cogitationbox | (no subject)

(no subject)

What if I told you I could cure you?

[That's the question Law starts with.

He had sat her down on a chair in her living room, staring at her from above his steepled hands. He watched her every move, every slight change in her expression in silence.

The moment he had heard her story he knew that he wanted to help her. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. A girl as young as she was deserved the chance to live. She deserved the chance to be free. She didn't deserve to be bound by such a twisted, perverted system.

After all, she was still just a kid and the decision that Kyuubey had asked her to make, the choice he had given her, had not been a fair one.

She deserved a second chance.]

What if I told you I could put your soul back in your body?

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[This must have been what it was like.

He stands rooted to the spot holding Kyoko as she uses him to try to hold herself together. Her fingers clutch desperately, her tears soak his shirt, her sobs and ragged breaths tear through his body and eventually she just leans against him and...

And she says his name.

This girl who's never referred to him as anything other than a rudely shouted "hey, you!" and teasing nicknames. This girl who, as far as he's seen, never really uses names for anyone other than her little brother. She called him by his name. She called him Law.

"Call me that again!"

He wants to hear her say it again.

"Just one more time!"

He doesn't need a thank you. He doesn't need anything. He just wants to hear her say his name like that again.

This is what you felt too, isn't it Cora-san? This is all the thanks I need.]

You're welcome, Kyoko.

Edited 2015-12-28 23:19 (UTC)

[There's no words, but Law will certainly feel it as she shifts and the subtle nod that accompanies the sound of her name. That's right. She wants to be just Kyoko to him, too.

No... She has for a long time, hasn't she? She just didn't want to admit to it before.

The tears slow with time. Her breath starts to steady, and finally she can bring herself to raise her head to look at him again, wearing a fragile smile on her face. Her eyes are red and puffy. She's sure that she looks a mess.

It's fine.]

Law... There's something I wanted to ask you.

[There's a beat, then, as though worried that he might refuse--]

It... It's something that I can't ask anyone else to do...

[Kyoko says his name again and his heart swells.

He should have said it more. Repeated the name Cora-san over and over until his throat was dry and his tongue refused to form the words. He doubts it would have been enough.

She does look like a mess.

So it's with a small, knowing smirk that he wipes at the tears on her face with the pad of his thumb. Just teasing enough without distracting from her question.]

Sure. Whatever you need.

[She closes one eye. For a moment, it looks like she wants to scold him, but her smile widens instead. This is something she can trust him with.]

I want to visit my father.

[If she hasn't told him the details, Law already knows about the messy ending that her family had, and the guilt that it had left her with. She hasn't once had the courage to so much as get near the graves that were left behind. He wouldn't want her to.]

I always wanted to, but somehow, I thought that he'd just be disappointed to see his daughter in such a sorry state.

[She chuckles, and her gaze drops for a moment. He would be. She knows.]

But I want him to know that I'm okay now... That things are going to be okay.

[She draws her arms back, wringing her hands in front of her before reaching to take his hand once more. It's only then that she can look back up to him.]

And I... I want him to know that I have people who care about me.

[Law doesn't know the details, he never asked. He had no right to ask her anything quite so personal and honestly it didn't matter. He knew it was messy. He knew it hurt her. He knew it left her with a hole in her heart and a heavy guilt that never left her. It was all he needed to know. The only person who could decide if he needed to know the rest, if he deserved to know the rest, was Kyoko.

Once more he lets her take his hand. Squeezes it gently as he nods.

It's a sentiment he understands well. It's something he wishes he could do, too.

And he can't help but feel honored that out of all of the people she could ask she's standing here and asking him. Someone who was an annoying stranger not too long ago in the grand scheme of things.]

I'll go with you, if that's what you want.

[Kyoko nods. There's a lot of people she could ask, but none of them feel quite right. Czes would do it for her if she asked, but she has no doubts about how much it would hurt him, and the others couldn't possibly understand this feeling. When she looks at him, she thinks that Law might feel it to, though. That pain that never goes away, the love that a person could carry to their graves.]

I think he'd be happy to meet you.

[Her expression goes soft, affectionate in a way that that's rarely seen.]

He was a pastor,y 'know... My father. That man was far too kind for his own good, and all he wanted to do was save others...

[She nods once, reaffirming it, and squeezes Law's hand in return.]

... It'd definitely make him happy.

[He does understand. He understands more than she knows.

Law doesn't say anything to that. He doesn't feel like he needs to. He simply nods, lifting his free hand to ruffle lightly at her hair.]

Why don't you go get yourself cleaned up, Kyoko. Before we go I want to take you to the office and give you a quick checkup.

[Her cheeks tinge pink, but the feeling of his hand on her head isn't a bad one. For a moment, she wonders if maybe this is what having an older brother might have been like.

That means she has to tease him at least a little, right?]

... Mm. Just this once though, okay?

[He chuckles, giving her a light, playful shove.]

Just go already.

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