When Soul next woke, it was in a pair of strong, masculine arms. He felt Maka nearby, but couldn't see her anywhere. He stirred within the embrace, tried to sit up, and failed. A warm laugh made him raise tired eyes to find the soft honeyed gold of Kid.

"Hey," the reaper murmured to him. "You did such a good job tonight. I'm proud of you."

Soul blinked slowly, but offered no response. His mind was still too foggy.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Kid stepped off the bed first, offering a hand to the exhausted albino. Soul knew he didn't need to stand on ceremony with the Shinigami anymore, gratefully taking his hand as he stumbled into him. His toes dragged as he was lead into the master bathroom connected to the dungeon suite, legs feeling leaden. There was a hot bath drawn and waiting for him, the scent of honeysuckle and jasmine filling his nose. He was already grateful for it, and he hadn't even reached the tub yet.

Kid lowered him into the tub cautiously, and it was then that Soul noticed he was dressed again.

"When did you…?"

"A while ago," the raven spoke softly. "Maka monitored you while I took a quick shower and drew you a bath."

"Is she…?"

"She was near when you woke up. She's probably back in your room for now. I asked her to leave us alone for this part."

"I don't understand."

Kid rolled up the sleeves of the fresh button down he wore before grabbing a shallow bowl from a tub-side table. He dipped it in the bath water before tilting Soul's head back to wet his hair, smoothing his fingers through the strands as he worked. The sigh Soul released was wholly rewarding.

"You hit subspace."

"I…did."

"Do you remember it?"

Soul shook his head slightly before responding with a quiet, "No, not really. I'm sorry."

"Why?" the raven asked, pulling soap slicked fingers through the albino's mess of hair. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. It's not unusual not to have any recollection of it."

"I've never…never been there…before."

Kid hummed and nodded, massaging at his charge's temples. He smiled when Soul leaned into the touch and sighed again.

"Do you remember how you felt at all?"

The weapon sank deeper into the tub, calmly offering an arm to the gun meister when he began working over his skin with a bar of soap. He contemplated the question for a moment, watched the ripples of the water breaking around him, and then leaned against the lip of the tub.

"It was like being in a really deep high. Things…echoed. They were fuzzy."

"Did you like it?"

The weapon pursed his lips at this question, taking a moment to watch Kid massage soap into each individual finger of his left hand. The man was incredibly meticulous when it came to aftercare, but he made Soul feel like a king, so there were no complaints.

"I don't know if I did. Not being coherent is…it's…"

"Scary."

Soul bowed his head, whispering his affirmation.

They were silent for a few minutes as Kid continued to bathe Soul, massaging lather into his shoulders, his chest, washing his legs, massaging his feet. He rinsed the shampoo from his hair and placed tender kisses on the bruises and scratches that covered his back.

The larger male turned then, crossing his arms on the edge of the basin and laying his chin there. Kid took the opportunity to wash his back once more and rub out the knots created from being bound to the floor.

"Kid?"

"Yes?"

"I…" Soul inhaled and then blew out his breath in a rush. "I love you."

The Shinigami smiled, even though the other couldn't see it, and said, "I love you, too."

The albino shook his head, staring at the bathroom wall.

"No, I mean I'm…in love. With you."

Oh. Now that was a revelation. In all the time that the pair had come together this way, never had Kid thought he would hear those words. He supposed a part of him had hoped, but he had done his best not to dwell on it. He'd felt graced that he was allowed to share even this much of Soul with Maka. The scythe meister had long since expressed her deeper affections for the reaper, and Soul knew of her feelings, but he'd never expected Soul to share such a sentiment.

"Kid?"

Earnest red eyes were searching his face and the Shinigami realized he had gone completely still. His body was moving before his mind could catch up, a careful palm cupping a strong jaw as he dipped his head to place the most tender kiss he'd ever bestowed on the weapon upon his lips. And then he kissed his nose, his eyelids, his forehead, his cheeks. Each press of his lips held a reverence that paled in comparison to his feelings for the man in front of him.

"I love you," Kid murmured again. "So very much."

Soul smiled that crooked grin of his, light dancing in fiery irises, and all was right in their world.