Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater. If anything, it owns me.
Warnings: Slight sexual references.
Chapter Three: The Obligatory Awkward Moment
This was it, Eruka decided. She was going to die.
Occupying a child's body had not reduced Medusa's chilling atmosphere one bit. If anything, it only made her more creepy, with that aura behind an innocent face. However, that face was looking anything but innocent right now.
The snake witch was hissing - literally hissing! - with anger, the crackling energy of one of her snakes encircling her.
"You mean to tell me you lost Crona? In such a small place like Death City?"
Eruka trembled as much as her frog form would let her. "I-I'm sorry, Medusa! B-But he wasn't in Shibusen anywhere...!"
"Where else would he be!? That worthless experiment can't decide his way out of a paper bag, much less work up the nerve to leave that room they placed him in willingly."
"C-can't you track him with your snakes, like me...?" Eruka ventured, trying to distract Medusa's anger as far away from herself as possible.
"Only if I've placed one within him recently. That cursed black blood kills them within hours, so I can't know where he is unless I see him every day. He must be in the city somewhere, abducted by those annoying students, but he'll be back to that room! Now go back to Shibusen and stay there!"
With that, Medusa kicked the frog out of the room. Eruka, once she had landed from her impromptu flight, was only too glad to hop away as fast as her legs could take her.
She'd take sitting on a windowsill for days over staying in the same room as an angry snake. As least the windowsill wouldn't kill her.
Crona stared at the room, mind whirling.
It was just so luxurious, and tasteful, and just so...symmetrical.
The bed was in the exact middle across from the door, one of those huge four-post beds with drapes hanging down. Everything was either black, white, or a deep shade of red, like the walls. Two doors were placed exactly opposite of each other on either side of the room, with full-length mirrors decorating both.
In fact, the only non-symmetrical thing was that there was a desk in one corner, and a dresser in the other, though both were obviously crafted to be a set, along with the bed.
Kid was wrinkling his nose at those corners, but he strode into the room none-the-less, plopping down his share of the shopping bags in the corner that contained the dresser. Crona stumbled after him, only too willing to set down his own bags. Who knew clothes could be so heavy?
"That's the closet door." Kid stated, jerking his thumb towards the door on this side of the room. "The other door is your bathroom. I'm sorry about the decor, but Father wouldn't let me organize every room to be perfect."
Crona blindly wondered what Kid thought perfect would be, and was suddenly glad that this wasn't it. He would have no idea what to do with most likely two of everything in here, aside from the bed. His head was spinning enough as it was.
Kid was staring at him expectedly, as if awaiting an answer, though Crona had no idea what he was supposed to say. This was just so big, and nice, and...and...
"I don't know what to name all of the Mr. Corners!" He blurted the first thing in his mind, and immediately cursed himself inwardly when Kid's eyebrows shot into his hairline, strange yellow-ringed eyes wide. He looked down at his feet awkwardly, instinctively grabbing at his right arm.
Kid's hand suddenly tugged at his left, swatting it away from clutching his other arm close. "Stop that."
Crona blinked, left hand hovering in the air indecisively. The urge to grip his right arm close in comfort was strong, but Kid was giving him a challenging glare. Weakly, he let it drop back by his side.
Kid actually smiled slightly at him then, and Crona knew he was blushing. "It makes you unsymmetrical. And you have nothing to fear here. So don't do that."
His left hand twitched in his embarrassment, but he forced it to stay at his side as he hung his head again. "O-Okay."
A warm hand was suddenly on his left shoulder, and he looked up in surprise. Kid was still smiling at him, a little softer this time, and Crona couldn't help but stare at him. He had no idea what to do with all of this...this..kindness towards himself, but...Kid's smile was so nice, and his eyes weren't so strange when they were looking at him so softly...
"Don't worry. We're all your friends here. Go at your own pace, but know you're always safe here."
He knew he was blushing again, but he could nothing but nod mutely. Kid seemed so warm...
By the time he registered the familiar sensation of Ragnarok making an appearance, it was too late.
"Oh, just get over it, you two love-birds, and go at it on the bed already! The covers could use a good workout!"
Kid's jaw dropped as he stared at Ragnarok, making a strange strangled noise, and Crona felt like he was going to die right then and there.
"Ragnarok!!" He reached up, batting uselessly at the demon weapon, who evaded his hands with mad cackles. "Don't say such perverted things! I don't-and hey! No! Don't pinch my nose, it hurts! You're being rude in front of my friend, and--No, not the hair, Mr. Shinigami worked really hard to make it all even--!!"
"And I'm sure he'd like to muss it up even more when you're su--"
"Ragnarok, shut up!!" It quickly devolved into uncoordinated flailing, as Crona madly swatted at the black being to try to prevent the weapon from saying anything else, and Ragnarok was batting back, still cackling. Kid, for his part, stared at them with a stunned look on his face, as if he'd been hit by something hard.
"Oho, what's this?"
Both Crona and Ragnarok froze in place immediately at the cheerful voice, arms stretched out in awkward positions. Kid snapped out of his stupor, straightening up and looking at one of the mirrors in surprise.
"Father!"
The Grim Reaper stood in the mirror that adorned the closet door, head cocked to the side like a confused dog, but Crona could swore that despite the expressionless mask, the god was practically radiating amusement.
"I was wondering where young Crona wandered off to...it seems you've been taking care of him, Kid! Are you two playing nicely together?"
"Ah, Father, that is.." The normally-composed Kid stumbled for words for a few minutes, before clearing his throat. "I...was procuring a new wardrobe for Crona, considering he had only the one article of clothing."
"Is that so? Is that why there is a several-hundred-dollar charge on Shibusen's account from...let's see...Seaming Dead Tailors?"
Kid had the grace to look abashed. "W-Well, considering he's a valued guest, and a representative of Shibusen...I didn't...want him to be slighted by his appearance..."
"Several hundred dollars..." Crona echoed weakly, looking at the pile of bags. Had they really bought that much?
The older god laughed, waving one giant hand. "Ho ho ho, I understand. For little Crona, spend all you like, Kid, to make him feel comfortable! And I assume, from that pile of bags, you've decided we have a new addition to the household?"
"Well, the guest quarters in Shibusen aren't very accommodating, and here is safest..."
Crona could swear that the mask was smiling at him. "I understand, I understand! Enjoy your stay and make yourself right at home, Crona! After all, it is your home from now on, yes?"
Crona jerked slightly at being addressed. "W-Well, um, I-I guess...I mean...well...y-yes..."
Nodding, the image in the mirror began to ripple out, one giant hand waving again. "Well then, goodnight Kid, Crona!"
"Goodnight, Father."
"G-Good night..."
And with that, the vision of the Grim Reaper and the surreal space he lived in faded out, leaving only the reflection of themselves and the room.
Kid slumped slightly, as if a large worry had just left him. It was for only a moment though, and he soon straightened back up into his perfect posture, turning to smile once again at Crona.
"Well, it's very late, and school starts early. Breakfast is at eight, I'll come to get you then. Please be ready for school before then."
"U-uh, ah, y-yes..." Crona stuttered. He was still blushing, if his hot cheeks were any indication.
Giving him a nod, Kid headed for the door. "Well then, Crona, have a good sleep. I will see you tomorrow."
Watching as the young god of death exited the room, closing the solid door behind him, Crona could only stand and stare blankly for a few minutes. Looking around the room, he remembered all that had happened today.
Turning pleading eyes up towards the ceiling - also perfectly symmetrical - he said the only thing he could think of.
"I don't know how to deal with this!"
"Well, there's always your hand if the god-brat isn't going to oblige..."
"Ragnarok!!"