Freefall
by. Poisoned Scarlet
10a
She had the crumpled letter in her fist, settling into a booth with the thick smell of cigarette smoke and sweat surrounding her. It was not pleasant but she dealt with it without comment. As her eyes uneasily took in the scene – the gruff men, talking loudly over a few beers, the bartenders with their sharp eyes and grimaces - Maka tried to remember what motivated her to listen to what the letter said in the first place
Hiro wrote it.
She found it in the mail that morning and hid it from Soul at the last minute – luckily, too, since it would have complicated a lot of things.
What Hiro had written was consistent with various things Soul had told her over the course of many weeks, only Hiro's letter carried them on with more depth. While Soul casually commented these things, Hiro dug deep. It annoyed her that he had been rummaging around Soul's past, trying to dredge it up in hopes of finding something nasty, and it beyond angered her that he was struggling to squash their budding romance and didn't even have the decency to hide it under other intentions.
He had certainly never been so pushy before.
Maka wondered if it was because she had never bothered to move on until now.
"You sonofabitch—!" She heard someone snarl viciously before a glass shattered on the floor.
Maka screamed, crawling back in her seat when two men fell on top of the table, exchanging heavy blows blindly. Her wide eyes saw their meaty fists collide with each others mouths, cheeks, and she stared with a horrified fascination at the blood that spattered with each blow. The one pinning the other onto the table was winning: she saw the loser begin to lose consciousness, choke and struggle to escape his grasp to no avail.
"St...stop it!" Maka whispered, tremulously. Then she lunged forward and grabbed the mans hand, bringing it to a startling halt. "Stop it! Can't you see you're hurting him? Stop it, he's had enough!"
"What the fuck?" The guy frowned, confused. "Who the fuck are you?"
"Stop it!" Maka shouted again, pushing him away. She could see various heads turn to watch the scene unfold, casually drinking their choice of poison without much concern that the man she just stopped looked about ready to pummel her as well. "I don't know what he said to you but you'll kill him if you keep this up!"
"So what?" He sneered. Maka felt her chest grow tight with fear at his indifference. "That'd teach this dumbass to fucking mess with me."
"A...aren't you afraid of getting arrested for murder?" Maka asked, staring into twin black eyes. They showed no sympathy or mercy.
"Wouldn't be the first time," he smirked.
Maka felt cold wash through her.
"Hey! Back off, Zack, c'mon, she's new here. Don't start something or I'll call Sid over!" A woman dressed heavily in bandages snapped, grabbing his shoulder and shoving him away from her. Maka nearly jumped back from the murderous look in his eyes – wasn't this woman afraid of what could happen to her? The man – Zack – looked about ready to finish her off, too. "Get the hell out of my bar! If you're just going to cause problems, then don't even bother staying! I have to clean up after your messes, y'know!"
"Yeah, whatevers, Nygus. Just tell that fucker to watch himself. He got lucky this time." Zack sent Maka a resentful look before storming away.
"Hey, are you alright?" The woman asked, in a far gentler tone. Maka managed a mute nod. "That was pretty brave of you but don't do it again, okay? It's better to just let them fight it out. You know men and their pride." The woman shook her head as if exasperated. "By the way, the names Mira Nygus. But you can call me Nygus. Yours?"
"Maka Albarn. It's nice to meet you, Nygus." Maka could have sworn Nygus recognized her although she doubted herself: she'd never seen this woman in her life, after all. However, Nygus didn't let anything else slip again and it was difficult to read her face with so many bandages covering it. "Thanks for helping me out back there – I would've probably gotten in big trouble if you hadn't interfered."
"Yeah, Zack's got a temper on him." Her eyes crinkled with a smile. "Listen...Maka, was it? How about you keep me company over by the bar. What are you doing here all lonesome, anyhow? Waiting for someone?"
"Oh, yes, but he's not here yet." Her lips pressed together in a frown when she remembered. "But when he comes, I'll settle everything once and for all."
Nygus tensed with unease. "Oh, problems with the boyfriend?"
"Ah – no!" Maka shook her head, flushing pink. Her shoulders relaxed and Maka felt her suspicion rise. "An ex, actually. He sent me a letter trying to, ah, make me change my mind about who I'm seeing right now." Maka rose the crumpled letter in her hand with a thin smile.
"Nosy, ain't he?" Nygus scowled furiously but the look lightened at Maka's narrowed eyes. She couldn't blow her cover yet. "That's a low blow. What, does he want you back now or something? I hate men like that. Don't know what they got til they lost it. It's pathetic, if you ask me!"
Maka followed a huffy Nygus to the bar table, where she settled into a stool and Nygus rummaged around behind the counter for a glass and a bottle of hard liquor.
"Here, have a drink!"
"Oh, no, I don't drink - !" Maka began before resigning when Nygus insisted it was on the house. She took a few sips, deciding she'd only have one glass today. There was no use getting tipsy when there was still some things to do – specifically with Hiro, who was now running late.
"So, this guy you're going out with..." Nygus started, casually. Maka watched her wipe a glass clean with a towel. "He any good?"
"He's...a really nice guy although he denies it." Maka smiled, warmly. "A little rough around the edges, and he can so lazy sometimes, but... I'm really starting to like him." She admitted with a embarrassed laugh.
"Aw, that sounds sweet." Nygus crooned. Maka's face darkened a deeper shade of pink. "Well, if you think you have something special with this guy." She leaned forward, sternly: "Go for it. Don't let anyone talk you out of it, you hear me? Not even this ex of yours. Don't throw something away just because others say he's no good for you! It's what you want, not what others want."
Maka nodded, feeling small under her stare. Nygus held an air of authority; it made Maka think of her as being a good military instructor. She certainly had the no-nonsense attitude for it. "Yeah, I-I know. That's why I'm here – to tell Hiro to leave me alone! I don't want to deal with him any more!" She gained confidence, growling: "He's a liar and a cheater and now he's trying to ruin my relationship with Soul!"
Nygus, on the verge of encouraging her, stopped herself when the double doors of her bar pushed open. She immediately frowned at the person who walked in. He looked like such a scene boy – with his straightened blonde hair falling over his eyes, the leather studded vest, his thick black army boots and tight skinny jeans. But she could see why someone would give him the time of day: he was handsome, with twinkling blue eyes and lips that seemed to always be pulled in a smirk.
"Maka! Hey! Sorry I'm late!" Hiro smiled charmingly and Nygus scowled outright.
"Hi, Hiro." Maka greeted, stiffly. He sat next to her, that goofy grin still on his face. Maka looked at her drink, which was only half full. She finished the rest. "Look, Soul is expecting me back soon. So can we get this over with?"
Hiro's smile faltered and Nygus smirked.
"Fine, if that's what you want. I invited you here because, Maka... you have to break up with Soul." Hiro firmly stated. Nygus' smirk was wiped from her face and she crossed her arms in disbelief. "Look, I know you might be falling for him, but you can't! He's a delinquent! You read what I wrote – I swear to you everything I've told you is true! He's a wanted criminal! He probably has a few skeletons in his closet, too, for all we know!"
"I know – he told me, Hiro!" Maka snapped, partly lying. He had told her he was in a gang before but he hadn't gone in depth. Maka just assumed it had been a phase. Perhaps not, but she'd deal with that face-to-face with him when the time came, not because of Hiro's nosiness. "Hiro, just stay out of my life. We're not dating anymore, and whoever I decide to date now is none of your business."
"But, Maka!" Nygus couldn't help but notice he sounded like a child who hadn't gotten what he wanted. "How – how could you even like someone like him? I mean just look at him! Those sharp teeth and red eyes. He looks like a... a demon or something!"
Nygus needn't interfere, Maka handled it for her.
"Take it back!" Maka snarled, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. Nygus snapped her jaw shut and swallowed her retort, watching with wide eyes as Maka hissed: "I never said anything about all the sluts you've gone out with behind my back! So don't you dare insult Soul – I'm getting really sick of hearing about you, Hiro, and I won't hold back if you keep interfering with my life!"
Her eyes were burning pools of emerald, catching the light in such a way that left him breathless. Despite the threat that glinted in her eyes, Hiro couldn't contain himself. There was that passionate spark that had drawn him to her; the girl he had decided to give a try and had genuine good times with. And he was sure she felt it, too, because her eyes flickered with uncertainty.
But before he could grab her wrist, bring her tightly into his arms and sway her feelings for Soul, he felt another hand clutch his shoulder and tear him away from her. He stumbled out of his seat, looking up at the bartender who glared at him with such disgust it insulted him.
"Get outta' my bar. You're causing a scene, kid."
"But she – !" He protested, looking at Maka.
"She stays." Nygus interrupted. She pointed to the door. "Out."
"What the – I didn't even do anything! Maka, do you know her?" Hiro asked her, frowning when he saw she only turned her head away and crossed her arms stubbornly. "Maka? Oh, c'mon, don't tell me you're mad at me! I was just looking after you! We might not be dating but I still care about you! I'm doing this because I care about you and I don't want you to get hurt any more – !"
"If you didn't want me to get hurt you shouldn't have seen all those girls behind my back." Maka icily told him. The tone was enough to make him flinch away, guilty.
"Maka..." He pleaded. "I never cheated on you! All those times - we were on break! I would never cheat on you, Maka, you gotta' believe me!"
Maka froze, tears burning her eyes.
"Oh, please, save it for someone who cares." Nygus snorted, stepping forward to force him out of her facility. "Get the hell out before I let security deal with you!" She shooed him to the door, ignoring his sputtering. She slammed the door behind her once he was well out into the sidewalk and returned to Maka, finding her slumped over the table miserably.
"Are you okay, Maka?" Nygus sympathetically asked, resting a hand on her back. Maka buried her face in her arms.
"He always does this. How could he say that? All those times were weren't on break!" Maka sniffled, enraged she couldn't understand how he could say those things with such a sincere look in his eyes. "How could he say he still cares about me when all he ever did was cheat on me? Did he expect me to come back to him again this time, too?" Maka bitterly scoffed. "I really like Soul... I really, really like him... why can't he just leave me alone?"
"He's just jealous, Maka, he finally realized he lost something real." Nygus soothed, smiling softly when she looked up with watery eyes. She saw her sniff and blink them back bravely. "But now you've found someone who's going to really appreciate you – even if he's a lazy bastard sometimes. He's the real thing, trust me." She smiled when Maka's lips twitched upward, her face brightening ever so slightly. "Just follow your gut. You can never go wrong if you do."
Maka silently agreed, standing up. Nygus watched her rub her eyes out; take a deep breath to control herself. "You're right." And Nygus was right: she did feel something intense for Soul. It wasn't something she could easily describe but it was there. She could feel it resonate within her everytime he shot her that crooked grin. "Thank you for everything, Nygus, but I really have to go back. I did promise Soul I'd be back before six."
"I understand. You shouldn't keep him waiting." Nygus glanced at the clock. She still had an hour left. But she supposed she needed some alone time to sort out her feelings. "It was nice meeting you, Maka."
"You, too." She pasted on a smile, rubbing away the last of her tears.
Nygus watched concernedly as Maka left the bar scene and all its distractions through their back exit. After a moment or two, she rounded the bar table and reached for her purse; hidden in a cubbie toward the bottom. She scrolled through her contacts on her phone, dialing Soul's number and waiting impatiently for him to pick up.
He did on the fourth ring.
"Hey, Soul." Nygus started, taking a quick glance at the clock. "Just wanted to let you know Maka dropped by. Yea – just listen, would you? I'm getting there! She had a pretty bad encounter with some Hiro guy – she left just now. I'm not sure if she has a car...no? Then you can probably catch her if you leave now."
Nygus snapped her cellphone shut a few minutes later, thoughtful.
He sounded panicked, which made her lips quirk in a smile...and Maka sounded sincere when she said she liked him...
They would pull through.
Nygus was sure of it.
10b
Maka walked down the street quietly, the streetlights beginning to ignite with the falling sun. The air had grown chilly and Maka knew she wouldn't be able to return home at six as she had promised. She could only hope Soul was too distracted with his television programs to notice the time.
She leaned against a streetlamp after a while, taking a deep breath. She uncurled her hand and smoothed out the crumpled letter on her thigh, nostalgically taking in his neat script. Soul's handwriting was terrible; like he was in a rush all the time. But she didn't mind because she still understood it.
I know this may be a lot to take in right now, she read to herself, bleakly. He meant all of the crimes Soul had committed in his youth, which Hiro had somehow discovered through his old friends, and wrote down with vicious detail in an attempt to sway her faith. But it's the truth. He's bad, Maka, he'll only hurt you in the end. And then her eyes darted down to his parting. Love you always, Hiro.
"Right." Maka snorted derisively. She began to tear the letter apart, with the full intention of letting the pieces drift away with the wind along with her lingering attachment to him, when the loud roar of a motorcycle scared her. She jumped, dropping a few strips of paper in her startle.
"Soul..." Maka whispered, surprised. He parked right beside her, turning off the engine but not getting off. Instead, he turned to her and asked, nonchalant:
"Rough day?"
Maka dropped her eyes back to the bits of paper in her hand. She squeezed them once then let them drop, littering the floor. She watched a few pieces be blown away with the evening breeze for a moment before looking up to find him looking back, that crease in his brow giving away his concern.
"Soul..." She faltered, unsure how to phrase her question. He turned fully to her, waiting patiently. "...when you were in that gang, did you ever do anything illegal?"
He gave her a leveled look but answered truthfully. "Yes."
"How bad?"
"Pretty bad." Soul continued, slowly. "Is that what Hiro wanted to talk to you about?"
Her eyes widened. "Wha – how do you know about that? How did you even know where to find me?" It all clicked, suddenly. Her gut feeling had been right after all. "Nygus...you know Nygus!"
Soul smiled lopsidedly at her surprise. "You can say that. She's still apart of the gang, you know. She's going out with one of the leaders, so I've heard. She called me right after you left. She was worried – apparently you two almost got in a fight or something?."
Maka deflated, slumping against the streetlamp. "Not a fist fight – he just pissed me off. I could have handled him myself. He's not that tough."
Finally, Soul dismounted. He straightened his jacket, stepping onto the sidewalk to stand beside her. He did not bring her into his arms, though, opting for leaning against the other side of the streetlamp as the sky gradually grew darker.
"...How do you still know Nygus?"
"I'm not in that gang anymore, if that's what you're thinking." Soul immediately said, catching her apprehension. "She's a cool friend, that's all. I started talking to her again when you left to visit your mom. She was the one who technically saved my life when I was younger." He gazed at the sky wistfully. He felt her eyes on him. "If she hadn't thought of staunching the wound on my chest with a sweater, I would have bled to death. It was a pretty deep wound." He absently rubbed his chest, remembering her controlled instructions.
"Stay with me, Soul. Don't fall asleep – stay with me. Hey, wake up!"
He stiffened when he felt a smaller, warmer, hand cover the top of his over his chest.
Her arms wove around him from the side soon after, cheek pressed against his shoulder. He dared to look at her but all he saw was ashy blond, tied into a neat pigtail on her head. He couldn't see her face but he imagined dull emerald, lips turned down in a melancholic frown.
"...I don't care, you know." Maka quietly admitted. Her nose buried into his arm, able to smell his cologne with every gust of air. "What you did when you were younger. That's in the past. We've all done stupid things in the past." She smiled, bitter, remembering the times she strangled her logic and went back to Hiro.
He pulled his arm out from between them and wrapped it around her shoulders, bringing her into his chest instead. He could feel her fingers press against the raised flesh of his scar, as if offering comfort although he no longer felt pain from it. She asked if it still bothered him, if it still hurt sometimes, but he shook his head and told her it hadn't hurt again since they had removed the stitches years ago.
It was just a permanent mark of his youthful mistakes now.
Maka tightened her arms around him, as if hearing those dismal thoughts.
"Wanna' get some take out?" Soul asked, after a long while of watching the sun completely set and hearing her soft breathing. The cold wind didn't bother him anymore: she was warmer than any jacket he could ever own.
"Okay." She smiled. "But you're paying this time!"
"Didn't I pay last time?"
"Nope." Maka innocently said, but her giggles gave her away.
"You're lucky I brought my wallet..." Soul mumbled, rolling his eyes when she laughed and trotted over to his bike with a new bounce in her step. She looked back towards him, with those wide emerald eyes and that ever-curious expression, and instead of passively replying as he usually did, Soul did something that Maka would find herself thinking about for the next few days.
He smiled warmly.