Stein's madness was increasing by the second; there were periods of time when he couldn't even function. However, despite this, it came to his attention that Marie had made a bunch of food for her students….Marie had taken the time out of her day to do that for her students despite how much strain he put on her. Was Marie even human? He pondered all of this as he watched her cook dinner with a rather dead and empty expression. It seemed that it was the only face he could make anymore, other than one that exposed his madness…
"How are you feeling today, Stein?" Marie asked while she stirred something in a pot.
"Fine." Was all he said.
That was always his answer; "fine". Whether he felt that way or not, and he almost always didn't, that was how he answered her. Marie knew he was lying though; he knew that she knew, and he knew that she knew that he knew.
"Think you can stomach something?" she asked kindly.
Of course he could, whether he felt like it or not. Marie took the time to prepare dinner, so the least he could do was eat it; it wasn't going to kill him.
"Yes." He answered.
Marie smiled softly and brought him a simple dish; something that wouldn't be too difficult to choke down.
"Stein….if you're feeling up to it, I'd like to talk to you after you're finished eating." Marie said.
"That'll be fine." Stein answered dully.
He hardly felt human anymore. Sure he wasn't an emotional person to begin with but this…this was different. The only time he felt a sliver of emotion was when it had something to do with Marie.
After finishing his small plate of food, Stein followed Marie into her comfortable room and sat down on the bed next to her. She had insisted on this being the location where they would talk since it was the most comfortable area in the house, but secretly to Stein, it was a bad idea. Despite his emotions fading, the dreams he experienced only intensified. His dreams of Marie became increasingly explicit by the night until they were practically real. He found himself waking up panting, sweating, or with a slightly hued face. Being on a bed; Marie's bed at that; seemed to be the worst option for him right now.
"Stein…your madness is increasing." Marie said finally.
Ah….she finally said something. He had wondered if she ever would.
Stein didn't need to say anything as he knew Marie would continue without him speaking anyway.
"How bad is it right now?" she asked softly.
Still no answer…how could he tell her? How could he possibly explain how he was feeling right now? How could she ever understand what that was like? And would she even be able to handle the truth?
Stein let out a small sound of shock when he felt Marie suddenly wrap her arms around him and rest her head in the crook of his shoulder.
No…this was a terrible idea. But still, Stein felt a surge of warmth…God he had missed that feeling. Yes…a feeling; he was FEELING right now. He began to savor it; who knew when he'd feel this way again? It never ceased to amaze him how human Marie could make him feel; she seemed to connect to her very soul at times. How was it that she was able to do something that no one else could?
"Marie…" he finally said softly. Still though, he didn't return her embrace. He thought about it but his final judgment was that it would be too risky and on top of that his body was feeling so incredibly weak….
"Stein, I'm always going to be here for you. I wish you would talk to me about what was on your mind…" Marie said, rubbing his back.
"If I told you, you would never want to see me again." Stein said blandly.
Marie looked at him with a rather bothered expression as if there were some deep down discomfort in the pit of her stomach and bottom of her heart.
"I could never feel that way. Stein…when are you going to get that?" Marie said, obviously somewhat disappointed and hurt at Stein's comment.
Great; now he had hurt her again. He sure seemed to be good at that.
"You'll leave, Marie. It's to be expected. There is no reason for you to—" Stein was cut off when he felt something strike his face.
When he recovered, he looked up to see Marie with tears in her eye and some finally streaking down her cheeks.
"That's not fair Stein….for you to say something like that!" she cried, finally standing up and rushing out of the room.
Stein suddenly felt a small burst of energy move through him, shocking his nerves. He hadn't felt this motivated in some time. It was enough to alert him to the seriousness of the situation and jolt him to his feet as he almost instinctively pursued Marie.
Before she could make her way out the door, she gasped and made a small whining sound as she felt a strong hand seize her slender wrist. Damn it….
"Stop confusing me!" Marie cried.
She doubted he would understand what that meant. In fact, she had more or less shouted that out just to get the damn thought off her chest. What did it mean? Simple. She was horribly hurt by how his madness was consuming him and frustrated with him that he wouldn't fully trust her…and yet she was so deeply in love with him that it almost hurt.
Despite her thinking that Stein wouldn't understand, he did. He understood what she meant…because he had been experiencing the painful phenomena himself. On one hand he desired so badly to pull Marie into his arms, carry her into his room, place her on his bed, and make love to her so passionately that she would never once doubt his feelings for her again. However, there was the other side of him; that more logical side. That side told him rather bluntly that he should never pursue Marie for he was too dangerous a threat…Marie made his heart soar but it she also ripped apart his brain with indecisiveness.
"I'm sorry." He said finally.
Damn it…he broke his internal promise. He suddenly pulled Marie into his arms, making her gasp softly as he tightened his arms around her small body.
What was she supposed to do? Then Marie came to the conclusion…the one she always did; she would follow her heart; and her heart was telling her to embrace him in return. So that's just what she did. Marie reached around Stein's powerful body and tightened her arms around him almost desperately as she pressed her face into his chest and began to sniffle a bit. She just loved him so much and she hated seeing him fall apart. She hated that she couldn't do more…
"Stein…." She breathed. Should she tell him? Yes….she would. She would tell him… "I love you…" she sighed.
It was said in a rather ambiguous manner so that he wouldn't necessarily take it as a romantic love but simply general affection.
Stein felt his heart rate quicken which Marie could clearly hear through his stitched shirt and smooth flesh.
How was he supposed to respond to that? He knew what he wanted to say…but was that something he could say? No…at least not now.
"I…care for you too…" he said at last, after what seemed like an eternity to Marie.
That would suffice for now; caring. He wanted her to understand at least that much about his inner workings; if he didn't say a thing it would make him seem terribly ungrateful wouldn't it?
"I'm glad…." She said stroking his spine.
Stein couldn't resist shivering a bit from the pleasure of Marie's soothing caresses. It relaxed him, yes, but it also gave him a sort of pleasured feeling. Finally, he brought himself to rub her back just a bit, causing Marie to sigh in contentment.
After a few more moments like that, they separated, but much to Marie's alarm, Stein wasn't done with her. Carefully, as not to miss or frighten her, Stein leaned forward and planted a kiss on Marie's right cheek. Marie gasped a blushed. He…he…kissed her? Marie was amazed to say the least. And the kiss was more perfect than she could have imagined. It was firm enough to be recognizable as a sincere symbol of affection, but was somehow light as a feather as well.
She remembered; Stein had only kissed her one other time…that was on the cheek as well…back on her sixteen birthday. He hadn't gotten her a present due to his lack of experience in doing such things…so when he asked her what exactly would satisfy her, she had asked for a kiss on the cheek. She had been shocked at the time that he complied, but she was shocked even more now. She hadn't even asked him; he simply took the initiative on his own.
"I think I'm going to rest…" Stein said.
Of course that was a lie as well; Stein hadn't been sleeping well at all. It was more an excuse to leave his current situation.
"Wait." Marie said, stopping him from leaving for a moment. "Just…one more thing." She said with a smile.
Ever so sweetly, Marie leaned up and pressed her lips against his left cheek. It was quick but full of her warmth and sweetness.
"Now…go and get some rest." Marie said smiling.
With that, Stein returned her smile; the first one he had managed in what seemed like an eternity. And for that one night, Stein slept more soundly than he had in years…
(A/N: XD writing this made me blush. Wow I feel so lame lol oh well whatever. Ugh, still working on 5 stories at once, but it's still fun . Once I wrap some of these current fanfics up, I'll be starting another one. If you're a Hetalia fan, then get excited, because that is my next project! :D Be writing more soon! Thanks for all your reviews!)