Coffee

Death the Kid had many responsibilities. He took Shinigami-sama's place in Death City a couple years back, and that was a burden in itself. (The funeral was depressing, but it was very formal in comparison to many others.)

Anyway, looking over an entire city and being the headmaster of a school was a very tiring thing to do. Even Kid was no exception. Coffee was an easy way to avoid wasting time on sleeping when he could be using it for work. Everyone knew that wasn't mandatory.

But apparently Maka didn't know about the stress everyday life put on him. His wife (yes, he got around to proposing) always teased him. Sometimes she would give Kid coffee full of salt in it, chip containers with snakes that popped out when you opened them, and she even went so far as to hide his pillows when he came into the bedroom.

Today was one of those days.

She always got up before him and set up the coffee. He took his time walking down the stairs, used to the randomness of the tricks and just a little wary of his wife's intentions. She was much too playful for a grown woman.

Maka was in the kitchen. Kid wasn't sure what she was doing at the moment, and decided to go check. As he got closer, he noticed that she was next to the coffee machine, and didn't look too suspicious. Still, he had to be cautious.

"Hey, honey!" Maka whirled around holding a cup of coffee and smiling. Kid wasn't sure how she knew he was there, but was more annoyed with how bright her teeth were. She should warn him before blasting him full force with that shine…

"Hey…" Kid mumbled, and Maka's smile only widened.

"How did you sleep?" There seemed to be a devious tint to her seemingly innocent grin.

"Okay, I guess…Would you hand me the coffee now, please?" His unkempt hair blocked some of his sight, but he could see Maka's outstretched hand with the cup.

Kid inspected the coffee carefully before taking hold of it. He continued to check it over, and Maka pouted in response.

"Just drink it! Nothing's wrong with it…" The cup seemed to be drinkable. Nothing looked wrong, and after a cautious glance at his wife, Kid took a drink. Big mistake.

The effects were immediate. Instead of the usual warm, calming taste of coffee, what Kid drank felt like an explosion on his tongue. The spiciness was so intense that he ended up coughing violently and spitting out the offending liquid.

"W-What…" Kid coughed again, "What did you put in…t-this?" His eyes watered involuntarily.

Maka snickered before holding up a glass bottle that she had hidden behind her back. "It's Soul's secret hot sauce recipe. He always says 'it's the second hottest thing out there, because I'm number one.'" The woman continued to laugh.

Kid could finally feel his throat again, and was wide awake at this point. "…I don't even know why I trust you to make my coffee in the morning. Never again." He poured himself a glass of water and quickly gulped it down.

"Hahaha, I don't know, but if you made me coffee in the morning I'm sure you would prank me too." A light bulb went off over Kid's head. He would get his revenge.

The shinigami pecked his wife's lips and tried to forget the burning sensation on his own. "I'm going to work now, okay?"

It was the perfect prank. Finally, Maka wouldn't be the one laughing at him. He loved her very much—but now it was war.

Kid laughed lightly as he set it up. She would be up any minute now. In fact, he was sure he could hear her feet shuffling on the floor.

He didn't even have to turn around to know that she was just walking in. Was he that loud when he walked down the stairs, too?

"Good morning, Maka dear. How about a cup of coffee?" He turned around and smiled brightly. Maka blinked groggily, and Kid had a strange sense of Déjà Vu.

She eyed him suspiciously and slurred. "W-What're you up to?" She tried to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

"Nothing! I had to get up early to finish some papers for work," He lied, "And I also wanted to make you some coffee since you always get up to make me some before I have to leave. So here you go!" Kid practically shoved the cup into her hands.

Maka stared at the liquid and looked up at Kid. She was probably too tired to fight. She lifted the cup to her lips and took a whiff. Apparently it smelled normal, as she didn't try to dispose of it immediately. Perfect.

Maka shrugged before downing the coffee. The next scene was the most hilarious thing Kid had ever witnessed. Her expression quickly changed to surprise, then horror, and settled on utter disgust. She hurried to the sink before spitting it all out and washing her mouth out. Kid couldn't hold in his laughter.

"W-What the hell was in that? I've never tasted something so gross!" She continued to wipe her tongue off.

When Kid finally calmed down, (revenge was sweet) he wiped a tear from his eye and explained. "I put cough syrup and cold medicine in it. Haha, that was for all the times you did stuff like that to me. Uh…Truce?" She was glaring at him, but a challenging smirk found its way onto her features.

"Truce? Oh nononono. I don't think you understand, Kiddy. This is war. You may have won this battle, but there will be more to come!" She giggled at this. "You know what? Every morning, the victim has to drink the coffee, and whoever forfeits has to do whatever the winner wants. Deal?" She reached out a hand as if to shake.

"…Is it too late to be a pacifist?" Kid smiled uneasily. When Maka was this determined with something, you could bet your life that she would succeed in her endeavor.

"The minute you pranked me back you gave up that position. Besides, won't it be fun?" Her childish eyes and tone proved her youth.

"Oh, alright. It's been awhile since I've had to beat someone." He held out his hand, which was slightly bigger than Maka's own.

She grasped his hand and shook it business-like before kissing him. It was much too short, and it was obvious she was taunting him. "We'll have to see about that…"

Maka always made him feel young again. That was one of the many reasons he loved her. And, despite the pranks, he loved the fact that she made him coffee in the morning.

This was going to be fun.