1108/The Worth Of A Soul

The Worth Of A Soul
Date of Scene:	24 February 2016
Location:	Kaname Household
Synopsis:	In the midst of a sleepover Homura wakes to find Madoka caught in the grip a night terror induced by the Grief she had taken upon herself from Homulily in order to redeem Homura from witchdom.
Cast of Characters:	Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi

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Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka had meant it when she said Homura could come over to her house more often, and she proved it by okaying a sleepover with her parents and then inviting Homura over. Junko didn't make dinner this time, working late as usual, and dinner was a much simpler fare of pan fried fish, rice, and large piles of fresh steamed vegetables. Needless to say everything was expertly prepared and tasted delicious while also being significantly healthier than even the curry dish from before.

    Afterwards a family friendly movie was watched in the living room before Madoka dragged Homura off upstairs for a bit of happy alone time. Much chatter was had, along with a bit more hair brushing since that was so much fun last time, followed by a great deal of cuddling and a bit of kissing as well. Eventually it was time for bed and the two had changed into pajamas before snuggling back up and falling asleep in each other's arms.

    It's the first time in a while since Homura has been around Madoka while she was sleeping at home in her own bed since that fateful event a week and a half ago.

    It starts out quietly enough. Madoka shifts around a bit while she sleeps, her head turning a little from side to side. It gets worse from there, the head tossing getting stronger and the expression on her face getting tight. Her muscles begin to tense up, her limp limbs starting to grab a bit onto Homura. She makes uncomfortable little noises, small grunts of annoyance and upset. Eventually a word creeps out, her voice tight, "Ma...doka..."

    Her own name?

    It quickly gets worse from there, her grip on her girlfriend tightening and her fingers curling into her, "Madoka..!" Her heartbeat quickens and is soon at a rapid pace, her breathing picking up to match it and becoming labored, her skin breaking out into a cold, clammy sweat. She starts moving around more, starting to toss and turn her whole body, her face showing a wince of pain as her movements start to kick off covers and send stuffed tumbling off the bed.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura couldn't be in a happier, safer place.

    Coming over to Madoka's house for a sleepover was very nice. She had brought Madoka a small assortment of hair ribbons, and while Homura specifically avoided jewelry they are fancy in their own way. Shiny silk or satin, some with fabric flowers or other designs, but all of the ribbons come in pairs because of course they do. They are dressy, as far as ribbons go.

    Dinner being a simple thing was a welcome fact, as Homura didn't really want Madoka's family to feel obligated to make a big deal every time she came over. She enjoyed the dinner and pleasantly thanked Madoka's father, and probably hugged Madoka for much of the movie. When they went upstairs, Homura was more than happy to get into pajamas (she brought some this time!) and get ready to cuddle.

    Now she's sleeping soundly, with her dear Madoka in her arms, and dreaming about a nature documentary on the wild Kyouko roaming the steel jungles of Mitakihara. There's the Kyouko defending her territory. There's Kyouko hunting for food. There's Kyouko chasing a Sayaka.

    There's a Madoka here, saying her own name like a wild Pokemon. Aww... that's so cute. Homu wants a Madoka. She chases the adorable Madoka in her dream, while in the real world her sleepy arms hold Madoka tighter.

    When Homura feels Madoka's shifting and tossing and turning, and hears the sound of that voice, she wakes up with a start. Few things can make her more concerned than the thought that Madoka might be suffering.

    Homura's purple eyes look at Madoka, who is clearly having a bad dream, and calling out her own name. She holds Madoka tight, shaking her gently and whispering into her ear. "Madoka-chan... Madoka-chan. Wake up. You're having a bad dream."

    Not wanting to let Madoka stay in that nightmare any longer, Homura resolves to wake her up with a deep kiss. Kissing people to wake them up works, right? Homura actually doesn't know.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Many ribbons were tried on both Madoka and Homura after hair brushing was complete, because of course they were. The fact that the two girls were going to be hugging throughout the movie was a known factor, and they were given preferential spots on the couch so they could sit next to each other.

    A very bad dream indeed. Homura has some success in holding onto her, though she continues turning about and shaking her head, though the whispering seems to have little effect. It also turns out to be incredibly difficult to try and kiss someone who won't keep still, especially as the intensity of her tossing continues to rapidly increase.

    Before long it is, in fact, almost completely impossible to keep her still. Homura can probably manage to get her lips against Madoka's for a moment or two but anything more is going to be impossible. In fact Madoka's twisting and writhing is becoming so intense that Homura might have to henshin if she decides it's worth pinning her down. It isn't wild thrashing or flailing limbs, but there's a lot of force behind her tortured movements.

    An agonized cry escapes her, muffled partially by the tightness of her throat and perhaps Homura's own lips if she's still trying to wake her with kisses, and her eyes suddenly open, tears having long since started running along the contours of her cheeks. She'll bolt upright unless Homura stops her, but even if she's kept down she'll stare at nothing with wide horror-struck eyes, only to lift her hands in front of her face and stare at them. "She died in my arms. She..!"

    A moment later Madoka actually starts realizing where she is and who is with her, turning to Homura and throwing herself towards her, trying to bury her face in her chest while hugging and squeezing onto her tightly. While no longer completely inconsolable she's clinging to her for comfort, crying brokenly

Homura Akemi has posed:
    The kissing idea was abandoned after one or two failed attempts, especially as Madoka started thrashing about. The thought of henshining did cross Homura's mind, but she's concerned about being more damaging to Madoka than she would be to herself. She lets go of Madoka, no longer holding her down, but she does try to grab a limb to drag Madoka to the middle of the bed.

     If Homura gets the bad end of those forceful movements a couple times, that's okay with her, as long as she can keep Madoka from hurting herself or, now that she's a Puella Magi, damaging something important to her in her room.

    The only times she really tries to block or restrain Madoka is when she thinks that Madoka might a wall or something. Plushies, being soft, tend to be able to take abuse well enough as long as someone isn't trying to tear them apart.

    Homura is on her knees, sitting up, watching helplessly as her best friend and girlfriend is tortured by a nightmare by the time Madoka's eyes open. When Homura hears the words, her chest tightens.

    That wasn't Madoka's pain. That was hers. That pain belonged to Homura, and Madoka took it on herself.

    "Madoka-chan..."

    Homura readily accepts Madoka burying her head into her chest, wrapping her arms around her to hold her close. She listens to the broken sobs and feels the tightness of Madoka's clinging.

    "It's okay, Madoka-chan. I'm here with you..."

    She pats Madoka's back, then strokes her back gently. Madoka can cry on her for as long as she wants, or needs to.

    Her gut tightens, and her back tenses, as Homura considers what Madoka must have been thinking about. The thought that Madoka has to feel that same pain... A tear rolls down Homura's face as well. "It never happened, Madoka-chan. I undid all of that, and you're alive now..."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Sliding Madoka into a spot less likely to send her tumbling over the edge of her own bed is a good call and something Homura can easily accomplish. Her terror induced strength is only dedicated to those uncomfortable, troubled tosses and turns rather than really doing anything in particular.

    Homura might find herself whacked in the leg once or twice as she kneels, and luckily she doesn't seem like she's about to punch or kick any holes in her walls; she's writhing more than thrashing.

    Correction; that pain used to belong to Homura. Yes, the memories are still there, but their haunting, clinging horror is gone. Nothing easy to think about and remembering it now must hurt, but it doesn't eat away like an acid or grind against and fray her nerves. If Homura begins to dwell on them they may once more, but now that despair no longer belongs to her. It belongs to Madoka- it never really went away, it merely changed owners.

    Madoka nods as Homura speaks to her and tells her it's okay, her nose poking into her ribs a bit more as her chin rises and then easing up as it lowers again. The clinging stays tight for several moments and the sobbing continues, but after a minute or two it calms down to gentler blubbering and a slower dribbling of tears.

    Her breath is a bit ragged and her voice is as well from the crying, but eventually she settles into a calm snuggling, turning her head and pressing the side of it against Homura's chest, nuzzling the top of her head up beneath her girlfriends chin. "It happened," she whispers back. "You undid it and you saved me and I'm alive, but it still happened and it still hurt you."

    She takes in a deep breath and tries letting it out slowly, not quite ready yet to look up at Homura, knowing her face must look like a mess right now. "It's okay though. It isn't like this every night, only sometimes. I think it's getting a little better, too." She manages a small smile, closing her eyes and hugging onto Homura a bit more, "It's a lot easier, having you here to comfort me."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura considers what exactly she did to Madoka... no, what Madoka chose to take onto herself for her sake. It wouldn't do to take the full blame for that, that would be just like treating Madoka as helpless, just like she didn't want to be. Still, this is a part of the sacrifice that Madoka made for her.

    Homura had been avoiding thinking about it, pushing it away from her so that she wouldn't fall into despair again. She never once thought that Madoka would be suffering like this... though she should have, considering what it was that Madoka did. Now the burdens that Homura had to bear are Madoka's...

    Homura still wasn't sure what to think of that. Was this acceptable? Was this really okay? Madoka only did this to save her, because she couldn't hold on anymore.

    She continues to stroke Madoka's back as she sobs, holding her and occasionally patting her. Homura's tears go unnoticed by her. Madoka's the only one who matters.

    "... it did hurt... Even knowing that I could just reset time, it hurt..."

    So... this isn't even the first time that this has happened. Well, if Homura being here is comforting to her...

    Homura kisses the top of Madoka's head, wrapping her arms tightly around Madoka. "I love you so much. I always have. I'm sorry it hurt you so much to save me. I hope that keeping me is worth it." She kisses Madoka's forehead. She really does hope the pain goes away some day, or at least becomes manageable. Madoka must really be as strong as Homura thought, if she's even able to manage how much that hurt. "If there's anything I can do..."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka's breathing slows and evens, her heart's heavy beating calms and resumes a normal pace. She begins to relax as her back is stroked, her expression returning to a neutral one. "I know it did. You don't have to hide it anymore, Homura-chan, not from me and not from yourself. It was terrible and awful, but it's over now."

    She snuggles into Homura as arms wrap around her. Her head gives a tiny shake, "You don't have to be sorry. You didn't ask to become a Witch when you made your contract, nobody warned you. I know that you don't want to see me hurting because I don't want to see you hurting, either." Her lips curl into a smile as her forehead is kiss and she replies, "There is something you can do. Enjoy your life and be happy, make the best of every new day that you have. Everything is worth it if you can do that. This is nothing compared to how much happiness and joy every day with you brings to me."

    She pulls away a little, using one of her sleeves to wipe the tears off of her face. She looks up towards Homura, "I-"

    Her words stop, and her expression changes to one of sympathy. Now it's her turn to reach up and brush away Homura's tears, whatever she was going to say forgotten. "I'm sorry." She shifts around, sitting herself up more properly so she can be closer to Homura's level, "I love you too, Homura-chan. I'm sorry you have to see me cry. But remember... these tears are only a tiny drop compared to what they'd have been if I had lost you forever."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura nods. It is over now. Homura doesn't have to worry about that now. Madoka's with her, and even if she has terrible dreams sometimes it's better than the alternative. "It is... It is over now. Walpurgisnacht is dead, and not only are you alive, but Kyouko, Sayaka, and Mami are, too."

    Homura holds Madoka tight, wanting to comfort her and be close to her. "I do. I do enjoy my life. I don't have to force smiles anymore. I visited Mamo-kun the other day. Even fighting Witches doesn't seem so bad anymore, because I'm not alone. I have wonderful friends, and I love them, and I love you most of all." Sob. "My life is better than it's ever been, and it's all thanks to you, because you were so good to me, in so many ways."

    Homura's tears are brushed away, and she shakes her head. "It's not your fault. You did this for me. I'm the one who should be sorry." Losing Homura would've hurt Madoka a lot more, and Homura knows that now more than she ever could have before. Without a doubt. How could she not know it, having felt what Madoka felt?

    She still doesn't let go of Madoka, and probably won't unless Madoka pulls away. "Well, you didn't lose me. I'm here, and I'm not going to leave. I hope neither one of us has to endure pain like that again."

    Homura nuzzles against Madoka. She takes a deep breath in, and then lets it out. "It does hurt me to see you suffer, but I just want you to know that I'm here for you. You don't have to bear it alone."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "We all have friends who care about us. Maybe some day we can all care about each other. I think even Kyouko cares about what happens to you now, Homura-chan." Maybe it's not the same depth of care as she has for Sayaka or Mami, which would be asking a bit much, but Madoka gets the feeling that Kyouko wouldn't be pleased if the worst did happen to Homura. It's quite the change from before!

    Madoka nods her head and smiles, "Good. Then you're already doing everything I could ask. That's all I wanted and all I need to make it through this, knowing that I've given you new hope and another chance at a happy life." She hugs Homur tight when she sobs, "I'm happy for you. I tell you that I'm happy to be with you a lot, but I'm also very happy for you. That your safe, alive, and happy. That was the miracle I asked for, and if I have to suffer a little for it I'm more than happy to."

    Her voice has finally lost that roughness and tightness to it, returning to a smooth, comforting tone. The shaking in her hands has calmed and the clamminess of her skin is gone, Madoka not feeling cold or shivering because she has Homura there keeping her warm. "Then lets neither of us be sorry. We don't have to be, because even if things hurt sometimes we'll always have each other."

    Madoka doesn't pull away, and doesn't want to pull away. She likes being held in Homura's arms and likes being soothed and comforted by her when she hurts. "Thank you for being here for me. It means a lot to me that you care about me so much. I don't forget it, but it's still nice to hear." She peeks up into Homura's eyes and adds with a gentle smile, "Just like it's always nice to hear you tell me that you love me." A moment later she whispers, "I love you, Homura-chan."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura's hand moves up to stroke the back of Madoka's neck, and moves back down again to rub between her shoulderblades. "I guess it would be selfish of me, to take all of that pain for myself, and to act like I was the only one who could bear it. You really are so strong... You've given me hope, and I'll never let go of it. As long as you're alive, I have everything I need."

    She still hates it, because Madoka is suffering, but she doesn't want Madoka to worry about her. "I'm happy, too. I'm happy that you're here, and that I can be close to you, and it's really like you said the other day. It's a miracle that we get to be with each other. Every teardrop I ever shed is justified by the fact that you're here, in my arms, right now. Just knowing that you're okay makes every bit of suffering worth it."

    Homura nods, laughing as she lets out another sob, but this time she's not crying because she's upset, but because Madoka is so sweet.

    She looks down into Madoka's eyes as her girlfriend peeks up at her."I'm so glad that I can be here for you, to comfort you and hold you and care for you. I love you, too. I love you every second of every day, and also in the stopped moments in between." She smiles at the end of that statement, before leaning down to kiss Madoka again.

    She sets her forehead on Madoka's, and comfortably holds her. She's happier now, because Madoka is recovering from the nightmare, and she continues rubbing her back. "Are you okay now?"

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    With it down Madoka's fluffy hair brushes against the back of Homura's hand as she strokes the back of her neck, the girl letting out a soft sigh at the kind, comforting backrub. Her lips curl up into a smile at her girlfriends words, "That's all I wanted, to give you hope and for you to have what you need."

    'Every teardrop I ever shed is justified by the fact that you're here, in my arms, right now.' That really is how it is, isn't it? And Madoka realizes that they both feel the exact same way about each other. "Every teardrop I will shed is justified by that too, that I can be here in your arms."

    She looks up into Homura's eyes again as she hears and feels that sob, relieved and happy to see that it isn't a sad one. The comment about stopped moments between the seconds of the day draw a soft giggle from her, her lips still smiling as she tilts her chin up to meet Homura and her kiss halfway. When it parts she shifts a little, pulling herself up into Homura's lap rather than just sitting next to her, leaning her forehead against her girlfriends and staring into her purple eyes so closely that they seem to fill her entire vision.

    Her head nods gently to Homura's question so as not to disrupt their forehead touch, her pink bangs pressing up into black, "I'm better now. I'm okay." She rests comfortably against Homura, "That feels nice..." She takes in a little breath and then sighs happily.

    And it is a happy moment now. She's comfortable again after all that. Her eyes half lid, peeking away for a moment, before going back to Homura's, "When that happens... it's weird. I have these dreams that feel too real to be dreams, but I know they are because I'm not myself; I'm you. Some of them are worse than others, and there's usually more than one when they come. I can't tell if they're real memories of yours or if they're nightmares made up by them, but I never have the same one twice."

    She doesn't want to scare Homura or make her worry, but she does think it's important. She also knows Homura wants to help her. She's saying it now because she is comfortable, and talking about it doesn't seem to upset her now that the actual nightmares are over.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Madoka feels the same way. Homura can accept that. She knows it. She nods, drawing Madoka closer after the kiss, holding her tighter as Madoka sits in her lap, pressing herself against Madoka.

    When Madoka says that she's okay now, Homura visibly relaxes, her shoulders dropping just slightly and her muscles loosening. "I'm glad..." That feels nice? Time to keep doing that, then!

    Homura listens as Madoka explains the dreams. Too real to be dreams, huh? That's odd, even for a dream based on a memory. "I've got a lot of memories. Honestly, with so many events happening over and over, I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't mix some memories up. Memory really isn't that perfect."

    She rubs her nose against Madoka's. Thinking over the implications, it seems strange. "I used to have nightmares over it. Even after Walpurgisnacht was defeated, I'd sometimes have one. I'm not sure if what you're having is that, or if you're somehow magically reliving what I went through." In fact, when Madoka and Homura were sleeping next to each other in the hotel, Homura woke up from a very similar dream.

    She sighs heavily. "With all that I went through, you could have nearly a hundred of those dreams and not even be dreaming about the same event. That's assuming that they aren't just made up." There really is no telling, as far as Homura's concerned.

    Homura can't really help unless she knows what the problem is, and not knowing would make it worse than knowing. "Whenever I'd have a dream like that, after waking up I'd remind myself that it wasn't true. I'd remind myself that things were okay right now, and you're still alive. I'd convince myself of that, so I could make it through the day. I needed to know that you were okay."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka leans against Homura a bit more when she feels her relax, hugging to her gently. Memory isn't perfect? That's true isn't it? She tilts her head a little as Homura mentions having had nightmares after Walpurgisnacht. It might have surprised her to hear it if not for what happened only two weeks later. "I'm not sure if they're normal nightmares or memories. I do know that they're your grief, your suffering that I took from you. And... that makes it okay. It makes it easier, because I know if I hadn't you wouldn't be you anymore."

    She looks into her girlfriends eyes again and reaches up, cupping the side of her face with her hand and brushing her thumb gently over her cheek. "Only a hundred?" She smiles after Homura sighs, "A hundred nightmares like this is easy if it means hundreds of days with you, and I'm going to make sure it's more than that little number. Thousands of more days at least. Many more cuddles and kisses."

    She leans in and gives Homura one more of those kisses, like a promise of so many more that will come. "Mm. Things are more than okay right now. They're wonderful." A short pause and she says softly, "It does take a little while to remember that after I wake up, though." Her voice softens and she looks up to Homura, smiling. "It helped a lot, having you here with me. I don't want you to hurt because of what I'm going through, but it really was nice having you hold me and cuddle me after. Everything is always better when I'm in your arms."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura wouldn't be Homura anymore... yeah, that about sums it up. "Realistically, I'd be a Grief Seed if not for you. You are always saving me, one way or another. You're a natural magical girl~."

    She smiles as she looks at her little angel, hand brushing through her pink hair. "If I could see it a hundred times, then I'm sure you can, too. Also, I'll be here with you, and I'll support you every step of the way, with all the cuddles and kisses I can give you. I know exactly what you're going through, because I had to face that pain, too."

    Homura accepts the kiss, and the promise that comes with it, brushing her lips against Madoka's. When the kiss ends, she listens. "They are. It's wonderful being with you, and being able to make you as happy as you make me." She shakes her head and says, "I'm a magical girl, Madoka-chan. I can handle a bit of pain, especially if it's for you. I'd rather be here for you in your moment of need. Being there for you when you need me... that's worth getting hurt over."

    'Everything is always better when I'm in your arms.'

    "Then I'll just have to keep you in them, my little angel~."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Homura would be a Grief Seed without her. A sad way to put it but undoubtedly the truth. The lilt at the end of the comment draws a little giggle from her, "I'm glad I was able to save you." This time she means it not purely for the selfish reason of having Homura with her, but rather the act of being able to help someone she cares about itself.

    Madoka's eyes close as the fluffy pink strands of her hair flow between Homura's fingers, enjoying the touch and the happiness. "I can, and if I have to I will. Having your cuddles and kisses will make it so much easier." She opens her eyes back up to look at Homura, "That's also true, you know exactly what it is I felt. That makes it a little better, knowing you understand."

    Madoka giggles softly, "You're a wonderful magical girl, Homura-chan. You're right. Then I'll trust you to comfort me and support me when things get difficult. I'm not going to push you away when I'm hurting, in the end doing that would just hurt us both even more."

    Sitting there in Homura's lap, hugging gently onto her as her hair is brushed and she's being soothed and comforted. Madoka really is appreciative of her girlfriend's support, and she looks up into her eyes with a sweet expression to let her know. "Your little angel is lucky to be yours, Homura-chan."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura can't help but smile and be happy when she's got Madoka in her arms. "You did help me. I wouldn't be here if it weren't you." She giggles. "I remember the first time I met you, it was a timeline where you had never moved to America. It was my first day coming back to school, and a bunch of girls were talking to me. I was really shy and didn't know how to handle it. I was terrified on top of everything else, because I was also really behind in school."

    Homura thinks back to the time she broke down crying in front of the whiteboard because she didn't know how to answer a math problem she didn't study for. She really was frail back then, but that event also has a lot to do with why she wanted to make sure people she cared about got their homework if they had to be hospitalized.

    "Then you came up to me, and because you were the nurse's aide you took me away from that so I could go to the nurse's office. I needed to take some medicine... but that wasn't the only reason you did that. You saw me being socially helpless and getting overwhelmed and you took me out of that. You've been taking care of me from the start."

    Homura strokes her hand through Madoka's hair, softly telling the story that Madoka might have seen significant parts of. "... and then later on, I was kissed by a Witch. It was going to kill me. Then suddenly, you and Mami were there, as Puella Magi, and you destroyed the Witch before I could be hurt. You showed me so much kindness, I don't know how I ever could've not been in love with you."

    Homura holds Madoka tight. "I just think... if you're going to remember the bad times, then you should be reminded of the good times, too. You gave me a lot, and you still do. I'm very lucky to have you, my little angel-chan, and I've always been yours."

    She continues brushing her hand through Madoka's hair for a moment, and then moves her hand down to rub her back. Holding Madoka like this is so nice.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka listens to the story Homura tells her, about the first time they ever met. She nods a little as she sets the scene, her first day transferring into a new school. She lets out a quiet, "Aw," when Homura mentions being shy and not knowing how to handle the inevitable new student rush. She had that happen to herself when she got back from America, after all! It's actually an almost shockingly familiar story, but she keeps those thoughts to herself because right now she's listening.

    She can't help but giggle when she's told she was the nurse's aide. So that's what she did in timelines she didn't move to America? She was the nurse's aid for her class? It makes sense, she does like helping people. She inwardly cheers for her past self helping Homura out of an overwhelming social situation.

    Madoka cuddles against Homura as her hair is stroked. For having been asleep it's still fairly tangle free, owing to all the brushing before they went to sleep. She's mostly keeping her own arms wrapped around Homura, hugging onto her to make it easier to be held like this. She wants it to be easy, because she enjoys it so much she wants to give every incentive.

    A pout as Homura talks about being kissed by a Witch and then a little smile as she's rescued by Mami and herself. She leans in close as she's held tight, pressing herself up against Homura. A blush settles on her cheeks as the reason for telling her the story is given, and she leans in to give Homura a kiss on the cheek. "It's so sweet of you to tell me things like that. I'm glad I was able to make you happy, even back then."

    She looks down for a moment and then actually tears up a little. The look she gives Homura is a mixture of happiness and surprise- she didn't even realize how much hearing something like this would affect her. "So you're saying... even from the very start I was a good person doing nice things? I was never worthless or stupid?"

    Homura had, of course, told her that the reason she made her contract was because she wanted to protect the girl who had protected her, but she'd never really thought it through. There are still old, mostly forgotten but lingering issues of self worth for Madoka, maybe not of who she is now but of who she used to be. Hearing that even the very first time they met, that the very first her was someone who helped Homura right from the start puts the lie to all of those worries.

    She hugs onto Homura again, squeezing tightly as a couple happy tears roll down her cheeks. "Thank you. Thank you for telling me. That means so much to me, to hear that." Then a giggle, not really at all at odds with the tears, "You've always been 'my Homura-chan'? Then we really are meant for each other."

    As her hair is brushed through again and her back rubbed she leans in she shifts her grip on Homura, moving her arms from around her body to around behind her neck. She uses the leverage to lift herself so that she can hold her head even with Homura's, looking into her eyes for a moment before closing hers and leaning in to kiss her. It's soft, sweet and tender. When it breaks she waits a moment before giving another kiss, this one firmer and more insistent.

    She intends to keep kissing her girlfriend like this until Homura decides to stop her.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura shakes her head. "You? No. Not once were you worthless or stupid. I never saw you that way. It was... difficult, trying to convince you to stay away from Kyubey. You're so kind, you could never just sit and watch people suffer when you knew you had the power to help. Worthless people don't do that. You were never worthless. You proved that to me over and over again. Quite the opposite. You are worth everything I could ever give you. Are still, even."

    Homura watches as Madoka tears up, smiling as she holds her. It meant that much to her? Good... Homura wanted Madoka to know about that, because there were good times too, and Madoka should know about those if she's also going to know about the pain. "Always. Even from the start, you wanted to call me by my first name. You... were the only one who did back then."

    She decides to gloss over the events that led to Homura finally calling Madoka by her first name. No point in recounting it and considering how horrible it was Madoka probably knows it anyways.

    "... but yeah. You really are the only one for me. Knowing that you loved me even back then..." Homura is distracted by the nostalgia of those memories, the good times that Homura will still cherish, when Madoka comes in for a kiss. The sweet contact draws Homura back to the present girl in her arms, closing her eyes to enjoy the feeling of it. When the kiss breaks, she smiles, and then Homura's smile is kissed.

    Homura sweetly kisses Madoka, holding her gently in her arms. It could be a long time before Homura stops her.