Spirit realized that staring at his phone (not that he used it often. Who would he call?) for hours seemed like a stupid action to others. He's already talked to Maka - he's proud, still so proud of his baby girl even if she isn't proud of him - and he's sent a letter to his ex-wife
( ... )
Stein put the phone up to his ear, listening to it ring, and hoping that silent mantra of "Pick up, pick up, pick up," would be answered - or maybe he was really just hoping it wouldn't be answered, but didn't want to admit to it.
Spirit was probably asleep with or without someone, anyway. And Stein was probably just interrupting that. They'd still have a chance to talk in the morning even if Spirit didn't pick up, after all. Stein debated hanging up after one ring, but decided to stick it out to not seem too indecisive.
The sudden shrill ring of his phone startled Spirit into fumbling with the device, flailing in that comical way before holding the phone firmly in his hands. A lump in his throat formed. Lord Death would call for Spirit through his mirror, and no matter how high he hoped he knew his daughter would never call.
Flopping back on his bed, the Deathscythe continued to stare at the blinking light as the rings replaced the somber silence.
One... Two...
Spirit answered the call, shoving every thought of the truth back into heavily guarded vaults. "Hello?"
"Oh. You're awake." Stein couldn't quite manage to hide the shock in his voice as he said that. "I'm not... Interrupting anything, am I senpai?" Though at least he managed to mask the cautious disappointment at the thought of Spirit sleeping with some random girl.
Blue eyes rolled around at the shocked note in his - former, dammit. Anyone he loves always turns out to be a former - meister's voice.
Then Spirit frowned at the question. He moved to lay on his side and left the phone to seesaw on his cheek as he spoke. "You're not, but I think the better question is why you're calling me this late at night. Not that I'm saying it's bad or anything, but-- nevermind. Hey, Stein."
Any other day, Stein would have just offered to hang up, let Spirit get some sleep, and talk to him later. But there just wasn't enough of a later to make that a viable option. "I just wanted to talk, I guess."
After a short pause, Stein let out an audible sigh, his shoulders sagging. "I don't... I don't want you to come with us." Stein's voice sounded smaller, meek almost. "I want to get the opportunity to fight with you once more, but... Spirit, you shouldn't have to die like this."
Silence permeated as Stein's words surprised Spirit. The young prodigy was never meek. Not once when it didn't concern nightmares, and even then Stein didn't sound like this. Like he was begging, in a way. It frightened Spirit. He didn't know how to deal with a sincerely upset Stein; what if he said the wrong thing, like he usually does when he tries to act cool?
The last words made Spirit scowl, though.
"... what do you mean, 'die like this'?" He sat up, folding his legs as he tried to keep the flash of irritation in check. Stein didn't mean to bring it up, he's sure. And the other man knew he wasn't weak, dammit. He worked hard to earn his position, despite his personality and bad habits.
"I want to fight with you, too, Stein. And I'd rather die fighting trying to prevent the world from being taken by madness --" from taking you to where I can't follow "-- than not trying at all. You know that, Stein. This is our job. So what do you mean by 'die like this'?"
"I mean-" Stein paused, grabbing his labcoat from where he set it hours earlier. "Can I just come over? I feel like if we're going to have this conversation, it should at least be in person."
He fretted for a moment over the possibility of Spirit saying no, but Stein wasn't worried. He doubted Spirit would at this point, and even if he did? Stein knew where Spirit lived and how to pick locks.
"Sure," Spirit said, still frowning, swinging his legs so his feet were on the floor. Better get his robe on. "I'll leave the door unlocked." So no picking on his lock, Stein.
Though he knew Spirit couldn't see it, his lips quirked into a quick smile before he hung up the phone.
The walk over to Spirit's place was nice. The cool night air cleared his head a bit, even if the presence of the moon hovering in the sky had the opposite effect.
It didn't take him too long to find Spirit's house - he visited silently in the years he was still married to Kami, to observe him and that woman and little Maka through windows - and once he got there, he didn't bother knocking, instead choosing to walk right in through the open door.
It was such a nice house, really. Spirit shouldn't have to leave it cold and empty and alone. It was such a nice house, but part of the reason it was so nice was because from every wall, in every corner, Stein could feel Spirit's wavelength flowing around the house from years of living here.
There was just no way Spirit could leave the house, mostly because of the good memories he has of his split family. The blueprint was simple: a two-storey building with 3-bedrooms, the guest bedroom (with its own bathroom) on the first floor. That was where Spirit slept. Because despite the good memories, the emptiness of his and his daughter's bedrooms coldly reminded him every time his actions had done.
Spirit was in the kitchen pouring hot water into two mugs as he prepared their drinks. His hair was tied back and he shuffled around the room in pajamas and t-shirt.
Stein snickered. When Spirit tied his hair back like that, he couldn't help but be reminded of when they were younger and stupider and before they had their little break up.
But none of that mattered any more really.
"You didn't have to make me anything special, you know."
/cackles madlyprideofwisdomOctober 4 2011, 01:50:21 UTC
"Marie has since converted me," he said with a smile.
Stein took a cup from Spirit gingerly, still smiling. It was easier to pretend that it was any other very late night slash very early morning and that they had more than enough time to worry about serious things later. "I forgot how cute you looked with your hair pulled back. It goes very well with you acting like a little housewife." Stein snickered, maybe making fun, maybe being serious; who could tell other than the man himself.
now lemme drink your brain~p_assaroundOctober 4 2011, 22:11:39 UTC
"Not cute," Spirit pouted, knowing quite well how Stein was prone to teasing him. With his own mug of tea in hand he took a sip of his sweetened tea, all the while trying to gauge how Stein was holding up. Spirit didn't need to have soul perception to read his first meister; years of being together allowed him to know Stein better than anyone - with the exception of Marie, who made a great partner for Stein.
And would most definitely make just as great as a mother. Step mother. Whatever title they come up with once everything's settled, and there's no more secrets.
Spirit moved to open his fridge and peer inside, ignoring the way his fingers tightened around his mug.
Stein chuckled to himself, taking a sip from his mug. The tea was pretty good, at least.
Though Stein realized, with an audible sigh, that he couldn't keep putting off this conversation. "I still don't want you to come on the mission, Spirit."
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Spirit was probably asleep with or without someone, anyway. And Stein was probably just interrupting that. They'd still have a chance to talk in the morning even if Spirit didn't pick up, after all. Stein debated hanging up after one ring, but decided to stick it out to not seem too indecisive.
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Flopping back on his bed, the Deathscythe continued to stare at the blinking light as the rings replaced the somber silence.
One... Two...
Spirit answered the call, shoving every thought of the truth back into heavily guarded vaults. "Hello?"
Reply
Not that it was any of his business, of course.
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Then Spirit frowned at the question. He moved to lay on his side and left the phone to seesaw on his cheek as he spoke. "You're not, but I think the better question is why you're calling me this late at night. Not that I'm saying it's bad or anything, but-- nevermind. Hey, Stein."
Reply
After a short pause, Stein let out an audible sigh, his shoulders sagging. "I don't... I don't want you to come with us." Stein's voice sounded smaller, meek almost. "I want to get the opportunity to fight with you once more, but... Spirit, you shouldn't have to die like this."
Reply
The last words made Spirit scowl, though.
"... what do you mean, 'die like this'?" He sat up, folding his legs as he tried to keep the flash of irritation in check. Stein didn't mean to bring it up, he's sure. And the other man knew he wasn't weak, dammit. He worked hard to earn his position, despite his personality and bad habits.
"I want to fight with you, too, Stein. And I'd rather die fighting trying to prevent the world from being taken by madness --" from taking you to where I can't follow "-- than not trying at all. You know that, Stein. This is our job. So what do you mean by 'die like this'?"
Reply
He fretted for a moment over the possibility of Spirit saying no, but Stein wasn't worried. He doubted Spirit would at this point, and even if he did? Stein knew where Spirit lived and how to pick locks.
Reply
"Sure," Spirit said, still frowning, swinging his legs so his feet were on the floor. Better get his robe on. "I'll leave the door unlocked." So no picking on his lock, Stein.
Reply
The walk over to Spirit's place was nice. The cool night air cleared his head a bit, even if the presence of the moon hovering in the sky had the opposite effect.
It didn't take him too long to find Spirit's house - he visited silently in the years he was still married to Kami, to observe him and that woman and little Maka through windows - and once he got there, he didn't bother knocking, instead choosing to walk right in through the open door.
It was such a nice house, really. Spirit shouldn't have to leave it cold and empty and alone. It was such a nice house, but part of the reason it was so nice was because from every wall, in every corner, Stein could feel Spirit's wavelength flowing around the house from years of living here.
Reply
Spirit was in the kitchen pouring hot water into two mugs as he prepared their drinks. His hair was tied back and he shuffled around the room in pajamas and t-shirt.
Reply
But none of that mattered any more really.
"You didn't have to make me anything special, you know."
Reply
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Stein took a cup from Spirit gingerly, still smiling. It was easier to pretend that it was any other very late night slash very early morning and that they had more than enough time to worry about serious things later. "I forgot how cute you looked with your hair pulled back. It goes very well with you acting like a little housewife." Stein snickered, maybe making fun, maybe being serious; who could tell other than the man himself.
Reply
And would most definitely make just as great as a mother. Step mother. Whatever title they come up with once everything's settled, and there's no more secrets.
Spirit moved to open his fridge and peer inside, ignoring the way his fingers tightened around his mug.
Reply
Though Stein realized, with an audible sigh, that he couldn't keep putting off this conversation. "I still don't want you to come on the mission, Spirit."
Reply
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