It was too quiet. The halls of the Gallows Manor radiated eerie silence as she walked through them, the sound of her bare feet making faint noises as they hit the floor. She continued her journey through the winding corridors, seemingly walking without purpose, until she passed by Patty's bedroom.

The silence was unbearable. She could still see giraffe plushies and crayons strewn across the floor in a haphazard mess through the not-quite-closed door. The sight brought tears to her eyes once again as she tore her gaze away from the room and continued walking. It seemed in the quiet halls that she would never reach her destination.

Her steps came to a slow as she reached her room. Slowly opening the door, she left the lights off and ventured forward in the dark. Her path led her straight to her bed where she proceeded to wrap herself into the blankets, as though she was trying to disappear.

It was all her fault. A mission gone haywire. In the fight between the trio and a raging Kishin, Liz, in weapon form had been flung to the floor by one of the Kishin's claw-like limbs. As the monster began to lower it's claw onto Liz, Patty had thrown herself in front of the beast.

Patty had received a near-fatal gash across her torso, and all Liz had acquired was a small cut across her forehead. It was for her that Patty had wound up in the DWMA infirmary, hooked up to countless tubes and machines. Whether she'll make it through was indefinite.

Liz was pulled from her thoughts by quiet knock on the door. As she began to pull away her blanket, a voice spoke from the other side of the door.

'Liz, can I come in?'. It was Kid. His voice wavered more than usual, sounding like he was unsure.

'I guess', Liz replied, her voice a mere whisper as she retreated back into the fort.

With a small creak the door opened. She could hear Kid's light footsteps slowly coming closer until he was at the foot of the bed.

'Can I join you?', he asked after hesitating for a moment.

Liz responded by shuffling over and raising the edge of the blanket. For a moment, the light of the moon illuminated his silhouette. His face was laced with worry and concern as he pulled himself onto the bed and sat next to her. His hand let go of the blanket and the darkness resumed, the only remaining sign of his presence was the faint sound of breathing.

They sat in silence.

Liz's mind began to drift back to the day's earlier events and, as though he could hear what she was thinking, Kid spoke.

'It's not your fault'.

With those four words, the tears began to flow freely down Liz's face. Kid pulled her into his arms as she buried her face into his chest.

She shook violently as sobs ripped through the silence. He held her as though he would never let go.

The moon hovering high above the mansion cackled at a silent joke as the pair was lulled towards the clutches of sleep. Kid lay down and pulled Liz with him, the tear stains on his shirt long dried. Pulling her closer to him he gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before giving in to exhaustion.

'It's all going to be alright' he whispered.