Hey people so I haven't actually written for Fanfic in a while, but I was watching the Fight with Blair again, and I was inspired but the scene of Soul taking Maka's hand in her flashback. So I thought I would try and write the way I think their partnership came to be. This particular one will be a two parter. I tried to look into any details the two actually gave about their initial partnering up but I really couldn't find that much, so I am simply working with what I remember. Constructive criticism is welcome, I know my spelling and grammar can be horrible, so I apologize in advance. If you have any advice just let me know thank you!

I do not own Soul Eater.

Soul-

This was not the first event he had been to, no in fact his family held many like this. They were supposed to be mingling, giving weapons and meisters a chance to meet and greet. Many were already paired up, chatting and dancing and having a grand old time. Soul Eater however stood silently against the wall. He supposed he should have expected something like this. Most people at school avoided him, even at a the Death Weapon and Meister Academy, he was an outcast, strange, odd looking, quiet, and he always seemed to be in a foul mood. He couldn't help that he was different though. He didn't have any say in his stark white hair, his demonic red eyes, or his overly sharp teeth; and while he supposed he was somewhat responsible for his attitude he just couldn't help it. The fake smiles and pointless small talk… it was all too familiar and not in any sort of warm and fuzzy way. He hated it, and he had put on fake smiles and dealt with that bull more than enough in his life. If someone wanted to be his partner they would have to deal with his actual opinions, he was done putting on heirs.

A few people had gotten the nerve to talk to him. Some meisters who thought he looked pretty tough, some who just seemed kind of desperate willing to take anything (or so they thought), and even the odd girl who thought they could change the scary stranger; they all inevitably ran off. Soul was honestly starting to think how dumb he was being, his own family didn't even like him; why in the hell would a complete stranger want to commit to being his partner. From the very first days of class the teachers had harped on the importance of choosing the right partner and the idea that it wasn't a joke, resonating souls (which was the goal as far as the partnership goes) was not an easy task, both parties (or in some cases all 3) needed to be able to match their souls to each other… honestly he was barely paying attention at the time. Now, though, he had to admit the idea of finding someone willing to even try to match up their soul to his… well it seemed unlikely to say the least. There were those who worked solo, Soul thought to himself, perhaps he could… but then he could barely control his weapon form at all, much less fight with it on his own.

Souls crimson eyes scanned across the room hearing an obnoxiously loud comment across the ballroom his eyes landed on a Blue haired boy by the name of Black Star. Soul had sat with him in class a few times. He would rave about his abilities and how he would "surpass God" one day, and Soul would admit the kid had some talent when it came to fighting, and he had considered maybe partnering with him, but he was impossible to hang around with for too long. Soul liked him just fine, mostly because he didn't seem to care about Soul's looks or his attitude, but he was so loud and irritating. Still Soul watched with a bit of jealousy in his stomach as the blue haired, self-proclaimed, ninja reached his hand out to a tall, and frankly very pretty, girl with long strait black hair. The girl smiled fondly, a blush crossing her cheeks, at the over exited boy as he announced to the room, having somehow jumped up on a table, that she was officially his partner.

"Dear death, that Tsubaki really is too nice for her own good." Soul would never admit this, lest it ruin his cool guy credibility, but he jumped at the voice when it suddenly sounded right next to him. Turning to locate the source his eyes fell on a thin girl, his age, with ash blond hair tied in pigtails, wearing a long black coat over a dress shirt and light yellow sweater vest with a green striped tie, a red plaid skirt and a pair of black boots with white buckles. He raised an eyebrow at her attire most everyone else was in dresses and suits, hell even soul was wearing his suit a black pinstriped one with a dark red dress shirt underneath, but she looked like she did just about every day in class. He'd seen her plenty of times before, she was friends, of sorts, with Black Star, and she was always giving answers in class. He actually hadn't seen her earlier in the evening and he wondered if she had just gotten there. His eyes back to the girls face now, she was still looking over at Black Star and the girl who was apparently Tsubaki. "Oh well, I suppose if anyone could have enough patience to deal with Black Star it would have to be her." she finished her thought before turning her attention back to the white haired boy. Her forest green eyes meeting his deep red ones. "You're Soul right?" Soul simply nodded hiding his confusion under a layer of suspicion. "Black Star told me you're a demon scythe, is that true?"

"You're rather quick to the point aren't you?" he asked bluntly but noticeably without the sharp edge his conversations earlier that night had.

"Oh, I'm sorry…" she started closing her eyes as if mentally berating herself. "I'm Maka, Maka Alburn." she said with a smile reaching out her hand for the boy. He eyed it, but did not take it. With what almost looked to be a pout she pulled it back. "I'm sorry about that, it's just… well, you see, my momma was a Scythe meister. She taught me a fair amount, and I intend to be a Scythe meister as well. I wasn't trying to be rude or anything."

"Are you any good?" Soul asked keeping his cool frown but allowing his eyebrow to raise again.

"Not as good as I will be." she answered confidently looking straight at him. "I am going to create a Death Scythe, one even better than the one my mom's."

Soul looked her over again, she didn't look like much, so far as he could tell she was just a book worm. There was, however, something about the way she stood before him. She looked straight at him, without an ounce of fear, without any sign of mistrust, or condescension. There was a distinct fire there, in her eyes, the kind that told him she would do exactly what she said.

"You want me to be your weapon because I'm a scythe?"

"I approached you because I heard you were a scythe and Black Star said you seemed like a good enough guy. Demon Scythes are rare, so I can't be too picky, but no." she stated resolutely, causing soul to prepare for the girl to run off like everyone else. "I haven't decided yet if I think we should be partners. I don't know anything about you, and frankly I'm loathe to trust a guy to commit to the kind of training it would take." Soul was she was so straightforward, not afraid to insult him in the least.

"Bit sexist don't you think?" he answered trying to mask the small amount of admiration he was beginning to feel for the pigtailed blond.

"I have experience with lying scumbags." Soul felt his expression soften just slightly. Her face read anger, and her mouth spat the words like bad milk, but in her eyes he could see the barely concealed pain, just a flash, but he felt his heart drop at the sight. He knew it was weird, he'd only just met the girl, and frankly most people would have been highly insulted, but she was so easy for him to read. She lashed out because she had been hurt and was quick to regain control. With a deep breath she brought her more amiable expression and continued. "Still, Black Star suggested you, and I thought I would come and form my own opinion." Soul frankly had no clue what to say to that. He wasn't good with words or conversation, how could he possibly explain himself to her? As if sensing his problem she spoke again. "I could start if you want, tell you some things about myself I'm a very good student, I get top grades, I like to read, and solve problems…" she continued a bit but Soul didn't really pay attention, all that was fine and all but it didn't show who she was. No, she had already shown him that, she was brave in coming to talk to him and being so direct, she was ambitious in her plans and committed to seeing them through, she was honest, and more outgoing than he would ever be. He knew that minute she'd be a great meister and he would be lucky if she was willing to take him, but how could he know she wouldn't just give up on him, the same way everyone else had? How could he know she wouldn't run away? Suddenly he decided there was only one way to be sure, but he needed to do it quickly, before he lost his nerve.

I think we can all guess what he is thinking. I did try to stick to the characterization shown in the actual anime and manga. Maka maybe a little mean, or at least not as friendly upon first approach as she could be, but she is a little nervous and this is part of her becoming a great meister so she is taking it very seriously. Also, obviously it is not directly from Soul's perspective but it is focusing on him, I probably will end up editing and reposting later, so R&R tell me what I need to fix. Thank you!

DFTBA