Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
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He remembered the blow. He remembered pain along the whole of his blade, shudders jarring the steel all the way to the end of the handle in his meister's grasp. He remembered being released as his soul cried out in agony, falling and spinning haphazardly, trying desperately to maintain his form with the knowledge that doing so could stave off the worst of whatever injury he'd sustained for at least those extra moments. And he remembered hearing a feral scream from a voice both familiar and foreign, feeling the crackle of electricity in the air. And then all had gone dark.
Series
- Part 1 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
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Maka loved her mother. And she made it clear each time her father tried to see her that there was no room left for him in her heart. It was in Spirit's nature to hold on to hope, but the hard truth was that since the divorce...he had been well and truly alone.
Except for the bottle, of course.
Series
- Part 2 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
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The eighteen-year-old new father had been babbling for at least ten minutes straight after he'd come back out of the delivery room and the baby had been moved into the nursery. He had described every one of the newborn's features at least twice and proclaimed it perfect, and Stein simply took in this new and unique behavior from his former partner of five years. He had never seen anything like it, and it was something that at least deserved observation.
It was also an acceptable distraction for the moment over the fact that with this birth, any hope he had of reclaiming his weapon partner was well and truly lost. Nothing sealed two people together like a baby did, and he was honestly surprised that Spirit had asked for him to be there at all. Especially considering the animosity between he and Spirit's...wife.
The word turned his mouth to cotton even in thought, but he ignored his own feelings and refocused on the young man next to him, putting him first as he always did.
Series
- Part 3 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
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Summary
Soul bit the inside of his cheek. Despite having faced and ultimately helping Maka win against the kishin, there was something too real and ominous in what Death Scythe had said. There was still madness and evil roaming the world, and he couldn't forget his duty just because they'd been victorious against one extremely large threat.
Soul began to mentally pack away the twisting confusion in his chest that had led him to the gallery that morning. His own problems were nothing in comparison to his responsibilities to Maka, or to Lord Death and the rest of the world. But then Death Scythe spoke again.
"She doesn't love you because you're close to becoming a death weapon, you know."
"...What?"
Series
- Part 4 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
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Summary
"I'm sorry."
"...What?"
The words had fallen thoughtlessly from Spirit's lips, and despite how he was holding back he could feel the tension in Stein's soul rise in response.
It wasn't enough. He wasn't sure anything could ever be enough to mend their years of separation; of silence, misunderstandings and confusion, and of rejection that was ultimately unfounded and that Spirit knew he could no longer pretend was what he had wanted.
He released his hold on the meister, and Stein's hands fell away instantly as if he'd been stung.
Series
- Part 5 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
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Summary
“Stein!” Spirit cried in protest, his voice rising in pitch.
“Don’t breathe.”
Spirit blinked, the harsh but monotone directive confusing his train of thought.
“What?” he asked, but held his breath nonetheless.
“They melt too fast if you breathe.”
Series
- Part 6 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts
- Part 2 of Wild Heart
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Summary
Spirit wanted to be angry. He wanted to tell Stein that it was none of his business what he did with any girls. But he knew that couldn't really be what was bothering his young friend, and getting to the bottom of that was far more important. He slowly let out a breath, let his fire cool again.
"Stein. It's okay, I promise you. They're okay with it. There's nothing wrong with any of it..."
Stein tensed further, and Spirit frowned quizzically.
"Why do you care, anyway?"
Series
- Part 7 of Cold Nights, Warm Hearts