Author's Note: So I wrote this same story a few years ago, but it's been 2 years and I think I can write it better. So I am redoing it, the story is the same, the quotes are the same, but it's going to be more fleshed out, better written, and (hopefully) a more enjoyable read. I was cringing when I read it over. I don't own Soul Eater. Once this story is finished, the old story will be deleted and properly replaced with this one.
It's All in Your Head
by: Setkia
"It's okay," I say. "I trust you, Soul."
Soul's fingers are bruising my windpipe, spots are blurring my vision, I can't ... I can't breathe.
"Still trust me, Maka?" he asks.
"The Edge … There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."—Hunter S Thompson
one
Safety. Have to get him to safety.
My legs move on autopilot. I turn a corner and skid to a stop. Pressing my back against the pillar, I close my eyes and try to breathe. I'm no use if I can't even handle myself. My grip nearly falters, but I quickly recover before he can hit the ground.
Breathe.
My eyes snap open and I zero in on the exit.
My feet move quickly, almost as if they're ahead of my body as I launch myself forward and I hold him to my chest. I sprint like a madman and once I'm outside, there's still no time to take a breather.
I run for several streets, taking random turns and moving as quickly as I can for as long as I can until my knees give out and I fall.
He groans.
I place him down on the floor and put pressure on his wound, trying to keep the blood from escaping. My fingers are coated in crimson, but I have to ignore it. We are not safe. This is a temporary solution that won't last very long.
I take a moment to assess the damage.
Soul's skin is paler than usual. He must have fractured ribs. I know denting sustained in battle appears on his body in the form of bruises, and he's covered in them. His clothes are torn, nasty cuts from the Kishin litter his body and the most obvious wound is the almost gaping hole in his stomach.
The Kishin took a bite out of him.
I'm his Meister, I should know better. We've been partners for years. I know how to handle him in battle. He hasn't had these kinds of injuries since we were rookies and still couldn't transform half of the time.
Soul's eyes open slowly. His pupils are dilated.
"'Id we get 'em?" he asks blearily.
"Hey, eyes on me," I say, patting his face gently, but my hands get the blood on his cheek and he sways too much from such a light touch. "Don't close your eyes, you hear me?"
"So we didn' get 'em?" His words are slurring together. "S'my fault, sorry-"
"Forget about the Kishin!"
He blinks. His gaze is too unfocused for me to feel comfortable.
"Forget 'bout the Kishin?" he echoes. He sways and giggles. "Rebel."
I ignore his teasing. I don't know how much blood he's lost, he's becoming loopy and it probably won't be long before he passes out, he's barely conscious. I need to get Stein and get him quick.
His hand meets mine on his chest, and he grins. "Slimy …" He pulls his hand away and stares at it, fascinated, turning it over.
I know the moment he realizes it's blood that's coating his hand.
"Maka," his voice sounds hoarse, his eyes are wide. "Why … why Imma bleedin'?"
"Don't panic!" I feel like a hypocrite, my voice cracks when I speak. "Panicking isn't cool."
"Bleedin' out ain't cool either." Soul's eyes are blown wide open and his hand is trembling. He's freaking out, even if his voice stays pretty level.
"I know," I say, "I'm gonna get you to Stein- Soul?"
His eyes close and my heart stops.
I press my ear against his chest and hear his slow heartbeat. He's alive. But his pulse is faint.
He needs immediate help.
I burst into Stein's office.
The professor turns in his spinning chair, his hand on his gear. His eyes widen when he notices me.
"Get him on the table."
I gently place Soul onto the cold operation table. I can see myself in the table's reflection. My hair is wild and crazy, I lost one of my elastics so one of my pigtails has come undone, my clothes are ripped, I'm covered in bruises and cuts, but most importantly, I'm covered in blood.
"How much blood did he lose?"
"I don't know," I say and I want to cry. I feel so useless. The most I could do was put pressure on him and carry him. I feel like I should've been able to do more. This is a partnership, both Meister and weapon protect each other, he's not a bodyguard, I'm not a damsel, we're supposed to back each other up, not stand by as a Kishin takes a bite out of his scythe and watch helplessly as he forcefully transforms back, clutching his stomach.
Stein places a hand on my shoulder and I look up at him.
"You did well, Maka."
I don't want Stein's comfort.
"Help him."
Stein turns on the light above the table and I freeze.
The blood … it's black.
Stein asks me to hand him supplies and I watch, ready to bite off my own fingers as he stitches him back up. It takes what feels like hours, and when he's finally done, Stein still looks grim.
"Maka … his soul …"
I know.
"I can't do anything about the discord there," he says slowly. "It's something internal that Soul's dealing with."
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Yes and no," Stein says and I want to ask him what the hell he means by that, but I don't because I'm scared to push him. He turns his gear thoughtfully and hums to himself for a moment. "Because of the … internal conflict, it creates a bit of a … situation. Theoretically, Soul is fine. He's all patched up and with enough rest, he'll be as good as new. However while his body will make a relatively decent recovery, his mind is not cooperating. He's like a computer that needs to restart, but the mental systems aren't coming back online."
"Is it the Blood?"
"Perhaps."
"So what does that mean?"
"It means I've done all I can do, now it's up to Soul to save himself."
"And if he can't?"
Stein frowns, his eyes downcast.
That's not acceptable.
"Send me in."
"It's too dangerous-"
"Soul has done so many dangerous things for me, it's only fair I repay him. You may have done all you can, but I haven't. I'm his Meister, I've been inside his mind before, I can do it again." I don't like thinking about it, about the little demon in the black room, but I have a feeling that's where I have to start. "Stein, you have to send me."
"Spirit-"
"This isn't about Papa, this is about me and Soul. It's my choice and I choose to help him, in any way I can. If I screw up, then it's my own fault, but you can't deny me a chance to try."
"Maka, I-"
"You can't try and stop me because if you don't help me get inside, I'll do it myself. Soul is my partner. And I won't let him die, not without even trying. I can't accept his death without trying absolutely everything I possibly can to prevent it, I'm sorry Professor Stein, but I just can't obey you this time-"
"Maka, stop." Stein drops to his knee and places his hands on my shoulders. I can see myself in the reflection of his glasses. I look desperate. "I wasn't going to stop you. Spirit is going to be mad when he finds out what I'm about to let you do, but you're right, Soul needs you. If Spirit was here, he'd be proud. Your mother, even more so."
I nod.
Looking down at Soul, he almost looks like he's sleeping. He's limp on the table, his chest is stitched up, and he's been stripped to his boxers. Exactly how he likes to sleep. The jagged stitches across his chest hurt me every time I see them, but now he has another scar along his stomach, again courtesy of me.
When am I going to stop hurting him?
I'm coming, Soul.