Stein Blinked and looked up at the hand on top of his head.
"Oh so you are. What are you doing here?" he asked sleepily.
"It's really storming out there. I thought you could use the company, plus, you would have just slept the whole day away." Spirit grinned.
Stein stretched and twisted his screw, making it click sharply in the quiet lab.
"Could you not? You know that bothers me!" Whined Spirit.
Stein laughed loudly and Spirit grumbled. "Do you have any food?"
Stein made a vague waving gesture towards the fridge in the kitchen.
Spirit slipped away from Stein and into the kitchen. "Stein what the hell?!" came a distressed cry a few seconds later.
"What?" Stein frowned.
"Stein this isn't food anymore! It's Darwinism!" Cried Spirit, which sent the scientist rolling with laughter again.
"I guess we'll just have to get pizza instead!" Stein wheezed out between chuckles.
Spirit rubbed his temple and quickly shut the fridge, blocking out the horrors which lay inside.
Stein tried to contain his laughter and searched around the living area for a phone, never leaving his rolly chair.
"You'd probably find it faster if you stood up stein." Spirit said pouting.
"Have you ever sat in a rolly chair? I'm not getting up." Said stein scooting around the couch.
Spirit rolled his eyes and began to search for the phone too. It was more difficult than he anticipated due to the face everything in lab was roughly the same color and had stitches all over everything. Except for the bright pink couch.
"Seriously Stein? You let her bring in a Pink couch?"
"Mmm…you've seen how Marie gets…She pulverized my other one so…" said stein lifting one of the cushions. He fished around for a few minutes and pulled out a grotesque looking phone.
"IS THAT HUMAN SKIN?!" Yelped Spirit.
"No of course not, it's just a leather casing."
Spirit had a hard time believing him. It was a very convincing comparison.
Stein hummed as he fished around for a pizza place willing to deliver all the way out to where he lived in the rain. It took some time and bribing, but one eventually agreed.
Spirit's stomach was growling loudly by then. He flopped down on the couch with a sigh and Stein watched him quietly. He stood from his chair and sat down next to his old partner. He lit a cigarette and offered one to Spirit.
"You know I don't smoke much anymore."
"Just figured it was rude not to share." Stein shrugged and put it back, then light his own. "How's Maka doing?"
"Just fine I suppose. She still doesn't talk to me much." Spirit said glooming instantly.
Stein laughed softly and pat the top of Spirit's head. "You'll be chasing her your whole life won't you."
"Of course, I'm her papa. I've got to be there for my little girl. Even if she doesn't want me."
Stein softened a bit and ran his hand through Spirit's hair. "….You know…You can be a really good father sometimes."
"Oh, well thank yo…What do you mean sometimes?!"
Stein laughed and shook his head.
Spirit continued to growl and fidget. "You can be so rude."
"Eh, you love me anyways." Stein grinned widely, which caused Spirit to go off on another tangent about how he didn't and how could stein ever say that?
Stein just watched him rant with a soft smile. His old partner was so easy to rile up. He caught the end of Spirit's long hair and rolled it between his fingers. It was as soft as he remembered it.
"Uh…Stein? What are you doing?" asked Spirit.
"Hmm? Oh nothing. Just admiring your hair. I've always liked the color. It suits you. Red like blood. Fitting for a death scythe."
"…..That's kinda a creepy way to compliment my hair Stein."
"When have I not been creepy?" Stein asked deadpan.
"Fair point."
Stein continued to play with the end of Spirit's hair. Spirit swallowed and came a little closer. The gentle tugging made his scalp tingle.
Stein smiled a little and put out his cigarette. He then tangled his long fingers gently into Spirit's hair and let it slowly slide away. Spirit shivered but stayed close so Stein continued what he was doing. He slowly slid both of his hands into Spirit's hair, gently skimming Spirit's cheekbones with his thumbs. He gently scratched Spirit's scalp in small soothing circles and Spirit closed his eyes with a content hum.
"Feeling trusting today are we?" asked Stein softly.
"Don't you dare ruin this by being creepy." Spirit said grumpily. Spirit had to admit, Stein had talented hands and he'd be very disappointed if Stein switched gears and decided to cut on him again.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Said Stein sarcastically. "…I'm kinda glad you decided to grow your hair out. You don't do fun things with it anymore though…."
"Eh, too busy to bother."
"More like too lazy."
"I'm hurt!" Spirit cried in mock offence.
Stein rolled his eyes and continued massaging Spirit's head.
Soon, Spirit let his neck relax and Stein held his head entirely. Stein gently lowered Spirit's head to his thigh and flipped his thick hair over so the back of his neck was exposed. He dug his thumbs gently into the muscle there and caused Spirit to groan.
"Overgrown cat." Stein tisked.
Spirit swatted at him blindly. "Shut up." Came the muffled response.
"Don't melt entirely, Pizza will be here soon." Stein said mildly.
Spirit purposefully melted more into the couch like the child that he is.
"Your funeral." Said Stein moving his fingers from Spirit's neck into the knotted muscle of his shoulders.
Spirit almost yelped and sighed "That's….unfair."
"I don't play by the rules." Stein laughed and squeezed Spirit's shoulders a little tighter.
Spirit sat up and crawled into Stein's lap so he could have better access to his shoulders and back.
"Needy much?"
"Shut the hell up Stein!"
Spirit got a few minutes of uninterrupted massaging before the door bell sounded and he groaned loudly "Noooooooo!"
"I warned you." Said stein standing up and unceremoniously dumping Spirit into the floor. He stepped over his twitching friend and answered the door.
