Intertwined
Chapter 8 - Sleep
[Chupa-Cabra's.]
It's late midnight about now. Spirit continues his weekend routine with pride, knowing he won't have to go home to a needy daughter. In a way, that boy taking her far away from his little home was a blessing. Then again, there's nothing he wanted more than to punch that little brat in the face. Nobody makes a fool out of Spirit Albarn. Not even Maka, as if he'd let some kid try and "teach him a lesson". Oh well, that's what he's at the bar for.
"Spirit! You shouldn't be here!", he recognized that voice anywhere.
"Hello Lisa, how are you?", he grinned.
"Spirit the bar's been rented out tonight, a very important man is here."
"Like who?! Who the hell thinks they're so damn high and mighty they can rent out my bar!", he shouted.
His blood is boiling, before he even touches a drink.
"We can't tell you. They wish to remain anonymous.", she sighed.
"It's quite alright.", another voice called from behind.
There, on his preserved couch, sipping his beer, was some man who looked quite familiar. He wore a snow-white tuxedo and a half-amused expression on his face. Spirit was ready to punch the man straight in his smug little face before he motioned him over, holding a beer.
"Arisa, make him comfortable won't you?", the man smiled.
She giggled a bit and pulled Spirit over toward the couch, where she sat on his lap and handed him a beer.
"Who are you?", slurred Spirit, sipping a beer.
He'd already had his drink this morning, and then maybe one or two at lunch, and a few later on. He couldn't help himself.
"I am a very important man with very important business.", he sighed, "My business doesn't deal with you. However, I let you in, in hopes you would maybe be able to help me in my quest."
"What? Quest? What are you some kind of..", he snickered, "Some kind of..", he paused, "dragon?", he stated plainly, forgetting the joke.
"There's a boy in this city who I need to get in contact with. He isn't very close to me, however. You see, he makes it very difficult.", he gulped, "I've kept a close eye on him Spirit, and I noticed he's had a little squabble with you. I also noticed him around town with a strange girl, in which I don't know how or why he's associated with, but I do intend to find out. See, I have the upper hand in force and knowledge, but I was hoping you could fill out some of the details."
Spirit heard half of that.
"That brat's with my daughter. I fought that kid and he got me by surprise, I don't know where they are now but they're out of my hair, so I don't care anymore.", he laughed.
"I see.", the man sighed, "Well if you don't have any valuable information, please, I have no choice but to ask you to leave this bar."
"Leave the bar?", he stuttered, "No way in hell!"
"Then would you care to help me in my little journey? It won't cost you a dime, all I want is the boy. Do what you must with the girl but leave the boy unharmed for the time being. It's my job to see to it he's severely punished and put back into his place. I only have his best interest at heart, you know. He wants freedom but the way I see it, he'll never grow into a mature adult this way.", he said, while Spirit once again, dozed in and out of consciousness
"Well whatever. I'll do it on one condition.", he slurred.
"Name your price."
"I get unlimited hours at Chupa-Cabra's, for the rest of my life!", he cheered.
The man face-palmed, "Fine, yes, we'll do that. Now, I'll be checking back up on you Spirit. You don't want to let me down.", he pointed to the base of his suit, where a small silver object was barely visible.
The girls laughed along with the men as they drank, making them as "comfortable" as possible.
[Meanwhile, Earlier That Same Day]
"Soul!", Maka screamed.
"Maka? What is it?", he looked down at her staring at his bloody hand.
"Your hand!", she bit her lip.
"Oh, when he dropped the knife it kinda slipped on my hand.", he said, stretching his fingertips.
"Let me help you.", she sighed.
"Maka it's really not necessary-"
"Please, Soul, it's the least I can do.", she gave him her famous determined, pleading look.
Damn, she knew he couldn't resist.
"Fine. I give, you win. I'm tell you though it's nothing.", he sighed, cringing a bit from the sudden pain.
"Soul? What's wrong?"
"The wind blew on it."
"Let's just go, Soul. Do you want me to take you back to Black*Star and Tsubaki's?", she sighed.
"No, too far away. My new place is actually around the corner.", he gestured to the block of apartment buildings lining the street.
"You finally got your own place?"
He nodded, "My very own apartment."
"That's cool."
He nodded again.
She noticed his motorcycle parked on the sidewalk near one of the apartments.
"I live on the first floor."
"Cool.", she sighed a little.
A small part of her was longing for the opportunity. She wanted to hear that sound again. On the other hand, nothing was stopping her from squeezing his stomach right there and then. No, she was stopping her, it would be completely un-explainable and just..weird.
"What? You wanted to go for a ride?", he smirked a bit, eyeing her as she stared blankly at the bike.
"Huh!?", she panicked.
"Relax. I need to drive you home anyway. I can't trust you on your own, remember?", he smirked.
She flashed a bit of a less broken smile. She hated to admit but that made her happy, it'd been so long since they'd talked and it's going well so far. A part of her relaxed, she almost thought he was upset with her. Occasionally she caught him, glaring maybe, at her in the middle of class or at lunch. She never confronted him however, she let him live in peace. He returned the favor, against her better judgement.
"Wait what? No, shut up. Maka just shut up.", she cringed in deep thought.
She still hated him. Right? Right. She can't stand him, that's exactly how she feels. It wasn't the best feeling but it was something she could understand.
"You coming inside tiny-tits?", he called.
She realized her slow pace and sped up to the doorway.
"Soul?", she whispered.
"Yeah?"
Maka-Chop!
"I had that coming.", he sighed, rubbing his damaged skull.
He wouldn't be surprised if a piece of her book had lodged into his brain by now.
"Where's your first-aid kit?", she asked, catching his attention.
"In the bathroom.", he gestured toward the door on the left.
She nodded in response and walked into the bathroom. He sat on the couch, holding his bloody palm out. A moment later she resurfaced with the first aid kit and sat next to him.
"So you're a nurse now?", he raised his eyebrow.
"You're a dare-devil now?", she narrowed hers.
He smirked a bit. She had him there, he was no true dare-devil. Most of the time, anyway.
He sat quietly as she sprayed a bit of disinfectant on his palm. It stung, far more than he thought it would. After she'd finished applying the spray he almost felt bad about what he'd done a month ago. He used the same spray on all of her wounds, he deserves a nice hard Maka-Chop after that one. He watched her work quietly as she proceeded to wrap the bandages around his hand and knuckle.
"Does it hurt?", she asks.
"Nah, a little cut won't stop me.", he laughed a bit.
"Alright then, here you go Eater.", she put his hand down, raising an eyebrow.
Awkward silence.
"When were you planning on going home?", he asked.
Not that he was too eager about driving with his hand like this. It did hurt, but he'd never tell her that.
"When I am positive that Black*Star and Tsubaki are..finished.", she sighed, lowering her head in shame.
He couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. The thought all-together plus the face she'd made was just too unbearable.
Maka-Chop!
Again, he had that coming.
"If you keep Maka-chopping me how do you expect me to drive you home?", he huffed, rubbing his head.
"If you stop provoking me I won't have to Maka chop you.", she huffed right back.
"Do you have a phone?", he sighed.
"No.", she sighed right back, "Do you need Black*Stars number?"
"No need, I wrote Tsubaki's down the day I dropped you off."
"I didn't see you do that."
"I did it while Tsubaki was comforting you, she had it pinned down on the wall next to the window. You're telling me you've lived with her for how long and you haven't noticed?"
"I noticed, I just didn't know you did that.", she replied weakly.
He sighed, ignored her, and pulled out his black little phone. What? You expected it to be a touch screen didn't you. No way, the smaller they are the longer they last, and a boy like him needed a phone to last for a long, long time.
He dialed Black*Stars number, and after a few rings he heard a weak hello.
"Black*Star."
He stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"What are you talking about."
"I don't care if this isn't a good time."
"No Black*Star I don't care if you're a god."
"Shut up and listen!"
"Put Tsubaki on the phone."
"Say that again you little.."
"SOUL!", Maka interrupted.
He sighed, "Yeah Maka's here."
Maka noticed his cheek turning a light shade of pink as he spoke, "No Black*Star, shut up. Just shut up and put Tsubaki on the phone."
A minute later.
"Tsubaki? That you?"
"I need to know when you guys want Maka home."
Silence.
"You're kidding right?"
"Well what am I supposed to do!"
"Just because Black*Star can't keep it in his.."
"Soul.", Maka glared at him once more.
"Well what do you want me to do with her?", he sighed.
"You owe me, big time."
"Yeah, whatever, goodbye.", he huffed as he hung up and leaned on the wall.
"That didn't sound like it went very well.", Maka bit her lip.
"They want you to stay here for the night.", he sighed.
"No! Why can't I go back?", she huffed.
"Unless you want to spend the night hearing everything, and I mean everything, they're doing, I suggest you just take me up on my offer and stay put."
She twitched a bit, "Why Black*Star. Why."
"Tsubaki isn't exactly an angel either you know. There's a reason he wouldn't put her on the phone.."
Maka Chop!
"Dammit Maka!", he cried out, rubbing his damaged cranium for the millionth time today.
A few minutes of silence past until Soul turned on the TV. Automatically, the channels jumped to the news.
"And our latest headliner, Wes Evans is in the City for a special concert and a few "family matters" he has to take care of.", the news woman announced.
Soul collapsed on the couch.
"Soul? Are you alright?", Maka asked, poking his shoulder.
"No. I'm not alright, change the channel damn it.", he sighed.
She raised her eyebrows, and reluctantly changed it to sports.
"What's wrong with you?", she asked.
"What's wrong with me?", he snapped.
Maka looked a bit shocked. She quickly got over it, reminding herself that this was Soul and she was in no danger of any physical harm. Mental harm? Perhaps.
"Sorry Maka. I'm going to bed.", he sighed walking over to his room.
She sat on the couch and stared at the TV until she noticed Soul walk out a few seconds later. He had a blanket and pillow in hand.
"What's that for?"
"I'm sleeping in here tonight. Try not to molest me while I sleep, tiny-tits."
Maka-Chop!
Soul-Chop!
She looked up in confusion. He had done the impossible, and blocked her Maka-Chop. He swatted the book out of her hand.
He smirked a bit at Maka's surprised face. It was quite amusing, she rarely ever showed herself that way.
"You don't have to sleep in here you know. You have a bed.", she sighed.
"You're a guest. Therefore, what I say goes, and I say you sleep in my room."
"I think you misunderstood the concept of the word, "Guest".
"Whatever, just go to bed you look exhausted.", he pointed at his bedroom door while placing his pillow on the couch.
"What if I'm not tired?", she protested.
He ignored her and flashed a smug look. She raised her eyebrow again, he noticed. This time, he tossed the pillow on the arm of the couch and stretched out across it, resting his legs on Maka, proceeding to throw a blanket over his body as if Maka wasn't there at all.
"What do you think you're doing?", she said through grit teeth.
"Sleeping.", he smirked, placing his hands behind his head.
"Not on me!", she protested, trying to push him off.
It didn't work, he was too heavy.
"Then I suggest you go grab a comfy spot on my huge bed.", he laughed.
She huffed, and an idea flashed in his mind.
"Well Maka.", he sighed, "I suppose you could do it now and let me sleep with no problem, or you could do it later.", he paused, "However, I can't guarantee, based on how sleepy I might get, the likely chance it is that I would have to "tuck you in" later.
She cringed, gritting her teeth. Where was the Maka Chop when you needed it?
"Fine. You win.", she huffed in defeat, disappearing into his bedroom.
"Good Maka.", he chuckled under his breath.
Eventually Soul grew bored with TV, and lay back on the couch. He couldn't sleep, he just couldn't. Wes was in town. What the hell was he doing here? No, he couldn't think about that for now. What about the "family matters"? No, he's not talking about Soul. It can't be. Could he really? Maybe..
"No, shut up Soul.", he ordered himself.
Still, if not Soul then who, was it just to please the press? What if he knew Soul would see the news? Was he trying to scare him? If that's what it was, it was definitely working. He was terrifying, was his road trip about to end? No.
"Screw that. I won't go home.", he muttered under his breath.
He sighed. Who was he kidding? He wasn't going to sleep. He found it difficult to believe that Maka had actually forgotten about his insomnia. There's no way she'd let him smoke or even touch a beer bottle while she was there. She'd kill him.
"Since when the hell does Maka dictate my life?", he grit his teeth.
He gave up. Nobody was going to win this fight. He was having a fight with Maka and she wasn't even in the room. Accepting defeat, he lay down in bed for at least a few more hours. Midnight was approaching, and he still couldn't get his stupid brother out of his mind. Why did he have to screw everything up?
A very disturbing sound interrupted his thoughts. What was that, crying?
"Is Maka crying?", he thought.
He stood up silently, tracking the noise into noise into his bedroom. Sure enough, Maka was crying, though her eyes were sealed shut. She was crying in her sleep?
"Maka.", he sighed, shaking her shoulders.
She whimpered a bit.
"Maka!", he yelled, shaking her a bit more.
She woke up screaming.
"Damn, she's loud.", he thought.
"Soul?", she looked up in shock.
"What the hell happened, where you having a nightmare?"
She nodded reluctantly.
He sighed. Sure he was a heartless brute, but he did the only logical thing.
Maka watched as he walked out of the room. A few tears still filled her eyes, but she didn't exactly know why. She couldn't remember her nightmare exactly, but she knew she'd been terrified, and hurt beyond belief.
"Soul what are you doing?", she asked as he lay a pillow and blanket on the floor next to the bed.
"Sleeping, what are you doing."
"I mean, why are you sleeping in here."
"What, now I can't sleep in my room?", he asked in a gruff voice.
"No, never mind it's fine.", she sighed, resting her head.
He sighed as well. It was an obvious lie, and it was obvious he wouldn't be getting any sleep that night.
