Justin wasn't there when they arrived in the gymnasium. Maka took a seat in the bleachers and took out a thick volume to pass the time. Soul decided to warm up without Justin. He turned his arm into the tip of his scythe form. He practiced swinging it around a few times. Swish Swish. He ripped through a practice dummy. Crish.
Soul imagined the endless practice dummies were Justin and went to work. He only paused to shed his shirt and then continued mercilessly dismembering the defenseless dummies. Justin who had appeared, standing just behind Maka noticed how Maka leaned forward with interest. She took in every square inch of his tan muscles glistening with sweat.
When Soul stood, straw still falling around him, panting the gymnasium seemed to echo the dull sounds of his breathing and Justin's headphones. The meister and weapon turned, startled to see him. He clapped slowly and grinned.
During the training Justin did not go easy on the scythe. They danced a dangerous dance. Coming together and clashing and then separating. Maka followed the quick movements and struggled to keep quiet. She wouldn't admit to it but she didn't like the idea of Soul being able to fight without her. It meant he wouldn't need her. And she would be useless without him. Justin got very few scratches but Soul was covered in nicks and gashes all over. Maka was ready to end it and stood up suddenly. Soul responded to the fluctuation in the emotions of her soul and glanced her way. In that moment he was distracted and Justin rushed at him. Justin's guillotine caught at Soul's scar and black blood gushed out. Maka screamed.
"Soul!" She rushed to him. He staggered back, clutching the opening from which black blood was trickling down his chest. Justin looked disapprovingly at the black blood but took Soul onto his back and carried him to the infirmary.
When Soul came to Dr. Stein was sitting with a needle and surgical scissors, sewing up the hole. Just what every boy and girl wants to see when they wakeup. Each stich was painful but he didn't care. He felt more ashamed than he ever had in his life. Justin had creamed him in front of Maka and then carried him to the infirmary! It was probably the worst day of his life, he decided. Worse, he didn't even know what the Dr. had done to him while he was out.
Soul left the infirmary to find Maka and Justin talking just outside. Maka was leaning against the wall and Justin had one arm on the wall to support himself as he leaned down close to her. Soul's stomach dropped. He walked away quietly, trying not to be noticed. Maka caught up with him a little way down the hall and caught his hand.
"Are you ok? Do you need help walking?"
"I'm fine." Soul got his hand loose from hers and she looked away, blushing.
(Maka's POV a minute earlier)
Maka waited impatiently outside the infirmary, wringing her white gloves in her hands. Justin came walking up wearing new clothes because his other ones had gotten blood on them. He wore skinny black jeans and a white shirt. He looked good and he acted like he knew it. Maka glared at him.
"I hope he's ok. I probably should have taken it slower." Maka ignored him.
"I should have taken into account that he's such a young and inexperienced-" The nerve of that guy! Maka couldn't take it.
"You're an asshole! Soul got distracted for a moment and you took advantage!" Justin trapped her against the wall. Maka didn't know but Justin had heard Soul coming toward the door.
"Maybe you need a more experienced weapon to protect you," he breathed.
"Justin…Maka chop!"