Marie's eyelid slowly opened and dim light poured into her wide pupil, making her blink several times. When her uncovered eye was finally accustomed to the light, she managed to focus on what was around her. Dark, grey stone walls, old and worn-out wooden desk, clothes on the floor... What the hell?!
The pint-sized blond's first instincts were to find out where she was and how she got there whilst getting out of there and somewhere familiar.
Her body tensed and she picked her head up, trying to study her surroundings. She found clothes slapdashed around the room, including her underwear lying loosely on top of Stein's lab coat. Then it all rushed back to her.
Marie rolled over to see Stein lying on his belly whilst hugging a pillow, one leg pulled up and the other outstretched. The only thing that covered his lower half was the thin sheet that they used to cover up in due to the cold atmosphere of the underground dungeon. She giggled lightly and brushed a lock of silver out of his face.
"Hm?" he mumbled, only just barely being pulled from his sleep. Marie smiled a little. He may have been a big bad powerful meister that everyone was terrified of, but when sleeping, he looked adorable. She really couldn't help her the smile that spread across her face.
This was all she had wanted for years. To lie down with him and share intimacy and warmth, closeness and affection. No one really knew it, but Stein could be a pretty sensitive guy when he was given the proper situation to guide him. And the situation they had just encountered really was an amazing practice for him.
With a small, happy smile, Marie got out of bed and put on her bra and underwear. She then looked around the cell for her shirt, finding it thrown on the chair next to the desk. She went to grab it, but then she saw the familiar dark and light grey stitched turtleneck sprawled on top of Stein's lab coat, and she could not say no to herself.
With a giggle, the small Death Scythe slipped the shirt on, embracing the mixture of Stein's natural scent and cigarette smoke. She wished the smoke scent would not be so strong, but she knew him by that smell and it gave her a good feeling. She pulled the bottom of the shirt down and it liberously ended at the bottom of her hips. Marie then climbed back into bed and snuggled into his side, closing her eyes. Thank Death it's Saturday...
"Good morning, Miss Mjolnir," the sound of his smooth voice lightly rang in her ears while her eye focused on what was right in front of her; about three inches away to be exact. With a short motion, Stein pushed his head forward and kissed her nose.
Marie giggled, "Good morning, Professor."
"Ohh. 'Professor.' That's a new one... I see you are comfortable in my shirt."
She smiled at him. "Well, maybe I would just like to call you by a respectable name. And yes, I am."
"I am perfectly fine with Franken."
"Ok, so that's why you only allow me to call you that and everyone else has to call you Stein?" She giggled again. Wow, I am being so giggly...
"Yeah. Only you're allowed to call me that. Just like only I'm allowed to-" he cut himself off. Was I really going to say that to her?
"What?" a few moments passed and Stein still had not said anything, only rolled over to lye on his back and stared at the ceiling. "Only you're allowed to what?"
"It is not right of me to say."
"Franken, tell me." Marie sat up and stared straight at him.
Stein sighed and looked at her, smirking at her bed hair. "Only I'm allowed to..." he trailed off, not knowing if she'd understand. Marie raised an eyebrow, giving him a message to continue. "Only I'm allowed to be with you..."
Marie giggled and smiled then tilted her head. "Ok, Franken."
Stein sat up and scooted a little closer to her. "No, only I'm allowed to be with you."
The innocent smile she was wearing faded a bit as she tried to fully understand what he meant. "Franken, I..."
He grabbed her hand and held it in both of his, looking down at them. "I mean, Marie, only I am allowed to hold your body close to mine... And kiss you... And..."
Marie's eye widened slightly. Stein was hardly ever sentimental, and she wanted to savor every waking moment of it. "And... What?"
Stein bit his bottom lip and cursed himself for saying the words he was about to say. It's not fair for me to drag her down with me. I may be fine, even happy right now, but who's to say I'll be this way tomorrow? Or the next day? The closer I get to her, the more stones I put in her pockets before I make her swim... "Nevermind," he said with a quick shake of his head.
Her small, soft hand slipped from his and cupped his cheek. "You can tell me anything."
Stein stared into her amber eye, remembering the promise he made so many weeks ago. "If you sing to me again... I promise I will restore your vision." How will I be able to do that? I've never accomplished something so... Surreal. But I promised her. I swore I would do it... He sighed and closed his eyes. Just focus on what is going on now. Worry about that later.
"Franken?" her voice now seemed a little nervous. "Is something wrong...?"
Stein tilted his head down again and closed his eyes. "No. I just..." he sighed in frustration. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, he just didn't know how to say it. Screw it. "Only I'm allowed to love you."
A long, awkward moment hung in the air. Marie did not say anything, only stared at the professor, which soon led him to believe he had said something wrong. "I'm sorry, Marie," he mumbled as he stood from the bed and went to pick up his pants.
"For what?" she asked as he clothed his bottom half, looking away to give him some privacy.
Stein stared at the floor, not understanding what he was truly feeling. "I'm sorry for..." Tell her now. She doesn't realize what she is sacrificing. IF you tell her now, she can still escape...
"I'm sorry for dragging you down with me." the tall scientist continued. "For putting you in danger every time you are near me." He turned his back to her, not because he was angry or because he was upset, but because he was afraid. He was afraid she'd begin to hate him if she realized exactly what was going on. "For forcing you stop your life just so you can try to help me, even though we both know it's useless..."
Stein put one hand in his pants pocket and he used the other to pinch the bridge of his nose as if to push off a headache. He suddenly wished he could take everything he had just said back, but he knew that was wrong of him. Now she knows. If she hates me for it, so be it.
By that point, he was considering multiple outcomes of that morning. He could see Marie crying, or her telling him off, or her crying and telling him off as she walked out the door, or even simply leaving without saying a word. One thing he did not expect, however, was to feel her wrap her arms around his abdomen from behind and hug him while she rested her cheek on his back.
"It's not useless, Franken," she whispered.
"How is it not? I've been in here for how long and I haven't made any progress. I-"
"That's not true. You were able to fight it," she cut him off.
"Yeah, but only because you were there. And it took so long for me to even be able to move without slipping," the professor argued.
"That doesn't matter. All that does matter is the fact that you did fight it. You kept your sanity intact. That counts for something..."
Both remained completely silent for several long moments. Although it began to worry her, all the small Death Scythe could do was simply keep her head resting on his back and listen to his breathing while she waited. Please, say something... Anything...
Stein sighed lightly and turned around to face her a few moments later. When she looked up at him, he was not surprised by what he found in her eye, although he was taken aback. Her amber eye was filled to the brim with love and hope.
He frowned slightly, trying to figure out what was going through her head. What is wrong with her? Even after all of the reasons I've given her to leave without even looking back, here she is with her arms open wide. I don't understand!
Obviously sensing his internal conflict, Marie placed both of her hands on his cheeks. "Franken, please listen to me." She looked away for a moment and gathered her breathing and thoughts. "I love you." She then turned her head back to him to read his expression. Of course, he was using his usual monotone casual Stein face.
"I love you," she repeated. "Do you know what that means?"
Stein frowned slightly in confusion and shook his head slowly. "I understand... The basic concept of it. But I don't believe I understand it like you do."
Marie smiled at him. "No, but I know that you feel it." She placed a hand over his heart. "Right here. You can feel it; I can see it in you."
"But you're a weapon, you can't use So-"
"That's not what I meant," she cut him off. "You say that everything in the world is an experimental test subject, including yourself as well, right?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah, but I don't see ho-"
"You can't see it because it is not something to witness, but experience," Marie stated in an official tone. "Everything in the world is capable of love, even the critically proclaimed 'Emotionless Scientist' Franken Stein. I know you feel love. There is nothing you can say or do that will convince me otherwise." As she spoke, Stein's olive green eyes drifted past her. "Are you listening to me?"
Stein stared at the wall, not knowing how to respond to her. She's correct... I feel love. I love her. I have loved her. But that doesn't mean I should tell her anything about it. It is not right for me to bring her down... What were the lyrics to that song I heard a while ago...?
"I told myself I don't miss you, but I remember what it feels like beside you..." he mumbled under his breath, not caring if she heard him or not. If she did, she would know what he was thinking. If she didn't, he would get to avoid another one of her little rants about how he loves and that he's not some emotionless psychopath. "I really miss your hair in my face and the way your innocense tastes. And I think you should know this: You deserve much better than me..."
Silence. It was so quiet when he stopped reciting the song lyrics aloud. Did she hear me...? Marie only stared at him, unmoving.
"Franken, that's not true... Please look at me," she asked of him quietly.
Stein didn't respond. I'm starting to think that was a bad idea...
"Franken, please," she pleaded again. He said nothing, he didn't even move at all. His only action consisted of staring at the bare grey wall.
Marie sighed and averted her eye from him, trying to think of some way she could get through to him. He seems to be much more sensitive and open to psychological contact when we are in bed... But we just did that! No, I need to try something else. Marie thought back to the night Stein had stabbed the man who had broken into the laboratory. When he had realized what he had done, he was practically in hysterics. The only thing that actually got his attention was...I suppose I could try that.
"Stein, look at me," she demanded in a tone that she rarely ever used with him. Stein immediately stared right at her with a slight frown on his face.
She only uses that tone with her students... Or when she's mad at me. I should use this to my advantage. "What?" he asked.
She was was taken back slightly by the cold edge to his voice. "I don't care what you say or do, Stein. I made a promise to you, others and myself to get you out of this. I-"
"This isn't your problem, Marie. Get out while you still can," he stated as he turned away from her and went to the other side of the cell, leaning against the wall. A shiver ran up his spine when his body came in contact with the cold cement.
"What are you talking about? I'm already involved!" she argued.
"You shouldn't be." he stated as he crosses his arms.
"Well I am. So it seems like you're stuck with me."
Stein stared at her incredulously as he dropped his arms to his sides and stood up straight. "Are you kidding me?"
Marie frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
The professor began taking a few slow strides toward her. "It means you are not stuck with me. You could leave any time you want to. You're just choosing not to," his voice was so serious...
"Exactly, Stein! Precisely! I could leave! But I don't want to!" the Death Scythe may have been small, but she had tons of stress pent up inside of her just waiting to blow, and he knew it. All he needed to do was push a few buttons and flip a switch, then she'd be exactly where he wanted her.
"You should want to. All I am doing..." he trailed off for a moment while he got closer to her. "Is tearing you down without even giving the common courtesy of helping you back up."
"That is not even close to th-"
"To the what, Marie? The truth? Huh? Well let me tell you something. There is no truth here. There is no light or benevolence, and there never will be! You cannot change who I am! All you can do is accept it and move on." By now, he was penetrating her zone of personal space. He was glaring and his breathing was beginning to get heavier.
Stay calm... Stay calm. Don't get angry. He tried desperately to calm himself down. His hands balled into hard fists and he clenched his jaw shut, grinding his teeth.
Marie's eye began to water and her lower lip quivered. "Franken, I can't do-"
Although the sight of her like this made him feel guilty, he pressed on. This is for you, Marie. You've given me everything, now I need to give the only thing I can back to you. "Yes you can. Build a bridge and get over it."
A tear slowly rolled down her cheek. "But, Franken... I need you."
"No you don't. You don't need me," he spat out as he towered over her.
Marie only closed her eye and shook her head, tilting it down. She sobbed for a few moments leaving Stein in a very uncomfortable position. Should I stop now...? When she finally looked up at him, Stein finally knew what heartbreak was, even if he was only just beginning to feel it.
It killed him to be the reason she was so upset, but he knew it was for her own benefit.
"Franken, please, don't make me leave... I love you. I love you," she sobbed. "I want to be with you. Maybe this is only hurting me, but if it's helping you, I want to do it. You're all that matters in my life." Her voice was barely decipherable through her cries.
Stein swallowed as his anger faded, wishing he could scoop up every word he had said and lock them up in an inpeneterable vault. But he knew he couldn't... Now all he could do was finish what he started.
"Marie..." he had to force himself to go on, "You don't need me." He took a deep breath before he continued. "You're strong enough."
She shook her head slowly. "No, I'm not."
I wonder just how long she'll be able to keep this up... That's it. That's how it'll work. I'll just make her give up on me...
Stein stared down at her. "Stop doubting yourself. I know you, Marie. You will be fine. You'll leave here, go back to the laboratory, gather your things and stay with someone else. You'll forget about me and you. Will. Move. On." his tone was undoubtably softer, but his words still hurt her.
All Marie could even think about at that point was how much of an impact her heart had taken from his forceful blows. "Don't do this," she begged. "I'll do whatever you want, no matter what it is. Just please don't send me away."
"Give me three good reasons why I shouldn't," he ordered. Good reasons. That'll be hard for her to come up with.
She looked up at him, her tears still flowing. "Well?"
"One, I love you. Two, I love you. And three, I love you." Those words were all she could say.
"Is that really all you can say?" Stein scoffed.
"No."
"Oh really?" he raised an eyebrow. "Then why is it that's all you said?"
Marie looked down and rubbed her hands together, trying to stop herself from shaking. She was silent, barely even breathing for that matter.
"Come on, Marie. You've told me just about everything by now. Surely you can tell me this."
"It wouldn't matter..." she mumbled in defeat.
"Oh, but you should at least try, right? Try to change my mind?" he asked in a mocking tone.
Her eye became even more sad and hurt than it already was. "Why are you doing this?"
Stein did not know how to answer her. Should I tell her the truth? I should at least give her that. But then, I did say there is no truth here... He sighed, making up his mind. "Isn't it obvious, Marie?" She shook her head slightly as she sniffled.
"I'm trying to let you go so you can be happy... All I want for you to be is free."
"How will this make me happy?" she asked quietly.
"It won't. But you will be safe and you'll eventually find someone who can protect you and care for you... And love you."
"But... You said you love me. Franken, you even said only you are allowed to be with me."
"And that was very selfish of me."
Marie stared down at the floor, wishing she knew what to say. The only things that crossed her mind were song lyrics. Give me a reason, I wish you would, wish you would, wish you would...
She looked up at him, knowing exactly what to do to make him understand. Marie cleared her throat, wiped her eye and took a deep breath to accustom her voice...
"I can only do so much and of course it's never enough. I don't think that you see exactly what you're doing to me. Don't speak. Don't speak..."
Stein stared at her, wishing he could hear her singing to him under any other circumstances. Her voice was so beautiful... No. I know what she is trying to do. He opened his mouth to speak, but something about the look in her eye made him shut it. Maybe it was the pure pain and hurt was telling him to at least let her speak her mind. So, Marie continued singing.
"Give me a reason to turn and run
Give me a reason to burn this house down
Give me a reason I wish you would
I wish you would
Wish you would
Give me a reason for disaster
And I'll be happy ever after
Give me a reason I wish you would
I wish you would
Wish you would
So you've tried your best
To get out of this mess
But that's just a joke
You've never awoke to
The sounds of a mother screaming at night
Don't speak... Don't speak!
Give me a reason to turn and run
Give me a reason to burn this house down
Give me a reason I wish you would
I wish you would
Wish you would
Give me a reason for disaster
And I'll be happy ever after
Give me a reason I wish you would
I wish you would
Wish you would
I wish you would!
Wish you would...
Marie's voice faded out, leaving Stein to feel a mixture of emotions coursing through him. Damn it... Why did she do that?
"Marie... I've been giving you reasons for weeks now. You've only been ignoring them," he told her quietly.
"No, I haven't been ignoring them. I've been forgiving them. Even though you've hurt me physically and psychologically, I have still managed to forgive you."
"But how? Why? Because you love me?"
Marie smiled slightly at him. "That's exactly why, Franken." He pursed his lips in a compressing fashion, trying to understand her.
No, it's not her I'm trying to understand. It's love. I don't get it... Why would anyone put his or her own feelings and emotions before their own survival? And even so, maybe the problem with all of this is because I don't have a reason. I don't understand love, and I never will. No matter how hard I try, no matter how many times she explains it to me, I won't get it... So I won't have a reason.
"Because I love you, Franken Stein. I know I've said that to you so many times by now, but I'll say it again and again till you understand how much I do."
"I get that, but why would you risk your own life let yourself get hurt just for that?"
The blond sighed and searched for an answer that he would understand. "Because... That's what love is. When you love someone, you would literally give your own life for them. It is sweet and warm..."
"And the most selfish thing I have eveer felt." Stein left his opinion for her to consider.
She shook her head. "No, it isn't. Although it may appear to be selfish, love is the exact opposite."
"How is that?"
"Tell me, Franken, how could love be selfish?"
"Well, by me loving you, I am holding you down and tearing you apart. You have no freedom." He mentally agreed with himself. It's true...
Marie laughed slightly. He gave her a confused look that said, "Why are you laughing about that?"
"Out of all that brilliance in that genius head of yours, you still don't understand a part of life that is thousands of years old," she giggled.
Stein sighed and couldn't help but smile slightly. No matter what I say or do, she will always have a way to contradict me.
"Franken, listen to me. When you love someone, you are giving them your heart, your soul. The reason why I sacrifice so much for you is because I love you. I want to help you, I want to be with you, and I want to love you." she elaborated her emotions the best way she could so Stein might be able to understand her. His olive green eyes drifted to the side and he focused on what she had said. Marie tilted her head slightly and reached her hand up to rest it on his forearm. "You get me?"
Stein cranked the bolt in his head a few times then put his hand in his pants pocket. "Yeah... I follow you."
"Do you really? Or are you just saying that?"
"No, I think I understand what you mean," he said as his eyes turned back to her and smiled slightly. "And from how I see it, I now know that I do in fact love you, Marie."
The short Death Scythe smiled up at him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his still bare chest. Stein returned the hug and smiled more as he embraced her.
"I won't leave you no matter how bad things get," she whispered.
Stein lowered his head to kiss the top of hers. "I believe you."
She tilted her head up and smiled at the man as she observed every inch of his pale face. His green eyes, the stitches that ran from his hair line, across his face and to his jaw, his locks of silver hair were all contributing factors to what she loved the most.
Marie bit her lip and stood on her toes to peck his lips. "Prove it," the scythe, still standing on her toes so her face was close to his, whispered.
Stein tilted his head and smirked. "Hmm... How ever will I figure out how to do that?"
"I don't know... Figure it out," she giggled.
Stein rested his hands on her hips, pulling her toward him. "Well, I do have a few experiments in mind."
"Ah. Well then in that case, I suppose I'll be your test subject," she grinned.
"How fortunate of me," he said quickly, right before he lowered his head just a bit more so his lips met hers. Stein pulled her hips even closer to him, wishing he could just abdorb her into him and take her everywhere he goes. Little did he know, he was doing something relatively close to that.
Marie sensed something tugging on her soul, and she automatically started searching for what ever it could be, pulling away from Stein. She looked around for a brief second, earning a questioning look from him.
"What is it?" he asked and the tugging feeling faded.
"I just felt as if something was pulling on my soul... As if I were resonating."
"Sorry, that was me..." Stein chuckled. "I guess I just did that so I could be closer to you."
Marie smiled and kissed his cheek. "You can be pretty sentimental when you want to, you know that?"
"Sentimental?" He asked as he picked her up and held her bridal style. "I don't see why you'd say that."
She smiled even further and wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled. "Just the first thing that came to my mind."
Stein smiled and shook his head. He then locked eyes with her. "Marie..."
"Yes?"
He tried searching for a way to fully elaborate what was on his mind, but he could only come up with two words. "Thank you."
Muahahaha, you gotta love how stubborn Marie is ^_^ Anyway, how'd you like this chapter? I tried to put more feels into it :P
Btw, the song Marie sang is Give Me a Reason by Three Days Grace if you wanna check it out.