An Unintended Victory

"Win a no win situation by rewriting the rules."

- Harvey Specter

The only thing sweeter than revenge is winning and her words tasted a whole lot like victory, or was it just the half priced Valentine's Day candy she was eating by the handful? Whichever it was, it made her feel so upbeat that the months of suppressed irritation and anger seemed like a distant memory.

Soul was up to his usual antics, going to and fro in the bare minimum, today in plaid blue boxer shorts, but he uncharacteristically kept to his own room for the latter part of the day, later changing into clothes before going to play basketball with Blackstar. Knowing that he would be gone for most of the day, Maka decided to take advantage of a free TV and couch, which was always occupied by a grumbling Soul whenever she decided to watch her cheesy soap operas she so guiltily loved. As much as he would lament about their stupidity, she would always find Soul sitting on the couch every Monday at 7 when the next episode aired, convincing her that they both shared a secret obsession. It was also the only time he would actually pull over a blanket, so not to give Maka a reason to leave, earning him another episode judgment free, more or less.

Alone without much to do, Maka laid herself across the sagging cushions, feet propped up on the arm of worn leather, and a pile of pillows under her neck. Her hair was still wet from the shower she just took and free from the pigtails it was usually wrestled into, smelling sweet from her new strawberry scented shampoo.

Knowing Soul wouldn't be back for hours, she let herself get comfortable with a box of cheap drugstore chocolates which rested on her chest and let herself wear only underwear and a extra large tee, with remote in hand and her favorite celebrity special blaring, this was heaven. Her well needed reprieve from life and into the high drama celebrity one was going well until she bit into a coconut chocolate, a tragedy in itself, as the front door suddenly flew open to reveal Soul's angry footfalls making their way too quickly for her to align herself.

"I can't believe the asshole! To think he would call me out on a foul even when I saved his sorry ass from losing, and to think why Kid agreed with the idiot is beyond me! And he made the goddamn penalty from in front of the line! Can you believe that Maka?" Soul stopped his heated rage as he glimpsed Maka lying on the couch, her shirt riding up to her stomach and with her underwear showing; not at all the polka dotted patterned ones he got the occasional glimpse of. He raised his eyebrows in surprise as she quickly regained her composure, righting herself, but stopped before pulling her shirt down farther as an idea sprang up. She looked him straight in the eyes, hoping a creeping blush would not give her away.

"Oh hey Soul, I didn't know you'd be back so soon." She answered, "So, Blackstar cheated again, did he?" A cold smile came across her face as she watched him survey her with so little on, as he had never seen her in. There was an uncharacteristically long pause that she ate up, her confidence growing as he put his hand in his hair, a nervous mannerism signaling his discomfort. She almost laughed out loud at his response and darting eyes, glad that she could make him as uncomfortable as he had these last few months. Making sure not to pull down her shirt, so her undergarments were in full view, she stood up waiting for an answer, and happily realizing her shirt bunched up enough to reveal just a bit of the red fabric, not looked over by Soul.

"Uh, yeah he did. He got a pant-penalty" he quickly caught himself on the word, with a brush of pink making itself visible on the apples of his cheeks, "that he really shouldn't have and Kid and I were just fed up so we left early." He finished lamely, waiting for her to say something as he scratched his ear.

"Oh, okay, I'll pretend to know what a pen-alty is," she answered, obviously knowing, but accentuating the pen to let him know she caught the Freudian slip.

She almost couldn't believe that Mr. I'm-So-Cool was embarrassed to see her in just a long shirt, and his discomfort was gratifying.

"It's complicated," he lied as he inched out of the room, "Oh, and I'm staying at Kid's tonight, so don't worry about making dinner." He added before hurrying out of the room, a blush clearly visible on his face.

Maka cleaned up slowly, hoping if she stalled enough he might leave while she was still on the room to get one last glimpse of her, but after a few minutes of pointless cushion fluffing and frame straightening, she realized he wouldn't leave until she did. And as she closed her bedroom door, she heard the click of his opening and scuttling footsteps out the front door and she couldn't help but to smile at the music of his speedy footfalls.

So a bit shorter than normal, so I promise another sooner! I hoped you're all liking the story, I know I'm having a great time writing it!