SHOUTOUTS AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER, as promised.
Hai guys. I could've done better, I know. Not so ecstatic about this chapter but I wanted to get it in since editing and altering the thing would take too long and I hate to keep people waiting. Anywho, I hope y'all had an AWESOME Christmas!
This chapter has switched point of views, so the name in bold and caps is whose mindset you'll be in.
Disclaimer: Do I even have to say it
MAKA
Maka was sitting on a leather recliner in the corner of a large room. This particular room only consisted of said chair and a couch; near the corner opposite of her.
She was the only person there. But untold reasons led her to believe she wasn't exactly alone. Gazing towards the couch, she wondered how it would differ from where she was currently seated. Curious, she stood up and stalked over to it; senses growing increasingly uneasy with each passing step. She was about halfway across the room when bam, she ran smack into something.
Taking two steps back, Maka looked quizzically in front of her. There wasn't anything there that she could've run into... Unless...
Reaching out her hands, Maka cautiously inched forward until she was stopped by an unknown force. It was as if her palms were leaning against an invisible wall that prevented her from getting to the couch. Furrowing her brows in concentration, Maka followed the invisible border with the guidance of her fingers, soon finding that the barrier split the room directly down the middle.
With a bit of annoyance, she pulled her hands off the 'wall' and sat back on the recliner. Observing the couch silently, Maka began to doze off, falling in and out of consciousness when she heard a strained voice from the far side of the room. It was an almost inaudible mumble, but what it said rang clear through her ears: "beautiful..."
Shooting out of bed with a gasp and a near-choke, Maka took in a lungful of air as she attempted to regain a normal breathing pattern. Her hair clung to her forehead in a mass of sweat, as did her thin clothes to her body. Her blanket was tangled around her torso and feet as if she'd been tossing and turning violently while asleep; and she didn't doubt it, either. She remembered clearly her dream; the only thing she couldn't explain, though, was why it offset her so much. It wasn't a necessarily scary vision, it was just... Eerie.
SOUL
Heaving for the air that lay still around him, Soul was pulled into the harsh reality of darkness as he sat up in the uncomfortable bed provided by the Institution. The transition from the dream state to waking up was never easy on him; for, in his dreams, Soul was prepared to swear he could see. He was never prepared though, to be pulled out of the light and beautiful sights so abruptly only to be swallowed by a darkness so intense and thick that even a lightsaber couldn't penetrate.
Rubbing his betraying eyes with the base of his clammy hands, Soul did everything he could to recompose his latest dream, but to no avail. The only thing he remembered clearly about the dream was a distinct beauty that he couldn't describe even if he could see and it was placed directly in front of him.
Giving up quickly as he had become accustomed to doing so throughout his life, Soul decided he'd try to catch a few more z's before he officially had to get up in the morning. He didn't know what time it was, but since no nurse had come to wake him up yet, he figured it was safe to lean back into his pillows and pull his blanket over the top of his head in a failed attempt to make sleep - which in his mind, meant sight - come faster.
MAKA
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy! But here's my number, so call me –
"NO." Maka growled as she slapped her radio-set alarm clock off; signaling the end of having time to herself and the beginning of having to get up and interact with people. Not that she could really complain, she had been eagerly awaiting the moment she'd finally get to meet Soul; the unseeing person of whom she'd be now spending most of her time with.
Slinking out of her bed, Maka took the quickest shower she could, then wrapped herself in an overly fluffy towel and padded over to her closet. Swinging the door open, she chose to keep her outfit simple – a white quarter sleeve button up blouse, and a pair of washed out skinny jeans that bunched at the bottom nicely to welcome her favorite white Toms. Pulling her hair into her signature pigtails, she graced over to the mirror to apply a thin layer of powder and a touch of mascara before stepping back to take in her whole aura.
She wasn't the tallest of girls, nor was she the most developed. Growing up, she didn't see any problem with how she looked or why it mattered, but on numerous occasions Maka was simply overlooked because of her outward appearance. Turning this way and that, trying to see herself from every angle, Maka huffed and convinced herself that someone would eventually see past her looks; (her temper at times, as well) and to her heart.
Eyes glued to the mirror, she tucked in her shirt this way but thought that doesn't look right, she tried again but thought the other way looked better… and soon she was taking part in a hands on battle with the drape of her blouse that just wouldn't cooperate. That is, until her phone alarm went off that she set just in case, as if to say 'if you don't leave the flat now you're going to be late, so get your butt moving.'
Practically flying through the apartment, Maka managed to grab her purse, a bag she had pre-stocked with books, and keys before running to her car and racing to The Springs. Being late on your first day is never the example you want to set…
Arriving just at the nick of time, Maka visibly relaxed as she stepped out of her Kia and into the third building where she'd at last get to meet Soul.
SOUL
"Soul wake up, your nurse will be here any minute and this is not what you want her to expect of you after meeting just once." Groaning and rolling over in his bed, the light of his dreams that Soul nearly fed off of to live began to fade away as he was woken up by the temporary assistant. He wouldn't have to deal with the annoying mess of gossip and fake friendliness after today though… unless of course that's what his new nurse would be like.
He hadn't heard much about her, except that she was in fact a female, and that her name was Maka Albarn. Supposedly she was 21 and was given a position here to better prepare her for real-hospital shit. The thing he liked most about what he heard though, was that she loved to read.
Being blind, Soul was handicapped to a lot of things; including easy reading… unless he wanted to get a Braille book, but no one could understand how much he loathed those things. So, on rare occasions when someone would have the heart to sit and read a tale to him for hours, well, he didn't know how to describe it. To him, books were other-worldly universes within themselves, and that by reading them he could in fact live in that world for the few short hours that the story lasted.
But he wouldn't ever admit this to anyone. Soul's love for books was closeted, replaced by his 'love' for music.
Sure, he loved to play the piano. But he never managed to live up to his foster parents' expectations; therefore, he'd only play if he wasn't being judged.
"Ow, hey!" Soul jumped, being pulled from his thoughts after having something thrown at him. "Just get changed in order to look presentable, Soul. Go on, get to it." Ordered the laundry woman who always made a point to throw the clothing at the patients. He didn't know why, none of them did, but they didn't necessarily care either.
Scowling nonetheless, he changed into the t-shirt and shorts that fit just a bit too snug before settling back on his bed; half-heartedly considering jumping out the window and leaving this place for good – until he heard it.
A voice. He hadn't heard it before; but it seemed oddly familiar in a sense. It sounded right outside his door, and before he could dwell on it, there was another person in his room. And for some strange reason he didn't want them to leave.
MAKA
After grabbing Soul's medicine and breakfast as Patty had instructed the day before, Maka did what she could to find Soul's room as quickly as possible. She wasn't good at introductions, and she was hoping to get that part over with soon. Anyway, she'd be having to spend all day with him; might as well attempt a friendship.
After locating room 203, Maka was met outside by a girl who held a temporary position as a helper at the Institution. The girl wasn't very specific, but she gave Maka enough heads up to know what not to do when first meeting Soul:
1. Don't rush in and start talking. Keep your voice to a minimum until he's completely aware you're there. You may startle him. 2. He's going to have questions and he may have odd requests… just go with them.
Nodding and expressing her thanks, Maka timidly entered the bland room marked 203.
Letting the door close quietly behind her, she tried to take a look at her surroundings, but honestly couldn't because of the boy seated on the bed in front of her. He had white hair that was messily spiked to the side and skin slightly tanner than hers. A bit of muscle could be seen through the thin cotton layer of his dark grey t-shirt, and by the looks of how he was positioned, he was tall. Eyes ravaging his body, Maka blushed and shook her head attempting to keep her voice even when speaking, "Hello." There. Short, sweet and to the point.
SOUL
Lazy smile forming at his lips at the delicate sound of her voice, Soul opened his eyes tiredly; the simple motion acting in time with an audible gasp that was lost at the walls enclosing the two. Panic mode preparing to be set in, Soul sat up straight and hurriedly spoke, "Is something wrong?"
"No!" The girl exclaimed a bit too fast, taking a few moments to rethink her words before admitting, "I mean, nothing's wrong. Just, your eyes. I've never seen a more brilliant shade of red on anything."
"Oh," he murmured, sinking back into his previous position, "Sorry for startling you then, I guess. But anyway, uhm, I'm Soul." Blindly reaching out a hand in her general direction, Maka had to take some steps forward to accept the shake and to reply, "Maka. I'll be your nurse, but I bet they've already told you that."
Enjoying her somewhat timid nature, Soul allowed himself a real smile when he replied, "They told me something like that."
Smiling although Soul couldn't see it, Maka dramatically let out a sigh of relief as she told him, "Well good! I didn't want to be like some random girl coming in to your room wasting your time. But anyway," She stopped short, fumbling over her words because she spoke too fast out of nerves, "Now's about the time you're supposed to take your medicine, right? I've got it here for you."
Nodding, he accepted the few pills Maka handed to him, and after having took them, he beckoned her to take a seat on the bedside chair to try to allow her as much comfort as his room would allow. Once he was sure she was alright, he asked, "Do you think you could tell me if I'm not looking directly at you? Not trying to be weird, but some people get freaked out if I'm not looking straight at them or whatever. I think I'm okay at it, though."
"You're fine, Soul. No need to worry about that anyway, I don't mind."
"I'm glad. But, hey, So far this has been pretty one-sided. You get to see me, but I don't get to see you. If it's not too weird for you, do you think you could out my hands on your face? It's uh, how I get to know people I guess…" He trailed off timidly, wondering why he'd even asked that question – he figured he should've jumped out the window when he had the chance. So not cool.
MAKA
Trying to settle her blush from the request, Maka replied in the affirmative and took a hold of Soul's piano-worn hands with her own smaller ones. When their hands made contact, Soul flinched at the unknown but not unwelcome feeling as Maka led his them to her cheeks.
She watched Soul as his hands ran delicately over the contours of her face, wondering what he might be thinking. He had shut his eyes and had a look of concentration etched across his features as he diligently managed to engrave what he could 'see' of her in his mind.
At Maka's wonder, he gently pulled his hands back and made one single comment on how he pictured her that no one had ever told her before, "You're dazzling."
Shoutouts, which I love doing:
Israelle ParadiseIsis Hypnosis: Chapter 3, here! Glad you found it interesting(:
Raq90: Thank you so much! It makes me so happy that you consider this a good SoMa fic
JellyRain: Thank you, and I know exactly what you mean! I've got a mini dachshund puppy and I'm constantly tripping over her! I feel so terrible
Kaoru97: I hope it's no crime to love Soul, cause if it is, I'm guilty as charged! Yes, of course! I'm actually reading a few of yours at the moment (you should see all the open tabs on my iPhone… all your fics)
hotakugirl1996: tysm, continued!
oxo bunnies: I've never seen Silence of the Land, I'll have to watch it now! Here's another chapter for you to read!
Superpixie11: Thank ya girll!(;
Aqua Cahill: Thank you! Updated(:
emilykim1504: Thank you! I changed it to 'Patty' but watch me change it back later. Of course, and AH I had to! Soul is most definitely a closeted bookworm, I just know it.
Hope I got everyone and I hope I spelled your usernames right! Probably a disappointing update but yanno. Nothing I can do now.
Review for Shoutout, yo.