Maka took a deep, supposedly calming breath and straightened her jacket. Today was the big day. Today was the day she finally started working in Death City. It felt slightly strange to be walking through the corridors of the building she had spent so many of her teen years in. She idly wondered who her partner would be – she hoped her father hadn't managed to have a say in picking him out.
"Maka?"
The blonde turned to meet a confused amber gaze. She smiled. Kidd hadn't changed in the slightest. The tall young man was still perfectly symmetrical aside from the stripes in his hair.
"Hey Kidd" she said quietly.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, clearly unaware of her transfer from Las Vegas.
"I got transferred. I'm working here now."
"Oh, right." He seemed vaguely disappointed and she wondered why. "Why didn't you tell me you were moving back?" Right, that was why.
"It all happened in a bit of a rush Kidd." She explained apologetically "I haven't had a chance to call anyone yet." She glanced at her watch "I should get going – I'm meant to be meeting the Lieutenant and my new partner soon."
"I'll walk you up."
And so they walked through the slightly maze-like bull pen to their Lieutenants office, quietly gossiping like the teenagers they used to be. Their happy reminiscence was interrupted by a yell of
"HEY ALBARN!" as Black Star raced across – yes across the desks, completely trampling case files and cups of coffee.
"Christ Black Star how are you still so loud?" Maka moaned, accepting his crushing embrace.
"I am the great Black Star! I am not loud – you just aren't godly enough to cope with my amazing voice!" he retorted. "Man it's good to see ya Maka. But what are you doing here? I thought you avoided your dad at all costs."
Her voice snapped into a frown at the mention of her pervy papa. It would be just her luck if he interfered to get her stuck on desk duty.
"I got transferred Black Star. There's no way I could avoid it." She shrugged "We just have to hope Papa stays out of my hair."
"Sup, Kidd, Star?" A new voice said from behind her. "And who's the bird? "
Maka turned, glaring at being called a bird. Honestly, why were so many cops sexist pigs?
Just before she launched into a tirade, the door to the office opened and the Lieutenant stepped out. He was a big man, who had been shifted to desk duty after receiving a minor calibre shot to the head. Luckily for them, he hadn't suffered any brain damage and made a damn good Lieutenant.
"Be polite Soul."
"Hey Si- uh, Lieutenant." Maka said with a smile.
"Kidd, Black Star I understand that you're excited to see Maka again, but I'm sure you both have open cases requiring your attention."
The young men left quickly, leaving her with hugs and promises of lunch later. Maka couldn't restrain her grin at the incredulous look on the new guys' face.
"You two, my office."
Soul walked in ahead of this girl who everyone but him seemed to know, not bothering to hold the door. Maka breezed into Sid's office, finding it completely unchanged from her last visit. She casually ignored the rudeness of the man she feared was going to be her new partner.
"It's good to see you again, Detective Albarn. I hope you're settling in ok?"
Soul's eyes narrowed slightly – the Lieutenant definitely knew this tiny Detective. Sid was not the kind of man to make idle small talk.
"It was a bit of a rush, but I'm fine. It kinda feels like I never left."
"That's good to hear." Sid smiled at her, before becoming all business again. "Detective Albarn, this is Detective Eater, your new partner. Eater, this is Detective Albarn."
Maka turned to the young man slouching in his chair and examined him. She would have called him an albino, but his skin was a healthy golden colour that told her he spent most of his time outside. His white hair could do with cutting, but he seemed capable enough. This Detective Eater gave off an aura of unflappability. Meeting his dark red eyes, she was amused to note that he had been sizing her up as well. She held out her hand to him.
"It's nice to meet you, partner."
Soul looked the girl up and down critically. She was short and slight, but she seemed to have a wiry strength to her. Her green eyes were wide and intelligent, her legs long and slim. She looked as if she would turn out to be a hard worker, which was fine by him. He caught a spark of amusement in her big eyes as she noticed him looking at her. She held out a small delicate hand for him to shake.
Soul decided that he could work with this girl, and took the hand she offered.
"Likewise."
Their bonding moment was ruined when the door burst open and a wild eyed red haired man burst in. Soul felt his new partners' hand tighten around his. Suddenly the pieces of the puzzle slotted together for him.
Detective Albarn, who knew people at the station, who was fitting in "like she never left". Detective Albarn, who had been saying something about avoiding her dad when he'd come up behind her. Detective Albarn, who shared her last name with the Chief.
"MAKAAAA!" The Chief cried as he leapt on his daughter, who jumped from the chair to avoid him.
"Sid!" She moaned, unable to believe that her stupid father had to turn up and embarrass her in front of her new partner.
"Chief, what are you doing here?"
"I needed to see my precious baby girl" Chief Albarn said dreamily, reaching for Maka again. She ducked behind Soul, grateful his shoulders were broad enough to hide her from her father momentarily.
"Shit" she muttered to his back, before stepping out, walls up and fists clenched.
"You need to leave. The only reason I agreed to this transfer was because I was promised you would stay away from me."
"B-but Maka, Papa loves you!"
"Save it, Chief" she said harshly, wielding his rank like a whip.
"Err, I hate to interrupt this – whatever this is" Soul broke in hesitantly "But we caught a case, so . ."
"Great! Let's go!" The little blonde grabbed his arm and dragged him from the Lieutenants office, ignoring her father's whimpers and pleas.
"So, you're the Chiefs' daughter, huh?"
"Wow, are you a detective or something?" She replied sarcastically. She paused and took a breath. "Sorry, that was rude of me. Yes, that imbecile is my father."
"I don't think I've ever heard of him acting like that before." Soul said in wonder.
"Kidd and Black Star could tell you stories" she said with a shudder. "I'm sorry you had to see that. If he, um, says anything to you let me know and I'll deal with it."
"Huh? What do you mean?" He asked confusion evident in his red eyes.
Maka shook her head, not wanting to elaborate further on her fathers' ridiculous behaviours.
"You said we have a case?"
Soul raised an eyebrow, smooth topic change there, Albarn, written all over his face.
"Murder of a young woman near the university according to Dispatch." He told her, accepting her reluctance to talk about her father. "I shotgun driving."
Maka resisted the urge to roll her eyes. How juvenile could he get?
"If you insist." She said airily, coming to an abrupt halt in front of a glaring orange monstrosity. "Wait- This is what you drive?"
"My baby" her new partner said affectionately, stroking the paint work as he straddled the bike. "You scared?"
"No!" she snorted with derision as she climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist loosely "Just shocked that anyone would paint their Harley bright orange."
The pair rode off quietly bickering about the correct colours for motorbikes, completely unaware that this was the beginning of a beautiful partnership.