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Homura had succeeded. Walpurgisnacht was purged. Madoka wasn't a magical girl, with the rest of the quintet alive no less. Not to mention that the grief seed dropped could supply the four of them for half a year.
Everyone was safe, and sane. It was painfully nostalgic to hear Madoka come up with name 'The holy quintet' again. It was surreal to watch them all to be friends again. For Kyoko to protect Madoka with no incentive, for Mami to know the truth without murdering anyone, for Sayaka to not turn into a witch.
It was miracle, the literal perfect timeline. Yet, Homura had one issue.
She no longer had a purpose, her role as Madoka's protector was succeeded by the other three. Her worries for Madoka contracting were soothed when the truth was revealed. All loose ends were tied, what did she have left?
Her wish burned her from the inside out and was now extinguished. Homura slowly deteriorated. Somehow the husk that was Homura, was further ravaged of the little it had left. Her soul gem was left neglected, constantly murky. Battles were fought clumsily, school became optional. Any remaining habits to keep up her false facade of being human was all thrown away by the end of the first month.
Homura wasn't an idiot, she was planning her own death. Did it matter if she was barely even a person at this point?
Though perhaps she shouldn't have made it too obvious.
Barely even three months after Walpurgisnacht was defeated, she was cornered by four girls she may or may not have been trying to avoid. The group lecture she got, Madoka's pained expression, the nonstop check ups all forced her to continue on with her life.
A life ahead of it all was admittedly far more harder than she had thought. Even something as simple as sitting still was a mental battle. The restlessness, the intense need to do something made her tremble at times.
It was pathetic, reminiscent of her old self, it was frustrating to say the least. You would think after repeating a month a hundred times, Homura would have grown out of being that weak cowardly girl.
Trembling aside, Homura supposes that 'traumatized war vet' wasn't the worst nickname Sayaka had called her. She treated her far nicer than usual even, maybe the nickname made her more sympathetic—it seemed to spark a weird obsession with touching her though.
All made worse by having the unneeded attention of four overtly worried girls, girls that were far more human than she was. Homura's previous less than healthy habits were... Frowned upon to say the least.
They all took it upon themselves to care for her, no matter how wasteful their attempts are.
So here she was, trying to sleep. Homura groaned in frustration twisting and turning in the sheets for the umpteenth time. The weighted blankets and soft plushies doing a marvelous job at making her sweat.
Sleep of course never came easy for her, with magic able to keep her body sustained throughout long periods of sleep deprivation. She never really found the use of it. It was wasted time.
Her moments of weakness being the only times her body was allowed rest. Though she has a feeling sleeping and being knocked unconscious are two different things. Even so her rare moments of shut eye were plagued with nightmares. Discouraging her even more.
Homura sighed feeling restless, an hour had passed and she'd done nothing. Something that would have been sin in the past was now commonplace, it didn't feel any easier mentally each time.
Each cell within her was screaming at her to move. Madoka should be safely at home now the other three were escorting her, but what if Madoka somehow wondered off? She could be in a witches labyrinth for all she knew! Speaking of, witches were now another issue. They were new, unpredictable. She trusted that both Mami and Kyoko could keep their own, they were both highly capable after all.
But Sayaka was always more bullheaded, careless. Left under no supervision, she always... If past experiences said anything, her demise always led to everyone else's down fall. Homura couldn't stand it. She needed to do something, to be there with them. Protect this sacred world with everything she had.
Yet...
She would rather lose a limb then be 'homusat' again or worse be bound down to bed like a rabid animal. Mami didn't take kindly to hearing "Magical girls didn't need to sleep" apparently.
Homura had already spent her weekly five days of witch hunts. And her pride was still recovering after being forcefully read a story book, from a stupidly smug Kyoko after being caught last week. Though admittedly the redhead's voice was oddly tranquilizing.
She spent weeks, earning back their trust to leave her home alone today. Being treated as if she were a dementia patient in need of constant monitoring was nothing short of humiliating, the punishments even more so.
Even if she slept easier with them around.
Homura huffed as she shifted in bed once more. A moment of silence passed as she forced her body to sleep. Willing her brain to shut up for once.
One minute...
Two...
...
She couldn't do this. Determination alone could not eradicate years worth of built up habits. At this rate a bullet to the head would bring in better results—not that she's doing that again...
Homura pulled the blankets away with more force then intended. She needed to do something anything, lest the built up energy burns her from the inside.
She shivered as her foot touched the cool marbled floor.
Taking a stroll around the block was technically resting was it not? Kyoko constantly mentioned that she 'needed to go touch grass' and walking fit that criteria.
They were only against her fighting witches or making bombs or basically everything else she had to do. But they were not against her taking a walk and if she were to accidentally come across a witch, it'd be negligent to leave it be.
Still a disguise is in order, just in case... Homura slipped on a black cloak and a black surgical mask. Having secretly bought these exact items after her last excursion.
She would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for being recognized—they some how involved Hitomi into this 'intervention' as they called it. That wasn't going to happen again.
She rushed outside, releasing a breath of relief she didn't know she was holding. Feeling the nightly breeze hitting her face as she walked along the footpath.
For a moment it was peaceful, the little physical movement staving off her incessant need to be productive. Enough to satisfy her for a bit.
But of course, in the very next moment a shrill shout echoed from an ally way ahead of the black haired girl. Followed by sounds of a scuffle—the world was finally answering to her needs it seems. Would've been more useful 'a month' ago, she thought sourly.
With a quick flash Homura was in her magical girl outfit. Swiftly maneuvering to the top of the building.
Now at the top, she surveyed the situation below her. A girl was struggling against a thief, pulling desperately to retrieve her purse. With nothing better to do she might as well help, she'd rather not run the risk of disappointing Sayaka either.
She almost instinctively stopped time, however a subtle weight on her ankle caught her attention.
Homura tsked at the invisible ribbon around her ankle. A muted but, recognizable feeling learned over budding heads with Mami all those times. Turns out she hadn't completely earned their trust yet.
Time stop was off the table that wouldn't be too much of a problem though, she silently thanked herself for putting on a disguise.
Homura jumped down cloak billowing behind her, landing gracefully. Purposely positioning herself to be blocking off the exit way.
"What the?!" Before he could sound out another word. She swiftly struck the man on the neck. His body went limp as he collapsed to the ground.
With the issue done and over, Homura turned towards the girl. She was on the ground now, frozen, eyes wide at her as she gripped onto her now free purse.
Now with a better view of the girl, she seemed to be around her age. Vaguely familiar.
Homura pursed her lips, unsure on what to say to her. She'd never been particularly skilled at comforting others, regular words of assurance should do the trick here right?
"You're safe now." Homura coolly told the other. Not letting her uncertainty shine through her voice. The girl continued to stare at her, mouth agape. Homura extended her hand out—hopefully her actions would prove to be more efficient.
" W-who are you?" She stammered out, her hands shakey as she was hoisted up.
"I'm..." She paused, not having thought so far "This cities protector." A half truth. The girl stared at her with a weird expression. Her eyes shining.
"Go home, the night is dangerous." that's a normal thing to say right? At least the girl didn't look too panicked, she looked amazed if anything...
"Y-yeah.. okay." She said in awe.
With that Homura turned around, almost habitually flipping her hair before remembering she was wearing a cloak. Disappearing into the night.
Homura stealthily snuck back into her room, less restless then before. Removing her disguise, she slipped into bed closing her eyes...
She still couldn't sleep.
Maybe Homura really should just shoot herself in the head.
___
"Good morning!" A pair of hands embraced her from the back, nearly making her crash into a table.
"Same to you Sayaka Mi—" the arms around her tightened.
"Sayaka.." Homura mumbled out, her name nostalgic to the tongue.
"Did you sleep well yesterday?" Madoka asked sweetly, with eyes that bore into her soul.
Homura gulped, somehow the atmosphere of the room became suffocating.
"Yes, I di—"
"BATMAN'S REAL!? and is a girl??" A far too enthusiastic classmate loudly exclaimed.
Homura turned towards him, glad at the distraction he provided. Trying to slink away from Sayaka's grip, before shock threw her off balance. The girl the loud mouth was talking to was—
"Yeah, she saved me last night!" Oh god it's her. "She jumped off the roof and was like 'I'll protect you' and then she—"
Homura felt the other two girls side eyeing her. "Hey, you wouldn't have anything to do with that right?" It's understated how intimidating Madoka can be.
She has a feeling that nothing she says would change the answer they already have in their minds.
"..."
"If you say the line, I'll forgive you." Sayaka bargained with her.
"No" the two girls raised their eyebrows at that. When had she become so weak willed?
"...I'm batman."