For Maka, it was a gradual crawl towards insanity, that green eyed monster chewing around the edges of the surety that now seemed to come so naturally to Soul. It was the fanclub, what had before been only a buzz far back in the periphery had recently exploded with the next batch of incoming students, four of whom were weapons that had most definitely finagled their way into Soul's weapon class. Or at least that was the well-spun narrative that Maka had come up with even while he cradled her carefully to his chest and whispered sweet zzzs in her ear.

Soul—in his infinite wisdom—had offered to tell them to buzz off, but Maka had forced him not to intervene, swallowing it down as exactly what it was: irrational fear. Except one had crazy long legs, barely held in any skirt that she wore. Another had beautifully straight, raven hair that shone blindingly in the light. The third had a smirk that could give Soul a run for his money, and the final girl, well, had a rack to rival Blaire's. All of this left Maka's head running millions of scenarios, deciding exactly when and how one could manage to turn him.

That's not what's happening.

But sometimes when she turned the corner they'd be there, trailing a few steps behind Soul.

That is absolutely not what's happening.

But once or twice he'd stayed after at weapon class.

It can't be what's happening.

But, just to check, the tall one had asked her last week if she was Soul's girlfriend, leaving the other three twittering.

I can't let that happen.

So maybe that was why she was peeking through the door, holding her breath at each interaction between Soul and anyone in the room. Pinprick tingles started in the corner of her eyes every time one of the girls approached, but she forced her vision to stay clear in hopes of catching any look, any movement that could threaten to shatter her heart. Minutes ticked to an hour, completely wasted as she watched just the regular ins and outs of weapon training.

The class started to disband, but Soul remained casually leaning against the wall being talked at by his little cohort. Maka refused the tears again as she pressed to her feet and opened the door. It was then that the entire wasted hour came to fruition.

Maka never came to weapons class to pick him up since she was usually nose deep and worlds away in some text in the library at this time of day. As Soul turned his head to the door and caught sight of her it was obvious: the usual apathetic glaze over those red eyes instantly snapped away, instead an intent glow taking hold as that smirk exploded on his lips.

She had supposed it had been her intense critique of the last hours, analyzing every mannerism that made the one in front of her so obvious. Every glance he'd made, every time his eyes hit anyone else's face, there was barely a spark, nothing but his usual faint hint of interest. Those lips had curled a few times, maybe giving something that someone else would consider a grin or a smirk but was really nothing but a falter in his lips as far as she was concerned. Except now, this minute, looking at her, he was glowing.

There was nothing less than fire twinkling in his eyes and teeth gleaming as a practically painful smile stretched his face. "You good?" he murmured as he got just close enough, a soft drizzle of worry touching the edges of his words.

"I'm…" Amazed at how stupid I am. Maka reached for him, fingers with every last bit of tenderness she could offer touching his chest and crinkling into his shirt. "I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Soul put one hand over hers on his chest while the other touched her cheek, checking the softly pinking skin for the residue of tears.

Maka shook her head quickly. "Your face."

"What about it?" he replied through chuckles.

Her cheeks were burning but the words had to come from her lips as punishment for the spying. "Do you know that you look at me a certain way?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Like what?"

"I think it's a way you don't look at anyone else," she murmured.

"Oh…" Soul's laugh faltered as a bit of a blush hit his ears. "Well, yeah, Maka."

Maka took a hand back so she could press it to her face, barely letting the words eke around it. "I didn't see it until now."

"Seriously?" Soul balked. "Maka, come on, seriously?"

She nodded slowly, still hiding her face.

Damning the consequences, Soul let another batch of laughs trickle from his chest as he dipped his face closer to her to murmur, "Man, sometimes, you're pretty stupid, Maka."

"Hey," she snapped, head raising in time for Soul to catch her in a kiss. This one had enough added flair that her knees threatened to buckle. It wasn't until the not so gentle murmurs started behind them– the gaggle of girls sounding more like a hiss than a twitter. "Soul," she tried to admonish, tried to push him away, but–

For someone who had never in his life tried to garner attention, Soul Evans was on a mission. Maka's hands on his chest were ignored, Soul leaning against them to playfully nip at her lip. "Let them see," he whispered huskily to her. "Don't care what they think, what they're whisperin'. You're all I see."

How could she fight in the face of that? Instead, she bent, broke, and let her jealousy crumble along with it.

He was… thinking about it. Maybe a little too much.

When the sun hit her hair as it trickled through the curtains in the morning.

When she leaned over him, body pressed closely, boundaries forgotten.

When the battle got hard and Maka never hesitated to put all her trust in him.

The promise was set as being without doubt.

Soul wasn't sure he could find any.

Maka was definitely thinking about it. Maybe studying for it– if such a thing were really possible.

But whispers between her and the girls couldn't describe the tickle of his hair as he nuzzled into her neck to sleep.

Or pages in books didn't compare to the instantaneous calm that struck her every time he wrapped his arms around her in the kitchen in the morning, savoring her even more than the coffee she poured him.

And the videos certainly did not compare to the dedication of his mouth, his fingers, his–

The promise was set as being without doubt.

Maka was struggling to find any.