TRIGGER WARNING - Mentions of self harm, suicidal thoughts and abuse. Please read with caution.
He laughed,
my darling
you will never be unloved by me
you are too well tangled in my soul.
When Maka opened her eyes, she was in the all too familiar hospital wing of the hospital.
The first thing she noticed was the lack of pain. She glanced down but only saw her body covered in the sheets of the bed. She grunted, at least she wasn't cuffed to it. She shuffled, but immediately stopped when her stomach ached.
"You're gonna be sore."
She looked to the side to see Stein typing at the computer at the side of the room. He stood to eye the machines that monitored her, then the IV's strapped to her arms before nodded sharply and assessing her figure.
"Appendicitis." He stated shortly at her silent question. "Unfortunately, it burst, since you neglected to tell me how bad the pain was."
Maka met his blank gaze. His eyes darkened at her expression.
"Appendicitis is very serious, Maka." He continued, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. "Especially when the organ bursts. The infection alone could kill you."
Maka met his gaze unwaveringly. "Not like that would have bothered me."
Stein didn't even miss a beat before responding: "I think you and I both know that's not true. Not anymore."
Maka blinked but didn't break her glare. Stein met it for a long moment before clicking his tongue and shoving his hands in his lab coat pockets and waiting.
"It doesn't matter anyway," she finally muttered, tearing her eyes away from his. "It's done now. You fixed me."
"I did." He allowed, assessing the fluids on the stand next to her again. "Just barely."
"Good for you." She muttered irritably, turning her head away as he shuffled around her. It was quiet for a long moment before he spoke again.
"He isn't leaving you know."
Maka stilled suddenly and would have sat up if the pain in her stomach didn't stop her. Stein's hand gently pressed her back down.
"Easy." He warned lowly as he tried to meet her eyes, but they were wide and frenzied.
"He's staying? He isn't leaving?" She asked, disbelief apparent in her tone. Soul was so sure. It seemed so certain. So final.
Stein scoffed briefly before turning back to the computer and resuming his typing. "No. I'm surprised he hadn't learnt more about this place with all his time here."
Maka swallowed dryly, trying to bring some moisture back into her mouth. "But – He said his parent's – "
"This place is bigger than that," Stein muttered, the sound of his typing clicking nicely under her voice. When Maka didn't relax, her continued: "He told you his folks have money, reputation, power and all that, right?"
"Yeah," Maka barely whispered. "He said one word from them could ruin this place – That he wouldn't be worth the – "
"That's cute," Stein chuckled. Maka felt a flash of irritation as he interrupted her again, but she bit her tongue as the man went on. "They may have wealth, and power in their own pretentious little circle, but this institution is tied to the most powerful man in the city. They have no power here." Stein's lips twisted scornfully around but word 'pretentious' and Maka blinked.
"The most powerful man in the city?" Maka repeated stupidly. Stein stopped his typing to look at her.
"Death the Kid." He stated. When Maka didn't respond he continued. "His father is Lord Death."
"I figured," Maka rolled her shoulders, frowning at the grey-haired man. "Not a lot of people have 'Death' tied to their name. What does that have to do with anything."
Stein shrugged and resumed his typing. "Lord Death founded this hospital."
Maka didn't say anything. For a long moment the only sound was Stein's tapping when she finally found words. "The – The mayor of the city…"
"Owns and runs this hospital." Stein finished for her, his voice blank. "When Soul's parents signed him into this hospital, they entrusted him into our care – giving up their own. He can only leave when we see fit. They have no say in the matter."
"But – But" Maka could hardly form words. The blood in her ears was rushing so loudly she could hardly hear herself think. "Soul was so sure… Why did he say he had to go?"
Stein shrugged. "He didn't know. We didn't tell him – We assume he overheard the conversation; his parents certainly weren't quiet when they exclaimed they would ruin this place to get him back. By now I'm sure they've realised any effort to do so is futile." Maka could detect a slight sneer in the last sentence, but she brushed past it.
"Soul…" She breathed, relief flooding through her as she felt herself lean back into the pillows. "He doesn't have to go. He's going to be okay…"
"Yep," Stein popped his lips on the 'p' with an obnoxious click of the keys before he wheeled away from the computer. "He'll be fine. He will only leave when he feels he's ready."
Maka sighed again. Despite her anger towards Soul, the thought of him leaving to go into the care of people he was so uncomfortable with was worse than anything she could have imagined. At least now he would stay where he needed to be.
But then came unease. Her and Soul - They weren't okay. She wasn't sure they ever would be again. And now they had to stay on the same ward for as long as they would be there – and Maka was certainly sure that she too wouldn't be leaving any time soon.
"Trouble in paradise?"
Maka turned to see Stein grinning at her. She shot the grey-haired man a dark look. "Mind your business."
"Noted," Stein stood from his chair and stretched his back. "You'll be here for a while. Since your appendix burst, recovery is gonna be a little longer."
"Does he know?"
Stein arched a brow.
"Hm?"
Maka rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Does Soul know he's safe? That he doesn't have to go."
Stein's eyes glowed with something, but his expression didn't change as he nodded. "Sid's told him. He wanted to come visit when you woke up. Should I…?"
Maka was already shaking her head before he had finished speaking. "No. I'll… I'll deal with it later."
Stein laughed. "Oh, so he's an 'it' now, is he?"
"Stein."
"Alright, alright."
The man left the room without another word. Maka had to fight a smile – She had to give it to him, he could be annoying but he was one of the only people in this hospital who never hovered. She settled more comfortably into the pillows and let her eyes drift shut as she fell into a dreamless, albeit drugged, sleep.
A week passed before Maka was well enough to return to her own room. Her body was sore, but she could get around fine, and she was thrilled to find out that she would have two weeks of not having to attend group sessions since she still needed time to recover.
Tsubaki visited her a lot while she was in the hospital, so did Kid, Liz, Patti, and Blackstar. Soul eventually stopped trying when she denied him enough times. She was glad. She couldn't see him, not yet. No one asked about them, at least, not till she returned to her room.
Tsubaki helped her settle back in. Thankfully Soul had chosen to actually attend group that day so she didn't have to worry about running into him, but Tsubaki was excused at Maka's request.
"Do you want to talk about it?" The long-haired girl asked gently when Maka's eyes lingered on Soul's door a little too long through her open door. Maka looked away and shook her head.
"No," She replied. Tsubaki sighed.
"Maka."
"How's things going with Blackstar?" The blonde asked, but Tsubaki's eyes only narrowed.
"Maka." She repeated, her voice sharper. Maka met her gaze head on before looking away.
"I don't have anything to say," she answered honestly, her voice tired. Tsubaki didn't interrupt. "It's all so… complicated. It's hard to even think about."
Tsubaki didn't say anything. Instead, she just tucked Maka's sheets around her as the smaller girl tried to get comfortable.
"That's understandable," the older girl allowed as she sat down beside the bed. Maka couldn't find it in herself to look at her. "He doesn't talk anymore. He hasn't asked about you, and we know better than to bring you up. But it's… It's wrong. This isn't like you two. It isn't right."
Maka fumed quietly. No, this wasn't right. But Soul had only done this to himself.
"Are you ever gonna tell me what happened?"
Maka looked at the taller woman sharply, but found nothing but kind, earnest eyes. She found the words falling from her mouth before she could even stop them.
"He hurt me."
Tsubaki nodded slowly. "Okay. How did he hurt you."
Maka shook her head to herself. "That doesn't matter. All that matters is that it was exactly what he wanted to do, and he knew exactly how to do it."
It was silent for another long moment before Tsubaki broke the silence again. "Can you forgive him?"
"I – I don't know. I'm so… confused." She confessed before gesturing frantically around them. "I've never had to deal with this before. I've never had… This before."
Maka looked up to find Tsubaki nodding in understanding, her eyes suddenly lighter. "You mean you've never had friends before."
Maka hesitated before nodding slowly.
"And I bet you've never had… A friend like Soul before."
Maka felt the blood rush to her face, but she nodded regardless. Tsubaki just smiled nicely before pressing a comforting hand to Maka's shoulder. Maka was surprised to find she appreciated the touch and didn't have to fight an urge to shake her off.
"Then take all the time you need. But know it will get easier. I know it seems impossible but, you will get used to it"
Maka felt tears prick her eyes and blinked furiously. She nodded quickly and turned her face away. The long-haired girl seemed to take the hint and stood to leave.
"I'm just across the hall if you need me." Tsubaki sign-songed. Maka could detect some teasing in her voice, but she didn't feel annoyed. She rolled her eyes with a watery laugh.
"Okay, okay, go."
Tsubaki giggled and closed the door but didn't shut it fully. Maka could see Soul's door through hers and she felt her chest swell.
She knew she would have to face Soul soon. But a few more hours of peace wouldn't hurt anyone. She closed her eyes again, and faded back into sleep with ease.
