Soul sighed. He really wanted another drink to make it through this conversation, but he really shouldn't; he wanted to make sure Maka got home safely, and she was already wasted.

"But if you think about it, under this current administration and in the socioeconomic climate, are we all not dogwalkers to some extent?"

Soul closed his eyes. This was gonna be a long night.

Maka had said her publishing company always threw a party for New Years and they were decently fun; at least, the food was free. But Soul had been running late, having traveled back from his parents' house earlier that day, and by the time he got there, Maka had already had enough punch for three people.

"My friend Liz made me have it," she had giggled into his ear, an arm slung over his shoulder as she swayed against him. But the next moment, she had disappeared into the crowd again, and an older man had cornered Soul.

The man adjusted his glasses, peering into Soul's face. "Would you say that free market capitalism is the equivalent of picking up dog waste?" It was hard to take the man seriously with the large teddy bear head sewn onto his sweater.

"Soul, right?" said someone behind him, and Soul turned. A young man with dark hair extended his hand to him. "Maka's boss. You can call me Kid."

The young man had an odd look about him too, what with the weird dyed hair, but he at least did not seem interested in discussing Nietzsche and how he related to the decline of the people owning cats, so Soul shook his hand gratefully.

"Maka has said good things," Kid assured him.

"Um, glad to hear it," Soul said. Kid smiled.

"Ah, I knew Maka in college; we were friends before we were coworkers."

"Oh, nice," replied Soul, but Maka chose that moment to appear at Kid's elbow.

"Kid doesn't drink," Maka said a little too loudly, pointing at the glass in his hand. "This is just for show." She made to grab it, but Kid gently moved it out of her grasp.

"I think Maka could use some water," he said to Soul, who took her by the elbow. "It was nice meeting you, Soul, however briefly."

Soul steered Maka away from the party, searching for a water fountain. The firm had rented out a ballroom in a hotel, but the open bar only served alcohol. Maka was chattering away, talking about all her coworkers, and Soul tried to keep her as far away from anyone's earshot as possible. Her friend Liz waved at her and sent a wink Soul's way. He nodded as they passed and made their way into the hallway. To his relief, he spotted a water fountain.

"You should have some, Maka." She peered up at him through the gloom suspiciously. "C'mon, you don't want to have a horrible hangover."

She tapped him on the nose and turned to take a drink, tripping a little on her heels. She stuck her face in the stream of water and drank noisily. Soul rolled his eyes with a smile; she was definitely going to feel it in the morning.

"I don't want these," she said, dropping to the floor unceremoniously and undoing the small clasps of her shoes. She forgot to cross her legs; her panties were dark purple. Maka held them out to him.

"You want me to carry them?"

"Yes," she said, clambering up and making her way further down the darkened hall. She turned into a room and Soul followed, watching her weave her way to the window. She leaned against it heavily.

"How're you feeling?" Soul asked.

"Mmph," she replied, and Soul chuckled. He set her heels down on the table and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I am drunk," she said.

Soul laughed. "I know, Maka."

"You're not."

"Not really, no."

She turned in his arms, frowning slightly. "You are not drinking because you're trying to take care of me, and that is very nice." She patted his shoulder clumsily. "You are very nice."

Suddenly, Maka put her hands on his cheeks and held him steady, staring straight into his face. "Yes?" Soul asked through slightly smushed lips.

"You are also really nice because you haven't made a big deal about us not having sex yet."

"Oh," he said, dumbfounded.

She inspected him closely. "Do you want to?"

"I mean-"

"Do you like me?"

"Maka-"

She started twisting against him, grinding their hips together, and while it felt amazing, he moved his hands against her back to hold her still.

"Maka, Maka, you're too drunk. We're not gonna do this right now."

"Are you not-" she began, and he was surprised to her a thickness in her voice. Her eyes were damp.

"What's wrong?"

Laying her forehead against his shoulder, Maka shuddered in his arms. Soul started to rub her back in slow circles. After a few minutes of listening to her breathing even out, Soul gently tapped her.

"Maka? Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Not unless I have another drink."

"I don't think that's a great idea."

"You are probably right."

"I think so, yeah."

"What should we do?"

"I think we should get you home."

"Oh," she said. "Where are my shoes?"

Soul chuckled again. "I have them."

He managed to get her into her heels again, but she was still half asleep as they made for the coats. Mr. Teddy Bear seemed to want to corner him again, but Soul managed to loudly announce he was taking Maka home. "Happy New Year!" Liz shouted, clapping him on the back (she still had a drink her hand and appeared to still only be getting started). Maka smiled sleepily as Soul wrapped his arms around her, nodding to the taxi cab pulled up next to the building.

The trip back to Maka's apartment was harrowing, in part because of the freshly fallen snow and in part because of how green she looked ("please just hang in there Maka, it's only a few more blocks, please don't throw up yet"), but they made it back without too much excitement.

"Need me to walk you in?"

"I'm just gonna go vomit," she slurred. "I think I can handle it. You work tomorrow, right?"

"Bright and early," he winced. "Or at least, early for me."

She leaned forward without warning, smashing her lips against his. Maka straightened before he could ease into the kiss. "Bathroom," she said, then disappeared into her building. Soul smiled, shaking his head and touching his lips, where her lipstick had smeared across his face.

His phone rang the next morning, jolting him awake. Soul cursed, checking his alarm clock: 8:37. But the name on the screen read "Maka Albarn" and there was her picture, taken as she leaned over Oni on one of Soul's walks. He didn't need to be up for another two hours, but he answered anyway.

"'Lo?"

"Please tell me I did not say what I think I said last night."

Soul flung an arm across his face to shield his eyes. "Sorry," he croaked.

Maka let out a groan in his ear as he laughed tiredly. "Can we talk?" she asked, voice scratchy through the phone.

"Can I wake up first?"

She laughed gently. "How about I meet you for the walk?"

Maka met him on his usual route (it wasn't an Oni day, thankfully, so he was able to walk at a normal pace). She was nursing a Styrofoam cup of coffee and a hangover, and her makeup from the night before was smudged across her face, but she smiled warmly at him.

They walked with his pack of dogs for a few blocks, chatting amiably, until Soul finally cleared his throat and said, "So... about last night..."

Maka sighed. "I'm so sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," he said quickly.

"No, but I made things really awkward. That wasn't my intention. It's just... my last break up was... complicated."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, I do. I just... well." She took another sip of coffee. "I dunno."

"How long ago was it?"

"Last spring. I mean, we hadn't been picking out curtains yet, but I did like him... sorry, I know new boyfriends don't like hearing about old ones."

Soul tugged on one of the leashes. "Naw, don't worry about it. If it's on your mind, I'd rather know."

She smiled at him, and it was such a genuine smile that Soul couldn't help but grin back. He got so distracted that one of the dogs managed to drag him across a patch of ice. He windmilled his arms as he struggled to remain upright. Maka's peals of laughter echoed against the barren trees.

"Don't even have Oni to blame for making a fool of myself," Soul grumbled.

"No, but it's adorable anyway," chortled Maka. She held out her coffee, and after juggling the leads for a moment, Soul was able to grab it and take a swig. Maka took it back and drank from it herself again.

"Okay, I needed to see that."

"Glad I could amuse you."

"You always do." She gazed down at the plastic top, picking at it with her fingernail. "Okay. Well. My ex's name is James. James Gopher."