Halperia cowered behind Forte as Zero looked over the younger Reploid with a predatory look. Forte didn't hesitate to glare back at Zero, standing protectively between his boyfriend and brother. "What do you want, Zero?" Forte growled after too long of a silence.
Zero continued to smirk. "Only to congratulate my dear older brother on finally catching the love of his life." He winked. "Enjoy the new emotion, Forte. I know I did..."
"And what's that supposed to mean!"
Zero's grin grew. "I was in love, too, at one point in time. I think it's ironic we have the same tastes in women...or should I say men."
Sudden realization hit Forte like a brutal slap. He turned and looked at Halperia with wide eyes. "You...? You dated him!"
Halperia looked sad and scared. "I...didn't think it'd matter...as long as you were happy with me..." There were tears forming in Halperia's eyes as Forte continued to stare at Halperia in disbelief. "I would have told you if you had asked!"
"Perhaps..." Zero purred to himself as he watched. "I was too quick to judge this relationship..."
Forte shook his head. "Halperia...I...I don't know what to say...You...You dated the one Reploid I hate about as much as I hate Wily!"
"And slept with," Zero stepped in. Forte gave Zero a horrified look. The blonde grinned. "Evil little temptress, isn't he?"
There was a small sound behind Forte as Halperia set aside his glass of eggnog and buried his face in his hands to contain himself. Forte gave Zero a death glare, then turned to Halperia, setting aside his glass of eggnog and touching Halperia's shoulders lightly. "Love, I'm not angry with you," Forte whispered, holding the smaller Reploid gently. "I'm just...surprised...I mean...I didn't think he was your type..."
Halperia shook a bit in Forte's arms. It was like holding a quivering doll. "I...I didn't know he was your brother...He...he said he loved me..." He pushed Forte away and then ran out, sobbing.
A heavy silence followed as everyone stared at Forte as if he were holding a bloody dagger. He could feel them accusing him, and a growing anger brewed in Forte as he caught a smug smirk from Zero. Blonde bastard...Forte thought, clenched fists shaking at his sides. He planned this entire encounter. Down to the last reaction and comment. Why? Why does Zero want Halperia and I to fight? Unless...He watched as Zero backed out and left quickly. That rat bastard wants to get in bed with my boyfriend!
Forte roared and stormed out after Zero. He grabbed the blonde by the hair and dragged him out in front of the hotel. The dark Bioroid slammed Zero into the wall of the hotel. "Mother fucking bastard!" Forte shouted as he threw Zero into the ground, then back against the wall. "You're trying to break us up!"
"I'm not 'trying' to do anything," Zero snarled, shoving Forte back. "If you two are having problems, then I have nothing to do with it!"
"Liar!" Forte threw a furious punch to Zero's head. He missed and put a dent in the wall. "You've always been out to ruin my life! You beat me up! You take my things! And now you're starting fights between Halperia and I!" He punched and missed again, burning tears of rage in his eyes. "I just want to be happy for once!"
"You're talking to the wrong person then..." Zero said almost sincerely. "If you want to be happy, talk to Halperia. Really talk to him. He'll think you only want him for sex if you don't say anything to him."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Forte growled in a low whisper, "What did he mean when he said that you said you loved him?"
Zero got a guilty look on his face; caught between forte and a tall rock full of people he recently swore to protect. "We dated...under Omega's nose...We both thought it was true love. We rarely touched, we were enemies. But when we met in secret..." He sighed and shook his head. "Just holding hands made our hearts race..."
"And then?" Forte noticed every story about Halperia started nice but had a sad ending.
"Omega found out..." Zero continued. "He was furious. I don't know what he did to Halperia, but he nearly killed me. Luckily Ciel got me out of there before he killed me..." The blonde again shook his head. "For a while, Halperia and I still met. But he seemed different. Quieter, meeker...Then one day he came to me in tears. He said he 'needed a release'...So we..." He blushed.
"So you had sex with him..."
The blonde nodded. "He calmed down and slept like a rock when we were done. Next morning, I wake up with a three-page note saying how sorry he was that our love wasn't true. That was years ago...I hadn't seen or spoken to him again since...until tonight..."
Forte sighed and backed off. "I need to find him..."
"I don't know what to tell you, Forte," Zero said. "But I think I know where he is..."
"Where?"
"Go home...he's waiting for you there..." Forte turned to leave but he stopped when Zero spoke. "Oh...and bro?"
"What?" Forte grumbled as he turned to Zero.
Zero gave Forte a thumbs-up and wink. "Don't make me have to kick your ass if you make him cry."
Forte grinned, nodded, then ran back home. As Zero had said, Halperia was in Forte's base, curled in a ball on his bed sound asleep. Forte sighed then smiled to himself as he changed into his jumpsuit. He was feeling extremely evil this Christmas Eve.
-
Halperia woke slowly, smelling the soft scent of roses. He sat up to see Forte's room was clean, and he and the floor were covered in a layer of rose petals. The door was open and a trail of the petals left the room. Standing, Halperia followed the trail with bare feet, still wearing the dress from the night before. The halls were empty and there was no sign of security droids or other means of security at all. Only Halperia and the petals. He smiled to himself, suspecting a certain Bioroid was behind this.
The trail of petals led Halperia to a dining room, where a large box sat on the table next to a vase and live roses. Smiling weakly, Halperia went to the box and opened it. Inside was a cute new dress that resembled a French maid's dress, only green, and a second box, only smaller. Blinking, Halperia pulled out the second box and opened it. He smiled when he saw a brand new tool kit. He knows I enjoy building things...Halperia thought, pulling out the tool kit. As he inspected it, Halperia noticed there was a third, miniature box hidden in the folds of the belt the kit came with.
"Oh...it couldn't be..." Halperia whispered, holding the box close to his heart. It was no bigger than his palm. "It can't be..." Holding his breath, Halperia opened the little box and blinked curiously when he saw there was nothing inside.
"I wanted to give you this one myself," Forte's voice said from behind. Halperia held still as a cold necklace slid around his neck. When Forte had clasped it, he kissed Halperia's cheek and said, "Go on. Open the locket."
Halperia lifted a hand to his chest and brought the golden heart-shaped locket to his face. Carefully he opened it. As he did, a small hologram of him and Forte appeared, dancing to a sweet, music-box melody. Halperia watched in awe, tears forming in his eyes. Forte slid his hands down Halperia's arms and onto his hands, closing the locket. The hologram and music faded.
Forte hugged Halperia close and kissed his cheek. He whispered in Halperia's ear, "Are you still mad at me, love?"
The younger Reploid turned in Forte's arms and hugged Forte's neck. "No...I was never mad at you..."
"I love you..."
Smiling through his happy-tears, Halperia whispered. "I love you...Forever..."
