Soul looked shocked as his hand went up to touch his cheek where she had struck him.
An angry red mark shaped like a hand appeared, a bright contrast on his pale skin.
The whole yard was silent, the men's faces a mixture of disbelief and awe.
The two stood their ground, their eyes locked, the silence tense. The air between them crackled, like the restless moments before a terrible storm descends.
Pure horror passed over Maka as she realized what she had done. There was no denying it. In her anger she had issued a challenge.
"You."
Soul's voice dropped below any register she'd ever heard. That rumbling growl carried such an implicit threat that she felt her legs wobble.
Maka gulped and raised up her firsts in front of her like she had seen in picture books depicting the time honored tradition of fisticuffs.
Soul threw his head back and let loose a mean laugh. He flashed her a cruel smile and took a menacing step forward, shortening the space between them. Maka tried to take a step back, but a ring of men had gathered around them, and they weren't going to let her slip away that easily.
"You're supposed to be a man."
Each of Soul's gritty words came out so carefully enunciated, they had the effect of a cracking whip.
He leaned in closer, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body.
"Real men measure their words and their actions. In my book, you get one free pass to mouth off and question my authority here. Next time I'll level you."
His voice was like silk wrapped razor blades.
Maka gulped and nodded her head, her fist still raised in front of her. It was more to keep him from getting any closer to her than it was in self defense.
Soul looked pointedly at her fists and sneered.
"Put those down, I'm not going to fight you. Though I'm sorely tempted to."
Slowly Maka lowered her arms back to her sides.
Soul grinned, all menace and teeth.
Then he came at her; even Maka was surprised how fast he propelled himself forward. He slammed his fist into her, a hard sucker punch to the gut. Maka grunted and doubled over. She wheezed in a breath, then wheezed it out again. She tilted up her head and stared at him through watering eyes.
"I thought . . . you didn't . . . want to fight."
Soul stood with his boots splayed and the weight tilted forward on the balls of his feet, his hands hanging easy at his sides. His vermilion eyes were full of laughter and violence.
"I lied."
Something flared bright and hot in his eyes, like throwing quicklime on a fire. The tension was so taunt between them now she was surprised it didn't make a sound. Even the hot wind had stilled.
"Is that all you got? You spoiled son of a bitch." He sneered. "Not so high and mighty when you're in the dirt, huh?"
Astonishingly Maka straightened, even out of breath, and lunged right at him with a bellow. Maka landed a blow to the side of Soul's head that sent his hat flying and his feet peddling backwards. Soul answered with another punch to her belly that thunked like an ax blade in wet wood.
"Had enough kid!?" Soul laughed recklessly as Maka staggered backwards holding her stomach.
"I've had enough of you!" Maka spat as she launched herself at his mid section.
He was bigger than her, but she was quicker.
The two staggered backward bear-hugging each other. They wrestled and grunted, knocking into the horse trough and slamming against the hitching rail. The rotting pine shattered and splintered beneath them. They scuffled in the mud among the ruins of the hitching rail, their breath sawing in their heaving chests. Then they came up fighting once again.
The men whistled and cheered as they pummeled each other.
Maka got a lucky swing in and clouted a fist into Soul's nose and drove the other fist into his ribs. Blood gushed from Soul's nose in great torrents. He took a step back and drug his hand across his nose, smearing the blood across his face more than wiping it away. He looked down at the blood on his hand and let loose a barbaric laugh.
Maka grinned uncontrollably at the sight of drawing blood from him.
Had she lost her mind? What gently reared woman would act like this?
She felt crazy, but she didn't care. Not even a little. Adrenaline coursing through her body and the sound of blood rushing to her ears.
Maybe she was crazy, but Soul had truly lost it. She had never seen him this way; blood dripping down his face, his eyes bright, burning with a strange and wild gleam. She had also never seen him having this much fun. He was enjoying this.
In this moment, as he stood over her, blood and foam covering his body; Maka couldn't deny that the man had in fact been raised by savages. He seemed almost inhumane. He looked like a predator; fierce, ravenous, and so terribly beautiful.
Smiling ferociously Soul careened into the side of her, his body heavy and loose. He bounded upright and landed a punch flush in Maka's jaw. Maka's head snapped back hard on her neck, blood and saliva flying in strings out of her nose and mouth. She weaved on her feet, her eyelids fluttering like dying moths. She shook her head and spat out a mouthful of copper tinged spittle. She sank to her knees as her vision blurred.
She heard Soul's voice, thought it sounded fo very far away. Hearing it though gave her the strength to open her eyes and focus on him. He looked so smug, standing over her.
"Never start something you can't finish kid." He said as he turned to leave, dissapointment etched on his face.
Was he disappointed in her, or was he disappointed that the fight had ended? Either way her blood still seethed at his mocking voice.
She gripped one of the shattered hitching posts with her shaking hands, rose from her knees, and lifted it high. She aimed for his head and hit his shoulder. It wasn't much of a blow, but it got his attention. He swung around on unsteady legs just as she let fly with another swing, like an amateur boxer throwing a roundhouse punch. Except that at the other end of her fists was a pine post and it smacked into Soul's groin with a solid whack. He fell to his knees, hugging his crotch and curling up tight, the breath bleating out of him like a high pitched whistle. Maka stood over him, the post in the air, and for a moment she thought that she was going to crease his head with it. But seeing him laying there, hurt and the breath knocked out of him, all her anger vanished. She dropped the post and backed up.
The color was high in her cheeks, and she was breathing hard through her open mouth.
"I'm not worthless." She wheezed quietly.
Soul groaned in response.
Guilt and shame reared their ugly heads as she looked down at him.
Soul had managed to rise as far as his hands and knees and was throwing up what seemed like three days' worth of breakfast.
Maka rushed towards him and knelt next to him. She didn't know what to do, so like he had comforted her earlier when she was vomiting, she pressed her hand to his shoulder. It was the only way she knew how to apologize for her deplorable behavior. The only way she knew how to comfort him.
A rough hand grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feel in one fluid motion. Black Star spun her around and he pressed a red handkerchief to her nose. She had completely forgotten that her nose was oozing blood. She probably looked a sight.
"Come on English, let's get you outta here quick." Black Star smiled gently as he tried to steer her towards the house.
Maka snuck a furtive look over her shoulder as they passed Soul. His shirt was soaked and plastered to his splendid muscles. He was covered in so much blood and sweat he looked like a wounded animal. . "Wait, what about-..."
"Don't you worry about him. You've wounded his pride more than his body. Right now I'm more concerned with your safety." Black Star chuckled, cutting her off.
"You just planted his balls somewhere up next to his ribs, and when he gets his breath back and quits seeing stars, he's gonna want to kill somebody. I suggest we hustle to the house."
Maka nodded, horrified that she had sunk so low to hit a man right in his unmentionables.
It was down right scandalous...
So why did she feel a small glimmer of triumph as well?
Despite her shame she couldn't hide a small smile. It wasn't every day someone brought Soul Evans to his knees.
Soul eased onto his backside and unfolded his lanky body until he was leaning against the horse trough. He cupped the hurting place between his legs and let out a slow, careful breath between clenched teeth.
"Fuck."
Several men gathered around him, all with knowing grins. He glared at them with a bloodshot eye—the other was swelling shut.
"What the hell're you laughin' at?"
The men took that as a sign to scatter, all except one.
Justin crouched down next to him and quietly handed him a flask. Soul seized it, drinking so fast that the whisky leaked out the corners of his mouth. The pungent smell of whiskey mixed with that of mud and blood and sweat and violence.
"Thanks, I needed that." Soul coughed as he handed the flask back to Justin.
He shifted a hip and groaned. "I think I'll just sit here awhile."
"In the mud?" Justin asked.
"Yeah, the mud is nice. It's soft."
Mud and blood were splattered in rusty patches over his shirt; he would never get the stains out.
All the spit fire had been licked out of him, he leaned his aching head back and closed his eyes.
"Can you believe that fucking kid?" Soul rasped.
Justin shrugged. "You're just angry boss."
"Damn straight I'm angry!" Soul huffed. "I have every right to be!"
"Your anger is just proof of how unrealistic your expectations for the kid are." Justin said, his voice quiet and stoic. "An apology may be in order."
Soul cracked one eye open to glare at him.
"What you're saying is wise Justin, but I'm too banged up and pissed to listen to it right now."
Justin shrugged.
He needed to apologize? When it was him sitting in the mud holding his damn balls? It was a ridiculous notion.
The kid had started it...
But he had roused it, fed fuel to the flames. Honestly, he had lost control. All his self restraint had left, and it had felt good. Incredibly good. He still felt high of the dregs of battle. His body wound tight like a spring, his mind numbed by the rush of endorphins.
There truly was something wrong with him. He thrived on violence and chaos. He had been that way since he could remember.
Soul brushed his fingers through his hair in frustration, making it feel sticky. He looked down at all the blood on his hands. He didn't know if it was his own or the kid's. Flashes of the kids battered face came back to him as his heart rate slowly came back down.
This was all his fault.
"What have I done?" Soul groaned in despair.
"You beat the tar out of someone much smaller than you, that's what happened." Justin said matter of factly.
Soul groaned again.
Justin stood to leave, he had work to finish. Before he turned to leave though he left one more parting peice of wisdom.
"If you sit with lady anger long enough, she'll tell you her real name is grief."
Soul felt little solace in his words, as he watched him go. The hollow place in his heart felt heavy and vast.
The kid would probably never speak to him again after this. And it served him right. Stein would come back to a nephew with a disfigured face and he would be demoted back to cowhand. Or worse. He could be sent away from the only home he had ever known and loved. But he couldn't think about that now. He needed to find the kid. He didn't know if he was ready to apologize yet, not with his groin still hurting and his head reeling. He wasn't the only one at fault either. The kid had started it, just as much as he had. No, he wouldn't apologize, but he needed to explain himself.
For some reason he just needed to see the kid, to make peace and to be near him. Soul scrubbed his hands on his shirt. There was so much blood on his hands. He hoped the kid was ok.
Maka stumbled going up the porch steps. Her eye had swollen shut and she felt a little dizzy. Black Star had to practically drag her into the house, her feet becoming increasingly unstable.
Black star gingerly sat her in the nearest chair.
"Oh my word!" Tsubaki exclaimed, rushing to her side. She kneeled down and gently pushed Maka's matted hair from her face. Judging by Tsubaki's expression it must have not been a pretty sight. Maka tried to smile at the woman kneeling next to her, but her face was swelling so much that her skin felt taunt, like it would tear any moment.
"No need to panic, it looks worse than it actually is." Black Star said softly, trying to curb Tsubaki's obvious worry.
"What in the blazes happened?" She asked as she tried in vain to wipe some of the grime from Maka with her apron.
"A fight broke out. I'm surprised you didn't hear it. It was a doozie for sure."
"A fight? Who on earth would pick a fight with our good natured Maka?"
"I'll give you one guess." Black Star said dryly.
Tsubaki's expression turned dark.
"I thought he knew better. The bastard. Who in their right mind starts a fight with some one half his size?"
" I- thhe one whoo start-id it." Maka tried to say, her swollen jaw making it hard to get the word out properly.
"You be quiet and rest that jaw, and don't you dare try to defend that man. The damn fool!" Tsubaki declared standing up.
"You should have seen English. He was definitely outmatched, but he held his own surprisingly well." Black Star boasted, like a proud parent.
"Good, I hope you taught Soul a lesson he will never forget." Tsubaki muttered darkly.
Black Star chuckled. "Oh I'm pretty sure he'll never forget it."
"Good."
Maka nodded, what else could she say? She had never seen sweet and soft spoken Tsubaki show so much outrage before.
"I'm going to the root celler to get something to stop that swelling. You stay and rest," Tsubaki instructed as she slipped on her boots.
"And you make sure no one comes near him, chiefly Soul." Tsubaki said, her smile softening as she briefly touched Black Star's shoulder.
The contact was minuscule and fleeting, but that one gesture was enough to cause Black Star to hold his breath. Tsubaki wheeled around and rushed out the back door, Black Star's eyes following her every move. As the door slammed shut, Black Star exhaled.
"I'b neber seen er this madd afore." Maka slurred, bringing Black Star back to earth.
"Oh she's go more spit fire in her than most people give her credit for." Black Star said fondly.
"She has a big heart though, and nothing gets her danger up more than seeing people being hurt or bullied."
"Whhy doont you go help er out?" Maka encouraged softly.
"Hmm, she might need help carring things up the stairs." Black star agreed, trying his hardest not to look too eager.
Everyone on this ranch was either extremely blind, or purposefully ignorant. How anyone else couldn't see how much these two loved each other was beyond her.
"Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?" Black Star asked hesitantly. Maka couldn't keep from smiling, even though it bloody hurt like the dickens. Black Star was willing to put his own happiness aside to make sure she was ok. He truly was a most dear friend. Maka nodded her head and made a shooing motion with her hands.
As Black Star left, Maka was finally alone with her own thoughts.
It was only mid day, but she felt exhausted. Her face hurt, her body ached, and her pride stung.
She briefly wondered how Soul was fairing after their clash, but she quickly tried to think about something else.
Anything else but him.
A short while later she heard the back door bang open.
Tsubaki shuffled in, black Star trailing closely behind. Tsubaki's cheeks were rosy and her lips a little swollen, like she had been kissed repeatedly.
Maka gave her a knowing look and her blush only deepened. She turned away and busied herself at the table, smashing something in a large bowl. Tsubaki seemed flustered and distracted. Black Star was strangely the opposite. He stood next to her cool and collected, his eyes bright with an emotion Maka couldn't put her finger on.
Tsubaki smearing something white and goopy around Maka's swollen eye and jaw. Maka had no idea what it was, but she trusted Tsubaki's doctoring.
It smelled familiar and earthy and it felt nice and cold. She sighed contentedly.
"Uh oh." Black Star grated, his gaze swiveling to the nearby window.
"What is it?" Tsubaki asked looking up from her work.
"Trouble." Black star groaned.
They looked out the window to see Soul hobbling across the barn yard slowly but with great purpose.
"Hells bells!" Tsubaki exclaimed. "Please go stop him."
With out hesitation Black Star strode out of the room. Maka and Tsubaki watched from the window. Black Star crossed his arms and planted himself in Soul's path, barring his way to the house. Soul didn't look very happy. He said something to Black Star that the two women watching couldn't hear. Whatever it was Black Star shook his head gravely in response. Soul's face pinched in a mean sneer. Or maybe he was trying to smile, but failing with his face so messed up.
Maka would bet money on the latter.
The two men seemed to be exchanging some heated words. Not taking no for an answer, Soul tried to pass, but Black Star easily blocked him. Soul shoved Black Star hard in frustration.
"Absolutely not!" Tsubaki huffed as she spun from the window. She rushed out the door and down the porch before Maka even knew what was happening.
Tsubaki marched up to Soul, her face livid. She poked him harm on the chest with her finger. She was slender and small compared to Soul, but be took a hesitant step back. She was beyond angry, and Soul looked as if he wanted to turn tail and run.
Maka watched all this from the window. She didn't know why he was here, but she didn't want to see him. Not yet at least. She didn't have the strength to face him.
So as quickly as her beat up body would allow her to, she swiftly snuck out the back door, praying no one would see her. She needed to be alone for some time.
"Kid?" Soul called out for the 10th time. There was no reply. The house was dead quiet.
"Your wasting you time, English probably skiddattled the moment he saw you coming into the house." Black Star observed from the doorway.
Soul let out an exasperated sigh. "Why the hell would he do that?"
"Can you blame him? I wouldn't want to see your ugly mug either. You're lucky I even let you in the house." Tsubaki huffed from somewhere in the next room.
Soul winced at her harsh tone.
She had already given him quite the tongue lashing in the yard. She wasn't done yet it seemed.
"Sit down, I might as well patch you up while you're here." Tsubaki ordered, her voice still bordering on irritated.
Soul did as he was told to.
She mixed a white poultice that looked and smelled like raw potato. She pressed it onto the swelling bruise beneath his right eye.
Soul jerked, the breath hissing out of him on a curse.
"Ow! Jesus . . ."
"If you can't stand the cure, then you shouldn't court the trouble."
"I didn't even start it." Soul mumbled.
"But you sure did finish it. Poor Maka's face is a right mess." Tsubaki lamented.
Black Star, who had been quietly observing began to chuckle.
"What?" Soul asked, his eyes narrowing at his friend.
"I was just remembering the look on your face when you got walloped with that post."
He laughed again, real booming laughs this time. His shoulders shaking, wheezing and huffing. Tsubaki joined him, and even though Soul didn't find his balls being smashed up funny, he smiled as well. He winced as the smile pulled at all the cuts and bruises on his face.
Tsubaki finished applying her remedies and Soul stood up on wobbly legs. The tension in the house had dissolved, but his chest still felt heavy with the kid being gone.
"Do you think he'll come back soon?" Soul asked, his voice oddly hushed.
Tsubaki shook her head and frowned sadly.
"I don't know hun."
Her voice held no more malice, but there was a note of pity there.
"He'll come back when he's good and ready. What I really worry about is whether or not he'll speak to you."
"He'll speak to me, we just need to iron out the kinks and we'll be right as rain again."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Tsubaki said, patting him lightly on the shoulder. "Every bit of trust you earned with that kid has probably been broken. That's not something you can easily fix."
Soul ducked his head as shame burned through him.
The thought of the kid hating him made his insides churn.