The Ripple Effect [Stein x Reader]

A Witch to Interrupt an Experiment

It had occurred to him when you had left the room from grading the previous day that you were neither a weapon nor a meister. Not even a witch like Kim Diehl. You were simply human.

What was a human like you doing at the academy?

Where did a simple human like you go off infatuating a strong meister like him?

He was all too curious, he couldn't quite grasp how you could do things like this, catch his attention so profoundly. You simply did- And that was that. It was comparable to an undeniable force of nature, it being you. Like water, perhaps? Something that seemed so trivial but could slowly erode away at things.

Scientific Experimentation and Observation, that's all anything in this world is to me. That of course means myself as well, that much is true by the stitches that line my face and body. Everything in this world is so excruciatingly fascinating, from simple living objects such as common cells to complex ones such as humans and animals. I like to open up animals, to see how they work. But humans are my favorite, by far. They're far more complex than an animal. Animals react of instinct rather than emotion. That much can go for humans as well. But humans, they hold emotion. They react with feeling and vigor. Animals fight to survive because it's instinct- Humans fight to survive because they fear Death and the loss of life. And when I think about dissection, my mind always lingers to (Name). Oh, how I would love to tear her open and see what exactly makes her so different from the rest. Perhaps it's something in the bloodstream-

He cut his thoughts off, trying to detour his conscious thoughts from such horrendous things such as dissection.

Well, it wouldn't be dissection. More like vivisection-

He shook his head, bringing his right hand to crank the bolt in the side of his head. Perhaps it would be able to let him stabilize his thoughts. There were three, sturdy, clicks before it came to a final click and stuck there.

That's better

"What's it that you're thinking about?"

His eyes narrowed slightly behind flashing glasses as he leaned back in his chair, suddenly remembering what why he had come to the nurse's office in the first place. Back facing the kindly-sounding woman behind him, he plastered his normal bored look and spun to make eye contact with Medusa.

"Grades" He lied.

A fake smile masked the smirk that was threatening to break upon Medusa's features. She couldn't help but be amused that he was so easily affected by the dismal amount of madness wavelengths she naturally emitted. Oh the lies, they amused her the most. The fact that he was trying to run from something that was inside of him.

"Ah, I see. Most teachers worry about that toward the middle of the year. Any bright students in your class?" asked Medusa as she casually made her way to the filing cabinet, slender fingers tugging the first drawer open to a slide.

"Maka Albarn is an exceptional student, she's at the top of her class" Remarked the Professor as his gaze slid over to her form, watching her lean over to pry through the multitude of files of students that she had stashed in the drawer.

Her fingers seemed to do a dance as she shifted between the files in the A section, her body language suggesting that she was starting to become slightly worried- Panicky, even. Narrow eyes searched frantically for the file that she couldn't seem to retrieve.

"Are you perhaps looking for Albarn, Maka?" Franken Stein inquired lowly, holding in front of him the manila folder with all of the student's information inside of if.

Her eyes shifted from the file cabinet to his fingers, starring at the file of information that was resting in the crook between his thumb and index finger. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, though not enough for anyone to visibly notice.

He was playing a dangerous game, wasn't he?

If that's the way he wished to play, then so be it. She could play the same, dirty, tricks that he was.

"Oh! I've been looking for that!" She gave him a grin, feigning innocence, "You're starting to hide stuff from me like a child, aren't you?" Medusa stretched her hands behind her back as she popped her fingers to relieve the stress in them.

"Yes, I aim to hide things from you simply to see the irritated look on your face" He bantered.

"You child!" Was her friendly retort.

"If I'm a child, then you should be considered one too" More banter.

"Tell me, why are you so interested in such a normal girl?" asked Medusa, breaking the light atmosphere that had so calmly settled over the infirmary, "I don't mean to pry or anything, but why? It's been buzzing around the hallways, you know. All of the students, and even teachers, are curious as to why you've been hanging around her so often. Are you developing a crush? Perhaps love?"

"You as well as others know that I am incapable of holding something of the capacity that is love. As for their own curiosities and yours, my suggestion is to keep to your own business. After all, it needn't concern others what I do in my private life" Retorted Stein, more on the bantering side than anything else.

"We can't help but be a little curious!" Medusa sucked in her lower lip, creating a faux pout, "I mean, you two are always with each other after school! And bantering! I thought bantering was our thing~"

His eyes slid over to the witch from under his glasses.

"It's merely grading. If I didn't know any better, I would say you were jealous"

The teasing was more than unbearable to you as you listened quietly behind the door, clutching papers to your chest as you strained your ears to listen in on their conversations.

Yes, you had sunken as low as to eavesdrop on the conversations of others. But natural curiosity has taken over your mind in a numbing sensation at the mention of you and you had compulsively leaned against the door to listen to their conversation. Their bantering was so sweet and playful it was sickening, making you want to vomit rainbows or something of the sort. Why they couldn't hold a normal conversation, you would never be able to know.

"I am not jealous!"

"If you're not jealous, then perhaps the reason why you're so inquisitive is because you're a witch"

A silence had draped itself over the room, creating a barrier so thick that you could slice it with a knife. Your breath had lodged in your throat as you tried not to give up your hiding spot. Of course, you weren't as aware that both witch's and meisters, if skilled enough, could pinpoint the location of a soul from miles away.

Medusa's eyes slid to the door knowingly, her eyes sharp and narrow as she waited to see if you would give up your hiding spot.

"You're so cruel! Labeling me like that!"

Stein's erratic laughter broke the silence as he began to spin in his chair.

"I thought bantering was our thing!" He laughed, rather loudly at that. The bell sounded three times, marking the end of the lunch period. "I have to leave to teach my class, and I assume you have your own paperwork to fill out, Medusa. Come out from your hiding spot, (Name). We have a class to teach"

A sudden bolt of realization struck through your head.

He knew I was here the whole time?! You thought, brain throbbing against your skull, The bastard sure knows how to play dumb! Well, of course he did. After all, he played dumb when treading around the Medusa issue.

"Y-Yes sir . . ."

"I believe that's the first time I heard you stutter!" He exclaimed as he rolled out the door, once more tripping over the threshold, grayish-green eyes looking momentarily startled before calmly meeting yours, the ones that were starring down at him with a rather amused look.

"I believe that's the first time I've seen you startled"

"Just for that, you can grade all the pop-quizzes that I just now decided to give out"

Bastard . . .