined, but aching one. As she raised her hand, Ragnarok appeared, slipping out of her already blood lost body. She shoved the sword flat against his chest, a plea forming at her lips. His eyes widened as he stared at her in disbelief, feeling the weight of Ragnarok against him.
His thoughts raced around his mind at the implication that Crona offered. Sacrifice her, so that there was a small possibility of him living? No, never. His body froze up, hands lingering against her elbows, conflict clear on his face. There had to be a way, she came for him. He couldn't leave her, not like this.
His thoughts only spiraled from there. Idea after incompetent idea rushed by, Kid dismissing it immediately because it led to only him surviving. Seconds ticked by unaccounted for as each desperate plan became more panic induced than logical. He was running out of time - out of time. The phrase ran through his mind, occupying any thought of a plan. They were running out of time. His eyes snapped to hers, liquid already falling from her eyes. The sight of her tears, brought attention to his own and he wondered if he was the one to start first. Her hand trembled aggressively against him as she held Ragnarok.
"Kid… you have to." Exhaustion clear, she pleaded with him to take her sword. "I can't fight…" A sob choked out from between her words as she struggled to speak.
He was terrified to be in a world without her. He wanted more time. His path was clear. Without a moment's notice, he cupped her face, smearing one side with red. His lips crashed against hers roughly, desperation clear in his actions. He felt her whimper against his lips, leaning into him; their first kiss. He had a life of regrets, the one most prominent was not spending enough time with Crona. Every second wasted before now because he had not dived straight into her life - had not taken the risk while they were safe. He couldn't leave her alone to face the inevitable death in his place.
He pulled away from her, a new resolve in his stare. Her eyes fluttered open, weak from the blood loss. She searched his face for an answer and a protest welled up inside her throat. She knew his answer immediately. He soaked in the details of her face, savoring the last few moments of their time together. It would be all they received from this cruel fate. Her head shook back and forth, another sob wracking through her body.
They both jumped as the people chasing them pounded at the door. They were out of time. He lifted Ragnarok from her thin fingers, gripping him tightly. The demon sword rumbled out a sentence, but it never reached Kid's ears. Blood was pounding through his whole body as he took a stand. His soul connected with the demon sword, accepting the black blood - her blood. A small no was heard from behind him as Crona wailed, unable to stop him.
They waited, the pounded becoming rhythmic as their enemies forced the door open. Fire burned through his veins, his leg throbbing. He felt dizzy as he accepted the insanity of the black blood. The door finally burst open, the shelf knocked haphazardly away from it. He barely had a moment to react as another scorching pain ripped into his hip, a bullet lodging itself there.
He rushed forward, impaling the person standing in the doorway. Their body disappeared, leaving a red soul in its wake. A shoulder knocked the breath out of him as it hit him square against his chest. His body didn't listen to him as he collapsed onto his back with a sickening thud. The demon sword was loosely clutched in his hand. Was that all the fight he had in him? Grimacing, he glared up at the person who would kill him. Before he could even get a good look, pink and black blocked his vision. A shrill echoed through the room, Ragnarok snatched from his grip. Crona, shaking against her sudden movements, hovered over his body, her good arm clenching her demon sword out in a protective manner.
"Don't touch him!" A feral growl escaped her. He wondered why they hadn't shot her down yet. His mind was going fuzzy as his whole body felt numb at this point. This was really it. He was fading fast and Crona wouldn't be far behind him.
There was a swift movement, a cry was ripped from Crona, Ragnarok kicked out of her grip. They surely broke her wrist. Twisting around, she faced him with tears, blood and pain etched into her features. She threw herself on top of his chest, hoping to protect what she could of him. His face was pressed into the crook of her neck, unable to do much more in his current state. His eyes closed after a moment more, enjoying the presence of the shaking demon sword wielder, knowing they both did what they could in a helpless situation.
His eyes shot back open at the sound of heavy footsteps as a high pitched voice broke into the air. He couldn't see, but he felt Crona raise her head in confusion as well. The only thing remaining of the group of people, were the red souls. Which were being eaten by a familiar white haired male sticking out of an even more familiar scythe. Kid's eyes widened in wonder as Maka, in all her pig-tailed glory, stood in the doorway. With what little light there was, it made the female appear as if she was glowing - their savior.
Crona turned her head to face him. Her bloody and tear stained face was heaven for him. Her shoulders shook as she exhaled, a shaky laugh filling the air between them. He was in immense pain, but he couldn't stop the tiny smile forming on his own face. Maybe they had more time after all - this time he wouldn't waste it.
40. Knowing How - Crona
Crona stared down at her reflection in the pristine, silver tray she was holding. It shook slightly as she was unfamiliar with the weight of such an object. On top of the tray was one cup, a teapot, two small containers, and a spoon. She was thankful Liz allowed her to brew this. Of all the things she didn't know how to do, she knew how to cure a cold. She faintly remembered the many times she was left to fend for herself.
She lifted her eyes to the looming, dark door before her as she attempted to scrounge up what courage she had. Liz warned her that Kid was unbearable when he was ill. Crona was even surprised that he got sick in the first place. Shrugging away that thought as the conclusion of even death couldn't hide away from illness drifted into her mind.
Approaching the door, she carefully brought the tray to rest on one of her hands, hoping she didn't drop it. Her knuckle lightly tapped against the door. She patiently awaited a response that never came. Strange - she knocked again, this time a little louder than before. A weak and muffled 'come in' brought her to open the door.
Squinting into the darkness, she brought her other hand to grip the edge of the tray, leveling out the weight. She pushed the door closed with her hip, satisfied with the soft click signifying that it was shut tight. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, spotting the bed of the young death god. A small sight left her as she approached.
"Hey Kid." She murmured out into the quiet of the room, only to be met with a croak from under the sheets. Not understanding what was said, she assumed he said some form of a greeting, she walked up, placing the tray on the side table nearby. Her blue eyes peered down toward the unusually messy appearance of the dark sheets. Tissue and wrappers were strewn in a haphazard way she knew he would never allow normally. Her gaze drifted back to the top of the bed where the pillows lie. Everything was dark. It was unmistakable though, the lump in the bed was definitely Kid.
"How are you feeling?" Her soft question lingered in the air as she awaited his answer. There was a slight shift under the covers with another muffled reply.
"What?" Her eyebrows pinched together at the sound barrier of these covers. She raised her hands, grabbing the edges of the blankets, dead set on pulling them back.
"Don't!" The raspy voice of Kid shocked her and she held her hands up in the air as if she had been caught stealing. His body shifted underneath, almost as if he was curling up into a ball.
"I'm sorry, but I have something that might help." Concern laced her words as she softly placed her hands back onto the bed, making sure not to touch the lump of the young death god. Her knees gently pressed into the side of it, peering down at the black covers in suspense.
"What is it?" His voice was barely a whisper as if fought against the sore throat she knew he had.
"It's tea." She answered, drawing a circle into the blanket before her.
"I'll drink it, you can go." He rasped, shifting once more under the covers. She sighed, feeling the uneasiness of his voice, despite the sickness coating it.
"Kid, I'm here to help. Whatever it is you need. Liz left me to tend to you." She couldn't understand why he was so determined for her not to see him. Was he afraid he was going to get her sick?
"Liz left?" Shock was evident in his voice as his head perked up the blankets moving upward.
"She said she had shopping to do." Crona glanced toward the teapot, wondering if the liquid was getting cold. Her fingers gripped the edge of the covers again. "Come on out, the tea is getting cold." She gave the blankets a tug, but was met with a strong force of resistance.
"No! Don't look…" He whined, sniffing loudly. He sounded like a baby.
"It's not that bad, I'm sure." She countered, wrenching the fabric toward her. In her relief, she won the tug of war, pulling the covers to her chest.
She was met with a groan. She slowly blinked at the sight of a tangled mess of hair and an arm covering his face. He was clad in his pajamas, crinkles on every crease. She had never seen him in such disarray before. It soothed her to see him like this - like a normal person. She folded the blankets lower down on the bed, perching herself on top of them so he couldn't hide away again. Ignoring him for the moment, she brought the tray over from the table, keeping it balanced on her lap for the moment. After making sure it wouldn't fall, she poured tea into the single cup, steam wafting into the air.
"Honey?" The word caused Kid to stiffen. At his jerking movement, she brought her wide eyes to him, concerned. She watched him silently as he peered out from under his arm, his cheeks a rosy red.
"What did you say?" He questioned, completely out of it as he stared at her with half-lidded eyes.
"Honey…for the tea."She answered his question a little slower, eyes flitting around in search of an answer for herself. Why was he being weird? She chalked it up to the cold, not knowing how a simple illness affected death gods.
"Oh, of course…" He pressed his arm back over his eyes, a disappointing noise escaping him.
Had she done something wrong? Shoving the emotion of uncertainty down, she stirred in a spoonful of honey. She also added a little bit of sugar, not wanting to risk asking him again. A tiny smile was on her face as she gazed down at the steaming cup of tea.
"Here." She leaned forward a bit, offering the cup toward him with both of her hands.
At his own agonizing slow pace, he peeled his arm from his face completely. Sitting up with a small struggle, he leaned onto the palms of his hands, staring at the cup. Her own gaze was trapped staring at him. He obviously wasn't well, dark circles under his eyes, cheeks warm with the color red, and his nostrils appeared raw. Even in this state, or maybe especially in this state, she felt her stomach flutter. Seeing the disorder of how his hair stuck up in places warmed her heart. He was cute.
"I know… I'm hideous." She hadn't realized he had also been staring at her, already having removed the cup from her hands. Her hands dropped to the tray.
She snapped back into a straight sitting position, embarrassed from being caught. She kept her eyes trained on the reflective tray, tracing the delicate design around the outer edge with one of her fingers. "Not really…" She murmured, talking to herself, still not meeting his gaze.
"What?" His surprise caused her to bring her gaze upward, meeting his bewildered expression. "I have never been in such…" He couldn't finish his sentence, a coughing fit cutting him off.
She placed the tray on the side table once more, bringing herself closer to him. Despite the attack, he kept the cup steady. Without thinking, she pressed her thin fingers into his back, rubbing soothing circles. She could hear a complaint Ragnarok was forming from within. She mentally forced him back down, not wanting his rude mouth to ruin the progress she made with Kid. He calmed down eventually, rubbing his sleeve against his mouth. He offered her a muted 'sorry', not able to look at her.
"Drink up, it'll be soothing." While her hand was still against his back, she used her other one to press a few fingers against the cup, pushing it toward him. She purposely avoided his fingers.
Without complaint, he brought the warm beverage to his lips. She didn't know why she kept her hand against his warm back, but she did, enjoying the contact she had with him. A tiny part of herself hoped it soothed him, even the slightest bit. Tiredly, he rested the cup against his lap, sighing.
"It's good."He brought his gaze to hers, a smile on his face.
"I'm glad." A similar smile broke out onto her face at his words, elated that he enjoyed it.
They sat there together, him sipping at the tea she made for him, while she silently observed, He needed to at least drink a whole cup, then he would start to feel better. Her fingers idly traced a circle against his back, continuing as he hadn't complained about the motion. Every so often, a sniffle would break the silence. As he finished the last drop of the warm liquid, she slipped the cup out of his hand.
"Do you want more?" She asked, peering at his face for any change.
Even though his eyes were half lidded before, they barely blinked open at her words. He hummed out a response - she wasn't sure what it meant. His head lolled toward her, landing softly against her shoulder. He exhaled, his warm breath striking against her neck. It wasn't his fault that she had already had her arm wrapped around his shoulder, giving easy access to her unoccupied shoulder. But it was her fault. Maybe she didn't dose the tea correctly. With a small struggle, she leaned over with him on her to place the cup back onto the tray.
"I'll take that as a no…"She murmured, propping him up to the best of her ability. The majority of his weight stayed pressed against her. "Kid?" She asked, giving him a small shake, hoping to rouse him long enough to get him situated.
"Hm?" Was his only reply, pressing his face further against her.
"How are you feeling?" She asked, bringing her free hand to grip his shoulder, hoping to pull him back enough so she could see his face.
"Great…"He murmured, his eyes blinking rapidly, struggling to stay open. His glazed stare trailed up her face to meet her more coherent gaze. She felt nervous as his gaze softened, an expression she wasn't familiar with coating his stare.
Her heart jumped into her throat as he raised one of his hands. His fingers tickled against her cheek as he brought them there. "Crona...you have beautiful eyes…"He slurred, his eyes blinking close. She stared down at him, eyes wide, the contact she had with him feeling warm. He really confessed the weirdest things when he was out of it, not that she didn't mind. His hand dropped back down, landing against her other arm while his head slumped back against her shoulder.
A small panic shot through her. She froze on the spot as the arm that dropped wrapped around her midsection. His hand relaxed against her hip casually. Wide eyed, she watched his every move as he positioned himself into a comfy spot against her. She felt herself lean back at his weight. Suddenly, she was pressed into the messy bed, a sick and sleepy death god lying against her. She wasn't sure if she should chalk this up to bad or good luck. Either way, she was stuck here, her arm hesitating to fold around him. Eventually, she gave in, enveloping him. She attempted to get as comfy as she could, shifting around just enough to pull her leg from hanging off the side of the bed.
Sighing, she wondered how she got herself in this situation. Liz mentioned he couldn't sleep with this devastating cold. She offered to create her famous cold fighting brew. She assured Liz it would knock him out with one cup. True to her words, he was out like a light. Scanning his face as best as she could in this position, she could say this was a success. At least from knowing how to handle a sleepless cold, she could help her friend get his much needed rest.
Not knowing how much time had passed, she felt herself blinking sleepily up at the dark ceiling. The quiet breathing from the male at her side caused a peaceful feeling to overtake her. Before she realized, she slowly fell asleep, pressing her cheek against the tangled mess of Kid's head.
Unknowingly to them, Liz peeked her head into the room. From spotting the two cuddled together, she smiled and slipped back out, leaving them.