Chapter Text
Reid walked to the bathroom of the small lonely house, feeling like eyes were burning in his back. He shrugged it off and sighed heavily, his body stiff from not getting out of bed all day. Today was different though, not like when Kiero passed on and Reid wouldn’t move for days and when he did it would be past noon. He was up, it wasn’t even eight and he had actually slept too. It took a while to fall asleep. When he had discovered the box of memories, he had cried his eyes out for hours, but he was used to it now. He was always crying at something. It seemed as if Kiero’s essence was manifested in everything Reid even glanced at.
However, today, that very box of memories, that same essence, was what got him up at 9 in the morning. Today it was the memory of his lost friend that allowed him to walk down the hallway and in the bathroom. He didn’t glance at the shut door at the end of the hallway, though. It was his. It was still too painful to look at. His heart still throbbed. He was fine with at least waking up before noon. He wasn’t ready it, he didn’t feel ready.
Reid did his business and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like complete and utter shit. “...” He felt like he needed air. He couldn’t stop thinking about everything Kiero would do if he saw the red head in this state. Kiero would’ve forced him to clean up and get over himself. Would’ve hugged him and ran a hand through his hair. Taken off his clothes and forced him in the shower. Kiero would’ve healed him, but the very healer has broken him. His heart was left empty. Empty and cold and left Reid so alone, lonely and battered. It took the air out of his lungs, something he didn’t mind but now it was suffocating. He wanted it to end, he wanted to end. Reid knew he couldn’t though, he promised Kiero just before he left. He promised that special promise the had as kids.
“Rei-d…” Kiero looked at Reid, in severe pain. “Kiero, don’t talk. Save your energy, the medics.. The medics.. You’re gonna b-” Reid was frantic, crying and holding Kiero’s hand so tight he could break it. “Kiero please, please don’t leave me alone.” Kiero looked defeated and sighed heavily, groaning in protest then at his throbbing head. “Reid. Don’t lea-ve. Don’t agh! Leave this stupid w-orld!” Kiero yelled to him, determined and hurt. Reid knew Kiero was going to leave him. “I can’t! I can’t I can’t I can’t! I will NOT live without you Kiero!” His head started to hurt. His heart throbbed and the tears would not stop falling. He sobbed and closed his eyes putting his forehead against Kiero’s. He felt the familiar hand touch his cheek, wipe his tears and run through Reid’s hair. “Pro..promise me. Please.”
Reid shook his head, placing his hands on either side of Kiero’s head and sobbed more. “Kiero. Kiero I can’t! I can’t. I want to be with you. Take me too. Take me take me take me.” Reid pressed their heads closer, trying to force his life to go into the dying arms of his best friend, someone he wanted to protect and love and cherish. He wanted chance to be with him forever. Reid wailed and Kiero pressed a kiss to the tip of Reid’s thumb. “Promise me.” Reid felt two fingers touch his lips lightly and he finally opened his eyes, looking down at Kiero.
He watched the elder put those two fingers on his own lips and then placed them on his heart. Reid shook his head “No. Kiero, no. I Love you. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me! Please!” He choked on his own breathing as Kiero cried out, his calm facade now showing how scared, how shook he was. “Reid… I don’t wanna die.” His sobs were long, mournful. His tears fell just as Reid’s were. “But you have to live. For … live for .. me.” Reid shoved his face in the crook of Kiero’s neck and reluctantly placed to fingers on his own lips, then Kiero’s and then over his heart, Kiero was silent, barely breathing as the ambulance arrived. “Reid..” Reid looked at Kiero.
“The ambulance is coming! You’re going to be okay! Kiero!” Reid stopped when he heard no response. “Kiero?”
His whole world stopped and crumbled that moment forward. It shriveled up, just like Reid when he was looking up at the ambulance approaching so fast. Paramedics prying his body away from Kiero and the long hours of being separated. The worst part was that he was okay for a while. Then fate intertwined and Kiero was gone forever.
In the meanwhile Reid couldn’t let go. He wasn’t coming back but some part thought he would. He stared at the mirror, he stared hard and wondered if he were to look hard enough, Kiero would be there in place of him. He wondered if he was ever going to see Kiero when he died too, and how long it would be until he finally did. “Kiero. If you can hear me, please send me a sign. Tell me you can hear me. Tell me. For God’s sake send me fuckin’ sign!” Reid felt angry. Kiero shouldn’t have walked outside, he should’ve just gone back into his room, he shouldn’t have ran when he did. Reid was unprepared, and it was all his fault.
Those words rang through his ears over and over. ‘My fault. It’s all my fault. I’m a coward. I should’ve said something, anything. He would be alive if it weren’t for me. It’s all my fault’. Reid growled at his reflection and his hands that were once gripping the sink were now balled up into fists and had made it’s way to the mirror. Pieces of shattered glass were all over the sink and the floor but Reid didn’t care. He was angry at himself, blaming his own cowardice for being the reason the person he loved was no longer in the world.
Reid walked out of bathroom and a wave of guilt hit him. He looked back in the bathroom and shut the door gently. Kiero hated slamming doors and he would always go out of his way to make sure that a door wouldn’t ever slam, even when he was the moodiest. Then he looked. He looked at the door that was always open and was now closed. The door that would have a white haired beauty laying on the bed listening to music and smiling at something he found online.
The red-head walked over the door carefully. He tried hard to remember the sound of Kiero giggling, and for a second he swore he heard a muffled cry coming from the other side. That small bit of hope sent Reid running to the door and quickly opening it. “Kiero?!” His heart dampened when he rushed to open it and he found the room completely empty and slightly dusty. “Kiero.” Reid slammed his fist on the door way and he stared at the bed. “How could you!? You left me! You left me!” Reid growled and punched the door frame until he was sobbing and his body felt weak. He walked in shakily, grabbed one of Kiero’s pillows and walked back to his own room. “I’m sorry.” Reid hugged the pillow tightly and laid down on his bed.
He laid down for hours before a certain thought hit him and a new found energy coursed through him. It took him mere seconds before he summoned the demon that had followed him since birth. The tall, deformed human figure with glowing black eyes and a hiss to their throat smiled up to him. Reid grimaced as she spoke to him in an icy tone. “Well what do I owe the pleasure, red bird?” She was cynical but it didn’t matter to Reid.
Reid only had one more goal in his life. "I want him back." He looked at the demon, one that he has known since birth. "That is the only thing I want." The demon smiled at him, "About time you needed me, red bird, how long has it been? 8 years?" She cackled and grinned deviously. "He's watching you red bird, he hasn't passed on yet." Reid stared in horror looking around. "Kiero?"
He was afraid, and turned to the demon. “What have I done?” The demon gazed at him softly. “Everything, but I am here now little one. I will help you. She pulled him in a hug and smirked. ”I will make everything better now, bird. Now, “ She pulled back just enough and smiled, “You’re heart needs mending, yes, let’s get your friend back then BUT,” Reid frowned at her. “I must know everything.” Reid was confused, tell the demon everything? Then he could have Kiero back? “That’s it?”
She sighed. “I suppose there is a.. Little catch.” It was obvious she didn’t want to say a thing about it but Reid had caught it. “What is it, I need to know, I don’t care what it is but I want him back.” The demon shook her head and suddenly her power seemed overwhelming. “My trembling, precious bird, “ She touched his cheek and kneeled down.
“If you want to hug him again, be with him in any physical way, you’re going to have to die, even I don’t have the power to bring him back.” She stared at Reid, then Reid pushed her away. “Then find someone who can!” He growled when something caught his eye. It was a ghost, pure, beautiful. His eyes widened as he stared in it’s eyes. It reached out and Reid blindly reached back for him. “Reid! I’m here!” He grinned and the moments their hands touched Kiero had disappeared completely, his presence still lingering. “The catch, boy, is that once I know everything I take your life, and I cut it in half, and give it to your little love and you will see him every day till the day you die.”
Reid looked down at the ground. “I want to discuss it with him.” He gave the demon a hardened stare.
“Oh please, I still want to hear everything first. Maybe after I’ll let you talk to him about it.”
Reid closed his eyes in defeat.
“Fine.” Reid opened his eyes and looked around the room for a sign of Kiero. “I saw him on the street, walking. His hair was dyed and I thought it was cool, you know?.” Reid tried to relax as he imagined everything. “I knew right then that I wanted to be his friend.” The demon only sat and listened. “He looked at me and I stopped. His eyes were… red.”