Because Ilarual wanted a thing. I wrote a thing. Ta daaaaa.
More chapters of Dragon and Office Shenanigans soon. Along with a decently long one shot that I've had in the works for weeks! Aaaand possibly some fem!soma stuff too. Lots of things to finish up.
When they get told that they're going to be doing a photoshoot, Maka's a little surprised.
Except The Last Deathscythe Soul "Eater" Evans is sort of a celebrity and so is his meister. Kidd is doing everything he can to improve Shibusen's image and so when he was approached about a full article spread and cover by a very well known and respected fashion magazine, he happily threw Maka and Soul to the wolves.
At least, that's Soul's opinion on the matter.
Maka is rather excited, even though she tries to hide it. This is a great chance and honor! And yes, the magazine they are going to be featured in may or may not be a total guilty pleasure for her.
Its fun at first; one of the designers squeals when he sees Maka's sizes and runs off only to come back with a rolling rack full of haute couture and all the latest fashions! Soul scoffs but shuts up pretty quick when Maka comes out in what he can only think of as an almost perfect version of the Black Dress. One of the minions definitely (and not even discreetly) whispers to Maka, "oh, you were totally right, he loves it!"
Really he just loves her (shhhh). They haven't really gotten to that point though. Not yet at least. (Getting closer though).
For the first couple of hours they're shoved in and out of formal wear. They dance, they pose, they laugh, Soul cracks jokes, Maka makes snide comments in his ear, they forget about the cameras sometimes (it's pretty hard) and just enjoy themselves.
The clothing, the makeup, the hair (they hardly know what to do with Soul's), its exciting and fun and the questions they keep trying to answer in between takes really make her think and Soul just gives the worst one word answers he can think of.
She stops being excited when they see what they're supposed to be posing in next.
They've given her some sort of tiny black bikini (all the while shouting things about how strong and body positive the photos will be!) but it sort of just makes her feel super self conscious of how pale she is, especially next to her partner who is going to be shirtless in a pair of black shorts (that are doing really unfairly good things to his butt. What the hell).
Soul has his own set of issues with that for all of five minutes until the reporter trying to interview them among the chaos asks about the scar (perceptive fuck). He goes quiet for a moment and looks at Maka sitting in the makeup chair and explains that it was from protecting the person he cares about most in the world. That he doesn't regret the scar because of what it stands for. He doesn't regret any of his scars, not while Maka is still there with him. Soon as that part of the interview is over, he's walking around the studio like he owns the place. Shirtless and showing off no less.
The bikini has to have some sort of magic woven into the cups, because when Maka looks down she can actually see her breasts and that's unusual. She actually really likes the bottoms; they're comfortable and well if they go missing after the shoot…
She still keeps the light robe they gave her on until they're all ready.
"Okay, stand there and like, look good!"
They look at each other, there are no props or set, just the two of them and Maka tries to rein in her giggles. Because seriously? She runs her hand through Soul's hair (they put way too much hairspray in) and one of the stylists groans. But Soul shoots her a grin (looking a lot more like himself) and they start.
It feels silly (it probably looks silly too) but Maka thinks about what she's seen models do in advertisements and tries to copy the poses; one hand up and behind her head, tilting the hips, shit, where is her other hand supposed to be?
Soul (the bastard) looks good just standing there, but glances at her, smirks and then copies her pose. Cocks his hips all the way to the side, lifts his chin, and shows off his hair armpit. Someone stifles a snort and Maka gives a long suffering look to the photographer. Soul continues, rolling his hips forward (how is that even legal!?) and smolders at the camera. Maka reaches over and pinches his nipple.
He yelps and laughs, jumping away from her. He looks so carefree and handsome that Maka smiles and doesn't even worry about cracking the careful mask of makeup that has been painted on her face. She covers her own chest in fear of retaliation but Soul cheats and instead goes for her legs. He rushes her, locking his arms just under her butt and lifts her up, spinning them around and laughing when she clutches at his hair and shoulders to help steady herself.
The cameras, the lights, the entire crowd watching them are completely forgotten. The whole world consists of just the two of them. Something in his eyes softens and he leans forward to kiss the pale skin just over her heart and Maka just strokes his hair, holding him close to her.
The rapid fire click of the camera finally registers and Soul sets Maka down. She doesn't move away from him though; instead she uses some of the earlier playfulness and drapes herself over him and grins at the cameras while he adjusts to balance both of them.
The rest of the shoot goes smoothly and the interview afterwards goes well.
The cover of the magazine is Soul kissing the scar over her heart and the serene Maka burying her fingers in his hair. They both turn bright red when they realize just how intimate it looks and they continue to turn red every time they pass a newsstand, truck, or billboard.
Well, Maka did actually steal the bottoms from that bikini (…and the top too. Cause damn her boobs looked good in that) and when lounging with Soul on the couch that night (after respective showers to get the absurd amount of makeup off) he may have noticed and asked and that may have lead to her shirt coming off and that may have lead to another kiss…just not to her heart this time.
Not that they're letting the tabloids know that.