"It feels like we're only eloping."

"Inaccurate. You and I both know that there's no truth in that. Stop fooling yourself."

In a motel room in a desolate land, barren and alone, they were gathering everything and anything they could get their hands on. They needed facts to support whatever theories they've managed to conjure up. Eliminate one hypothesis and three more pop up. There was no end to it. There was no end to the madness.

There really was nothing to hold to what she said. They were on the run. They were together. But they weren't on the run together. They weren't eloping. Not even close. He was a suspect for a murder. She was branded kidnapped by him. There wasn't anything romantic about it all not even remotely. And in between it all are the fits of madness he has and the bouts of worry she gets.

"I know that I've always known. You…" she shook her head, "we would never be that. Is that what you want me to say?" She asked bitterly and almost broke as her eyes stung with tears.

"Why are you still here?" He ignored it. Lately, he's been ignoring everything and even more so the questions regarding him or them. Questions like those were irrational and non-existent in the first place. So he ignored her no matter how broken she looked and probably felt.

"Because I'm supposed to stay with you." She promised him, her old lover.

"I could be BJ's killer." He was supposed to ignore it all and yet he was somewhat disappointed that it was for that reason she stayed with him. Clearly, he did not appreciate it.

"Or you couldn't." She knew deep down that he wasn't. "Besides, I find it hard to believe that you'd kill over jealousy." It wasn't that funny but she opted to try and lighten the mood or else everything will just spiral downward.

"I don't need a reason to kill. I'm insane." He spat. Sometimes, he's not even sure if he really isn't the murderer. A madman, yes, so why won't he kill while he's at it?

"You're not insane. You can still fight –"

"You can't fix me."

"You don't need any fixing. We just need to destroy the Kishin. It's him and not you that's wrong." And it was true. He was perfectly fine until the sudden resurrection of pure madness. She's known him all her life and she knows he wasn't at fault. With renewed determination, she spoke up. "I can help you though. I'm willing to try. What about you?"

"I am a hopeless case." It's easier to pass the blame on others but she didn't understand. He was insane before all of this. No man in his right mind would even dare to imagine the things he's already done.

"Don't try to dodge the question." Her hands were balled into fists on her hips.

The itch was back again and it was clawing his mind. This woman fascinated him. It would seem that her mind works against the normal thinking. Always and consistently, she would offer herself to him without doubt and it puzzled him every time. She knew no fear of him and no prejudices whatsoever. He turned the screw protruding his skull. A fine specimen indeed.

And yet, he could never dissect her. He would never open her. This may be the reason why the itch never left him. Sure, he's examined animals, corpses, and even his previous partner but he could not find himself doing the same to her. Everything was already set. He had every scientific instrument and reason to examine her but he would not. He could not. The screw was still making clicking sounds as he was still turning it. She was in a way, untouchable to him. But why?

Somewhere in his thoughts he's forgotten her question and instead answers his own. "I don't know…"

She took this as evading it. "Answer the question."

"I said, I don't know!" The itch was tearing him apart. It kept pushing him to do what he doesn't want. Chanting in his head to open her up. Giving him images he'd rather not see. He had to fight back. "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" And then he fell to his knees. Where was he? It was too noisy. His hand went to his screw to turn it but it was soundless. Static was all he heard and the incessant order to dissect her. "Why do you keep bothering me?! Just go the hell way!"

Marie flinched. She didn't expect that to push him too far. Concern and regret immediately flooded through her as she tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder. "… You're right. And I'm sorry. I never should have asked. I didn't know it would hurt you so much."

A voice? It's garbled to him and he thought it was the same voice bossing him around that came with the static. He hissed. "Sorry won't cut it. What I need is compensation… Hahaha… HAHAHA!"

Madness had him again in its grasp. Holding himself, Stein cackled inhumanely and shook as he lost himself in it, completely immersed. He wasn't aware but she was afraid as well. Not of him but for him. She always was and he would never notice as all he saw were the eyes all around him. Madly staring at him were the Kishin's eyes.

Wait, the Kishin? The noise lowered slightly. Where's Marie? A faint wavelength was calming him, calling him. That's right, he was talking to her until the itch… his head pounded. Was he taken in by the madness again? He turned his screw and this time the clicks resounded. The static died down.

Slowly, he managed to compose himself. "I apologize. I couldn't control myself."

"It's alright. We all have our bad days." Her voice was calm but laced with worry and it showed when she abruptly held him tight in an embrace. She couldn't afford to lose him too.

"Others aren't so often as mine." Arms hanging limply to his sides, he was compelled to reciprocate the hug and he did put an effort to try. Just as he was about to envelope her as well, he hesitated, and ended up with clenched fists instead. In his mind, he could never give what she wanted, what she needed. But he would try to at least do what he can. "I will find his killer." And though unsure but not any less steadier he said, "I will get better – if the possibility exists."

"Stein?" She pulled back to see just what he was saying and hopefully tell what he was thinking.

"And once he's found and I'm cured, you can finally leave me." He held her shoulders but only to put some distance between them like he was doing right now. "That way I won't hold you back anymore, Marie."

A frown was on her lips and lately, they've been more frequent than ever. "It's not that simple."

"It is but it won't be easy." He stared at her with cold eyes. And one might even go so far as describing them as sad. "I will take out every reason and responsibility for you to stay with me."

"Like I said, it won't be that simple." She was known for being an airhead but even she could tell what he was doing. He was pushing her away. And she would have nothing of that. A hand of hers instinctively cupped his face and her resolve was strengthened when she saw him slightly leaning into it. "I may be with you now strictly due to circumstances but I won't leave you even if you strip me of my duties." She wouldn't leave him. Ever.

"You're digging your own grave." He placed his hand over hers but not entirely grasping and sighed dejectedly.

"Does it really matter?" For the first time in a while, she finally smiled. A genuine smile that even he could never say no to.

"You deserve better than this." Better than him.

"Everyone deserves something better even you."

Shinra-ex-SOLDIER

Hiya, hello people! Angst is a must. Well, this is Stein we're talking about so what kind of story would this be if there wasn't a fit of madness in it? And really, it wasn't just Marie and I who felt like (I fangirled) they were eloping, right? They have this bittersweet thing going on. Don't worry, they'll get better in the next chapter.

Thank you for everyone who reads this, please tell me what you think of it. The last chapter will not be uploaded until I get a substantial amount of reviews. Sorry for the inconvenience but please do review!