Obvious

They stared at their bedroom door and closed their eyes. They mumbled things to themselves, trying to be in control they grasped the pillow between their arms closer to their body.

They vaguely felt the tears running down their face as they hoped they were imagining things, trying to suppress the hiccups escaping their chest.

Crona stared at the door when they heard unsteady steps outside. Soft, carefully planned steps, as if the person behind the door was questioning why they were there, maybe thinking that being outside of Crona's bedroom was a mistake.

Perhaps their senses were playing games on them, so they hesitated when they heard the knocks on the door.

-Crona- a voice-, I need to tell you something.

The blush on their checks only grew when they recognized Kidd's voice. Standing up, they headed for the door, wiping tears with the back of their sleeve and faking a warm smile. Crona wanted to believe that would be enough for him to not ask anything. They took their time turning the doorknob.

Staring at the man before them, they couldn't help to notice the distress in his eyes. When he looked back at them, Crona recognized the pain and sorrow in his eyes, was surprised at the tenderness they held. He stared at their hand on the doorknob, and sighed.

-Shinigami–is there something wrong?- they stuttered in a quiet and worried voice.

His hands turned into fists and he started trembling–they watched him bitting his lip as his eyes went around the hallway.

He wanted to tell them what he felt about the situation just a much as he was afraid of loosing control of how he told them. He didn't want to startle them, but he knew it'd be better the sooner he told them.

-Shinigami…?

He stopped looking around and fidgeted–Kidd stared up at their eyes– he tried speaking, but everything that came to mind was too blunt, or absurd and he hesitated. They looked down at him, and he stared back, clearing his throat:

-Can I come in?

They nodded as they let him through the door, turned their back on him before closing the door again, and walked towards the bed.

He sat beside them and started fidgeting with his hands. Making circular motions with his index finger –eight of them, then change the hand–, he grunted when his trembling fingers ran over the wrong line on his palms.

It was silent–for the most part–and without their knowledge, they were lost in the thoughts at the back of their mind.

They don't remember much. A dark room. Screams. People, their mother.

She tortured their friends. Made them promise they'd be a "good child, and stay put" and then she'd be nice enough to not outright kill them.

In the dreams, they'd eventually try to move out of desperation. And the floor would be tinted with red, and they'd cry–Forgive me, please! Leave them alone!–. And the cries of her child would fall deaf on her ears and they'd try to stop her when they saw red again. And it'd keep going on.

They remember how–every night–, one would stand up and sacrifice himself. His life for theirs. Medusa'd laugh at his desperation as she accepted the offer. The rest complained, and groaned –There has to be another way!–, and he'd ask them to leave. Wounded, carried around they'd find their way out of the dark room, crushed and shocked at the destiny of the lamb.

He accepted his fate and that hurt them. They'd hear the thud on the floor and gag on the air in their lungs.

And, after Medusa left with snickers behind her hands they'd run towards him, cursing their mother's name and taking him between their arms. Cried against his chest and combed his hair, trying their best to keep it neat and perfect and symmetric as he told them not to worry. Everything'd be fine. They told him, begged of him not to lie.

It was a dream, they knew.

It still felt real.

-Crona, I need to tell you… -he said before he noticed the tears on their eyes.

He stared at them with harsh worry. He'd tap their shoulder several times–same spot–, it wouldn't work. Standing up and kneeling before them, he took their hand with care, unafraid but prepared for them to lash out.

Crona came back to themselves and dried their tears with the hand Kidd didn't hold. He smiled at them, same worry on his eyes. They smiled back as he took their other hand, tangling their fingers together, he nodded.

Realization hit him before he even thought of how'd he'd react.

-I'm sorry.- he let go and stood up.

Brushing the hair out of their face, he kissed their temples and turned for the door. They panicked. Was he leaving?

-Kidd!- they stood up, trying to stop him from going away, leaving them alone to their nightmares.

He turned to them, doubt in his features.

-Something wrong? You should go to sleep, it's late.

They couldn't stop the nervous laugh, and the fidgeting feet or the compulsive shaking. They looked around, with frantic neck movements and eyes changing direction every two seconds. Kidd approached Crona with his hands before him, frowning he worried about their reaction.

-Crona?

Hands shaking they reached out towards his. He ran his thumbs over their palms and tried to tell them to breathe. Cracking noises from outside the window made them panic, and they tried hiding on Kidd's chest. They were on the verge of tears, un-steady, frantic breaths and legs barely holding them up.

-I don't- a gasp, voice shaking. Their chest hurt -don't want to- a deep breath- saw–seen–see you die.
-Crona, you need to breathe.

They held on to his suit, as they tried to easy their breaths with Kidd's counting echoing on their ears, thumping, repeating himself when they forgot to breathe. The dread started descending from their chest to the pitch of their stomach until only the adrenaline rush that numbed their arms and hands were left. Stiff fingers grabbed onto the shorter individual, and Crona could feel their unsteady heart beating against their ribs.

-The nigh-nightm–nightmares. They'll return.

He took their shoulders as carefully as he could between his hands, taken aback. They were only so sincere with Maka.

-Stay with me- voice weak, tired and hoarse, barely loud enough for him to hear.

He frowned and shook his head. He took their hands and squeezed them slightly as they shook before him. He didn't hesitate as he stared into their grey eyes. Their hands took his harder than they ever meant to.

-I have to go.

He watched their body react in fear and grief as they let go of his hands. He smiled gently at them, mouthing "sorry" under his breath.

-Everything will be alright- he sighed -. I promise.
-Please.

They placed their arms around him in an awkward hug, and it took him a few seconds to hug them back.

-Fine.- he held them closer.

His arms were warm around them, as they fidgeted with the seams of his jacket. Their frantic heart finally stopped beating hard against their chest after minutes, his static hands around them made them over-sensitive, but they didn't mind. It was comforting in a weird way.

-We'll protect you. Shubisen will, I promise. There's nothing to be afraid of -he whispered against their ear. Comforting, really. -. But, now. You need to sleep. It'll be a busy day tomorrow, I've heard.

He watched them nod from the corner of his eye, and took the liberty to tuck them into bed.

He sat at the edge of their bed, watching as they closed their eyes. It took them but minutes to fall asleep and he chuckled at the calmness on their face.

Running his hands through his hair as he stood up, he took one last look at Crona and walked towards the door, hoping the hinges wouldn't make a noise loud enough for them to wake up. He left the room as silently as he could, damning the soles of his shoes.

Barely conscious, he stayed outside their room, just in case.

Fin

I'll never own Soul Eater.

It might be confusing. Also, non-binary Crona. Sorry 'bout the occ'ness.

I was proud of the Spanish version, and KuriSari asked if I could translate it. After a while, I edited it. NO ROMANCE THIS TIME, HOLY SHEEz. Except you like reading between the lines, that is. It was cheesy af, I'm embarrassed.

Best wishes from:

C. C. Cr0ss

––Edited: 22/07/2015––