MAKA

"Are you okay with sleeping on the couch?" I ask this gorgeous hunk of muscle standing in my living room, Rune.

"Yeah that's cool. It's probably alot more comfortable than a tree branch." His deep voice echoes through the apartment as he runs his right hand through his curls. The green shirt Soul gave him stretches up and exposes a small section of his hershey bar shaped abs. Living in a forest on nothing but your barehand can really make a guy ripped I guess...

"O- Okay.." I murmur. If girls could get nosebleeds as easily as guys, I would have bled to death by now. "Um, do you- need- anything...?"

He sits on the couch next to the pillow and blanket I lent him. "It's been so long... since I've seen anyone. Or been in a city." He closes his pale blue eyes and leans his head back. "I've missed so much. I didn't even know."

I sit next to him. "Why did you leave? Were you running from something?" I curl my legs into myself and wrap my arms around them.

"No." He hesitates, "Well, yes. But it's a very long story."

"We have time." I scoot just a little closer to him. To hear him better of course, that's the only reason!

Hesitantly he began, "I was in a band when I was around 13. We were really good for a couple of kids. We specialized in punk rock. We would hold our own concerts and every time over 200 people would show up. 200 people! Anyways, after a year or two this guy kept showing up after the concert when we were packing up to go home. He talked to the drummer first. We started seeing little changes in him. He would be more erratic, not like himself. He was a calm dude. Then our 1st guitarist. Then me. He said, 'It's just for performance. It makes your live shows better! Just 20 bucks a pop at first. Try it!'" He shakes his head. "We got in bad shape, Maka. Our drummer bought so much of the stuff his body couldn't deal with it. He OD'd. The guitarist went in debt and was killed in an 'accident'. I knew then I HAD to get clean. But if I stopped buying... they would find me and I'd end up like the rest of my band. So I ran away."

I'm shocked, he doesn't look the type. "Do you think they're still looking for you?"

"No it's been too long. I stayed way longer than I needed to. But honestly.." He turns away from me.

"What is it?" I put my hand on his chin and turn his face towards mine.

"I was afraid to come back." He has tears in his eyes!

Oh, no... don't cry don't cry don't cry! You would think I'd be used to it with all the time I've spent with Crona but...

I enclose his hand in mine. "You don't have to be afraid anymore." I release his hand as I rise to leave. "I'm going to bed. You can stay here for as long as you want. I mean it."

"Maka?" When I turn around I see that he stood up with me. "Thanks." He wraps his arms around me in a solid, warm embrace.

"You're welcome." I return it, and when I look up at him I see his blue eyes staring into mine. Slowly he comes closer, our noses almost touching.

"WHY IS THIS LIGHT STILL ON IT'S ALMOST 1 AM AND WE HAVE WITCHES TO FIGHT AND- oh." Soul barges in wearing basketball shorts and a Blue Exorcist tee. "oops." He flashes us a sharky grin.

"My bad."