The Unlikely Pair

Ch. 2: A quarrel in the Night

Date: 6/25/13

As they walked, Ava had her hands shoved in her sweater pocket as she walked, no longer giggling, giddy, but there was a hint of sadness. She didn't even look at him; much less speak to him as her mind was a whirl of thoughts and maybes. Xander himself wasn't talking, he knew he'd hurt Ava and was just bracing himself for when she'd snap at him. He knew it was coming, he could feel the tension rising between them like a thick fog in a horror movie. Not a surprise. Xander seemed to be good at making her mad, as well as her making him mad, but why couldn't they just get a long like the other Meisters and Weapons.

Given his parent's history together when they were younger even now they were still one of the best. Sometimes the students would talk about him and Ava behind their backs; he even had a few Meisters step up and say how they'd take him as their weapon, and that he could trust them. But the truth was, he couldn't, Regardless of his parents being so caring to him, there was just something 'wrong' with Xander. He just felt uneasy when it came to trusting but with Ava? Though it was hard he knew he could do it one step at a time.

When they reached their apartment, Ava closing the door behind them both she just couldn't hold it in any longer "Did that mean nothing to you? We've worked our asses off for years and only now just got the required kishin souls and yet you make it seem like it was nothing." she could feel her voice shaking. Though she had a foul mouth, Ava was sensitive, she wore her heart on her sleeve and the littlest things, like Xander's words in the Death Room and his tone hurt her. "It may not be for you, but for me it is. And for you to hold a rain cloud over us like that with your negativity? Your 'it's no big deal' attitude really hurts" she imitated him for a moment, impersonating his voice with an overly macho pose before slinking back against the door, a bummed look on her face.

He didn't want to have to deal with her tension causing taunting so Xander went to the fridge to grab a snack as she started to tear him a new one; which really wasn't a surprise. Xander had grown use to it for the past two years, so her yelling at him or mocking him didn't really bother too much, but he could tell she was hurt. "Sorry" was all he could say.

"Sorry? That's all he can say?" sometimes Ava just didn't understand him. She wanted to but even with her, he put up walls and barriers to keep others from getting in. "I'm going to bed…" she slipped off her sweater and hung it up on the coat rack near the door, heading to the cabinet she took out two glasses and poured chocolate milk in both before taking one and heading off to her room.

Looking at the glass he made a face "Fine..." he liked drinking from the carton, but her putting it in a glass? What choice did he have, he couldn't waste it. Taking it he walked off to their living room to watch some TV, maybe he could find a movie that could help clear his thoughts.

Sitting in her room, dressed in her mint green pajamas, Ava hugged her knees to her chest as she stared out her bedroom window out at the moon as tears trickled down her cheeks "Stupid Xan … making our moment complete shit" He'd done stuff like that time and time again, so why did this one hurt so much more than the others? Reaching for her glass, she silver eyed teen downed it in one gulp before sighing; her lower lip quivered as she gulped down a few sobs and wiped away her tears. Getting up, she headed to the bathroom to freshen up her face, calm herself down before heading out to the living room. Moving over, she took a seat next to him, bringing her legs up to sit Indian style beside him. "Why?" was her question as she looked to the tv, slowly those silver eyes moving to look at Xander with seriousness shining within them "Why turn an amazing moment into dog shit?" her eyes were still a bit red but she was calm "Is it because you fear we'll fail when it comes to facing the witch? Xander …" reaching out she gently placed her hand upon his arm.

Ava wanted to be understanding. "I know a lot of the times we're at each other's throats… and fighting on the battle field… we're not like the other meister and weapon teams" she took a breath and sighed her eyes wandering to the tv once more "I know I don't say this a lot… in fact I never say it …" she slowly brought her silver hues back to him "But I'm glad you're my weapon, my partner. You're amazing and … I don't and can't see myself with anyone else when on the battle field" which was true. Ava had the moves, and had tried to be paired with other weapons in the past but it never worked but when she met Xander? Things changed, the two linked and had this connection.

Xander was just a typical teenager himself, he preferred to keep a lot of his problems to himself and not broadcast them as if they were so important to the world, but he didn't want to burden Ava with them. Sipping his milk he would then take a bite out of a pastry while his two-toned green and red eyes stayed fixed on the screen. "Look..." he paused with eating, then glanced over at her "I know I pissed you off, and I am sorry about that" he started to eat some more, then looked down at his glass of milk "I guess I am lucky to have you as a meister, everyone else wants me for the wrong reason...always have..." then he clenched the pastry almost crumbling it, then blinked "...Such a good donut..." he stuffed the rest of it into his mouth till it bulged his cheeks. The less sensitive he got the better, and he really didn't want to get all soft over what just happened, because it did bother him. Would he be good enough to help his meister take on a witch? To turn into a Death Scythe? To fight by Lord Death's side? It was quite the honor, and he wanted to be at his best, but there were still those differences. He just couldn't find a meister who would show him it was okay to trust. Xander then gulped down his milk while still trying to finish his donut, before swallowing it "Thanks..." he said as he got up and walked off to get ready for bed.

He actually acknowledged her that was something new, normally he'd be too into his show or blocking her out or just not wanting to answer but he actually spoke this time. Yet what he said caused Ava to give an inward sigh. She watched him, listened to every word then watched as he got up and headed off to bed "… good night" but he probably didn't hear her. With a groan, Ava allowed her body to fall back against the couch cushions and looked up at the ceiling "Such an insensitive bastard…" a growl rumbled in her throat. Sitting up she grabbed the empty glass then blinked "…. A water mark?... Xander next time use a fucking coaster!" she sighed and wiped it off with her pajama sleeve "damn condensation" she grumbled and went to her room getting the glass, taking them to the sink and washing them before heading back to the living room, giving it a cleanup before finally heading to bed.

The hours passed, and Ava couldn't get much sleep, by the time the laughing sun peeked up over the horizon, Ava was out of bed, leaving a note for Xander that she'd be heading to school that day. No use in taking the day off if she knew she wasn't going to be able to enjoy it, especially with the tension that was always surrounding her and Xander when they were together. Standing in the hallway near the quest board, Ava looked at theirs that was marked completed it brought a smile upon her lips. Just then a voice called to her, Ava snapped from her moment and glanced back round to see a pink haired male "Good Morning Crona" she smiled to him then noticed Maka "Morning Professor"

"I see you're here, but why? I heard that Lord Death gave you the day off because of your great accomplishment, Congrats on that by the way" Maka smiled.

Ava was happy but then she remembered Xander and that happiness faded once again "I'd... rather not talk about it" turning back to the board she was looking for something that didn't require a weapon to do, yet all of them seemed to.

"Going on a quest without your weapon? That's not a good plan, look I know you're having problems with Xander, it's normal" yet she hadn't seen a partnership as fragile and shaky as Ava and Xander's in her life. Maka hated to admit it, but she didn't see the partnership lasting much longer than it had, it was a surprise it even lasted as long as it did. "Just give him some time" she placed a hand upon Ava's shoulder "and enjoy your day off" she smiled, her and Crona heading off. Maka didn't want to get involved since she knew her son and knew that the meisters before Ava had left him long before. For Ava to keep with him for this long? It did mean something but would Xander see it? Or would she have to step in?

Ava sighed and headed to the secretary's desk "Is... there anything where a meister won't need her weapon?"

The secretary blinked and checked her book. "There is a mission to gather information from a village just outside of Death City, but even though it's just a gathering mission… it is still best for the meister to be accompanied by his or her weapon. But if you insist.." After receiving a slip with an address, Ava was off on her own, it was just a light mission to gather information what harm could it do? It was a lot better than having to deal with Xander and that never-ending tension.

Hours passed and Xander twisted and turned in his sleep, the nightmare kept nagging at him various times he would sleep, he always remembered being afraid. He could see the younger version of himself looking afraid blood running down his body with tears in his eyes crying "I don't want to die! Please! I'm scared!" Snapping awake, his eyes were wide as he grabbed his chest then looked to the window to see that it was morning; maybe Ava was already awake, or probably went on her walks. Xander pushed himself up and went to shower before putting on some clothes, he walked out to see the note she left him, then shrugged "Whatever..." he went to grab himself something to eat, and figured he could probably take to the city and see what was going on. Perhaps he could see if there were some kids at the court, and maybe he could play a game of basketball to get his mind off of things. Making his way down the street he saw all the people just walking about, a few kids running around playing games and laughing and having a good time.

Once he made it to the park he saw some of the other students there, and recognized a few who noticed him "Hey Xander, coming to play?"

Xander wore comfortable attire, his shirt was a navy blue with some designs on the front, and his pants were regular yellow sports pants with a white stripe going down and a pair of white tennis shoes. "Yeah, thought I'd stop by and play a bit" it didn't take long for him to join a game, and soon they were all going back and forth.

/Chapter 2 done!

Not sure if anyone is enjoying this as much fun as it is writing it. But I hope some of you are. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

HUGS!

-Nova/