Short chapter but I have to. We're almost to the fuuuuuuuuuuun.
There were many habits that Soul had taken on but none of them pleased Maka more than the way he had started to hang around in the kitchen while she cooked, becoming a sponge for all of her thoughts as she put together their meals. "Do you think Eibon will wear his mask at the meeting?"
"Dunno, possible," Soul grunted out as he tossed himself into one of the kitchen chairs.
"That just seems too bizarre, right?" Maka didn't wait for an answer since she was sure he wasn't inclined to give one. "I just… I hope you can connect with him."
"What's that mean?" Soul leaned an elbow on to the table, resting his head on his hand.
"Well, you were right, he lost his wife and it's doing something to him," Maka shrugged as she continued to stir. "He seemed like he believed you'd lost someone too."
"Everyone has," Soul raised an eyebrow. "Why does it have to be me?"
"Because you knew," Maka urged. "That amazing brain of yours worked out a detail no one else did, which I guess makes him assume you know more than just the logic of it."
"Again, nothin' amazing. Just…" he let the idea dwindle away because it was a lie, and more and more he found himself unable to offer anything like that to her.
"I think you already kind of mentioned it," Maka paused and clinked around pots and utensils and he knew if he could see her face she'd be gnawing on that plump, perfect lip. "But your Nana. You said she was your only friend and losing that…"
"Any word's an understatement," he muttered. "You been compiling your questions about that? Just lay 'em out, Maka. Go. All of them right now, while I feel like it."
She turned off the burners and spun to him, wiping her hands on that ridiculous apron she insisted on wearing, even though he knew deep down he thought it was the cutest damn thing. "Were you expecting it?"
"No, total surprise. Two days before we were practicing dancing and then," Soul could only motion with his hand, that drifting turn on his wrist.
"Did she visit you or would you go to visit here?"
He was pleased he didn't have to explain more on the aspects of her death, the way she was suddenly there and then not, allowing him to smile softly. "She'd visit us, especially since it meant she could get in torturing my dad while forcing Wes to wait on her hand and foot. Plus, you couldn't visit her house. It was a fucking trainwreck over there. Technically still is."
"Still is?" Maka's eyebrows furrowed. "You mean your parents kept the house?"
A short chuckle left his lips, "Parents had no choice since she left the house to me."
"You have a house?" Maka squeaked and blushed as it elicited another laugh from him.
"It's not as great as you think," Soul shook his head. "Still stuffed with all her shit because I can't figure out what goes and what stays. And it's not exactly close, so I get there to mow the lawn once a month and that's about it."
"Why didn't you move into it?"
Soul made a fist, popping up a finger for each on the list. "Filled with stuff. Out in the middle of nowhere. Too big for just me, it's one of those old-school farmhouses."
She churned his list over in her mind as she felt that inevitable tension before letting out her next question. "But if it's in the middle of nowhere, isn't it a great place to hide from your boss?"
"Sure," Soul shrugged. "But what would I do for work? Not to mention my social life would be even more nonexistent than now. Can't get a date in the middle of the woods." While the joke came easily from his mouth it was followed by a stunted breath, watching as a thin surprise slid to and from her features.
Maka's fingers clutched into her apron. "Did you… were you seeing someone then, when you quit?"
"Nah," Soul shook his head. "There are two types of girls who are interested in that kind of guy. Someone already in the organization which, no fucking thanks, and someone just looking for a thrill. I can tell you there's plenty of the second type, plenty ready to chase you around the club and fawn over every last thing you do but I was never interested. Neither are my type."
"What's your type?" She tried to ask as quickly as possible, to not let the words settle on her tongue and color her cheeks.
"Always wanted someone actually interested in finding out who I was." Soul's jaw wanted to clench shut, to keep it all behind his teeth but he abandoned the lean on his elbow. "And since I couldn't do the clubs, most of the hotspots around here, my only hope was meeting someone at work."
Again, Maka rushed the words, "Would you date someone from work?"
"You wouldn't?" The words agonizingly rolled off his tongue.
"That kind of relationship can be complicated," Maka murmured.
"Any relationship's kind of complicated." Fear was starting to grip him, the weakness in her answer creating chaos in his gut.
Maka's eyes no longer had the nerve to hold his, falling to her fingers clutched in her apron. "It's the kind my parents had."
He couldn't help it, that wishful thinking overriding any sense he had to bite his tongue. "Yeah, and I think we already said you're nothing like your mom. So what do you have to be afraid of as long as you're not looking for someone like your dad?"
Those words hit her just as he expected, those beautiful eyes going more white than green momentarily. To his relief, a soft pink followed high on her cheeks before she took a long, deep breath. "But it's kind of hard for me to think any different. I know… that history doesn't have to repeat itself, but sometimes the fear of it…" She sighed, unclenching one hand just to run through her hair before bringing her eyes back to him. "You're not the only person who has something to work on."
"I get it." He wanted to smile, especially as the thought rolled over his mind. You'd be the only one for me, always. Just you, so you'd never have to worry about anything like that because… I think I'm there, Maka. I think I've fallen and I can't stop wondering if you have, too. And it's just all this cluttered mess that we need to clear away, that we're working on, but damn it, do I wish we'd piece things together faster. That I'd be able to…
Maka turned quickly back to the stove, trying to throw herself back into the actual task at hand rather than the dangerous sea they'd willingly waded into. "Maybe… maybe you should start clearing stuff in the house. Make Blake help you, and I'm sure Shelley would too. And if you wanted my help…"
Fuck, did he ever want to touch her, to come up behind her and pull her desperately into a hug because even though she was ditching that idea she was just bringing him to another aching prospect. "Sure, but Black Star never works for free. Have to bribe him in beer. Shelley will only work if you promise cake."
"I feel like that's another thing you two have in common." Maka was finally able to breathe again, affording her enough air for a laugh.
"So, you bake a cake, I'll bring the beer, and maybe we'll put a dent in some of that mess."
Maka sent a glance over her shoulder to catch the smirk she knew was shining on his face. She wanted it to sink in, to swoon over him again because more and more these moments were chipping away at her. And I want them to. I don't want to be afraid, I don't want the 'what if's I just want… "What am I getting out of this?"
"Brownie points with Shelley?" Soul finally stood from the chair, slinking over to the counter next to her and leaning in her space. "Maybe I'll let you vacation at the house in the summer."
"You said it's deserted! What fun would vacationing be?"
"Come on, bookworm, all you need the porch swing and a book," he teased. "Plus, I may have forgotten to mention Nana did dedicate a whole room in the cottage to her library - built-in bookshelves and all."
"I like things other than books," she huffed.
"Sure, like books." He nudged against her and she pushed right back, giving him the opening to slip his hand around her arm, anchoring her next to him. "But you'd come? Help me out, I mean, cleaning and stuff."
"Sure," she murmured as she blessed him with soft fingers on top of his own. "As long as I get free pick of that library."
Roughing guys up? Easy. Making money? Simple. Being the best? Obviously what he was made for, but Black Star was never any good at listening to Medusa purr like she was doing now. It was never about attraction since Medusa would rather sock him in the face than kiss him, but another one of her power-plays. She made a habit, no matter who you were, of leaving her scent on you as marked territory. Every word was always dripped into your ear with her lips practically on the lobe. This was the kind of element he was getting sick of and he let the idea of plan B cross his mind for only a split second before her voice ripped him from it.
"How's our boy?"
"Fine, and that's all. Unless you're ready to tell me you're reneging on your deal," he eyed her coldly.
"I would never," the saccharine innocence turned his stomach. "Soul has his freedom. Bought and paid for every month."
Black Star spat back almost immediately, "But you have him followed, photographed."
"There are always limits to freedom," Medusa finally let Black Star have his space back as she stood to roll her shoulders. "And if that bothers him, please tell him to come home and we'll discuss it."
"Fat chance," Black Star scoffed. "And what are you going to do about Maka? I know you're up to something. She's nothing, just a quick fuck when he needs it, and the girl's so sweetly stupid. I swear, no more than two brain cells to rub together so just fuck off about her, OK?"
"What, you fucking her, too?" Medusa raised an eyebrow.
Black Star faked a gag, "With those tits? No thanks. I like to be smothered. Just don't see the need in getting between a man and his lay."
"Listen," suddenly Medusa's hand was in his hair, yanking his head back. "I know you're sweetly loyal to our boy, but lying to me doesn't work. I know she's smart, so smart she's been causing trouble for Arachne which means 'forgive and forget' isn't on the menu."
Black Star did nothing but grimace.
"But, darling, you know me," she relaxed her fingers in his hair, smoothing over the hurt. "I'm always willing to help my boys. We just have to get Soul on the same page. Get him to work with us instead of against us. The girl can be negotiated on and will be because Soul's a smart boy, too. He knows what's good for him."
Black Star nodded, waiting for more oily words from her lips. To pass the time he started back to the folder in his mind, Plan B. Because whatever she has in store for Maka and Soul can't happen.