A/N: Ok, so this is a quickie because I'm on a stressed time limit, so sorry if there are typos! BREAKING NEWS: I do not own Soul Eater, but I do own my story. What, channel six already told you?! Ah hell no. Now you know for sure for sure though. Enjoy!


Soul stood in horror as Maka talked to Kid.

"Are you sure Maka? Do you have any experience with gangs or any or any of this -"

"I have experience with drugs. I know how dealers work. I can help," Maka said as she cut Kid off.

Soul stood up from his seat abruptly, and almost knocked his chair over. He glared at her his eyes poorly masking how he was feeling, though his face was stiff and rigid. Maka tried not to look into his eyes; she didn't want to acknowledge the fact that he was hurt, and that it was her fault. She knew she'd have to, but she didn't want to face her fears just yet in front of everybody.

They didn't need their newest recruit showing weakness.

"I thought you left the house," Soul said roughly.

"I never walked out the driveway," Maka said, shrugging.

Liz noticed the way the two were interacting. Their hands balling into fists. Their eyes. She hoped they wouldn't start something right there in the dining room, but it didn't take a genius to tell something was up.

"Soul ... It's your choice to let her join or not. Maka, you don't have to do this," Liz offered to both sides.

Maka nodded, but her emerald eyes were stubborn and ... determined. Liz knew the girl was stubborn. They had hung out a couple of times with her and her friend Tsubaki after she befriended Soul. She'd seen Maka be analytic embarrassed, and stubborn. However, she had never seen her be determined. The look in her eye reminded Liz of Patty's eyes, and even a bit of her own when they caught a look of themselves in a dirty shop window on the streets. Even if Soul had his mind set, she had hers. She wasn't so sure about Soul's choice sticking, but she knew about Maka's choice.

It would go with her to the grave.

Soul rubbed his face, and slouched back down in his chair groaning.

"Everybody out except Maka. And if you eavesdrop in the hallway, I swear-"

"Ok, we get it! We get it! Gosh," Liz muttered before walking out to the hallway with Kid.

Black*Star paid no attention to Soul's announcement, only to his work out.

"GET OFF THE DAMN FLOOR, AND GET YOUR ASS MOVING," Patty shouted at the boy.

He fell over to the floor, and she pulled him up and out of the hall by his earlobe. The two waited until Black*Star's whimpering disappeared, and even then Soul checked the hallway and kitchen three times.

Maka tried to keep a strong stance, but her courage was muted a bit by the look in Soul's eyes when he turned to her. She expected him to yell at her. Call her stupid. Make her want to put a book in his head.

Instead he did the opposite.

"Why," Soul said as he sat down across from her at the table.

It was so quiet and defeated that Maka barely even heard him.

"I want you to stop. That's why," Maka answered.

"So your idea to get me to stop dealing is to fight in a turf war so I can keep my lot to keep dealing? I'm confused," Soul said.

"Because idiot! I want you to realize how I feel whenever I come over and there's someone else here, or I can smell the drugs that you just rolled. How worried I am that you'll get hurt, or that you are hurt, or that one day I'll come here, and there'll be someone standing over your body with a gun. Maybe if I'm in the same position you'll stop being stupid and get it," Maka explained.

Soul couldn't help but chuckle at how elaborate she was being.

"You're so smart, yet you're so stupid too," He laughed.

Maka loosened up a bit and smiled.

"I guess that's just something we have in common."

They sat there for a few minutes until Maka got up and hugged him from behind. The chair's back was broken, so she could feel his warmth and rise with his breathing. Soul could feel her heartbeat calming the nerves along his neck.

"Fine, but you're going to lead with me. I'll defend us, you attack for us," Soul said.

At least if he was defending, she wouldn't get hurt. He wasn't willing to risk Maka. At all. He stood up, and Maka got off his back. They looked at each other wearing identical smirks.

"Partners," Maka offered as she extended her hand.

Soul nodded, "Partners."

The deal was now official as they shook hands, and walked down to the basement to consult with the others.