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Prompt #4: Church - They couldn't look at one the same way ever again.

Words: 536

The pair stood ramrod-straight on the sidewalk, staring up at the building as if waiting for it to lunge out and attack. Soul glanced over at his meister and back at the church, then cleared his throat and said, "Ecclesiophobia."

Maka looked over at her weapon partner. "Come again?"

"Ecclesiophobia. It means fear of churches."

"I know what it means," she snapped. Biting her lower lip, she shook her head and quickly added, "Sorry, I didn't mean to - "

"Hey, I know," Soul said gently. "I know, Maka."

"It's just - " Her gaze landed on Soul's chest and couldn't help wincing in guilt. "After that night in Italy...I haven't been able to step inside one. I can't even look at one without breaking into a cold sweat." When she met his gaze, her shoulder lifted in an awkward shrug. "It's stupid, right?"

"Nah." He reached over and touched her fingers. "It's tough for me too, you know."

The ash-blonde meister blinked in surprise at this admission. "You?"

He nodded. "Remember, I was the one who actually got hurt on our last jaunt in a Gothic church."

"I know, but..." Realizing how lame it sounded in her mind, Maka couldn't help saying, "You've never mentioned having an issue before."

"We've never had a job in a church until now, so it hasn't really been an issue." Soul shrugged and admitted, "Tell the truth, I think Lord Death actually planned it so we never had to step foot in another church."

Licking her lips, Maka let her eyes return to stare at the imposing structure that towered above their heads. Even though she could tell that nothing evil lurked inside the church, her entire body trembled like a leaf. "I sometimes have nightmares," she confided quietly. "Not as often as I did before, but sometimes I'll dream that I'm back in that church, watching you bleed out on the floor as I stare at the cross against the stained glass window..."

Her panic subsided as Soul's hand moved to cover hers completely, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I haven't been able to go near one since...since that night," he said softly. "I keep freezing up, and the memories overwhelm me, and I can't breathe right until I'm almost two blocks away." Hesitantly his fingers curled over hers, and Maka eagerly grasped his hand and interlaced their fingers, squeezing slightly in an effort to comfort him.

They stood quietly for a few minutes before she broke the silence. "D'you think it's always going to be like this?"

"Hopefully not," he replied. "But either way, we can face it together. Just like we always do."

"Yeah." Maka inhaled and slowly let out her breath. "Ecclesiophobia, huh?"

"That's what it's called."

Another beat of silence, then she said, "Phobias can be overcome."

"That's true."

"And we can probably do it."

"Definitely."

Meister and weapon shared a look, took a deep breath, and squeezed each other's hands tightly in reassurance. Fixing their eyes again on the church, they strode toward the large front doors.

Together.

I have a headcanon that they're still a little shaky around churches, so this is my take on what would happen if they had to go in another one.

Review please!