Work Text:
Homura was confused all around
She had some points of reference, but it still didn't make sense to her, not in the slightest bit
The events were...confusing to follow
At the start of it all, she became a... Half witch? On the way to become one at the very least and had a month of... Well, good time with her friends, she enjoyed it too much, really the reason something felt wrong, since when did Homura deserve happiness?
Then, Sayaka confirmed that it was a witch's labyrinth
She realized that the witch was her
Continued her transformation until the end
...ripped Madoka in two, absorbed her divinity and ascended herself, grasping reality in her hands and twisting it, altering the memory of the world with her magic, forcing it to fit the fake history she created, heard dimensions scream as they came undone, crashed into each other as she went through thousand of iterations before she arrived at one that barely held itself together
One where Madoka and the law of the Cycles were never one, where they had no connection to each other
And yet they touched, on the first day they came so close to fusing again, even when the world itself was ripping at it seems, so sure that they had no reason to, grasping both of them as tears began to appear in the space Madoka occupied
Thankfully, Homura was present there, a distraction, momentary as it was, allowed her to fix it, to once again change history so that it never happened, changed the world perception that made it harder for the Law of the Cycles to notice Madoka, harder for it to grasp that they were once one
It was close, too close, especially with Sayaka still holding her memories earlier that day
Homura thought she avoided it, that she could rest(work really, with the patchy work she did over reality it would take her years, decades to fix it properly, that was fine, she had time to do so) easy
...then it happened again, Homura wasn't close that time, having to hurry to the place as fast as she could before distracting Madoka once again, patching the space that was being split up by the Law of the Cycles meddling
...and again
........and again
It was accelerating, for a reason Homura couldn't place, from what she gathered, Madoka and the Law of the Cycles would only align when she felt something missing
Homura had to overview everything thousands of time, everything should be there, what could she be missing!?
She caved at some point, restored Kyoko's memories (because she was the one Homura knew would recover the fastest) and asked
After a round of swearing, groans, requests to die, request for compensation ice cream, they finally got to talk about the topic
"Isn't she missing you? Like, you stuck with her whenever she asked before, but now you just fuck off and do... Whatever it is that you do in your evil lair"
Homura glared at Kyoko, was there a need to do air quotations when saying evil? No, there was not
And she didn't have a lair! She had a home, where her dolls were, where she was, where her Madoka photos were (where her other photos were)
Shoveling some more food into her mouth, Kyoko speaks
"Anyways, think you can let me keep my memory? It's not like I'm... Particularly attached to the way the world worked before, kind of started to suck when everyone was dying you know? I could be your... What are you again?"
Grumbling under her nose, Homura responds
"The Devil"
"Yeah that! So I'll be a... Demon, or whatever, kind of funny how things go, ironic with my wish and all but eh, I was destined to be a witch before so it's not that far from the original trajectory right?"
Homura stares at Kyoko, feeling a tiny bit of tears build up in her tear glands before she pushes some more food to her
...idiot with her fucking...words!
"Fine... But I'm remaking the contract, if you're with me, you'll stay mine, I'm not letting anyone take you back"
Kyoko freezes for a brief moment before a grin takes it's place on her face
"Sure, my mis-"
Homura growls out before the redhead can finish
"Don't even think about finishing that sentence Kyoko"
Kyoko only howles in response
***
Homura... Assimilated more into the group, more often than not it was either Madoka or Kyoko dragging her to them, Homura didn't think much of it, just letting them do whatever it was that they wanted
Sayaka seemed... On guard about her? She was staring at her a lot, frowning a lot, always saying something after her
It was fine as long as she stayed... Well quiet? Not like she didn't do that most of the time, it just felt more right to be in the background of their happiness than the forefront
Because one day, when it all crashes down, Homura doesn't want their memories be tainted with her
***
It took Sayaka giving her flowers for Homura to understand, awkwardly thanking her, Homura stormed to Kyoko
Kicking the door open she glares at the girl
"We were all dating, and you didn't tell me when you knew I didn't notice"
Kyoko frowns at the kicked down door before grinning
"Sure did, took you long enough!"
Growling Homura walked closer to Kyoko
"I'm going to kill you, you know?"
She receives a grin before Kyoko stands up and confidently marches to her, her arms snake around her waist as Homura feels her heart speed up
"Nah, you won't, first you claimed with your weird magic-a bit kinky looking back but eh- and now, I'm your girlfriend as well, you wouldn't Homu"
Homura feels her face glow with embarrassment, feels her blood begin to actually boil, feels her resolve crumbling way too fast
"W-well maybe I won't kill you, b-but you're not getting out of this j-just like that!"
Kyoko hums as her fingers drum on Homura's spine, sending even more shivers up
"I won't hm? Then... I guess I'll pay the price of keeping that little fact from you"
Homura doesn't understand it for a moment
When lips press to her cheek she does
She passes out on the spot
***
So, Homura was dating all of them, all, this wasn't planned, sure she deviated from the plan the moment she let Kyoko keep her memories, the moment she let herself be close to them again, but this was a far more major deviation
She had to rectify that
Unfortunately, she hit another wall
Changing the worlds memory, made Madoka miss them dating
Which meant the Law of the Cycles came back and tries to fuse them again
So that didn't work
...there was also Kyoko's punishment for trying to shift reality out of dating them
Just the memory sent Homura into a blushing mess of a state, why did Kyoko think lick-no, not thinking about this, stop Homura!
Placing the world back to the original fate, Homura had to plan another way to leave the relationship, she was far more fitting as a casual friend that wasn't too involved
There was one problem to that plan though, now that she was aware that she was dating these girls, it got a lot harder to be... Calm around them
She noticed a lot more things she didn't before, like how often Mami got into contact with everyone, how close she was when she did, how all encompassing it felt to be hugged by her ex mentor
How casual Sayaka was, laying on whoever she wanted whenever she wanted, leaning on everyone, lifting them for fun, brushing against them, playing with their hair...
She didn't need to say much about Kyoko, she was very direct and just... Kissed, a lot, soft quick ones, to the palm of the hand, the back of it, cheek, forehead, neck a few times, just, a lot of kisses that Homura couldn't catalogue much, focusing more on not passing out like the first time
Madoka was just... Close, not necessarily seeking out contact, but welcoming it, sitting down together and looking over others, casually talking with whoever she sat with, radiating warmth
Homura was but a plaything herself, unable to say no to whatever was happening to her, maybe enjoying it too much for what she was
Her first plan of being an asshole was a failure before even the starting line, she discovered that when she tried to be... Less than nice to Mami and immediately back tracked
Embarrassing, she was the devil and she couldn't stand having her cry, wasn't she supposed to enjoy people crying or something?
Yet she failed the moment she saw Mami's expression shift in a negative direction, what was wrong with her!
So, time for second plan, ghosting them
It wasn't like she wasn't busy, patching reality was a lot of work, she had to reach a stability where she could leave this dimension and start actually overseeing the world instead of just jumping around in her three dimensional form
Being able to jump between time and space was much more convenient for what she had to do
So, all she had to do was execute it, how hard could it be?
***
Looking up from her lunch (a bunch of small servings, Homura didn't know why her dolls wanted to cook, but if it made them happy and less annoying, why not?) she saw Mami approaching her
Looking around for a moment she confirmed that nobody else was there, so she was most probably walking to her
Was there a reason to? Homura didn't think so, she hadn't explicitly avoided them, hadn't tried the ghosting method yet either
So what could it be?
"Homura-chan, are you free today? I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me today?"
Oh, oh this is a perfect opportunity isn't it? She just had to say no!
Looking up, Homura immediately regretted doing so, rejecting the girl became a hundred times harder when she saw her hopeful eyes
Ok, uhh think, think fast Homura
"I d-don't think I c-cant today? I n-need to finish my h-homework you know? I've been n-neglecting it"
Mami frowns for a moment and suddenly Homura feels the urge to go back in time, restart this whole conversation and just run away instead, or say yes, anything to not see her sad, reaching out for her magic she sees Mami brighten suddenly
"I see! Then let's have a study date! I can help you with your homework and then we can relax! Watch a show... A movie... Play something, do anything really"
Homura tries to reject the invitation, but the brightness in front of her forces her to nod instead
***
Sayaka stares at her, which might have been normal if not for a slight frown on her face (...when did it become normal for Sayaka to stare at her? Ah whatever, thought for later)
"Sayaka...?"
The girl doesn't respond and keep staring at her
...what is happening???
She gets her answer soon enough
"...well damn, didn't expect the devil to be so affected by romance, now I wonder if I could just kiss you into releasing Madoka"
Ah, it was this Sayaka
"No, that wouldnt work, this world is built for her, what makes you think I would trade it away for such a low price?"
Letting herself transform, Homura allows space to twist around her, doesn't reign it in, allows the crumbling of time as she walks closer, allows the world attention to go solely on her, on the breaker, on the one who shattered it to pieces and keeps realigning them, allows the pressure of reality to crackle down on her as it tries to exclude her, tries to banish the devil, it fails, for the world is truly, far too fragile in her hand
Sayaka looks unnerved, good
"Is there really something that bad with this world? It's not perfect, I know I assure you, but I'm getting there"
Gently tucking her hair behind her ear Homura smiles
"I'm not asking for much, I just want to give her a life worth remembering, or maybe two, or three... Howether long she wants really, is that really so bad?"
Sayaka scowls, getting in her face as she grabs Homura's arm
"She didn't ask you for this, you didn't give her a choice"
Homura smiles, forces a grin on her face, doesn't let herself show even a bit of the truth, only allowing her words that privilege
"And I would do it again and again, as long as the possibility of her happiness being compromised exists... So should I"
Sayaka glares at her, good, it's best she doesn't hesitate wh-
"Can you put something else on? I'm trying to be fucking angry at you, not... Well you get it!"
A?
"Ugh, there's also the wiped me memories, do you know how hard it is to stay mad at you with these stupid memories of you being a complete mess!? It's annoying! So stop fucking showing off on top of it!"
H-huh?
"S-showing off!? I'm not showing off!"
"Yeah!? Then what's with this dress huh!?"
"The dress!? I didn't choose it! It was like this when I transformed! Why would I wear something like this if I didn't have to!"
Sayaka looks stumped
"...Madoka chose her own outfit, didn't you steal her power?"
Madoka did?
"W-well yeah? But what do you mean she chose it? I can't change m-mine no matter how hard I try!?"
Sayaka actually looks at her with pity, deciding enough is enough, Homura claps, reality bends and twists, Sayaka's memory once again sealed
Sighing, Homura transforms back, the world stops shattering around her, time stops warping, everything is back to normal
She restraints herself
Reality forgets
Before she can leave though, Sayaka's daze disappears and she leans on her back
"Oh Homura, when did you get here? Let's go get something to eat!"
Feeling hands wrap around her neck, Homura feels another blush form as she weakly nods, she can try and reject her later...
***
Homura was in the middle of checking on the properties of wood, just how similar they were to the previous world, how much she needed to fix, it was mostly fine really, but the interruption still wasn't appreciated, looking at the person who was about to lose their ha-oh it's Kyoko
"Whatcha doing? Saw you staring at the plank and I just couldn't contain myself you know?"
"I was... Comparing it to the old world, have to get it right, everything has to be perfect you know?"
"Hm, does it? The world seems to function properly right now?"
It does, but Homura had to find a way to minimize all risks, so looking over tiny details was worth it too
"For now yes"
Going back to inspecting the plank, seeing into it further than a human could, Homura compares more
Kyoko stands there with her for a couple of minutes before her hands begin playing with her hair
Taking time to give her a questioning glance, Kyoko shrugs and continues, sighing Homura goes back to her job
A couple more minutes later she felt a kiss to her neck, feeling shivers go down her spine Homura spun around and faced Kyoko
"W-what was that!?"
Kyoko smirks
"Oh you know, just getting a little jealous, so much attention to a plank of wood when I'm right here! You know, let's go out and have some fun right now!"
"I'm bu-"
"Nah you're not, you can do this... Staring at wood whenever, so stop trying to bullshit me here, yes or no? It's that simple"
Homura tries to say no, really does, she had things to do
But Kyoko wrapping her arms around her neck, putting their faces next to each other, their noses touching was a tad bit overwhelming
"Y-yes?"
Kyoko brightens even more, grabbing her hand and leading her out, almost skipping
"Alright then! Let's go have some fun on our date!"
***
Getting home, Homura was presented with fourteen crayon drawn pictures, all having her and the dolls doing... something, it varied really, most had other girls alongside them, Madoka being the most prominent one
Fair enough really
Picking Mie's drawing, Homura wonders what she should do
Drawing was... A good activity, healthy, unchaotic if making a bit of a mess, something that wasn't them playing pranks
Ranking them was probably a bad idea, but how does she reward this?
It takes Homura looking through every picture individually before she remembers something she saw in those cheesy shows
Picking up some magnets, she pins the drawings to the fridge
The dolls stare for a moment before Homura is buried under them as they laugh and poke at each other
...alright then, this seems like a positive reaction
***
Sayaka was approaching her, fast, with a glint in her eyes that spelled trouble, well, trouble for Homura, she wasn't sure if dragging your lover on a date was seen as trouble by most people
Homura moves, pretends she didn't see her and speed walks away
For a moment, she thinks she did it, she succeeded in running away from the date
tap tap tap tap taP taP tAP tAP TAP TAP TAP TAP
Her hopes are crushed soon after
"Homura! Did you not see me? Come on you can't just ignore me like that! As my wife you're obligated to pay attention to me you know?"
"R-right, um, s-sorry?"
...she tried? That should count right?
The moment Sayaka locked their arms together Homura knew she was done for
What could she do now? Run away? Already failed, she could hope that Sayaka wasn't going to ask for a date, hope that she simply... Decided to cuddle? Maybe, who knows right?
Her hopes, are once again, crushed
"Sooo, are you free today? I wanted to have a sleepover and thought, why not invite you? Hadn't had one with you yet! C'mon it would be fun!"
Homura stays quiet for a moment
"...you sure you want me there?"
Sayaka actually pouts at her (huh???? D-did she do something wrong???)
"C'mon Homura! Stop trying to avoid us so much! We're literally dating! Of course I want you there! Now, let's go get your stuff so you're ready for it"
Was resistance really so futile? Was she really that weak? Could she not at least try and reject her?
One look at Sayaka's smile said yes, yes she was
So Homura let herself be dragged to her home, let Sayaka Into her room and let her pick up anything she thought would be used in the sleepover
Let herself be dragged to Sayaka's home
***
Homura was sure, that she didn't fit here, alongside their brightness, their hope, didn't deserve to be bathed in it, didn't deserve to be loved by them
She already did something unforgivable once, but she had to go and make Kyoko into a parody of a familiar as well, had to go and let her feelings control her, had to waste their time when she could have easily just been working, fixing this damned world, Homura knew for fact millions of details that fit the world together, the properties of so many things, learned them for this, ripped the information from the worlds history and recreated it until it was the same
Because Homura knew, that she couldn't stay here forever, couldn't defile them for much longer, so she will finish this world and move to another
Save them, before there is a need for them to be in danger
Encase them in her protective grasp, expanding her labyrinth until she can be sure, that she did everything she could
Hope, that this would make her sins if a bit lighter
She wouldn't be forgiven, shouldn't be forgiven
The moment she ripped into Madoka's essence she knew that, the moment she reached into her deepest parts and grasped divinity from her body she knew that, the moment she separated the origin of the Law of the Cycles from it, she knew her only fate forward would be death
There was no need for trial, no need for such sham when they all understood the gravity of what she's done
An execution of the profane, wouldn't that be a sight? Wouldn't that bring them strength? If the devil couldn't stop their goddess, who would be able to? If ripping her in two, grasping her existence didn't work, what could? No witch, no incubator, nothing could stop her right? A perfect example
"Something good on your mind eh?"
Turning to Kyoko Homura asks
"Hm? I suppose, why do you ask?"
Something shifts in Kyoko
"...you're grinning"
Blinking, Homura reached to the edges of her mouth
Ah, she was
Schooling her expression, Homura gives a polite smile to Kyoko
"So what was it?"
"Ah, nothing much, just some... Speculation about the future"
***
The moment Homura saw the determined look in her eyes, she knew she didn't stand a chance at even an attempt at rejection, so when Madoka asked for a home date? She accepted, really she simply had no choice
It still felt... Unreal that she was in a relationship with any of them, Madoka especially so
A goddess who had no reason to grace her with her presence, yet felt the need to do even more than that
Her home was a holy ground and she was defiling it, all because she couldn't dare defy her anymore than she already did
She was too far gone to ask forgiveness, so she wouldnt repent, continue on her path, descending further and further
She was but a dog to her, chasing her wherever she was, so desperate for affection it was pathetic, yet she bit the hand that fed her, the hand that saved her, she was but a mad, feral dog, the one that needed to be put down
But her deity was far too kind, trusted too much, had too much love in her heart to do so herself
But the time will come, when she realizes there's no cure for her, that the only mercy she can truly gift her, is death, that it would bring mercy for many more
Will free Kyoko
She's brought out of her thoughts by Madoka entering the room, two tea cups in her hand and a small plate of cookies in her other
"Are you comfortable? Sorry I don't know what exactly you would prefer so I went with something basic"
Gently taking one of the cups Homura smiles at Madoka
"I am, thank you"
Madoka seems... To be waiting for something?
Oh, was she waiting for her to try it? Right, Homura probably should do that
Taking a sip, Homura closes her eyes to feel the warmth both the tea and the fact that Madoka made it for her cloak her
"A-ah, I think I gave you the wrong cup, do you think we can swap?"
Oh, did she? Well, it didn't matter much
"Of course Madoka"
It wasn't hard, so why shouldn't she right? Though the cups looked similar to her, are they really different?
The way Madoka looked at her cup, was probably evidence that they were different
Oh well
They sat there, drinking tea and eating cookies for some time before Madoka moved closer to her, touching shoulder to shoulder, idly fiddling with Homura's fingers
She traces her middle finger, as if trying to feel a ring there, one that no longer exist, one that had been forever changed, moved from her hand to her ear
Transformed, as she has
"Hey Homura?"
"Hm?"
She turns to Madoka, only to find her be so very close to her, feels her breath on her lips, feels the tip of her nose collide with her own
"...can I?"
Homura feels her heart explode into an irregular beat, feels her face get scalding hot, hears an inhale from herself
She shouldn't, doesn't deserve this in the slightest, this was sacrilegious, heresy, she shouldn't
She really, shouldn't
She nods anyway
***
Sayaka was glaring at her
Did she get her memories back again? This was becoming a problem with how often it happens these days honestly
And Homura had no clue why she was getting them back, there should be no reason for that to happen, the Law of the Cycles quieted down months ago, so even if she is connected, it shouldn't matter
Putting on a smile Homura asks
"So, what's wrong now Sayaka? Still going o-"
"You ditched us"
...huh?
"We planned this, Homura, week in advance"
H-huh??? W-what was this about??
"Homura, you do not fucking do that"
"H-hey aren't you supposed to be m-mad about something else!?"
Sayaka scoffs, throwing her hands into the air
"Oh believe me I'm still mad about the Law of the Cycles, but this is also important!"
Taking an involuntary step back Homura feels cold sweat run on her back
Sayaka steps to her, moving closer
"This. Was. Supposed. To. Be. Our. Group. Date"
Bumping into the wall Homura panics
What the hell was happening!??? Why is she so serious about this!??? Shouldn't she focus on the Law of the Cycles!???
"You're apologizing, to everyone, individually, in person, got it?"
"I uh, bwuh, y-yes?"
Sayaka glares at her for a moment longer before pressing a kiss into the top of her head
"Good girl, make sure this doesn't happen again, ok?"
Homura falls down and nods
It's only hours later that she remembers that Sayaka still had her memories
It's fixed immediately after
***
Homura wakes up early, she had things to do and the earlier she started, the better
Nimbly removing herself from the pile, she quietly walks to the kitchen
It takes some time to make breakfast for five, because apparently the excuse 'i already ate' doesn't work for them
She didn't need to eat at all! But if that made them happy, Homura could only comply
Getting her earbuds out, she plays a playlist Mami made for her, putting it on shuffle and begins cooking
It takes a couple of minutes to decide what to make for each of them, she could use magic to figure it out, to create it in a way that fit their taste perfectly, but that didn't really show her appreciation did it?
Fifteen minutes later she feels fingers gently take one of the earbuds out, from experience Homura calls out
"Good morning Madoka"
"Uhm... Good-" a little yawn that Homura would like to see, but it was too late to do so now "-morning to you too Homura"
It's...nice, domestic
Knowing full well what's going to happen next Homura braces herself and turns arou-yellow eyes
T-that didn't make sense, the o-only reason she would have those is if she...
But why would she stay here if she did?
Madoka looks at her worriedly, grasping her hand and gently moving her thumb over it
"You remember"
Madoka freezes, a moment later her eyes go pink
"I already saw it Madoka"
The girl blushes and turns to the side before the eyes go back to yellow, they stand in silence for a few minutes before Madoka turns to her
"Um, oops? Sorry for not telling you Homura?"