The Fall and Rise of Creed Diskence

An Alternate Universe Redemption Fic based on Yabuki Kentaro's Black Cat series
Black Cat and pretty near all the characters in this story belong to Yabuki Kentaro

Author's Forward:

I will be posting author's notes at my Live Journal (username: KosagiNoLegion), so as not to take up space here. Answers to any questions or comments and various trivia involved in creating this massive piece of fanfic will be posted there. As another note, after some backing and forthing with I think I've found a satisfactory voice change oOo with long line between major scenes. Oh, and if you'd review here, even if you discuss the fic on my LJ with me, it'd be really great. Thanks!


Baby Steps

January 12, 2005

"This must be the place." Creed took a deep breath of chill air and looked around with wide eyes at the chalet nestled against the mountain-side. The cold felt good after a long ride squeezed against the door, Eve practically in his lap owing to Naizer's sour presence in the back seat. "Oh, look at the toboggan ride!" He pointed up the mountainside, where a smaller building was nestled beside two snow covered ramps. Further up the mountain was the hunting lodge where their target was supposed to be hiding out.

"We're not here so you can toboggan," Naizer growled as he climbed out of the car and glared over the car at Creed. "Keep your mind on..."

Sven coughed. "Naizer," he said mildly, "It's my job to scold Creed. If he's out of line." He turned his eye on Creed. "If you could hold off on sightseeing until we're checked in, it'd be appreciated. You and Train get the luggage. Eve, could you check us in while I help them?" He tossed the girl his wallet, "The reservation should be for a suite. Two bedrooms and a sitting room."

As the girl hurried up the steps, walking with a business-like air, Creed went to the back and waited for Sven to unlock the hatch. "Train's asleep. I'll take his stuff."

"Train is faking it to get out of work," Sven answered sourly. He leaned in through the hatch and yelled, "Up and at 'em sunshine. I'll drag you out and dump you in a snow bank if you don't help with the luggage!"

Before Creed could object to Sven's treatment of his beloved, Train had rolled out of his seat and leaped over Naizer to join them. While the Chronos Number sputtered angrily, Train grabbed a bag and slung it over his shoulder. He was halfway up the steps before Creed and Sven could get their bags and Eve's. "C'mon you slowpokes...yahhhh" As often appeared the case, Train's good luck glitched most when there was no real danger around. He slipped on a patch of ice, did a roll fall that brought him up against the rail and turned to give them a peace sign.

Sven nudged Creed, "Nearly ended up in the snow bank after all," he muttered. "C'mon. Let's get inside." Creed nodded, still watching his love with the amazement that always overcame him when Train's physical prowess was displayed. He did that on purpose to distract Naizer, didn't he? Creed actually wasn't certain of that. Even now he was never sure how much of Train's luck was self-created and how much just luck. Shrugging, he followed Sven up the steps, sliding happily on the ice at the edges of each landing and ignoring Naizer's muttered grumblings.

.oOoOoOo.

"Let's talk." Sven took Naizer aside as his housemates began settling in. Naizer frowned, puzzled by the blonde man's tone. It wasn't he who was goofing around, after all, yet Sven seemed to be annoyed at something he'd done. "Look, Naizer, I know how aggravating they can be, but..." He paused, glared at Train who'd flung a pillow at Eve as they argued over who was going to get which bedroom.

"I have no idea how you put up with it." Naizer really couldn't understand it. Sven obviously found the horseplay going on behind them to be nearly as irritating as he did.

Sven sighed, pushing his hat back as he scratched at his head. "I really couldn't say. Never mind that, though. The point is, we're here to do a job and you're just here as grumpy observer. We made a deal with Sephiria and you're part of it. That deal does not include you taking over our job and it doesn't include you bullying Creed."

"You expect him to work." Naizer shook his head pityingly. "God help you, do you really think he's going to be useful like that?" He pointed at Creed, who'd gone out on the balcony to stare at the scenery, leaning over so far that the foolish little maniac was surely going to fall off. Train wasn't helping matters; he was standing on the balcony rail, pointing at something for Creed to look at.

Sven winced as he looked at the two lunatics proving Naizer's point. And Train isn't any better than Creed when it comes to safety. That luck of his is going to run out one day. Naizer was a firm proponent of careful planning and proper preparation and he counted himself deeply lucky that he'd never had to work with the Black Cat. Having Creed as one of his men for a while had been quite bad enough.

"None the less," Sven said, sighing, "Creed is our responsibility. He's not even going to work right now. So just... leave him alone."

Naizer sighed, a long suffering sigh. "Very well, Volfeed." If nothing else, not having to worry about Creed's behavior - unless, of course, he slipped up - was a relief. "He's all yours. And may God have mercy on your souls."

"Gee. Thanks."

.oOoOoOo.

Leaning over the couch where Creed was sitting with his Playstation, Sven frowned a bit. "I'm still not sure we should have let Janos give that to you." He watched as Dante from Devil May Cry sliced several puppet-like demons into pieces that then transformed into a scattering of crystals. Creed's giggles didn't really make him feel better about it. From the look on Naizer's face, he rather suspected the Chronos Number shared his opinion.

"T'is no flesh & blood I face, but merely pixels on a screen," Creed pointed out. "Damn. Dead again. Time for Jaws." He started rooting through his bag for his GameShark.

Eve glanced over from the book she was reading. "That's cheating, isn't it?"

"Damn right it is. I'm getting too old for this." Creed sighed as he reset the system, then looked up at Sven, blinking innocently at him. "You raanng?"

Sven nodded, "Something like that, Lurch. Tomorrow's routine?" This wasn't the best time to ask Creed a question - late evening was almost never a good moment to get coherent answers - but if Creed could remember it now, he'd certainly remember in the morning.

Dark eyes went thoughtful. "Dress in the bathroom. Go downstairs and have breakfast. Wait in the dining room for the rest of you." Creed looked smugly pleased with himself at Sven's nod. "Do I get a Scooby Snack?"

Sven chuckled. "Virtual one," he agreed, pretending to flip something at his housemate. "I am not carrying biscuits around in my pocket just to keep you happy."

Creed made a moue of disappointment. "Can I go kill stuff now?"

"As long as all you're killing are those demons in the game, be my guest." Sven winced as Creed started humming a song from "Beauty & the Beast". Someday I'll learn not to set him off. Course, day to day living sets him off. None the less, from Naizer's expression it might be a good idea to stop Creed before he got too irritating and Sven shook his head, putting a finger over the younger man's lips. Rather to his surprise, Creed shut up, shooting a guilty look Naizer's way and flinching a little.

And that's something else I may have to talk to Naizer about. It wasn't really either man's fault, but their personalities created a vicious cycle that neither seemed able to control. If only Sephiria would trust Ten. Xiao Li gets along well with Creed. Naizer just makes him nervy and more likely to tangle himself up. Of course, it wasn't just Sephiria that didn't want Ten along. Train hadn't said anything but there'd been a faint undertone of distrust from him as well - as if he expected Xiao Li to take advantage of Creed somehow.

Shrugging off the thoughts, Sven decided that there was something more important he had to be doing. "Don't stay up too late, kids," he told Creed and Eve. "We have to get moving tomorrow."

"Yes, daddy," Creed mumbled. "Aww, c'mon, Dante... Move! Just 'cuz you can't die doesn't mean I want to sit here and get bitten like a doofus."

With a sigh, Sven went to bed, glancing at the couch where his snoring partner lay. Hope Naizer brought his ear plugs. It gets noisy around here at night. Eve's lucky, she's got a room to herself.

To Be Continued...