This story will be focusing on the relationship of Star and Marco post-'Storm the Castle,' and their complicated feelings towards one another in light of these events. Although the subject matter is serious, it will not interfere with the tone of the story and clash with the show's, at least not until later. There will be some Starco, but it isn't the focus, merely a plotpoint.

The Things We Do For Love

TheOneAndOnly1993

Marco Diaz stood completely still, wishing not to disturb the quiet that had overtaken Ludo's keep, now a lifeless ruin. The air smelled of cupcakes and mortar, as was typical after a big climactic fight with Star Butterfly, Princess of Mewni.

The girl in question stood to his right, shaking, gazing upon the desolation of her own making.

As Marco eyed her from the corner of his sight, he found that Star had yet to move, even though five seconds passed since he turned away from Toffee's remains: a jacket and a blood-red tie.

For Star, this was a record. Never in the time Marco had come to know the girl had she managed to stay so still. She tried a few times, boy did she try; yet her efforts almost always ended with her jumping up and down in place, huge grin plastered. Marco gave her an "A" for effort though, being able to stay in one spot was still impressive for Star.

But now, now on her face was something Marco had never seen before. Who he jokingly referred to as the physical embodiment of sugar and happiness, Star Butterfly soaked in the ruination around her with wide, wet eyes, and the tiniest, almost invisible of frowns. Yet the hearts adorning her cheeks did not betray her emotion, never wavered in their image - they were still small, and pink, and oh, so cute. That last part Marco convinced himself everyone in school thought the same.

Star had never been seen with genuine sadness before, and Marco hoped to God it would stay that way. Yet here, now, Marco wished she showed at the very least something, anything. Even joy right now would bring relief. It would be a bit creepy, for sure, but it's better than just... this.

For the first time in his life, Marco was unsure of what Star was feeling. He did not blame her, after everything that just happened. He wondered what was going on through her head right now - she had just given up her wand, her birthright, to save him. She had massacred a keep of monsters, only to save him.

The full weight of everything just punched Marco in the face, and he found it suddenly very difficult to stay upright. Holy smokes, was all he could think of, before realizing that it has now been ten seconds, and neither of them had moved.

Marco changed that, and finally turned over to face her. His heart sunk when she twitched her gaze over to him, then her whole body - Star clasped her hands up over her chest, blonde locks stirring lazily in the wind. Her eyes big, shimmering, and quickly watering at the sight of her best friend.

I'm so sorry, Marco wanted to say, but the words died in his throat. He knew words would be useless right now, empty at best, angering at worst. Star had just lost everything, a few simple words from some human she met half a year ago wouldn't fix anything.

Marco was sure of it.

But he knew of one thing Star needed, and, secretly, he needed too. A shy step forward, his arms out and open at his sides was all the invitation Star needed.

She practically threw herself on him, planting her face in his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his body and squeezing, squeezing with all her might. The princess had surprising muscle hidden in those deceptively skinny arms of hers, obviously gained from years of kicking monster tail. Yet they were always warm and good for hugs.

As Marco returned the gesture, he wondered what she would do now for entertainment. No one was around to steal Star's wand, because any ambitious enough to try and assault the Princess of Mewni died tonight. Not that that mattered. Star's wand was gone.

And he knew why.

But when he started to feel the girl in his arms shake, Marco knew he had to resist the urge to break down as well. He blinked back tears in his eyes before nuzzling Star's hair, smelling of sugar and cinder.

"When you see my face, it gives you Hell! Gives yooou Hell! When you walk my way-"

Marco rushed to grab the phone at his side, so quickly and furiously and tiredly he moved that it took three thumb-swipes across the screen to silence his alarm.

The boy grumbled as he readjusted his blanket-cocoon, cursing himself for forgetting to turn the stupid thing off before going to bed. After all the excitement, Mom and Dad offered to let the kids skip school the next day and rest up. Never had Marco been so thankful towards his parents, he practically threw himself at their feet.

They had a late night partying in Mewni: in celebration of Princess Star Butterfly's decisive victory against Ludo and his army. Though both knew it was just for show, for the commoners' sake, even if neither of them spoke about it. Yet it wasn't an empty ceremony, in truth Star's parents, the King and Queen, were proud of their daughter for her decisions that night. It was small comfort for Marco, who worried that they would be furious with their daughter for almost losing the priceless family heirloom.

That's right, "almost." Everything turned out okay anyway, for in the ashes of Ludo's keep, the two of them found a new wand smoldering in the ruins, reborn, like the Phoenix from Harry Potter. After an interesting display from a tiny unicorn, of course. It was never simple with Star Butterfly.

Marco grumbled, further pushing his face into his pillow and wishing he could turn his brain back off, break into Dreamland with a battering ram and never come out until he wanted to. He didn't want to think about the wand right now, nor the King and Queen, or last night or even Star. Not right now. The day had just started after all.

Sure, everything turned out okay. Yet if everything turned out okay, how come nothing felt okay?

Marco didn't know, and truly, he didn't care. He was fine, they were fine. Star was... fine?

Marco drifted back asleep, uncertain about his own friend.

"Marco, Marco, MARCO, MARCO!"

Yeah, she was fine.

Now begrudgingly awake, the boy attempted to flip himself over but found that something laid on top of him, preventing him from doing so. A drowsy turn of the head revealed a pale, skinny leg fitted with a purple sock obscuring half his vision, and he could take a wild guess at who it belonged to.

In a voice thick with underuse and sleep deprivation, Marco muttered, "Whassup Star?"

"Me!" she replied, giggling; what must have been a finger pushed into his cowlick, "on top of you!"

Marco grunted thoughtfully. "Was wondering why I couldn't move." His mood brightened considerably hearing Star laugh. "So what's going on?" he asked, just as he felt the weight on his back lighten, and Star moved to lie down right next to him, fingers laced over her stomach.

She waited until Marco was positioned the same. "Oh, just thinkin' about my," she enthusiastically nudged him in the elbow with her own, "fave-o guy!"

"And you couldn't wait until I returned from the Land of the Dead?" He meant it as a joke, emphasized by the smirk he now wore. Yet when Marco looked over, Star was gazing into the ceiling looking... surprisingly pensive.

"Did you sleep okay?" she suddenly asked, and the quietness of her voice didn't help much either.

Marco took a second to respond, finding himself caught off guard by this sudden change in topic and demeanor. "Uh, yeah? What's this about, Star?"

She just turned her head, locking eyes with his; a sad smile graced her lips, but nothing more was said or done.

Marco was about to say her name once more when the princess replied, "Sorry," with her usual positivity. "I was... kinda curious. It's just, I've been waiting foe-evah for you to wake up, Marco. You've been lumpin' it up here like a big ol' lump all day."

Marco quirked a brow, gazing past Star to the window on the other side of his bedroom - the sky was orange, and he could faintly hear the warble of birds through the glass. His eyes widened. "I've been asleep all day!?" he cried, sitting up.

Star joined him, pulling her legs so she sat crisscross. "And all night, too! It's the morning, Marco! We gotta get up for school!"

"WHAT!? You gotta be joking me!" Marco sprung up from his bed, suddenly purged of the tiredness that plagued his senses as he made a dash for the closet.

While Marco cringed at the realization that he hadn't showered in a couple days (and that Star was right on top of him just moments ago), the girl sauntered across the room to the door, smiling knowingly as she remarked, "That must've been some dream you were having, eh Marco?"

"Yeah," he replied, absentmindedly while reaching for a towel. Though he took a second or two to soak in her words and, with a frown, admitted, "Actually, I don't remember any of it."

Star, for whatever reason, shrank back at this. "You don't?" she asked in disbelief.

Marco just shrugged. "N-No? Most people don't remember what they dream half the time. Should I?"

Star didn't answer right away, merely she gave him a long look eventually punctuated with an overly animated shrug.

Obviously she was hiding something. What, though, was a matter of debate Marco did not have the energy or will to care about. He was fine, so what did his dreams matter? "Well, alright then. I'm gonna go shower, see ya downstairs."

He shook his head, chuckling; Star was just being a weirdo.

Little do they know just how shaken they are, how broken, and how much they so desperately need each other.