Soul laid on the couch with his eyes closed and a cold compress on his forehead. The whirr of the ceiling fan above him mixed with Maka's soft snoring from her bedroom was a thick summer lullaby. If it weren't for his head thumping, he would have been sleeping soundly.
He groaned and turned onto his side, holding the compress to his head with his arm. As much as he tried not to think about it, he knew somehow that today was his fault. Usually he had no problem concentrating but lately he felt as if there was a wall between him and Maka.
If I can't get my act together, if we can't resonate, I'm no good for her.
"Are you awake?"
He sat up and squinted through the darkness.
"Yea, Maka. I'm awake. What's up?"
"I can't sleep. It's too hot." She adjusted the light blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders as she curled up on the opposite corner of the couch.
"Here, Dummy. Use this."
She thanked him and balanced the compress on top of her head, making her look like she was at a hot spring.
They sat in silence listening to the fan. The hanging clock in the hall chimed twice.
"Hey, Maka."
"Yea?"
"If.. I wasn't your weapon... Do ya think you would have noticed me?"
"Duh, we're in the same class."
He glanced over at her. That adrenaline rush was kicking in again. He frowned and closed his eyes, slowly breathing in and out. The amount of energy he was using gave him a headache and the throbbing returned.
"I would have noticed you. If you weren't my meister."
He looked at her, straining through the darkness to see her reaction.
"What are you talking about, Soul?"
"Well," he shrugged. "How could I not notice a pretty girl like you?"
The fan whooshed around, slicing through the thick, sticky air.
"...You think... I'm.. pretty?" she replied bewildered.
"So what if I do?" he said defensively. "Don't let it get to your head or anything."
Soul was now aware of the buzzing from the electricity running through the fan. He closed his eyes and focused on it. He felt a warm rush of air on his cheek and turned to find Maka was now a foot away from him.
He tried to focus again on the fan. She was so warm. The hair on his left arm started to stand on edge from the heat she emitted. His lower stomach twisted tightly, making his breath shallow and fast.
Keep your cool. Be cool.
She slipped her hand into his. He snapped his head, staring at her.
"Soul..."
Her hand was so soft and warm.
"Yea?" he croaked.
"I can't imagine anyone else being my weapon. I'm really happy we're partners."
She squeezed his hand and let go.
"Thank you for the compress."