BECAUSE STEIN IS SUCH A TEAM DAD. SPIRIT IS TOO, BUT MORE LIKE TEAM DORK UNCLE. AND MARIE IS OF COURSE TEAM MOM.

this is just a generic stein and spirit fic. but there is a portion of it that refers to another fic - We Are. you don't necessarily have to read We Are to get the context, but it's just a scene that i had in that fic that didn't fit anymore, so i made a separate fic.

the first part refers to some time in the beginning of the manga/anime; the second part is set very shortly after Eibon events (when they get home).


TIME LAPSE
/pseudonymosity
Life never ceases to remind Stein that the world keeps on
spinning on and Time - Time waits for no one.

When Stein hears Maka complaining about how Soul thinks he has to protect her, it's funny. Not that her issues with their partnership aren't, in fact, quite problematic. He's not laughing at her. He's laughing at himself, if anything.

It's funny because it's... In his perspective... It's such a small issue. Stein and Spirit dealt with that particular facet of their relationship as Meister and Weapon rather easily. They overcame such a concern of who protects who, by developing thier technique: guarding and direct combat, offensive and defense simultaneously. They found a balance between offense and defense for their own partnership. And it proves to be highly effective even years on from their school days.

It's funny how time flies.


"He's in my daughter's room, Stein."

"Sleeping."

"With her!"

"Hardly. He's sleeping. In a chair. And you've done worse with girls in your earlier years, Senpai."

"But. But. He. And her. And-"

"Senpai. I think you and I both know how important it is to be with your Meister or Weapon, after enduring a long and hard battle."

Spirit stops his rant, lips slightly inward in response to the rebuke. He glances at the open apartment door, "Is that why you had them all stay here? The other Spartoi kids?"

Stein gives a wry smile as he takes the offered lighter from Spirit and brings it up to his mouth, "Something like that."

Spirit chuckles, "More like you need them all in one place to keep an eye on them."

"The better to experiment with," Stein chuckles darkly, as he inhales, the drag of his cig settling deep into his nerves and relaxing him. (Killing him slowly inside, but - what isn't.)

"Oioi," Spirit admonishes, while Stein simply just smirks.

Spirit sighs and leans against the wall across from Stein. He focuses on the sound of shuffling and murmuring of the kids inside the apartment, as they figure out sleeping arrangements.

"They've gotten stronger, haven't they?"

Stein exhales and watches his cigarette burn away.

"Yeah."

Time flies.