He came home to her sobbing.

Sighing softly under his breath, Stein ashed out his current cigarette dangling from his lips in the nearby ashtray. He never knew how to handle her crying. It was usually his fault in most cases, or because somebody broke her heart.

But, nothing like that had happened. Life had been pretty uneventful. Marie found a permanent home in Death City by residing with him. And he was content with it. Sure, she liked, colorful things. But he didn't mind her warm presence. She seemed happier here too. She's teaching at the Academy and even has taken to training with Stein on carefree afternoons.

So, why was she crying?

Slowly making his way up the stairs, Stein paused at her door. Going to knock, he found the door open slightly. Pearing his way in, Stein frowned visibly at the sight that lay before him.

The beautiful blonde woman lay curled in her bed. Her hair lay across her pillow in a knotted mess as tissues lay scattered across her bed. Her hands curled up against her chest as her body was in the tightest ball she could manage. Her body shaking slightly. Everything seemed fine, until he had a look at her face.

Where her eyepatch was supposed to be was a deep gash from the top of her forehead, all the way down to her cheek. There was no blood, but a very bright, visible red color could be seen. Or was that his anger?

Making his way over to the blonde woman, Stein bent down to press a hesitant hand against her head. Feeling her still in her shaking. Opening her eyes slowly, Marie seemed to visibly relax as she spotted her lover standing above her. Trying to give him a smile, Marie failed and instead started to choke on soft sobs.

"Franken..I'm so sorry." Failing to give any more of an explanation because of her sobbing, the mad scientist frowned deeply as he reached for her chin and grasped it loosely. Feeling her tense, Stein shushed her and continued to stare at the wound angrily.

"Who. Did. This?" Feeling his anger, Marie felt her breath hitch as she gazed into those livid green eyes. Licking her dry lips, Marie pulled her head away from his grasp and turned her body around so her back was to him.

"Why do you automatically assume that it was somebody? It could have been an accident." She spoke so quietly that Stein had to lean in close. Hearing that sentence, the man had to hold back a sarcastic laugh.

"Marie, I'm a scientist. I'm not an idiot. That is not caused by a damn accident. Who did this to you?" Exhaling softly, Marie sat up on the bed as she stared out the window sadly. Stein watched her impatiently as she gathered her thoughts.

"You'll kill him without even listening to what happened. So I'm not telling you." Trying to retort, Marie stood up from the bed and finally took a chance to glance over her shoulder at the man across the room. Sensing him getting even more angry, Marie walked quickly over to him and pressed her hands against his chest, giving him a sad smile.

"He was drunk and was trying to kill himself. He lashed out at me and this is the result. He made sure I got taken care of." Hearing him growl under his breath, Marie clenched her eyes shut as she awaited his reply.

"Made sure you were taken care of AFTER he destroyed your face? How chivalrous of him." Gasping softly, Marie looked up at him with a hurt expression on her face. 'Destroyed? My face is destroyed?' Moving away from him, Marie wrapped her arms around herself as she looked down at the floor. Hearing a click, Marie knew Stein was playing with the lighter in his pocket. He was trying not to let himself slip into the madness so easily. Damn this woman.

"Wait...the only people in this city who get that emotional when they drink is you, Spirit, and Sid. You only drink with me. Sid is dead now.." Marie swore she heard the click in Stein's head when he figured out who did it. Or maybe that was his screw? Taking a chance to look at him, Marie felt her eyes widen as the crazy grin crossed his features slowly.

"I am going to kill that Deathscythe." Fleeing the room, Marie shouted loudly and ran after the man. Grabbing onto his coat, Stein turned around quickly and grabbed onto the woman's arms, pushing her against the wall. Smiling manically at her, Marie bit down on her lip, drawing blood that dripped down to her chin.

"For death's sake Marie, if you don't leave me alone, I may just end up killing you too." Pushing away from her, Marie dropped to the floor in a heap. Staring blindly at the man who flung open the front door, Marie felt like the world was slipping away from her. Maybe it was. She couldn't move at all. Everything was numb.


To be continued...?