Warning: About midway through, I think the plot just literally dissolves. It doesn't make sense to me.

Stein picked up his clipboard, flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

Ah, yes.

Experiment 52: Mice.

Clicking the top of his pen, Stein wrote down all the observations he had made so far.

Mouse 1: Heavy sleep, unresponsive; possible comatose.

Mouse 2: Increased energetic movements. No apparent signs of lethargy.

Stein crouched down and looked through the bars of the third cage. A small smile crept to his lips upon the sight.

Mouse 3: Deceased.

A throaty chuckle echoed through the basement, sending a shiver down the spine of the shadow lurking in the doorway.

Standing up straight, his back to the doorway, Stein's head tilted a little to the left. "Hello Spirit." He said nonchalantly, as if he'd known about his presence all along.

He probably had. Another shiver ran through the body of the man – Spirit – before he fully stepped into the basement, looking around warily. Stein placed his clipboard back on the desk before turning to face his old Weapon.

"What are you doing here?" Stein asked, sounding as if he couldn't care less about the answer.

"W-what, can't I just come and visit my friend without having another reason?" Stein shrugged,

"I guess that's plausible, but you never have done before."

"A-are you sure?"

"Yes. Have you come to donate your body to science?" There was a glint in Stein's eye as he said that, a glint that terrified Spirit to no end. It was just s terrifying as the smirk now toying at Stein's lips. Spirit's face paled immensely, and he began wringing his hands together, staying as close to the door as he could. "You're nervous about something." The smirk grew wider. "What is it?"

"N-nothing!" The older boy squeaked. Stein raised his eyebrows; he could tell he was lying.

"Does Kami know you're here?" Surprise filled Spirit's face. He hadn't expected Stein to bring her up.

"Of course she doesn't. She hates you. She'd never have let me come if she knew." Stein made a noise of agreement. That was true.

"So why are y-"

"Actually… We had an argument, and I didn't know where else to go. I just needed… I just need someone to talk to." Spirit admitted, letting his face fall into his hand.

"Oh, an argument? What about?"

"It's not important. I mean, it was stupid… I was just angry and I said something I didn't mean." Spirit let out an exhausted sigh. "And now of course, I regret it and I want her back but I don't think she's ready to forgive me yet." Stein nodded.

Comforting people or helping people with any kind of emotional problem really wasn't Stein's forte. He had no idea why Spirit had come to him, but hey, he didn't exactly mind.

The two stood in a comfortable silence, neither not knowing quite what to say. But neither minded; it gave them both a chance to think. Spirit was the first to speak.

"I really care for her."

"I know."

"I think I love her."

"I know."

"And it scares me."

"I know."

"How do you kn-"

"We were partners for a very long time, Senpai." Stein murmured quietly. "I guess it's safe to say I know you better than myself." Spirit bowed his head in shame. It was sort of his fault, really, that they weren't partners anymore. He was the one who let Kami take him away. Maybe, maybe if he'd just confronted Stein about it, then maybe they'd still be partners and best friends and brothers.

Maybe.

"Look, Stein, I'm-" He was cut off once again by the young doctor.

"I'm sorry." The words were rash and blunt and full of emotion and… and so not Stein.

"W-what?" The crimson Death Scythe stuttered, looking at his former Meister in disbelief. Had Stein just... apologized?

"I'm sorry for experimenting on you so much." Spirit's eyes grew wide and his heart rate picked up. What? Stein could sense the sudden change in the atmosphere, the change in the Death Scythe's soul. He hurried to explain himself better. "I'm not sorry, really, for experimenting on you."

What? That didn't make any sense! Stein let out a frustrated growl. Why was apologizing so damn hard? Oh that's right, because Stein didn't apologize, ever.

So why was he now?

He didn't know.

But he did know that he meant it.

Mostly.

Spirit was still looking at him, confusion etched into all of his features. Into his face, his posture, his soul. Stein had never apologized. Never, not even once in all the years that they had lived together, had Franken Stein ever apologized to him. To say he was surprised was putting it very mildly. He couldn't think straight and only managed to mutter six words: "That… that didn't make any sense."

"I know." The doctor said lamely, looking at anything but him. He could feel Spirit's eyes on him, waiting.

Waiting for an explanation.

Waiting for an answer.

An answer he had, but didn't want to say.

Stein took a deep breath.

"What I meant was… I'm sorry - but not for experimenting on you. No, I'm not sorry at all for that. In fact, I'm glad I did that, honestly, because I learnt quite a bit about how the body work-"

"Stein!" It was Spirit's turn to cut him off.

"What?" Stein asked innocently, seemingly confused as to why Spirit suddenly sounded so angry.

"You were rambling." He said pointedly.

"Oh." Stein reached up and scratched the back of his neck. "Err, well." He coughed awkwardly, willing the next few words to leave his mouth. "What I meant was- well, what I was trying to say was that I'm sorry."

Spirit sighed, closing his eyes, exasperated. He ran his hand through his crimson locks, desperately trying not to let his anger show. He didn't want to make Stein confused or angry because that could tip him over the edge and turn him insane, but God was he feeling that himself!

"I know you're sorry, Stein." He said through gritted teeth. "You've said it four times. But what you haven't said is what you're sorry for. So, Stein, what are you sorry for?" He reopened his eyes and stared directly at Stein, glad it was dark outside and that the sun wasn't glinting off of his glasses. Not that the sun could even leak through the curtains in Stein's basement anyway. But still.

Stein opened his mouth, and then closed it again, no sound coming out. Spirit felt himself ease up somewhat. He knew how difficult his friend could be, especially when it came to emotions. He relaxed his face into a more natural ensemble, determined to wait for Stein to get over whatever block his mind had formed.

He was determined to find out what Stein was apologizing for.

And he didn't mind waiting, not even if it took all night.

Finally, after slow, agonizing minutes of silence, a pained look crossed Stein's face. It wasn't an explanation, but it was progress. At least he was no longer standing there gawping like a fish.

"I guess…" He began slowly, drawing out his words. "I guess I'm sorry for… for the way I did it." He admitted, looking at the ground in shame.

Shame? When was Stein ever ashamed of his actions? The guy had cut open his own face for Shinigami's sake!

His head snapped back up suddenly, and Stein and Spirit were once again staring each other in the eye. Determination was what filled his eyes. He was going to explain himself. He'd gotten halfway there already, so surely he could say the other half.

"There were probably much better ways I could have gone about dissecting you and experimenting on you than in your sleep. It was wrong of me. I should have at least asked for your consent, instead of drugging you and then dragging you to my lab." Never once did he blink during his confession. "So, Senpai, I apologize. I'm sorry." Feeling satisfied with himself for getting it out there, Stein let a small smile form on his lips.

He'd said it!

After years of mulling it over and thinking about ways to do it, to show how sorry he was, he'd finally done it. He'd just blurted it out.

He just hoped Spirit could forgive him.

His vision was suddenly filled with red. Stein's body went rigid as he felt familiar arms clasp around him, bringing him tighter into a hug. It took a few seconds for his body to relax and mold into the hug.

"I forgive you." Spirit whispered into his ear. Stein clutched him tighter, tears forming in his eyes.

That was all he wanted. Forgiveness. And Spirit knew that.

"Thank you." He whispered back, feeling the growing madness recede back into the deeper portions of his mind. That was why he liked Spirit so much.

Spirit helped keep him sane.

Spirit always stuck by him.

Spirit always forgave him, no matter what monstrous act he did or was about to commit.

Spirit Albarn didn't believe he was a monster.

Okay so sorry if this was slightly OOC, this has been my first Soul Eater fanfic, and I absolutely love the relationship between Spirit and Stein. Leave a review? It doesn't take long and they're greatly appreciated! Also, I'm not sure if Spirit ever did visit Stein after they stopped being partners, but he might have, so for the sake of this one-shot lets just pretend he did!