SoMa One-Shots

Thunderstorms

"Soul, what the heck??!" I stared at Soul, who was dripping water onto the doorstep. His eyes were wild, as he stood panting. He looked terrified. A crash of thunder reverbrated through the house, and Soul jumped, water dripping from his sodden hair. His white hair was no longer formed in its usual meticulously shaped spikes. The last time Soul had looked this frightened was when my life was in danger. I pulled Soul into the house, deciding not to mention the obvious lack of groceries in his hand. I seated him down on the couch. "I'll be right back."
Back before the new court arrangements, I discovered that my mom was scared of thunderstorms- even though she'd never admit it. I learned that the best cure for it was a few things- warmth, dry clothes, and hot chocolate. I snatched a fresh batch of clothes from his room, turned on the heater, put milk over the stove, and snagged towels and blankets on my way back.
I handed him the towels first. The towels followed, and I set the blanket on the couch.
"I'll leave the room," I announced, giving him a chance to change. I attended to the milk, pouring in the necessary packet of powder. After preparing the mug, I dumped marshmallows into it- Soul loves chewy things. He acts like a teething puppy- but that's not important right now.
I scooped up the mug and a paper towel, approaching the previous room. "Are you decent yet?" I called into the room.
"Yeah."
I entered the door. He changed into the dry clothes, but his hair is still dripping wet, his towels lying beside him. I picked up a towel and rub it through his hair. "Thanks." His appreciation made me smile. He's not usually like this. I've always felt his soft side in his soul, but never really seen it. I realized that we don't really have enough heartfelt conversations- I wondered at it. Was it him closing himself off, or it it me?
Wrapping a blanket around him, I planted myself on the next couch cushion. He accepted the mug from me, growing a little excited at the sight of the marshmallows.
"I love marshmallows! Tha-" Soul was cut off by another crash of thunder, and he almost spilled his hot chocolate. That wild look came back into his eyes, and his shoulder pressed against mine.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," I comforted. "Take a sip of your hot chocolate."
He took a deep breath and sipped at the mug, becoming more calm as he drank. He chewed on the marshmallows, swallowed, then lifted up the side of his large, fluffy blanket.
"Will you...?"
"Of course."
Would most people consider it snuggling? Yes. Would I consider it snuggling? I tried not to think about that, or consider my suddenly racing heart as I scooted myself into the offered blanket.
"How do you do all this? I don't understand it." Soul gestured vaguely as he spoke.
"Um, well, I learned how to take care of my mom. She's scared of thunderstorms, too," I supplied.
Soul shook his head. "That's not what I meant...How are you so...I don't know. You're usually so callous and on the defensive, but the instant someone shows vulnerability, you...leap into action. And somehow- like with Crona- somehow, you know exactly how to do everything right. You made friends with someone who was completely cut off from the world. I never would have thought to try that. You're kind enough to deal with me, even the times that I'm a jerk to you. How? Why? I just don't really understand it. And...why do you act so cold at other times? "
I placed a finger on my cheek thoughtfully. Hesitantly, I said, "Well...for your first question, I don't really know. It's a little bit of instinct and a little bit of empathy- and a need for peace of mind. For the second question...I don't really know why. Maybe- maybe I'm scared to be hurt by people? I loved my papa once. I really did. But that love was betrayed...in the worst way possible. I don't think I really trust people anymore...but I think it helps me that I can understand pain- I just know...what it's like to go through awful things."
Soul gazed at the floor, his face hidden. Then, he looked up, and I was stunned to see his eyes welling up. Tears.
Soul spoke directly to to me, his crimson eyes burning with pain. "Maka, I'm sorry."
I blinked. "No, no, it's fine, I-"
Soul shook his head. "I know you well enough. It's not fine, and I've just been making your problems worse for a long time. Please count on me to work with you from now on, okay?"
I nodded, wiping my own tears away. "Maybe we should have heart-to-hearts like this more often", I said, laughing.
Soul agreed.
We sat in a comfortable silence for a while. Soul had spoken about me comforting others, but after that talk, I felt as if I'd been the one comforted. And I was very comfortable, right here, with my head against his shoulder...

~

Soul looked down as Maka slumped into his shoulder, her head in the crook of his neck. He decidedly liked this. Cuddling. And he decidedly liked her, as well. But he wasn't going to let her know that. At least for a while.

(SUP NERDS??? I SAID I WAS BACK, AND I ACTUALLY AM. FOR REAL. So anyway, I've lately been thinking about Soul and Maka- and in their established relationship in the anime, they are NOT a couple, and they have a pretty rocky relationship. There's substance, but there's also a fair amount of friction. I've been thinking that- if they were actually going to get together, something would have to give. Something would need to change- and I just wanted to write that. I hope you liked all this almost-couple fluff. See you next time~)