Author's Note: Here's that extra lengthy drabble I promised everyone! Hopefully it's to all of your liking :)
Disclaimer: I don't own it! Trust me.
Soul didn't bother to hide his annoyance at the on-going situation. Standing there in his trademark black pinstripe tux and sulking scowl, he stared across the dance floor at the object causing him so much inner grief. He let the glass of wine sway in his hand, tipping it back and forth carefully as his crimson eyes narrowed and zoomed in on his current bother. A young man, with clearly no innocent intentions, was stood over his meister. A sleazy sort of smile on his seemingly charming features and an arrogant posture to boot. Maka, like the smart girl that she was, saw right through this act and was attempting to leave the sleaze's sight and return to Tsubaki and Chrona whom she had been talking to moments prior. "That's flattering, but I uh, have to go." She attempted, easing her way backwards after rejecting another one of his numerous advances.
But the guy couldn't seem to take a hint as he faked a disappointed look her way and edged closer, alcohol heavy in his breath. "Ah, please. Stay awhile, I haven't even gotten your name." He said with a voice laced in honey. As if that would convince her to stay. The wine glass in Soul's hand threatened to crack as he set it down harshly on the buffet table, stalking off to give the guy a piece of his mind, and maybe even his fist too. He barely even heard Kid and Black*Star calling his name from behind him.
Maka, opening her mouth to retort, saw the white haired young weapon before the other man did and could tell right away there was going to be bloodshed. "I hardly think the lady is interested." Maka pressed a hand over her green eyes, sighing as she counted very slowly in her head before lifting it to see the man who had been pestering her down on the floor with a line of blood down his cheek from where Soul's half-transformed arm had cut him. "Soul!" Maka protested, sighing exasperatedly at her weapon's quick temper. "What?" He replied, an almost innocent smirk on his face, sharp teeth barely showing through his curled upper lip.
"I had it handled." She said, flinching at the wine red eyes staring back at her. His face was drawn into a small scowl, eyes flickering from his meister's face to the trembling man on the floor who had throughout their bickering been sliding backwards on the floor to get away unnoticed. Unfortunately for him he wasn't exactly the quietest escapee. "And just where do you think you're going?" Soul inquired, scythe-transformed arm scraping precariously closer to the man's groin. "I-I wasn't doing anything! Honest. We were just talking."
He squawked, hands flying to cover his unmentionables and his face. Maka scoffed and rolled her eyes, silk gloved covered hands moving to rest on Soul's upper arm gently. "Come on Soul, I'm exhausted. Take me home?" She asked, emphasizing her claim as she let loose a long yawn, accompanied by a sleepy fluttering of her eyelashes. Soul grunted and just as quickly as his arm had transformed, it returned to his regular flesh and bone, cracking his knuckle as he eyed the near-passed out jerk with contempt. "Word to the wise, stay away from my meister. Next time I won't be so pleasant." He bit out, his words laced with hidden venom.
He turned briskly towards Maka, folding his arm around her's and leading her away from the dance floor and towards the exit of the grand ballroom. He didn't pay heed to the numerous stares following their retreating backs, including their slightly confused friends. "Tsk, tsk Soul. You should learn to control yourself." Maka muttered, too tired really to give him a proper lecture or put up much of a fight at his strong grip on her arm. That and really, she hadn't minded the look of utter terror on the man's face. It served him right for his earlier actions and dumb persistence.
Soul chuckled and curled his arm around her a little tighter, his aura radiating protectiveness. "Yeah? Well what happened to you 'handling' it?" He shot back, watching her stumble along, leaning further into his side as they trekked back to their shared apartment. "He was harmless. Honestly what did you expect, that'd I'd be whisked away and held captive somewhere?" She inquired past a yawn, eyes fluttering shut every so often as they walked. She knew it was a bad idea to stay up so late the night before.
"Pfft…hardly." Soul said darkly, eyes narrowed as they approached the front steps to their apartment building. "Soul…I appreciate that you worry for me, but I'm not a little girl anymore." Maka said, taking her arm from Soul's and digging through her small clutch for the keys. "I know that. That's what worries me most." She paused, looking up from searching as she looked at Soul's rather serious face, his free hand running through his slightly disheveled white hair.
"Nevermind, here." He said gruffly, reaching out to pluck her purse from her hands and took out the keys, twisting them into the lock and holding the large metal door open for her. After she made no move to walk further, he sighed heavily and set his hands on her shoulders, pushing her through the door gently after handing her back the small purse. He'd already pocketed the keys for later. Once they were both inside he let the door close behind them, warm air rushing around them. A strong contrast to the brisk air they had been in just seconds before. Maka kept her mouth shut as they continued up the stairs to their apartment, keeping the small clutch to her chest and burrowing her nose into the soft material of her scarf. Once they had reached the apartment door Soul unlocked the door and ushered her inside, sliding out of his own coat and depositing the article of clothing in the hallway closet followed by Maka's.
She toyed with a curled strand of ash-blonde hair, twisting it around her pinky finger as she watched him loosen his tie with an aggravated growl before turning his crimson eyes on her apple greens. "What?" He asked his voice considerably less aggravated now that they were home. "You've been acting funny lately, not counting tonight." Maka mused, lips curving upward in an amused smile as she watched his pianist hands lower from his shirt collar and back to his sides. "How so?" Soul inquired, arching a silver-white brow in her direction before side-stepping her and entering the kitchen to make some tea. She shrugged, letting out a soft sigh as she let her hands drop to her sides and stretched, whining softly when she felt her joints pop.
Huffing a little, she turned to give her partner a curious glance, watching him sift through the cabinet for cups before turning to walk into her bedroom to change. Once she had changed out of the long cocktail dress and into a pair of deep purple pajama pants and an old faded blue sweatshirt she returned to the main room to find Soul already sitting on the couch, cup of tea to his lips and a second cup resting on the coffee table in front of him. She guessed there was no use prying, he would tell her what was bothering him eventually. After settling on the couch beside him, she reached over to take the cup into her hands, bringing the mug to her lips and blowing softly before taking a slow sip.
She could feel his eyes penetrating the side of her head and she sighed, setting the cup back down on the coaster it had previously occupied before putting on a small smile and looked at her partner. "Yes?" She asked using her most innocent and sweet voice that she could muster. The action went unnoticed by Soul as he rolled his eyes and set his own cup down, reaching out to pull her legs over his lap and pat one of her knees affectionately. "I'm sorry. You're being very patient with me." He finally said, keeping his red eyes on hers. Maka shrugged, folding her hands together over his own hand. "Years of arguments have finally taught me that Maka Chops don't work all the time after all." She said playfully, smiling in amusement again.
Relief washed over her when she saw the easy grin tug at Soul's lips, chuckling softly as he nodded and squeezed their connected hands before leaning against the back of the couch. "Guess I went a little overboard tonight, huh?" He inquired an almost sheepish look on his face. She wondered if he didn't think it cool enough to even admit that. "Well, to be honest I was starting to wish someone would knock some sense into his head. I should thank you I guess." She joked, shrugging as she let a small yawn escape. Now she really regretted putting in all those extra hours studying. Soul smirked and rolled his eyes again as he gently pushed Maka's legs off, holding his hand out to her after standing up.
She took it gratefully, letting him pull her up effortlessly and leaned against his chest for a moment. She sighed contently and smiled brightly as she hugged him tightly before letting go. "Get some sleep; I know you stayed up late last night too." She mock lectured, biting back a giggle at the small scoff Soul let out. "Same goes for you bookworm. Goodnight." He muttered, smiling as he pushed her towards her bedroom and pressed his lips against the top of her head gently. Tomorrow he'd apologize properly, explain to Kid and Black*Star what exactly had happened and maybe (just maybe) find a way to make it up to them for stalking out the way he did. But that was work for tomorrow he decided, yawning himself and heading towards his own bedroom. It could wait.