"Stein- mirror." Spirit squeaked out, and Stein released his hold on the other man to turn around and face the mirror as Shinigami-sama's face appeared in it.
"Ah, Stein-kun! So glad that you are here. And Spirit-kun is with you as well!" The being bounced backwards. "Ah, I've interrupted your morning, I apologize. We need you to come to Shibusen though, Stein-kun."
His next words sent shivers down the men's spines. "The witch is only willing to speak with you and your weapon- with the people that destroyed a lifetime of work as she put it."
"I will kill her if I am left with her." Stein's voice was cold and even Spirit took a step back.
"You have more control than that, Stein-kun. And Spirit-kun will be with you. Can you come immediately?"
Spirit spoke before the scientist could object. "We'll grab something to eat on the way and be there as soon as possible, Shinigami-sama."
"That's great to hear! Alright, we'll see you soon!" Shinigami-sama clapped his oversized hands together and with a flash of light the connection between the mirrors was severed.
Spirit turned to leave a moment before Stein's hand caught his arm. "Senpai?"
Spirit took a deep breath. "Yeah, Stein?" The death scythe didn't turn to face the scientist.
"You are the one who initially showed affection, yet you're hesitant now."
"I was drunk." Spirit said quickly.
"So what you're saying is that the only reason you have stayed beside me through this was because you were drunk? I hardly believe that that is the truth. You were sober, and boasted of the fact, when we were at the motel room. You were sober when you stopped me from killing the witch, and kept me rooted in sanity. You were obviously more sober than I was during and after Marie's wake." Stein's voice was low and quiet. "You're sober now."
"Shinigami-sama is waiting for us," Spirit choked out.
Stein's hand fell limply from Spirit's wrist. "I'm sorry."
Spirit turned. Never once had Stein ever apologized to him for anything. "Stein?"
"I have overstepped. This is why I ignored the feeling with Marie. Nothing good will ever come from allowing this type of feeling to flourish. You of all people should know that, Senpai." Stein's hand rose to the screw and he twisted it. "I suppose it was a distracting experiment for the moment."
Spirit hung his head and sighed. "Stein, you don't understand."
"Understand what, Senpai?" Stein's voice was further from Spirit than it had been, and the death scythe looked up. Stein was near the double doors that led to his research lab, one hand resting on the door knob.
"Stein, I'm straight. You don't know how to handle what you're experiencing; you're confusing friendship with something else." Spirit's voice lacked conviction.
Green eyes bored into blue ones from across the room. "You don't believe that do you, Senpai?"
Spirit took a deep breath. "No, damnit."
Stein stared at him from 30 feet away, and Spirit could feel the man staring at his very soul. Spirit closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he reopened them, Stein was moving towards him, and he felt suddenly like prey. The scientist stopped maybe a foot away from the death scythe.
"If you don't believe that, why did you say it?"
"Because it can't be true." Spirit's voice was slightly strained. "I was married. I have a daughter." Stein watched him impassively as the death scythe fidgeted. "I… I can't love you. I'm terrified of you."
Stein smirked. "Marie told me once that we don't choose who we love, Senpai. I know now what she was referring to," the smirk slipped a bit, but Spirit didn't notice; the man was absorbed with looking anywhere other than at Stein. "I believe that she was correct."
Spirit looked up and Stein didn't move. The death scythe swallowed. "Shinigami-sama is waiting for us." Stein nodded, turning to walk towards the research lab.
There was a sharp tug on his wrist and Stein stopped, turning to face the death scythe. "Marie was right." Spirit said as his other hand came up to wrap around the back of Stein's head, pulling the man down and kissing him. Stein's eyes widened for a moment before he let himself lean into the kiss.
Spirit was blushing when he pulled away from Stein and Stein just smirked.
"Are you going to apologize again, Senpai?" Stein teased.
"Damnit, Stein. I'm not."
Stein just laughed. "Let's go then. Shinigami-sama is waiting for us." The pair left the lab then.
"She refuses to give us even her name unless the two of you are there." Shinigami-sama said.
"How will she even know?" Stein asked. "She doesn't have her eyesight."
"She said that she can tell from the voice." The being said as they followed him down the halls. "Apparently you spoke to her during your encounter. We tried sending in fakes so we didn't have to bother the two of you after last night's wake." There was pain in Shinigami-sama's voice as he said that, "However she knew they were a fake as soon as they spoke. I'm sorry to interrupt your mourning over Marie-chan, but this is important." Shinigami-sama stopped outside a door and looked at them.
"She's in here with an Internal Affairs agent. He'll leave as soon as you enter. She's gagged for now; we've worked out a system to communicate with her. One knock on the table is yes, two is no; simplistic, but it works.
Spirit stepped in front of the meister and opened the door. He looked at the Internal Affairs agent and a glare crossed the death scythe's face.
"You should be removed from the investigation." Spirit said coldly as the man walked out.
The IA agent just shook his head. "I was following protocol. He was a suspect." Stein just watched as the two men glared at each other before the agent bowed to Shinigami-sama and left.
There were no words spoken as the pair stepped into the room, the heavy door sliding shut, Spirit standing between Stein and the witch.
"We were informed that you are aware of the system for responses. Is this true?" Spirit asked. One pale hand rapped gently on the table. "We're here to ask you questions. Do you understand that?" Another rap on the table. "We're going ungag you, so that you can speak. I understand that the injury you took to your throat makes long answers difficult for you, so we'll keep the questions simple. Alright?" Another rap on the table.
Stein stepped to the other side of the table as Spirit removed the gag from the witch's mouth. Her voice was a rasping whisper, "An injury your friend inflicted on me."
"Let's save your voice for the questions that actually pertain to you keeping your life." Stein said coldly.
"That's the voice that I've been waiting to hear," she rasped out. "Full of hate and pain. Did I break one of your toys?" The rasp of air through the witch's lips might have been a laugh, but it was hard to tell.
Stein slipped his lab coat off and moved to Spirit. "Hold this," the scientist said quietly. Spirit took the lab coat from him and felt the unmistakable weight of a scalpel in the pocket. A moment later his fist slammed into the woman's face, cracking it to the side and throwing the witch out of her chair. She crashed to the ground her bound limbs unable to stop her from the impact.
Stein grabbed her by the front of her shirt and dragged her to her feet. "I remember making a promise to you. Shinigami-sama gave you to me to interrogate, not Internal Affairs, not any other branch of Shibusen, because he knows that I will do whatever it takes to get the information we need from you, whether or not you are alive at it is your choice." Stein's voice was hard as steel.
"So she was your toy." There was another rasp of air as the witch lifted her head to let her covered eyes meet his. The effect was unnerving for the death scythe that was standing a few feet away but didn't seem to affect the scientist holding the woman. She cocked her head, and if not for the fact that he had been too slow to keep Stein from removing her eyes Spirit would have sworn that she was staring straight at him. "Aren't you going to call your dog off?"
Spirit forced a laugh. "My dog? You think that Stein belongs to anyone? He only grudgingly does as Shinigami-sama asks. I'm just here to make sure he gets the answers before he kills you." Even without her eyes the men could see the fear that washed over the woman's face. "Just answer his questions and I'll make sure he doesn't torture you more than necessary."
"You ruined a lifetime of work. Took my eyes, destroyed my beautiful voice."
Stein smirked. "I'd like to take more than your eyes, destroy more than you voice. I'd enjoy nothing more than to dissect a witch. To tear you apart, cut you to pieces with you alive. The need to know is overwhelming." His voice curved up into a high pitched giggle, his hands shaking the witch.
Spirit knew it was an act, and it was still terrifying to watch Stein court the insanity like he was doing. He intervened, his hand landing on Stein's shoulder. The man's laughter fell down and ended.
"Just tell us everything." Stein said quietly. "Starting with who you are and why you took Marie Mjolnir."
There was a gently rasp of air as the witch exhaled. "You will give me my life if I answer all your questions."
Stein glanced at Spirit who nodded. "If you answer all our questions sufficiently I will give you your life." The twisted smile that Stein wore as he finished the promise worried Spirit immensely.
A/N: The ball hit a wall, and bounced twice.
I don't own Soul Eater.