Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater

Chapter 2: Clothes

In the end, Soul was right. His parents took to Maka quite quickly, gushing about how sweet she'd sounded over the phone, how beautiful she was in person. They didn't know what a demon Maka could be when she wanted to, but that was fine. His parents were smitten with the idea that Maka would soon be joining the family. After tactfully dodging questions about wedding dates and other reunions, they had settled down at the dinner table with only the Evans and Spirit for company. Maka's mother had declined dinner on account of her jetlag, so whatever awkwardness Spirit and his ex-wife could have enacted at dinner was successfully avoided. Instead, he and Maka were able to evade any significant confrontation and, upon excusing themselves for the night, fell into bed together filled with a false sense of security.

It was Soul's family they were staying with. So, really, Soul should have seen it coming.

The artificial camera sounds were what tipped him off. He'd been having a lovely dream about warm blankets and a fresh pizza when the clicking sounds roused him. He awoke to the morning light illuminating his bedroom and the warmth of his bed being kept by his partner, who was currently snuggled up under his arm and very much asleep. When the clicking continued, he knew it could be two things: that there was some kind of ghost in his room or his brother was there.

Soul squinted in the light and tried to hide himself by cuddling closer to Maka, who was facing the wall and snoring softly. When the noises didn't cease, he grumbled into her skin.

"Go away, Wes."

"But this is the perfect opportunity," he crooned, no doubt snapping a few extra photos. "You've always hated posing for pictures."

"I still do."

"Then you'll know why now is such a great chance for me. Besides, you're a natural, and I'm sure Maka won't mind having a few photos for her photo album."

Soul turned awkwardly. His arm was pinned under his meister's body, but he could still sit up fractionally and glare at his brother, who still stood by the door with his cellphone in hand. "How do you even know about that?"

The last time I came to visit you in Death City, she showed them to me. It's quite a collection. She was keen on getting your baby photos."

"You didn't," choked Soul, and Wes' muffled laughter was his answer. "You're sick."

"I'm you brother," he said. "It's my job. Honestly, who could pass up a moment like this? And with such a pretty girl?" He took another photo for good measure, the sound of a shutter closing steadily getting on Soul's nerves."

"It is way too early for this."

"As much as you like to sleep in, Mother and Father have the entire day planned to get to know your fiancée and her parents. You're lucky they sent me to wake you both up and not Maka's mother. That woman kind of scares me."

"You and me both," he groaned.

"Mama's just worried, Soul, you said it yourself," said Maka softly. She roused slowly and yawned. He echoed the sentiment and when Maka sat up, she was light and sleepy. "Good morning, Wes. Thanks for waking us up."

"It was my pleasure," he said, snapping another photo. "May I just say that your pajamas look very cute, if not familiar."

Soul looked over at what she was wearing and realized that it was an old shirt of his. It hung on her shoulders loosely, even slipping off a bit when she stretched to reveal familiar creamy skin. He flushed as it dawned on him just how it all looked to Wes: Soul, shirtless, with Maka wearing his baggy t-shirt and not much else. Coupled with the bed head they were both sporting?

"Alright, we get it. We're coming."

Wes slipped his phone into his pocket with a grin. "That's what I like to hear. I'll see you both downstairs for breakfast then. Or maybe lunch considering the time."

"Goodbye, Wes."

The moment the door shut, Soul collapsed against the pillows. Maka rubbed sleep from her eyes and watched her weapon wallow in his embarrassment with a soft smile. "Good morning, Soul."

"My brother takes photos of me when I'm half-awake and that's good? I don't think so."

"He is right though," she hummed, running her hands through her hair and trying to manually eliminate a couple knots. "Better him than Mama."

Soul shuddered at the thought, and felt Maka's eyes on him again. "What?"

"Nothing," she said, her hands leaving her hair and coming down to caress his bare arms. "Just thought you looked really cute this morning."

"I should be saying that to you," he said lightly, and stayed still as Maka leaned down to kiss him. She practically rolled onto him, hands taking refuge in his hair while she lay sprawled across his body. Soul set both hands to rest on the small of her back, slipping under the bagginess of the shirt to thumb her skin.

"We should get up."

"Or we could stay here," he offered, squeezing her to his chest. "Bet they're all so busy gossiping about us that we could stay hidden up here for a bit longer."

"And have Wes walk in on us?" She slipped off of him and rolled her shoulders. He tried not to let his disappointment show. "I don't think so. Get ready. I hear we're having a guest today."

"Guest?"

"Well, yeah. Your mom mentioned it last night. Weren't you paying attention?"

"No?"

She moved over to her suitcase and pulled out a fresh pair of clothes, one for herself and a set for Soul.

"Come on." She smiled at him, as bright as the sun through his window, and he felt lighter somehow. "Let's go see who it is."