it was his daughter's birthday, that's what he told me.

"fourteen;" he whispered barely auioable as he clutched the shot glass. "my maka's growing up before my very eyes."

i took out a cigarette of my own and placed it in my lips. why was he here, than? at a bar wrekcing his perfectly fine organ system for the sake of a drowsy, lazy feeling.

i asked him. his lips parted to a sigh and looked up at me. he rose his head and rested his chin on his palm.

"hypercritical much, Stein?" he said and heaved. his eyes started to tear up. i lit the cigarette and drew in an elongated breath to prepare myself to reply back.

"at least i have no kids i can ruin the life of."

he looked away from me and i noted his body shook after i spoke. i reached out but quickly retaliate--it was my word. harsh, but truth. i did not want to pain him further. i sat there with a curled up hand nearing his arm as he took the stick from his mouth to blow.

"dont't remind me." he finally broke the silence that hung. It was said  in a somber tone but with fury behind every letter his tongue spoke.

"my precious maka hates me." the red head said to me. "the divorce was, only, what? two weeks ago. i am a deadbeat but i am trying."

"you still haven't answered my question, Albarn."

"don't be silly, Stein. call me by the name you know."

"well, you've been using my last," i said as tipped the bud to the tray, the ash flickering. "i thought you wanted to be formal."

"Frank is a stupid name." he said and leaned back in the bar stool. "or Fraken, same bullshit. I don't like it."

i lifted my lip up to pull up a smile and gave a soft chuckle. classic spirit, classic.

"alright, how's the fag?"

spirit glanced at me than his gaze went back over his cig. he wiped his eyes and nodded.

"not a bad one."

i brushed my grey hair out of my tired eyes and spun over to his direction, rolling the sleeves of my sweater up.

"i know Maka's a fairly popular name, but there's just a condience on my hands."

spirit quickly got another shot and put a good deal of money on the table, making the waiter act much more quickly than with my order. i coughed in my hand loudly.

"yea?" he spoke, looking over at me. "what's so funny, Stein?"

"I have a student named Maka. does your daughter attend DWMA?"

Spirit blinked and glared at me. "don't tell me you're her batshit biology teacher."

i couldn't help but letting my big grin show. "now we both know i'm not batshit. just have a couple of loose screws," i held back a giggle. "we all do. we're all ma-"

"cut it with the monologues and elaborate on my question." he spat, looking down at his feet.

"you mean answer, correct?"

"same words, speak faster."

"well, she does have honour roll and no mother so it must be her."

Spirit just shook his head and sighed. he was a nice man, truly. he never grew up from the college days of constant sex and whatnot but he meant no harm.

i remember when he first told me about Aika. i remember him crying to me over her. the last time i heard from him was in college and he hasn't even changed, nearly a decade and a half later. he was a good man. just not accustomed to change

he stood up and fixed his tie, blinking. i stood up with him when i realized his own two feet could barely hold up his body after the shots.

"do you at least have a ride?" i asked as his face plummeted into my chest. muffled groans vibrated into my chest and i gave a soft sigh.

"i'm taking that as a no."

----
hey, this is my first ever piece of souleater work! it's an modern!AU btw so theres not gonna be anything revoling meisters and weaponry and kishins, i apolgsie! i just had this in my mind for a while