Soul found it hard to look away from Maka as she laid in the small hospital bed, let alone leave. It had been nearly a week after their fight with Asura and things were gradually coming back together, the city was under a huge repair and even Lord Death had to attend to his injuries. At least Soul was told. Soul had not left the dispensary since he had rushed Maka there after the world warring battle took place. He could remember the moment after the barrier had disappeared and Maka standing above him, face lit up with the cheesiest smile. He also recalled her flinging herself at him only to be unconscious by the time she was in his arms. Stein had promptly worked on her, checking vitals and blood work just to confirm she had pushed her body too far during the fight and it was impressive she didn't parish with Asura. Stein and Lord Death had agreed it would be best to induce her into a light coma while her body caught up on much needed rest and healing. Not that it made Soul feel any better, he just wanted to talk to her.
In the past week, he had done a lot of thinking but his thoughts continued to refer back to the moment whenever Maka transformed herself into a weapon.
"Most meisters do have the potential to be a death weapon and vice versa," Lord Death explained. "It is not shocking that she awakened this considering the desperation of the situation. I am sure her own scythe had awakened whenever losing her partner." Those words hit hard and resonated with Soul as he sat beside Maka day in and night out. If he had just been able to do his job, she wouldn't have had to do that to herself and she would not be in a fucking coma. He sighed deeply, reaching forward and holding Maka's cold hand. Her hands were so small and fragile it was a compelling thought to know what these hands were capable of.
Time continued to pass slowly but the world seemed a little lighter when Stein and Marie came in one afternoon, Lord Death shortly behind them. Soul jumped up, anticipation bubbling in his chest.
"What's going on?"
Marie smiled softly, easing some of his thoughts. "Nothing bad, Stein thinks the time is right to let Maka wake up." His heart nearly exploded, he could not wait to see her awake and talking.
"After thinking about it, we believe it would be a good idea using Marie's healing wavelength on Maka especially considering all the madness she was bound to have taken in," Stein continued. Soul nodded in agreement, he could sense all that darkness in Maka even without soul perception. He thoughts floated to Maka in his mind space moments before she had saved him from his own caused by the black blood. Marie's wavelength could only help at this point. They began to unwire her, more nurses pouring into the small room. Kid tapped on Soul's back, reluctantly prying his attention from his meister.
"It's going to be awhile and they need space, let's go grab something to eat."
His growling stomach made it hard to argue but he wanted to be there whenever she woke up.
"I can't, I need to be here whenever she wakes up."
"The medicine will keep her knocked out for at least another day or so," Stein chimed in before Kidd could. Soul's excitement diminished a little, he had been over the moon at the good news thrown at him, it makes sense for some sort of catch. Soul sighed sadly, shoulders falling a little as he followed Kidd out from the room.
They chose the closest cafe, Soul hadn't realized just how hungry he had been until he ordered a second bowl of curry. Kidd made small talk over his salad and soup, catching Soul up on the condition of Death City, it was still rough but steadily moving forward to normalcy. Classes began again in two weeks, allowing students a proper rest after having to fight in a world war against Kishin madness. After lunch/dinner with Kidd, Soul decided he should probably go home and shower, change and clean up the apartment before Maka was released home.
He was surprised to see it was still very clean aside from the picture frames and loose items that had fallen during the fight whenever Death City became mobile. He quickly cleaned up broken glass before running the hottest shower of his life. He hadn't even bothered to shower since being in the infirmary himself, he went straight to Maka's room and did not leave. The hot water eased some of the soreness in his muscles. He was excited to be home and sleeping in his bed, dispensary recliners just weren't the same. It was even more exciting because he knew the next time he would be back here, Maka would be with him.
It was dark out by the time he was back to sitting next to Maka, only this time he brought himself books to keep him busy. The idea of sleep was foreign and with the idea Maka could flutter those eyes open at any point left him on edge. He was reading one of Maka's books considering he didn't have many himself, it was a book he vividly remembers her staying up very late to read and falling asleep on the couch multiple times with different volumes of this book either in hand or on the ground next to her. By the time he was four chapters in, Soul understood her obsession, it was a really damn good book and before he knew it he was halfway down with it and the clock read 3:23am. He wanted to read more but his eyes did not allow him to focus, the words become fuzzy and started running together much to his dismay. Just as he was setting the book down and reaching for the blanket, he heard a sigh came from Maka. The first sound she's made since she was yelling his name and free falling toward him. Sleep left his body as he pulled the chair forward quickly, intertwining his fingers with hers.
"Soul?" she whispered, sleep heavy in her voice still. A huge smile painted his lips, he was so happy to hear her.
"I'm right here," he whispered back, squeezing her fingers with his. She sighed again and her breathing evened without another word. With the sound of her voice in mind, he fell asleep shortly after her, keeping her hand in his.
"Soul? Soul, wake up," a soft voice whispered, then a hand ran through his hair pulling him the sweet blackness. Sleep vanished from him as her voice kept calling him, Maka was awake at last. Soul nearly jumped from his skin, their hands were still linked until he pulled them away to wrap her in a tight hug.
"Hey," he breathed, letting his head rest on top of hers. Maka snaked her arms around his waist, her face in his neck. Before he knew what was happening, he felt her hot breath and wet tears on him. Instead of pulling away, he got comfortable on her little bed while clinging to her petite frame. Sobs wracked her body, shaking not just the bed but his heart too. He could only imagine what she went through with Asura after he fell, she had done it not just to keep the world safe but him too. The image of her openly taking the full force of Asura's attack to ensure his safety was branded into his brain, branded into his soul. Guilt was also there, guilt for not being good enough to protect her in the way she had needed.
"I am so sorry Maka," Soul whispered, voice wavering and cracking with his own emotions. Her cries slowed and she nuzzled her face into him, breathing deeply enough for the both of us. He kept repeating his apologizes.
"I promise I will never stand by like that again," he assured her. For the first time, she pulled back and shook her head.
"That's not why I am crying Soul, I am just so relieved," she whispered, small hands wrapping tightly in his shirt. "I am just so relieved that you're okay. I had these horrible dreams and I couldn't tell if they were dreams or not."
Without a knock, the door flung open and BlackStar, Kidd, Tsubaki, Crona, Liz, and Patty all filled the room.
"Maka!" BlackStar yelled before rushing to her, poking and proding before being smacked away by Soul with an ugly look. Maka's relaxed frame sat up straight and pulled away from the intimate embrace much to Soul's dismay, irritation rose in him. They had just barely had a free, quiet moment together.
"Hey," Kidd said, "how are you feeling?"
"Like I had to defeat a Kishin," she chuckled. Soul refused to move from the bed with her, adamant on keep touching and prying hands off her. She had barely just woke up, couldn't they let her be? Soul's irritation grew as more people poured into the small room all focused on engaging with Maka, she answered the same set of questions for the next three hours or so as people came in and out to pay their respects. Soul allowed them, she had after all saved the world he supposed they must pay their dues to the new world's savior. After all even Lord Death couldn't do it so it makes sense considering she was basically a goddess among humans now. Not soon enough, Stein came in with Marie in tow.
"Welcome back, Maka," Stein smiled, checking vitals.
"Thank you, for all you have done for me, Doctor," Maka said humbly. Leave it to Maka to play the good girl to the end.
"We should be the ones thanking you, if it weren't for all of you…" Marie trailed off. "Who knows what would have happened. This is the least we could do. Stein and I agree that it would be best to take things slow for a while and do weekly healing sessions to help with the reminisce of madness… I am sure you feel it. We also suggest you coming in with her Soul and doing healing wavelength therapy too. It should help you both be able to match wavelength faster and with more ease," Marie stated, looking between the meister and death weapon. They both nodded.
"But other than that, I don't see why you need to stay here for the rest of your recovery. I am putting Soul in charge of taking care of you from here on out aside from our weekly sessions," Stein said promptly, scribbling a couple of notes on his clipboard. He finished removing the IVs and vital monitors. Shortly, they left hand in hand, something of a somewhat new development for Maka.
"When did that happen?" Maka asked Soul in reference to Stein and Marie. Soul shrugged, unsure himself but he could take a guess.
"Probably right after you defeated the Kishin, at least officially. It's not like their feelings were much of a secret, even when Stein was fighting all that madness." Maka hummed in agreement, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She still wore the hospital gown, with her back to Soul he could see the bareness and the angry red marks and cuts that adorned her porcelain flesh. He pushed away the frustration he felt with himself, knowing it wasn't going to help her to hate himself. He would just have to get stronger.
"Do you have clothes for me?" She asked, standing slowly. Soul could sense the shakiness in her body from across the room. Grabbing the plastic sack from home, he steadied her with an arm around her waist.
"Let me help you," Soul said. Maka gave him a weird look.
"I prefer to pee alone but thank you," she laughed, grabbing the bag from his hand. He didn't argue because he too found that awkward, instead he opened the door for her and closed it allowing her the privacy she asked for. Minutes passed and Soul heard a frustrated sigh from the other side of the door before it cracked open and Maka stuck just her head out.
"Next time, I would much rather prefer my own clothes," she sighed before letting the door swing open. He couldn't help but laugh. Soul, tired and not paying attention, did not pack her a pair of shorts of her own but rather a pair of his black boxer briefs. It kept getting funnier as he glanced at the chunky combat boots she had to wear. Her face went red, feeling rather exposed and awkward in his boxers, a white spaghetti tank top with no bra and her fighting boots she had worn when battling Asura. Not to mention the lack of socks and underwear although she was glad he didn't go into her room and through her panty drawer, just the thought made her blush deeper. Soul's laughing did not make her feel any less weird but it did make her smile. She smacked him as she approached causing her own hands to sting.
"I look ridiculous Soul! Stop laughing" Which in return made him laugh harder, she could not fight the smile playing on her lips. Small tears leaked from his eyes from laughing. She signed, defeated and began grabbing all the things she could. Warmth spread through her chest at the amount of flowers, cards, balloons and general items laying about. Her eyes fell on one of her books on the floor next to the recliner, a bookmark peeked out showing the reader was nearly finished with the book. Picking it up, she was surprised at which book it was, a drama romance situation with fire breathing dragons to make it not so boring.
"Were you reading Game of Thrones?" Now it was Maka's turn to laugh. Never in a million years could she see him A) picking up a book and B) reading this book in particular. Soul scratched the back of his head, a nervous tick for him.
"Yeah… what about it?" It made her laugh harder how defensive he sounded.
"Wow Soul reading a book outside of class? The world really must have ended and I am in a lucid dream on my way to hell," Maka laughed at him, throwing it in the plastic bag. Even wearing that goofy outfit, Soul liked the way his boxers fell on her creamy thighs. Her hair was so messy from being bedridden but he noticed how much longer it has gotten, it was rare for her hair to be down so he savored the moment. Quickly he finished gathering what he could carry in the back pack he brought, slinging it over his shoulder and grabbing the bags out of Maka's hands. Now with empty hands she went to grab some of the flowers and balloons given to her but Soul interjected.
"You don't need to be carrying anything, I'll see if one of the nurses will send the rest to the apartment."
"I'm not helpless you know, I was the one to finish off Asura I think I can manage carrying some flowers back to the house," Maka rolled her eyes but Soul was not having it.
"No one said that but they did say to take it easy, just focus on walking steadily and then we'll talk," Soul narrowed his eyes at her as she promptly ignored him and continued to go grab things. Snatching it out of her hands, he pointed out just how bruised and burned her hands still were.
"Don't make me throw you over my shoulder Maka, you aren't even supposed to be walking like this yet, your muscles need time to recover." Maka knew he was right so she didn't argue any further, instead she just deeply smelled a set of yellow and red flowers before stepping away, trailing behind Soul.
The walk wasn't too bad and she hated to admit it but Soul was right, especially whenever she came to realize she still had three flights of stairs to go up before she could lay down. The walk from the dispensary was maybe three blocks but she was tired, at least physically. Breathless by the time she got up the first flight, she took a minute to just breathe.
"Wait here, I'll be back," Soul said, running up the stairs hands full with ease. By the time she was halfway up the second flight, Soul was already back and before she could protest he had scooped her up bridal style and effortlessly going up the stairs. She curled her lip at him, frustrated.
"I could have done it Soul!"
"I know," he said simply, not trying to argue. He pushed the door open with his foot, Maka was happy to be back, just the smell of home and Soul was enough to make her eyes feel heavy. In seconds, Maka was lying in her bed, Soul peeling the covers back under her and then tucking her back in.
"Here, just sleep. I'll be here if you need me." Maka didn't need anymore words, she fell asleep almost instantly.
Soul just stood there for a second, looking at her amused at how quickly she fell asleep after talking all that smack. She was so pretty, he almost couldn't look away from those pretty lips or the soft curve of her slender neck. He shook his head as if it might clear the thoughts before forcing himself out of the room. It was midmorning so he quietly put on jazz, mind flicking back and forth between Maka and dinner plans.
I am so excited to being writing again! It's been a really long time since I've been creatively writing so let me know how y'all feel!