Marie sighed on her way to the Death Room. Yes, having to build up her motivation to work and the kishin's revival was stressing her out, but when she saw Stein, Azusa had IMMEDIATELY reminded her that he was her first love. Of course she'd acted like she didn't know what Azsua meant. Ugh why did Azusa ALWAYS have to speak her mind at ALL times? It was sort of annoying…
Gee, she could have at least left me a little time to just talk with Stein before I had to think back on the whole being in love thing! Great, now it's going to be a major distraction…I'll be thinking of how much I love him all day! No..I have to focus on anything and everything that ISN'T Stein. Yes, just look away…ignore it. Besides, I am actually happy to be seeing everyone again…I should focus on that.
She waved happily at Spirit and Stein, trying to be as cheerful and casual as she could. She really was so happy to be seeing them again…it had been so long.
Marie couldn't help but laugh at Stein and Spirit's agitation with having to see Azusa again. They had NEVER liked her. Marie laughed even more at the sight of Azusa confronting Spirit. She couldn't hear exactly what they were talking about, but it must have been some sort of guilt trip because Spirit was flailing his arms around in a panic.
"By the way, Marie, weren't you planning on retiring right after you became I death scythe?" came Stein's low tone.
Marie sighed. "Please don't remind me." Ugh she hated all the work! She just wanted to get married!
She looked up at Stein…he was still handsome. She still loved him. He had changed quite a bit since the academy, but she didn't mind…it was cute and she loved him; she always had and always would; nothing could possibly change that for her.
He's not even paying attention to me though….he's acting like he….barely notices me. Like he gets to see me every day or something…..that's fine. I mean why hang off him or expect him to get excited to see me? It's not like he's my boyfriend or something.
Entering the Death Room, Marie was able to refocus. She really did want to pay attention to this; it was important and she wanted to help. Even if she didn't like work she always loved people; if she could help others she would be happy.
"Marie, I'd like you to be Stein's new partner." Lord Death said in his goofy voice.
Oh…no! Now she really was going to be expected to work! AND she would have to be with Stein all the time!...with Stein all the time…agh no! This was a bad thing!
Ok calm down Marie…chill out.
Stein placed a hand on her shoulder.
No….agh! She could already feel it despite her face and pessimistic words…she could feel those old feelings. She wondered…could he? Was he thinking any of the same things she was? Did he still retain any feelings for her…was he still hers? Was he ever really hers though? No, she had to focus; there was a kishin on the loose!
After leaving the Death Room, she and Stein took a seat on a bench by some of the students playing basketball.
After complaining a bit, something she was good at, Marie smiled happily as she watched the DWMA students play. She already loved them. Marie loved children, she always had and truly wanted some of her own. She was excited though; she got to be their teacher!
"Ok!" Marie said stretching her arms above her head cutely. "I don't have a boyfriend right now; I might as well do some work!"
She really wasn't just stating the fact…she was sort of hoping she'd get a response out of Stein by mentioning the word "boyfriend", but she got nothing. Turning to take a look at him however, she couldn't help but smile despite her disappointment; he was smiling…so handsome…
Eventually she began to chap with Stein, making simple yet fun conversation…Stein looked at her with keen interest; something he didn't normally bless people with.
She's still so bright and warm. Her spirit and kindness still radiates from her. The light in her eye hasn't dimmed…this is the Marie I remember. However, I've changed so much, but she's still treating me as that man she knew all those years ago. It amazes me that she can be so accepting…Marie…I still-…no, I can't. We haven't seen each other in years and the madness is taking over me once again. There's no way we can be involved again. These thoughts need to be put out of my head right now.
Stein's brain was practically itching. He wanted so badly to reach up and turn the screw in his head, but he would refrain from doing so for now; he didn't want to do that right away, after just having become reacquainted with Marie.
A minute later, Spirit arrived and made a remark about how Stein couldn't even get a simple game like basketball. Yeah he couldn't. He didn't look at things the way other people did; why couldn't Spirit get the hell over it and accept things as they were?
Marie kept on smiling though despite Spirit's words. That was just how Stein was and she adored it…
You always have been different Stein…but maybe that's part of why I like you so much.
Later, Marie walked home cheerfully with Stein, looking around and admiring the look of the town she had once called home. She nearly laughed while a sweadrop appeared on her forehead; this was definitely Stein's house. Covered in stitches; grey and bland; odd architecture; oh yeah this was his place.
Stepping inside it was exactly how she remembered it all that time ago when she visited….he kept it the same.
"So ummm…" she began.
"The guest bedroom is down the hall, up the stairs and the second door on the right. Don't get lost. If you need anything I'll be in that room over there." Stein said blandly, pointing first at the hall and then at the room where he would be.
Marie watched Stein leave somewhat sadly. Was he really that uninterested? He was wasn't he….it was an inconvenience. Trying not to let it get her down too much, Marie made her way down the hall and-?
"Um…the second door on the left? No, the first on the right! No…the…the….aaah!" she shouted mussing her hair cutely in frustration.
"Up the stairs, second door on the right." Came a low tone from behind her suddenly, causing her to jump.
"Oh um thanks…" she said.
Stein nodded and turned around to retreat once more, but was drawn back by a cry from Marie, who was falling backwards down the stairs. She had obviously lost her balance, trying to get up the stairs carrying too many bags.
Stein wordlessly glided forward and smoothly caught the flailing Marie. Marie made a small sound of surprise, when she didn't feel her body hitting the hard floor. Then she got it….
"St-Stein! I'm sorry!" she cried, pushing away and blushing furiously.
Closing his eyes, he didn't say a word. Rather he grabbed her bags and began carrying them up the stairs.
"Um, you don't have to—"
"You're just going to fall again." Stein said simply, cutting her off.
"H-hey! Are you trying to say I'm clumsy?" she whined.
"Yes." He answered.
Marie pouted but didn't say a word. Why bother?
After Stein set her things down, she walked into the room and stared at it with a "seriously?" sort of look on her face. Stitches covered the entire room, and the bed was some beaten up kind of thing with screws sticking out and stitches covering the entire bed set…..
"If you need anything, just let me know." Stein repeated before walking away again.
Once he was alone, he immediately but calmly reached up and adjusted the screw several times. He had to rid himself of any thoughts pertaining to past relations with Marie. He didn't want to become re-interested in her. After thoroughly clicking the screw around, Stein sat down at his computer and began typing away; there was always work to be done. He did so until about 9:30, until he decided to take a trip to the kitchen and get a drink of water.
Filling up a beaker with tap water, he drank the entire volume in only 3 gulps. He took a deep breath and exhaled through his mouth with closed eyes. Reopening them, he was surprised to see Marie standing in the doorway, staring at him somewhat nervously.
"Um…hi." She said finally.
"Hey." He said back, placing the beaker down.
Marie looked at it with an odd face but said nothing.
"It's been a long day…shouldn't you get some rest?" Marie asked with a weak smile. She didn't want to offend him.
"No. I still need to get some work done. Papers need to be graded. You can go to bed if you'd like." Stein said, walking past her.
He froze in his step when he swore he had heard a barely audible sniff.
He turned to see Marie, walking with her head down slightly into the kitchen. Stein's eyes followed her and stared at the doorway she disappeared into. After observing it for some time, he began to walk away again. No, not to go back to work, but to trick Marie into thinking he was leaving. He was great at tricking people. No, it was more like being clever. Stein was smart.
He opened the door to one of his lab rooms and closed it firmly, still standing outside of it. Yes, she would think he had gone back to work. After a few moments, he made his way back toward the kitchen quietly. Peering in at Marie, he saw her observing a beaker in her hand. She moved it around a bit, examining all angles of it with a curious but still saddened expression. Sighing, she finally filled it up with water and took a small sip. Then she turned around with a closed eye. She began to walk out of the kitchen, but Stein walked in front of the door frame causing her to gasp in surprise.
"Stein…I thought you were working." She said hurriedly.
"No." he answered.
Epic pause….
"What's got you down? The kishin's revival?" he inquired.
"No…" she said reluctantly, letting her gaze drift to the side a bit.
"Then what? And don't lie. If you do I might just have to dismember you." Stein said trying to provoke her into talking.
Marie smiled a bit at his morbid joke.
"It's just that I feel bad for being a bother. I know you said that it would be fine if I stayed here and you didn't look upset but now that I'm here I can't help but notice you seem to look….inconvenienced maybe? No, more like uninterested…." She said rubbing her arm a bit.
Uninterested? Fuck. Now she thought he didn't give a shit that she was there. It wasn't her; it was him. Yes as cliché as that phrase was, it was accurate. He was trying to keep this situation professional and preserve his sanity as well as Marie's safety. He knew full well that she was more emotional than him and he didn't want to rekindle any sort of old feelings…even if that would make her happy, this just wasn't the time for it. But now it had made her upset.
"No, that's not it." Stein explained.
Marie looked up at him finally with a still puzzled but surprised expression.
"Then what?" she asked.
"It's hard to describe." Stein said. That was a lie. He just didn't want Marie to worry about his madness…he wanted to battle this himself.
"I've never recalled you having a difficult time saying things. You're smart. Are you lying?" she said.
Shit. She normally was cheering and accepting about whatever he said to her. She had gotten smarter; she knew him better than that.
"Marie, I don't mind you being here." He said, trying to settle her anxiety.
"Then why—"
"Because I don't know what else to do." Stein said finally.
Marie's eye went wide….how could she have been so inconsiderate? She was unsure how to behave around him, so how could she have been so neglectful? She didn't even consider that he too could be struggling with how to respond to her after not seeing her for so long.
Taking one of his hands with two of hers she looked at him smiling. Stein gave her a look of surprise mixed with confusion….why was she doing this?
"I'm sorry Stein; I didn't think of that. But still, let's talk more and be together more a little bit at a time…ok?" she smiled tenderly.
Stein nodded. He supposed that would be fine…yes, so long as he didn't regain old feelings….at least not too many of them.
"It's 10:00 Stein! Get to bed or I'll get mad!" Marie said waving a finger at him cutely.
"I'm not a child; you can't send me to bed." Stein said coolly.
"Do it riiiight now! Work can wait!" she insisted.
Then out of nowhere….
CRAAAAACK! BOOM!
"AAAAH!" Marie cried falling to her knees and covering her head. She whimpered a bit.
"Wh-why?" she whined. "It came out of nowhere! I just got here! I—"
BOOM!
"I'm scared!" she cried, burying her head in her arms.
"Still afraid of them?" Stein said.
His only reply was Marie whimpering. Sighing he crouched down next to her and placed a strong hand on her shaking shoulder. Making a tiny sound she looked up at him with a teary eye.
"Sorry…" she said shakily. "I-I'll go upstairs now." She said quietly.
Standing up sharply, she pushed her way past Stein and walked to the stairs hurriedly. Stein stood still in place…would she be fine? She was leaving…maybe she had some coping mechanisms now.
After about 45 minutes of grading papers Stein froze…yes he was doing fine but he couldn't fully concentrate. He listened to the sound of the pouring rain and the roaring and crackling thunder outside. After grading the last paper and giving it a huge F, he shook his head; Black Star…was he EVER going to get a decent grade?
Marie; should he check on her? Deciding he would just take a peek to make sure she was asleep, he made his way up the stairs and opened the guest bedroom door without a sound. Standing perfectly still at the entrance, he noticed on small candle was lit on the nightstand next to the bed. The covers were bunched up and Marie's tiny body was nowhere to be found. He could hear it over the rain…Marie's choked sobs from under the covers.
All by herself…he wondered if she had been dealing with this all alone while she was in Oceania. He had let her walk away even though he KNEW in the back of his mind that she was going to be scared. He wondered why he felt concern for Marie. Of course he had concerns for others but Marie was special…she was still special after all this time.
Quietly making his way toward her bed, he slowly placed a hand on the lump in the sheets that was her shoulder. She immediately screamed from fright and flung the covers off her body. She panted in fright as tears dripped off her chin.
"St-Stein…what are you doing here? This is…so embarrassing." She sniffed, rubbing her eye.
Stein wordlessly let his lab coat slide off and pulled his stitched shirt over his head and sat on the bed next to Marie whose eye widened.
His body had grown so much more muscular….it was…HOT. His pale skin glowed in a eerie but sexy as hell sort of way in the dim light. She finally realized that she was staring at him and turned away.
"Lie down." Came Stein's sudden order.
Marie blushed even more deeply. She hated to admit it but those words had aroused her more intimate side. She could only obey as she lied down.
"Turn to the side." Stein ordered.
Oh…God…this was too much! She felt hot all over and was internally embarrassed at the tingling in her lower regions.
"Stein…what—" Marie gasped as she felt Stein pull her body into his and pulling the covers over them. Spooning her….he remembered…he remembered that made her feel better.
"Why are you…." She trailed off.
"Because you won't get a wink of sleep I don't do this and I won't sleep either because I'll be trying to work and get nothing done by wondering if you're up here crying your eyes out." Stein explained. "So be quiet…"
Marie's eye lid grew heavy before finally closing.
His body heat against her back…those strong arms….powerful body…she felt safe. It was that same feeling from all those years ago, and it made her just as happy as it had then.
"Thank you…" she whispered before falling asleep.
After about a minute Stein too began to feel his lids becoming heavy. Marie's wavelength and soft feel against his body was the most relaxing thing he had ever felt…Marie….so pure and gentle….
"You're welcome…" he said barely audibly before slipping out of consciousness as well.
Even if they were both trying to avoid it…they couldn't deny it completely…feelings were still there.
(A/N: Yay! :D Haha I love Marie so much, and writing SteinxMarie is incredibly addicting for me. More chapters coming soon! Some chapters will be entirely Stein's POV or Marie's POV. And I will have some events that happen off screen in the series, like the one in this chapter. Hooray! Thanks for reading everyone!)