I don't own Soul Eater, guys. I don't think I ever will; I barely have enough money to keep buying its merch.
Innocent Hearts, Tainted Souls
Chapter 14: Admiration
Azusa sat back down at the lunch table after coming back, still a bit perturbed at Stein. Spirit was still eating, while Marie simply had her face planted on the table, her food pushed to the side. Azusa sighed a little.
"Marie?" She said quietly. "You need to eat."
The blonde mumbled, "Not hungry."
Azusa put her hand on her friend's shoulder, knowing the real reason for the hammer's melancholy. "Marie, you can't think that your existence is pointless if the 'perfect boy' pulls away from your hand," She told her. "He probably just thought it was too much all at once."
Marie's head shot up, revealing her red nose and eyes from crying. "All at once?!" She repeated. "Azusa, it's been over a month! I've been trying so hard to get him to like me, but all his time he's just been cold and emotionless and pushing me away whenever I try to show the poor boy some love!" She wailed, hugging Azusa's arm. The raven-haired girl wanted to be comforting, but being more of the cynical type, she found that hard to do.
"Uh… There, there?" She tried, patting her friend's head with her free hand.
Spirit just sat there watching the two, rolling his eyes. "Women," He huffed a little with his mouth full. It was then that Stein returned.
The young meister wasn't looking up, watching the floor before him as he stepped slowly up to the group. It was obvious that he felt guilty, but Marie wasn't looking up to notice and continued to keep her face buried in Azusa's sleeve. "… Marie?" Stein said slowly.
Spirit's and Azusa's eyes turned to the silver-haired boy, the former looking curious while the latter looked livid.
"Haven't you done enough damage?" Spat Azusa. Marie didn't lift her head, refusing to look at her heartbreaker, who shuffled his feet.
"I…" His words came gradually, as if he had a hard time conceding their truth after resisting it for so long. But he saw that Marie need consoling, and he knew that Azusa would likely shoot him down if he didn't try to right his wrong. So, he said what was on his mind. "Marie, I… Like you."
Azusa stared at the boy, while Spirit's jaw dropped. The blonde slowly picked her head up, her eyes beginning to widen. "What was that?" She asked. She wondered if she had imagined Stein's words after getting herself worked up.
Stein sighed. "I said I liked you," He mumbled, but quickly added, "As a friend, okay?"
For the present, that was good enough for Marie. Before Stein could blink, Marie had enveloped him in a crushing hug. He grimaced at the pain. "Marie," He gasped. "My ribcage… You're crushing it…"
The blonde pulled back, looking into Stein's pale green eyes with a grin now plastered on her face. Stein's expression returned to its normal jadedness. "You do realize I only said I'd be your friend, right? Don't get yourself worked up; it's not a big change," He muttered.
Marie beamed. "But it's a good change," She giggled. Her eyes calmed for the briefest of moments as she spoke quietly, "Thank you, Stein." However, immediately following her words, she had the boy in a hug once more.
"Marie," Muttered Stein, "The hugging… I'm not a hugger…" His arms hung somewhat limply over Marie's shoulders, his hands flailing slightly as he didn't know where to put them. Spirit couldn't resist a chuckle at his partner's awkwardness, while Azusa rolled her eyes.
"Honestly," She muttered.
Marie's mood was entirely changed once again. She was cheery and peppy, and now that Stein was talking to her, she blushed even more often. Soon after the two sat back down, the mirrors on the walls stopped reflecting the faces of the school's staff and children, and instead showed Lord Death's face. Spirit instantly stiffened, while Stein looked confused as the Reaper began to speak.
"Good afternoon, kiddos! I hope your school day's going great!" He chirped.
"Why do you look scared, Spirit?" Stein elbowed his partner. "It's just Lord Death saying hello. He must do this all the time."
Spirit shook his head, his eyes suddenly grim. "No," He said quietly. "I've been coming to this school a lot longer than you have, Stein. Lord Death never uses the mirrors to talk to us unless something's gone really wrong," He told him. Stein paled slightly, now beginning to dread Lord Deaths' announcement. True to Spirit's words, the Reaper brought no good news.
"Now, I hate to put a damper on this fine day, but I'm afraid you all should know something important," He said. "You may have noticed a few of your teachers missing this morning. They, and a few other choice meisters and weapons, left on a mission to smoke out the Flame Witch. No pun intended, children; this is serious."
Azusa scoffed. "He could have easily avoided that pun."
"Unfortunately, the mission didn't go as planned," Lord Death recounted. "While we located Eris' hideout, we lost nearly half the team."
Collective gasps were heard from around the cafeteria. Stein stiffened. Marie looked horrified, Spirit's expression hardened, and Azusa closed her eyes in respect for the fallen.
"Here are the names of those killed in action. May their souls rest in peace," Lord Death murmured. "Meisters Jay Ross, Amy Clarence, Elm Daring, Ronald Johnson, and Ridge Oswald. Weapons Molly Crest, Denise Watson, Ivo Oswald, Roger Smith, and Celeste Solar."
Spirit's eyes widened. "That was our teacher," He gaped. He was frozen with horror for a moment, but then his expression turned even darker than before. He gritted his teeth. "That witch killed Celeste."
"Saturday afternoon, there will be a remembrance gathering, a sort of funeral, for the fallen. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome. That is all," Lord Death signed out, his image fading from the mirror.
Spirit glared down at his lap, his fists clenching. "Stein," He muttered quietly, prompting his partner to turn to him. "We're going to kill that witch. You and me," He spat. "I'll destroy her for murdering all those teachers."
Stein watched the unfamiliar rage in his scythe's soul fester for a moment. Spirit was normally so calm, so it was unusual to see him this worked up. But the redhead's passion had been stirred upon hearing about the deaths of those he appreciated. To Spirit, his teachers and the veteran meisters were his heroes. To have them knocked down by anyone was unthinkable, but he swore that he'd avenge and honor them they finishing their business and killing the Eris. Stein nodded grimly. "All right," He agreed. "I promise. I'll take that witch down with your blade."
The redhead smirked. "Good," He said, grabbing Stein's hand and shaking it.
Azusa shook her head. "Seriously, you two," She huffed, "You've only collected one kishin soul so far. You can't expect to take down a witch yet."
Spirit tsked at her. "Come on, Azusa. Have a little faith in us. We're really strong!" He flexed his muscles for emphasis.
"Your arms are like sticks," Stein deadpanned, halting Spirit's bragging. "The reason you wear huge sleeves is to make your arms seem bigger."
Marie giggled as Spirit slunk a little in his seat. "You're still helping me get that witch's soul, right?" He mumbled to his partner, who nodded again.
"Of course," He said.
"Stein."
Upon hearing Azusa's voice, Stein lifted his head.
"Let the bird go, Stein," Demanded Azusa. She adjusted her glasses on her face, causing them to catch the sunlight and glare down at the boy. Stein sighed, lifting his hand from the neck of the pigeon he had just managed to snag. The bird flew away immediately, uninjured. "Your other victims this week weren't as lucky as that one," Muttered the raven-haired girl. "Seriously, Stein. This is getting out of hand."
The silver-haired boy stood from his place in the grass behind the school. "I want to dissect something," He replied. "You just made me release my test subject."
Azusa shook her head in disapproval. "Stein, ever since you first attacked a student over a week ago, it's like you don't care anymore. To my knowledge, you've tried to dissect two other students and five animals, and that's not including when I didn't see you over the weekend," She pointed out.
Stein ran a hand through his hair. "You're right," He mumbled. "I really don't care that much anymore. Since everyone knows now that I'm mad, I don't see a reason to hide it."
"Keeping people from getting hurt by you sounds like a good reason," Azusa shot back.
Stein tensed a little. "Don't remind me," He snapped. He finally made eye contact with her, but his eyes had gone from dull to looking put off. "I'm trying, all right? It just keeps getting harder to resist, though. If I don't just let myself go every now and then, then madness inside me will bottle up until it bursts. Who knows how many I could hurt then? Or worse, kill? It's better this way," He mumbled.
Azusa looked as if she was going to yell at him, but Marie abruptly burst through the trees before she could speak. "Oh good, you found Stein!" She exclaimed, rushing up to grab the boy's hand. Stein's eyes widened as he was pulled away by Marie. "You need to get back to your dorm! You have, uh… A lot of homework! Yeah," She told him, dragging the boy behind her. Stein raised an eyebrow, instantly knowing that something was up. However, he didn't question her to make her believe he had no idea what was going on.
The blonde pulled him over the school grounds, Azusa following behind. It was hard for Stein to keep his mouth shut and not announce that he knew what was coming. Marie pulled him directly into his dorm, where she had never been before. Spirit had given her directions, obviously. After she opened the door and shoved Stein in his room, he was met with darkness, and the curtains were pulled over the windows. "Everything about this screams 'surprise party'," The boy groaned inwardly, right before Marie threw the light on, revealing scattered party decorations in no pattern whatsoever, while Spirit and Kami stood between the beds wearing party hats.
"Surprise!" Marie and Spirit cheered enthusiastically. "Happy Birthday!" Azusa and Kami joined in, although Kami looked as if she felt slightly awkward at a birthday party where she knew no one but Spirit, and Azusa just looked bored, if not still slightly irritated with Stein. The young meister tried his best to look shocked, but didn't do a very good job.
"Oh, a surprise party," He attempted to sound surprised. Spirit's expression dropped a little at his meister's lack of enthusiasm, his smile beginning to look as fake as Stein's shock. However, Marie didn't seem to notice.
"I baked cupcakes, and we all got you presents!" She giggled, pointing at the desk that had four little wrapped packages on it.
Stein blinked a couple times. "I can't do my homework if there's stuff on the desk," He started to say, but Marie wasn't listening to him.
"Here's mine! Open it, open it!" She exclaimed, shoving a box wrapped in purple paper and tied with a yellow bow. "I know you'll love it; I got it especially for you!" She beamed at him. Stein raised an eyebrow at the brightly-colored packaging, fearing Marie's taste in gifts.
"She didn't get me a bowtie or something, did she?" Wondered Stein as he undid the bow. "I hate bowties…" He peeled the tape off of the wrapping paper carefully, not because he didn't want to tear it, but because he knew that it would annoy his impatient weapon. He smirked a little as he noticed Spirit squirming out of the corner of his eye.
"Why doesn't he just get it over with?" The redhead whispered to Kami, who elbowed him in the side and instantly silenced him.
"Be polite," She hissed.
Placing the wrapping back on the desk, Stein looked at the box that enclosed Marie's gift. He tilted his head to the side slightly, confused. It was a colorful box, with a picture on the front depicting its contents; a bobble-head Lord Death. Marie grinned at him.
"Isn't it cute?" She said, pointing at the picture. "I know you liked Reapers, so I knew you'd like a cute little one to put on your desk!" She smiled.
Azusa, now standing next to Spirit, whispered in his ear, "Since when did he like Reapers?" To which Spirit shrugged. Stein opened the box and inspected the plastic figure within. It was true he had admired Grim Reapers, but after realizing that his father had been human all along and that Lord Death seemed rather incompetent, his appreciation for the so-called "superior race" had dwindled. However, he managed a smile for Marie, knowing that Azusa would kill him if he didn't at least attempt to look like he enjoyed the blonde's gift.
"It's great, Marie," He told her. "I'll put it on my desk so I can see it whenever I do homework. Thanks for giving it to me."
Marie was overjoyed by this, and showed her enthusiasm by hugging the boy tightly. The other three in the room watched as Stein simply took the hug without returning it. Upon his release, Marie handed Stein the gifts from Spirit, Azusa, and Kami. Spirit's girlfriend looked confused as she watched all this. She leaned over to Azusa, whispering in her ear.
"Why does Stein act like he likes whatever Marie does?" She asked Azusa.
Azusa glanced at Kami out of the corner of her eye. "Because I threatened him," She replied matter-of-factly.
Kami blinked in surprise for a moment. "O… Kay?" She said, still confused.
Azusa sighed a little, turning around to fully face the pigtailed meister. "Marie loves Stein," She explained. "She wants everything she does for him to be perfect. It makes her really happy when he tries to look like he appreciates her."
Kami looked over at the two younger weapons, who were currently inspecting Azusa's ironic gift of a first-aid kit. "But what about when Stein gets tired of acting and openly rejects her?" She asked. "After building her hopes up, won't that hurt her more than just saying that he doesn't like her now?"
Azusa's eyes took on a sympathetic emotion as she watched her friend. "Maybe," She said, "But, for Marie's sake, it's my hope that if Stein smiles enough, his smiles will become real."
Anybody notice Azusa quoting William T. Spears from Black Butler? Their characters are really similar, if you think about it. (Just a name disclaimer here because of all the OOCs: This is a work of fiction. Any relation to persons living or dead is completely coincidental.) It's also a tiny little totally random headcanon of mine that Marie gets Stein bobble-heads from wherever he goes because she's under the misimpression that he likes them. Oh, Marie. Anyway, see ya next chap, guys! ;)