"Come on Brennan just twist it a little harder." Desmond nagged on Brennan as he tried to twist the bolt lock on the pristine white door.

"I'm sorry, I demanded brand new locks for our home before we moved in. I didn't think they'd give me a bad key." Brennan gave it one more strong twist and finally unlocked the door. He let out a large 'huff' before he began to speak again. "See? No intruders will get into our house without a struggle."

Desmond grabbed his army bag off the ground and flipped it over his shoulder. "You did forget that I have a giant blade for an arm didn't you?" Desmond rolled his eyes. "I'm just glad to be out of those dorms. So many kids whining about home and grades."

Brennan shoved the key in his vest pocket and pulled up the handle on his suitcase. "You should be worrying about that too if you ever want to graduate."

Desmond dropped his bag after only one step inside. "Wow, money is awesome."

"I want a little home away from home. Come on." Brennan squatted down and picked up Desmond's bag. "Shoes and coats off at the entry, down the hall and to the left is our bedrooms, your left and I'm right, to the right of here is the kitchen and dining room, and straight ahead is the living room. Oh, and bathrooms down each end of the halls." (A/N - I have a blueprint of the house layout on imgur - /a/rruqFML )

Desmond grabbed hold of his bag. "When you said a square apartment. I thought you mean kitchen and connected living room and bedrooms at the end. Not this."

"Settle in, make this your own home. I'm going to rest for a minute on the couch, whatever Dr. Stein did to me is still making me feel heavy."

"Fun day lad. Fun. Day. Im'a shower."

Brennan left his bag at the entryway and walked ahead to the couch. He tripped over the armrest of the black couch and plopped on the leather cushions. His arm felt heavier than ever before as he lifted it up to the coffee table. He only managed to smack the remote which caused it to fall on the carpet. He wiggled his fingers to the remote, unfortunately it only brushed on the plastic.

"I... give up." He groaned. His eyes slowly dropped and didn't reopen.

It only felt like his eyes were closed for not even a minute. They shot open and scattered around the room. He waited for another second in the silence. A series of knocks came from the door.

"Brennan lad!" Desmond yelled from down the hall. Brennan barely hear anything come from him a s chest to ignore. "My God I'm in the shower! Answer the door!" Two more sets of knocks and a doorbell went off. Desmond quickly walked out into the main entry, his hair full of mixed in shampoo and his white skin pinkish from the heat of the water. Desmond walked over to Brennan and ran his fingers through his shampoo covered hair. "It's only been ten minutes and your that past out? Get the door next time lass." And slapped the shampoo on Brennan's face. He maneuvered back to the door and pulled it open. "What. Oh it's you." Desmond's voice changed from anger to a normal tone by the last word.

Tsubaki nervously smiled and tilted her head slightly to the side. "Bad timing?" She asked.

"Nah lass, I just got some shampoo in my hair, a towel around my waist, and water drip past the hairs on my legs, it's a perfect time." He answered sarcastically.

Brennan twisted around the couch and planted his head on the armrest. "Desmond that's rude." He tried his best to shout over to Desmond.

"I'm sorry." Desmond rubbed his lower eye with his thumb. "What's up? Or can this wait a minute?"

"I'll be quick. I came over to apologize for Black star."

"Ho-ho-hold. I see what your trying to do lass, but unless he comes over and apologizes it means nothing. It's not real from them, I'll see you and your partner tomorrow."

"Sorry for bothering you, I'll see you at school tomorrow." Her smile lasted past her turn and walk away. Desmond smiled back and closed the door.

"Everything alright?" Brennan asked as he yawned, he was up from the couch and next to the hall that lead to their bedrooms.

"Yeah, everything is fine. I see us having a fight tomorrow though."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Brennan spun around the corner and trailed off into his bedroom.

The next day came by quick, Desmond was fully rested and ready to spend at least half a day at the school. And Brennan, still sore from the fight was fit enough to challenge another. They arrived a bit earlier than expected. With still an hour before their first class Brennan headed down to the school's library. He searched around and found the librarian ready at the counter.

"Excuse me sir, I'm looking for books about a Meister being able to force their wavelength in a direct attack."

"Hmm, yes, yes, I understand, I will be back with your desire." He returned soon after with two large books. "You may check one out, I will just need your name for the check out and your free to read them both as long as your in the library."

"Thank you sir, I'll make a decision by the time I leave." Brennan graciously nodded and grabbed the books off the counter. He found a table and opened the first page to the book 'Introduction To The Abilities of A Meister'. He scrolled through the index till he found what he looked for. He skipped to that chapter and began to read.

A foreign hand interrupted his reading and folded the cover in. He easily recognized the small 'hmm' the person made after. He looked up with a greeting smile, he pushed up his classes and closed his book. He straightened his posture and crossed one leg over the other.

"My dear Maka, how are you this morning?" Brennan asked.

"I'm doing fine this morning. Just came down to the library for a new book this week. From what your reading it seems that you are learning about being a attacking Meister."

"In a way I guess. With my fight with Dr. Stein he used this soul attack on me. Right now I just want to learn about it."

"You fought Stein too?"

"Unfortunately. His attack was pretty strong on me. But next time, next time I'll do better."

"You should speak with Black Star, he knows a few things about direct soul attacks."

Brennan rubbed the back of his head. "Last night is a bit fuzzy but Desmond kind've had a run in about Black Star. Tsubaki came to apologize but, Desmond is Desmond."

"Tsubaki is the greatest friend anyone could ask for." Her eyes narrowed and her back slouched. "Not like Black Star would ever notice."

"It's weird, I think Desmond likes Tsubaki as much as he hates Black Star."

"Why wouldn't I?" Desmond's words spooked Brennan and Maka. "Any lass that looked like that in my country would toss a potato at my head as I worked on the fields. And for that lad Black Star." Desmond cracked his knuckles. "I'm going to clock in the face for that apology." He pointed at Brennan. "Or to in the least to teach your sorry ass how to fight. My partner can't lose to every screw headed freak out there. Now come on, school is almost starting."

"Maybe we can continue this conversation with some training." Brennan offered Maka a hand shake.

Maka's signature smile grew. "Deal."

Desmond folded up his books and went back to the front desk. "I'm going to take the 'Meister Mediation' book.

"Good choice sir. I just need you to sign it out."

"So, how long were you there?"

"I got here right after Maka, I saw she headed this way and got behind her. If you really want to date her then your going to need to check out a book about flirting"

"I hate you so much." Brennan laughed.

They were near their first class of the day. It wasn't a surprise that they saw both Tsubaki and Black Star outside their room. His cockiness annoyed Desmond, he leaned against the wall, his face down, and his foot pressed against the same wall.

"Why you out here kid?" Desmond yelled down the hall to him.

Black Star pushed against the wall and face them. His finger pointed out with his grin. "You got lucky on our first fight! I don't lose to any loser! I don't lose at all! Because I Black Star will become the greatest man to ever live!"

Desmond pushed down on Black Star's hair. "You first might want to match my height little man. Or at least your girlfriend's height."

"Tsubaki is not my girlfriend but the greatest partner a God could ask for!"

Desmond watched Tsubaki turn red and drop her face to the ground. He looked more to the side at Brennan, he waited for the visual clue to let him punch Black Star as hard as he could. Instead he got Brennan shove his book in the air and widen his eyes to signal him then the book.

"Look, you want a fight. I'll give you a fight. But first, you teach Brennan how to attack with his soul wavelength. I was told you're very good at it. Teach him, then we can have a fair Weapon and Meister battle."

"Why would I ever waste my time on you? That must be some kind of joke! Hahahaha!"

"I'll teach you how to resist my direct soul wavelength."

Black Star stopped laughing. "I teach you to fight close, like you'll ever get close to me. And you teach me how to defeat you at a distance. I'll do it! But we do this right now, no class, just fighting."