Hi everyone! I hope you're all well! Sorry I didn't post this yesterday.. Ready for my excuse? I forgot my password! Mehh so sorry.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Sorry for any mistakes, I did half of this when I was half-asleep. I saw TONS of new reviews and I got sosososo happy! Thanks so much guys, I can't get enough. My ultimate goal is to get this story on the first page of the all-time most favorited/followed stories. And I can't do that without your help! So any follow/favorite/review is MUCH appreciated! About the chapter... longest chapter I've done so far! Be warned! ...hmmm as much as I love sexual tension, I always seem to go back to good ol' FLUFF.
P.S - watch?v=UrMmr1oMPGA listen to this while reading the last section, it's what inspired me. ;) LOVE this song, seriously if you haven't heard it you need to listen to it.
Skinny Love: When two people love each other but are too shy to admit it but they still show it.
Chapter Nine . Temporary Bliss
- Maka -
Recovery, Maka had come to realize, was the worst form of torture she had yet to endure. She didn't know what was worse; her pathetic incapability to do any simple task, or for the past five weeks she was defenseless and completely dependent on her partner to help her through the day. Naturally, she tried to manage on her own, but all was futile, she noted bitterly, considering when a sneeze crept up on her she doubled over in a sore wheezing spasm. Maka still had a while to recover, considering she had broken four ribs and sprained her left wrist, but after relentless arguing with Soul she had finally convinced him to let her leave the constricting chains known as her bed sheets. Her lethargic days weren't all in vain, however. Thanks to Tsubaki (bless her) she had all the books and notes she needed to keep up in her classes while resting at home. And even when studying became dry to the avid book-worm, she indulged herself into the world of music. Much to her satisfaction, she understood music (or the technicalities of it) on paper, but as soon as she snuck in Soul's room and attempted to play on his small, electronic piano she strung out a choppy "Mary Had A Little Lamb" that a six-year-old could out-perform. Occasionally she would get a visit from Blair which helped pass a few hours. In her desperation and agonizing boredom, Maka even agreed to Blair "deep-conditioning" her hair and "cleansing" her face. And when all else failed, Maka shuffled around the kitchen stiffly and cooked and baked to her heart's connect. Or rather, to Soul's bottomless stomach.
Despite the obvious drawbacks from her house arrest recovery, Maka enjoyed the time to herself. Granted, she often felt alone and caught herself glancing toward the clock for Soul's return, but it allowed her to think. And thinking, is what she did best. More often than not, her thoughts settled on her indifferent partner. Despite her best attempts to push them aside, Soul always managed to filter his way back into her subconscious and wait impatiently to strike before consuming her undivided attention. During her resting, Maka noticed more of Soul's behavior toward her. He was still his same old pain in the ass self, but occasionally she caught him staring at her, or when he spoke to her his voice softened. Maka thought nothing of it at first, considering she was heavily medicated and a hopeless romantic (her private stack of romance novels in the back of her closet were proof of it), but even she couldn't find any logical excuse for his behavior. One of her strangest encounters with him was while she was preparing dinner. In the midst of stirring the pasta, the young Meister didn't hear Soul return home or him approaching from behind. When he came beside her and spoke her name in greeting, she yelped and dropped the large spoon she was using. Flustered, she turned and bent down to pick up the spoon. She blamed herself, really, for not realizing her broken ribs, and that she couldn't possibly bend her torso over without crunching them in her chest. She staggered forward in pain and shot her hands out to grasp anything to stop herself from falling. Soul immediately caught her, but not without her latching on him with a firm grip; which just so conveniently happened to be his groin. She could feel him stiffen beside her and almost hear the inaudible grinding of his teeth. Maka felt dizzy, but not from her medication. Her entire face was a bright red as she straightened herself and slowly unlocked her grasp from the appendage in the center of his jeans. Her blush only worsened when a low, strange sound hissed from Soul. It sounded like a mix of a groan and strangled choke. When Maka finally found a shred of her confidence, she glanced up at him meekly. They caught each others gazes for a second before tearing them away simultaneously. The awkward tension weighed heavily on both partners, as they became hyper aware of each others bodies mere inches away. Soul cleared his throat, scooped up the spoon and handed it to Maka abruptly. When she glanced back up at him an uncharacteristic blush pooled on his cheeks. He avoided her gaze and raked a hand through his disheveled white hair. After another spurt of silence drawled between them he shuffled away wordlessly, leaving Maka alone in the kitchen with the image of his Adam's-apple bobbing nervously.
Maka released a melodramatic sigh as she recalled the vivid memory, grumbling at herself as a blush found its place on her face. She closed her eyes and stirred her hot tea, allowing the steam to whisper around her and clear her thoughts. The Meister shuffled out of the kitchen and carefully seated herself on the couch in the living room. She clawed at the blanket and threw herself around it greedily before taking a cautious sip of her tea. Watching T.V. made the back of her head ache, so Maka flicked her gaze out the windows and watched as slushy rain flicked from the sky. The dusk sky was darkening when Maka blinked and realized the snowflakes were becoming a white haze behind her drooping eyes. She drowsily thought about her medicine, before her world softened and became black.
Maka awoke and all that passed through her mind was cold. She groaned and rubbed her head, sitting up quickly. She froze however, realization dawning upon her. Confirming her suspicions, she glanced down to see her chest un-bandaged and unhurt. Or rather, she was in her normal clothes and sitting on a sneak, hard checkered floor. Maka looked around wildly, feeling her throat dry as a sense of deja-vu passed through her. She licked her lips and jumped to her feet, shuddering at the uneasiness that quivered in her veins. Maka sucked in a frigid breath, filling it into her lungs as she gazed apprehensively down the long, dark Gothic hallway. The walls covered from the middle up in frames with empty photos. There were cracks, and the wallpaper was peeling, Maka noted warily. Seeing as there was no escape, she mustered any bit of courage into her tiny frame and stiffly marched forward. With each step she took, the uncomfortable twist her gut worsened, and her fear hummed within her. Goosebumps whispered up her arms as she increased her pace and dared not peer over her shoulder. For whatever reason she drawn in this direction, and now, Maka realized why. She stopped in her tracks and eyed the massive black door. A thick frame bordered it, arching around the top before swooping back to the ground. Instinctively, she wrapped her small hand around the red doorknob, but it remained stiffly in place. For the first time, she realized the empty key hole beside it. Maka swallowed back the saliva that was nervously collecting in the back of her throat. She reached toward it warily; immediately regretting that she did when she felt a key fill her palm and twist the lock. The door sighed in response, a cold gust of air whispering out of the cracks. The hair on Maka's arms prickled as she extended her arms and pushed the door open.
If darkness could manifest into an object, Maka would have walked into a room full of it. She watched as the door swung open with a loud, aching groan and a wall of black awaited her. She could idly make out the shape of a room that outlined in the depths of the darkness. She took a step back and twisted her body to bolt away but a sudden shove sent her staggering forward. Maka yelped out and cringed away from the door as it slammed shut. Darkness completely engulfed her, and she could have sworn she heard a quiet giggle. Maka shuffled across the floor, hunching her body over in fear. She hugged herself and looked around with wide eyes, hoping to find any light; any solace to this black nothingness. As if her thoughts were echoing out loud, Maka found her answer. She slammed into a wall that was abruptly in front of her. She took a surprised step back and brought her hands up to gently skim them across the wall. It was smooth and cold, but she found no light switch. She heaved a shaky sigh and slammed her fists against the wall, feeling it shiver beneath her force.
A sudden spotlight flashed on Maka and she was gazing at her reflection. Maka screamed out in surprise, and her reflection mimicked her; jumping backward with wide, fearful eyes. Maka took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. She was merely overreacting, she noted, as her reflection's expression relaxed slightly. "How do I get out of here..." Maka whispered to herself, pressing her forehead and fists against the glass.
"You don't."
A sudden voice made her jump and cringe against the mirror. "Who's there!?" She demanded in a raspy voice, glaring suspiciously at the darkness around her. She found no source to the voice. She turned back to her reflection, watching her eyebrows knit in unease. An unsettling silence drawled out around her and Maka squirmed beneath the black tension. She stared at herself, desperately searching for any kind of escape. Her body weight suddenly heaved and exhaustion hooded her eyes. Maka rubbed her eyes drearily as her body trembled in fear. She reopened her eyes and blinked in surprise to see that her reflection didn't mirror the exhaustion she felt.
"What's a matter?"
A spasm of giggles made Maka's body go numb. She watched as her reflection darkened; her attire manifested from the shadows around her into a wispy, black dress. Her eyes were wide and had a wicked gleam to them. A sudden wide grin split across her face and curled at the edges of her lips. Maka gaped in horror as she stared at her insane, crazed persona. She tilted her head down and stuck out her tongue, before licking her lips in a predatory way.
"Maka!" She sang cheerily and swayed slightly.
Maka bit down on the inside of her cheek until she felt it bleed. A shudder convulsed through her as she watched her crazed persona pause and tussle her tongue her mouth.
"Doesn't blood taste good?" She mused with another wild giggle, covering her mouth as if she said a bad word. A small trickle of blood escaped from the corner of her smiling mouth. Black blood.
"G-get out of here! Go away!" Maka suddenly shouted, finding her voice.
Her persona however, seemed un-phased by her sudden threat. "Lets play hide and seek!" She chirped and swayed back and forth with a mischievous, psychotic smile. She took a step forward, pressing closer to the mirror of glass like she would slip through. Her face darkened and eyes filled with a sudden blood lust. "I'm tired of hiding, Maka," Her tone became razor sharp, "so you better."
Maka jumped backward, but her body automatically reacted in fear. She jerked her arm back and sent it propelling forward; slamming into the mirror and splitting it into uneven, jagged shapes. The crazed Maka persona's words floated around her in a whisper. Maka screamed out, hot tears blurring her vision as she slammed both her fists against the glass.
And then the glass shattered.
"MAKA!" A urgent, worried voice broke through her head. Maka snapped open her eyes with a sudden gasp and immediately met Soul's concerned crimson eyes. His eyebrows furrowed together and he let out a quiet breath. "I've called your name and you just kept screaming and screaming." Soul murmured hoarsely, watching as the last of her tears streaked down her face.
Maka blinked her eyes slowly, shaking off the haze of disorientation. Her throat was aching, as if she had screamed. She flicked her gaze back to Soul, feeling her face contort in confusion. "I-I... I was having a nightmare." Maka mumbled slowly, childishly leaning her face into his hands as he wiped her wet face.
"What was it about?" Soul pressed gently, searching her ghostly pale face and spooked eyes for any kind of answer.
Maka throat closed and she swallowed dryly. She could still hear the glass shattering in her head and a shudder engulfed her entire body. She met Soul's maroon eyes once more, watching them lace with worry. She opened her mouth to explain, but even that was too raw for the teenage Meister. She cringed against the couch and flicked Soul a desperate look.
"It's alright Maka, you don't have to explain." Soul soothed quietly as he settled down beside the side of the couch. He raked a hand through his hair and let out a long breath. "Jesus Maka, I thought you were dying or something." Soul's voice had become uneven once more as his face became a discord of conflicting emotions; all of which eventually faded and settled within his shaded crimson eyes. Even majorly medicated, Maka could see the melancholic darkness that rested within them.
Maka extended her hand forward and took his own, gently wrapping her fingers between his. She didn't dare brush her fingertips across the back of his hand. The locked, firm contact left her content enough. She shyly marveled at the way their hands looked together. She never thought about it really, but now that it crossed her mind she couldn't control the faint blush that dusted her cheeks.
The two partners stayed like this for a while; both recovering from what they had just experienced. And when they felt a sudden unease tighten their throat and twist in their guts, they glanced at their entwined hands and relaxed at the warm contact. Both seemed comfortable with the contact, neither one of them pulling their hand away. The simple gesture was friendly and comforting. She desperately wished that Soul would feel just as preoccupied by the contact as she was. But a glance his way told her the dense Weapon was deeply submersed in his thoughts. Maka even experimentally nudged at their soul bond (similar to how she would during a Soul Resonance), but when his face twisted thoughtfully she quickly recoiled away. Maka let out a sudden sigh which caused Soul to stir beside her. He rose to his feet, pulling his hand away thoughtlessly, yet all too soon. Maka sat up herself, already yearning for his hand to return to hers.
"I spoke with Shinigami-sama today." Soul announced casually, their warm moment already past him.
Maka suppressed a sigh and wished she could feel the same. She wished she could so easily disregard their comforting, enduring moment they had just shared like he had done. And yet, she was unable to persuade herself, as she rested her hand in her lap and gazed at it with a small frown. Maka blinked, realizing Soul had spoken to her. She arched her eyebrows in surprise and titled her head to the side. "Why?"
Soul shrugged. "He told me to have you contact him soon."
Maka nodded and rose to her feet with a slight groan at the ache in her torso.
"What are you doing?" Soul's eyes glowed with curiosity.
"Contacting Shinigami-sama." Maka replied simply as she made her way for the bathroom. She could hear Soul sigh dismally and shuffle after her.
Maka blew her warm breath on the bathroom mirror and wrote in Death's number with her fingertip.
"MMHello Hello!" The Death god hummed in his childish, playful voice as he appeared on screen.
"Good Evening Shinigami-sama!" Maka chimed cheerfully, offering him a smile.
"MAKA! MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER MAKA, HELLO-" A smashed Spirit's face pressed against the bathroom mirror.
"Hmpfh." Maka crossed her arms and glanced away with an indifferent expression.
"Maka..." Spirit cried out and shriveled up in a small ball behind Death-sama who let out a sigh.
Maka rolled her eyes and Soul smirked.
"Anyway!" Shinigami-sama sang, sticking up a big gloved finger. "How have you been, Maka?"
Maka shrugged. "I feel a lot better! I would like to be back in school, but Soul is keeping me on house arrest." Maka grumbled, narrowing her eyes.
Soul growled lowly and grumbled something underneath his breath.
"What was that!?" Maka barked, flinging her hand in the air to warn him of his impending Maka-chop. She grinned when he cringed away with a grimace.
"I've meant to ask you something, Maka." Death-sama hummed thoughtfully, his childish mask indifferently watching the young-adult partners bickered like they did years ago. "I know you're in recovery and I'm sorry for asking you too soon, but I have a very important mission I would like you to do for me. I originally wanted your father and Stein to do it, but Stein declined." The Death god sighed and his mask contorted in an irritated frown as he vigorously swatted away black clouds that floated around him from the very depressed Spirit. "Well you see, the only other Death-Scythe who can go in such short notice is Soul."
"Why won't Professor Stein go?" Maka asked curiously.
The Death god shrugged. "He said he's doing important research." Maka could feel Soul stiffen beside her, but she wasn't sure why. "This isn't any kind of mission Maka, there is quite a bit of traveling involved. You'll be excused from school in the meantime, of course."
"I see." Maka hummed lightly. "I accept your mission, Shinigami-sama!" The teenage Meister quickly confirmed with confidence.
Shinigami-sami nodded and gave a thumbs-up. "Alrightie! I'll have Spirit come by in week to take you to the airport, and explain the details there! Thank you, Maka!" He offered her a wave and she was abruptly facing her bathroom mirror once more.
A moment after speaking with Shinigami-sama, Soul went berserk. Maka jumped in bewilderment when he raised his voice and even more so at his sudden furious outrage. He flew out of the bathroom, throwing his hands in the air has he went. Maka had never seen him so furious with her. She had yet to discover why he was so pissed at her. Apparently, she was "completely ridiculous" to ever agree to such a mission in her state. Maka shook her head as Soul's growls deepened while he stormed about the living room.
"I can take care of myself!" Maka shrieked suddenly, finally silencing his rage.
"No you can't, Maka!" The enraged Weapon shot right back.
Maka's tiny hands jerked into fists at her sides. Her face heated as her own anger boiled within her. "Yes I can!" She replied hotly, feeling her ribs ache at her loud voice. "I am capable of-"
"God damn it Maka!" Soul clenched his jaw and jammed his fists into his pockets. His crimson eyes narrowed and he quickly made a sour face when she returned the glare. "What can you do by yourself? You need a weapon to fight, you need me!"
"Where were you, Soul, on Halloween!?" Maka shrieked hoarsely, feeling tears pool at the corners of her eyes and dribble down her cheeks."Where were you when I got beaten so badly I'm like this!" Maka cried, pointing at her ribs and bandaged wrist. "I relied on you Soul... and you weren't there." Maka's voice broke into a sudden cry. She recoiled away from Soul when he extended an arm and bolted to her room, despite her chest screaming in protest. As soon as she made it to her room she slammed her door and crumpled on her bed.
Maka felt pathetic. How was it she always managed to get in these types of situations? She tried her best to stop crying, but she physically couldn't. How could someone she cared for so deeply, damage her to this badly? She glanced down at her torso, cautiously grazing her fingertips over her healing teenage Meister rubbed her face, dislodging the fat tears that stained her hot face. She knew this was a waste. Why, why had tried so hard to get him to feel anything more for her? Or, not even that, but why did she ever hope that he would eventually reciprocate her feelings? Maka was foolish, and admitting it now only made her feel worse. She cursed the emotional, hormonal teenage disaster she had become. With a weary sigh, she dislodged the remaining tears from her stinging eyes for the second time that night. She bent forward and flicked off her bedside lamp, although she wasn't tired. She crawled to the far end of her bed and pulled open the curtains. Grabbing a tangled blanket from her bed she tucked her chin over it and leaned against the window frame. She glanced outside at the world. A thin layer of snow powered over everything as small flurries continued to dance and swirl down from the sky. Above, the moon cast an opaque, creamy glow on the street and the youthful Meister's face. She closed her eyes and let out a long, thoughtful sigh. Had she heard her door open sooner, she would have opened her eyes but when she heard a sudden gruff sigh she jerked upright and snapped open her jade eyes.
Soul stood at the side of her bed in black pajama pants and a loose t-shirt. Both his hands crammed in his pockets and his shoulders slumped in a melancholic way. His white hair tousled around his shaded crimson eyes that gazed at Maka expectantly. His jaw was tense, but his lips pursed in what looked like a depressed pout. Maka wanted to laugh bitterly at him; make him shimmer in his pain. She would have too, if she hadn't noticed the suddenly prominent dark bags that carved beneath his unfathomable eyes. He sighed drearily again, only this time bringing a hand to his disheveled hair and brushing it out of his eyes. For a second his eyes split from their cryptic imprisonment and she saw a glimmer of hurt.
Maka almost blurted out an apology. Almost. She couldn't help but feel responsible for his depressed expression, so naturally she softened, and wanted to apology to him. She tensed; recalling what had happened and her hard stare returned. "What do you want." Maka muttered rather coldly.
Soul grimaced at her tone. He stared at her, desperately willing her to see the sincerity in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Maka." He finally spoke up, lamely.
Maka arched an eyebrow and finally met his gaze. Her heart spluttered uncontrollably. "You think that will make things better, Soul? How can you go from being so kind to me these past couple of weeks and then just like that you hurt me?" Maka whispered, afraid her voice would fail her if she spoke any louder.
Soul took in her words slowly. She was right, he knew she was. But he couldn't confess everything. He didn't even know how to, or even gauge what her reaction would be like. Professor Stein's words echoed in his head. "I don't know..." Soul mumbled quietly, adverting his conflicted gaze for a moment."Maka, can you just trust me?"
Maka watched as he struggled to speak. For the first time, he had dropped his guard on their soul connection. She nudged it curiously and made a small noise of surprise. She felt him. The immense worry he carried on his shoulders. His uncertainty and...fear? "Soul..." Maka murmured, leaning across her bed with an extended hand.
Soul glanced up and immediately took her hand. However, he didn't stop there. He sat down on her bed beside her and carefully wrapped his arms around her trembling frame. He could feel her tense in his arms, but he kept his gentle hold around her waist.
Maka's eyes widened and her entire body froze. She found herself in Soul's soft, careful grip. Maka slowly leaned into him and rested her cheek on his broad shoulder. She could feel his shoulders gently rise and fall and quick beating of his heart underneath his t-shirt. She allowed herself to close her eyes and breathe him in. His smell enveloped her and she released a new fit of hot tears. Maka dropped her own guard and buried her face into his broad shoulder, allowing all the tears she had held in since waking up in the dispensary to release. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she hiccuped into the crook of his neck. She could feel herself shredding; all the careful layers she had masked herself with to avoid the her fragile heart breaking. She was grateful for his silent acceptance, as she felt his hand ever so gently stroke her hair and his other curl around her back. Maka continued to cry until finally, no more tears came. She sniffled quietly, balled her hands in fists and rubbed at her eyes before placing her cheek back on his shoulder tiredly.
Soul pulled himself away from her when he felt her head begin to slide off his shoulder. He placed her down on her bed and pulled her blanket up to cover her. He gazed down at his sleeping Meister with soft crimson eyes before carefully pulling away. He was surprised when a sudden hand caught his wrist in a loose grasp.
Maka blinked open her eyes drowsily and met her Weapon's expectant gaze. She kept her loose grip on his wrist and wordlessly pleaded for him to not move and take his warmth along with him.
Soul took a deep, slightly uneven breath (seeing as he was conscious and not heavily drugged) as he turned back toward her. Wordlessly he climbed back on her bed, only this time pulling her blanket over his body as well. He laid stiff for a moment, soaking in his foreign surroundings. Everything smelled like Maka; the blanket, her pillows and of course, the half-asleep girl beside him. Eventually he relaxed enough to get comfortable, but he would not sleep. Not for a while that is. Soul stiffened when he felt Maka stir beside him. He conjured his courage and rolled on his side to face her.
Maka shifted her weight and carefully moved around on her bed. She was careful not to roll over on any of her ribs. Subconsciously or not, she leaned closer to the body laying beside her and the warmth that wafted from it. She could make out his smell, past her groggy cloud of oncoming slumber. Maka's hand stretched across her bed; the space between them until she found his. She left it beside his, hesitantly sliding her fingers around his. She let out a deep sigh and cupped his hand within both of hers. She brought it back to her face and nuzzled herself into his hand. Maka immediately fell asleep, but not before she heard the soft sigh of contentment close beside her.
.
Now that I have an idea of where the story plot is going guys you have no idea what you're in for. And in the face of such uncertainty, we find our favorite pair realizing what's most important. Hope you enjoyed! Please review, follow and favorite!