Disclaimer: This 'one-per-chapter' deal is crap. I still don't own it.

Thinking Back
Chpt. 6 - Articulation
Sven

"Train?!" I stumble towards the ocean. The dunes near the water seem to form barriers at my feet, and the waves create impassable walls. So fast – he was falling so fast – could he make it in time?

"Sven!" that reckless man answers. "I think you should know that I love you!"

And for some reason, I can't move. I see those golden, joyous eyes, and carefree, utterly wild, smirk and I'm rooted in this sea and sand. I can't catch him; he hits the water and I can't find him. He's drowning and my body can't obey.

There's so little I can do.

It's frustrating, pure torment: it's feeling trapped and 'Don't die, Train! 'Cause if you're dead, then my world is dead – I'm dead!'

"It's coming this way…" The dinosaur charges towards us, rubble and debris strewn about behind her. "Train, are you ready?"

The man perches happily on a traffic light, just to the side of the road. His beloved pistol perched in his hand, and smile stuck in place, "Ready any time!"

"Okay…"

I try to watch him from the corner of my eye, but damn this eye patch! Train sits, satisfied, directly in my blindspot. He's much to reckless to be left on his own, just as a small child, but right now he's completely unseen.

I almost imagine him making faces and gestures, even in the heat of battle. Does he play these mind games knowingly?

The attaché opens to reveal its cloaked machine gun; even though I know it's dangerous, I glance over at his face. Taking my eye off of the first transformation of this weapon, I need the self-confidence that comes from having my work praised.

'Wow,' Train mouths, his face the very picture of childish joy. How can this be the infamous Black Cat, I ask myself yet again. But there's no time for that, here comes Flora…

"Fire!!!" I shout, making the plan crystal clear to every bystander. Thinking back on our other missions, I had realized that this was a good strategy. It was always important to minimize civilian casualties.

Bullets sail through the air, to quickly to track. The light post adjacent to Train's roost collapses with a crash on the oversized reptile's back. She cries out, or roars, I think, in pain, and for a split second I pity her.

But there's no time for that. "It's flinching! Train, fire!"

He hesitates, seemingly conversing with the prehistoric behemoth in front of him. 'Train, what are you waiting for?'

There's a sudden explosion, the answer to my question and prayers, as multiple rounds are forced from Hades' barrel. Nothing seems to happen for a few, tense moments, but we all know that it's over. Flora calls out once again, and blood spurts from between her toes. This time she'll stay down.

And then she's falling, crumbling from the bottom up in a collapse of weakened muscles.

I tear my eyes away from the awesome sight to watch Train. His articulation could be one of confidence, or of sympathy. I find myself falling in love all over again.

Later, when the cops secure the area, he asks me for my cellphone. Apparently, he lost his in the all-consuming fight. "I need to talk to the Princess," he says.

So I hand it over. He takes the phone and walks away, leaving me to stare at his retreating back.

When we return home, Eve heads right to sleep – she's had a long day and deserves the rest. Train fetches his regular tall glass of milkand I grab a beer. We make small talk, as neither of us wants to touch on the subject while the Princess is still awake.

As we wait, I consider the man in front of me. Fearless, yet careless; loving, yet carrying the discarded alias of a cold-blooded killer on his back, like a heavy cross to bear. This was a man of contradictions.

Steadily, surely, we've felt this tension build.

"Do you know how I feel?" he asks. Ever the straight-forward one…

"Hungry?" I joke. It's a surprise, when this comment's not met with a light-hearted chuckle.

"Don't kid around, Sven. For once, I'm being serious." I manage to hold back another taunt only because, all at once, he's right next to me – nearly on top of me.

He doesn't wait for my answer, or my approval, but pulls me into a kiss anyway. He's sweet, like some confection, mixed with the creaminess of whole dairy. It's milk and cookies, and I can't help myself.

We battle for dominance with slight shifts, and delicate swirls of the tongue. We contest until Train's knees seem to give way like Flora's had, and we must break for air. I'm presented with those golden eyes again, beautifully flecked with shards of brown. They grin the way I know his mouth is, the rest of his body prepared to pounce.

"I love you too," I manage. He merely 'hmphs' in response.

"Shh," he says. "We don't really need words, do we?"

Typical Train, too excited to even communicate. "I do love you, you numbskull."

We maneuver over to the couch, and he pulls me on top of him – domineering even as the passive one. I'm truly thankful that Eve is so soundly asleep.

A/N: I lost my interest in this story for a while, but it revisted me the other day. Hopefully that means I'll be putting up the epilogue I'd always intended on... Anyway, sorry it took so long, those of you reading this. Thank you with sticking with me through this. If anyone is into the Naruto fandom, my much better stuff is based there. -