Chapter Text
Recently Death the Kid appeared to be a ghost in his own home, sure he was adamant that as a Reaper he didn't actually need sleep, but that didn't stop Liz or Patty observing how... dead he looked. Which was ironic of course considering his whole 'son of Death' thing.
Fortunately there was a distinct improvement with the amount of missions getting done, which meant that Kid's hard work hadn't been in vain. But unfortunately that just encouraged him to continue, much to the chagrin of his concerned weapons.
Liz would be lying if she said she was completely innocent in the whole ordeal. Sure she was really worried about her Meister, but on the other hand she and her sister were getting the holiday of their lives and she was guiltily soaking it all up like the rotten sponge she was. It made it all the worse when Kid didn't even try and argue or seem upset. He would just show up one day out of the blue like a walking corpse and disappear the next. Sometimes she wouldn't even notice he'd come home until he was walking out the door.
And- ok, yeah. Maybe she should do something about it now, especially with the way he just stumbled straight into a very obviously closed door.
"Hey Kid, I think you should take a break from all these missions."
It was concerning with just how long it took Kid to meet her gaze, and then process what she'd said. She patiently watched his brain catch up, as he squinted his eyes in thought- or concentration, who knows at this point. Finally it seems he's figured it out.
"Someone has to do all those extra missions, Liz." He rolls his eyes and waves a hand flippantly, "besides, I'm fine, I don't-"
"-Need sleep, yeah I know." Liz stops to frown, "For someone so adamant he doesn't need sleep, you sure look like you're about to pass out."
She received a deadpan stare, followed by a sigh as Kid finally gave up on the door and slumped into a nearby chair.
"Hey, seriously, you don't look so good." Yikes, she sounded too motherly right now, but damn it, if her Meister wasn't raising worrisome red flags right now.
"I'll be fine... More importantly-" Liz bit back a groan as Kid spoke, here she goes again. The more tired he'd become the worse his whole 'symmetry' thing got. She knew without a shred of doubt that the next words he'd utter would be something along the lines of 'you've got a hair out of place,' or 'that piece of lint is completely throwing off your symmetry!' "-how could you let that table collect more dust than this one!?"
Oh wow, that was a lot more obscure. Even just glancing at the tables now she couldn't even tell there was any dust on them at all. Although she didn't have a Reapers keen senses, like Kid.
"Oh, uh sorry Kid." Honestly, Liz had nothing to say to that. How the hell was she suppose to fix something she couldn't possibly notice by herself!?
Luckily she didn't need to as the mansions doorbell rung through the rooms.
While Liz turned her attention to the front door, she tried to contain her eye roll as she noticed Kid polishing the already clean tables with a handkerchief he most likely kept on his person at all times.
She was pleasantly surprised to see Tsubaki, Black Star, Maka and Soul waiting outside.
"Hey guys! What's up?"
"We just got back from a summon with Lord Death." Well that could be either good news or bad news, and from the state of the world at the moment, Liz was assuming the latter. "The Academy is preparing for a mission to find and contain BREW."
"One of Eibon's inventions..." Liz repressed the instinct to jump as Kids voice hummed beside her, "It has the ability to amplify the power of the one who holds it." He paused in thought for a moment, "With BREW we would definitely have the upper hand against Medusa and The Kishin."
"Ooo where's the Kishin?"
"Kishin!? Where is he!? Let me at 'em! I'll defeat him with my awesomeness!"
Liz ignored Black Stars outburst as he began jumping around like a moron, "We don't know, Patty and that's not what Kid was saying."
"Aww, but I really wanna fight him, sis." The younger Thompson deflated before perking up again, "Hey, do you think his favourite animal is a Giraffe as well?"
Liz was about to protest the idea, but Patty's hopeful eyes had her melting, "Sure, Patty."
Tsubaki smiled fondly at the group, "It's been awhile since we were all together like this."
"Yeah, it's nice to hang around you losers, it makes me look cooler." There was no real bite in his words as Soul smirked.
Of course his 'cool pose' was quickly destroyed as Maka- well, Maka Chopped him.
"We came here to let you three know what the plan was, but I guess we can hang out?"
Kid nodded tiredly, "Sure, we could watch a movie or something, I'll set up dinner."
As Kid stumbled to the kitchen, Tsubaki and Maka turned to Liz with a hint if worry.
"Is Kid ok? He looks a little..." Maka gestured vaguely.
"Exhausted?" Tsubaki helpfully finished.
"Oh, yeah. Kid's been going on a bunch of missions for the past few... uhh, weeks? I think."
Not only did the girls gape in bewilderment, but the Black Star and Soul turned on their heels and stormed back to the conversation they had been leaving.
"Wait wait wait. What do you mean, you think?"
"Well, it's not like Kid needs Weapons on every mission, and we were kinda getting sick of fighting, so..."
"Kid gets to go on missions alone and I don't?! That's so unfair! I'm so much better than him!"
"I mean, it's kinda badass, to be honest."
"Soul! Don't side with him!"
"I'm not taking any sides! I just think that he's pretty cool to be doing missions without Weapons!"
"I could totally do that! But a billion times better!"
"Now, now, Black Star..." Tsubaki's placating gesture was immediately ignored as the eccentric blue haired Meister kept bickering with Soul.
"Isn't it a bit much? Making him do it all alone?"
"He doesn't think so, and Lord Deaths the one who authorised it, well- more like ordered it." Liz shrugged. "Kid says he doesn't need sleep or food and water like humans do. I think he might be overestimating his Reaper-ness though. He's like a Zombie right now." She paused, "No offence to Sid."
"Maybe he should lay off of them for a bit? Surely the missions can wait a few extra days?"
"That's what I tried telling him, but he won't listen. Damn brat, he's too stubborn."
"Dinners almost ready, have you all decided-" Kid's words were cut off as he observed the scene before him, Black Star and Soul were now childishly slapping each other- Patty having joined in for some reason- while the rest just stood around the front entryway. "If you're going to be chatting over there, at least close the door girls, you might let a fly or some other disgusting insect in."
"R-right! Sorry Kid!"
Eventually everyone migrated to the lounge room, Kid preparing the finishing touches on their dinner behind them while they bickered about which movie to watch.
"Ugh, we're getting nowhere!" Soul groaned, he twisted around from his spot on the couch arm rest, "Yo, Kid? What do you think?"
A sudden clash of ceramic hitting tile had everyone whipping their heads towards the kitchen.
Kid dazedly looked to the shattered remains of the plate he had been holding. His hand was shaking, although he didn't seem to notice.
"Oh." He muttered sounding almost breathless, "That's odd."
In the next few seconds, Kid reached for the counter with shaking limbs and a paler than average complexion, before stumbling forwards. The Weapons and Meisters jumped into action, Black Star activated his Demonic Blade Art and was catching the young Reaper before he could hit the broken glass beneath him. Tsubaki instantly transformed back as she looked over Kids unconscious form.
"Hey Kid! Wake up idiot!"
"Hey, hey! Calm down Black Star!" Black Star stopped his assault on Kids bony shoulders at Tsubaki's tone. "He's not dead, he's just unconscious. He must have really overworked himself to get to this point."
"Is he gonna be alright?"
"I... I don't know."