"Now Haro, whatever you do be silent. Got it?"

The jolly orange robot flapped its ears happilly.

"Roger!"

Lockon smiled devilshly- this was a great plan. He placed Haro inside a closet, leaving just the door ajar just a tad. It was somewhat ironic, he thought as he quickly programmed Haro's recording function (making sure to include both video *and* audio), that it had been Tieria himself to teach him how to use Haro as a makeshift camera. "It can be used to spy on the enemy. Haro can store media data and reproduce it in high definition." those had been Tieria's exact words and he spoke them with great authority, as usual, and Lockon smirked inwardly at his no-nonsense attitude. And then he had this idea.

Still in his flight suit, for they had just returned from a mission, Lockon checked Haro once more and then hobbled to the bed, rubbing his hands as he sat and waited. In less than a minute the door slid open and Tieria walked in.

"Do you really know what is happening to Veda?"

Lockon almost felt guilty. Tieria had not bothered to change into his civilian clothes (for which Lockon was quite grateful, the tight suit adhered to his skin like and highlighted the best of Tieria's light and graceful frame) and now stood in front of Lockon with a look of worry not completely hidden.

"It seems that level 7 has been compromised."

Tieria winced and suddenly looked away. Lockon knew that bringing up Veda was the only way he could lure Tieria to pay him a visit in his room but he had not expected the boy's reaction to be so extreme. After all, Tieria Erde was not one to ever look away.

"How do you know this?"

"Heard it from Sumeragi."

Lockon regretted these words the moment he spoke them. Odds are Tieria would just storm out of the room now and give Sumeragi a piece of his mind. Lockon's spirits dropped considerably and he cursed himself for having been so foolish-after all, what's the point of coming up with a flawless plan only to mess up at the last minute?

Only Tieria did not stir. Instead he sat on the bed, his hair that insofar had hidden his face swaying away to reveal very pretty features, his eyes strangely sad behind the delicate lenses.

"I see."

Silence fell between them. Lockon was unsure of how to break it, so he took the opportunity to study Tieria who seemed to have forgotten about his existence. Tieria drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, his petite body very exposed in all its beauty- those suits really left almost nothing to the imagination. Not quite true, Lockon reconsidered, they left enough to the imagination to drive him mad. At first it did not bother him much but little by little Lockon had found himself wondering just how Tieria would look without the teasing suit, how his impeccably white skin would feel against his, until such thoughts crowded in his mind and left him no choice than to please himself in the solitude of his room and-

"I suppose there would be no point in her telling me."

Lockon blinked rapidly, shaken out of his reveries. What was he doing, he had the real Tieria right here, sitting in his bed, and looking extremely forlorn. And in need of some comfort.

"Still, I'm glad you told me, Lockon Stratos."

Lockon knew that this was his chance. As of late Tieria had been having these fits of self doubt that surprised everyone and made Lockon feel like holding him close and kiss those unexpecting lips that quivered with the hint of a sob- and Lockon tossed caution to the wind and did just that, closing in the distance between them in an abrupt move and brushed his lips against Tieria in a light kiss.

"You're welcome, Tieria."

Tieria's eyes were very odd and startled. He did not react and for a while seemed to fight for words. Lockon ran a finger along his cheek and planted a more insistent kiss. Tieria's response was shy and hesitant as he kissed back with a virgin's tentativeness.

"Lockon-why?"

Lockon placed his finger on Tieria's parted lips to silence him.

"Why not?"

Tieria shifted uncomfortably and clearly at a loss.

"Well- there's Feldt, she seems considerably more adequate for..." Tieria hunted for words "...for this kind of activity."

Lockon flashed him one of those 'stupidly sexy smiles tm' and Tieria gaped in sheer wonder.

"But I like you better."