A/N: Well, here it is. CX It's sort of a long chapter, but we've all been a little fluff deprived so why not? C: My updates might start coming a little slower b/c guess who's caught the swine flu? Santa?! Oh dear God I hope not! D: Well, I don't, but bottom line is I'm sick over here. XD So I'll try to update again tomorrow but who knows? Anyways, here's the next chapter. CX

I do not own Xenosaga or its characters, and we all know that so why do I have to repeat myself? XD

Conflicting Numbers
Chapter 14
Guardian

Gaignun was anxious, worried, stressed and quite frankly, pissed off. If those damn Federation soliders hadn't come. If the Second Miltian government wasn't filled with incompetence, then Jr. would be ok. They would just be waking up, swapping insults with tender replies. Gaignun got a taste of what it had felt like to be Jr. that day at the hospital, but instead of screaming curse words down an unconcious link, he whispered comforting words and begged him to wake up. He gently rubbed Jr.'s arm, avoiding the bandages and bruises. Jr., please get up. Please. You look so tiny. I don't think you've ever looked this small before. Isn't that weird? I think you're attitude makes you older to me. Well maybe not your attitude. You still have the mindset of a boy, don't you? He ran his fingers through Jr.'s red hair. A four foot-seven, eighty-four pound, twenty-six year old boy. We're barely getting by calling you fourteen now. What will we do when you're actually your age in the public eye? He watched the rise and fall of Jr.'s chest to make sure he was breathing normally, on edge that something else could go wrong within the next few seconds. I heard you did a number on those officers. Jr., I told you not to be violent, but when do you ever listen to me? What did they do to make you so angry?

Curious, Gaignun opened a link, frowning at Jr.'s memories of the hovercar, actually approving of Jr.'s anger but as he followed along with the show that was Jr.'s conciousness he found himself wrapped up in Albedo's words, in his insanity...in Jr.'s pain. Angrily he shut it off. Gaignun had never been so angry in his entire life. A burning feeling that rose and stuck in his chest, in his arms, his whole upper body. He suddenly realized why people punched or broke objects to channel their anger. Suddenly, a loud noise snapped him from his thoughts. He turned his head sharply toward the sound. Jr. was flat-lining. "Shit." Gaignun hissed, he ran through the door and yelled to the first Realian he saw. "You've got to help me. Jr.'s--" But once he had made it back to the room, it was working again. The staccato of beats announcing Jr.'s life. Gaignun sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry. I must've been mistaken." The Realian bowed and left. Gaignun moved toward the left side of Jr.'s bed, arms crossed, frustation in his features. Finally, Jr. couldn't take it anymore. He opened one blue eye and grinned. "Don't you think I'm under enough stress worrying about you?"

"Not really, no."

Gaignun sighed and wrapped Jr. in his arms as gently as he could so as not to irriatate his many wounds. He felt Jr. sigh into the action. "You scared the hell out of me." Gaignun said against Jr.'s neck.

"You curse a lot more." Jr. said, wrapping wired arms around his back.

"You're such a bad role model."

"That I am." Jr. admitted.

Gaignun didn't want to let go. When Jr. was wrapped in his arms like this he could feel him. He could protect him. You don't need to protect me, Gaignun. I can take care of myself...

Gaignun didn't protest, just held him a little bit tighter. "I was terrified, Jr. I couldn't find you anywhere. We looked everywhere and then...Albedo. I can't believe this happened! How could I have let this happen again?"

"It's ok, Gaignun. We weren't expecting this."

Gaignun hesitantly pulled away to give Jr. space and carefully placed the his tiny lover against the bed. "I'm not porcelin."

Gaignun gave a worried smile at Jr.'s light nature. "I'm sorry, Jr. You just look so...fragile."

So mutilated...

"Nah, don't think of it like that." Jr. said, shrugging his shoulder and wincing at the pain. "Think of me as...as a puzzle that has lost some of its pieces. That's less painful."

"I love you, Jr." Gaignun said gravely, placing a kiss on the boy's forehead.

"I love you too, Gaignun." Gaignun couldn't control the flow of electric happiness that broke through his fog. He hadn't hid it well enough and Jr. felt it too. "You're such a girl."

Gaignun smiled warmly at him and took a seat in the chair beside him. "It looks like we've switched places since the last time."

"Yeah, except you're not swearing and I haven't been out that long...have I?"

Gaignun shook his head, "No, just a day and thank God. I might have gone insane."

Jr. shook his head and winced again. It seemed like every move he made was painful. He frowned at his memories. He was hesitant to see how much damage had actually been done to him, so he asked Gaignun first. "Jr...You're going to be ok, but you're going to be sore everywhere. It'll probably take a little while to heal. There was...so much blood." Gaignun watched as Jr. examined his wounds. He had a large bandage wrapped tightly around his neck that made it a little hard to swallow without pain. Another covered his stomach and chest. Pain shot up his spine and everywhere there wasn't a bandage, a small scrape or purple bruise decorated his skin. Gaignun noticed a change in his demeanor as he continued to stare at his wounds. He had shut down his link, leaving his thoughts to himself, but Gaignun didn't need one to notice the anger in his eyes. Jr.'s eyes traced the scars again. He wasn't exactly sure how to feel so he just settled on hate. He hated Albedo for this pain. He hated Albedo for what he did. Memories flashed through his mind at lightening speed and he shook with anger.

"Such a disappointment, Rubedo." Albedo had laughed, placing his body for Gaignun to find. "I thought it you were prepared, but I assumed wrong." He placed one more kiss almost lovingly against Jr.'s lips. "I'll wait for you, Mon Précieux."

Oh, I'm sure you will. Jr. thought to himself. He lifted his right hand, tracing the number with his eyes. Three prefect numbers stared back. Six-Six-Six. Next time, I'll be more than ready. Gaignun knew Jr. was in deep thought, so it surprised him when Jr. all of a sudden called to him.

"Hm?"

"I said, let me see your hand." Gaignun raised his left hand and Jr. rolled his eyes.

"Not that one. The right one." When Gaignun handed him the other, Jr. smiled.

"You know what I just realized?" he asked, tracing the red numbers.

"What's that?"

Jr. showed him his numbers. "See? We have almost the exact same numbers, right?"

Gaignun nodded. "Well," he said, flipping Gaignun's hand over and placing it over his own palm over palm. "Our numbers overlap. They match. Except for the nine and the six. Isn't that kind of cool?"

Gaignun smiled at the gesture. "Yes, Jr. very cool."

"Hah! I knew it!" Jr.'s grip tightened. "I've found my missing piece."

"Jr..." Gaignun said, at a loss for words. Jr. only smirked. He was good like that. "Bandaged and sick, you continue to make me weak."

Jr. shrugged. "Girls have the habit of fainting whenever I walk by."

"Smug." Gaignun laughed, standing up. "Always so smug." He bent over the bed to kiss Jr. but the boy turned his head away. Hurt, Gaignun pulled back. "Jr.?"

"I-" Jr. answered, turning serious blue eyes on his brother. "I...taste like...I feel like..."

Gaignun's green eyes softened and he brought a hand up to caress his cheek. "Jr. it wasn't your fault. I still love you."

"It's just..."

"Jr." Gaignun said, carefully forcing the variant's attention.

It's not your fault. You're not disgusting. You didn't betray me. I still love you.

He leaned down again, pressing his lips against the older boys and melting his worries.

"Master Gaignun, you can't be serious."

"I'm very serious. In fact, I want to talk to Helmer about it as soon as possible."

"But Master, that seems like a very..."

Gaignun grinned at her. "Shelley, what case do they have against me? I want payback for all the hell they put us through. Tell Helmer that I need to speak to him as soon as possible."

Shelley nodded and bowed, beginning an appointment with the secretary Realian. Gaignun left the bridge. Gaignun! I don't want to stay in here tonight! I want to sleep in our room.

Jr., you're going to do whatever the doctor says.

You know what, Gaignun?

What?

Fuck. You.

Gaignun smiled and made his way back to the infirmary. When Gaignun entered, he couldn't help but frown. "Heyah...Master Gaignun."

"Hello, Mary."

The blonde girl stood up sharply from her seat and instantly focused her eyes on the ground. "Um..."

Jr. pushed himself up in his bed. "Mary was just here visiting. She came to apologize."

Gaignun only frowned.

Gaignun.

Jr. it's her fault. She started this whole thing.

That's not true, and you know it.

Jr.

Aren't you supposed to be the forgiving one? And aren't I supposed to be the grudge-holding one? What's going on? What's happening to my world!?

Gaignun sighed at Jr.'s response. "Mary, I know you've come to apologize, but right now I need to look after Jr. So please, if this can wait until tomorrow..."

"Oh! Of-of course, Master Gaignun! I'm sorry." She bowed and hurried past them out the door.

"So..." Jr. said, his voice tired. "When do I get out of here?"

"When you feel better." Jr. rolled his eyes. "Can't I sleep with you, Gaignun?"

Gaignun laughed. Jr. blushed, "I-I mean. I'd like a bed that didn't have all these wires as a requirement."

"Jr. you can barely move without pain, there's no way I'm going to risk sleeping in the same bed with you."

Jr. cursed under his breath. "You never get enough sleep."

Gaignun smiled, "You're right and it looks like I'll have to spend tonight without it again."

Jr. frowned. "Well can I at least take a bath?"

Gaignun grinned. "Not without help."

Jr. was amazingly surprised at how good the warm water felt on his sore body and how wonderful Gaignun's hands felt on him. "This is dumb. I can take a bath by myself." he said.

Gaignun only nodded. "Of course you can, Jr. Now stay still so this will go by faster." But Jr. didn't want it to go by faster and squrimed and fought enough to make Gaignun stop and remove the jacket of his suit. "Jr." he said, only slightly irritated. He rolled up his sleeves to the elbow and grabbed some a bottle of shampoo. "Hey Gaignun?" Jr. asked, closing his eyes.

"Hm?"

"Mary's really upset about the whole thing."

Gaignun made a noise to confirm he'd heard his brother. Jr. sighed, "Gaignun, you're really good at massaging and stuff." He opened a blue eye against the soap that ran down his face and washed away the blood. "Hey Gaignun, are you going to dress my wounds again?"

"No, we'll get a Realian or someone else to do it. I don't want to hurt you."

"You're such a girl."

Gaignun carefully made his way down Jr.'s spine, rubbing his tired bones and sending shivers through his sore body. "Yes, but you love girls." Gaignun rubbed his arms. Jr. sighed at the feeling. "Yeah, I do."

"You know, Jr." Gaignun said, washing the shampoo out of the boy's hair. "You're kind of cute like this."

"You want me to kick your ass, don't you?"

Gaignun shook his head at the ridiculous question. "Was I supposed to say yes to that?"

"You were supposed to realize that I'm going to kill you if you don't stop."

"I used to dream about touching you like this." Gaignun said suddenly. Jr. turned around to look at his brother. "What?" Gaignun smiled and started to scrub more blood off of Jr.'s chest.

"I used to dream about this. I was terrified that you'd figure me out. Everytime you'd take a shower, everytime you'd undress I'd have to force myself to stay in my own mind."

Jr. smirked. "Hah! I knew I was sexy."

"Dangerously so."

"Gaignun...we need to talk about Mary."

"We don't."

"Gaignun, you know how Albedo is. Mary was extremley upset, don't you think she deserves another chance?"

"I was terrified, Jr. I was so scared...The minute Shelley said Albedo I knew what was going to happen." Gaignun focused his green eyes straight into Jr.'s blue ones. "And she...To think that she would actually go that far, it's almost unforgiveable."

"But Gaignun-"

"I could've lost you last night!"

The outburst caught the boy by surprise. Gaignun leaned over, wrapping his arms around Jr. from behind, uncaring of the water that soaked through his shirt. "Gaignun..."

"I could've lost you last night, Jr. Every futile effort, every wrong turn was a constant reminder that he had you. Every little mark (no every mark because there isn't a place on your body right now that isn't ripped apart) constantly reminds me of what he did to you and everything you went through. How you survived it, I have no idea. All I know is that you didn't deserve it and if you hadn't come back I seriously think I might have killed her. No, I would've killed her I know it." It bothered Jr. to hear Gaignun talk like that. It shook some foundation that he'd been standing on, clinging to the world of sanity. Damnit. Was everything as crazy as Albedo now? "Gaignun, you love me?"

"More than anything."

Jr. turned his head slightly to look behind him. "Mary loved you too, Gaignun. You know, Albedo's very convincing to people who aren't used to his nonsensical rants. They don't know how to fight it and he's one of the greatest mental manipulaters in the world. She's a heartbroken girl Gaignun, and now she's swimming in guilt. She had no idea how much trouble she'd actually cause." Gaignun sighed, he knew Jr. was right.

"Of course I am." Jr. said, smiling in that devilish way of his. He leaned up to place a kiss against Gaignun's lips despite his protesting body. "Now don't make me have to talk sense into you ever again." Jr. said, sitting himself slowly back down into the the best bath he'd ever had. "I like it better when you're the girl."

The doctor came to bandage a clean Jr. "Can't I please sleep with my dad, tonight?" he asked in his most innocent voice. Gaignun's lips curled up in the corners just a bit as he fought down a smile at the facade. The doctor, of course, fell for it. "Well, I don't have a problem with it. It seems that your vitals are fine and you're healing surprisingly fast. I don't see why not. Just come back in the morning and we'll change your bandages." He walked over to Gaignun and handed him a bottle of pills. "One whenever he's in pain, two if it's bad, but two might make him a little dizzy." He looked over at the pretending Jr. "And no alcohol while you're on the meds, young man," he joked.

"Oh of course not!" Jr. said, smiling. Gaignun had an especially hard time not laughing at that one and when the doctor left Jr. said "Well you heard the man! Throw out those pills and get me some alcohol!"

That night, Gaignun held Jr. lightly, so afraid to hurt him. "I took the medicine, stupid." Jr. slurred. "I'm not going to feel it. You can hold me tighter than that."

"I'm not going to." Gaignun replied, placing feathery kisses on Jr.'s face. Jr. frowned.

"I want you to." Gaignun couldn't resist that and he tightened his grip only a little bit, but an angry "Damnit, Gaignun." convinced him to hold on tighter. Jr. sighed happily and snuggled into Gaignun's chest. Gaignun held him protectively. It's never going to happen again. He promised himself and as Jr.'s breathing slowed and he mumbled the beginnings of curse words, Gaignun couldn't help himself, opening a tiny link, trying to discover how bad the experience had affected his little lover. Nope. Not gettin' in there. Go to sleep and stop ruining my dreams.

Stay out of mine.

Gaignun felt Jr.'s smirk. I love you, you bastard.

Jr. feel asleep in their light embrace, and once Gaignun was sure he had actually fallen asleep, he opened another link. Albedo.

Executioner? He answered, This is new. Having fun with my Dragon?

I swear to God if you ever touch him again.

Go ahead, Nigredo! He sent, the crazy laughter that was his trademark flowed through Gaignun's brain. Challenge my superiority! Threaten my obvious greatness, or you'll be lost in the spell before it's too late!

What the hell are you---

But he was gone again, the signal lost, the wall up and Gaignun looked around in the darkness, tightening his hold on the sleeping boy in his arms. "Let him come for you, Jr." Gaignun whispered, his mind on the defensive. "I'll show him my inferiority."

A/N: Welp, that was a long one. CX Hope it was as fun to read as it was to write. Reviews are my muse, so inspire it up people. c: