Maka was lying face down on her bed, not crying. Her eyes stung, and she was sniffling a little but that didn't count as crying.
"I'm not crying," she muttered at Soul, who had appeared in her doorway and asked.
"I'm sorry, Maka. That was really not cool of me," he admitted.
Maka felt the mattress sink as her partner sat on the side of her bed, but she kept her face firmly planted in her pillow, lifting her chin just enough that she could talk.
"You think? 'Not cool' doesn't even begin to cover it. Between Kim and Black Star it's going to be all over school tomorrow, and by the time the rumor mill gets done with it, it'll sound ten times worse than it was. You saw how upset Kid was. He's going to break up with me." Maka finally rolled over and looked at Soul, who felt his stomach sink at the sight of her. He'd expected one of her good, old-fashioned rampages, possibly accessorized with unrestrained screaming and a long-term grudge. The hurt misery he saw instead felt like the slap upside the head that he so richly deserved.
"Why did you have to spoil everything for me? We were so happy, Soul. Even if he doesn't break up with me, Kid'll probably never touch me again. And if you make a crack about me having nothing to touch, I swear I'll kill you."
"I wasn't going to say anything." Soul reached over to Maka's nightstand and grabbed a tissue. "Here. I know you're not crying, but you need to wipe up your not-tears." He dabbed at her face awkwardly. She snatched the tissue out of his hands and scrubbed furiously at her eyes.
"I don't know what the big deal is. You and Kid got together. So what? I just don't understand why it was a secret." Soul said, patting her back. "Hell, anybody with eyes can tell he's had the hots for you since forever. I didn't buy his "she's so symmetrical" excuse for a minute." He grabbed another tissue and held it over her nose, "Here, blow." She did and then he patted her back some more, mentally complimenting himself on his excellent sympathy techniques.
"It was because of the...the training." Maka averted her eyes, suddenly very interested in the wall next to the bed. Soul raised an eyebrow.
"Training, huh? Most people call it sex, but whatever. Sounds kinky."
Maka whapped Soul in the face with her pillow and he wondered why he just couldn't stop himself sometimes.
"Damn it, Soul! That's not what it was! Lord Death is making Kid learn how to use a scythe and he wanted me to teach him how to handle one before he started working with you." Maka hit Soul with the pillow again because the first whack had felt really good.
"WHAT? Lord Death is going to break us up? What a load of shit. I'm not doing it, and I know Kid isn't going to do that to Liz and Patty. If he does, I'll kick his ass for him. He can roll around on the couch with you all he wants to, but you're my partner and that's the way it's always gonna be." Soul leapt to his feet, pointing wildly at nothing in particular. Maka grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him back down beside her.
"It's not like that." Now it was her turn to pat his back, "Handling a scythe is some kind of stupid Reaper tradition, so Kid has to learn. We'll still be partners and so will Kid and Liz and Patty. You will be Kid's Death Scythe someday, though. He just wanted to learn the basics so you and Black Star wouldn't tease him to death. Because you can be jerks sometimes. Today, for instance."
A sheepish grin crept across Soul's face. "But ya still love me right? Forgive me?"
Maka pretended to consider it. "I suppose. But only if Kid doesn't break up with me or kill himself out of embarrassment. And if you tell everybody at school that we weren't just hooking up. "
"Fine. But -" Soul's phone rang and Maka could hear hysterical jabbering on the other end. Somebody, it sounded like Liz, was loud and upset.
"What? Crap. You did? Well, we're both jackasses then. I'll take care of it." Soul hung up and pulled Maka off the bed. "Com'on get your shoes, we're out of here."
"What's going on now?" Maka asked as Soul dragged her across the room. She tried to slow him down, but her socks didn't give her any traction on the tile floor.
"Your stupid dad is on his way over here to freak on you," Soul answered, snatching their shoes and jackets out of the front hall closet.
"My dad knows? Oh for God's sake! How did he find out?" Maka shrieked. Her partner gave her an uncomfortable look.
"Apparently Liz and Patty were kind of noisy when they were trying to get the details out of Kid, and Lord Death and your dad overheard them. I guess your dad went kind of postal and Liz had to keep him from stabbing Kid or something."
"Lord Death knows too? I'm going to die." she buried her face in her hands, utterly defeated.
"Um...it gets worse. Liz said Lord Death tried to calm your dad down by pouring booze down his throat, but it didn't work. So now he's drunk and pissed off." Soul rolled his eyes, "We need to get out of here." he repeated.
"Hell yeah." Maka put her boots on, not bothering to fasten them before bolting out of the apartment. "Come on, Soul! If I have to deal with my dad right now I really won't ever forgive you."
"I'm coming," Soul replied. He locked the door and pocketed the key. "Keep your shirt on."
Maybe it was the little demon inside him, or perhaps it was just an utter lack of self-preservation but sometimes Soul just couldn't stop himself, "Wait, it's not your shirt you have trouble keeping on, right? Just the vest."
Maka's eyes went wide.
"That's it! The no-hitting rule is suspended until further notice!"