Welcome to an additional chapter of 'Xepher'! 'Xepher' was originally meant to be a oneshot, but after watch Act 5 cutscenes of Metal Gear Solid 4, and reading a glowing review for the first chapter, I decided to post this little ditty. XD Once again, it'll be an excerpt from 'Metal Gear Solid 4: Exhale'. It'll most likely be the last excerpt from 'Exhale', because my love for the fullblown adventure has found an all-time high. I can't resist posting this little piece, out of affection for a very dear friend, but I'm teetering on the edge of restoring the entire adventure. XD I've fallen madly in love with the entire story!

This additional chapter was inspired by the Act 5 cutscenes of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It was also inspired by my fondness for a certain reader, and a desire to give her another treat to read. The songs used to compose this chapter will be 'Tangled Up in You' by Staind and 'Beautiful' by 10 Years.

This will contain light spoilers of MGS4. If you're not familiar with the game yet, I suggest you watch out. XD

If you're allergic to fluff, and/or don't appreciate the idea of a humanized Snake, then you won't find this to your liking. Thanks for stopping in, though.


He had been with him, right from the very beginning.

He had been by his side, unwavering and unshaken. He had been there for him, always caring. Inimitably devoted, affectionate and unspeakably loyal. Without a single question asked, or a single second wasted, he stood by him. When all else failed, he was there for him. When the world caved in on him, and it frequently did, he was there for him. Not once did he leave his side, or complain against his own vows. He had been with him, ever since the beginning of his climb.

To say that he had been through Hell would have been an understatement. Battles were ongoing, the world was inundated in hellfire, and his heart had been dragged through the mud. If a certain someone hadn't been by his side, all would have been lost a long while ago. Sure, it was comforting to have Otacon at his side, but he was dead tired of dragging the otaku through the mud. Only he should have been pulled through muddy, putrid pits of pain. Only he should have carried the world's burden, for he was the cause of the world's pain in the first place. If only he hadn't been created. The world would have been much better off without him, and every other creature like him-including Liquid.

Liquid. His remaining brother.

Ever since that fateful night, the intensity of his nightmares increased. Hellish horrors visited him night after night, merciless and cruel. Liquid would forever laugh at him, grinding the ebbing remnants of his strength-and sanity. His brother, someone he desperately wanted to keep close, would forever mock his relationship with Luso. He would forever mock his entire existence, keeping him chained to his own insecurities.

"You're pathetic, my beloved little sibling! I would have every right to steal Luso for myself! You're of no use to him!"

"Why don't you just lay down like the dog you are and die?!"

He wanted to. He wanted to fall to his knees and give in. He was tired, dead tired, and no longer wished to breathe. Everything he had done, everything that had occurred on his behalf, had led him up to his breaking point. His brother, the last shred of family he could cling to, had brought him to his breaking point. His apex had been uncovered, and it was unstable. With every breath he took, he longed for the chance to fall apart. He wanted to become undone, and forget-

-everything he had told Luso. Everything Luso had told him.

He wanted to forget his own existence. He wanted the world to forget his existence. He shouldn't have been brought to the Earth's soil. Big Mama shouldn't have raised him. Big Mama-

-died in his arms.

His last mission with Luso had been a bitter failure. Liquid had attained the upper hand in the grand scheme of things, and Big Mama's life ebbed away in her remaining son's arms. Barely discovering that she had been his birth mother, he developed a fiery ache to keep her close. That ache equaled the one he felt for Luso, despite the difference in the ache's flames. Unfortunately, the ability to keep her within his life crumbled. She was taken from him, a brokenhearted soul that had finally been reunited with her long lost son.

The loss of his mother was like a javelin in the heart. To add even greater salt to his wounds, one side of his face had been badly burned. It distorted his appearance, and in his eyes, it made him no different from a goblin. A devilish, horridly ugly imp, straight out of a child's nightmare. One could have compared him to the Beast from Sunny's favorite fairy tale, for he no longer wished to even look at Luso-let alone acknowledge him.

The world was caving in on him once again, and its walls had caved in for the last time. It could withstand no more, its core underneath impenetrable pain. His life was ebbing away like a drifting tide, he no longer had the right to look upon his lover's face, and his mother died in his arms. Otacon had been through more than enough, and deserved a hell of a lot more. Like a cat playing with the remains of a mouse, Naomi Hunter toyed with the gentle otaku's heart. She didn't do him any favors. His only saving grace was Sunny, his surrogate daughter. She was Otacon's only link to sanity. He didn't need Snake. No one needed Snake. Not even-

Legs fell to the ground with a violent thud. Did they belong to him? Of course they did. He was the only one in the room. They had to be his, but they felt so frail. So flimsy and downright weak. Had they transformed into gelatin? Why couldn't he rise? Why did he feel so heavy, when his legs had become so feeble? Why couldn't he-

Nausea punched his insides repeatedly, dragging his upper half to the floor. Invincible bars of iron lodged themselves inside of his chest, stealing his ability to attain oxygen. No different from am fish out of water, his body took great breaths-but found no relief. Queasiness was no different from Liquid, punching and laughing-

Coughs were ripped from his ravaged insides. He instinctively shot a hand to his mouth, dizziness rattling his skull. The proof of his violent nausea was expelled from his mouth, streaming from his convulsive body. Gasps were repeated in attempts to grasp at oxygen, but not a single attempt succeeded. Hands gripped his insides, clenching as tight as they could. His eyes widened, his body curled up into a ball-

-and arms wrapped themselves around his torso.

They weren't his.

Small-slitted eyes turned to a young, brown-haired male .Not a single word came from the younger male's mouth, but blue eyes spoke clearly. Those same eyes were radiant with concern, love and sadness, pleading for the chance to be near a certain someone. But there he was, coughing, choking, pretty much choking on his own vomit-

If you had peered in on the 'Solid Snake' of several months ago, he wouldn't know the meaning of the word 'embarrassment'. He actually wouldn't know the meaning of a lot of words, but he wouldn't have been mortified to regurgitate his insides in front of someone.

He wouldn't have been madly in love, either.

Despite the old soldier's mortification, the younger male kept himself near. He buried his head into Snake's back, eyes closed and heart pounding. Silently he waited for the burst of illness to depart, inwardly stabbing himself with his own blade. Before he could voice his concern, though, the older male had him by the arms. Eyes blazing with savage hatred, he spoke to the young swordsman irately.

"What are you doing here?!"

"I c-c-c-came to see you! I want to be near you!"

Violently Luso was pushed away, hitting the ground with a fierce thud. He began to rise to his feet, but his attempt was cut off by the old soldier's voice. "Leave me alone!" he bellowed, each syllable laced with immeasurable fury. "Don't look at me!"

A gentle hand was placed upon his back, and instantly thrown away. "Piss off!" a wounded soul ordered, tears streaming from his eyes. He lowered his face from Luso's view. "What can I offer you?! Nothing!"

He'll leave. He'll leave the same way Meryl did. He'll leave. All I have to do is push, and he'll be gone.

"I can do nothing for you! I have nothing to give you! I wish you we hadn't even met! I wish you hadn't been stupid enough to fall for a broken, mutilated beast!"

He kept himself averted from Luso's face. The young one was undoubtedly hurt, heartbroken and torn. He knew he couldn't bear the sight of his lover's face, for he loved him far too much. Knew he couldn't bear to look at him. Knew he couldn't bear to hold Luso's heart, even though he loved it so much. He knew-

-the young swordsman would leave. He would leave in tears, saddened and rejected. He would-

Arms were wrapped around his waist. Tears burning his own eyes, Luso Clemens peered into Snake's eyes. Neither one of them spoke for an age, their tears saying everything their hearts wanted to say. One heart desperately wished for the other to leave, but at the same time, it begged the other heart to stay. The younger heart looked upon its other half in adoration, never wavering, never faltering in the other heart's wake.

Gently Ivalice's swordsman placed his forehead against Snake's. Silence continued to bind them together, but the Clemens broke it. "You've given me everything," he whispered, tears laced with the golden light of tender sadness. A smile bloomed upon his young features, sorrowful yet loving. And much to Snake's surprise, he sent a hand to stroke the burned half of his face.

"You've given more than I'll ever be able to hold. I'm not leaving you, Snake, no matter how hard you try to push me away."

Astonishment, happiness and pain erupted inside of a puppy's eyes. Sobs began to make their ascent from his trembling lips, and arms tightened their grip upon the younger one's body.

If Luso had been Meryl, the answer to his anger would have been much different.

Sniffing, shedding his own tears, the Clemens buried his head inside of the other's chest. They held onto one another, never wanting to let go. The Nomad's dim lights draped themselves about two sobbing bodies, gentle as embers. Youthful eyes rose to meet an older pair of eyes, glistening with a fusion of adoration and hope. The older eyes returned that fusion, but their owner's face quickly turned away. A smiling Luso gently turned Snake's face to meet his, then gave him a gentle kiss.

Looking as if Luso had unexpectedly thrown him a birthday party, Snake stared at him. There he was, a dithering old fool, practically covered in vomit, and Luso had just kissed him?! And the side of his face was still resembling to a pile of black ashes!

The other male obviously didn't mind. Smiling, he gave the soldier another kiss. An embrace occurred as a result.

Neither one of them said anything, but when it came to what they shared, words weren't needed on a regular basis.


I just had to post this. The Luso/Snake relationship has become just too adorable, and the Act 5 cutscenes (Parts 9-11, especially) are heart-wrenching!

I love Luso's affection for Snake. Our sword-wielding hero loves him, even though they're worlds apart when it comes to ages! And the kisses of this chapter were cute too. XD Our poor Snake must be so embarrassed when he becomes sick. Wouldn't you agree? The poor dear. I feel terrible for him!

Thanks for stopping in! I really appreciate it! Off I go to work on 'Exhale' notes (and additional Luso/Snake yumminess)!

Speaking of 'Exhale', I was thinking of something. Maybe Liquid could do something to hurt (hurt, not kill XD) Luso? Haven't figured it out yet. Liquid will figure out just how much Luso means to his brother, though, and will want to have some fun. XD


"That's all I ask for-love me, love me..."

-Monster by Meg and Dia (whenever I hear that line, I think of Snake saying that to Luso. XD)


Special thanks to Zephyr and 'Catalyst'!