SoMa:: Into the Dark Pt 1
Soul, in scythe-form, groaned in agitation. Kid had been wandering up and down the alleyway for over an hour, trying to find a way to balance Soul so that they both felt and looked symmetrical, despite this being the exact opposite point of this exercise.
"Hey, Soul…does this feel symmetrical to you?"
Soul suppressed a snort at the amount of sexual innuendos now trolling through his mind. "I dunno, Kid…"
Kid bit his lip in worry. "What do you think would make it more symmetrical?"
"I think…" Soul began rocking back and forth in Kid's hands. "THIS!" Soul threw all of his weight and concentration into slamming his blade into Kid's forehead.
Kid dropped Soul and went into ducky-squat position. Soul transformed back into a human and put his hands behind his head.
"That wasn't very partnerly of you, Soul." Kid's shoulders were shaking. Soul was torn between annoyance at Kid's overreaction and sympathy toward his condition; Kid was definitely making things more difficult than they needed to be, but Soul also knew that he couldn't really help it.
Soul shrugged awkwardly. "Che, whatever." It was nearly midnight and they hadn't even started on their mission. They'd left as soon as school had let out, had spent about two hours at Kid's house preparing, about three hours trying to search for the "perfect" entrance, and…Soul couldn't even remember what they did for the rest of that time. He might have even fallen asleep during it.
"We're supposed to be working together, Soul," Kid admonished, wiping the dust and dirt from his immaculate clothes. Soul didn't really need reminding of why he and Kid were working together. He, Maka, Kid, Liz, and Patty had been dragged into Lord Death's…well, he couldn't really call it an office; they'd been pulled into Lord Death's space and told that for the next month, they'd be switching partners.
"I want Kiddo to learn to play well with others ~" was how Lord Death had phrased it. As Maka explained it later, "You, like papa, are an actual scythe. Lord Death can use any weapon, but he usually sticks with my papa. He wants Kid to do the same, with you. It's tradition." Maka seemed mischievously happy about the switch, holding hands and giggling with Liz and Patty. Soul didn't think that Maka, who was rather tomboyish, would enjoy spending all that time with Liz and Patty - especially since they'd also decided to switch residences - but she definitely looked more excited than Soul felt. That wasn't to say that Soul disliked Kid, it was more that, well…
"You are more annoying than Maka on her perfectionist days. And at least she has good reasons for worrying. What the Hell is it gonna matter if I don't look symmetrical in your hands?"
Kid's face began to redden, although Soul couldn't tell if it was in anger or embarrassment. Soul had a tendency to evoke both emotions in his friends. "I apologize for my imperfections. You know, we can't all be perfect like your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," Soul muttered. "But seriously. At least Maka freaks out about things like technique and whether or not moves will work. You're having panic attacks because the weapon you're gonna have to use to save your life and the lives of others may be a centimetre or too off from being perfectly symmetrical when you're not even using it! What exactly are you gonna do when we get attacked? Pathetic."
There was an awkward silence as Kid contemplated their situation. "I suppose you're right. Well…that's enough for one night!"
Soul grabbed the back of Kid's collar. "Oh, Hell no. I did not just spend five plus hours wandering around with you acting like an idiot for us to get absolutely nothing done." Soul ran forward, using his scythe blade to break through the decimated walls, dragging a screaming Kid behind him.
"Soul! What the Hell are you doing?"
Soul didn't answer, but what he was doing was trying a tactic he often used on Maka when she began to overthink things.
"There is a witch in here, Kid - a witch. And not the nice kind like Kim and hopefully Angela. The douchy kind, like Medusa, only hopefully she's not quite that much of a threat yet. If we don't get moving now, she will be."
Kid dug his heels into the ground and Soul started to trip. He grabbed onto the wall to keep his balance, while Kid slammed a fist into his face, throwing him to the ground. "Please do not ever try that again! Is this perfectly clear?"
"Fine," Soul snapped. "I'll just go find this witch and defeat her myself."
"Ugh! Soul! Get back here! What are you going to do without your meister?" Kid ran off after him.
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"Geez Maka, what are we going to do with those two?" Maka shook her head. She, Liz, and Patty had successfully taken down their own target several hours ago and, after receiving an urgent and worried call from Lord Death, were on their way to help Soul and Kid take down theirs. Maka didn't really mind helping out, but she was worried about Kid's Obsessive-Compulsive tendencies spiraling out of control. Well...more out of control than they already were, if Liz and Patty weren't exaggerating (and for once, they weren't). Maka had faith in Kid's powers, but she had no idea how he could remain sane with such a tough job if he couldn't even handle having an asymmetrical weapon to work with.
Maka was now running with both Liz and Patty, in gun-form, in her hands. She was used to working with one arm free, but since there was no blade, she was able to run more smoothly. The change was welcome, though it felt strange.
"Where do you think they could have gotten to?"
"Well, I just tried to sense Kid's Soul. It feels like we've passed them. Are they even in here yet? What's taking them so long?"
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"Soul! Stop!"
"Why? Am I not running symmetrically?"
"Well, no, you're not, but that isn't the point: This could be really dangerous."
"Oh?" purred a voice. "What was your first clue?" The witch looked almost exactly like Soul was expecting; her clothing was various shades of pink, red, and gold. She looked beautiful and was ornately dressed. The only thing Soul wasn't expecting was the scowl and the black hair. "I've been waiting for you" she whispered. She blew a kiss in their direction. Soul knocked Kid out of the way, landing on top of him. "Oh, I had no idea you swung that way."
"I don't" Soul snarled, glaring at Kid. He helped Kid up, then kicked him from behind. "If you're not going to help, get out of the way!"
"Aw, a lover's spat," the witch teased. "How sweet."
"Soul, we're supposed to be working together," Kid stressed.
"It might go better if you actually worked, Kid."
"Okay" The witch yawned. "Now, you're boring me. Time to make things interesting…Liebe lieben, amour amoure." The Witch pointed a finger at Soul, who was still arguing fervently with Kid.
Soul slapped his head. It felt like he'd been bitten by a bug or something. "Now things will be worth watching!...but not tonight," the Witch purred again.
"What? Get back here and fight!"
"No thank you, I think I'll wait 'til the spell takes effect."
"Hey lady! What the Hell are you talking about?"
"I haven't really gotten a chance to try it out on a weapon yet, I wonder what it'll do?"
"Would you please quit yabbering on like you don't want to tell me? What did you do to me?"
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough. You'll run into someone special, and then you'll understand." She waved. "That's all for now. I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Lame!" Soul countered, in a weak attempt to get the Witch to return. It was ineffective.
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Soul was once again running away from Kid, although he wasn't paying much attention to where he was going. What the Hell did that witch mean? And where the Hell did Kid go? Soul was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't realize when he -
"Ow - God, Soul, watch where you're going!"
"Ugh, sorry Maka - Maka? What are you doing here?"
Maka dusted herself off. Soul twitched. Everything was beginning to remind him of Kid and his annoying habits. "We were told to come down here and assist you and Kid…Where is Kid?"
"Don't know…don't care. Where are Liz and Patty?"
Maka shrugged. "I don't know. I think Liz went to go look for Kid. She told Patty to stay put, but I'm pretty sure Patty ran after her anyway."
There was a small silence. "I'm just getting the Hell outta here before he comes back, care to come with?"
Maka giggled and grabbed Soul's arm. "I'm down with that. Have you eaten yet?"
Soul shook his head, although he didn't really feel like eating. His face felt flushed and he felt slightly sick, but he'd forgotten about the Witch.
pt 2 >>