My Home

To Break These Chains
Like Weiss on Rice

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I hear you calling and it's needles and pins (And pins)
I want to hurt you just to hear you screaming my name
Don't want to touch you but you're under my skin (Deep in)
I want to kiss you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins
You're poison, I don't want to break these chains
-Alice Cooper

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Restrictor didn’t sleep that night. He watched as the artificial sunlight from outside his window crested to indicate that it was morning once again. It was followed by a clap of thunder. It was supposed to rain today. Of course he already knew it would pour down during the wee hours until eight AM sharp. Everything went like clockwork down here. It was fake as fake could get and yet there was something real about this place. There was order here. He always liked that especially since he himself shaped most of it.

It made him feel in control of himself and his destiny, something he had never felt before under the clutches of his father or when he was serving under that infuriating scientist Hojo. How strange that being tied down with responsibility would give him a sense of freedom?

But there were things still out of his reach. He could not control everything as he wished he could. He could not control his past or the things he did in it. He couldn’t take anything back… and he couldn’t make this boy love him no matter how hard he tried. No matter how many times he made love to him or tried to show him something new.

He couldn’t change the person he had become or who he was. People never changed. Not like that. Not unless they wanted to. He should have known that by now. He couldn’t make this boy love him no more than he could turn himself into a ‘better person’. He was who he was… sadistic and twisted and he liked himself that way.

And he couldn’t change the fact that this boy loved Nero. Not at this point anyway… they seemed to be on good terms again. And he couldn’t kill that brat without making Weiss hate him even more and he was sure that not even Nero himself could jeopardize their love for one another. No matter how many doubts he planted into little Nero’s head, it seemed Weiss would love him anyway.

But just a few weeks previous he seemed at a breaking point. It only sharpened about three days ago… he had almost sapped Weiss’ spirit to the point that he rolled over for him and let him do whatever he wanted without complaint. A slave to his will.

Weiss wasn’t by any means as feisty as when he first brought him to his bed, but last night he actually showed signs of regression that aggravated him.

There were thoughts swirling around in his brain. They came to him again last night on how he could turn the situation around. A tactic used by many… but he wondered if it would work.

He glanced at Weiss’ sleeping form. He was so beautiful lying there so peacefully. The corners of his lips were upturned into something of a smile. He wondered if he was dreaming. Restrictor never got to watch him sleep much. He usually hustled him out of his room as soon as he was finished with him.

Maybe that was part of it as well? He could not trust this boy anymore than the boy could trust him. And so it would always be.

He supposed some things ran too deep to change in this life. He had wronged him far too many times for him to ever return the almost obsession he felt for him now. This boy that looked like the man who he slaughtered so many years ago… he wouldn’t love him unless he did something risky. Restrictor knew he couldn’t change this life but he did know what he could do… if everything people said was true. He just needed to get Weiss to agree to it. He was sure he would. That way… even if he lost him for now he might be able to get him back later.

He brushed the back of his hand across the boy’s cheek.

Maybe he could attain a measure of peace if he gave him the option to be with him or not. Maybe he should do it for someone else who would had never harmed him and trusted him foolishly with his being.

For the first time in his adult life, he was going to do something unselfish. He would let him go. But not before he gave him something in return. A promise. “My love?” He said quietly.

Weiss stirred and looked at him, half asleep.

“I am going to offer you something… something you want more than anything else.” Restrictor smiled as Weiss looked on him with some confusion.

When he woke up the rest of the way Weiss processed what he said. He was almost afraid to ask.

“I will let you go.” Weiss seemed shocked. “If you can pretend that you love me for this day and night.” He didn’t look liked he believed him at all. “I won’t go back on my word… but you would always be free to return.”

Weiss almost snorted but thought better of it. Fat chance of that ever happening, he loathed him. He needed to keep his face blank of expression for now. If what he said was true, then he would not jeopardize it with glaring at him in disbelief.

“But…”

Of course.

“You have to promise me something afterwards… and you have to keep it.”

Weiss gave him a look of distrust then despite himself. “It wouldn’t happen to be that I come to you every night would it?”

“Hm hm.” Restrictor snickered, infinitely amused by that. He knew him so well. “It would be something I might do? But no, not that.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll just have to find out and see, won’t you?”

Weiss thought about that for a moment. If he really was lying, it wouldn’t matter. He would have gotten the same thing out of him anyway. He had nothing to lose. “What do you want me to do?” He had to ask again, just to make sure.

“Pretend and make me believe you love me.” He smiled and then said. “Then make love to me like you mean it.”

“How will I know if you believe me?” Weiss wondered.

“You will know.” Restrictor touched his face. “When I am satisfied.”

Weiss nodded to that. Hopefully he could pull this off. He wasn’t going to wait for him to tell him to start. That would only ruin it more than likely. Weiss moved closer to him then and rested his head against his shoulder and looped his arm across his chest. “I hope you don’t mind if I sleep a little longer.” That might give him a little less time to interact with him anyway. He wasn’t sure what all the hell he was supposed to do with him really.

“Not at all.” Restrictor face softened at that, settling down again. “I’ll wake you up in another hour.” Weiss nodded to that and dropped off again wondering if he just dreamed the whole thing and when he woke up… the promise would be gone. The room filled once against with his gentle breathing.

Restrictor let out a sigh then. He could almost sense that Nero would be returning today. At least by how Weiss was last night. A little bit of stand-in sex along with some sort of desperation that told him if he was sweet maybe Restrictor would go easier on his little brother.

Speaking of which, he almost hoped the boy would see them together. It would make him jealous… Restrictor also couldn’t help but grin a little. He knew well enough the things the boy said about him the past year and how much they devastated Weiss. A delightful little thought buzzed around in his mind about his earlier plan, his kinder thoughts giving way to wickedness.

He would let Weiss go after today as promised, but maybe after one last push… Maybe he would return to him after all. The wheels turned in his head then and he wondered how he could pull this off.

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Nero needed a drink after last night. But at least this time it was more of a happy drink than a depressed, get drunk off your ass because you can’t deal with life drink. Rosso was sitting beside him of course. She was munching on the celery stick that came in her zesty beverage.

It took him until the wee hours of the morning to complete the SND link on the computer. He was half afraid he would fry the stupid thing… then what? He could only imagine the look on Weiss’ face if he had to tell him he destroyed his only hope of helping himself out. He had to brush thoughts like that out of his mind though and proceed with as much caution as humanly necessary and finish what he set out to do.

Just this morning he got it to work, he had Shelk try it of course. She seemed pleased in her deadened emotionless sort of way. The connection didn’t look like a domed helmet like the one she and Weiss usually used. The connections had to be held crudely to the diver’s temples, normal tape worked rather nicely. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do for what they needed it for.

In the last few weeks she already found a few candidates… two out of three of them already died. Shelk could continue her search and it would help if Weiss could explore as well. Two sets of eyes were always better than one.

Nero glanced at Rosso. She was pacing herself, taking small sips. It was hard to believe that she would end up being his confidant over the past year. He admitted he hated her for most of his young life. She held Weiss’ affection at one point in his earlier years and he couldn’t forgive her for it.

Somehow that seemed so stupid now considering she had never been interested in him. He really grew up a lot over the years. He was still growing up really. He still couldn’t believe all the things he said to his brother, all the stupid things he used to think. “Give me another one of those drinks.” He pushed his empty glass forward.

“Sure lady.” The bartender said, picking up the cup from in front of him before rinsing it out.

Nero grumbled. Some things never changed. Rosso made an amused noise next to him. “Want me to gut him for you?” She said in that sultry way of hers when the barkeep was far enough away.

“No thanks, he is rather good and I’d like to continue getting good drinks for once.”

“Too bad.” She sighed. “But you have a point.” The drinks here were awful before this man showed up. She secretly wished he didn’t die down here if nothing more than to have something tasty to drink every so often. “How are things going with you know who?”

“Weiss?” Nero tittered, watching the drink he requested being place in front of him. “You can say his name.”

“How are things going with Weiss then? I don’t suppose you pulled me out here to chit chat about why you were absent the other day?”

No he didn’t want to tell her about last night. Not yet anyway, he would allow Weiss to distribute that information as he saw fit. “Things are going well for once. I guess I sort of wised up and we made up last night.”

“Good to know you aren’t a complete brainless idiot.” Rosso smirked.

“What does that supposed to mean?!” Nero growled.

“Darling, you’ve been complaining to me a year about ‘how could he do this?’ and ‘I think he feels this way’… I’ve just been humoring you by listening to your garbage.” She hummed her pleasure as she tasted her drink. “Now that you have grown half a brain between your ears I don’t feel bad about telling you what a fool you’ve been.”

Nero felt slightly agitated with her, even though he felt he was a bit of a moron just a second ago.

“The way you’ve been acting the past year… I’m surprised he hasn’t fallen out of love with you.” Rosso said again to his chagrin.

“Are you trying to piss me off?” Nero growled.

“No, I am just pointing out the truth. You were an idiot. It’s almost embarrassing that we are the same age.” She rolled her eyes.

“Okay, I get it.”

“Really Nero! Weiss loving Restrictor… what a stupid idea.” Rosso looked at him then and saw the room move slightly. She laughed at that. Thank God she had the day off. She didn’t know if she could stand straight much less fight. “You deserve to feel bad.” She couldn’t help but twist the knife a little.

“Do you not have Restrictor Penelope to annoy today?” Nero huffed, taking the colorful drink that was pushed in front of him.

“You called me here.” She growled. “So tell me more about last night.”

“We kissed.” He said in a dreamy like way.

“You’re fault again.” Rosso pointed out. “It wasn’t his fault the two of you didn’t enjoy the pleasures of each other’s company.”

“Are you going to keep ridiculing me this whole time?”

“No offence darling, but you are a fool… I can’t help it.” She frowned. Even though she felt bad for him it always bothered her to listen to him. Sometimes it made her feel dirty in a way. Weiss wasn’t the only one to ever be abused by a Restrictor. Granted, she had never been abused by their leader, but by someone lower than him.

It only made the offence that much more insulting. It was when she was younger and didn’t need to be guarded by an elite soldier. Restrictor Penelope, the leader’s second in command, happened to come across them and killed him without thinking twice even though they were of the same rank. She might be a bitch, but she was still a woman and understood. Rosso always respected her after that.

She was almost happy that Penelope was going to retire within the next few months. She said, in her own gruff way that she was going to start a family and places like this weren’t the best thing for that. That meant she wouldn’t be part of the slaughter to come… when they destroyed all of them.

Rosso glanced back at Nero as he gulped down his drink. She only thanked some higher power that Azul hadn’t been as distrustful of her as Nero was of Weiss. She didn’t know how she could have dealt with it if he thought she was in love with her attacker! Of course, he was older than them and more mature. Maybe that’s why she loved him so much? Because he wasn’t an idiot? Well, he was rather simple, but he wasn’t a fool. That must be it. That and he was the size of a tank… and she could use him as a scratching post and he didn’t seem mind.

She could be in bed right now, sleeping by his side and enjoying her day off… instead she was sitting next to Nero that came knocking at her door at four in the morning. She promised herself that she would get a little more sleep and let her tired body rest when she went back home. With the help of the booze it just might work.

“Well, I am happy for you.” She said finally. “Before all this mess you were a good boy and you treated him well.” There was always a part of her that understood his need to talk. He might have misplaced his aggression but she knew that he was hurting. No one could save the one they loved down here… no one. Not even Nero the Sable, not even the Immaculate Emperor could save himself and they were almost invincible compared to a Tsviet like her… although she would never admit to it.

“I will treat him better from now on.” Nero sighed, sipping his drink. “After Restrictor beats me or incarcerates me of course.”

“He’ll probably do that.” Rosso laughed. “If you’re lucky.”

Nero nodded but he said anyway, “I am not worried about it. He cannot hurt me more than he already has.” Not even if he was the one being abused himself. But he knew Restrictor had no interest in him that way otherwise he would have done it a long time ago.

“Still planning on spying on your brother?” Rosso asked pointedly.

“Yes.”

“Not very nice of you.” Rosso sighed. “It’s temporary. That and you might get the wrong idea… again.”

“I am mature enough to handle anything I see now.” Nero huffed at her. “I am not stupid to doubt him over the same thing again. Not at that cost.” He knew going back to the way things were would devastate his brother. He could tell. He thought his brother had been acting normally… what a fool he was. It’s just his deterioration had come slower and therefore less noticeable.

Weiss looked older now, not haggard by any means but he could tell he had a significant amount of weight on his shoulders to bear alone. He wasn’t as youthful and innocent looking as he was a few years ago. He had changed and not just from the strain Restrictor put on his body… but it was from him as well.

Nero only thought about his own pain. The things he had to deal with. God he was so selfish and awful not to see it. If he would have kissed Weiss, would have held him he would have known everything he needed to. The way Weiss desperately clung to him the other day... it shook him. It only reminded him of what he had been denying himself this whole time. He could have still had him, his heart, his everything. But he had been too stubborn to take it and what a result. His brother that he claimed to love so much, that did so much for him, suffered.

Everything would be different after this. There would be no more accusations because he knew everything he needed to by just that kiss alone. It would be their promise.

“You are rather quiet.” Rosso smiled down at her glass. It was empty. Might as well! “Get me another.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Nero couldn’t help but notice that he talked to Rosso with more respect than him. How annoying. Then again, he couldn’t tell if he was being facetious about calling him ‘lady’ or not. The barkeep wouldn’t be the first to mistake him as a woman. Oh well… it’s not like it mattered much. He would be turning himself in as soon as he finished his drink.

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Whoever heard of moderation anyway? It was such a dirty word!

“Our bootsh and shoesh are all in pawn!” One wailed and then the other took up the next line. “Go down, you blood red roshes, go down! Itsh flaming drafty round Cape Horn go down, you blood red roshes, go down.” Rosso began singing then, “Ah, you pinksh and poshies! Go down, you blood red roshes, go down!” They were about to start on the next verse when the barkeep asked them to stop scaring everyone away.

Nero tittered a bit before he went on an angry tirade. His moods swinging this way and that. “An… an anywash… who the fuck does he think he ish anyway? He’sh sho mine!”

“Ya!” Rosso agreed, her face almost as red as her hair, or the beverage sitting in front of her. “You know what? You know what you shhhould do?” She said difficultly.

“Wha?”

“You shhhould break down hish door.” She threw her head back and laughed as if she had made a very funny joke. Nero joined her in her laughter until the rest of the bar became nervous. Most had already paid their tab and left before something happened. “And you should go in annnn shave him.”

“I can’t shave him!” Nero laughed.

“No… no…” Rosso’s hand slapped against the table trying to get the word out. “Shaaave him. Shave Weiss.”

“Why would I want to shave Weiss? He hashn’t done anything.”

“No…” She couldn’t help the wicked cackle that came out of her throat. “Shave him… shave him! Rescue!”

“Oh!” Nero laughed again, feeling insanely good. “Oh! Maybe I should shpy on them all day inshted of turning myshelf in?”

“Let me come!” Rosso pleaded, wanting to cause more problems than help.

“You’ll shtick out.” Nero wobbled in his seat. “I’m… I’m gonna do it myshelf… once I take a nap.”

“Why don’t you jusht remove eh from your body?” Rosso’s left eye was half lidded then. “You can remove the alco…hol right?”

“Oh yeah… forgot!” He hiccupped. “About that.”

“Damn bashtard… never get a hangover.” Rosso sipped her drink despite the fact her body had told her ages ago to stop.

“Oooh…” Nero’s forehead hit the bar.

“Not feeling good?” Rosso wondered, she watched his face turn a greenish sort of color before he threw up to the side. The sound caused her to puke out the contents of her stomach. The barkeeper just stared at the two of them, mortified before he offered them each a wet towel.

“I feel better now.” Nero laughed a little despite just vomiting. Thank goodness he removed his face guard before he drank. It would be covered in vomit. He rubbed the cool rag across his face, it made him feel better at least.

Rosso didn’t look better though. “Maybe I should eat shomething.”

He couldn’t believe she said that after throwing up… but it would probably help to clear the fog out of their minds. “I’ll take you shomewhere, my treat.” He got up on wobbly legs helped her out of her stool at the bar. They practically stumbled out the front door clinging on to each other.

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There were a few plates in front of them. Nero was, of course, smoking after his meal. He had the soup for breakfast. Tomato Florentine, his favorite. Weiss used to make that every so often and he loved it. It wasn’t as good as Weiss’ but it still tasted good.

Rosso had the usual breakfast. In that way she always seemed like a kid to him… eating pancakes, eggs and bacon. He couldn’t imagine Rosso eating pancakes. It seemed too innocent for someone like her. But who was he to judge? He looked like someone fresh out of a loony bin most days.

He took a final drag from his cigarette before he put it out in the tray. What a nice finish to a good meal. Nero tittered when he watched her roll a glass of ice water across her forehead for the eighth time… like it had some sort of magical healing properties that he wasn’t aware of. “Are you okay?” He finally asked with a bit of laughter in his voice.

“Better.” She sighed, her belly was full at least. She was still dizzy but it was better than having a bunch of booze sloshing around in her stomach. “He’s probably been awake for a while and wondering about me.”

Azul then? He was a patient man who picked him up when he was passed out drunk at a bar or in a ditch. He really had a lot of people who looked out for him and cared about him. “It’s nice to have someone think about you.”

“It is.” She smiled.

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He couldn’t help but be worried. He was usually the earlier riser… he woke up at six A.M. on the dot and reached for Rosso… only to find she wasn’t there at all. He spent most of his morning lumbering around on the grounds. Restrictor Penelope was making her rounds as usual. She looked incredibly pitiful in size but he knew better. She had a strong mind just like Restrictor and she could hold him just as easily as he. He could not see her face beyond the mask but he asked her anyway. “Have you seen Rosso?”

“No.” She answered bluntly, not bothering to offer any other information. When he looked like he was about to ask if she would tell him if she did she said. “If I see her I will make sure you find her in the infirmary with a knife in her gut.” And she moved on.

Azul grumbled, that went amazingly well. He might as well just head back home already. He wasn’t finding her out here and she might get lost trying to find him if he didn’t get back on time.

He really hoped she wasn’t up to something stupid. He especially didn’t want to find her in the infirmary… not today of all days.

He took the stairs. He never got to use the elevator simply because he was too big to fit through the doors much less make the weight limit. That was fine with him though. He had been a solider all of his life and it was nothing for him to walk up and down a flight or two of stairs.

No sooner had he shut the door and moved onward into the house than he heard a thumping sound, following by a knock at the front door. He went to the exit and opened it instantly. If it were a Restrictor or scientist they would take his hesitation to open the door as something wrong going on inside. He had his door kicked down a few times on their days off for that very reason.

“Azul.” Rosso greeted, practically falling into the door.

He caught her of course and couldn’t help but catch the smell of booze wafting up to him. “I was wondering where you were.” Azul said in his ogreish like way.

“I was talking to that foolish boy.”

“Nero?” She thought it was funny how he seemed to know exactly who she was talking about. “Did you have fun with him?” He brought his hand up to her middle, her back seemed to disappear underneath it. It made him feel awkward at times, that he was so big and she so small. She was strong, but she was still only human and he was afraid of hurting her.

But she loved how big he was compared to her. She wasn’t sure why but he just knew that she liked how his massive hands seemed to envelope her when she was near. There were other things she liked besides being bathed in blood, and that was being brushed by his rough skin as she rode him or being crushed painfully underneath him. He made her feel complete. “Not as much fun as I want to have with you darling.”

Azul made a pleased noise before he shut the door.

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Nero plodded along the hallway. Wow, he really should lay off the booze… but it had been fun getting drunk with Rosso and talking with her. He couldn’t help but realize that he might not be spending much time with her after this. He never did before Weiss was Restrictor’s slave that was for sure.

At least Azul was understanding and let him borrow her for a little while. Of course… he might not be threatened by him since he was gay. Who knew? It was nice while it lasted but he really couldn’t wait for things to go back to the way they were.

Then the thought of spying on them came to mind again. Maybe just one little peak. It couldn’t hurt anything to look right? Just to make sure Weiss was doing fine. He was slightly worried after he came home injured the other night.

He had another stabbing of guilt then. How awful of him to leave Weiss by himself after that bastard had hurt him! He wanted to tear out his hair some days with how stupid he was! If he would have stopped thinking about himself for half a minute he would’ve calmed down and comforted him.

But he couldn’t change the past, and even though it pained him with guilt, he needed to remember that he had asked for forgiveness in his own way and was given it. He couldn’t keep looking behind him all the time. He needed to live in the present and look forward to the future. He needed to be a better man that was for sure. He needed…

Restrictor’s door was opening as he walked near it. He panicked and blended in with the shadows along the walls. His heart thudded wildly despite the fact he no longer had a corporeal form. Somewhere it was beating away like a hummingbird… wherever his body went when he did this.

He glanced at the doorway and saw Weiss emerge from his worm’s eye view.

“Where are you going?” A voice from inside the door, Restrictor’s of course. His voice wasn’t as angry and abrasive as usual… nor was it indifferent. Huh.

Weiss stopped in his tracks and turned around. “I’m just going to get some clothes.” He said gently, it was almost the voice he used with him when they spoke. It was soft and patient as always. The fact he was using it with Restrictor confused Nero somewhat… but perhaps he did it so Restrictor wouldn’t be angry with him? Yes, that had to be it.

Restrictor then came to the door and rested his elbow on the jam casually. He was smiling in a fond manner. It was as frightening as it was unusual. “Don’t take too long.”

“I won’t.” Weiss got a little closer to him then… strange. “I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.” Without some verbal or physical cue his muscled arms encircled the other man’s neck and drew him down for a kiss.

An insane amount of jealousy coursed through his mind then when he realized Weiss was the one initiating all of their soft kisses… Restrictor took it a little deeper then, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him closer. Ugh! How disgusting! Making out in the hallways while people were watching! Really!

Of course… he was the only one and they couldn’t see him. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was what it was like then the two of them were alone together?

“Make sure you are.” Restrictor purred afterward, placing a kiss on his lips again. “When you get back let’s take a bath together.”

“Alright.” Weiss agreed, a flush on his face. “I won’t take long.” He kissed him again and he was on his way. Restrictor only smiled after him for a moment before shutting the door. The sound snapped Nero to attention suddenly. He followed Weiss around the corner then.

Weiss sighed as he moved towards the stairwell to go down a flight of stairs to his own apartment. He needed a little time to clear his head. Even though he was walking he had this distinct feeling of floating along the hallway. It was almost too much to hope… but he seemed serious. No matter how many times he told himself to stop smiling he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help but think: he might actually let me go. That notion just whirled around his brain and drowned out all else.

Of course there were ground rules to follow. It wouldn’t be Restrictor if there weren’t some rules involved. Neither of them could mention the agreement, which meant Weiss couldn’t ask if he was doing well… and Restrictor couldn’t remind him of what he was promised. Somehow he knew that would ruin the façade anyway.

The second was he couldn’t retreat into his own thoughts, not exactly the wording he chose but he understood well enough what he meant. He didn’t want him thinking of someone else while he was with him. He was sure he had some far away look in his eyes when he was thinking of Nero. He needed to stay sharp on that today.

The game they were playing seemed rather stupid to him, but if Restrictor wanted to let him go in exchange for making him feel loved who was he to complain? He seemed completely serious… and it didn’t appear that he would go back on his word.

It’s not like he really even needed to do this anyway, he could have ordered him to act like that and he would have done it out of his need to protect his little brother. So it seemed genuine.

If Restrictor wanted to play house then he would. He had gotten a lot of practice with Nero already. He knew well enough how to act with someone he loved… he just had to make it seem natural rather than deliberate.

Restrictor had told him “the rules” while he was preparing breakfast this morning, thank goodness he did. It was nice because at least by the time he sat down they wouldn’t need to discuses anything like that while he ate and upset his stomach. And he had been starving! He placed a kiss on his temple before he sat down of course, something he had always done for Nero before. It was easy enough, he just had to pretend.

Nero watched him walk along. Dear God! He was grinning from ear to ear! What was he thinking? Was he happy about going back there? It certainly wasn’t because he was going back home for a minute. He rushed ahead suddenly to beat Weiss to the house and see what was up, surely there was something going on that he would tell him about.

When Weiss made it to the apartment he stuffed the key into the slot and turned it, he opened the door, still smiling… and found Nero standing there as if he had just a moment before thought of leaving the house. He startled him of course, he flinched as the door swung open.
“You look happy.” Nero noticed before his brother pushed him into the house.

He forced the smile down then, “Yes, sorry. I was hoping to see you.” It wasn’t too much of a lie really, he was incredibly happy that he was here now. He couldn’t quite bring himself to tell Nero what was happening today though. No doubt he would think him an absolute fool for believing anything Restrictor said, he didn’t really believe it himself.

Hmmm… Nero was glad he had his mask on right now because his lips were thinning in disapproval. “I finished the connection this morning.” Weiss brightened at that and it made his heart flutter against his chest. “I had a drink with Rosso.”

“She didn’t kill anyone did she?” Weiss asked instantly.

“No.” Nero tittered. “She just went back home.”

“What are your plans for the day?” Weiss wondered.

“I was thinking of turning myself in.” But he was having second thoughts…

Weiss frowned, that might ruin things… he really didn’t want to put Restrictor in a mood today. Not on their day off. That and maybe it would be nice if Nero remained AWOL a little longer. It’s not like today wasn’t their day off anyway. “Maybe you should get some sleep first.”

“Turn myself in later?” Nero asked. That sounded good. “Perhaps.”

“I hate to say this, but Restrictor is expecting me back soon.”

Nero nodded in understanding as if he didn’t know that already, he couldn’t help but feel just a little jealous. But he wasn’t going to yell and scream this time. Surely Weiss was up to something… but he wanted a kiss before he let Weiss leave him.

Weiss noticed a little too late that Nero was closing in on him and removing his face mask. Wait! If he touched him Restrictor would know, he would be able to smell him and everything would be ruined. He could never get away! “No! Don’t touch me!” He flinched away from him, startling Nero. At his brother’s almost flabbergasted look he said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. We just… can’t.”

What in the hell?! Just last night they couldn’t take their hands off of each other and now he wasn’t even letting him touch him. “Why not?”

“No reason.”

Was he closing up on him again? “Weiss…”

“I can’t tell you why.” Weiss sighed. “Please just trust me?”

“I…” He needed to believe in him, he had to if he was ever going to grow up. “Alright.” He looked at him longingly then. “Please just kiss me then… you don’t have to touch me.” He even put his arms behind his back to show him he wouldn’t mark him as his in any way… maybe that was it? He tilted his head up.

Weiss looked down at him. Damn it! He couldn’t tell him what was going on right now… and he really couldn’t touch or kiss him the way he wanted to. He didn’t have the time to argue either. He really needed to be getting back. Weiss leaned down and gave him a quick peck on the lips before moving past him and back into his room.

Nero opened his eyes afterwards and stared miserably at the ceiling at such a platonic kiss! He hadn’t gotten one of those since he was… well… since they weren’t lovers! What in the planet was happening? They went from tongues meshing together to a little kiss in less than a twenty-four hour period! And after he saw how he kissed someone else… Damn it! He really needed to know what was going on now!

Oh God! What the hell was the matter with him? He was being so stupid again getting jealous!

Oh! He knew! If he just spied on them as he originally intended… maybe he’d find out that Restrictor was making Weiss act coldly to him. That would surely answer all of his questions. He felt a little better as he followed Weiss into the room then. “Brother.” He saw Weiss with a few of his clothes gathered up to his chest. “Be safe.” He smiled then. “I’ll just take a nap for a while… maybe I’ll turn myself in tomorrow instead?”

Weiss nodded his approval. That was even better than turning himself in tonight.

“Are you sure it won’t cause you any problems?” Nero asked. “I can do it now if you think it will help.” His offer was genuine, he wasn’t going to be completely selfish.

“No, that’s fine. It’ll be the same either way. Just don’t wander around… Restrictor Penelope is looking for you.”

“I know. She has visited here several times already trying to see if I came back.” The woman was relentless. “I’ll go to sleep then.” He made a show of kicking his shoes off and getting under the covers. Weiss smiled at him but made no move to kiss him or move closer.

“Sweet dreams.” Weiss said, shutting the door behind him. This was great! Tomorrow… he couldn’t help but think about tomorrow. He knew he could do this! He would show that stupid pervert love even if it was so incredibly wrong and gross… and… nauseating! But he couldn’t think that right now. He had something to do. After tomorrow… he could go to Nero without all that crap looming over him.

Nero heard the front door slam before he lifted himself in a dark cloud off of the bed and through the ceiling in a wisp of smoke. He would find out what Weiss was hiding from him.

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Author’s Notes:

Dun dun dun! (snickers) What the hell is wrong with me? I know it seems bad now but it’ll get better. (I keep promising that don’t I)?

I don’t know why I added Rosso and Azul in there… but it was fun to actually have them take a bigger role for once. Usually they just garnish my story with their presence. It’s sort of nice introducing a few more characters… although even thinking of writing lemons for them is s daunting task. Can you imagine a lemon between Rosso and Azul? I can… and it’s not pretty. (laughs).

Anywayses…

Aquila and I were working on illustrations for chapter 11. She thought Restrictor picking him up bridal style was really cute so we both drew pictures.

Aquila’s:

Fanart for My House
http://www.lostnovice.com/aquila/my_home_aquila.jpg

- I just love it! Eeeee! Weiss’ shoes are just adorable! I can’t get enough of those expressions either. (hearts)

Mine:

+You Will Never Be Mine+
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/47416911/

-The scene when Restrictor picks him up. Doujinshi style.

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To my reviewers:

FakeMemory:

Oh wow! It looks like the review actually worked this time. =D I wonder what was going on there for a while? I guess they fixed it. Maybe both of our computers were messed up or something?

As for your question - do you mean why does Weiss want Restrictor to seem happy? You got it right, he didn’t want him to be mean to him. Sometimes when people are afraid of someone they’ll try to appease them. Don’t worry! (hehe) No flying objects from me. :hug

I’m still not sure when I’m going to have Restrictor do to Nero… but I think I’ve found a way to put it off till at least chapter fourteen. Whoo hoo! Yay for procrastination!

Avinacode101:

Yeah, I usually have the patience to read them a few times over. Unfortunately I’ve not found the time to do that to the more recent chapters… so the quality is off.

Haha, I think it’s going to end up being extremely long. I know how I want this to end… it’s just getting there that I’m not sure of. It’s starting to look like it won’t stop hehe. I still have to talk about Nero and Weiss a lot more… get Weiss out of Restrictor’s clutches… maybe throw in some chapters about the other Tsviets. I’m not sure about Argento, but I know she is going to play a bigger role when the end comes. Of course that’s not including the search for the replacement signal for Restrictor or his eventual downfall and the aftermath of that.

(Neep! I am overwhelmed!)