It is common knowledge that hammers are never used for screws.

A screwdriver to a screw; a hammer to a nail. Otherwise, it would never work. They didn't mind though nor did they care. A man of science experiments; a woman of virtue challenges.

Their souls would always without fail resonate.

~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~

"Hey, want to play with us?"

"No, go away."

If children were to choose where they would want to live aside from their homes, they'd answer for sure the park of Death City. Well, they were kids, they wouldn't know yet of the large world outside the city. The park was the best because a lot of other kids would be there too and they'd play all day at the playground. Most kids would go there.

"Why not?" A young girl with blonde braids left the group to go to an area with lots of trees but no people except her and another one. It was also grassier; no doubt her mom would scold her again for dirtying her long skirt but she thought green was better than the usual brown mud she gets every day from playing outside.

"Because I don't want to." An indifferent boy with greying hair didn't even bother to join any group. In fact, he purposefully went there to avoid distractions and useless encounters such as this one. He held a scalpel on one hand while the other held a motionless bird firmly. It was about to be cut until he was disturbed.

"But it'll be fun!" She insisted, already exuding her bright aura. It was hard not to notice.

"I'm having fun here already." He didn't pay her any attention as he made a small precise cut below the eyes.

"Eww, that's no fun." Her face scrunched up in disgust. The little animal didn't do anything to him, at least she couldn't think of anything it could do and none remotely bad. She was trying hard not to look at it and found his cold eyes distracting enough. No, not cold. Just empty. Sadness washed over her but she had to be strong and hide it.

"Exactly. You have your fun while I have mine. Now leave." It's not that he was ashamed of what he was doing, it's just that it would be a problem if the adults found out. They'd confiscate his tools (even he knows a blade isn't a toy) and then they'd watch him so that he wouldn't do it again.

"You're just being a big meanie." She huffed.

"Why are you even here? Don't you have friends?" He frowned.

"Because you looked so lonely." She looked sadder than him for that fact.

"And the second question?" He ignored it.

"I do but I want you be my friend." She pouted and even went as far as to move her face closer to his and stared him seriously in the eyes. Was she really that serious?

"Do you see anyone else here?" He was completely unfazed.

She looked around to check as if half-expecting to see someone else and then finally shook her head. "No."

"Now, do you see my point?" Another cut was made then he hollowed out one eye of the carcass.

"But that's because you keep doing those weird stuff." She complained and pinched her nose as she caught a whiff of something foul. The bird was starting to smell a little.

"I'm not stopping just so I can make friends." And then he popped out the other eye just to make a statement. There was really no need for him to socialize. There was no reason to engage in such. He was perfectly aware of how the social system works and it's no cleaner than what he's doing.

"I'm not asking you to stop that." She crossed her arms, fuming. "I have fun playing house, Azusa-chan has fun playing leader, you have fun…" She winced at both what she was seeing and the mental image of it. "… opening things up. See, we're not so different!"

"That's not very convincing." Quite the contradictory explanation if he would call it that.

"Come on, just be my friend, please?" She was pleading so hard that it looked like she was about to burst into tears which made him actually pause and think.

Just who was she and why did she take interest on him so much? Did his acceptance really mean that much to her? His hand itched. Briefly, he wondered what her brain looked like and how it worked. But it was only for the briefest of moments and then it was gone but the itch was still there. For the first time since he's held his scalpel, he was actually afraid of what he'll do with it but he didn't let go, instead his grip even tightened.

"They'll tease you." He was aware of how he's already been declared a freak in everyone's eyes. It wasn't really anything of his concern because this actually makes it easier for him. He could do whatever he wanted since it was expected of him. It's more liberating than what other's see. However, it would be another matter if this girl was branded just like him. It would be such a waste and regret on her.

"I don't care. They're just stupid." They called her stupid for trying to talk to him or even talking about him but she'll show them. Just because he's so different doesn't mean he's scary. Azu-chan was scary too at first glance but she was totally cool and nice once she made friends with her. So why can't she be friends with him? They're the ones who's stupid. "And if they're mean to you, I'll punch them to the moon!" She raised her fist enthusiastically.

He wore a blank face and processed everything that has happened since she appeared. The silence was deafening and almost awkward. Grabbing a stitched piece of cloth and a bottle of alcohol from his pocket, he meticulously wiped his hands clean. Then without warning, he spoke. "Stein."

"What did you say?" She blinked a couple of times in confusion.

"I'm just giving you my name. I'm not promising anything more." It wasn't the friendship she had pictured to get at day one but it was a start. She beamed and even he could tell that she was pretty.

"Marie. Nice to meet you!"

~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~~xoxo~xoxo~

Shinra-ex-SOLDIER

Hiya, hello people! I finally got to writing for this couple and initially I wanted to post it as one big file but it'd be too long so I'm dividing this into four parts. As from the summary, this will be excerpts of interactions between the two throughout their lives. I will do the best in my power to keep them in character.

Thank you for everyone who reads this, please tell me what you think of it.