Reflex

By vivalarapture

Authors note- *Obligatory humble apology for disappearing and promise to start writing again* This stemmed from re-watching the episode where Kid first comes to the Academy. After the fight, Maka tells Soul to stop getting into dumb fights because he told her the same thing. Got my wheals a'crankin, and this little snipit was born.

"Seriously, Maka? Another one?"

Soul dabbed a cotton ball dipped in alcohol against a scrape on her cheek, trying to look disapproving.

"They had it coming! Did you expect me to just stand there?!"

Soul sighed and leaned back against the couch, tossing the cotton ball onto the coffee table. Maka was glaring at the floor, her hair loose since she ripped out her remaining pigtail when they walked in the door. Her blouse was ruffled and her knuckles were sure to be sore, but she didn't look too worse for wear.

"You've got to stop this, Maka."

Maka removed her eyes from the carpet to point her scowl in his direction, "It's not fair that they get to talk about you like that! They don't have the right!"

Soul rubbed the bridge of his nose, shaking his head, "I don't care what they think! Their opinions don't matter to me."

Maka huffed, her anger still not completely subsided, "It matters to me. They don't know what a great partner you are, what a great person you are! And that's what you are, you know? A person? And a person doesn't deserve to be treated like garbage just because they're a weapon."

Soul noticed the shine in her eyes, and reached over to put a hand on her knee, smiling softly, "Come on, Maka. You know I know that. I'm the coolest guy there is! And a cool guy doesn't get mad about a bunch of kids who don't know anything."

Maka shifted closer to him, her shoulder bumping into his, "I bet if they went to the Academy they'd feel differently. If they knew what we went through to protect them! They wouldn't get all high and mighty. To think that they would say those things about you! We've saved their butts so many times and they don't even know it!"

Soul chuckled despite himself. It wasn't his fault she looked adorable when she was angry. He patted her head and hummed noncommittally.

"We know that. Isn't that all that matters? You don't have to go kick everyones ass that's ignorant about what we do."

Maka ruffled at his comment, but didn't move from her spot. "I did kick her ass, didn't I?"

Soul laughed, thinking for the millionth time that he had chosen the best partner ever, "You did. I can't believe she pulled your hair. What a wuss move."

Maka sat up quickly, clenching her fists, "I know! I've fought KISHINS before and they've never tried to pull my hair!" She puffed out her cheeks and petted a hand slowly through her locks, "That was awful. My scalp is going to ache for days because of that bratty little whelp."

Soul slapped a hand over his mouth and nearly choked on his own spit.

"Did you.. Did you just call her a whelp?!"

Maka glanced up at her cackling partner, her eyebrows raised in confusion, "Yeah? Why is that so funny?"

"Leave it to you to be a nerd in absolutely any situation."

Maka slit her eyes and slapped him upside the head, "You jerk! She was a whelp! What else should I call her?!"

Soul attempted to speak between chuckles, "I don't know.. A bitch? A slut? An stupid hoe, maybe? Isn't that what you're supposed to call a girl you're fighting with?"

Maka stuck her nose in the air, crossing her arms, "I don't know what her sexual habits are like, why would I call her a slut? That is none of my business. She can sleep with as many people as she wants, that has nothing to do with the fact that she's a know it all little ingrate who needs to learn some manners."

Soul threw his head back as he howled with laughter once more, "Life is never boring with you around, you know that?"

Maka's scraped cheeks flushed pink as she tried desperately to be angry with her partner for sort of making fun of her. She pressed herself into the couch, avoiding contact with her sore cranium.

Soul caught his breath and tapped Maka on the forehead, "But seriously, you're partnered with the coolest weapon at the Academy, Maka. You've gotta learn to keep a level head."

Maka glanced up, swatting his hand away, "I know I need to stay calm. But how am I supposed to just listen to all those things and not do anything about it?"

Soul shrugged, smirking down at her, "Just ignore it. That's all you can do. There's no reason to waste your effort like that. They aren't worth our time. We're gunna be the best team at the Academy someday. You're going to make me into a Death Scythe, and we're going to prove all those dumb kids wrong. So why even bother?"

Maka felt her cheek twitching with the effort to conceal her smile. Soul may be an idiot sometimes, but he really did know what to say to make her feel better. She wrapped an arm around his neck, giving him a quick hug.

"You're right, Soul. It's not worth it. I won't get into stupid fights anymore, okay?"

Soul grinned, reciprocating her half armed and adequately awkward hug. "Good. Now we can go into DeathBucks without causing a riot."

Maka giggled, flipping on the television, "Well.. Maybe."