Updated 10/22: Removed some repetitive stuff and made the middle section flow better. I hope you guys like this!! I plan on making this a pretty long series, primarily soul x maka content, but also adding in some moments to expand on their relatjonships with the other characters. This is my first time actually writing a fanfic so I get super excited when I see someone like my story, it means so much to me!! Love you all :))

-kunt

Chapter 1

Late evening bathed the apartment in a warm, golden glow. The sun's last rays filtered through the windows, casting elongated shadows over the cluttered living room. Stacks of Maka's neatly arranged books mingled with Soul's scattered records, and a few empty mugs dotted the coffee table—a testament to hours spent in comfortable silence.

Maka sat curled up on the couch, one leg dangling off the edge, eyes focused intently on the open book before her. She absently pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. On the floor beside her, Soul leaned against the couch, lazily flipping through a stack of vinyl records. Every so often, he'd glance up, watching as she mumbled softly to herself about her studies..

With a sigh, Maka stretched her arms overhead. "Ugh, I think that's enough studying for now."

Soul smirked, not looking up, nudging her ankle with his elbow. "Finally. Thought you'd never put that book down."

Maka frowned slightly, taking his teasing more seriously than he intended. "Well, maybe if you tried studying once in a while, you'd understand why it's important," she muttered, her tone carrying a hint of irritation.

Soul blinked, realizing her response was sharper than expected. "Whoa, didn't mean it like that, bookworm. Just saying, you've been at it for hours. You could use a break."

Maka looked at him for a moment, then sighed, her expression softening. "Yeah, I guess..."

"And besides," Soul added, glancing up at her with a grin, "cool people like me don't need to try so hard."

"Sure," she teased, nudging his shoulder with her foot. "'Cool' is one word for it. 'Lazy' is another."

He leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. "You're too uptight, Maka. Not everything's a big deal."

Her smile faded slightly, the weight of his words settling uncomfortably in her chest. Maka knew that Soul didn't mean any harm, but it was hard not to feel like she had to fight tooth and nail to stay on top of everything while Soul made it look effortless. It stung a little that he didn't understand how hard she tried—how much she pushed herself because she wanted to be capable enough for both of them.

He glanced up at her, his crimson eyes softening. "I know you've got it handled. Means I can ease up a bit, and everything balances out."

Maka sighed, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Just don't come crying to me when that plan backfires. I won't always be here to pick up the slack."

"Wouldn't dream of it," his grin widened.

Maka glanced at Soul, who was leaning back against the couch with his legs sprawled out, looking as comfortable as ever. There was something about how relaxed he looked—completely at ease with the world—that made her chest ache. She wished, just for a moment, that she could let go the way he did.

She shifted, wincing as she rubbed her lower back. "Sitting like this all day can't be good for me."

Soul raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eye. "Maybe you should switch it up—maybe the couch isn't cutting it for ya."

Maka hesitated for a brief moment, her back aching, and the idea of moving closer to Soul felt like a natural solution. She found herself sliding off the couch, slipping directly into his lap, her back pressing against his chest. It's an instinctive action—something she does almost unconsciously. The moment she does, though, her mind catches up, and she realizes just how close she is to him now.

Soul stiffened, eyes widening. "Uh, Maka...?"

Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "Oh! Um... I-I just thought, since you were right here and my back was hurting..." She trailed off, avoiding his gaze. "is it— it's not weird, right?

He swallowed hard, forcing a casual shrug. "Nah... no big deal. Just, uh, caught me off guard, that's all". Slowly, his hands lowered from behind his head, his fingers hesitantly landing on the floor.

Maka relaxed into the new position, trying to focus on easing the slight awkwardness. She let her head rest back against his shoulder. She kept trying to fight it, but the warmth between them felt almost electric, her awareness of every point of contact intensifying. The solid warmth of his chest pressing against her back, his body feeling both reassuring and grounding. His heartbeat thudded steadily against her shoulder blade, its rhythm almost syncing with her own, creating a sense of calm.

The fabric of his shirt was soft against her skin, and his breath, warm against her ear, sent a delicate shiver down her spine. It was both exhilarating and terrifying—this closeness that she hadn't realized she craved. Being this close, she realized how much she trusted him—how comforting his presence was, even if neither of them knew what to do with the closeness.

She nodded slightly, trying to ignore the rapid beating of her heart. "You're... really warm," she murmured. "It's nice."

He let out a shaky breath. "Yeah? Well, don't get used to it. I'm not a heater or anything."

She laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tension.

They sat in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. Maka could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against her back, each breath syncing with her own. The closeness was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.

Soul hesitated before resting his hands lightly on her hips. The touch was tentative, as if he feared she might pull away. "You know," he began softly, "this is... kinda nice."

She hummed softly in agreement, tilting her head just enough for her hair to lightly graze his cheek. His breath drew in, a quiet, unsteady pull that skimmed hot against her skin.

"Maka..." he whispered.

Maka felt the weight of Soul's presence before his lips even touched her neck—a tension that made her acutely aware of every nerve in her body. Then, his lips hovered, close enough that she could feel his breath, warm and uneven, as if he was hesitating, deciding whether or not to go through with it.

Her breath hitched, the warmth of his voice sending shivers down her spine. "Soul?"

Soul doesn't answer, instead he leans in slowly. For just a heartbeat, everything seemed to pause, and then she felt the softest brush of his lips against her skin, feather-light, testing the waters.

Maka's eyes widened as Soul's lips brushed against her neck, landing in a gentle kiss. The touch was so light it sent a shiver down her spine, igniting something deep inside her. Her senses sharpened, and for a moment, everything faded except where his lips lingered. Her breath caught in her throat, her body tensing as the unexpected sensation swept over her. His lips were warm, softer than she imagined, the feeling almost overwhelming.

Heat spread through her as he continued planting slow, deliberate kisses along her neck, each one sending her mind into chaos as her pulse quickened and her breaths became heavy. There was something so careful in the way he moved, a hesitancy that made the sensation almost tender. Her chest tightened, emotions tumbling over each other in confusion: fear, excitement, and something deeper that bloomed from within.

She could feel his breath, heavy and sharp, filled with a passion she'd only seen glimpses of before. He spoke to her in a language she didn't fully understand—each kiss, each press of his fingers on her waist, unguarded and raw, like when he played for her that first time, letting her in without the need for words. Maka's heart pounded as she tried to make sense of it, though thinking straight was nearly impossible now.

Soul's hands slid from her hips, wrapping around her, pulling her closer. His kisses deepened, each one more insistent and filled with intense need. Her head tilted back, her back pressing further into him, responding to the things his touch was saying, even if she couldn't fully translate it. She couldn't help the soft gasp that escaped her lips. "Soul…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Soul exhaled shakily, his breath trailed up the side of her neck, his lip just grazing her skin. "Mmh—" A soft moan escaped in between her heavy breaths. The sensation was dizzying, sending her heart racing, a mix of anticipation and fear curling her toes. Her mind warned her this was dangerous, but those warnings quickly faded, almost insignificant in the face of what she felt. His touch was careful, inviting, and far too good to resist.

Her resolve slipped, bit by bit, as she relaxed into his embrace. Soft moans escaped before she could stop them, whispers of surrender that made her cheeks burn. It scared her how easily she wanted to give in, but his lips ignited a longing that she couldn't control. His steady embrace grounded her, yet she felt like she was floating. It was too late, there was no fight left in her; she was his.

The intimacy of his lips trailing below her ear made her tremble, her heart pounding in response. Her fingers tightened around his arm, a silent plea to not let go. Soul's hands tightened on her waist, just enough to hold her in place, to reassure her without words.

Soul's lips landed just beneath her ear, the kiss slow but searing, sending a flood of heat through her that made her knees weak. Her body fully melted into his, every inch of her surrendering as his arms anchored her in place, holding her in that overwhelming, electrifying moment.

Her voice moaned his name again—louder this time, her need unmistakable, her body betraying her completely.

Then, all at once, he paused, his lips hovering near her skin, the air between them tense and thick. Her heart hammered, a mix of yearning and fear coursing through her veins. She opened her eyes slightly, her breath shaky, her body aching for him to continue, to not leave her in this uncertain space. She tried to find words, but they felt tangled and lost in the haze of her emotions.

"Uh…um..." she stammered, her voice barely audible in between heavy breaths, uncertain.

She felt Soul pull back, the loss of his warmth making her chest tighten painfully. His hands slipped from her waist, and Maka glanced back, their eyes meeting in a moment heavy with unspoken words. He gave a weak smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, and she couldn't decipher what it meant. Was he regretting it? Had she pushed him too far? The thought stung, a mixture of disappointment and confusion.

"Uh... well, that was definitely something different for study time, huh?" Soul said, trying to laugh it off, though his voice was tight.

"Yeah, well... maybe we should stick to actual studying next time. Better for both of us," Maka replied, forcing a casual tone, her cheeks flushed.

"Right... Uh... So, I guess... that's enough of that, huh?" he said, scratching his head, his grin faltering.

"Right. Yeah... we should call it a night," She turned away, hiding her disappointment as best she could, a forced smile tugging at her lips.

Neither of them moved. Maka could feel the tension, her back still resting against his chest, but she couldn't bring herself to stand up just yet. The silence was heavy, filled with all the words she didn't know how to say. Finally, with a shaky breath, she pushed herself off his lap, her eyes briefly flicking toward Soul. His eyes were fixed on the floor, his hand awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

The room suddenly felt colder as Maka stood, gathering her books in silence. She turned, her steps quiet as she headed toward her room. She reached the door and hesitated, her hand resting on the knob. She looked back, hoping for one last glimpse of Soul, her chest tight with everything she wanted to say but couldn't. Soul, still on the floor, ran a hand through his hair, frustration visible as he watched her go, his jaw set. He started to say something, but the words got stuck, and all he could manage was, "Goodnight, Maka."

Maka paused, her voice barely audible, almost trembling. "Goodnight, Soul..."

Maka turned the knob and slipped into her room, the door clicking softly behind her. A deep sigh left her as she leaned back against it for a moment. She hugged her books tightly to her chest, her mind a whirl of confusion and frustration. She slid down to the floor, resting her head against the wood, her fingers digging into the edges of the book as if searching for some kind of anchor. Why didn't I tell him to keep going? she wondered, her thoughts a mess. No—why did I even want him to? He's my weapon, my best friend, I—...

She pushed herself up and moved to her bed, throwing the books onto the desk in the corner. Lying back, she stared at the ceiling, replaying the moment over and over again. The warmth of his breath, the softness of his lips, the way her body melted against his. It felt so right.

The room was dim, the faint glow of moonlight and street lamps casting soft shadows that danced with the night breeze. The gentle hum of the city filled the silence, comforting in its distance. Maka shifted beneath her blanket, the cool air contrasting with the warmth still lingering on her skin from where Soul had touched her. She turned on her side, pulling the blanket closer, the memory of the evening clinging to her—a mix of longing and uncertainty. She took a deep breath, her body relaxing as exhaustion finally took hold, and her last thought before sleep claimed her was of Soul—the warmth of him, the way he held her, and the unspoken words that lingered between them, waiting for another day.