There was a heavy feeling in the air as Stein watched Medusa's body turn to ashes. Her final, ominous warning, that she would see him in hell, was met with little more than a scoff from Marie, still in her weapon form, and Stein's hold on her tightened as though in reassurance.
"Well," he began, the pillar crumbling in front of them as he started to grin in relief, the slightest hint of amusement coming into his voice.
Maka turned to look at him, wondering why he wasn't rushing over to Crona. "Professor?"
"Oh my Death, Stein, really?" Marie called from her weapon form, knowing what he was going to say even before he said it. He readjusted her, her hammer form heavy and comforting in his palm, before his grin widened.
"Maka, ding dong-" he continued.
"Professor, what?" Maka asked, confusion showing on her face, her brows furrowed and her mouth squishing up the side. But Stein's grin only grew ever the more amused.
"The witch is dead," he said, enjoying his own joke far too much.
Marie transformed back into her human form, and he turned to look at her as Maka groaned, bringing her fingers to the bridge of her nose. Ah, no one appreciated good humor, anymore. He was expecting for Marie to chide him, but when he heard her giggle, her lips tipped up, he could only look at her in awe as she placed one hand on her hip, popping it out.
"I guess you could say you have 99 problems but a witch ain't one?" Marie asked, lifting a brow, and though she was, without doubt, tired, he could see how amusement was twisting her expression.
And, as Maka groaned even louder in the background, Soul joining in, Stein stared at Marie with something akin to utter devotion in his eyes.
Well, so much for no one else appreciating his jokes.
He didn't really understand what love was, but damn did he felt pretty close.