Trains were awesome. Ok, Black Star hadn't been on too many trains. This train had been awesome, though. Obviously. He'd been on board, after all. Not that it really meant much. Even the lamest shithole would be incredible while he was gracing it with his presence. Come to think of it, he really had no way of telling great places from bad ones. Another cross for him to bear. It wasn't easy being on top.

Speaking of shitholes, the train station he and his partner had just entered definitely fit that description. Even the overwhelming radiance of his aura could not drown out the beggars or the smell of urine. He was thinking out loud as they searched the platform for their colleagues.

"Soul's home city is kind of a garbage heap, huh?"

He was mostly talking to himself. Regardless, Tsubaki replied, wearing her trademark understanding smile.

"I wouldn't say that. I'm sure train stations are dirty everywhere."

"Aren't those two kind of pathetic as well, needing us to come save their asses like this?"

"They didn't technically ask for help. Kid instructed us to back them up just in case."

A laughable justification. Warriors of their status should have wrapped this thing up in a day or two.

"Soul's a death scythe, though. Requiring help like this is pretty embarrassing."

"Well, anybody would feel safer with us on their side, don't you think?"

Hard to argue with that. They were pretty awesome.

"Yeah. That makes sense. Guess there's no helping it. We'll just have to bail them out once again."

A third voice entered their conversation from behind them.

"And aren't we lucky for it?"

He turned around to find his friend walking up to them.

"It's alright. The strong should help the weak, you know?"

Soul grinned at him. They fistbumped. Unlike her partner, Tsubaki offered a proper greeting.

"Hey, Soul. How have you been?"

"I can't complain."

His hands had already sunken into his pockets again. Much as Black Star liked Soul, the guy needed to work on his body language.

"Is Maka not with you?"

"Nah, she had some things to take care of. You'll meet her at the hotel. It's nearby."

Now that was a topic of interest to him. While they walked, he put an arm around his buddy in a mildly threatening manner.

"This place better deserve to host a man of my caliber."

"Oh, you deserve the place alright."

He remained doubtful. Soul and Maka had a reputation for cheaping out on their accommodations. Couldn't be him. Black Star always made sure to book nice hotels. What kind of hero would stay in some moldy shack? He was worth it. As they approached a rather odd looking building on the corner of a street, he felt like his friends might want to rethink their own sense of self-worth.

"Bro, there is no way we are staying in there."

He was dead serious, but Soul just waved him off.

"Relax, it's fine on the inside."

"What about the outside? I can't be seen entering somewhere like this. Think of my legacy!"

"Fuck your legacy, man. The hotel's cheap and clean."

Tsubaki attempted to be the voice of reason.

"I think it looks kind of nice."

The scythe jumped at the opportunity.

"See? Your partner doesn't mind."

"Dude, calling it 'kind of nice' is the harshest thing I've heard her say about anything."

Soul appeared to be entirely unbothered by their complaints.

"Stop crying already. I'm like ninety percent sure the rooms are haunted. Keep talking like that and you might get stabbed in your sleep."

Before Black Star knew it, they had entered. Taking a look around the lobby, he got where that statement was coming from. That didn't make in any less of a ridiculous suggestion.

"Yeah, right. The ghost that takes out the great Black Star has yet to be born."

"Ghosts aren't born, dumbass. They die."

"Ok, so? They're born when someone dies. Are you stupid, Soul?"

"Born when they die? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

Since the two men were absorbed in their discussion, Tsubaki was the only one that noticed a young, blonde woman quietly sitting on the stairs. When she met the other meister's gaze, Maka got up and approached the group. She sighed and clapped her hands once.

"I hate to interrupt this truly thought provoking debate, but your room is ready."

Tsubaki was first to reply.

"Hello Maka, thank you so much for sorting out a place to stay for us."

Black Star both admired and condemned his partner's bottomless kindness. Tolerance was an important virtue in rulers. But so was honesty. He could not abide such lies.

"What are you thanking her for? I'm booking my own hotel next time."

Maka smiled at him.

"So sorry it's not up to your standards, Black Star."

Soul joined her and the pair led the way up the stairs. He really was surrounded by incompetence. These people were lucky that he, too, possessed a bottomless kindness.

"It's fine. As long as you know you messed up."

He could see the other meister's back twitching as she walked in front of him. Probably the guilt. Intelligent they may not have been, but at least his subordinates cared. Some encouragement was in order. He put a reassuring hand on Maka's shoulder.

"I shouldn't give you a hard time. You were trying to help."

She stopped for a second. Overwhelmed by gratitude, no doubt. He understood, but his time was precious. Giving her one more reassuring pat on the back, Black Star kindly let her know to resume movement.

"Well, go on. I'm getting a little hungry."

Maka and Soul began to ascend the stairs once more. Since the other pair seemed to be preoccupied with their own inadequacies, Black Star decided to grant them a moment of silence. Before long, they reached the third floor. Maka handed him a key and pointed to a room at the end of the corridor. Then, she marched into a different one, dragging Soul along behind her. They made their way towards the room she'd pointed to. As soon as they had entered and shut the door, Tsubaki practically screamed at him.

"Did you see that?!"

"See what?"

"Soul and Maka! The way they were walking! Locking arms!"

Oh. That's right. His weapon did have that side to her. Beneath the quiet demeanor lay a young woman with a healthy thirst for drama. Not an interest he shared.

"What about it? They looked normal to me."

He began to unpack as they talked.

"No way! She was totally leaning into him! Something happened between them for sure!"

"I dunno. They've always acted like an old married couple. Seems normal to me."

"Nonono. It was different! I'm gonna question Maka later."

He could appreciate her passion, at the very least. Tsubaki was extremely timid most of the time. Seeing her get riled up was a fun change of pace.

"Sure. Go ahead."

"But I'll need a chance to do it..."

Black Star would leave her to it for now. He took out his bathroom supplies. The room was beneath him, obviously. Clean and cheap just didn't cut it. Well, the hotel was in luck. These rundown accommodations were absorbing his magnificence with each second he stayed. Perhaps, by the time he left, this place might be somewhat presentable. Good thing he had plenty to go around. Tsubaki had apparently reached some sort of revelation.

"We need to go have dinner with them!"

Dinner sounded good. He didn't really care who attended, so that was fine as well. The meister returned to the main room and stood next to the right bed. Tsubaki was sitting on the left one.

"Why not? I'm hungry."

"Good. I will get to the bottom of this!"

Having finished sorting out his baggage, Black Star was getting bored quickly. It was only four in the afternoon. Even if they ate early, that left at least two hours he would need to kill. His partner was doing something on her phone. She wouldn't be of use. The young man took a quick look around the hotel. It was barren. No vending machines or entertainment rooms. He did encounter a dining salon, but he found it in the goodness of his heart to hold back for the sake of eating together later.

Since the hotel was a disappointment, he extended his search radius outside the perimeter. Unfortunately, there wasn't much of note in the vicinity either. The neighbouring buildings appeared to be offices of some kind, a few other hotels. He explored one of them. It was, unsurprisingly, very nice. Soul and Maka would get another lecture later. When he returned to their temporary home, he noticed a large, old clock in the entrance hall. If its dusty hands could be trusted, it was half past five. He was hungry. That had to be late enough. After making his way back upstairs, he knocked on the door to the other pair's room. It took a good twenty seconds before Soul opened.

"What's up?"

His hair was all over the place. Had he just gotten out of bed? Boredom was a plight reserved for the great, it seemed. Simple people sure did have it easy.

"Tsubaki wants us to have dinner as a group later. You guys up for it?"

Soul turned around.

"Maka. Dinner with the others in a bit?"

If she answered, Black Star couldn't hear it. Nonetheless, Soul turned back to him.

"Sure, that's fine."

"Also, let's go do something. I'm dying of boredom."

Soul laughed.

"We can leave at six. You'll survive another half an hour."

With that, he closed the door. They really were trying his generosity today. The meister returned to his own room, finding the bathroom door locked. He knocked and informed Tsubaki.

"They want to go at six."

She replied from inside.

"Okay. Make sure you get ready."

His clothes would do. He somehow doubted they would be visiting any expensive establishments. Confronted with boredom once again, he turned to the TV for help. It had little to offer. No Pay-TV, no streaming services. A couple of minutes passed with some unfamiliar reality show on the screen. It barely qualified as entertainment. Fortunately, his partner exited the bathroom eventually.

"Black Star. Listen."

It didn't really matter what she wanted to talk about. Any distraction would do. He signaled her to go on.

"I need you to keep Soul busy so I can question Maka. Can you do that?"

A simple task. Of course he could manage.

"Duh. Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Perfect. I'll let you know."

"Sooo can we got yet? My stomach is killing me."

She laughed genuinely.

"Sure. You've been patient enough."

They made their way down the corridor and, again, the task of knocking on that dark wooden door fell to him. Just like before, it took Soul an eternity to open up.

"You do realize it's barely been fifteen minutes, right?"

"I'm hungry, man. Let's go already."

His buddy stepped out into the hallway.

"Think Maka needs a few more minutes."

"Dude, she's had all afternoon to get ready. I don't think you guys understand the severity of the situation."

"You just asked us fifteen minutes ago, dickhead."

Contrary to his choice of words, Soul was grinning. As per usual, Tsubaki took on the role of adult in the room.

"We can wait another five minutes, can't we?"

Even his partner ignored his struggle. Black Star sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall. The way things were going, he might actually end up starving. As they waited, the two weapons started talking.

"So, Soul. Have you two had a pleasant stay here?"

"Uh, sure. Yeah, it's been alright."

"Did anything special happen... with Maka?"

For a ninja weapon, his partner sure wasn't subtle. And that was coming from him. Soul narrowed his eyes and considered his words.

"Not really. It's been a bit stressful is all."

She wasn't letting up.

"I just thought you guys seemed closer than before."

He still didn't get her obsession with this. Soul and Maka had acted like they were dating from the moment they'd met. What difference did it make?

"Oh, because of the room? Nah, we've always shared a bed for these missions."

"No, that's not what I- Wait, what? You have?!"

Tsubaki blushed.

"Yeah. Saves money. We live together anyway, it's no big deal."

His partner clearly had more questions, but the door opened again and Maka finally stepped outside, mumbling an apology.

"Sorry for the hold-up."

Tsubaki was quick to console her.

"Don't worry about it. We were early."

Too much talk. He needed food.

"Yeah, yeah. It's all good. Can we go eat now?"

Maka turned to him, wearing yet another wide smile. Arguably too wide for someone who had been making his day needlessly difficult. These peasants led easy lives, didn't they? She spoke respectfully, if nothing else.

"Of course, Black Star. They actually have a large buffet downstairs. It's super good."

"Really? Maybe I've been too hard on this place. What are we waiting for, then? Let's go!"

He remembered the way to that dining room. Wasting no more time, he set himself in motion. The others would follow. Even if they didn't, it made no difference. Down the stairs, left at the counter, second door on the right. This was the place. The air smelled of grease and meat. His friends moved to sit at a table in a corner. He had no time for that. Foregoing the table completely, Black Star went straight for the buffet. There was so much food on display and he had no time to debate, so he just loaded everything onto multiple plates. Finally content with his spoils, he hauled his loot to their seating. The other pair had sat down on the opposite end, so he took a seat next to his own partner, facing Soul. Before he could even put down his fourth plate, his favorite meister-colleague felt the need to comment.

"You're not seriously going to eat all that, are you?"

"A strong man needs a lot of food. This is just the beginning."

By the looks of it, everybody else had grabbed food of their own while he'd been busy. Of course, the small amounts of meat and vegetables on their plates paled in comparision to the vast feast he had assembled. He vaguely noticed small talk in the background, but it didn't bother him. This craving for nourishment needed to be sated first. Taste was his only sense that functioned. Only after he had consumed several meal's worth of meat did the world around him come back into view. Apparently, someone was talking to him.

"Black Star."

Maka was looking at him. He wiped the drool off his chin.

"Huh?"

"Make sure to try the fish. It's really good."

Black Star didn't need to be told. By the time he was through, there would be no dish left he hadn't sampled. Still, her proactivity was commendable.

"Yeah. Thanks, Maka. Your enthusiasm almost makes up for your incompetence."

Another eye-twitch of gratitude.

"Uh huh."

As a sign of respect, he moved on to his fish plate next. They looked a bit funny, but they tasted great. Maka knew her fish. While he was inhaling the seafood, Soul addressed him and his partner.

"Did Kid tell you about the mission?"

Seeing as his mouth was preoccupied, he was thankful that Tsubaki responded.

"He gave us a basic rundown. You fought a kishin-egg, something was wrong with it, there might be more trouble."

"That's the gist of it. We took out the creature, but it didn't leave a soul behind. Then, there were more incidents in the following days."

When had the white-haired weapon become so proactive? At no point in his memory had that man given somebody a mission rundown. That was his partner's job. Maybe Tsubaki was onto something, after all. The two weapons continued to discuss.

"So there are more enemies in the city?"

"Yeah. Seems like it. Kid told us to be on stand-by until reinforcements got here, so we haven't investigated more. They operate at night, so we should head out tomorrow evening."

Spoken like the lazy slacker he was. Black Star entered the conversation.

"Tomorrow? I'll die of boredom by then. We can go after we eat!"

Soul disagreed.

"Bad idea. Last one we fought had some kinda psychological attack. Going after it when we're tired and stressed will make things worse."

"Yada yada. That kinda attack is pathetic. We can handle a few tricks like that."

Tsubaki took things a little more seriously.

"What do you mean by psychological attack?"

"Some kinda gas. Messes with your emotions. Drives you mad. Well, not literally mad. You know what I mean."

It really did not sound threatening to him. But if his assistants here lost their minds, it could make matters annoying. Soul added:

"Oh, don't worry, though. Seems to mostly not affect us weapons."

Things made less sense by the second. Did Maka have no shame dragging the group down? He needed to call her out, for her own good.

"So we're taking the entire day off just for the sake of Maka's weak mental game?"

Said meister's face looked odd for a second. It must have been embarrassing holding everyone back like this. She quickly snapped out of it and resumed her friendly expression. Even friendlier than before, really.

"Yes, sorry. I'm worried I wouldn't be able to stay calm today."

He heaved a big sigh.

"It's alright. You can't help it."

Black Star was getting started on another salad when his weapon softly elbowed his side. After a brief moment of confusion, he recognized it as the signal to keep Soul busy. No problem. He was an assassin. Unlike his surprisingly clumsy weapon, he excelled at subterfuge. The meister put down his cutlery and looked straight at the man across from him.

"Hello, Soul."

The other man looked up from his plate, eyeing him curiously.

"Uhh. Yo?"

So far so good. Time for some smooth small talk.

"How's the weather over there?"

"You mean... like... on this side of the table?"

An error of phrasing. Not a big deal.

"No, of course not."

He laughed out loud before continuing.

"I meant, uh, in this city that we're in."

"In Minneapolis? I dunno, haven't been here in forever. It's been cold and rainy since we got here."

"Mhmmm. Very interesting."

"Are you feeling okay, man?"

Ah crap. This was not going well. His partner must have rubbed off on him. Time for the big guns.

"It's been so long since we hung out. We should have a drink."

He'd spotted a bottle of wine earlier. In most hotels, each table came with one. Yet, when he tried to grab it, his hands only caught air. Searching the table, he was shocked to find it in Maka's hands. He needed to confirm with Soul.

"I kinda thought Maka didn't drink."

The weapon followed his gaze. Soul's partner was in the process of filling her glass all the way to the brim.

"She doesn't, usually..."

Soul put a hand on Maka's shoulder.

"Hey, are you good?"

She brushed him off. Only after she'd downed most of her glass' contents in one go did she answer.

"'m fine."

The scythe turned back to him, looking concerned. Crisis averted. He could still get the job done. Black Star filled their glasses and picked up his own. Soul hesitantly followed. They clinked glasses and took a sip. Back to small talk.

"You're from here, right?"

"Yup."

"Did you guys visit your family or something?"

"Nope."

"You going to?"

Soul got up.

"I'm gonna get seconds."

That man was a difficult audience. Well, this still bought time for Tsubaki. He looked over at the women of the group to find his partner leaned forward aggressively while Maka desperately refilled her glass. No way was he getting involved in that. Soul returned with a plate of veggies. A pathetic quarry.

"You should try the fish."

The white haired boy chuckled.

"I'm good, but thanks."

Black Star racked his brain for more topics. This task had turned out to be much harder than anticipated. He finally came upon a reasonable question.

"Do you have a car here or something?"

"We're renting a bike. You got your license, right?"

"Yea, I guess."

"That works, can rent a second one before we get started tomorrow."

Another twenty minutes of stagnant and increasingly painful conversation later, Tsubaki finally seemed content with her interrogation. She leaned back in her chair, a satisfied expression on her face.

"Good talk, Maka. I'm glad we can discuss these things."

Said girl didn't respond. She looked thoroughly exhausted. Black Star was beginning to miss his timid partner. This version of her was scary. Tsubaki got up.

"We'll be heading out, then. Thanks for keeping us company."

It had not been a question. Her tone was matter of fact. Black Star kind of wanted dessert, but his survival instincts prevented him from voicing that complaint. He said a quick goodbye to the rest of the group and followed Tsubaki out of the room.