A/N: Sorry for the disappearance. In my head this story is actually complete, but I have not had the motivation to actually put it to virtual paper. That said, I managed this very short chapter for you. I am unsure if I want to go right to chapter 12, or if I am going to add what is currently labeled chapter 12 to this and do a separate scenes sort of thing.

This chapter is heavy in text interactions with plain italics being Maka and bold italics being Soul.


It was cozy in the diner. Warm and welcoming, and it gave Maka and Soul a much needed reprieve from the rain. Their orders had already been taken and Maka daintily sipped at a warm cup of tea while Soul indulged in a strawberry milkshake.

It's freezing outside. How can you even drink that?

It is *never* too cold for a milkshake.

Maka held back an eye roll, choosing instead to fiddle with the wrapper from her straw. She felt rather than saw Soul watching her, but said nothing. He still owed her an explanation for what had happened at her office, but she didn't want to nag. There was a fine line between gaining information and being a nag, and she didn't want to cross it.

She faintly registered the tapping of his fingers on his phone, jumping a bit when her own vibrated on the table in front of her.

I punched him because we're friends.

The blonde looked up, face crumpled in undeniable confusion. Soul didn't notice, too busy with typing to acknowledge her.

He's known me for 10 years. We just wanted to mess with you a little bit. But he knows better than to call me…that. I'm deaf, but I'm not blind. I know people talk about me, I read body language as well as I read lips, if not better. I expect more out of my friends.

Ok, first of all, mean :p Secondly….ten years? You've known that blue haired ape for *ten years*!?

He was staring at her again, and this time green eyes met red. The two regarded each other in silence for a moment, each calculating their next move. Relationships were tricky things and it had dawned on them that neither of them truly knew much about each other. But then, that was why people dated, wasn't it?

Maka threw down the gauntlet first.

You have a lot of secrets.

Soul threw down a bigger gauntlet.

I do. And yet, you know more about me than I do about you.

Pale ears tinged red as Maka inwardly acknowledged his assessment. It was true. She had shared very little about herself with him, and yet she continuously asked him to share more and more of himself with her. The lack of reciprocity was telling, and he was calling her on it.

Touché. You caught me. What is it you want to know?

In classic Soul fashion, he gave her a succinct reply.

Everything.

A brilliant smile and a sincere laugh escaped her. He never divulged more than he felt like sharing, and even though their time together had been short, their relationship newly labeled, Maka understood that what he shared with her he gave of his own volition. No amount of poking, prodding, or pestering on her part would ever make it otherwise. It was only right that she offer him the same courtesy.

Come by my place for dinner tomorrow? I can't cook to save my life, but I know a great Thai place…

I'll bring the movies!

Movies?

Oh please. We cannot have takeout and share secrets without movies :P

It was Maka's turn to smirk.