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“... Kris, can I... say something else?”
Please don’t, Kris thought, but the words didn’t come out.
“Kris... Kris, there... there was something else you did. Something else... I have to ask you about.”
“After you said all of that... you... Took my hand... and... Pulled... a thorn out of my finger.”
“Then you said... You said... you said that... when I saw you again... You said... not to mention you did any of this... or...”
Kris frantically glanced around the room, terrified that it could be hearing what Noelle was saying. But there was no sign of the SOUL. Noelle and them were truly alone.
“Someone might hear. And finally, you told me...”
“You promised me that you’d protect me, as much as you can. Kris... why did you say that?”
Kris couldn’t help but ask themself the same question. They had told her not to mention all of this because the SOUL might hear, but that last part? There was no reason to say that. Kris had come there to assure Noelle that the dark world was all a dream, and to remove the Thorn Ring. Sure, they also wanted to comfort Noelle, but hadn’t they already done that? And now, seemingly because they had said that, Noelle wanted to be alone with Kris. If Kris hadn’t been able to remove the SOUL before this, it...
Kris couldn’t even bear to think about what the SOUL might try to do to her.
So then, why did Kris say that? They had planned out everything else they had said to Noelle while heading to her house last night, but that last statement seemed to have come out of Kris’ mouth without any thought. Almost like the things the SOUL made them say, but where those always feel forced, like something external is pushing their vocal cords, telling Noelle that they’d protect her felt as natural as breathing.
Kris knew they cared deeply about Noelle. But wouldn’t staying closed off be the best way to prevent her from getting hurt? Kris was the medium through which the SOUL was able to hurt Noelle, the weapon they used to stab into her psyche, the body who’s hands placed the Thorn Ring onto her finger in the first place. If their goal was to ensure Noelle’s safety, why would they say something that presents themself as a safe person to be close to instead of saying something to push her away?
Perhaps...perhaps there was a part of Kris that wanted to be a protector to Noelle.
The thought immediately disgusted them. The SOUL had made them take a similar role, in the dark world. Every time they found an enemy, it would have them valiantly hold up their shield to defend Noelle, before issuing that horrible command.
IceShock.
“Um, you don’t need to explain why, Kris. I think I understand why you wanted to keep this between the two of us. You see, when you said that last part... I didn’t know why, but my heart skipped a beat! But, not in a bad way, like when you started the conversation. No, I felt... really happy. The idea of you protecting me... it feels right. It feels like I could handle anything so long as you’re there with me.”
Even though Noelle was already sitting right next to Kris, she inched closer.
“Kris, what I’m saying is, last night made me realize that... you’re special to me. That maybe... we could be something else than just friends.”
Noelle put her hand on Kris’ cheek, and smiled warmly at them.
“Kris... that’s why you wanted it to remain private, isn’t it? Because... you feel the same way.”
She closed her eyes, leaned in, and kissed them.
It was a gentle kiss. Not dispassionate, but... reserved. A part of Kris enjoyed the moment – the warmth of her palm on their cheek, the taste of her peppermint lipstick, the delicate way she brought her lips to theirs.
But the rest of them felt that this was deeply, deeply wrong. Kris knew that Noelle hadn’t felt this way about them before yesterday. The abuse that it had put her through to make her subservient had also made her feel dependent on Kris, and, despite Kris’ efforts to reverse what the SOUL had done, Noelle was still affected.
But, it wasn’t just the SOUL that had made her feel this way, was it? Yesterday, after the dark world, she had been afraid of Kris, not affectionate. And Noelle had said herself that Kris telling her that they’d protect her was what made her “realize” her feelings.
The SOUL and Kris had worked together to make Noelle feel this way.
Noelle drew away from the kiss, just as gently as she had leaned into it. But the horror Kris felt at this realization must have shown on their face, because as soon as she saw it, her soft smile was exchanged for a nervous expression.
“Oh gosh, Kris, did I make you uncomfortable? I’m sorry, I should’ve asked first. I just felt so sure that you wanted – gosh, that was a stupid assumption, wasn’t it? I just, the moment seemed-”
Kris put their hand over hers. Ever since they were kids, they had done that to get her attention when she was nervously talking in circles.
Perhaps there was a part of Kris that could have wanted something more with Noelle, in another life. But they couldn’t bear this. They thought back to how Noelle had seemed to feel before all of this happened. Noelle had had an obvious crush on Susie, just yesterday. That... seemed more right, to Kris. Susie could be an actual protector for Noelle. Despite what their classmates thought of her, Susie would be far more of a safe presence for Noelle than Kris could be.
“You should be with Susie. You two would be happy together.”
“Kris? Do you... really think so?”
Kris nodded confidently. Noelle looked away for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. She looked concerned.
“I’m glad you think so, Kris. But... if I find a future like that with Susie... I think I’d want you to be there too.”
Kris doesn’t react. They aren’t sure how to interpret that statement. After a brief moment, Noelle stammers out a clarification.
“A-as a friend, I mean! I just... don’t want us to drift apart again because I made a stupid mistake, you know?”
Kris didn’t want them to drift apart either, but they weren’t sure the future Noelle was proposing would be possible. Even if things feel like they’re shifting back onto the right track now, their friendship with Susie is still doomed to come into conflict with their promise. And they weren’t sure that they would have a future after everything was said and done. But Noelle didn’t need to be burdened with those concerns.
Kris gave a small smile. They hoped it looked genuine, for Noelle’s sake.
“... I think I’d like that.”
Noelle smiled back, and for just a moment, it felt like things were right in the world.