I first wrote this as a one-shot but I just kept on having ideas for a short multi-chap story and that's what it has turned into. Part one and two will still exist as one-shots in the Garden of Fiction story, but I will also publish them in this doc where the whole story will be published. Part three will be published around June. I'm working on the ending of the story then I'm going to do a massive editing of the whole story because more ideas just keep on appearing.
The Wolf Who Huffed and Puffed
Part 1
His shoes clicked on the wood floor as he went through the hallways littered with fliers on the boards. The long line that'd infested the corridors outside the business office of the new Fabletown's Deputy Major was finally gone and silent. Soul came to a stop right outside the office where, through the dark glass on the door, a distant yellow light was still lit.
He sighed as he shook his head. Sixty-three days after the trial of Asura and she was still as busy as the day after. Fables were left without the safety net of fear, threats and manipulation Asura had created and now Maka Albarn, the new Deputy Major of Fabletown was trying to restore and make it better for everybody. All on her own.
It was already late. Too late for her to be up and working when she'd to get up early to Fables queueing at the door before the office even opened. Or in other words, abruptly waking up to angry Fables banging on her door and a steaming cup of coffee from her assistant Jaqueline.
He bit his lower lip and placed his hand over his beating heart. Sixty-three days since he'd a proper conversation with her. Been a team with her. Now she's busy with formalities and paperwork and the Fables needs while he was working in the field. Making sure no more crimes would erupt. The few glances he'd gotten from her, he'd barely managed to say a word to her before she was off excusing herself.
Maybe. Just maybe… he could catch a moment with her now.
He fished up his pack of Huff n Puff cigarettes. Trapped one between his lips before he lit the end, taking a large drag. The smoke escaped from his lips before he knocked on the door. No answer. He twisted the door knob and it shrieked loudly. A sharp inhale and Maka sat straight up in her chair.
"I'll hear your out in a minute!" she spat out the words. Her eyes dawned on her when she realized morning had yet to come. "Soul?" she yawned and rubbed her eyes tiredly with scribbles from the documents she'd been laying on printed on her cheek and dried drool running down the corner of her lip. "It's unusual to see you this early in the morning."
"It's not." He tapped his cigarette and some ashes fell down. "It's passed midnight. You should go home and get some rest."
She sighed with relief and sunk back in her chair. "Thank goodness it's not morning…" Her eyes fluttered open and her blazing green eyes stared at him, making his stomach twist with the familiar more. Feelings that he'd never felt before. Feelings that far succeeded friendship and far inappropriate to feel toward his superior. If only… if only Justin had done his job. Then maybe… perhaps he could've warmed up the ice queen to the idea of love again. He could… he could be good. He knew he was an asshole and he screwed up and didn't follow her orders occasionally… but he could be better. Better than "prince charming" she divorced centuries ago. She hadn't― and wouldn't admit it― but it changed her.
"You know you need to rest. Trying to work 24/7 won't amount to any good."
"I know Soul―" instantly she cleared her throat "Mr Eater. But I need to get these papers ready. Fables will que up outside my office and I need to get these papers signed and approved by then."
"One night of rest isn't going to kill you." Soul inhaled and breathed out smoke. Always putting the Fables before herself. That's why she was chosen to be the next Deputy Major. Only she was selfless enough to take the job after the shit Asura had created. He definitely didn't envy her.
"Perhaps. But it needs to be done and I don't want to disappoint them. This hard work is only temporary. As soon as I get all this in place and working, I can start getting more rest."
His heart ached for her. The dark bags decorating under her eyes and her messy usual hair bun. She looked like something the cat dragged in. Something that reeked of death― and that was much to say judging that her green apple shampoo she enjoyed using had disappeared a long time ago and now she sprayed an awful smelling perfume to cover up her unhygienic state. He missed her smell. The filthy smelling perfume covered up the whole room proving that she hadn't left her office. A lot of different scents were in the mix. The scent of… Joe the woodsman… Marie the witch… and plenty different scents.
Soul quickly inhaled deeply and the precious smoke filled his lungs and made him forget about the scents for a moment. Damn… it was moments like these he didn't like his nose. Maka's scent was imprinted and he knew that wherever she went, he could sniff her out. He exhaled and the taste of smoke lingered in his mouth-
"It's your call." He gazed down at the glowing end of his cigarette that kept on growing closer to the end. "Just make sure you don't overdo it, okay? No one wants our new Deputy Major to work herself to death."
The infamous ice queen melted and a gentle smile spread on her rosy lips. "I won't, Soul."
His heart fluttered beneath his hair chest at the sound of his name being softly whispered from his far too precious Deputy Major. He lifted his cigarette to his lips and tried to cover his twitching corners of his lips by taking a drag. "When you're done, go home. Take a bath and get some sleep." The smoke escaped his lips as he spoke. He grinned wide toward her as he tapped his cheek. "You got something there."
Confusedly she stared at him before she picked up her hand mirror from her purse hung over her chair, her eyes widened and a cute gasp left her lips. Instantly she used the sleeve of her suit jacket and whipped off the scribbles on her cheek. "I look like death."
"Exactly my thought."
Her eyes narrowed into thin knife's blade.
He chuckled as he turned on his heel. "Anyway, I'm heading home now." He looked over his shoulder, releasing the smile he'd held in. "I'll see you around."
"Soul!" The chair shrieked as she stood up, slamming her hand and the hand mirror on her desk littering with papers. He came to a shrieking halt and looked over his shoulder once again. "Thank you. For stopping by. It was a long time ago since we talked."
"Yeah…" The tips of his fingers tingled pleasantly. He dropped his cigarette and stomped on it. "Nice seeing you too." He exited the business office.
…
Rain splattered on the windows and slithered down the old glass. Thunder illuminated the dark clouds dominating the sky. Streetlamps lit up empty streets devoid from the usual Fables coming out during the night. The static of TV filled the room and the screen kept blacking out and turning on. Smoke rose from the glowing end on his cigarette to the sound of water splashing in his bathroom.
Another day in silence.
Sixty-three days since he sent Mifune and Angela to The Farm for not being Glamoured. He moved his cigarette to his lips and inhaled loudly, smoke escaping through his nostrils. And sixty-three days since he roomie Kid to The Farm for the same reason. Even though stayed in their shared apartment in his owl form because he was "perfectly symmetrical and mundy form would ruin it", an order was an order, he had to go. Unglamoured fables put the rest in danger. He was simply a sheriff. He'd to oblige to Fabletown's Deputy Mayor.
The water in the bathroom suddenly stopped. The smell of roses and sweet strawberries tingled his nose. Smell that reminded him of fresh green apples and― Soul took another large drag of his cigarette and the glowing end shortened significant. His eyes fluttered shut. No, no, no, no! He couldn't think about her scent. Nope. She was off limits! He couldn't be with her. "Prince charming" had already fucked her up enough when it came to the love department. Her heart turned to ice when she divorced him and now with Justin's hidden desire to fuck her fucked her up even more. Even though he could temporarily melt a part of her and receive kindness from time to time, no one could make her fall in love. He bit his lower lip, sharp teeth nibbling his lower lip.
Not even him.
"Thanks for the shower." Liz stepped out of his bathroom in her ordinary short red dress, drying her hair using friction from the towel.
"You're welcome." He guided his almost burned cigarette, took one last inhale and put it out in his ashtray as the smoke left his nostrils. The mattress shifted as she sat down on the other side of it, towel hanging around her shoulders. "So, Liz, what's up?" Or Patty. The whole mess with Asura had opened his eyes that Patty, the woman he had met clashing with Joe the woodman, was in fact Liz glamoured.
After that day, he went after her and later than evening, she explained everything. He had never met Patty. She had been dead all along. She'd hatched a plan to get her revenge on Asura and avenge their deaths. She was beyond clever and witty. Never would've he suspected her if she hadn't dropped the hints. And that was the reason she had become his partner. Since Maka was busy with her paperwork, she offered to help him out. Simply being a pair of eyes and ears.
"Can I have one of those?" She nodded toward the put out cigarette in the ashtray. He handed her his package of cigarettes. She grabbed it and took a cigarette. She leaned toward him and lit her cigarette between her lips. "The girls at the Pudding n' Pie's still worried. The ribbons' magic might be gone, Giriko's gone, and they're free to do whatever, but they're still in debt and without a job."
"Isn't Maka trying to fix it? She's been working like crazy trying to create job opportunities for everyone."
"Yeah, but some aren't happy with the pace she's working in. Their rents have to be paid and without a paying job, they could get evicted within a soon future, and then she'll have to deal with even angrier Fables that're unemployed and homeless."
"She's doing everything she can. She can't do anything more than she's already doing. She barely sleeps and she doesn't take care of herself anymore." His heart fell in his chest. "She loves Fabletown." The only thing that had enough space in her heart. These past two months had proven she loved Fabletown with every fibre of her stone cold heart. He had never seen her so passionate about making Fabletown into the best she could. She wouldn't sacrifice her time reading her books for nothing. The corner of his lips pointed downward. Not even for him.
"I don't doubt that. I'm sure as hell wouldn't want it." She puffed out a couple circles of smoke. "Fancy suits and paperwork isn't for me."
He snorted. "And a stripper pole is?"
She shoved him with her knee. "It's more like me than suits." She smiled at him. "I'm fit for the―" A knock on the door cut them off. Instantly a grin spread on Liz's face. "So, nightly visitor, huh?"
Soul rolled his eyes and stood up from his seat. "You know I'm not that kind of guy."
"But you did make an appointment with me."
He was going to get it shoved up his face every time she could, wouldn't she? It wasn't like he slithered between her legs and cosied up. He just got the key so he could get into the right one so he could investigate it.
"You're never going to let it slide, aren't you?"
She smirked a real shit-eating smirk. "Nope."
Great. Just great. Another knock on the door and he went over to it, twisted and knob and it swung open. His eyes widened at the mess of the one and only Maka Albarn. Wet from head to toe and shivering visibly.
"Hi." She whispered. "I thought you wouldn't be awake."
"Why―"
"Well!" Liz rose up from her seat, instantly Maka's eyes darkened and narrowed into slits. "I think I'll leave now." She tossed the towel at Soul who caught it. "Thanks for the shower again." She shimmied passed them and left. As soon as the sound of Liz's heels disappeared inside of the elevator the anger that coloured Maka's face red burst.
"Isn't it a little bit late for visitors?" she spat.
"She was cold and wanted a warm shower." She cocked her eyebrow. "You know, you could also use a warm shower before you catch a cold."
"And get the same treatment as her? I don't think so." she snarled as her arms tightened around her. Geez, she was too stubborn and… possibly jealous for her own good.
"Um yeah, consider the only thing she got was a warm shower, a conversation and a smoke."
She silenced. She pouted and entered his apartment. "Fine. I could use that too. Minus the cigarette."
He closed the front door after her. "There's clean towels in the closet. Would you like dry clothes?"
She nodded. "Yes please." He disappeared inside of his bedroom, collected a shirt and a pair of boxers for her. He handed her them before she disappeared inside of the shower. Whatever that had blessed him with Maka showing up at his apartment in the middle of the night was awesome. He'd no clue why she was here, but she. was. here. His hands ran clammy with sweat and his heart went crazy like a runaway train. She was really here, in his apartment and he couldn't quite process it. Sixty-three days of separation and no talk, and now she was here.
And her smell. Oh dear, the scent of sweat was washed off and now her natural sweetness perfumed his apartment. The scent he's been missing from their investigation together. He wouldn't be able to sleep for days now when her intoxicating scent plagued his home.
The water was turned off and he could hear the distant sound of her small feet stepping out of the tub and the sound of her whipping the water off her body with her towel. He shouldn't listen. He shouldn't invade her privacy by eaves-dropping on the sound of her hanging the towel on his hook or the boxers slipping up her legs or― no. He shakes his head madly and inhales deeply, letting the smoke fill his lungs. Nope. He couldn't invade her privacy like that. Nope, no, no, no―
The bathroom door swung open and out stepped Maka in only his boxers and shirt. Long creamy legs at his display that seemed to go on for miles and collarbones sharper and mouth-watering now exposed for his eyes to feed on. She'd turned him into a puppy wanting to nibble on her collarbone and run his hand up her long legs and under her―
"I think I used all of your warm water. Sorry." He couldn't help but to notice how beautiful her hair was when let down. A beautiful wet mess running down her shoulders. He'd to say, her hair in a bun was beautiful, but her hair let down made his stomach flip and blood heat.
"Don't worry about it." He waved it away and took a hurried drag of his cigarette. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! Stay down! He blew out the smoke and crossed his legs. "So, what brings you here in the middle of the night?"
She tucked her legs underneath her as she cosied up on the couch, leaning toward him and propping her arm up on the back of the couch. Her eyes half-lidded as she peaked at him through her bangs. "You've been hanging a lot with Liz lately." she neutrally stated with her professional voice he'd gotten to witness on multiple occasions.
"We're colleagues."
"But we're also colleagues."
"More like you're my superior. We work in two different departments."
She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "But we don't see each other that often."
"But we're not partners anymore. Liz is."
Her mouth stretched into a thin line and her jaw visibly tightened. He knew it he admitted it out loud, he would get a punch to the face, but she was cute when she was frustrated. "But are you only partners?"
So that was what was bugging her. She was jealous! And jealous because of Liz of all people. Liz had been the person who helped them the most with the murder cases. She'd been working in the shadows, already possessing all the information they needed, and found ways to communication it without ending up dead. It dawned on him. Of course she would be jealous of Liz. As soon as Asura was thrown into the Witching Well, they were no longer partners. She'd been promoted Deputy Major of Fabletown and he was left doing his job. And then, the woman that helped him out, entrusted her information to him, came and took her place and because his partner. Did she think… that Liz and he could be… no. She wouldn't.
His eyes locked with her dark emerald orbs critically scanning every expression he made. Hands fisting tightly.
Or would she…?
"If you're asking if Liz and I are shagging… then no. We're strictly professional."
Her eyes narrowed and she leaned forward to the point their noses almost touched as she searched for a single hint that he was lying. A smile blossomed on her face. "Good. Because a relationship between co-workers is not permitted."
Instantly his heart sank in his chest. The little hope that fluttered inside of him was smashed into mush. Of course she wouldn't like him. She was the ice queen! Of course she only cared if he was breaking the rules or not. No one could ever li―
"It wasn't the only reason I came here." she whispered, her breath hitting his lips. Oh boy. He could use a drag of his cigarette about now. "I'm proud of you."
"What?" he spoke astonished.
"The way you conducted yourself during the whole investigation. I know you're quick to engage in violence due to your past… and I was worried you would fall back into your old ways." She placed her hand on his knee. "But you didn't. You brought in Asura for trial. You sincerely cared about the safety of other." Her thumb gently traced the edge of his kneecap. "I never really got to say it… but I'm so happy for you. The last thing I would want is to watch you become a murderer."
Without tearing his eyes away from her soft ones, he put out his cigarette on his ashtray. His heart raced in his chest and he cupped his hand over hers. "Me neither." He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. "I've already done so many wrongs. I hope I've at least done something good."
"You have. I'll always be grateful for what you've done."
He smiled gently and she leaned toward him, resting her head against his shoulder. A tired sigh escaped her lips as she snuggled her face into the curve of his neck.
"Can I hide here for the night? I don't want to deal with angry Fables in―" She glanced at the clock hanging on his wall. "―four hours."
"Sure. You can take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"No." she groaned and her eyes fluttered shut. "I'm the intruder, I can sleep on the couch."
"It's fine. You take the bed. You need all the sleep you can get."
"Okay" she yawned loudly. "For everything. You're a real friend." Before she even finished her sentence, dreamland had whisked her away. He chuckled. Such a cute dork. As soon as he added the slightest bit of pressure, her hand fisted his shirt, refusing to let him go. His heat swelled with affection and his arm snaked around her waist. Even though he was a walking heater, with his free hand he grabbed a discarded blanket and wrapped it around her.
Even if she didn't feel the same way, what they had was something far too precious. He could always count on her, and she could always count on him. They were a team even after the murder investigation. They looked out for each other and he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
