Her flirtatious giggles and his husky chuckles darted in and out of her ears, one to the other, torturing her with their slightly sensual merry-making. The way his eyes brightened when she entered the room, and only when she did, grinned menacingly at her, shattering even her most intimate and pleasurable daydreams. The sight of them strolling through the halls of Shibusen, arm-in-arm, glowing and glorious, haunted her at night. She couldn't take it or later, she'd have to admit it to herself. She'd have to admit the truth: no matter how many times she told herself it would never happen, that she could never even like him that way, much less love him…

Somehow, in the course of these past few weeks, (only weeks? It felt like months. Even years.) she had found that her inner walls were wearing and crumbling. She was completely vulnerable, even if it was only within herself for now, but, if someone were to pop the question….she knew denying it was pointless. It would be written all over her face before she could lift a finger or say a word.

She, Maka Albarn, one-star meister and partner to Shibusen's current youngest Death Scythe, was in love, and, as fate would have it, she was in love with none other than the scythe himself.

"Death. I hate being a teenager."

It was on a particularly late Friday evening, after a particularly stressful and emotion-laden day, that her walls finally fell completely to the ground.

At 11:38 pm, Soul Eater strolled through their front door, a particularly satisfied gleam in his eye leaving hints as to what he and his date had been up to for the past few hours.

He strutted to the couch where Maka sat reading, but a dark grimace crept onto her face with each step he took toward her. Only when the weapon plopped down next to his meister did he register her disgruntled appearance, and even then he only tossed her a, "What's eatin' you, Book Worm?"

"Oh, nothing much," she bit back bitterly. "I was just thinking…" When she trailed off, he took that as an invitation to fill the air between them.

"Well, Skye and I had a great time tonight," he flashed that toothy grin of his as he reflected on the past few hours. "Dinner was delicious. That girl really knows how to pick a great restaurant. Then we saw this movie…I don't really know what it was about…" His grin turned devilish and menacing. "Then we walked around the park for a bit, just talking about random junk. It was great though. She knows how to turn the lamest topics into something that's totally interesting. She's the greatest girl, Maka. I really think you'd like her." He sighed, and it was just loud enough to block out Maka's disagreeing huff. He rambled on, his eyes faraway. "I know it's only been a few weeks, but I really know how I feel about Skye. I'm in love with her."

That was the final blow that sent Maka's fortress to the floor.

"Will you just shut UP already?!" Her voice was harsh, hostile, and it completely took him by surprise. "Yeah, Skye's awesome okay?! She's beautiful and smart and interesting and just the greatest girl on the entire planet! I get it, Soul."

"Maka-"

"But does she really even know anything about you?!" She thundered before he could stop her. "Does she really know anything at all, about YOU, Soul? Besides what kind of kisser you are or how hard your biceps are? Does she?!" With each word, her voice grew louder, more powerful, and, before she knew it, tears were escaping from the corner of her eyes and sliding down her cheeks, soaking her blouse.

"Does she know that strawberries are your favorite food, and that you really like them without sugar because you love the sensation the tartness gives you? Does she know that you drool in your sleep because your teeth still don't quite fit into your mouth like they should? Does she know that you have a horrible relationship with your family; that your parents practically disowned you because you weren't perfect at the piano? Does she know that you and your brother were really close until he became famous, but even now you still look up to him? Does she know that you ran away from home and came to Shibusen the moment you learned about your weapon blood? Does she know that your lactose intolerant, but you drink milk straight from the carton anyway because you love it, despite your allergy? Does she know that your favorite type of music is jazz, and that, even though you play piano, the saxophone is really your favorite instrument because you love how lively and rhythmic is sounds? Does she know that you hate your eyes and your hair because they remind you so much of the family you try to forget? Does she know that you have black blood, and that a little demon exists inside of your mind that could overtake you at almost any moment?" She breathed, choking back a sob, and continued in a smaller voice. "Does she…does she know about all the times that you saved my life? About how you nearly died for me so many months ago in Italy? About how you used your own body to protect me from Stein's blow? About how you pulled me out of the madness when we fought Crona the second time? About how you saved me from myself when we fought those demonic clowns? About-"

She finally stopped herself when she realized that he was staring at her, his eyes wide with disbelief, confusion, and awe. Suddenly embarrassed beyond belief, she hid her face behind her book, wiping viciously at her eyes and nose. How could she just lose control like that? After a stunt like that one, there was no going back, no hiding the fact that she-

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his growling tone erupting into raucous laughter. He just laughed and laughed, filling the air around them with the low tones of his voice. Now it was her turn to be confused. What was so funny about this? About any of it? About anything she had just said? With each additional guffaw, she felt her face grow warmer and warmer, and, when he didn't stop, she slowly began to raise her book, poised and ready for a particularly painful Maka Chop! However, before she could strike, he suddenly leaned toward her, enveloping her in his arms and pulling her to his chest.

He rested his chin on her head and murmured teasingly, but affectionately, "Looks like you have a lot of crazy junk stuffed into that brain of yours." He released her and gazed into her glistening emerald eyes. "And I'm not really sure how you know a lot of that stuff about me…" He paused. "And it's totally uncool to lose yourself like that." He held up his hands in a sign of peace as her book made its way toward his cranium. "But...I guess it is kind of cool that you care about me so much." He grinned devilishly. "It's like having my own little fanclub. You're like the president and founding member...Or well, only member, I guess...But that's okay, because you're the only member I really...want to have...um..." His cheeks were an uncharacteristic shade of scarlet by now as he smiled sheepishly at her. "I guess what I'm saying is...I like you, too, Maka."

Throwing down her book to suppress the urge to Maka Chop him from pure embarrassment, Maka leaned toward him and pressed her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him in to her. He returned the kiss with passion, sliding his arms to her waist and allowing himself to be brought in to her. Once they pulled back, each offered the other a slightly self-conscious chuckle, but the stillness in the air was immediately shattered by the shrill tone of Soul's phone receiving a text.

Maka's face fell as she muttered, "That's probably Skye. You should answer her…"

"Oh don't worry. I will." Reaching into his pocket, Soul withdrew his black cell phone and unlocked the keyboard, typing furiously and cracking a wicked grin as he did so."There." He finished, satisfied with his words. "Well," he started. "It's not cool at all to break up with a girl through a text message, so I guess I'll have to save it for later." He grinned. "But it's totally cool to have two girlfriends!" He declared, his eyes flashing with amusement.

"Soul!" Maka cried. "You-" She erupted into laughter when she finally realized he wasn't serious about the second statement. "You goofball." She sighed contentedly and snuggled into him as he draped his arm around her shoulders. As they settled onto their scarlet loveseat to cruise the channels on their TV, the teens allowed soft smiles to settle on their lips. Morning would find them in the same spot, Soul snoring softly and resting his cheek on Maka's head, and Maka blissfully asleep, her head resting against her lover's strong shoulder.