With much on his mind Stein knew it was the perfect time for a cigarette even if it was before the sun rose for the day, taking out the small white stick set it between his lips and lite it. Took a few puffs, leaned back on the wall and just...stared out over Death City. Taking in the silence before life started, just standing here looking over took him back...

Yeah, it did.

He would stand here just like he was, with his cigarette and ponder all that went through his deranged mind. That was his thoughts alone, that is until...he ended up having an extra visitor join him. And by extra, Catherine. He could remember it as if it were yesterday, she was just standing here. In his spot, at first he was surprised to find another then a bit bothered, until she turned to him

...Opened her mouth...and...

"What are you doing here, Four-Eyes!" she pointed. Snarling like some sort of animal, even sounded like one, well at least in his mind. She didn't stop with her integration and kept going even when he walked right by her not paying any attention. "Hey! Don't ignore me! That's rude!"

Again he said nothing, only took out a white stick and began his daily staring out over the city, while she kept yapping in his ear. "You're not even a gentleman, walking right pass me, without even saying hello Four-Eyes," she scoffed with her nose turned up.

Stein took a puff, honestly how in the world was she related to Spirit? Sure their eyes matched and hair color was just a shade or two off, that still didn't make him understand how they both were related. Because the few times he's seen her in the halls with her brother she was quite the opposite of what she was displaying now. This side he hadn't seen, but had a speculation it might be there, that and the fact the way she was nipping at him her voice was tight and slightly shaky. He also noticed small bruise marks on her cheeks and knuckles where a bit scratched. Told him something happened and she was clearly bothered by it, if she kept attacking him defensively with her words when he hadn't done anything except be in her presence when she was emotional.

"Hey!" She was still going, Stein glanced up finding her standing over him, her strained blues staring hard at him. "Hey!" She snapped again. "Are you listening?"

Sadly, Stein had not choice. So much for commencing with his own thoughts, "I can hear you just fine." He finally responded, flatly. "And first," he blew a cloud of smoke in her face. "I should be asking you what you're doing in my spot. Because this is MY spot. Second," he stood now he was the one looking down on her. "I'm no gentleman if your looking for something like that go find it in a Fairy Tale, also many people walk by you are you going to snap at them too? Also," he blew another puff in her face, ignoring her wrinkled annoyance her eyes sharply gave. "I should be the one asking question, for example," he raised a finger and lightly touched the corner of her eye. "why have you been crying?"

Catherine gasped and stepped back. Smacking his hand away. "I wasn't crying!" She snapped. "A-And don't touch me! Y-You Four-Eye! No one said you could!"

Stein said nothing, she didn't want to answer then fine. Turning away he went back to smoking and his usual thing. Or at least he was trying, feeling her presence...yet again slide his eyes to the right find her standing next to him with her eyes crossed and...a speckles of red dust on her cheeks. Again, how in the world where her and Spirit related?

"Why are you so close?" he asked. Though wishing he hadn't.

She huffed, blowing out her cheeks like some sort of puffer fish. "B-Because I stand anywhere I want!" She growled back, the redness darkening more on her cheeks she tried to use some of her long hair to hide it. "Here's a question, why are you up here smoking? Huh? You know you're not suppose to, so why are you? Huh?"

"Because," he took another puff, "I want too. That's why. If you're going to turn me in then do it already, doesn't mean I'll stop. Here's another question, why aren't you with your brother? You're both always together it amazes me that you two aren't."

At the mention of her brother, Stein noticed a calmness swept over her and she became quiet. For once since these last few minutes. It continued too, she said nothing else. Just stood there next to him looking out over Death City, even when he finished his cigarette and took out another one. She just stood there. Without a word.

Still sensing something simmering in her, Stein did something he didn't expect and something he'd never tell Spirit. Ever!

Taking one more puff of his stick, passed down to her. "Here."

Catherine's head tipped to the side, staring at the white stick. And...laughed a bit. "You know, my brother will get upset if he finds out," she said through laughs. Took it from it him. "thank you." Gave it a go.

Like any new smoker, she coughed a few times. Choking on the smoke itself, nearly hurled the third time but eventually was fine with the fifth puff. Passed it back to Stein. He took it. "Better?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I see why you do it now. I'm sorry for earlier, I didn't mean to well.."she said scratching her cheek with a silly smile. "I shouldn't have yelled. It wasn't you."

Stein already knew, but let her keep going. "I was just upset at something, that's all. But, now," a soft sigh slipped from her lips. "it's okay. It's nice up here, I can see why you enjoy it. Do you mind if I come up here more?"

"I can't stop you," he flatly replied. Finishing his cigarette. "something tells me if I were to say no, you'd still come. So, might as well allow it."

She laughed, Stein expected a witty retort not laughter. Or what she did next, that catalyst the years ahead with them and what it would produce. All he knew...he remembered..now that feeling...that strange warm tingling feeling that he still felt even now...after so long. Even when she left...when she was..changed and took what they had made away. Outside of Death City to live in a life of false haze. If only he would have gotten the...what was the point? Thinking about it? Standing still staring out across the city, the sun now overhead...by this time Catherine would have been pointing out things he seem to miss or paid no mind too. She always had a keen eye, like that. Able to spot what other miss, maybe, scientifically speaking that's what she saw with him.

Who was to know, she must saw something in order for Angel to be here. The girl was like her mother, it was good that she was more like her than himself. Well, she was smart so that was something she inherited from him. Nothing else, hopefully. Last thing this school needed was another one of him, another madness.

Angel, his thoughts went to her, wondering how she was doing, on her vacation. Hopefully not causing too much trouble, if she did then well...he knew what else she inherited from him.

Poor girl.