The Ripple Effect [Stein x Reader]

The Most Merciful

  You weren't really sure if you were actually alive and conscious, there was no real way of telling. The only way you could tell if you were to open your eyes, and you hadn't done that yet – So you were stuck in this perpetual state of limbo. Of knowing and not knowing. For a moment, you feared that you were actually receiving eternal retribution and part of this punishment was to never know if you were alive or dead – To always be in this state of limbo. You hated not knowing things. It was a form of complete torture for you.

Momentarily, you wondered where you might be if you were to be alive. You couldn't exactly feel anything, not even a hard surface. You felt like you were floating, so you assumed you were dead. But if you were alive, then where would you be? You had no idea. That didn't truly concern you, though. Not as much as the thought of 'was The Kishin Released' bothered you more than if you were dead or alive, and where you were if you were alive [because if you were dead, you could care less where your body was thrown. You didn't believe that you deserved a proper burial].

You shifted slightly, feeling something cool underneath your body.

So were you alive? Or was this some kind of cool trick that the dungeon masters in the crypt of eternal fire playing on you? You couldn't tell. But what you could tell was that the downbeat of a song was starting to pound in your ears. Steadily, the beat got stronger until it formulated into a song. It was a song that you hadn't heard before, and weren't even familiar with. Though it was rather catchy, and if you were standing you might be so inclined as to tap your toe casually to the beat.

Stepping to the game, game, rolling the dice . . .

Shifting out of your not-so-peaceful slumber, you pushed yourself up. For a moment, it took you a second to realize where you were at. You were surrounded by four walls that were built out of large slabs of stone, laying on a rickety and uncomfortable bed. There were windows with bars over them, and only a bit pink sunlight drifted through, leaving you to assume it was only the break of dawn. The cool air felt nice after the restless sleep that you had.

Sweat coated your face and your neck as well as dampened your hair. It was obvious that you had experienced some nightmares in the midst of your sleep – And the dark rings under your eyes implied that you had lost more sleep in sleep than you had gained – If that were possible, of course. Knowing your luck, it probably was made possible because of you. The world seemed to be finding more ways to punish you, but you didn't argue against it. Retribution had to be had, right? There was no other way to restore balance to the world, you thought, if you weren't dead. So it naturally had to punish you. And that was fair.

You weren't dressed in the dress you had worn to the school dance anymore, but rather a simple white dress that dropped to your ankles. Momentarily, you wondered who changed you. But that didn't quite matter to you. With the guilt riding on your chest, you couldn't help but think about anything else but the previous night. Had it even been the previous night? You had lost track of time.

Rubbing your eyes slightly, you hunched over and brought your knees up to bend slightly before resting your head on the tops of your knees groggily. Right now, with this throbbing headache pounding at the front of your head, you just wanted to lay back down and go to sleep. If sleep could even fight off this massive headache. Closing your eyes, you had almost drifted into a state of somewhat rest before a loud voice broke your quietness.

" I SEE THAT YOU HAVE AWOKEN "

You jumped up, startled, and your tired, wild, eyes looked up at the person with a sense of urgency. Pale and frightened, your eyes met the bright blue eyes of a blonde who looked rather excited.

" THIS EXCITES ME! " Exclaimed the man, " YOU HAVE BEEN OUT FOR NINE DAYS, I WAS STARTING TO WORRY THAT YOU MIGHT BE IN A COMA FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE"

"Huh . . .?" You drawled, squinting your eyes at the man slightly.

You weren't sure what to think about him. You supposed that he was attractive with the standards that correlated to others. He had bright blue eyes and striking blonde, curly, hair. He was also fairly well-built, very muscular his upper and lower body, and very toned. Well, from what you could see. He wore some kind of black and white priest garbs.

"What did you do with my clothes?" You inquired firstly, your eyes staring up at him, exhausted.

"DO NOT FEAR, I HAVE NOT TOUCHED YOU INDECENTLY. IT WAS ACTUALLY A STUDENT BY THE NAME OF MAKA ALBARN THAT HAD CHANGED YOU, SO DO NOT MISTAKE ME THE CULPRIT OF SUCH DOINGS"

You cringed at his voice, which was loud and booming – Causing your headache to intensify. Noticing that he had music blaring in his ears, you were suddenly aware that he wasn't actually listening to you, but reading your lips. It showed with the way that he continually stared at your lips, waiting for movement. Because you were not aware of who this man happened to be, you kept a very close eye on him. If anything, he looked very young. No younger than eighteen but no older than twenty-one. He had too much excitement to be a well-aged adult.

"Please lower your voice, please" You asked, quietly, rubbing your temples slightly.

"I AM-" He noticed your flinch again and cleared his throat, adjusting the level of his voice accordingly, though it felt unnatural for him to not scream everything it was that he said, "I am quite sorry for that. Being as I wear these" He used a finger to point to the earphones in his ears, "I have hard time hearing because of my music!"

"Then why not take out the earphones?"

There was a slight pause that came after your question.

"Hm?"

You couldn't help but roll your eyes slightly and weakly shaking your head. In that moment of silence when you had not responded to him, you had noticed that there were tears in the skin at your arms and legs. They started at the joints of your elbows and knees and ran in a perfect line down their respective body part.

"Nothing" You responded quietly, shaking your head.

It was obvious to you now that you were in the dungeons of Shibusen, and for obvious reasons. Truthfully, you wished that you could remember what happened while you were in that state of 'limbo', and what happened when you lost your consciousness, but you figured that you would learn that within due time.

"So, I assume you are wondering who I am?"

You raised your head halfway to look at him, half your face raised from behind your knee that was on the leg closest to him, that tired gaze directed at him.

"The thought crossed my mind, yes" You replied quite sarcastically, as though the thought of who he might be only vaguely crossed your mind when you couldn't help but wonder who he was the entire time.

"Before I tell you who I am," Said this boy, "I shall tell you what happened to you, since you have been out cold the past several days. After the The Kishin was released back into the world, your 'boss' had left you to take the blame for his and Medusa's doings. So you were quickly apprehended and I was to execute you under the orders of Lord Death, but when it had been uncovered by a student that you didn't have any control over what you were doing, she took up for you and argued that you be given a second chance. After two days of speculation, Lord Death finally said that you would be allowed a second chance, so long as you were under constant Shibusen watch – He then asked myself, Justin Law [servant of Lord Death], to keep a close eye on you – To be your prison guard, if you will!" Explained Justin it what seemed to be one breath. He placed a flat palm over his chest and then extended his free arm outwards, towards the ceiling, "Is he not the most forgiving god there is?!" Inquired Justin, a sparkling smile radiating off of him as he locked gazes with you. There were still holes in the timeline of what happened during that night, as you only remembered up to the point of seeing Black Star tear into the room where The Kishin had been held, but you didn't think that you wanted to be made aware of anything else that had occurred. So you didn't bother to ask.

Who vouched for you, anyways? It was probably Maka. In fact, there wasn't a doubt in your mind that she defended your case. And it made you sick to your stomach. You didn't deserve that. You didn't deserve her protection. If tears could come to your eyes, they would. Of course, they could not.

"Yes, he's the most merciful . . ." You trailed off slightly. Truthfully, it wasn't Lord Death that was most merciful. It was Maka Albarn that was the one who was truly merciful.

"Well, all of that aside," He wavered off the conversation so quickly it was almost hard to comprehend, "I suppose it would be best that you get out and start walking again, yes? Come now, child-" Did he just call you child? "Get up and take a walk with me. The exercise will be good for you, especially since you seem to be lacking in strength after the week of idleness and the abuses done against your body" He leaned forward slightly, bending forward at the torso, and extended an expectant arm towards you. "If you cannot walk with ease then I'll assist you, but an idle soul is not a healthy soul"

He looked at you expectantly, and you couldn't help but sigh.