41. Fork in the road - Kid
Slow music played nearby as he stood on the sidelines, his hands folded behind his back. A warm smile was present on his face as he watched two of his closest friends hold each other, swaying gently to the song. Everything seemed so mystical in the room that the party occupied. He, of course, arranged most of it with a little help from the maid of honor. A memory of a warm smile and pink hair appeared in his mind. His mouth tugged down into a frown as he willed it to dissipate.
This was a moment in which he wished alcohol could affect him. It was frustrating being one of the few sober while everyone let loose. It would help to have a distraction such as that. But then again, he had responsibilities. He tried to focus on the positives of his bloodline. He shifted his feet, peering past the couple to the crowd of people lingering beyond. Friends and allies filled the crowd, no one wanting to miss a happy occasion when it presented itself. He couldn't either. His eyes landed on the same pink haired female that plagued his mind. She wasn't paying attention to him, staring fondly at the couple.
He averted his eyes as the song came to an end, a few piano keys lingering in the air. His death scythe and his top meister pulled apart to give each other a short kiss. Kid's face softened at the show of affection, happy for them. Despite the elation for them, he felt a tinge of pain shoot through his heart; jealous of the life they will spend together. A life he was sure he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself.
Rolling his shoulders, he shoved that feeling away. He was on a war path of his own demise if he kept those thoughts. He knew why those types of emotions were welling up inside of him, but he refused to acknowledge it. His brow pinched together as another flash of a memory barreled through his mind. A gentle touch on his arm, all eyes on them as he escorted them to the end. He held his breath the whole way down the path between rows of pews, not daring to take a peek at the female on his arm.
This time he physically shook his head, pushing a hand through his hair. He needed to get a grip. There were more important matters in life than dwelling on a what if of his love life. He tried to convince himself of that fact, but there was a little whisper at the back of his mind. That little voice showed him his one weakness; constantly. Soft hair, warm eyes, and her lips - No. He stopped himself, his stare focused on the ground. This was agonizing.
As a familiar soul drifted his way, he lifted his head. His shoulders relaxed as a pair of red eyes met his golden ones. A smile tugged at his lips as he met him the rest of the walk, wrapping him in a hug.
"Congratulations Soul." He spoke as they pulled apart, his hand resting on the white haired male's shoulder for a moment more.
"Thanks man." Soul casually replied, slipping his hands into his pants pockets. "I can't believe I lived long enough to get to this point." Surprisingly, a sheepish expression appeared on the newly wed.
"Me either." Kid replied, removing his hand from the other males shoulder. "You two deserve this happiness." He sincerely meant it, wishing above all else that they lived a long happy life from here on out.
"With her," Soul's ruby eyes trailed off to the distance. Kid followed his gaze to where Maka was chatting with her dad. "I will be." He finished his sentence, staring lovingly at his now wife. They were silent for a few moments, before Soul turned to him.
"You don't happen to know where BlackStar went?" His eyebrows scrunched together as he asked.
"No, why?" Kid questioned in turn, wondering what he wanted their blue haired friend for.
"Maka still wants to have pictures taken of everyone and he has disappeared." A scowl made its way onto the other male's face. This was typical of BlackStar to disappear when he was needed for mundane situations.
Kid opened his mouth to offer that he could search for him when he felt a familiar presence. It was mere seconds as he froze there, staring off into the space beside Soul's head. Every step she took rippled into his soul, showing the significance she had on him. He kept tabs on her for situations when she would drift too close to him, kind of like a bookmark. Intensity sparked around her soul as she approached, stopping only a few paces away from the two males.
"Lord Death." Her voice was soft for such a strong presence. He sucked in a breath, turning to face her.
"Grand Witch." He replied in earnest, being just as respectful as she was for him. Her blue eyes sparkled in the dancing lights and his heart skipped a beat. He gulped, shifting his gaze to just the top of her perfectly shaped pink hair. He found it was better to address her like this when he didn't have to meet her stare.
"And hello Soul." She turned her attention briefly to the white haired male. "Congratulations." Her voice was soothing to him as she spoke.
"Thank you Crona. Have you gotten the chance to talk to Maka?" Kid became frustrated at Soul's casual response to her - he should address her with respect. Then again, Soul always kept an easy going attitude with his friends. Kid kept his emotions hidden, throwing up a stoic expression as he brought his attention to the male.
"I have!" She responded, a giggle leaving her lips. "It was nice to catch up, even for a little bit." As Kid turned his gaze back to the female, she had a faraway, tender expression. His own gaze relaxed at her expression.
"Good, I didn't want to hear her complain later if she didn't get the chance." Soul chuckled, causing a small one from Kid as well. Maka would definitely ruin her honeymoon just to talk to Crona. She really cared for the witch.
"May I… borrow Lord Death?" Her doe eyes stared up at Soul, detouring away from the original conversation.
"Of course," Soul performed the slightest bow, shooting him a knowing look. He did not look forward to the teasing words Soul was sure to lash out later.
He missed Soul's company the second he stepped away. Now he had to face her alone. He slowly dragged his eyes back to her, already knowing she was staring at him. He searched her face quickly, keeping his expression neutral. As she stared up at him, a smile was on her face, but he felt a more troublesome feeling hiding beneath. He wondered if she could feel his hidden feelings as well.
"Would you like to go someplace quiet?" He felt his heart hammer in his chest as she asked him that. He lifted his arm politely toward her, elbow out, subconsciously accepting her invitation.
She brought her thin fingers to wrap around his elbow. A shock of electricity shot through him at their connecting limbs. He kept his eyes unreadable as he led her out of the room and toward a nearby hall. It didn't leave his notice that every eye was on them as they departed.
They traveled in silence. Eventually, far away from the crowded party, he led her to a balcony. The hall was empty and he suspected they wouldn't be bothered if she had troubling news to inform him. He paused at the door, opening it and leading her out. As the doors closed a heavy sigh escaped her, her shoulders slumping down from their high position.
Crona pulled away from him, strolling up to the railing and leaned onto it. He wouldn't lie, he felt his body slouch as well, temporarily free from the expecting gazes of the people. It was tough being the one in charge now, no matter how many years it had been. He walked up beside her, staring off into the night sky.
Anxiety crept into him as the slow realization that, although he was out of the eye of the public, the female beside him kept him on his toes far more. He could relax, but he had to be careful with his words and actions more than when it was a room full of people. He trained his eyes outward, not moving them even as she shifted closer to him.
"I'll never get tired of this view." Her soft voice drifted out and he risked a glance at her. Her attention was focused on the night sky, admiration in her stare.
"Yeah…" He whispered back, enjoying the view he had of her instead.
She has grown the agonizing year they hadn't seen each other. He couldn't help but focus on her perfect hair, taking note that although it was tied into a neat bun, he could tell it got longer. Her face still held an air of innocence from their teenage years, but he could feel the power of her magic around her. Maba chose her heir wisely. She was still new to the soul of a witch, but she has blossomed into the role perfectly. He snapped his eyes away as he saw her turn to him.
"How have you been?" She asked, rubbing her lips together in a nervous habit.
"Fine." He replied, clearing his throat, not wanting to speak more than needed.
"I… I only hear from you when you send official letters to the coven. And it is not directed to me personally." Her eyebrows scrunched together, as she averted her gaze from him. He could feel the pain in her words and each one stabbed at his heart.
"I… It's been busy." He replied, struggling to form a proper excuse. He gripped the railing tighter, his exposed knuckles turning white.
"Can Lord Death not take a few moments to check on a friend?" Her words were bitter as it left her mouth and he could taste the pain radiating out of her. Friend; it hurt to hear that word.
He felt his eye close, his body tense as the moments passed. What could he say? That he was in love with her, even now, years later? That he would throw away the world for her, if he could? He couldn't have her, not while she holds the position of Grand Witch, and certainly not when he is Lord Death. Even though the treaty was formed from the two factions, it was still fresh in the eyes of the older witches. They were already wary of Crona to begin with - for a multitude of reasons. If they were together, it would only apply more pressure on her shoulders, and that was something he didn't want. And yet he didn't want to deny her; he wanted her. He was at a fork in the road and he felt he didn't have a choice.
"Hey…" Her voice felt so much closer, her breath tickling his lower jaw.
His eyes peeled open as her hand rested against his own. He turned to face her, already expecting her to be closer. Her warm hand was a cruel reminder of how twisted fate was. He longed for her, even more so when standing in her company. Her blue eyes were steady with his golden ones, searching his face for an answer to an unspoken question. The small forward movement of her head caused him to jerk back, snapping his gaze in another direction. He ripped his hand out from under hers.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He flinched at the pained words that left her voice. He couldn't answer, not without spilling his heart to her. He shouldn't be out here with her, not alone.
"Tell me, Lord Death," His title was drenched in venom as she spoke. "Why are we here?" Every word she spoke sent pins directly into his heart. "Why do you flinch away from my touch when before…" She sucked in a hurried breath, unable to finish her sentence - she didn't have to. He could hear the tears forming as flashes from the past entered his brain.
"Is it because I'm now the Grand Witch?" She mumbled, causing him to sputter, turning to face her again. She was staring down at the railing.
"Of course not." He softly replied, regret filling him. Anger he could deal with. She could scream and accuse him all she wanted, but the second she started to cry, he felt broken. He was weak.
"Then what is it?" The bitter tone was still present, but deflated as her anger morphed into pain.
"It's not you. You're perfect." He murmured, his resolve faltering.
"What?" She raised her watery gaze, her eyebrows pinched together in confusion.
"I can't… I can't have you and have us uphold our duties." He finally admitted, glancing away from her once again. He felt ashamed for his feelings. This was unfair for both of them.
"Why not?" Hope rose in her throat as she eagerly leaned toward him.
"There would be conflict with your new position." He answered, frustration building up from years of keeping his distance.
"You don't know that." Her voice became steadier as they went back and forth. Her confidence had grown since being young teenagers and it showed through during times such as these.
"You don't deserve the whispers of 'Lord Death' wanting you just because you have control over the coven." He hadn't realized but his voice was rising every time he spoke. Anger was flush on his face as he pressed his hands against the cool railing. At first, she didn't respond, mulling over her response carefully. He huffed, keeping his gaze toward the sky, unable to look her in the eyes. He hadn't lost his cool in a while.
"Kid…" At hearing his name, he slowly brought his gaze to meet her wide, doe like one. Her hand found its way back onto his own, squeezing it tightly. "I don't care what they think."
"You have to care about their opinions." He stressed, giving in to her touch.
"Sure, but not with who I fall in love with." He felt his heart stop at her words. Her eyes firmly held his gaze. He has never seen her so sure of a statement than before now.
"You… what?" Perplexed, he simply stared at her, eyes wide. He knew he was in love with her, but he never thought she felt the same. She couldn't feel the same, and yet. His body twisted to face her entirely, unfortunately removing his hand out from underneath hers.
A small smile formed on her lips as she raised her hand to cup one side of his face. "I .. I love you, Kid." She faltered for only a moment, the words foreign on her tongue.
Her thumb caressed his shocked face as she stared up at him lovingly. He couldn't respond. He felt fear holding him in place. Determination replaced her loving stare as she pulled his face close to her. His eyes widened immensely as her soft, rosy lips pressed into his. It lasted only a few moments before she pulled away again, her cheeks flush with color. She removed her hand from his face, letting it fall to her side. Nervousness was shown as she glanced around, unsure if he would accept.
"...It's rude to keep a witch waiting." Her shy words snapped him out of his stupor.
"Crona, I…" Panic was welling up inside as he stared at her face. His golden eyes flitted around, mentally seeing the roads laid before him. Maybe it didn't have to be a fork in the road; where it was one or the other. Maybe there was a third option. An option of making it work. He would make it work.
He closed the space between them, engulfing her in his arms. His nose buried on top of her hair, breathing deeply. There was a small squeak from the female, but she quickly followed his lead, wrapping her arms around his back in return.
"I'm sorry, I've been stupid." He whispered, squeezing her. He longed for this and it seems she did too.
"You were." She mumbled into his shoulder. This caused him to pull back enough to stare down at her beautiful face.
"Could you ever forgive me?" He sincerely asked, hoping she didn't hold a grudge against him.
"I could." She rolled her eyes, a mischievous smile on her face. "If you said the same words back." A blush covered her cheeks, embarrassment rushing through her.
He physically slapped a hand to his forehead, cursing himself. He couldn't even apologize and return her confession correctly. His hand slipped down his face dramatically at his own stupidity. A giggle escapes her in response to his actions. With a small sigh, he gathered what he could of his dignity, focusing solely on the young witch before him.
"I love you, Crona. Always have." His voice became soft and gentle as he cupped her face with both of his hands. "Always will." His eyes closed just as a warm smile formed on her lips. He leaned down toward her, giving her a tender kiss. He hoped above all else she could forgive a foolish Death God for denying her for so long.
42. Start - Crona
Feet danced down the hallway, knowing every step to take that wouldn't creak in response. Her short, pink hair swayed as she walked, tickling her cheeks. Reaching a hand up, she tucked a strand behind her ear. Movement caused her eyes to raise, meeting a darker blue compared to her lighter ones. Liz smiled, holding a basket of laundry as she passed. Crona returned the gesture with a smile of her own.
They both went their separate ways, continuing the chores laid out before them. She had Liz to thank for bringing her to this job at the Gallows Manor, the largest mansion in the city. It was also the safest estate, considering it was owned by the mayor.
Her eyes trailed toward the end of the hallway and they lingered on her destination, the final door on the right. While Liz and Patty handled the heavy duty chores, Crona was in charge of assisting the young heir with his daily needs. She had to admit it wasn't always a pleasant experience. He could be inconsolable when she made an error. A heavy sigh left her as her shoulders deflated at the thought.
Crona was still new to the position, only spending around three months here. She was honestly surprised she wasn't fired yet, considering the million mistakes that were made. Despite that, they allowed her to make them, correcting her with the proper procedure. Approaching the door, she shifted the empty tray she was holding to her left hand, grabbing the door knob with her other one.
"Sir…" As she pushed the door open, her pink head peeking in, she addressed the air. Curious, blue eyes glanced into the study. The young heir was not in sight like she assumed he would be.
Frowning, she entered the dimmed room, shutting the door behind her softly. The only light was from the partially closed window. The wind drifted in, rustling the curtain lazily. She ran a hand down the side of her dress in a nervous habit. She was sure he stated he would be in here when she was finished organizing his suits. She wouldn't lie, she wanted praise for the job well done considering she knew how to sort them properly now.
As she stepped forward, her eyes dragged to the desk on the left side of the room. It was surrounded by bookcases, perfectly centered. Her body moved around the desk, peering down at the documents that were neatly stacked together. She briefly scanned, not absorbing the information present. Her eyes flitted around to the desk, taking in the order everything was in. The next time he requested her to organize this, she wanted it to be perfect.
She pressed a few fingers idly onto the desk, taking her time in this quiet moment. A small intake of breath caused her to jerk her eyes up, facing the wall directly in front of the desk. The light coming from the window to her left cast directly onto the still form of Death the Kid. Her mouth parted as she stared at him, unsure if he was awake.
As if she was in a trance, she kept her eyes trained on him as she maneuvered around the desk, the few fingers pressed into the hardwood dragging across the slick surface. As she approached, she clutched the almost forgotten tray to her chest. He was perfectly horizontal with the leather couch, one arm over his chest while the other resided behind his head. His golden eyes were closed, a peaceful expression on his face.
This was new.
He was most definitely asleep. She wondered what caused him to pass out in such an odd place. Did she make him wait that long? A wave of guilt rushed through her as she pondered on the cause of the sleeping male. Her arms fell slack at her sides, one of her hands still holding the tray as his chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm.
The rays of light highlighted his face, showcasing to her a new side of the young adult. She felt warmth fill her cheeks as she observed him. She never noticed how long his dark eyelashes were. Or how soft his face actually looked. Was it actually as soft as it appeared? Subconsciously, she raised her free hand, freezing just before her fingers touched his face. What was she thinking?
A heavy intake of breath, she ripped her hand back to her side. Scared, she watched his face for any sign that he was aware she was standing there. A few moments later she concluded he was knocked out. Shakily, she stepped back and then headed for the door, leaving the male as she found him.
"Crona!" His hurried voice reached her ears. She snapped her gaze upward from her crouched position.
"Sir?" She answered, pulling herself to stand, ignoring the shoes she was organizing.
She was in his spacious closet, tending to a few chores he left for her. He entered the closet, and although it wasn't as small as a normal one, he stepped awfully close to her. She felt her heart clench at his close proximity and at the realization she couldn't exit if she tried. He now blocked her path.
He held up a piece of paper, waving it to the side. Her eyes followed the movement of the crinkling paper, before focusing on the male in front of her. He was frazzled and she wasn't sure if it was her fault or not with how he was acting.
"How do I look?" He bluntly asked, tilting his head upward as he awaited for inspection.
"How do you… look?" She mimicked, not quite believing she heard that correctly. It caught her off guard. Though she shouldn't be surprised, he had stranger requests before.
"Yes, please be honest." His golden eyes bore a hole into her head, analyzing her every move.
Shyly, she dragged her eyes down his body, taking a small step back to get the full view of his attire. He was dressed in a suit - the one she ironed that morning in fact. Her eyes caught his once more, wondering why he was asking her opinion on an outfit he asked her to iron in the first place. She couldn't read his expression entirely, but it appeared that he was expecting something. She wasn't sure what though.
Wondering if she missed something, she brought her eyes downward once more. She stopped at his neck catching sight of his tie. Everything was perfectly aligned and fit perfectly against his body, beside the fabric around his neck. It was crooked, twisted toward the right more than it should have.
"Everything's perfect sir, but your tie…" She trailed off, her hands already grasping the piece of clothing.
She untied it, her deft fingers readjusting the piece of clothing as if she had done this a thousand times. In truth, she had. He gave a small sound of approval, his tongue clicking against his teeth. As the sound, she raised her gaze, her face immediately flaring up at his cheeky expression. Flustered, she snapped her eyes downward, fumbling to get it aligned. What was that? A few insufferable moments later, she succeeded with centering the tie.
"Thank you, Crona." His breath brushed against her face as he spoke, the cool feeling of mint lingering in the air. "I knew your keen eye could spot a flaw." The compliment leaving his lips caused her to stare stupidly up at him. Did he mess it up on purpose? Her fingers lingered around the tie, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"I… my pleasure, sir." She stumbled over her words, accepting the praise that was given.
The intensity of his eyes, caused something to stir within. A faint memory of watching over him in his study flickered through her brain. It was the same feeling as it was then. What was this emotion swelling up inside of her? And why was he skirting around that feeling as well?
A small purse was clutched in her hands as she hurriedly entered the manor. Soft, classical music was filling the room when she entered. Her wide eyes scanned the room, searching for Liz. She was told to appear tonight at the banquet with the requested attire. The request was in the form of a note that was hanging in the wardrobe she used at work. She was sure Liz left it for her; who else could it be?
She felt out of place suddenly as people mingled around the room. Even though she was dressed in a simple, but expensive black dress, she felt like she was under-dressed. Many people were flaunting wealth she could only imagine of. Her fingers tightened around her purse as she walked forward, avoiding the majority of the people. She figured Liz would be on the outskirts of the crowd, waiting for her.
It was only when a hand gently wrapped around her arm that she froze. Slowly, she brought her eyes to the awfully familiar hand, then to the person who had grabbed her. Eyes widened as she peered up at the last person she expected to approach her; Death the Kid. He sported a warm smile, his eyes gazing down at her. Her stomach twisted into knots.
"Sir!" She yelped, rubbing her lips together. She turned to face him more, his hand lingering against her bare arm, sending a tingling sensation up it.
"Crona, I'm pleased you found the note and dress." Her brows pinched together at his words.
"What? But I thought…" She trailed off, sudden realization dawning on her.
"I'm sorry if that was too forward…" His cheeks flared up in embarrassment as a sheepish expression appeared on his usually calm and collected face.
She stared dumbly up at him, lost. Not completely, but enough to wonder why he spent money on her outside of work. Why he dressed her up and asked her to come here in the evening the day of the banquet. His hand slid down her arm, clutching her hand. That broke her out of her daze, her eyes trailing down to their connected hands. She simply stared at it, her heart racing at the contact. What was happening? Was she dreaming?
"I… No sir." She mumbled out, unable to return her stare upward.
"Call me Kid." Those words shook her to her core. She raised her eyes to meet his, her mouth parting.
Her eyes glanced back and forth rapidly to make sure no one was down the hallway. His warm hand tugged her forward into a nearby room - his study. She squeaked as he pulled, shutting the door as quickly as he could. She fell against his chest, hands instantly pressing against him. Her face was beyond embarrassed at the forward actions of the male before her. His arms were around her waist, fingers wrapping around the bow holding her apron in place.
"Sir…" She mumbled, attempting to keep her voice as quiet as possible, far past embarrassed.
"I told you to call me Kid." He murmured back, his face leaning close to hers. With eyes half closed, he pressed against her, holding her tightly against him. She didn't resist much, her hands awkwardly clutching the front of his sweater vest.
"Kid… we should be careful." Whispering her plea, she stumbled back against the nearby wall as he pressed into her. Her stomach was doing flips with him being so close so suddenly.
"We are." With those few words, he somehow convinced her to relax, despite the impending doom of someone finding them.
His lips found hers a second later, indulging himself. Fingers pressed into her back and waist, clinging desperately to her. Although his actions seemed rough, he was being quite gentle, as he always was. She enjoyed him back, fingers gripping at his collar. She tugged it open, pulling him as close as they were allowed.
Her hands found their way into his hair, a muffle escaping him at the action. She felt powerful in moments such as these as he reacted to her on a much different scale than usual. It was exhilarating. With the boost of confidence, she peppered kisses to his chin. His breath came out ragged as she continued downward, her lips finding the delicate skin of his neck.
In their moment of intimacy, both their eyes shot open at the knock at the door. She shoved him away, pressing a hand to her mouth. He stumbled back a few paces, copying her actions. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, his face was smeared in the faint mauve color of her lipstick. They only had seconds as Liz's voice sounded from behind their only barrier. Kid rubbed his mouth and chin, getting what he could off of his face. His hair was completely disheveled and his collar blown wide open; an appearance he wouldn't be caught dead wearing.
Did he lock the door? That answer revealed itself as they heard the doorknob turning. Kid only had enough time to get most of the lipstick off his face; no time to fix the other two inconsistencies of his appearance. In a moment of panic, Crona whipped around, her back facing the doorway. Staggering to one of the many bookcases, she pretended she was organizing the books. She heard Kid shuffle somewhere near his desk, snatching something from it.
"Sir, Lord Death…" Liz paused as she entered the room. Crona's heart stopped as she held her breath.
"Yes?" Kid hastily answered, setting aside whatever it was that he picked up in the first place.
"Oh… Lord Death requested your presence in his office, sir." She finished her sentence, uncertainly framing each word. Crona was certainly dead if she left this room alone.
"Of course, I'll be there in a minute." Kid's voice rushed out of him. He cleared his throat, hoping to hide his hurried voice. "Thank you, Liz."
"You're welcome, sir." She replied, slowly closing the door back.
Crona felt her shoulders fall, exhaling the breath she was holding. Pressing her hands against the bookshelf, she leaned against it, exhaustion taking over her. She faintly heard Kid sigh as well from behind her pounding heart. There was no way Liz didn't suspect something was going on between them.
Kid moved to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. She closed her eyes, feeling her cheeks warm back up. He pressed his face against her neck, giving it a small kiss. Her body shuddered at the action, fingers digging into the shelf before her. Her bottom lip slipped between her teeth, feeling herself conflicted with what was occurring.
She didn't know how this habit of slipping away with him started, but she wouldn't lie and say she didn't enjoy it. He initiated the first act, of course. She wouldn't be caught dead imposing on her boss's son, even one as handsome as him. One small kiss led to another, and another, and another, until it was too late to attempt to stop it. It happened so often, she rarely got her daily chores done. Kid vouched for her regardless, ensuring she wouldn't be fired on his behalf.
"I'll be back. Stay here." Hushed, his lips pressed against her ear. Her eyes bore into the books before her, feeling heavy at his demand. A tiny part of her wished she could go back to the start of this and stop its progression. But then again - a soft sigh left her as he trailed a kiss down her neck, squeezing her against him hurriedly before releasing her.
Death the Kid was going to be the death of her.
43. Nature's Fury - Kid
Bags in hand, the rain fell heavy against their bodies. Her dark pink head was his only guiding force as it bobbed up and down ahead of him. The sky was almost pitch black as he strained to see around him. A crack of thunder erupted overhead as a muffled yelp was heard from the pinkette ahead of him. He barely saw the destination she was fleeing to; an abandoned church on the side of the path they were on. It was better than traversing this horrid storm.
He trailed after her, his soaked bangs slapping against his face. She barreled through the door of the building. He wasn't far after her, stumbling into the entryway. It was darker inside than it was outside. He left the door cracked open as he gathered his bearings. His clothes stuck to his body, every inch of him soaked through. Even his shoes sloshed with water.
He frowned at that heavy feeling of his clothes hanging on him. It was uncomfortable but he would survive. He raised his golden eyes, scanning the small entrance in search of his companion. She was surprisingly nowhere to be seen. He was sure her thin form entered just before he did. He walked forward, each step squishing against the carpet as puddles formed underneath. A few paces away were the grocery bags she was carrying, thrown sloppily to the sides of the doors that led to the rest of the church. The door itself was parted slightly as if someone had entered moments before he came. He felt his heart quicken at the sight, cautiously setting aside the bags he was carrying.
Leaving the front door open for a light source as the lightning lit up the sky, he proceeded forward. His hand pulled open the door separating him from the main room, expecting someone to be in front of him. To further his confusion, the room was empty. The only sound he could hear was the muffled, raging storm outside.
"Crona…?" He called out, wary of the silence the room offered. Where did she go?
A moment passed and no answer. He felt a small panic rise up from within, not sure what occurred the few seconds between their arrival. Surely no one was in here and attacked her. The only evidence of that were the bags haphazardly thrown aside. He couldn't remember hearing a sound of protest, but then again, the storm drowned out any noise from within while he was still outside. It was hard to imagine someone getting the jump on her.
He risked calling out for her again, straining his ears. Another flash of lightning, quickly followed by thunder reverberated the windows. His eyes widened as the slightest sound of a cry reached his ears. He instinctively stepped forward, prepared to run to her side if she needed him.
His eyes fell downward to the carpeted floor, taking notice of wet patches leading further in. The room was darker than the front, considering the only light source was the entrance. Gathering himself, he pushed off the door, walking further in. His eyes slowly adjusted to the light difference here than out there. He glanced between each pew, making sure he didn't miss her somewhere within.
His heart was pounding in his ears as another flash of lightning and crack of thunder filled the air. He felt himself jump slightly at the sound, the tension of the search getting to him. As he approached the back of the church, he could hear a faint sob. He passed the last row of pews, finding himself up the few steps to the altar. Nothing prepared him for what he saw, even though it was a best case scenario compared to what he imagined before.
Staring down, he felt his heart clench together in unease. Crona was curled up in a ball, knees pressed into her face. Her arms were tightly wrapped around her knees with her face pushed into them. Her body was soaked and water dripped steadily off of her body, forming a puddle around her. His eyebrows pinched together in worry over her state of being. What happened?
As he walked a few paces toward her, the lightning and thunder duo materialized once again into the sky. He froze when her shoulder tensed and she squeezed herself closer together. Her body shook uncontrollably as another wail left her. Nature was not something to mess with when it frightened even the demon sword meister.
Now understanding the source of her despair, he felt himself relax a tiny bit at that fact. She was scared of thunder. He stared down at her in disbelief that such a simple fear is what plagued the young female. She fought horrors on the daily, consuming souls left and right and thunder was the thing she was scared of. He wouldn't patronize her over it, she had a right to feel what she did. In fact, he felt the need to comfort his friend. It was only right after dragging her to buy groceries.
"Crona…Hey." Softly, he spoke out, not yet moving toward her in fear that he would frighten her even more.
Gradually, her head began to lift, revealing her wide, doe like eyes. He couldn't tell if it were tears or rain that coated her face, probably a mixture of both. Her eyebrows were squeezed together in pain as she peered up at him behind damp, pink strands of hair. His heart weighed heavily inside as he gazed back, his own damp hair sticking to his face.
She appeared so fragile from her usual self. Sighing, he approached her, settling in next to her small form. She watched him, following his every move. Confusion filled her eyes as he scooted closer to her. He turned his head to face her, examining her pale face in the dim light.
"Sorry…" She mumbled, averting her stare.
"Don't be." He reassured her, placing a hand against her shoulder. The fabric of her dress clung desperately to her skin, showcasing how scrawny she was.
"I didn't know it was going to rain today." She replied, her voice muffled by her arms as she kept most of her face hidden.
"I thought we could beat it before it got bad." Was his earnest reply, not knowing she had a fear of thunderstorms. "I'm sorry to drag you out into this." His hand tightened around her shoulder, conveying his apology as best as he could. If he had known he wouldn't have asked her.
"It's okay… you didn't know." Was her hoarse response, raising her head over her arms now. She was starting to relax as the terror of the thunder drifted away from her thoughts.
"Still, I should have at least brought an umbrella." A small smile tugged at his lips as he attempted to comfort her.
"...Probably." Her shoulders slowly slacken, uncurling herself from the ball she morphed herself into.
He dropped his hand from her shoulder, leaning back against the wood of the altar behind them. She followed suit, slowly bringing her eyes toward the wall in front of them. The rain outside became faint as it seemed the storm was passing. Silence filled the space between them. Kid felt the urge to say something more, but felt tongue tied as the words twisted inside his head.
As he fought within himself to form a proper sentence, the loudest boom of thunder struck nearby, shaking the windows around them. He jerked slightly, feeling the weight of the sound pressing into him. It took Kid a moment to realize the warm body of Crona was the weight plastered into his side. A whimper escaped her shaky lips as she hid her face into his chest. Embarrassment marked his cheeks with pink as he stared blankly at the top of her drenched hair. Hesitantly, he wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders, hoping to comfort her.
The immediate thought that entered his brain was they were going to have one hell of a cold as they soaked in their wet clothes. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he was allowed to hold her close during a thunderstorm. It was a risk he was willing to take while she clung to his body. He brought his other arm to complete the hug around her, keeping her body as close as she allowed. His cheek pressed into her damp locks, eyes closing as he relaxed against her. They would weather nature's fury together, as long as she needed him.
44. At Peace - Crona
The dark expanse of the sky hung over her casting a spray of stars against it. A few fluffy clouds drifted against the darkness, blocking out the light of the stars here and there. She stared lazily at the inky canvas before her, the world around her sluggish in her mind. She idly flicked her fingers against some water, unsure how far away it was from her position. She couldn't remember how she ended up out here. For the most part, it was a blur.
Small bursts of memories came to life as she struggled to remember the evening. A party downtown with their groups of friends, flashing lights, bitter sweet drinks, and suddenly she was here. There was a brief moment of warm, golden eyes and soft whispers as she was escorted into a car, only to black out once more. She blinked and she was out here. Her head was fuzzy and everything swirled around as she tried to make sense of things.
A small breeze blew by, rattling the nearby trees. It felt nice against the sticky, hot air of the night. The soft feeling of water crashed against her and suddenly she realized she was halfway in a pool. She dragged her eyes sluggishly down to the rest of her body, lifting her head off the stairs she was sprawled upon. More than half her body was submerged into the cool water of the gallow mansion's pool. It was odd, considering she was still wearing her t-shirt from earlier. Did she also have her pants on?
At that thought, she wiggled her toes, feeling nothing but the silky water slipping between them. She must have at least removed her socks and shoes. She dropped her head back against the stone stairs leading out of the pool, staring back up at the sky. It was hot, but at least she was cooling off in the water.
She sat in silence once more, listening to the blurry sounds of the night life. She couldn't refocus her mind on anything particularly outstanding - it was simply peaceful out here. She was slow to catch on, but footsteps were approaching her. She leaned her head back, peering as far as she could while in her current position. The upside down view of Death the Kid greeted her with a peculiar expression on his face.
"So this is where you went." Was the first words out of his mouth. He stopped only a few feet away from where she lay.
"Hm." She hummed out, unsure if it was a good thing or not.
"I know you were hot, but slipping into the pool in your clothes?" He sounded amused, an eyebrow raised in her direction.
"I took some off." She mumbled, some of the syllables slurring together.
At her words, he glanced around the area. In his search, his face flared up with embarrassment. She rolled her head, attempting to sit up and see what he saw. Alas, she didn't get very far, laying her cheek against the stone, water lapping at her chin. Her eyes lazily blinked close, her consciousness failing her. She barely heard him muffle something before stomping off back toward the house. She gave a weak reply, her muscles relaxing.
It felt like only a few seconds as his footsteps awoke her once more. Eyelashes fluttered open, dragging them to his approach. He carried a bundle of something in his arms - a blanket maybe? Squinting, she attempted to discern the object he cradled. Before she could get a closer inspection, he placed it aside on a nearby table. It didn't surprise her when he made his way to her position.
"Hey.." She mumbled, a lazy smile appearing on her face.
"Hey," He replied back, bending down near her head.
Kid shuffled around, bending the fabric of his pants up his legs. Her eyes drifted toward his bare feet. Was he going to join her? Fuzzy, she opened her mouth to speak only for the words to blend together, resulting in mumbled gibberish instead. The exhaustion sunk into her bones as the reality of the time of night struck her. It had to be early in the morning now. The sun could be rising at any moment.
"Come here." Kid's silky voice brought her back to the physical world. He reached his arms toward her, now hovering above her. She hadn't realized when he moved down the steps and into the water with her.
"M'kay." She instinctively raised her hands, water dripping off of them as she did.
His warm hands enclosed around her cool ones and braced himself as he attempted to pull her up. With a grunt, she tried to assist him in doing so, feeling a sudden whirl of nausea. They managed to lift her to a standing position as the humid air hitting her cool body made her feel sticky. She made a small sound of distress as her stomach did flips inside her. She was surprised he kept her steady, his hands slipping up her slick arms and holding onto her elbows. Her body leaned toward him, her head bumping into his shoulder as she fought down the sickness welling up.
He patiently stood with her in his arms. Eventually, she felt herself calming down, gulping whatever was stuck in her throat. She felt extremely thirsty, throat scratchy as she breathed. She raised her head and gave a small nod. He took the initiative by moving backwards up the stairs, guiding her with each step. She clumsily followed, her body flaring up in warmth.
It was in that moment, as she lifted the rest of her legs out of the water, that she realized they were completely bare. Slowly, she dropped her head to stare at her two pale legs standing out in the darkness. Thankfully she wasn't completely bare, she still had her undergarments on. When did she remove her pants? The conclusion was she discarded them when she removed her shoes and socks. It was only logical, considering she was entering a pool. Still a careless move on her drunken part.
Her blue eyes raised back up to meet Kid's golden ones. His face was pink under the moonlight as he kept his eyes glued to her face. She felt her own face heat up in embarrassment. The alcohol she consumed earlier that evening did not help the situation. Steering her near the tables, he slowly removed his hands from her arms. She wobbled a little bit, before steadying herself.
A few silent moments passed and he was beside her again. She idly inspected the bundle in his arms as she awkwardly stood there. The slow realization as to what the object was hit her as he unfolded the fabric, revealing a large, soft towel. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, although she shouldn't have been - he always came prepared. Their eyes met and she felt herself gasp. The expression he wore blew her away. There was a caring, gentleness in them as he gazed at her; it took her by surprise. He immediately shifted his gaze away, fumbling with the towel.
Shaking the towel out, he stepped closer, moving his arms around her. It was all she could do was to stand still as he wrapped the towel around her body. The fabric of the towel was the only thing separating the warmth of his hands as he tightly secured it around her. Crickets and cicadas surrounded them in a chorus as they stood in silence. Cautiously, she brought her hands up to seal the towel ends together, enveloping most of her body.
Her eyes flitted around his face as his hands lingered against her covered arms, his gaze downward now that she was properly cloaked. She silently searched for an answer as to why he remained so close. As she swallowed nervously, she came to the sobering realization that her throat was dry. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat, causing him to rip his hands away from her arms. A small part of her was upset his warmth left her, despite the feeling of the muggy air around them.
"I… Sorry." He apologized, clenching his hands open and closed for a few seconds.
"It's okay." She whispered, not slurring her words as much as before. She wasn't completely sober yet, but was on her way. The burning, fluttering feeling in her stomach caused her blood to pump faster, flushing out the alcohol that flowed through her veins.
"...Uh, Liz - " He turned away from her, one of his hands rubbing the back of his neck. "You can borrow some clothes from Liz." He finished, suddenly not able to stare at her.
"Okay…. Sorry I got in the pool." She mumbled, the shame of crawling into the cool water like a child was embarrassing. Her logical brain, which was being held hostage by the fuzzy feeling of the drinks, was slowly catching itself back up to the present. Her fingers fiddled with the ends of the towel, her gaze falling to their bare, wet feet.
"Don't be." He responded, twisting to gaze back at her. "One never knows what they are going to do under the influence." As he finished speaking, he turned to face her fully once more. "I shouldn't have left you alone."
"Hm…" Exhaustion rushed through her body once more, not able to produce a more thoughtful sentence.
"Can you walk?" At seeing her tiredness, he approached her, barely grazing her left side as his arm hovered around her shoulders, unsure. "I can help you until we get to Liz's room." As he offered this, she leaned into his body, accepting his help. She knew she wouldn't make it on her own. His arm fell against her shoulder, giving her the assistance she required.
The quiet that lingered between them was nice. She felt safe as he guided her back inside the mansion. She felt at peace while he supervised her in this delicate state, just as she felt when she was alone in the pool. A small smile grew onto her face as she purposely pressed more into him, causing him to stumble a few paces before meeting her with the same pressure to support her weight. She would savor every second she got with this tranquil feeling.
45. Heart Song - Kid
Annoyance filtered through his body as he realized someone disorganized the book currently clutched in his hands. This was obviously a fiction in the non-fiction section of the library. He moved like a man on a mission between the shelves of books. He was certain to give the front desk a small lesson on how to properly arrange the books of the library.
As he was rounding the corner of a bookshelf, a familiar voice broke him out of his rampage. Surprised, he paused completely in his march. Eyes dragged over to a nearby table where a blonde and pink haired female sat together. Two of his friends, Maka and Crona, were seated together with a few notebooks laid before them. It seemed they were studying for an exam coming up.
It wasn't the fact they were together that stopped him, it was the soft melody escaping from the pinkette's mouth. Crona pressed one of her hands over her rosy lips, attempting to quiet her rising laughter. To anyone, this might seem a normal interaction between friends, but this wasn't anyone. This was Crona.
The girl who writes depressing poetry to help cope with her crooked mother. The same one where her default expression was a worried one. He couldn't recall a time where she wasn't unhappy. Which, now that he thinks about it, was a harsh notion to believe. Crona was a person, she had emotions like any other person would. She just needed the right people around to do so. Maka whispered something more to the other girl, causing the laughter to start up again.
He stared dumbly at her, completely entranced. The book that caused his early grievance was forgotten in his hands, hanging limply at his side. He had never witnessed her so relaxed and carefree. Something stirred within him as he watched her chat awful cheerful with their sandy haired friend. He swallowed as her open mouth laugh turned into a genuine smile.
Although her hair was swept into a mess, he never witnessed her so pretty before. His pulse quickened at that thought. He couldn't recall a time she ever smiled in his presence like that, or at all. He guessed their friendship only went as far as polite conversation. A strange knot twisted inside his stomach as her pale hand landed on the other female's shoulder, mumbling something only for her to hear. Seeing that occur sickened him. It left a bitter aftertaste as he witnessed them interact. Why? Was he jealous?
He jolted out of his spot, feeling a wave of guilt as he observed their interactions. As if he was some stalker, he moved back behind the bookcase, clutching the book to his chest. He exhaled slowly, hoping to calm his beating heart. Why would he be jealous of Crona and Maka's friendship? It didn't sit well with him. It wasn't like he craved to spend time with the young witch. Did he?
Gathering his courage, he peered around the bookcase, gripping the edge with his free hand. His golden eyes trailed back to the couple, keeping his gaze focused on the taller female. They both wrote something in their notebooks, casually going back to their work. Sighing, he disappeared back behind his cover.
His eyes stared down distastefully at the book in his hands, not caring why he even acquired it in the first place. He found he didn't care to discipline the staff of the library anymore. Observing the spine of the book, he attempted to determine where exactly it belonged. A few seconds pass and he is once again pulled into the soft melody of her laugh.
Without thinking twice, he peeked back around the bookshelf, eyeing the pink haired female once more. It was quieter this time, but still distinct in its sound. He felt a pull in his heart toward that sound like it was a song. One he was sure he didn't know the lyrics to, but suddenly felt as if he knew it all along; like a distant memory. His eyebrows pinched together in concentration as to why he was so interested in the young girl's laugh.
Was it the pure joy she was experiencing? Did he want her to be happy? Of course he did, but he never thought to this extent. He realized the jealous feeling was him wanting to make her laugh instead of Maka. Which was silly. There shouldn't be a competition for friends. Unless it wasn't friendship he suddenly wanted. He shoved that feeling down into a tiny box at the back of his heart, hoping to keep that emotion hidden away. He had more things to worry about than a high school romance.
And yet - He examined her rosy cheeks, hot from the laughter she was expressing mere moments before, feeling a fluttering feeling unknown to him in his chest. She wore a smile as she stared down at her notebook and he felt himself smile in return, unable to resist the urge.
He would need to consult his father about this feeling of elation - this heart song he was experiencing.