Spoiler alert to those who have not watched Soul Eater NOT as a few major specifics will be mentioned. If you have, please continue, and if not, proceed with caution.
A big thanks to the frequent reader and beta-reader for this chapter, Shadowclanwarrior! Appreciate it!
Tension hung heavily over the cafeteria, hushed murmurs and expressions of shock scattered amongst the crowd. Crona sat in his spot, eyes enlarged, droplets of broth dripping down faster from his shaking.
The looming Spirit dusted food particles off his suit, unreadable gazed fixed on Crona. "I guess my enthusiasm to see you got the best of me. My bad. Sometimes I can't help myself."
A hard gulp passed down the swordsman's throat as Spirit tucked his hands into his pockets."It really is nice seeing you again, Crona. You and Maka don't answer my calls often and being away from the city for so long makes a man home-sick. I was excited when I was finally cleared to come back; I wanted to see you two, but mission details are always the first task upon returning" A sharp laugh left the Death Scythe, pointing a thumb in Damien's and his friend's direction. "Then these guys greet me at the front door, take me to be briefed…and they tell me something interesting."
Crona's heart stopped and Ragnarok quickly recoiled back into his meister.
"I know rumors spread like wildfire in high school, but after hearing this one in particular, I felt I should ask you personally if this rumor is true." Spirit approached Crona in slow steps, a low-burning fire blazing in focused sky-blue. "So tell me, is it true?"
Crona couldn't respond. His mouth opened to speak, but sharp whistles of strained breathing was all that escaped.
Spirit's frown deepened. He crouched down to Crona's height, saying, "I'm only going to ask one more time. Is what they're saying true about my darling little girl? Is my Maka…pregnant?"
His last words held a venomously bewildered sound, and an icy chill slipped down Crona's spine. For two months he had been spared of Spirit's presence and the choice to keep specifics of their well-being was contained by both he and Maka. The issue was bound to come up, the thought often nagging the far-ends of his brain…but the option to ignore Spirit's calls and delay the issue was too blissful for both of them.
This was supposed to be the end of running away. Yet somehow he was unintentionally stuck in it still. Now, there could be no more.
He took in a deep breath, forced himself to look into Spirit's eyes, and whispered. "…She is."
There was a pause and for a moment, the two simply stared at the other.
Spirit's hands then shot forward. He grabbed Crona's coverall, picked him up from the floor, and slammed him against a nearby wall. Angry yells lifted up into the air, but Crona couldn't process them, caught in the whirlwind of fury spiraling in the Death Scythe's eyes.
"You idiot." Spirit seethed through clenched teeth. "I entrust you with my daughter, tell you to look after when I can't, and this is how you repay me? Damn it kid. Damn it. I told you to take care of her, not ruin her life!"
Crona's eyes narrowed. He understood Spirit's anger enough to not grab his arm and crush it in warning to let go of him…but saying he was ruining Maka's life…
It felt like a step too far, especially when it came from a man who ruined his own bond of trust with his treasured daughter.
"I said I'd end you if you did something like this, didn't I?" Spirit growled, hands rolling the fabric of Crona's outfit tighter. "Didn't I say that? You think I won't do it?"
Sternness seeped into the swordsman's face, frowning. "I don't care what you do to me."
Spirit pushed him harder against the wall and an instinctive hand sped forward to plant itself on the Death Scythe's chest, keeping him away. "I'll make you care, punk."
"I've dealt with worse than you."
The swordsman's words were blunt and soft-spoken, but it was enough to place the crowd and Spirit in a stunned silence. He was a little surprised himself, but Crona couldn't help it, because he was angry too.
"I don't care what you do to me." Crona said, his voice quiet and firm. "All that I care about is Maka being happy and I know she has been with this. She's happier…than I've ever seen her, and if she's happy, then I'm happy. But if you want to make her unhappy again, then I'll deal with you."
Surprise kept the room deathly quiet, but Spirit kept venting, spitting, "You've got some nerve. You think having a kid is all fun and games? That being happy is enough to make things okay? Kids need a lot of attention, care, supplies…and you're going to make my Maka go through hell just to get them here." Spirit's grip tightened when speaking his last sentence, anger shaking off every word. "I told you I'd gut you if you hurt my daughter, and even if you didn't mean to, that's what you've already done: hurt her."
Crona's determined gaze faltered, his voice growing softer. "Maka is the strongest person I know… S-she can handle."
"And Kami was the strongest I knew, but even she was rendered helpless, just like I'm going to do to-"
A hand yanked Spirit back by his suit's collar, releasing Crona from his grip. The swordsman fell to the ground, back against the wall, staring at the grey-haired doctor who steered Spirit away.
"Is this really how you want to approach this situation?" Stein said, face calm while keeping hold of fighting limbs. "Even I thought you were smarter than this, Spirit."
"Shut up." The Death Scythe fought. "This has nothing to do with you; it's between me and Crona."
"You've made it my business when you throw a member of my family against a wall. Enough of this."
Spirit ripped free from Stein's grasp, scrambling away from the doctor. The professor looked down at Crona, asking through his gaze if he was alright and the swordsman gave a shaky nod. Stein's attention returned to the fuming weapon, walking in front of Crona. His eyes drifted around the crowd. "Perhaps this should be an issue discussed about in private. It seems you've stirred up quite an audience."
"Should we now? Well how do I know if you're going to let him get away and blockade me when we try to move? Or let him get a swing at me? If you don't mind, I'd rather stay right here."
"Honestly, your paranoia surprises even me. All I'm suggesting is we take matters elsewhere, nothing more."
The former weapon-meister pair continued their argument, and Crona remained in his spot. Anger heated his veins when he saw the team of boys who brought Spirit snicker, amusement clear while Spirit raved and an infuriated Black Star was held back by Soul and two others, yelling he'd destroy the cafeteria and make the situation even worse.
But the white and grey-haired guardians of peaceful confrontation could only contain so much. Stein's simple mention of Maka being pregnant sent Spirit on another rampage, rushing forward to grab Crona again. The swordsman jumped, shifting to the side and back in a crab-walk to get away. Black Star tore out of Soul's clutches, charging in to help Stein in holding Spirit back.
And within seconds, the men froze and the room fell silent. Stein's face hardened and Crona's gut turned hollow.
There in the cafeteria's walkway entered a perplexed Maka, a concerned Tsubaki following behind her. Crona's heart fluttered with anxiety when she spotted the mess of food on the floor and on his outfit, the sticky dampness of his hair, the wall of men guarding him from a shocked Spirit.
Her jaw locked and glinting emerald zeroed in on her father. "What did you do?"
Spirit struggled to find words. He darted his head from Crona to Maka, his expression a mixture of fury towards him and utter horror and surprise. His silence only made his daughter angrier, making her tight muscles shake with it.
A stifled cackle slipped out from Crona's side and Maka's head snapped toward it. The boys who once quietly laughed at the scene stopped, her scathing look snapping their mouths shut.
"What the hell are you two idiots laughing at?" She hissed. Her eyes examined the gathering of people around them. "And what are all of you staring at? Does this look like a public event to you? Get out!"
The startled boys didn't hesitate to follow the order and neither did the crowd. The masses of people sprinted off in all directions, knowing if they got in the way of the enraged Kishin defeater, they would be reduced to the same-sized particles he was brought to with her simple punch. Even if a blue-haired friend needed to be dragged away by his collar, their friends parted to allow privacy, entrusting the remaining Stein to keep a watchful eye.
Within a span of seconds, the room had been cleared.
"What are you doing here?" Maka questioned. "Why does Crona look like this and what did you do to him?"
"H-He took advantage of you, Maka!" Spirit blurted out. "Can't you see that? I came back and I found out what he did to you! He used you for his own selfish needs and wasn't even careful enough to think of the consequences!"
"What…are you talking about? He never took advantage of anything!"
"He's a teenage boy, Maka. He'll do anything and play any game in order to get what he wants. Sex is all they think about!"
"Don't you ever compare him to you or anyone else! Just because you play that game on women does not mean Crona would do the same! Sometimes this just happens. I'd expect you of all people to know that."
"This can also be prevented!" Spirit's voice rose. "Something he didn't have the curtsey to do for you! Now because he made one stupid mistake you have to go through everything your mother and I did. I'm telling you, this will end in nothing but disaster!"
Crona's heart plummeted and anger rose in Maka's eyes. He could see this was spiraling down-hill fast. He sat up, tried moving toward her, thinking of some way to calm her down, but she didn't pay attention to him.
"Yeah, and I bet you're real sorry for not being more careful back then," she expelled harshly. "But this isn't the same case as you and Mama. I may have ended up here through a ploy of yours to bed women but Crona would never go as far as touse me and dump the responsibilities of being a parent on me. Not like you did."
"What are you- no! That's not what I-." Spirit took in frantic breaths, gripping his hair. "This is coming out wrong. Maka, please, listen to me. All I'm trying to do is help protect-"
"I don't need your protection or your help. I've been able to handle myself just fine without you. And after everything you've done, for you to even have the nerve to act like a father after all you've done..."
She stopped, breathing shakily, and Crona felt his heart sink, prickly pain stabbing at his insides.
"Maka…"Spirit said, moving a step forward.
"Get out," she commanded quietly. "Just go and stay away from me. I don't even want to look at you anymore."
Spirit tried to approach, but Maka fled backwards, tight body language refusing he come any closer. A wave of discomfort came over Crona when the Death Scythe looked to him, orbs once mixed with pure anger now clouded and unreadable. His head shot to the doctor keeping silent on the sidelines and marched to him, grabbing at his lab coat to drag him out of the cafeteria.
And for the second time that day, the couple was left alone.
Thoughts ran rampant in Crona's head, remembering Spirit's rage, of her father's fears for what Maka would endure and how they matched the nightmares hidden in his mind until sleep came to him. Every worry, every possibility he thought of over the months sped and crashed against each other like cars on a busy freeway; smashing, colliding, spinning out of control…
He felt a hand against his shoulder and glanced over to his side. He found Maka next to him, his heart aching at the poor excuse for a smile on her face and drained eyes.
"Come on," She said. "Let's go home."
"You could have told me." Spirit vented. He paced the obsidian platform of the Death Room up and down, raking a hand through his hair. His focus flittered from the sitting Shinigami to the doctor standing nearby. "You two obviously knew something big was happening, so how could you not tell me sooner?"
"Why?" Stein calmly challenged. "So you could leave your important mission for the sake of scolding a couple of teenagers? Like you did now before our scheduled meeting with Intelligence?"
"I wouldn't have even acted this way if you had just told me when this was confirmed!"
"You would have reacted this way regardless, so prolonging the news was our only option. We've known you long enough to know when your emotions will get the best of you, Spirit, and it's only natural to be frustrated when Maka is in your same situation at eighteen."
"Stop talking about this so damn casually." Spirit marched up to Stein, grabbing his stitched turtleneck, boring fiery eyes into his. "To wait this long and expect me to accept this gracefully is beyond the ability of any parent. Of course I'm angry! Here I am working my ass off for you two, bringing back our students in body bags, and then I hear from not you two, but kids I don't even know that my own daughter is pregnant! So yeah, great plan. Because while you two were not looking after them like I asked, my innocent baby girl was soiled by a pink predator!"
A grey eyebrow wriggled and hot anger swelled Stein's heart.
Predator; it was one word that could never define a young man like Crona. It didn't even come close. Yet Spirit was so blinded by outrage he couldn't see the sheer idiocy in calling him such a name.
"That predator took responsibility for his actions immediately and went as far as to ask for work from Lord Death to support Maka. And while doing such, he's going to school simultaneously, an action not even you were capable of doing while expecting Maka. So before you go insulting a boy who I consider to be a brother to my own son, I suggest you think things through carefully. Like right now."A daunting gleam of teeth shown from between Stein's lips. "Would you like to see your hand holding me wave at you every morning from the confines of a formaldehyde jar? I hope you say yes, as I'm always eager to observe your outrageous reactions."
Spirit flinched, staggering back a little. Rage lingered in his eyes, but he took the warning and unfastened his tight grip from Stein.
"Fine." Spirit continued, backing off. "I understand how you feel about him, but I don't think you know how I do. Picture this for me: imagine if this happened to you. Imagine if in ten or whatever amount of years, Henry went and pulled off a stunt like this and failed to tell you about it. How would that make you feel? How angry would you be that your own son didn't have the nerve to approach you, stare you dead in the face, and admit he had gotten a girl pregnant? Instead, all you get is lies when you call and are kept in the dark until someone else spills the beans." Spirit's stormy eyes looked to the ground, shaking his head. "Those two have been dating long enough for me to see Crona like a son and that only makes itworse. How do you think it feels to be blinded by not just your own blood, but by someone who you have treated like your own?"
Stein blinked. He watched Spirit turn his back, head held in his hands.
Strange how a man as perversely immature as Spirit could make decent points when he chose to be serious. Unlike him, Stein had been spared of the surprise by outsiders and was told up front by Crona. But he began to see the flaw in the plan, how failing to inform his previous weapon about Maka's condition may have been the wrong move a close friend should play. And although it was no excuse for his behavior, Stein could see why Spirit was beyond frustration.
But imagining his son acting in a lustful way was far beyond Stein's capabilities. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Henry wasn't even two yet, or that his parental instincts chose not to visualize the situation.
And said situation was…uncomfortably disturbing.
A strained breath left the Death Scythe, standing rigidly. Stein scanned Spirit cautiously, watching his fists ball tight enough to turn his skin pale, tension shaking his body. The doctor straightened up, bracing for the worst.
Spirit then plummeted face-first to the floor. Torrents of water flooded from his face in large streams, sounds resembling a wounded animal howling in pain crying out from his throat.
Ah yes, the worst had indeed come.
"My sweet Maka!" Spirit blubbered, slamming his fist to the floor. "I'm so sorry Papa couldn't protect you! I should have never left, but Papa needed to work to keep you safe! I never wanted this for you!"The scythe hacked on his own tears, his messy face pulling up to snort up the ropes of snot dangling from his nose. "I should have kept a closer eye on him! Called more often than three times a day! My sweet, precious baby isn't a little girl now because of him! Makaaaaaaa!"
More overdramatic sobs and cries that sounded like a drama-queen's sorrow filled the Death Room and Stein could only stare. It was even stranger-and frankly, a little discomforting- how an older man like Spirit could replicate his toddler's antics. Henry also flailed his arms when he didn't receive what he wanted, wailed manically in hope the noise will do something, and sometimes Stein could feel a little guilty when his own child held a messy, tear-stained face.
But Spirit's sloppy outburst only made the doctor stare neutrally and the Shinigami sitting at his small tea table sighed.
"Now Spirit." Lord Death consoled. "You have to keep positive in times like these. Think of it this way: this could be an excellent opportunity for you to show how much of a caring parent you are. You had a rough start at being a father, so here's your chance to be a good grandfather. There's still hope!"
As if stabbed in the rear by a sharp implement, Spirit flew up from the ground, landing in a dramatic, low squat. His eyes roared with a determined fire, bellowing energetically, "You're right! Her anger is only another obstacle to overcome! For my sweet little girl, I'll gladly endure her rage and be of any help I can! And once she's sees my fatherly concern and bottomless loving care during this stressful time in her life, her Papa's love will be sure sprout out from within her!"
He roared in triumph and Stein quickly added, "Only if you're allowed to come near Maka at all. After what you pulled and seeing how livid she was, you'll be lucky enough to know the baby's name."
The Death Scythe crashed to the floor again, rump high in the air, sobbing and whimpering pitifully how his daughter despised his well-intentioned guts. "Maka…my sweet Maka. P-Papa just…"
"But no one can be mad forever!"Lord Death fought positively. "And Maka won't. It will take time, but if you prove yourself enough, she will budge."
Just as Spirit launched up from his depressive state again, Stein mentioned, "You do realize this is Maka we are talking about, right? A woman who's as stubborn as a mule and resolute on her goals and grudges? She'll probably forgive Spirit when she's too tired to hang onto anger, and that could be when she's ninety. Or dead."
A crash shook the floor as Spirit fell again, body locking into a fetal position, rolling around in a puddle of his own tears. Stein's lips parted in a smile, revealing an eerie gleam of teeth, and let a giggle shake his chest.
"Really, Stein. Let's not make him feel worse about this situation. You know better than anyone that mindset's can change when children come into the picture. Now stop this little experiment of yours."
The doctor inhaled a deep breath, nodding. It may have been the wrong time, but Spirit always was an unpredictable and interesting candidate for experimenting in emotions. What better time when he's in a rollercoaster state like now?
Lord Death turned to face his weapon. "And although I understand that this is an important family matter, it is not the reason why we are all here. Are you ready to stay for this meeting, Spirit? Or do you still have another reason to barge out?"
Spirit's blubbering died down. He rose up from the tear-soaked floor, and with the exception of a dripping-wet face, displayed one of the rare serious faces Stein hardly encountered. He nodded and sat up.
"Good. Now if you could please provide what I asked you to bring, Stein. I'd appreciate it."
Stein walked toward the Shinigami, fishing a file out of his lab coat. He tossed it onto the tea table, taking a seat next the deity while Spirit walked over. The scythe peered over his meister's shoulders, watching him flip open the file, and infatuation soon widened his heart-morphing eyes.
"Well helloooo beautiful!" Spirit swooned. "And what kind of heart-stealing angel do we have here?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively, parking a seat across the way from Stein. "Is this another one of those damsel in distress missions? Because I'd love to be the valiant knight who comes to a sweet angel's rescue."
Stein's brows lowered. "You never cease to astound me on how quickly you become infatuated with evil women who hide behind pretty faces."
"Well, it's not like you gave me a face to look for." Spirit huffed. "If you haven't noticed, finding our students was time consuming and difficult enough."
"And your service is appreciated. But it surprises me to find how such a delightful face has made you forget that this woman used a student to attack your precious daughter two years ago."
A spark flashed through Spirit's eyes, desiring grin falling from his lips. His silence and inspecting squint gave Stein the clearance to continue.
"In case you're still forgetful, allow me to re-introduce you to our prime suspect." Stein's eyes and finger fell on the picture of a woman with a sickly pale complexion, eyes spliced with pink and blue staring back at them. "Shaula Gorgon, a witch who resurfaced two years ago after decades of inactivity. She harvested and brainwashed NOT students and used them to throw the city into chaos that resulted in multiple fatalities." Stein glanced over at the Death Scythe. "Not so sure how you can forget something like that."
The Death Scythe shot Stein a warning glance. "And her outcome?"
"She was confronted by a team of NOT students." Stein flipped a page, pointing a finger at the picture of three teenage girls. "As their testimony follows, they pursued Shaula once a comrade was recovered from her influence. Once the battle reached its end, the girls achieved a resonance transformation that stopped Shaula entirely."
Spirit craned his neck to glance at the young students, letting out a surprised hum. "Impressive. A low tier team like that must have a concrete bond if they managed to take down a witch."
"Possibly. Or perhaps Tsugumi and her meisters had luck on their side and Shaula's own pride and recklessness aided against her."
Spirit breathed out a humored snort. "You don't even spare the newbies of your harsh criticism, do you?"
"I'm simply stating a possibility. You do realize how long it takes to develop team compatibility, don't you? It takes years, and for an inexperienced team achieving a powerful resonance in the blink of an eye is something I would think luck had a bigger role in fueling."
A dismissive wave and exasperated nod from the Death Scythe was how the topic was dropped, and Stein carried on. "In short, Shaula was defeated and every student under her control was released. Her soul was provided to the academy once they returned and we haven't seen her since."
That's when confusion shimmered in Spirit's eyes. He rose up from his slouched sit, the skin between his brows pinching. "Of course you haven't seen her since; she's not coming back. How can this witch be your prime suspect if we've already recovered her soul?"
Emerald orbs rolled over to the quiet Shinigami sitting nearby. "That's something I have yet to be enlightened on. Her soul was brought here for immediate examination and handling, to which Lord Death cleared as Shuala's."
"Then she's dead. End of story."
"So the file says." Stein quickly opposed. "Yet why do I have a sample from the blood Soul retrieved from the mountain lions that matches the toxin traced in Meme Tatane's bloodstream? Why does every autopsy from the deceased you've recovered bear an incision mark in the same area as Eternal Feather, the first case before Shaula's outbreak occurred? Are you telling me we have a copy-cat on our hands? From beings that pride themselves in being different from each other?"
The skin of Spirit's face crinkled, trying to process it all. Stein watched the Shinigami casually sip his drink. "I've been pondering this for a while, Lord Death, and it's made me uncomfortably curious. Care to help fill in these gaps I've spotted?"
Balloon-like hands set the teacup down, the Shinigami exhaling, "I suppose I've procrastinated my explanation for far too long. It seems my attention in other matters have kept me busy."
"It's not like you to let busy matters keep you away from updating your personnel that another witch is becoming active." Stein stated. "Especially this one in particular."
The bottomless depths of Lord Death's eyeholes gazed into Stein's. "I have my reasons. You remember what kind of state the city was in during that time. And in that moment of shock and loss, what did you expect my response to our students and civilians would be? Tell them the soul I received was not Shaula's? Let them know a manipulator and murderer of their children used another witch's soul to act as her own and still dwells behind our walls?"
"Some kind of truth would be better than lies." Spirit muttered, sharp tone hinting toward the recent deception of his own daughter's state.
"Perhaps if this was a regular Kishin egg, you could be right. But when this situation consists of the involvement of a sibling whose sisters tossed this world into complete chaos, I doubt the civilians will react positively. And who do you think will be the first to blame for Shaula's survival?"
Thoughtful emerald hid behind the glaring light of glasses and Spirit's head was kept in a partial bow, eyes blocked by hanging bangs.
"Crona has enough on his mind already." Lord Death resumed, pouring more tea into his cup. "The last thing he needs-the last thing the city needs- is finding out another one of his family members is stirring up trouble again. He has been mentally steady these past couple of months with the exception of a few issues." The Shinigami paused. "I understand this is a school based off combat, but for the benefits of both parties, I may have to reconsider the times of day Crona will work."Unease made Stein's heart lurch and as if sensing it, Lord Death shifted his attention to him. "And Clay already told me those boys started the locker room squabble, but the janitor also informed me Crona grabbed one of the boy's neck a month ago. To avoid anymore headaches for the two and appease the parents, I will make them work around each other's hours. Don't worry about Crona losing his job. He needs the money."
The tension in Stein's chest lifted and Spirit snorted between his teeth. "You've got a lot of nerve saying his name around me. If you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly over what he did to my daughter."
"But I am over your childishness, Spirit." Lord Death snapped. The comedic lightness stayed in his voice, but the dominance weighing the air told Stein the Shinigami was nearing speaking with the frightening voice of an angry ancient. "I understand Maka's pregnancy is difficult to take, but these are the cards you have been dealt and you will get over it. For now your attention must be focused on the situation at hand. Both of you and Sid have been entrusted with this information and Soul has sworn to keep his suspicion under wraps. This operation needs to be handled carefully and only within the confines of the Death Room. If she's learned from her mistakes, then so have we, and we will not harbor or discuss important information in places outsiders can get a hold of it."
Lord Death exhaled a tense puff of air, and stood up straight in his seat. "I'm aware I've deceived you, but understand it is within my best intentions. It was never personal. So please, for the sake this city and your own families, will you help me in keeping this quiet?"
Clouds floated around the platform during the silence. Stein withdrew a cigarette from his pocket, ignited it, and breathed out a satisfying smoke-plume."It looks like that's all we can do for now. I'll prepare what I can from the toxins retrieved. See if I can get a working antidote going this time."
"Yeah, yeah of course." Spirit exhaled. "Secrecy is in the job description. You can count on us."
Lord Death bounced in his chair, back to his childishly-cheery self. "Very good! Exceeeellento! I appreciate both of your cooperation. Both of your heads will be of great help in finding her. Shaula may have been reckless in the past, but she's not as messy as she once was. This troublesome family always was a cunning bunch."
The fingers holding Stein's cigarette twitched.
Cunning, troublesome; somehow the words didn't seem like enough to describe the trio of sisters pictured inside the file. Deceitful, calloused, evasive, evil could be a sufficient summary, but that is only when they were generalized as a whole. Each witch had their own specific evil they enjoyed, interests to follow, different words to label them by.
But now the sisters had one more thing in common. Like her eldest siblings before her, Shaula now fell into the category of achieving a successful escape, a second chance at life, and Stein was not eager to find out the intentions of yet another plotting witch.
The silence was almost smothering.
Once the couple departed to their room for the night, Maka felt like she and Crona were on different islands as she studied on her desk and Crona read on the bed behind her. She stared at the words within her books, eyes following along with the sentence, but her mind couldn't process the book's teachings. Only one thing gnawed at the back of her mind like a bad itch.
Her fist balled against the desk. "I still can't believe it," she blurted out. Her voice was hushed, but rage thickened her words. "I can't believe he would do something so stupid and in public too. I always knew he never thought before he acted, but this is unreal." She looked over her shoulder, peering at the swordsman lounging behind her. "And you're telling me you're not upset about this? About what he did?"
Crona hunched his shoulders and lowered his book. Sullen eyes met hers and Maka suspected his opening mouth would tell her that somehow this was his fault, that he should have told Spirit sooner, should have approached this situation better, shouldn't have let fear take hold again.
But he didn't. The only response Maka received was Crona's attention and she quickly noticed he was using a quiet habit he formed in order to stay out her destructive path if he played Devil's Advocate again. And with the growing fire of anger nearly simmering the meat inside her bones, she thought Crona was smart in his tact to be silent.
"I mean really, doesn't he limit himself on how much of an idiot he can be every day? Or is he too brain-dead to know when he's gone too far? I swear, I swear that if he was here right now I'd do to him a hundred times worse than what he did to you. And that's me being merciful on his first day in my torture camp."
Crona grimaced and laid his book on his lap. "Maka…"
Maka pointed her pencil at Crona, warning, "Don't. I know where you're going with this and just don't. Calming down or keeping it in won't make me feel better and nothing you can say will make me change my mind. And to the contrary, I feel I'm being healthy for both of us by allowing myself to vent and let out my anger, not the other way around. So stop it."
Crona blinked. His open mouth closed and moved to twist his hips and let his feet fall to the side of his bed, dark, velvety eyes fixed on hers.
Maka turned away, feeling the wood from her pencil crack from her crushing grip. "I just can't believe it." She whispered, voice shaky, almost cracking. "Out of all the things he can do, after he's already hurt me enough, then goes farther by trying to hurt you. God he's is such a…"
She couldn't finish. Fingernails bit into her palm and her shoulders started to shudder.
Spirit had done too much already: made her doubt all men for an unbearably long time, feel insecure in being his daughter, wondering why her father wouldn't spend the amount of time with his family like he did in finding other women. Then has the audacity to act like a caring parent now and try to hurt and pin the blame on Crona. Spirit was an insensitive, unpredictable, and irrational moron, but even she didn't think…
The muscles in Maka's jaw flexed and the sound of bed springs creaking scraped against the aching, inner walls of her temples. She shuddered when hands settled on her shoulders, soft palms moving to run along her arms, Crona stooping to tuck his face into the crook of her neck.
"I know this is a lot to take in," he said softly. "I understand if you need to let it out, I won't stop you. You always did say i-it's better than keeping it in. Plus…um." An exhale that could be mistaken for a small laugh left him. "I-I'd rather be close to you if you're going to vent. Hugs may help make you feel better since…uh, the path of destruction y-you've been leaving behind lately has been a lot more…catastrophic."
It was faint, but a humored gust managed to leave her.
In retrospect, maybe that was…a little true.
Or very; it was very true. Hormone-induced Maka chops made the group point the blame at her for Soul and Black Star's poorer than usual grades, and it was so much easier now to incur her wrath, whether it was disturbing her nap or not changing the toilet paper in the bathroom.
Maka made a small sniff and flatly quipped, "You should have known by now you're in a relationship with the girl-version of the Hulk. The transformation and outcome of my rage always is messy."
Through the skin of her neck, Maka felt Crona's lips pull up into a smile. "But I d-didn't think it would get this bad. I-I think Black Star had a dented head for two days when he commented about your chest."
The image of a bleeding Black Star resting in a crater made Maka's lips curl into a satisfied sneer. Crona always did know the mental image or words that could help get her to smile.
"I should warn you that my rage form will only get worse and bigger in the near future," she said. You'll have to stick close if you want a chance to stay clear of the damage or run while you can. "
Maka glanced down and saw Crona's smile turn soft, hands resting on her arms moving to fold over her chest. "I don't mind dealing with it. Even the people who destroy need someone to help calm them down. Like I said, hugs can help with that."
For a moment, Maka stared. She then raised a half-amused brow and playfully pushed Crona's face away. "Sometimes I can't even tell if you're being genuine about things like that or purposefully corny just so I can laugh about it. Really, you make it difficult to find out which is which."
Crona's smile widened a little and pet-like nuzzles against her cheek was how he answered. It was slow, almost agonizingly so, but the knots in Maka's throat and chest began to untie themselves through his comfort. She caressed one forearm surrounding her, her free hand shooing the comforting swordsman away with a half-smile.
"Let's just get some sleep," Maka sighed. "It's been a long day and I bet we could both use the rest."
He nodded and helped Maka up from her chair before shutting off the lights for bed. Within minutes of settling into bed and wishing the other goodnight, Crona knocked out, snoozing softly against his pillow. Maka made an amused sound, wishing she could fall into sleep quickly with him, but the inner gears of her brain still churned and whirred energetically in her head, leaving her to wallow in her thoughts.
Everything was changing now, much too quickly for her comfort. The days were moving frighteningly fast and the need for an outlet to cling to made Maka wrap her arms around Crona, cheek resting on his chest.
Her stance with Spirit was more questionable now than ever. Marie's promise made her fear when Baby became more conscious burn with more lively fire and the only company she may have during school days was Blair; she was nice, of course, but Blair was not her first choice in spending more time with.
Again, her world was changing. Just like when Papa first started cheating, when the divorce happened, when her mother…
Maka's chest went taut. She lifted her face to tap her forehead against Crona's collarbone, arms holding him tighter.
Not even her own mother knew about the baby yet.
She swallowed the terrified sounds wanting to escape. Her hand trembled, clenching bunches of Crona's sleepwear, the other reaching for his limp hand resting beside him. She placed it against her, hoping his protective touch against her belly would give her some kind of relief, ease her enough to allow rest to come.
But the blockade keeping her from sleep remained, repeating the same question: how she was going to deal with all of this?
Reallyyyyy wish NOT's ending was a little better...kinda like I do for the manga/anime. The show had it's moments, but I feel like the Shaula issue was way too easily solved.(Plus a few other things that bothered me that are mentioned in this chapter)
Anyway, thanks again for stopping by and I wanted to make a quick mention. I have my own ideas for baby activities with Maka and Crona, but I wanted to know if any of you lovely readers had anything you wanted to see in particular:) If you did have an idea or a scene you want to see, feel free to ask and I will do my best to try and incorporate what I can into the story.
See you next time!