A/N: Magician AU inspired by Now You See Me

Maka fans out the cards in her hand and asks the boy in front of her to pick one of them. It's the oldest trick in the book, is pretty lame, but she finds that people here love when she does it. They pay her a couple bucks more by the sheer magic and mystery that surrounds the trick when she reveals their card to be the one on top.

Every now and then there is a smartass in the crowd who reveals her method, but there doesn't seem to be one tonight.

Though, it is a little weird not having him there.

"Was this your card?" she asks, pulling a 3 of spades from the top of her deck.

The boy's face lightens up in surprise and wonder as she smiles at him.

Then, almost like magic, a familiar voice sounds from behind him.

"It's a trick deck she bought at a magic store."

An involuntary groan comes from her as she places the card back in the deck and a man with white hair steps out of the crowd. He grins down at her, pointed teeth gleaming in the lights of the city. The way her heart thumps and warms at the sight of it annoys her almost as much as his presence, but she does have to admit it's nice to see him again. Maybe it's her competitive side speaking.

She whirls around on her heels, telling the crowd her show is over, and bends down to collect her belongings. With the man finally making his appearance, there's no use in continuing her gimmick which leaves her having to find another corner to work at. Far away from him.

"Thanks for ruining another one of my sets," she grumps.

"Don't mention it."

The mere cockiness in his voice sets her nerves on edge. She very much wouldn't mind smacking his grin off his face.

"Maybe one of these days I can actually spend a night here without you interrupting and make decent money."

"Yeah, about that." The man side steps her and places his hand over her bag, prompting her to meet his sanguine eyes. "What if I offered you a job where you can make ten times more than what you do now?"

"I'd tell you you're mad because the only way someone can make that much money is by getting a stage show in the Las Vegas strip, and seeing as I'm barely good enough to be out here, that's never gonna happen."

"What if I said I knew a way for you to get to Las Vegas?"

Maka snorts. "Sure. Random guy like you has connections in Las Vegas. I'd believe that when I see it."

She yanks her bag from his grip and slings it over her shoulder, shaking her head as she walks away. Not even a five seconds pass, however, before he's standing in front of her and handing her a tarot card. There's a picture of a woman dressed in baby blue robes on it the words 'The High Priestess' scrawled on the bottom. Maka reluctantly takes it and flips it over to find what appears to be an addressed written in red on the back.

"What is this?" she asks, skepticism present in her voice.

"Sleep on my offer, and if you think you have what it takes to perform in Las Vegas, meet me at that address tomorrow at 3pm."

He nods his head in way of saying goodbye and turns around to walk away, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket.

Before he can get too far away, though, Maka yells, "Can I at least have your name before I trust a complete stranger?"

"Soul Eater," he shoots over his shoulder and disappears into the crowd.

"Soul Eater," she says as if testing the words.

Flipping the card back over, she studies the picture to see if there's anything off about the card – if maybe she can tell if she's rubbing shoulders with a drug dealer or someone who'll kill her and dump her body in the river. She finds nothing, though.

It's a perfectly normal card, minus the address on the back.

That's probably how she finds herself standing in front of an old apartment building, staring at apartment number 42, and joining a team of other musicians (which includes Soul Eater) the next day.