Snakes and Snails

Boys and Decisions
Like Weiss on Rice

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Summary: A Restrictor and Weiss love story. Set in an alternate universe where Deep Ground is a medical research facility. They are still in the Final Fantasy VII universe but a few things have been changed. Enjoy!

Author’s Notes: This is sort of an alternate timeline from my uke Weiss series starting with “Just the Same.” Basically I had DG start as a medical research facility before it went to darker things… but this story sort of goes in the opposite direction with one changed decision.

Just so there won’t be too much confusion, if you’ve never read my other series, I gave Restrictor the name of Marianne (a very girly name but he is still a guy – hehe).

Mr. Z (or Zeus) is Weiss and Nero’s father and is currently the head Restrictor.

Enough of my yammering! On with the story!

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Marianne Ashley Fleuve had joined Soldier when he was a young lad. That was what a lot of young men did nowadays and he was no exception. He had a brilliant mind just like his mother and a strong body like both of his parents.

He always had a lot of discipline in his life and strived towards his goals fervently. Most believed it was to get out of the clutches of his father that he skipped grades and finished college early, others believed he was a genius of sorts. He was like his mother in the regard that only his age kept him from greater things. When his college degree didn’t get him out of his father’s home faster… he just joined Solider at the age of fifteen.

He joined the 14th unit, they were given the nickname The Lost Force for their more secretive purposes for Shinra. The Lost Force was under the leadership of one Donner Zeus, the strongest of them all. The soldiers in their unit were known as Restrictors. They put their title as a prefix to their name. His name for example, was Restrictor Marianne. However, the head Restrictor was only known as Restrictor or Restrictor-sama if they wished to give him the honor his titled deserved.

Their leader, a quirky one, always preferred to be called Mr. Z to his friends and the unit and Mr. Zeus to others.

Everyone admired him, even Marianne, even though he would never openly admit to it. He knew better than to show any sort of emotion, doing so had usually resulted in a beating from his father.

Speaking of which, he wasn’t the only one to receive that almost constant abuse, his sister, Mary Ann Fleueve had her fair share as well. By the time he signed up for the military his mother had finally taken custody of him. The kind gesture came a little too late of course.

Marianne couldn’t help but feel guilty… he just left his twin sister at the mercy of their father. Sometimes he had acted out just so their father would be angry at him and leave her alone, now she was by herself. He called her whenever he could, and in jest asked if she was still alive… but it was no joke to him. It was always on his mind.

She had never been particularly gifted, but her grades were above average. Mary had always enjoyed photography and had mentioned an art magnet school for girls. It was also a boarding school. He didn’t know if she was dropping hints or not, but whichever the case, he told her he would pay for it… and he did. Mary just told their father she received a scholarship. At first he didn’t want his only punching bag left to leave but she managed to get him to sign the papers one night when he was in a good mood.

But that was neither here nor there right now, because as of this moment, Marianne was standing in line with others of his rank in the facility of Deep Ground. This place was quite infamous because the famous Doctor Valentine founded it. Restrictor-sama…. er… Mr. Z had always spread his rank out into the world as was needed for the protection of Shinra. Something like the Turks, they were a close knit group that swore loyalty to each other first and Shinra second.

They were elite guards if anything, only sent to protect the most important of things. While Deep Ground has been usually guarded by Zeus and a few others, it eventually was scaled back until only the leader was there. But due to a need to beef up security they were bringing in even more Restrictors in everyday. Not that they were world renowned by any means, they weren’t called The Lost Force for nothing, but if one could get into Deep Ground that certainly bespoke of the caliber of Solider one was.

Marianne, being overeager as always tore through his competition. They always thought he would be an easy win with as young as he was… he might be a big kid but surely he didn’t have as much experience as the others did.

Of course, most of his brethren didn’t have to dodge a crazy father growing up or have a mother that was insanely into kendo and wanted to teach him everything she knew about the sport. He knew his way with a katana and bigger swords, but short blades and smaller scimitars were by far his favorite. He enjoyed close combat with them, but just in case a longer range was needed he had an automatic built onto his weapons. In a way, his blades served as bayonets.

“Fleuve!” Restrictor roared once the trial was over.

“Yes sir!” Marianne called back. He could tell he was in trouble by the sound of his voice.

“Come with me.” He motioned for him to follow and so he did.

“Yes sir!” He repeated and went with his leader away from the others. He expected that he would be getting yelled at for what he did. His leader whirled around on him and he flinched, ready for a reprisal.

“Everyone you fought against had to go to the infirmary from their injuries. You don’t hold back now do you?”

What did he say to that? “I was trying to hold back, sir!”

“Is that so?”

“Sir, yes sir!” He answered bravely.

He started laughing, his angry demeanor smoothing away into a casual stance. “Damn boy! You are your mother’s son.”

“Sir?” Marianne wasn’t sure how to take that, none of his commanding officers had ever acted like this with him before.

“Stop with all the ‘sir’ crap and loosen up boy.” Restrictor boxed his shoulder and his arm went numb.

Marianne had to keep his eyes going wide from his friendly yet painful gesture. “Yes s… Mr. Z.” He corrected himself. He took his friendliness into good faith and rubbed his arm wishing the feeling would go back into it again.

“That’s better.” Zeus thumped him again on his almost lifeless arm. “You’re good boy. I’ll give you that. We’re bringing more of our rank down here all the time.” But the boy already knew that. “You’re mother wanted me to recommend you if you passed.”

Marianne looked down, so did that mean he wasn’t going to be chosen by his own merit? It made him so angry that she would meddle in his life again.

“If you were a push over I was just going to put you in charge of one of those piddley-ass assignments.” Mr. Z grinned at him. “But I think you’re much too good for that. You have gone beyond my expectations! You’re green and young, but I don’t think you need to start at the bottom.”

Marianne brightened at that, it made him feel good to be given such praise by his commander.

“I need a good second in command. How about it? Want to be my apprentice?”

Marianne couldn’t believe his ears. His heart started thudding so wildly in his chest that it almost drowned out his hearing. “Si… Mr. Z?”

“But it’s all up to you… if you don’t want it.” He teased.

This was unheard of! He was only sixteen years old! Not even those who were twenty-one were even considered for second in command much less the second in commands second in command! He almost couldn’t find his voice but when he did he fumbled over his words. “No sir! I mean… yes! I want the job.”

“You’re going to get a lot of flack from the officers… you are a touch young for the position. That and your mother knows me.” The stigma he always hated but would have to live with as long he was alive. “Think you can handle it?”

“Yes sir!” Marianne said eagerly. He wouldn’t make him sorry!

“Give ‘em hell then son!” Zeus boxed his other shoulder and then both of his arms were numb. Both dandled loosely at his sides “Woops, sorry about that boy. You should be right as rain in an hour.”

Marianne sighed in frustration. He hoped Mr. Z wouldn’t do this to him all the time, it might be a little embarrassing walking around with two useless arms.

“You’ll surpass me yet!” He clapped his arm around his shoulder and dragged him from the room they were in. “I’ll wait until you can move those arms of yours again before I make the announcement. Remember! Give them hell!”

“Yes sir!”

“And…” He stopped and spoke quietly then. “I wouldn’t go around telling anyone your name son. You’re mother was a might cruel giving you such a girly name like that. I think Fleuve is good right? It’s still girly but you can’t help surnames. I’ll keep calling you that.”

Marianne nodded.

“Good boy. Now get yourself cleaned up. Don’t need to be all bloody when I’m introducing you to the others in the facility. Don’t worry though, everyone else in the 14th unit is new here just like you.”

Marianne nodded again. “Yes sir… I mean… Mr. Z.” He was sure he forgot to say that a few times already.

“It’s okay boy.” Mr. Z’s mustache turned up a bit to show that he had smiled. Marianne couldn’t help but think that for once in his life, things were turning around.

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His mother was covering a surgery this afternoon, so Marianne had no where else to go today to eat lunch but on a bench in Deep Ground. Mr. Z invited himself along of course, although he wasn’t sure why. Usually he ate with his family in their apartment.

Marianne looked at Mr. Z’s lunch. It looked like it all came from a convenience store rather than home. Everything, even the sandwiches were wrapped in hard plastic with a pull back lid. Marianne himself always had to made his own lunches or he’d get something quick.

“Hey Mari.” Mr. Z prodded him.

“Sir?” He took a bite of his sandwich.

“Sir?” Zeus poked him again.

“Mr. Z?” Marianne corrected.

He was looking oh so serious today so he looked up into his blue eyes. “You’re one of them fags aren’t you?”

Marianne choked on sandwich and Zeus laughed, giving him a few good slaps on the back. The boy looked at him strangely after that, Mr. Z had always been random before… but that…

“Well, you are aren’t you?” Zeus snickered some more at his expense.

“Mr. Z?” He wasn’t sure how to answer that.

“I’m not funning ya boy. I was just asking…” He lowered his voice. “Cause your kind thinks like the women right?”

“Mr. Z!” Marianne practically screamed. He was no woman nor did he think like one! How insulting!

“I kind of figured… with the earrings and all.” He flicked one and it sent the diamond shaped metal swinging on his lobe. “They’re all dangly and girl-like.”

“Mr. Z!” Marianne screamed again, dropping his sandwich on his lap and cupping his hands over his ears so he couldn’t assault his jewelry anymore. The man had no sense of personal space whatsoever.

“Don’t get all huffy. I just needed some advice.”

Marianne just huffed anyway, after insulting him like that? Fat chance! He went back to eating his sandwich, only this time he was sulky and agitated.

“Don’t be like that Mari. I was just funning ya… about the earrings anyway. You are a fag.”

“What do you want to know Mr. Z?” Marianne grumbled, knowing he wouldn’t stop pestering him.

“Well, you see…” Zeus went on. “I’m in a bit of trouble with the missus.”

Marianne sighed, he wasn’t going to make him ask was he? After few moments of silence he got his answer. “And? He prodded.

“I forgot our anniversary.”

“How am I supposed to fix that?” Marianne huffed. “I guess you could always get a brain transplant with someone who can actually remember dates.” For as wonderful a leader as Mr. Z was, he was absolutely scatterbrained. He realized he picked Mari for more than just his strength. He was practically that man’s walking breathing date book.

“Oh hah hah, very funny.” Mr. Z grumbled. “I’ve been sleeping on the couch.”

“I don’t know who could deserve it more.” Marianne went on sarcastically.

“Here I was complementing you and your kind ‘cause you are so girly and romantic… and this is the thanks I get.”

His kind? Marianne glared at him, he was confusing being thoughtful and considerate with being gay. He still cared about the man, but honestly he was such a moron sometimes he wondered how he remembered how to breathe. “For your information,” That was the first time he ever talked to Mr. Z in such a fashion. “I’m not gay, I’m bi. That… and I’m not helping you with your problem. If you can’t figure it out then you better find a good lawyer once your wife realizes the idiot she’s married.”

“Mari!” Mr. Z protested, sounding so whiny and childlike it was pathetic. “Give me some clue!”

“I’m not telling you anything.” Mari teased, taking a bite of his sandwich again.

“That’s it! I’m demoting you!” Zeus ribbed him.

“On what grounds?!” Mari went on with a blank expression, but his tone told Mr. Z that he was joking.

“You’re a total flaming homo and you tried to work your evil ways on me!” Mr. Z barked a laugh out.

“What?!” Marianne screamed right back, noticing that a few of their rank were walking by, he couldn’t resist. “How dare you?! Especially after you seduced me!” They stopped suddenly to watch the two of them fight. Marianne covered his face in mock sadness. “And you said you loved me too.”

Zeus noticed them suddenly and froze up. They were glaring at him as if he were evil incarnate. “Eh… Mari?”

Marianne peaked behind his fingers with a glare on his face. “What you horny old walrus?”

That comment took him so off guard that he laughed out loud and clapped him on the back. The boy was always so serious, maybe that’s why it made these little bursts of humor from him so hilarious. “Oh don’t worry baby, you know I still love you.”

At Mari’s good natured smile they realized they were just playing around and walked on, their leader and their second in command were pretty close. Weird. But close.

Once the passersby were gone Mr. Z visibly relaxed. “You fruits… I swear.” He sighed regretfully. “I guess you’ll be picking out drapes with my Weiss soon enough though.”

“What?!” From one thing to another! Marianne swore he couldn’t keep up with him some days.

“Leda, she’s ruining that boy. I swear! It took every drop of manliness I possessed to make his brother turn out right. But that boy… she babies him to death and he is such a mama’s boy.” Mr. Z looked at him. “I guess that doesn’t mean much, you aren’t much of a mama’s boy yourself and look at you.”

“I’m not flaming, damn it.” Marianne growled. He really wished Mr. Z would stop calling him a “fag” or “fruit” but in a way he didn’t mind it so much. He was sure the man didn’t give a damn one way or the other or he wouldn’t humor him half of the time. He probably wouldn’t even talk to him like he did. Mari strongly suspected Zeus did it just to get a rise out of him. And he usually did.

“You’re right. You do act like any other boy. I guess you’re not so different from me when I was little.” Mr. Z sighed. “Then I guess you’ll be the man? Just be good to my little boy when you’re carrying him across the threshold.”

Oh my God! Marianne’s eyes noticeably opened in surprise. “He’s a little young to be talking about that already… don’t you think?” For God sakes the man was insane! His son was maybe one or two and he was talking like such a pervert.

“I figured I’d say it now… just in case.” Mr. Z laughed. “You are a strapping young lad after all.”

Marianne looked away from him. “You are one sick old man.”

“So…” Mr. Z clapped his hand around his shoulder. “Gonna help me out with my little problem?”

At his friendly gesture a devious little thought buzzed around in the back of his brain. Oh it was horrible and he really shouldn’t do something like that to his leader… but it was Mr. Z. Oh well, might as well. “Going to help me with mine?”

Mr. Z looked at him nervously then. “What’s your problem?”

“I haven’t made out in while. You know how us homos can’t control those urges.” He looked down at his mouth then.

“Oh my Lord son!” Mr. Z leapt to his feet, believing every word of it. “I’m married!”

Marianne fought hard to keep a smile off of his face. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“Oh God, really?” Mr. Z laughed a little like he considered it for a moment before he shook his head and raised his hands in front of his face defensively. “C’mon son! Don’t act like that now.”

He stood up with him as if he were serious. “I’m not acting.” Oooh! How fun it was to watch him squirm like that.

But he really needed the help… and it wouldn’t be that bad right? He used to kiss his father and he kissed his sons. This would be like that, right?! “Well, maybe one kiss if you’re wanting some loving… but none of that touchy feely stuff.”

Marianne eyes widened a bit. Did he just agree to kiss him? He almost leapt away from the old man when he closed his eyes and puckered his mouth. He almost laughed out loud. What would he do for a fish… or a rubber chicken or something hysterical to make him kiss right now? Oh well, he looked down at their lunches. Mr. Z had a piece of pie. A little outdated but tried and true. He grabbed it and smashed it into his face.

Mr. Z jumped back in surprise and made a whooping noise. Even though the lower half of his face and mustache were coated in blueberry goop he was infinitely amused that his second in command had got one up on him. Perhaps he wasn’t such a stick in the mud after all.

“I can’t believe you thought I wanted to kiss your walrus face!” Marianne was actually laughing.

“You know you want all this.” Mr. Z chuckled, wiping gunk out of his mustache.

“You’re a little too old for me Mr. Z, my apologies.”

“Oh I forgot, you’re saving yourself for my little boy… so romantic.” Mr. Z teased again. “Just wait until he’s eighteen for God’s sake. Otherwise you’ll be a bigger pervert than me.”

“Heaven forbid.” Marianne grumbled, he was going on about that again. Eighteen! He wasn’t even eighteen himself yet! “I’ll help you.”

“What?”

“With your wife…” Marianne spoke as if he thought he was stupid. But Mr. Z knew better. “I’ll help you.”

Mr. Z listened in carefully. “Okay.”

“Here’s what you do…” Mari spoke to him in a conspiring sort of way. “Do you know any romantic songs?”

“Boy, do I look like a…” He stopped short realizing he might screw up his chances of help if he finished that sentence. “No.”

“Well… I’ll tell you one. You’ll have to remember it though.”

“Do I have to?” Mr. Z asked painfully.

“Do you want to have to sleep on the couch for the rest of your life?” Marianne growled, when he got no response. “That’s what I thought. Now listen… it goes like this…”

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Things were going great! His mother was taking a genuine interest in his life for once, maybe because they worked in the same facility now. He would often go to her office and have lunch with her during her break and they were actually talking without fighting for once.

Despite his playful taunts about his sexual orientation his leader thought the world of him. “Saved my marriage!” He said. “Although I’m sad to say because you did we can’t be together Mari… sorry about that.” Asking for that kiss had been something of his undoing, not to mention giving Zeus a whole other barrage of things to give him a hard time on… but it hardly mattered. He could deal with it as long as Mr. Z continued to be Mr. Z, someone who just didn’t give a shit what anyone thought of him and said what he wanted.

Marianne was getting to be something of a bully, mostly because he was picked on for his age. Others in the 14th unit tormented him for just the same things Mr. Z said he would be bothered about. It hardly mattered though, because he soundly defeated them anytime they spared with each other. They thought he earned his position through nepotism, they always thought he would be a push-over.

It was funny when they went to the head Restrictor afterwards to complain about him, he would criticize them for being a bunch of pansies. That and they deserved it for going up against their commanding officer no matter how young. He’d say, “What’s wrong with you? Weren’t you there when we defeated the 13th unit? Suck it up boys and girls! That little boy was there too.”

No matter how strange he was, or his methods… he was chosen to be head Restrictor for a reason. Everyone loved or at the very least respected him. Everyone knew about him, he led them all to victory against their enemy. Marianne remembered that night. He had been very afraid, but he remembered Mr. Z touching all of their hands and telling them all that as long as they stood together and remained united, that no one could ever defeat them. They were the Restrictors, the Lost Force. He was sure Mr. Z recognized him as his mother’s son that night before he put his helm on and joined them. He took his hand and squeezed it knowingly, even though he could not see Mr. Z’s face he knew.

It was kind of fun being only sixteen years of age and being able to order around those twice as old as he was… and it was also fun and exciting to work in this facility… for a while anyway. Mr. Z was complaining more as of late. He said that things were changing, and as most older men, he didn’t like to see it change for the worse.

Marianne wasn’t too bothered by it. He and everyone else knew that no matter what treasonous things he might say that he was always loyal to Shinra. That was the sort of man he was and always would be.

“Boy!” A shrill and annoying voice called out.

Marianne cringed. Then there was Hojo. He would have loved nothing more than to ignore that man’s voice and continue making his rounds but his duty demanded he stop and at least listen to this aggravating man. “Yes professor?”

“There have been rumors going around about the head Restrictor getting a little… anxious.” Hojo fished for a confession but Marianne had no idea what he was talking about. “There is talk of him revolting.”

Marianne sighed in relief. “He just says things.” In reality, he thought he had every right… they stole the man’s children! “He doesn’t mean it. But I have never heard of a revolt.”

“Either way, you are close enough to him that I have recommended you to our President for a mission.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. “And what might that be?”

“To find out what he is planning… and to carry out an order if he is…” Hojo went on. He removed a sealed letter from his lab coat pocket and handed it to Marianne.

He looked at the letter, very much afraid to open such a thing. A warning sounded in his heart then… but he had no choice but to open it. It was addressed to him from the President of Shinra himself. He pulled out a knife and sliced the top cleanly before sheathing it once more and reading over it not once or twice but three times.

“You are literate I assume?” Hojo mocked at the length of time he was taking.

Marianne even put the letter into the light to make sure. It couldn’t be right.

Hojo frowned at that. “It is authentic I assure you.”

This was the first time a Restrictor was given an order to assassinate one of their own! This was not right at all! They were supposed to stick together! That’s what Mr. Z had said. He couldn’t do this!

“If you will not do it then someone else is going to… and it won’t be pretty.” Hojo sneered at his disbelief. “But of course you will have to be eliminated before you can leak such a thing to him. If he were to rally the Restrictor’s… it would be disastrous.”

“Are you threatening me?” Marianne growled at him.

“No, it is a promise.” Hojo said darkly. “There is someone watching you even now. You better not screw this up. Find out his intentions. If he is loyal then there is no reason to kill him. If he says anything your orders are clear.”

Marianne was trembling and he couldn’t keep it out of his voice. “Y-yes sir.”

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“That’s my wife and boy over there.” Mr. Z pointed out to Marianne. She was standing in the hallways with Weiss on her arm. His head was rested on her shoulder sleeping. “Isn’t he the cutest?”

Marianne could tell by his voice that he wanted nothing more than to go over there and see her… but he wasn’t allowed. “Yeah.” He wasn’t really paying attention to them though.

“What’s the matter with you boy?”

“I guess I got a lot on my mind today.”

“That thinking stuff again huh?” Mr. Z laughed as if he didn’t do much of it himself. “You and your mother are like two peas in a pod. You two are always worried about something or another that you can’t help.”

How right he was. Marianne felt just a tad bit sick to his stomach.

“That and the two of you are damned geniuses… didn’t you graduate from college by the time you joined up last year?” Marianne nodded. “Damn boy! Strength and smarts!” He whistled. “The best of both worlds.” He nudged him playfully. “I should have married your mother. She makes more than me and we’d have had some damn fine kids huh? I wouldn’t have minded being the house bitch for her.”

“You don’t mean that.” Marianne knew that he loved Leda.

“I was just funning you boy.” He wondered if he offended him talking about his mother. “Lighten up.”

“Yes sir.”

“Don’t be like that.”

“Yes sir.”

Mr. Z sighed, that boy was serious as hell. He could never get a laugh out of him no matter how hard he tried. But he was still a good boy, and he was sure he appreciated his sense of humor… he knew Vivian did.

He couldn’t beat around the bush any longer. “Mr. Z?”

“Hm?”

“Can I talk to you… in private?”

“Sure son.”

Restrictor led Marianne away from anyone else, he couldn’t help but thinking this was some sort of death march, an execution. He should turn the blade on himself before he had to do what was needed of him. Then again, he was a coward and wanted to live. But! He reasoned, Mr. Z never talked about a rebellion against Shinra before! His mind started easing, surely he wasn’t. He wouldn’t have to kill him.

Marianne looked forward then, watching Mr. Z strut forward proudly like some rooster. Of all the Restrictor’s he had unique weapons. He had two rifle katana, and while they seemed impossible to wield he did it quite well. He said he was going to give them to his son one of these days. As if that weren’t enough he had two sets of handguns strapped to his thighs. Two large and two smaller guns. He told Marianne once that he can never be too prepared during a fight. He said that he had been pinned down once and ran out of rifle ammunition. Those guns saved his life. So he always carried them around after that. Those were to go to his unborn son, Nero. He was sure that he would be able to wield them. He had two very strong sons already.

They entered a room together and stood facing each other.

Marianne looked down, not wanting to look him in the eye.

“Don’t be a coward now boy, you have to look me in the eye if you want to ask questions.”

Marianne looked at him again but glanced down once more.

“Hey Green, what’s on your mind?”

Marianne really looked into his eyes then, he had to know. “There have been rumors that the Restrictors are going to revolt. They said you are going to lead us. I don’t know what to think.”

“Get straight to the point hm?” Mr. Z frowned.

“Yes sir.”

“The rumors are true. I have been unsettled as of late.”

God no. “What are we planning on doing?” Marianne went on bravely, not knowing what else to do.

“I haven’t told anyone else about this, but I’m thinking we need to destroy a few key people if you get my drift.”

“Yes sir.” Marianne felt his heart sink.

“They are destroying a fine company and all it stands for. They…” He seemed upset then. “They are starting in on forced human experimentation. It would make your skin crawl.”

Marianne nodded.

“And they took my girls. They are starting a breeding program.” And that just killed him. “They are going to use Leda and my other boy if I don’t stop them.” He shook his head. “But I would not use my brothers for only personal reasons. They are experimenting on others… kidnapping people. That Hojo, he is insane!”

No wonder Shinra was frightened of him, he had very strong convictions and their unit was one of the most powerful there were.

“You understand. Don’t you Mari?”

He did and nodded to that.

“I know you might be a little worried, but don’t. If everything goes down I’ll take the fall for everyone.”

Mr. Z admitting this to him only made it harder. “I know sir.”

“You’re a good boy Mari, I knew I could trust you.” He clapped his hands over his shoulders in a friendly way.

Marianne cringed when he said that. Why? “Mr. Z?” He asked quietly.

“Hm?” He smiled in his good natured sort of way… what a trusting fool he was. He let his arms drop to the sides as he visibly calmed, knowing his second in command would back him up.

“That mustache.” Marianne smiled then, he had to so he wouldn’t know what was about to happen.

“What about it?”

This was it. “It really does… make you look like a walrus.” Mr. Z threw his head back and laughed just like he knew he would and he put his hand on the hilt of his blade. He was about to draw it out but hesitated. Fuck it! He let it drop back to his side and let Mr. Z finish laughing.

“I love you boy, you know that?!” He clapped his shoulders again. “I knew there was a sense of humor in you somewhere.”

Marianne grabbed his collar then and dragged him close to him.

Mr. Z’s hands went up in the air in shock. “Whoah boy! When I said ‘love’ I meant it in a purely heterosexual manner.”

“Mr. Z…”

Zeus tried to shove him off of him but he wasn’t relenting. “What are you doing?” He laughed nervously.

“We have to go ahead with your plan soon. They sent me here to kill you.”

“What?!” Mr. Z was shocked, he couldn’t believe it.

“The President of Shinra himself ordered it.”

“The Pr-!” He lowered his voice. “The President of Shinra?” He knew he wouldn’t dare lie about such a thing.

“Yes sir.” He produced the letter Hojo had given him. “It’s all right here.” He watched with some amusement as Mr. Z read it with as much carefulness as he had earlier. He even held it up to the light himself. “It’s real.” Marianne affirmed.

“Damn.” Mr. Z blew air through his teeth, producing a whistling sound.

“Yes.” Marianne answered bluntly.

“Aw, Mari!” This time Zeus grabbed him and held him in his crushing hold.

“Urk!” All the air went rushing out of his lungs suddenly.

“You don’t know what this means to me.” He released him and patted him. “I knew I did right when I made you my second in command.”

“I was about to do it.” Marianne admitted openly, looking down. “But I couldn’t.”

“Now, now. It’s hard to disobey orders like that.” Mr. Z understood, but Marianne didn’t know how he could be so forgiving. “That rotten dirt bag Hojo!” He roared.

“I know.” It was by Hojo’s information that Mr. Z was going to be executed. Not that they would have been completely wrong, Mr. Z was planning a revolt… but not on anyone of key importance in the company. The President would have never been a target… but now Marianne worried. “What are we going to do?”

“Well, you see…” Mr. Z lowered his voice and bent down. “Maybe you should tell a little lie for a while… you’re good at those right boy?”

He lied to his father over and over again… he was great at it when it counted. “Yes.”

“Well, maybe you should act like nothings happening… I can always make a written apology for acting like have and “turn myself around” so to speak. We can plan things a little slower from there if you catch my meaning.”

Marianne nodded.

“Unless we can come to an agreement, then we might have to get everyone rallied… we’ll strike like the snakes we are.” Mr. Z had an amused but dark look on his face that reminded Mari that Zeus wasn’t always as innocent and carefree as he made himself out to be… he had a dark side as well. And you never messed with a Restrictor unless you wanted to get bitten by every one of them. He supposed that order for one to turn on the other had rubbed him the wrong way as well.

Despite how stupid Mr. Z might act, his favorite kind of mission was the secretive kind. He was a smart man, he wasn’t just strong. He couldn’t wait to hear what his plan was to fix everything.

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Restrictor Marianne never smiled for as long as he knew him. But he was a nice sort of boy he guessed. He had a girls name too, which was so weird. His mother, Vivienne, said it was a family tradition, Mari said it was a family nightmare. When Weiss first met him he pronounced his name “Mary-Anne” but he was quickly corrected… He was so funny about his name. He would say: “My name is Marianne. It’s pronounced “Merry” as in “Merry Christmas” and “In” and in “Please come in.” Merry-In! Mary Anne in my sister’s name.” And he never forgot it after that.

Marianne was sitting in their living room, flipping through TV channels, trying to find something good to watch and finding nothing. So he settled on the news to see what was happening above ground.

Nero was in his lap making some sort of cooing sound as he nuzzled his head against his cheek. Weiss squeezed him affectionately and it seemed to make him happy.

“Can I watch cartoons?” Weiss asked.

“I don’t know, can you?” Marianne teased.

“May I?” Weiss corrected.

“They’ll rot your brains.” Marianne said instantly. Weiss made a noise at him. “Hey, don’t get mad at me for what your mother makes me do while she and your father are on… dates.”

The two of them visibly shuddered.

“At least they’re not doing all that kissy stuff in here!” Weiss declared. “It’s gross!”

“You probably won’t think that when you get older.” Marianne changed the channel, the news was getting rather dull. “You’ll probably have a little girlfriend soon enough.

“Girls have cooties.”

“Cooties?” Marianne laughed sarcastically. “What are those?”

“I don’t know… but they are really bad!” Weiss answered seriously.

“Well then, who are you going to be kissing on then?”

“I don’t want to kiss anyone!” Weiss huffed, then looked over at Mari curiously. “Did you kiss anyone Mari?”

“I have.”

“Ew.” But he could help but ask. “What’s it like?”

Marianne got this glint in his eye and suddenly he had a dreamy sound to his voice. “It’s like the whole world stops… and you’re in heaven.”

“Wow… really?” Weiss grinned.

“No, not really.” Marianne went back to his usual flat tone. “But it feels nice I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Yeah I guess!” Marianne was getting frustrated with him. God, when the hell was Mr. Z going to get back already?! He swore he should never have taken the job… if he had known Mr. Z would ask him to baby-sit his horde…

“You really don’t like me do you Mari-ch…san?”

Marianne almost smiled at that. “I don’t usually like kids.”

“Don’t you want some of your own someday?”

“Not really.”

Weiss kicked his little feet shyly, so Mari-chan really didn’t like him?

Mari looked at him sulking and he sighed. This is why he didn’t like children… but… “As far as kids go… you aren’t so bad.”

“Really?” Weiss noticeably brightened.

“Yeah, you’re not nearly as stupid.”

“I’m not stupid at all!” Weiss growled then and Marianne couldn’t help but laugh at his aggravation.

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Author’s Notes:

You are going to notice huge jumps in time with little notice. I tried to make note of the time of year or different events so my readers will have an idea of how much time has went by, but I’m not one for saying “One Month Later…”

After a spacer shows up you can almost rest assured that the scene will either change dramatically or we will jump into the future. I hope it’s not too confusing and if I wasn’t specific enough when the scene changed and it is… please make me aware of it so I can add details to make the storyline go smoother.