I feel like I have two choices to make here - whether I want to follow canon or make my own redemption arc and I'm leaning towards the redemption especially since this story has kind of taking a completely different path from actual storyline. I know we all love my canon inclusion but I might want to play around.
Free was starting to hate this pastime that he'd assigned himself to, especially as Medusa continued to fail to produce anything interesting. She was ingrained in that girl's skin so well that it was almost easy to feel sorry for the sordid little thing sitting on the dungeon's icy cobblestone. Almost. The sound of footsteps echoing down the stairwell should have brought him to standing but he wanted a challenge, continuing to lay on his back with his feet up against the wall. As he saw the white hair crest the doorframe, Free sighed with the boredom of it all. "Hello, Soul."
"Everything alright?"
Something close to pleased hit Free in the gut at the genuine concern on Soul's face. Ah, it's stupid, but I like him. He's stupid, too, but still alright in his own way. "Fine. Bored. Have we made a decision?"
"Maka's going to do the exorcism." That came with a sickly sigh but Soul tramped it down quickly. "I need to ask you about something else though."
"Oh?" This brought Free to his side and then up on his elbow.
"A favor," Soul answered hesitantly.
"Do tell," Free crooned with his wolfish smile. He was now up on his haunches, eyes finally fully off the little girl with an attention on Soul that was something close to a fox watching a hen.
"Maka's mother wants to come and visit her. I need you not to kill her."
Free's smile crinkled into a frown but instead of letting his first thought hit his lips, he slowed, tilting his head and letting the idea rumble through his brain. "For how long?"
Soul took his own time to ponder that, releasing the verdict with a painful sigh. "At least until Maka gives birth."
A thoughtful hum buzzed from Free as he bounced twice on his haunches before jumping to his feet. "And what do I get if I don't?"
"Name it," Soul offered without hesitation and Free's smile surged back.
Free's eyes sparkled as he rubbed a hand into the younger man's hair, catching him by surprise and making him expel something halfway between a grunt and a yelp. "You're getting better at this, prince."
"Better at what?" Soul grumbled as he pressed the other man away.
"Negotiation. Or maybe I should say worse in general but better with me," Free finished with a hearty laugh. "Don't make these kinds of offers to anyone else or you'll lose the shirt off your back."
Soul managed half a smile before he shook his head. "No one else could put up half the fight you can so you're the only one I'm offering my shirt to. So what is it? What do you want?"
"A favor."
He raised an eyebrow at the quick but obvious answer. "Yeah, but what?"
"A future favor from each one of your twins," Free clarified playfully.
A chill ran over Soul's previously good-natured stare and Free actually suppressed the goosebumps that wanted to break on his neck. "What do you want from my kids?"
"Hey, hey," Free answered amiably. "I'm just saying that I want each one of them to do me a favor when I ask for it. I live forever, remember, so I just want a little security down the line, that's all." Free leaned closer, letting the whispered words only hit Soul's ear, "They're both going to be more powerful than you or the princess put together and I can't wait to be a part of that."
Soul couldn't decide between the ice that was trying to stop up his gut or the fire in his chest that was threatening to make the air burst from his lungs. There was that deep-seated urge to protect but Free's prophetic utters had him trembling. Stronger than me and her? Both of them? And what the hell could Free want from them? "We'll have to ask the princess," Soul barely let the words eke from his lips.
Free let his eyes go to the little girl before coming back to Soul. "Go get that little friend of yours. The spunky one. Have him watch the girl for a little so that we all can have a chat."
He nodded and sauntered back the way he came before stopping at the foot of the stairs. "Black Star," Soul called up and flash the other man was there, looking between the two of them.
"He agree?"
"Gotta ask Maka," Soul muttered.
Black Star whistled playfully, "You're whipped."
Soul nudged him as he walked past and started for the bottom stair. "Watch the girl for a second."
"Sure." Black Star started the chuckles and continued as he walked past Free. "Good luck with Maka."
Free raised an eyebrow but not much else as he followed Soul up the stairs and through the various halls and turns. "You know this place awful well."
Soul turned his head over his shoulder, showing that sweet grin that would make Maka melt. "I spent a few years here as a kid. So did Maka and Black Star."
Free whistled absently before questioning, "A crowned prince living in a vassal's castle?"
"Not crowned," Soul's voice fell to a murmur. "My older brother was alive then."
"I'm sorry," and Free meant it especially as Soul offered a much more somber smile over his shoulder again.
"Me too," came the quick and last answer, leaving only silence to follow in their wake. As they approached the room, Soul slowed before turning to him. "Give me a second with her."
"Sure." Free wanted to be amused but that solemn chill was still dragging down the prince's face.
Soul left him there, opening the door and quickly shutting it behind him. Maka had been less frantic than he expected, but she had been waiting by the window and had seen the group return, all heads intact so she hadn't let all of the worries run away with her. When she saw his face she couldn't stop the wellspring from starting again, "Tell me you're OK."
"Fine," he murmured as he moved towards her, gathering her into his arms and reveling for just a moment in her warmth. "I'll tell you about it in a minute but there's something you and I have to discuss with Free."
"The wolfman?" Maka questioned as she raised her head from his chest. "Why?"
"You'll see," Soul muttered. "Free, you can come in."
Free did as he was told but slowly, flashing an almost bashful look in Maka's direction. He'd stay in the dungeon since they got there and nothing had passed between him and the girl and to see her now, heavy with child and reeking of the scent of worry he didn't much have the urge to look her in the eye. "Didn't take much time, prince, so I assume you didn't ask her first."
"I'll explain what I want and you explain what you want," Soul replied simply as he tightened his grip around Maka's waist. "Your mother wants the chance to talk to you. I want to give her that and more chances if it goes well so I asked Free if he'd keep himself in check while she's here."
Maka narrowed her eyes at him, "So we're making a deal with him not to kill my mother for now? Is there something I'm missing? He's wearing that collar…"
"And I bet it'll work but not forever," Soul sighed, "and to tell you the truth I like him. I don't think killing him is possible but being friends with him… I think we could make that work. But we make deals, that's Free's way."
She had a million arguments but the resolve on his face told her that this was a moot point. Instead, she turned her intense glare towards Free, who still had a steadier focus on the floor than her eyes. "Then what is it you want in exchange?"
"A future favor from each one of your twins," this time the admittance came quietly, slow, and without half the fun he'd had saying it the first time.
"The babies?" Maka clutched at the globe of her stomach, shooting her eyes back to Soul.
"That's why I brought him up here," Soul spoke softly, his free hand coming to touch her cheek. "I'm not making deals about the kids without you obviously, but he wants them to just owe him one each."
Maka's eyes started to go wide as the panicked thoughts ran over her mind. "And what if that something's their lives or-"
"Nothing like that, princess," Free butted in quickly. "Like I said to Soul, they're both going to pack a punch and not saying that I'd serve them or anything but I don't think I'd mind this friends thing."
She brushed away Soul's hand then tried to use her own to clear the confusion. "Are you saying you want to be friends with our children but you want them to owe you? I… this is insane," she threw at Soul.
"He lives forever," Soul said with a shrug, "so he'll definitely be around and look at him. He's no stranger to a fight and having that on our side..."
"So you want to give him free rein with our children?" Maka spat back.
Free suddenly wished he could dissolve into the wall.
"A favor," Soul urged back, "just one. And he's already said it won't hurt them."
"So he says," Maka snapped before she turned her head back to Free. "And how am I supposed to trust the man that tried to kill both of us when he says he won't hurt my children?"
"Same reason I'd trust that you'd keep your side of the deal," Free finally brought his eyes to Maka's, feeling her intensity but holding it. "Same reason why I haven't used my magic on you even though…" He reached his hand behind his head and casually snapped the back of the collar, letting it flimsily flop to the floor. It was exactly as he could have hoped for: terrified surprise hit Maka's face but Soul's remained unchanged besides a knowing smile stretching across his lips.
Soul's hand squeezed Maka tighter around the waist, not as an act of protection but instead to bring her eyes to him instead of the scene and catch the serene smile on his face. "I was guessing she'd do that before we left. Was I right?"
"Very right," Free laughed. "Want to guess when?"
His smile faded as he worked over the options in his mind, "Probably that first night you watched her."
Free refused to give up the game yet, his eyebrows raising playfully. "Was that your little test - leaving me alone with her?"
"Sort of." Soul paused to risk a glance at Maka, finding her slowly coming down from the fear as her eyes were narrowing at him, figuring the puzzle of the moment just as much as the puzzle that was Soul. "Though, to be honest, I never considered anything a done deal with you. You like to surprise. So when was it?"
Free's lips stretched into a devious smile, "She had Stein do it during one of his Madness sleeps before you even caught her. Can't say I asked for it, but it was a nice gift."
"Then don't you owe her?" Maka let the last little bit of fear stay latched on.
"I didn't kill her when we caught her. That's fair enough to me." While that smile was still there it was cooling and the icy tone of it would have set Maka's teeth on edge if it wasn't for the subject.
Soul slipped away from Maka, standing close enough that he could bridge the gap with a hand outstretched between them. "Am I safe in assuming that means you've picked a side?"
"I like all of you well enough." While Free's answer still rang a little too noncommittal for Maka's taste, his shake to Soul's hand spoke the opposite. "But does that mean we have a deal?"
"Maka?" Soul offered over his shoulder as he turned his head.
Maka let out a frustrated sigh as she rubbed at her stomach. "Just a favor? And you swear it'll never hurt them?"
"Swear," Free nodded.
What do you think? Maka pressed her palms into the sides of her belly. If there was ever a time to speak up, now would be it because I'm promising something of yours and it doesn't really feel like mine to give. There was calm, easy silence, for once not a kick to be felt and Maka took that as law. "Fine."
"And I know it probably doesn't mean much, princess," Free bowed his head slightly, "but I'm sorry for the fight. Told Soul I wouldn't have harmed a hair on your head if I knew," he motioned towards Maka's stomach, "but again, doesn't make much of a difference."
"It's enough," Maka murmured. "Now would you please excuse me and my husband? We need to talk."
"Of course," Free added one more bow for good measure especially as he saw the delayed fear hit Soul's face. Oh, he's in for it! He had to shelve a chuckle until he got out of the room.
Soul stood in the silence with his back to her, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"If you are wrong," Maka started slowly, words so even that he could tell each was rigid with white rage, "I am going to tear you limb from limb, Soul, and that is a promise."
He was pleased by her restraint, sure that she had much more drastic imagery circling her brain. Soul turned to her, finding the tight lips that told him she was currently unkissable but he scooped her into his arms anyway. "Acceptable," he laughed softly but saw it didn't stick as her eyebrows remained furrowed. "Do you want to know what happened with your mother or are you busy being angry?"
"Both," Maka grumbled.
Soul snorted a laugh, "Alright. Bad news or good news first?"
"Bad, though with how much good I expect-"
He silenced her with a thumb pressed to her lip so he could cup her cheek in the same motion. "She hates me. She won't do what I asked because she knows it's easier just to kill the kid and that's that for her. But…" his sigh was desperately sweet as he brought his forehead to hers, "The ring you gave me, the fact that I can wear it… it means I'm not cursed. I'm not ruined and neither are our babies."
He had expected some sweet relief from her but only found scolding in her voice, "Soul, you were never ruined."
"Fine," he laughed before correcting, "I'm not some kind of horrible demon monster and neither are our kids. We're… human. Normal as we'll ever be and the black blood… while it's probably something that's gonna take some work to understand it's not terrible."
"I feel like I already knew that," Maka finally let the smile take over the anger on her lips, "but did Mama actually say that to you?"
"No," Soul pulled back with a weak laugh. "Your dad did, though. I don't think Yaara wanted to realize the truth, but Spirit said it for her."
Maka raised an eyebrow before that smile stretched to a smirk, "Does that mean Papa and you are getting along?"
"That's probably a no, too," Soul sighed, "but for what it was, it wasn't so bad. None of us killed each other, which I guess was better than expected."
Some of her smile faded as she ran her fingers over his chest, smoothing the fabric but not the feelings in her heart. "I'm sorry that-"
"No," Soul stopped her immediately. "There's nothing for you to be sorry for." He sealed that with a gentle kiss, relieved to find her eager to accept it as her fingers clutched into his shirt.
Maka let that start to unwind her but when he pulled away she still let out a sigh. "Did she hurt you?"
"Cut my hand," Soul tried to pass off inconsequentially but her hand was instantly pulling open his.
"How?"
Soul grumbled out a groan as he let her spread his fingers and examine his palm."Sort of had to grab her sword so…"
"Because grabbing a sword is something you do often," Maka narrowed her eyes at him. "Did she swing at you?"
"Well, yeah," Soul winced.
"Soul!" Maka huffed out but he was quick to tighten his hold on her, keeping her in place against his chest.
"Maka, stop," it was an order and it forced her instantly still. "What you said, that her hurting me means she's not your mother anymore… I can't let you do that. I know I don't necessarily let you do anything, but this one, I gotta put my foot down."
"That's what you said about going to see her," Maka replied with a glum smile. "You're being the guard dog again and you said that was a just-this-once kind of thing."
He touched her cheek softly as he let a long, slow sigh break his lips. "But this isn't about protecting you. It's about telling you that no matter how I feel about her, I don't think you should let that make your decision for you. Because… even with all the shit she says about me or the babies, she still loves you. I just think it's the same way as my mother - misguided and misplaced." Soul let out a soft laugh before he kissed her, then letting the next bit trickle out against her lips. "And I really don't think you can keep up with the list if you toss away all the people that hurt me or hate me."
"Maybe just the ones that draw blood," Maka murmured.
"Too many," he laughed again. "But all I did was get her to come talk to you, that's all. You don't even have to see her if you don't want to, but I don't want you making that choice because of me. I want you making that to help heal what's in your heart." Soul kissed her again, just a feather of a touch like his fingers running through her hair. "Sleep on it tonight, OK?"
"Alright," she nodded before tucking her head against his chest.
"And then… we'll talk about the exorcism. Try to plan as best we can," Soul sighed before stroking her hair again. "Then we'll go home. I want to take you home and let you relax until it's time. There's… so much I want to show you and - just show how much I love you and I'm ready for this."
Her hands were searching his back, trying to find purchase to steal away the steadiness from his voice. "Ready for what?"
"To be a good husband, a good father," he pressed a desperate kiss to her temple. "And ready to do whatever the hell I have to do to keep us all happy."