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"Crona! Quit standing there like an idiot or we're going back to the sleep deprivation again!"
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Crona doesn't know how many days it's been since Ragnarok has started waking them up every hour. Again. They'd think they would be used to it by now with his constant tormenting. Always pulling and stretching their muscles, poking their face, punching their head and even more things. And yet, here they are: hands twitching, head rolling back, eyes burning. Everytime they're about to fall asleep, Ragnarok just slaps them in the face. This is hell.
After a long day, Crona trudges home. Maka isn't home so they try to avoid Soul and just focus on laying down, even though there's no hope of getting rest until Ragnarok finally gets bored. Which won't be anytime soon. A sudden sense of hopelessness washes over Crona and they crumble to the floor and start sobbing. They don't even have the energy to walk any further. Crona manages to drag themself to the nearest corner and curl up there while Ragnarok teases and taunts them for crying.
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Maka finally comes home a little later than usual. She's headed to her room when she comes across Crona huddled up in the corner, sniffling.
A look of concern flashes over her face. "Crona?"
Crona doesn't look up. Ragnarok is gone now. He has been for awhile, but that doesn't mean Crona feels any better. This is strange. Crona feels strange. Something just feels wrong. It's like Crona has... shrunk? No... that can't be it.
"Crona?" Maka repeats, sitting next to them. "What's going on? Why are you crying?"
Crona peeks out, still hunched over. This is the first time Maka's really noticed how bad Crona's eyebags look.
"...Oh Crona..."
Crona lets out a small noise. Maka must be disappointed in me...
"m sorry.." Crona mumbles in a tiny voice, sniffling.
Something swelled in Maka's chest. Crona sounded so... different than usual. "Hey... don't be sorry... it's Ragnarok again, right?" She speaks softly.
Crona nods. Ragnarok was awfully quiet as well. Usually, he's screaming in Crona's head whenever he gets the chance. But now it's like he isn't there at all...
Maka stands up, extending her hand. "C'mon... let's get you out of that corner and into a nice warm bed, okay?"
Crona rubs their eyes with their fists and weakly protests. "but.... I like Mr. Corner"
Maka laughs a little. While adorable to hear, it's still sad.
Crona stands up, only to immediately stumble and fall. I don't understand...
Crona starts crying again. "m sorry... can't... hic... can' do it... sniff... I dunno how to-"
Maka cuts them off before they can finish. "Hey... shh... it's okay. Just lean on me, alright?"
Maka is a little puzzled. She's never seen this behavior in Crona before. She stays silent about it and helps Crona to her room.
When she tucks Crona in, She notices them chewing on their thumb like they tend to do when they're nervous or distressed. Their eyes are big and glassy and they have a pout on their face. Maka starts gently rubbing Crona's back.
"Try and get some sleep, 'kay?" She whispers.
"b-but.. what if the 'cary dreams come back... or.... or he starts pokign an' pulling me again? or-"
Maka cuts them off. "Then I'll tell him to go away. And if you have a bad dream, I'll be right here when you wake up. You're safe, Crona."
Eventually, Crona falls asleep. Maka lets them sleep for quite a long while.
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Crona's memory is foggy. They don't remember too many details of what happened. When they wake up, Maka is still there at the end of the bed. She smiles and moves their hair out of their face. "Hi Crona."
"Um... hello..." Crona says timidly, blushing a bit. Maka's being so sweet.
"Sleep well?" She asks.
Crona nods, sitting up a little. That weird feeling is gone. Maybe it was an effect of the sleep deprivation? Crona unconsciously grabs the pillow and hugs it to their chest and sighs. It's so warm and soft...
They must still be a little bit in there... Maka thinks. She gently hugs Crona since it's probably okay to touch them now. Crona initionally freezes but then melts into it. "Thank you, Maka..." They murmur, still very tired.
Maka smiles. "Don't mention it."