The Ripple Effect [Stein x Reader]

House Party

A/N: I got carried away with this chapter. It's a little more fast-paced because there has been 24 chapters of development. I feel like it's worth noting that these chapters should be seen as snippets more than a completely cohesive story. I've always liked to capture bits and pieces more than make one chapter completely concurrent with the other. It's just my style, I think, so I apologize if it feels... choppy. I would actually like constructive criticism/a genuine review of this chapter 

HOUSE PARTY

You wondered how Justin would feel about the fact that several adult staff members were in his apartment. It probably would have annoyed him, as Justin was never the kind of guy who really enjoyed spending time with other coworkers. In fact, he had always been the kind of person to simply finish their tasks and then go home.

Upon entering, Marie had quickly made herself at home. She had complimented everything about the apartment - from the many, large, house plants that lined the wall, to the couches, to the rugs, all the way down to the wallpaper. Each time she saw something she liked, she pointed it out to Stein - telling him to take notes because this is what a real home should look like. Spirit, of course, didn't seem to care too much about how the home looked so much as how much alcohol there was and if all of the other adults were having a good time.

"You have a very lovely home" Marie complimented, dragging her fingers across the green plant leaves by your television set.

"Thank you" You responded dryly. It wasn't that you didn't like Marie. In fact - you thought she was quite pretty and seemed fairly nice. The issue that arose was the fact that, well - you never really had positive nor negative relationships with other women at all. When you thought about it, you didn't really have any relationships with women. Those friendships were ones you craved - but the chance didn't come around often.

"Did you decorate it?" She asked.

"No." You responded curtly, sitting down on your couch and placing your hands on your knees rather stiffly. "Justin did." 

"Well, he's really good at decorating - unlike someone over here" Marie smiled and tipped her head upwards to look towards Stein, who simply grunted in response.

"My decorating is fine. Yours is the one that's atrocious" 

"Is not!" Marie fired back, her fists balling up in her lap as she wriggled with dissatisfaction. "Before me, it was so dreary and boring!" 

Stein sat himself in the recliner that was only steps away from the couch you and Marie were positioned on. "Before you, my room didn't have an ounce of pink or flowers in at" 

"Things that are pink and flowery are not bad things -!" 

"If you say so" Stein responded to Marie, huffing a bit.

"You two argue like a married couple" You interjected, your eyes focusing downwards on your knees. Marie's face light a bright red at the comment and Stein seemed to fall into a silence. Their reactions couldn't help but cause a little bit of jealousy to rise up in your chest. Months ago, it had been you and Stein who had had that dynamic and, as much as you hated him, it was something you enjoyed. However, after playing an active role in the release of the Kishin and being passed onto Justin law by Lord Death, your friendship had simply died down into an acquaintanceship. It was disappointing, really, as you had really come to enjoy the bantering. Now, your relationship simply consisted of grading papers he couldn't get to because he was too busy trying to prepare minors to fight in a war that was too much for even the adults to handle. 

Stein's gaze fixated on your face.

"What is that I detect in your soul? Is that, perhaps -" 

"Anxiety" You interrupted him, casting your gaze over to Spirit and Joe who were setting up shots on the kitchen table. You couldn't help but shake your head. If Justin were not on his mission and home, you were sure that he would be very against consuming alcohol in your home. "I don't do well in crowds"