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It’d been a few weeks now since the roaring. The festival. Since the world almost ended. Since three hero’s ended the angels heaven. Kris was freed from being a cage, finally in control again. Dess had been laid to rest. Everything was at peace. Right with the world.
Or so it should be. There was still a sense of unease that followed Noelle. Everything was back to normal, Kris was normal, so why did she still feel so uneasy around them? Susie had tried to comfort her, telling her it was probably just because of what happened during the roaring, but Noelle still couldn’t trust if the Kris in front of her was really truly *them*. It was horrible knowing your best friend might be back, but not knowing if you could trust it. Noelle had to put that feeling to rest before it drove her mad.
And that’s how she ended up with Kris at her house. So she could study their every move. Of course, Kris just thought this was a normal hangout. Noelle had put a horror movie on tv and the two of them were sitting on the couch watching.
Kris was eating candy, that was a good sign. When they were possessed they’d barely eat. And their breathing was normal too. Noelle leaned onto Kris, pulling her blanket closer onto herself. This way she was able to feel the soft rising and falling of their shoulders. They were warm, which was also good since humans are normally warm (or so she read in a book as a kid).
The only thing she has left to confirm was their voice. Kris had been so quiet this whole time- which was normal for Kris! But she’d know if it was really them by their voice. How was she going to get them to talk? A question would work, but they’d both seen this movie a million times, so asking about the movie probably wouldn’t make sense. And then they’d catch onto her suspicion! And what would she do if their voice was wrong?
“Noelle?”
Kris’s quiet voice interrupts Noelle’s thoughts. Their normal, mumbly, unexpressive voice. This was without a doubt Kris.
“… Noelle. You’re crushing my hand.”
Oh. She hadn’t even noticed she was holding their hand. And she definitely hadn’t noticed that she was holding it tight enough to leave a slight mark that faded when she let go.
“Sorry Kris! I hadn’t even noticed I’d grabbed it- awkward!” Noelle laughed nervously as Kris just stared at her. Shoot! They definitely knew something was up!
“What’s wrong.” Kris stated. Noelle sighed. They’d probably be upset with her about this. What kind of friend convinces themself your not really you? Even after everything they’ve been through! Especially in Kris’s case! She’d seem like a big jerk! And they wouldn’t stop staring at her, which didn’t help and gosh have their eyes always been such a pretty shade of red?
Kris cleared their throat to interrupt the silence. Right. She should probably answer them.
“Just tired! That’s all really fahaha!” Noelle thought she sounded pretty genuine, but Kris clearly wasn’t buying it as their face clearly told her “that’s bullshit”. Noelle had never been a great liar, and Kris of all people knew that all too well.
“Alright, promise not to get upset at me?” Kris nodded at Noelle in response. “I was worried you weren’t really… you. You know? That things weren’t back to normal yet. That maybe that *thing* was still..” Noelle’s voice trailed off. This whole thing was probably a sore subject for Kris, and here she was bringing it up again!
It took a minute for Kris to respond. They gently grabbed Noelle’s hand and put it up to their face. “I’m me. See?” they mumbled under their breath. Noelle could feel their face heating up the longer she left her hand cupping their cheek. Eventually she let go, only to wrap her arms tightly around Kris.
Neither of them spoke. They just sat there in each-other’s arms. Breathing. Existing. Kris ran their fingers through Noelle’s long hair, brushing it out. There were more tangles than they expected, but they just kept slowly combing it with their hand. Noelle had started to sniffle, gripping onto the back of Kris’s sweater.
“I- I thought I was never going to get you back. I thought I had lost *hic* lost you!”
Kris continued to play with Noelle’s hair, letting her cry as much as she needed. It was comforting to Noelle, she really wasn’t sure why she couldn’t stop crying. It felt like years and years worth of tears were falling. She couldn’t get words out anymore. Kris was mumbling comforting words, but they were hard to hear over her own sobs.
The two sat like this for what felt like ages. Eventually, Noelle was able to catch her breath and calm down, but Kris didn’t let her go.
“I’m sorry.. I didn’t mean to break down like that really.” Noelle wiped her tears and laughed a bit. She felt like a kid again sitting here with Kris. She cried a lot as a kid (somewhat because of Kris’s pranks), but they were always there to hold her.
“You’re alright Noelle.. I’m not gonna leave you again. I’m sorry.” Kris unwrapped their arms from Noelle and she noticed their face was red. Had they been crying too?
“You’re also gonna miss the best kill in the movie if you don’t turn around.” Kris smiled. It was a snarky grin that Noelle recognized all too well. She nodded and leaned against Kris again, careful not to poke them with her antlers. In that moment a wave of calm had washed over her, despite the gore and violence on tv. Kris was really back. Really her friend. Really next to her right now. For the moment she felt like everything was how it should be. And that was all she could ask for.