A Different Fate

by Musal

What if Train didn't know Creed killed Saya? What if he believed it was Chronos? What if Train helped Creed create the Apostles to get revenge on Chronos? What happens when Train learns the truth? CxT

52. One Step Forward

Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat or its characters

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"Are you ready?" Eve asked as she hovered her hair about Train's body.

Train frowned at her, then looked down at his body and grimaced. He was laying on his bed, lean frame void of a blanket with his legs and arms outstretched slightly. The reason for his awkward position was due to Eve's affirmation that it was the best way for her to use her Nanomachines to explore the cat's body for the bots.

The gunman shivered at the idea of what was about to happen, then responded to the girl. "I mean… Do I have a choice?"

It had been four days since his homecoming, and he knew the Chronos' physician was going to be there soon. Which meant they needed to get the bio-girl's inspection over with. Eve offered to examine his Nanomachines the previous day and the day before that, but Train wasn't ready. He was still getting used to the bots living in his body, so the idea of having a new and unknown set merge with his made his skin crawl.

The bio-girl then sighed. "Not if you want to get this over with before the physician gets here."

Train noted the girl's choice name for the doctor, understanding instantly why she chose to use a different term for the man, but still not really feeling any better about what she said.

She's trying to be sensitive to my feelings and not set me off. I guess considering I'm able to stay in control of my emotions and retain my true self right now means she did the right thing.

The fact that his thoughts had almost returned to normal was a positive sign, but it was still hard to hold onto his thoughts for an extended amount of time. Still, it was nice having his own, organic ideas that didn't have anything to do with being given orders. However, those submissive, panicked thoughts continued to pop up every so often, and he found himself searching for Creed to either give him a command, or bring him back to reality every day.

He's always able to bring me back, but he still kind of talks to me like a child. I guess I understand why, though.

Even though the Chronos' drug had time to leave his system and the antidote was working wonders to counteract it, Train's brain was still muddled and fragile enough to interpret many things said to him as an order. Sometimes it was difficult for him to fight against the transformed Chronos' drug because his mind seemed to crave orders, which was a hard thing for someone as free-willed and independent as Train to accept.

As much as I hate Creed talking to me like a child, I hate myself more for feeling like I need to be ordered around. Or that I need Creed or someone else to keep me from flipping out.

Despite his random outbursts, his friends reassured him that he didn't kill or seriously hurt anyone. He didn't remember much of his imprisonment, but the number one thing he wanted to know was if he hurt or killed anyone. Although he wasn't told much yet, it sounded like for the most part he was locked away and tortured by Kanzaki.

Not that that's better, but it does help to know I didn't hurt anyone.

It was one of the first things Creed told him when Train's mind began to clear a bit and his memories slowly began to resurface. As soon as the cat questioned his lover about that murky memory at the docks, the silver swordsman was quick to let him know no one had been hurt. Creed didn't get into the details of the event and Train knew that was because he wasn't sure how the gunman's weakened mind would take it.

Creed's been even more protective than usual. Not that I blame him. And it's not like I want him to leave my side. As much as I hate being dependent on someone, I can't ignore that existing gets so much harder when he's not around.

Train glanced over at Creed, who smiled sweetly at him. The silver man took his hand, squeezing it as he gently caressed Train's cheek with his other hand. "Don't worry, I'm here/"

Train gave his partner a small smile, then frowned again as he looked back at Eve. "Is it… going to hurt…?"

Eve held back a sad look at his words. As much as Train had recovered, there were moments that reminded her Train Heartnet wasn't completely himself yet and that moment was one of them. It wasn't like him to show fear or vocalize his anxiety about being hurt. The Black Cat had always been a reckless, impulsive man who only made it out of the stickiest of situations by the skin of his teeth and the fortune of his uncanny luck.

Which I guess is the reason we have him back right now…

The girl shook her head. "No. It won't hurt. But, I'll be blunt with you and tell you removing them will hurt. However, you've already stated you're not ready for that yet, correct?"

Train shuddered, causing his lover to pull his hand to his lips and kiss it tenderly. "Correct. I'm not ready for that yet."

Eve nodded her head. "Understood…"

Her voice faded off a bit because she knew the consequences of putting off expelling the bots.

The longer he waits for me to withdraw them, the more time they have to bond to his body, and the harder it will be to remove them… And the more painful.

As of now, it still looked like only Train's arms and hands were capable of transformation, but if he waited much longer to remove them, his body might change. When Creed told her about the elasticity of the cat's limbs, Eve started to make a point to pinch the cat elsewhere on his body to see if anything else had changed. Luckily, Train had positive reactions to her prodding, since the nature of their relationship made the annoying gestures natural. Eve loved pushing Train's buttons, so her bothersome motions ironically helped his mental state, since it gave him more normalcy. The same went for every time Creed touched him, Sven scolded him, or Kyoko tackled him.

Doctor's too inhuman to ever understand how much we all love Train. That's why his plan didn't work. He doesn't understand our relationships with each other, so there was no way to remove those small mannerisms from his memories. He may have been able to alter Train's heart, but no one will ever be able to remove the Black Cat's heart.

Eve sighed despondently when she saw Creed squeeze Train's hand again, the flexibility of his skin bringing her back to her earlier thoughts about the cat's condition. Physically, he was in great shape. Probably the best of his life due to the Nanomachines, but she wasn't sure how much longer that would last if they left them in there.

I know he's not ready, but we need to at least discuss that soon.

Eve hadn't brought up her concerns with anyone yet, not even Creed. Even though Train was getting better each day, everyone was still an emotional mess, and none of them were ready for that bombshell yet.

I know not telling them isn't really the best solution, but… I can't bring myself do it yet.

Train often woke up with terrible nightmares, which continued to pose a problem for their sleep schedule and their life had not returned to normal yet. Sweeps were at a standstill not only so they could continue to recover, but also because they knew Train wasn't ready to use his Tao yet. Train kept demanding he was ready, but Creed insisted he wasn't. He was concerned Train might lose control and hurt himself.

Creed said he's going to let Train test out his Tao after the doctor looks at him again, but I don't know what that means. Is Creed planning on training with him?

Despite her confusion, Eve took Creed's side on the matter. Mostly because he had ironically proven to be the most reasonable of the group.

It's still so surreal to think the man I was told ghost stories about is as kind, gentle, and rational as the man playfully teasing Train right now. Although, I guess it's also strange to think the Black Cat is as immature and happy-go-lucky at Train is.

Her warm smile widened as she watched Train jump forward and pinch both of Creed's cheek, clearly trying to get revenge for something he said. Creed smirked at his partner, grabbed the cat's wrists and pinned them to the pillow to keep the gunman on the bed. Train glared jokingly at his lover, which caused the swordsman to giggle mirthfully.

I'll bring it up with Creed soon, just… not right now. Not at least until we've gotten a bit more of our normal life back. Besides, why would I want to do it now while they're clearly happy?

Remembering her earlier thoughts about teasing the cat and knowing it helped tie him to reality, Eve took out her phone and pulled up a picture, then leaned forward to shove it in Train's face.

The Black Cat blinked and squinted at the closeness of the device. "What's this?"

Eve took on her trademark monotone voice as she spoke. "It's you in a spoon train with your current lover and your ex-lover."

Train felt his face turn a bright shade of red as he stared at the picture. It wasn't the image that embarrassed him, it was Eve's words. "Lil' Princess! Why are you using words like… that?!"

Eve blinked at him. "Like what?"

Creed smirked at the look on his beloved's face, knowing exactly what word Train was talking about. "He's talking about the word 'lover', Eve. He doesn't like the idea that you understand what happens between us. Or what used to happen between him and Lin."

Train blushed even harder and glared at his partner. "Shut up..."

Eve frowned when she noticed Train wasn't paying attention to her annoying little sister routine. "Why does it bother you so much to hear me use the term 'lover'? Isn't that what you and Creed are? And what you and Lin were?"

Train winced when he heard the girl use the word again, then sunk into the bed, unable to escape the uncomfortable situation. "I-I just… Why can't you just find a different word to use?"

Eve tilted her head in mock confusion. "Like that?"

Train sighed, his wrists still pinned to the pillow and his embarrassment making him forget he could easily slip out of Creed's grasp. "I don't know… 'partner'? Hell, I'd accept boyfriend even though I don't like that term."

Creed whimpered at his love. "Oh, Train! Why does it hurt so much to call me your boyfriend?"

Train rolled his eyes. They had discussed why he preferred the label 'lover' or 'partner' as opposed to 'boyfriend' many times before. There was something about calling the men he had been with his boyfriends that felt strange. Even though he knew it was true, the term made him feel too much like a high schooler with their sweetheart than an adult man in love.

I referred to Lin as my boyfriend a bit more, but that changed over time. Creed doesn't actually care. He just likes to annoy me.

"Don't start this conversation again. You know why I don't like calling you that." Train glared at his partner, able to see the playfulness his pale lips held behind the teasing smirk.

Eve pulled away from Train and stood next to the bed as she spoke. "Then what's wrong with me calling Creed your lover or Lin your ex-lover?"

Train winced again. "Because I don't like hearing you say anything that's remotely intimate!"

Creed giggled and turned Train's face so he was looking at the growing woman. "Aww, but Train, look at how much our Princess has grown! We can't even call her little anymore."

Train eyed the girl a bit sadly. It was true, she had grown even more in the days he had been a prisoner of the Apostles. She was now only a few inches shorter than Kyoko, something both he and Sven agreed was not acceptable, and as much as he hated to admit it, her figure had become more womanly. Train even overheard Kyoko and Eve talking about bra sizes the other day, which made both Train and Sven quite uncomfortable. What made the situation more awkward was when Creed offered to help the growing girl's properly measure themselves.

"Because it's inappropriate, Creed!"

Creed frowned at the older sweeper, then glanced down the hall at his beloved who was leaning against the wall and covering his face in embarrassment. "Train, you should be resting. I'll be back in a few minutes. I just need to-"

"YOU DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING! Put that tape measurer away!" Sven yelled again, pointing a shaky finger at the silver haired man.

Creed pouted at Sven, then gestured to the girls. "They asked me to help. Who else is going to do it?"

Sven growled and balled his hands into fists, his face draining more and more of its color. He was not happy with the way the conversation was going. "If it's really important for them to-"

The sweeper shook his head and rephrased his sentence. "-For them to get... that sort of help, then we should have a professional do it."

Creed rolled his eyes. "Are you seriously suggesting we pay someone to measure our girls even though I'm fully capable of doing it? And I've done it before? You won't even splurge for toppings when we order pizza!"

Sven hardened his glare on Creed, his face the same sickly shade of white as he spoke. "Yes, I'm suggesting we pay a professional to do it."

Creed sighed, stepped away from the girls' room and towards Sven, who was sitting on the couch in the common room. "Are you assuming that the professional will be a woman?"

Sven stiffened at his comment, then nodded his head hesitantly. "Yes…?"

Creed rolled his eyes. "Just because the profession involves touching women in a delicate way, does not mean it is done by a woman. You are aware there are male gynecologists, right?"

"Kyoko's first gyno was a man!" The teen interjected, sticking her upper body out of her room, waving excitedly at the sweeper. "And he was really nice, too!"

Eve glanced curiously at the teen. "Am I supposed to be seeing one as well?"

Creed smiled at the girl. "Your situation is slightly different due to your Nanomachines. You might need a doctor that understands that important detail. Have you started bleeding?"

"CREED!" Sven yelled, sitting up straight, nearly crawling off the couch towards the silver man. "WHY ARE YOU ASKING SUCH-"

"Yes, I have."

Sven blinked at the girl, and his face somehow drained of more color. "Wh-what…?"

Eve blinked at him. "Why is that surprising? I may be made of Nanomachines, but I still have the parts of a woman. That's why I also need to know my correct size. Wearing the wrong bra size hurts my back and shoulders, and it's also been causing me posture problems."

Sven glared at the girl, ignoring that part of her statement about being uncomfortable in favor of the latter part of her sentence. "And who told you that last part?"

Eve pointed at the swordsman. "Creed did."

Sven rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that's a reliable source…"

Eve rolled her eyes as well. "Of course he is. In fact, he's probably the most reliable source in this house! Not only is he smart, but he has no ulterior motive for offering to measure us."

Sven glared at Creed again, ready to open his mouth, but was interrupted by Eve. "Don't say it, Sven. You know I'm right. Creed is obsessively in love with Train. He could never think about anyone else in a romantic or sexual way. Especially two underage girls."

Kyoko pouted. "Kyoko won't be underage for much longer…"

Eve smacked the back of the teen's head. "That's not the point. The point is, Sven and Train didn't even know this was an issue because they're men, and even if they did, they've both shown they are clearly too immature to handle it properly-"

"HEY!" Sven shouted as he glanced at Train.

The cat was still trying his best to cover his face, smacking Creed's hand away as the swordsman tried to make sure he was okay. Apparently, during the discussion the bio-girl was having with Sven, Creed decided to get his lover back to bed.

Eve narrowed her eyes at Sven. "You're only proving my point. And the fact that Train is contributing nothing but uncomfortable silence to the conversation proves my point as well."

Sven gripped the back of the couch. "...Why can't we get Rins to do it?"

Creed looked down the hall at Sven, one of his hands on Train's forehead to check for a fever while the other gently cupped his cheek. "Because Rinslet has been wearing the wrong size for years and she refuses to let me measure her for the proper size."

Rinslet, who was still resting in one of their rooms, heard what Creed said and shouted in response. "THAT'S A LIE! I KNOW MY SIZE! NORMAL STORES JUST DON'T SELL IT!"

Kyoko was intrigued by the woman's statement, so she stepped out of her room and across the hall towards the thief. "Really?! What size is Rins-chan?!"

Rinslet glared at the teen, covering her breasts with her arms as Kyoko approached with a perverted gleam in her eyes. "None of your business! All you need to know is my size needs to be bought special and it's far too expensive to buy new ones all the time!"

Eve was confused and decided to walk towards the woman as well, leaning against the door frame as she watched Kyoko try to get a look at her breasts. "Then what do you do?"

Rinslet smacked the teen's keen hands away, then answered the Nano-girl's question. "I buy the biggest size I can find and deal with it!"

Creed frowned down at the hall where the woman's voice was coming from, his hands still on his blushing love's face as he spoke. "And that's why you have such a difficult time running on sweeps! You need better support. And I can tell by the way you stand you're uncomfortable."

Rinslet growled, her face a bright shade of red as she pushed Kyoko aside and shoved her head out to see the man. "THAT'S WHY I OFTEN GO WITHOUT ONE!"

Sven's face matched the extreme blush the thief had as he gawked at the woman. "Is… is that true Rinslet…?"

Train decided he had enough of the conversation and smacked his partner's hands away. "All right, that's far too much information for me about my female friends! I'm going back to sleep."

Creed grabbed Train's wrist before he could walk away, making the cat sigh in frustration. "Weren't you just begging me to go back to sleep?"

Creed pouted at his beloved. "Yes… But now I want to make sure you don't have a fever."

Train rolled his eyes at the overprotective man. "That's an absurd concern to have. If it hasn't happened yet, it's not going to happen at all."

Creed ignored him and continued pressing the back of his hands to his Kitten's face. "I just want to be sure you're turning red from childish embarrassment and not from a side effect of the antidote. You know Lee said a fever is one of them."

Train sighed again and allowed Creed to inspect his face, grateful he used the doctor's name instead of any other term. "Yeah, but-hey, wait a minute! I am not being childish!"

Creed giggled at his love. "Yes you are. You've lived with women for this long and didn't think of the requirements their bodies have that ours don't?"

Train gave his Stallion an awkward look. "It's not that I didn't… I just-"

"-Don't have to deal with it and therefore never thought of it as a problem. That's childish logic, Train." Creed said as he pinched his beloved's cheek.

Train frowned. "It's not childish, it's uninformed…"

Creed squeezed both of Train's cheeks and shook his beloved's head slightly. "Then view this as me informing you." He let go and pushed his cat into their room. "Alright, no fever. Off to bed with you! Your precious Creedy-kins will be in shortly to keep you warm."

Train smirked and walked towards his bed. "Don't tell me what to do. And don't call yourself that ridiculous pet name! That's my pet name, and I only use it to annoy you."

Creed smiled warmly as he watched his love crawl back into bed, thrilled to see Train was ignoring what were obviously orders and instead giving those of his own. "I know, but if I use it, it'll lose its magic and you might stop using it."

Train sighed as he pulled the blankets over his head. "Whatever. Just don't traumatize the girls."

Creed blinked in surprise at his love. "You trust me to measure them?"

Train looked over his shoulder to give Creed a confused look. "Why wouldn't I? Like Eve said, you are far too obsessed with me to look at anyone, man or woman, in that way. Especially those two."

Creed smiled warmly and stepped into the room, tucking his beloved in and kissing his forehead lightly. "You're right, Train. No one could ever hold a candle to you. No matter how busty or well built they are."

Train rolled his eyes. "Shut up and check on our friends. It's beginning to sound like a brawl out there."

Creed's ears perked at Train's words. He was too preoccupied with the beauty of his beloved to hear the commotion in the other room. It sounded like Kyoko had managed to get a grip on Rinslet's breasts, which caused the thief to lose her mind and start throwing things at the teen. Sven was screaming obscenities at the two of them for destroying the house, and Eve was eerily quiet. Even though she was the most mellow and level headed person out there, Creed knew she had a mischievous side to her, and had a feeling she was scheming something.

He sighed, then gave his love a longing glance. "It's good to hear you ordering me around again, Train…"

Train sighed blissfully as Creed kissed him on the cheek, his back towards the door as he heard his Stallion walk away and close it quietly. However, even with the door shut, he was able to hear the ongoing ruckus coming from the other end. Creed stepped in to deescalate the situation, which lasted only for a second until he said something that set Sven off again.

"Sven, if it makes you feel better, they can leave their tops on and you can watch me do it. I only take a couple of seconds and then we don't have to worry about them being uncomfortable slowed down on sweeps."

"THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY OF THIS LESS WEIRD, CREED!" Sven shouted as he clearly fell off the couch.

"Kyoko doesn't understand why it's weird. Isn't it better to have Creed-sama do it than some stranger who might try to cop a feel?" Kyoko's voice was distant, telling Train she must have run away when Rinslet started attacking her.

Eve's deadpan voice came in next. "I agree, Sven. Even if it were a woman, she'd still be a stranger and that doesn't mean she wouldn't try to do something inappropriate. I know Creed won't do anything out of line and he's been very professional."

Sven sighed. "Eve… That's not the point…"

"The point is, Creed is doing this out of concern for us, our comfortableness, and our future sweeps. Besides that, we trust him." Eve's voice was beginning to take on a bit of annoyance.

Sven mumbled under his breath, but Train could still hear him. "I still don't understand why Rinslet can't do it…"

"U-um… I-I actually… don't know how…" The thief's voice was accompanied by her footsteps walking past the cat's door.

"WHY THE HELL NOT?!" Sven yelled, as if everything was suddenly the woman's fault.

Train heard Creed sigh. "That's not uncommon, Sven. It's also really hard for a woman to measure herself. You'll understand if you watch me do it."

Sven made a strangled sound. "I said, no Creed! Stop being so weird!"

Eve sighed. "You're the one making it weird. And you're being sexist."

Train couldn't see it, but he could tell the green haired man was giving the girl an offended look. "Eve… How could you…?"

Again, Creed sighed. "This is all taking far longer than it should have and I want to get back to Train. So, everyone shut up and let me get this over with. The offer still stands for you as well, Rins. I bet you'd be surprised to learn you're probably wrong about your size."

The thief sighed, then accepted his offer. "Fine. Maybe if I'm wrong I'll be able to find a store that carries my size."

"YOU TOO, RINSLET!?" Sven shouted as Kyoko ran down the hall towards the trio.

Rinslet addressed the older man. "The girls are right. I'd rather be measured by Creed, who's far too in love with a man than someone like Jenos who'd make the entire ordeal unbearable."

Creed chuckled, his voice becoming distant as he spoke. "If you're going to be raising a girl, Sven, you need to be comfortable with these things. I really do suggest you watch. As I stated earlier, I've done this before, so I know what I'm doing."

Sven's loud voice bounced across the walls of their small house. "WHO THE HELL LET YOU DO THIS BEFORE?!"

Train could tell his lover was smirking. "I'm beginning to think you're just jealous that women trust me enough to help them with such an intimate, but important part of their lives."

Sven sputtered, and Train could tell he was blushing again. "STOP USING WORDS LIKE INTIMATE WHEN TALKING ABOUT EVE!"

"STOP BEING A SEXIST PERVERT, SVEN-SAMA!" Kyoko shouted back.

"STOP CALLING ME SEXIST! AND I AM NOT PERVERTED!"

"If you weren't being at least a little bit sexist and perverted, Sven, then this wouldn't be a problem for you at all." Eve said with her characteristic nonchalant voice.

Sven growled. "I-YOU-HE, CREED-"

"Shut up, Sven. Creed is not being perverted at all. Just be quiet so we can get this over with and go back to sleep." Train could tell Rinslet threw something at the sweeper as she spoke.

"I AM NOT SEXIST!"

"EVERYONE SHUT UP SO I CAN GET THIS OVER WITH AND GET BACK TO TRAIN!"

Train smiled fondly at the memory. As awkward as he may have felt at the time, replaying it in his head made him feel more at home. Seeing his friends acting so much like a loving, yet dysfunctional family was exactly what he needed to keep his mind at peace and his heart adhered to reality.

I'm safe now… I'm home.

Train felt his face pale a little when he realized Creed and Eve were staring at him. He frowned and scratched his cheek in embarrassment. "Sorry… I must have gotten lost in my thoughts…"

Creed let loose a heartily, heavenly sigh, and cupped his Kitten's cheek. "We will never fault you for that, Train. It means you're finding yourself again."

Train smiled at Creed and leaned into the hand that was caressing his face, keeping his eyes on his lover as he spoke to Eve. "Can you send me that picture? I'd like to keep it in my phone."

Eve frowned as she pocketed her phone. "Now I kind of want to delete it out of spite…"

Train pouted at the girl. "How cruel, Lil' Princess!"

Eve narrowed her eyes at the cat. "What did Creed just say about calling me 'little'?"

Train gave her a cheeky smile. "Hey, I say 'lil', not 'little'!"

Eve rolled her eyes. "Don't bog down my time with semantics. And where exactly would I send it? Your phone is long gone."

Train sighed sadly and lowered his head. "That's right… I forgot…"

Creed frowned at his love, then pinched Train's cheek, a bit gentler that time as he spoke in a soothing, but teasing tone. "We'll add that to the list of things to do after Lee checks you out."

Train pouted at his partner, then smiled and nodded. "Okay, Creed."

Creed sighed quietly in relief. He was glad to hear his beloved refer to him by his name instead of master, especially since Train could have taken that statement as a command.

Eve eyed Creed curiously. "Did you give him his shot today?"

Creed nodded. "Yes. Just before you came in. You can tell by the bandaid on his arm."

Train glanced at the band aid, then rolled his eyes at what he saw. "You're worse than Kyoko sometimes, Creed."

Creed looked away from Eve and frowned at his cat. "How so?"

Train pointed at the bandaid. "You've literally been covering me with roses and hearts the last three days with these band aids. How is that not Kyoko behavior?"

Creed sulked in his chair, trying to get his love to feel bad for him. "I was showering you with roses and love long before that girl stepped into our lives…"

Train threw one of the pillows at his partner. "Doesn't make you look anything less than a school girl with a crush!"

Creed grabbed the pillow and clutched it to his heart, acting as if he was truly heartbroken by Train's statement. "Oh, my Dear Train! How could such gorgeous lips speak such grisly words and wound my aching heart? You know my love for you knows no bounds!"

Train jumped forward, grabbed the pillow out of his partner's hands and began smacking him with it. "Stop with the melodramatics! I didn't ask to see Drama Creed today!"

Creed laughed and blocked his beloved's blows, then snatched the pillow from Train's hand and pushed him back onto the bed. "And I didn't ask for a sassy cat in response to giving my partner his medicine! Honestly, Train, can't you be a bit more grateful?"

Train yelped as Creed pushed him back onto the bed, the swordsman straddling his waist as he smacked him in the face with the pillow. The Black Cat used his arms to shield himself, then grabbed the other one on the bed. With one powerful, quick swipe, he hit the side of the silver man's head, knocking Creed off his chest and onto the floor.

Creed yipped as he fell to the ground, reaching out and grabbing Train by the collar of his shirt and pulling the golden man along with him. The gunman screeched as he fell to the ground as well, attempting to keep himself on the bed by turning around and grabbing the blankets. His efforts were futile since instead of staying on the bed, he pulled the blankets off instead, encircling the couple in their tepid embrace.

Eve watched the scene with hidden delight, elated to see more and more of Train's true personality coming out with each passing day, but also losing her patients.

I feel like I've been standing here for hours trying to get him to let me look at his Nanomachines. I don't know if he's putting it off on purpose, or if Creed is just that much of a distraction.

Just as Eve was about to open her mouth to remind the men that she was still in the room, another voice came from behind her.

"Ugh, we get it! You're a sickeningly happy couple! Would you two knock it off so the girl can look at you and I can get my examination over with?"

Eve looked over her shoulder to see the Chronos doctor standing behind her, holding tightly to his bag as he watched the nauseating scene between Creed and Train. His other hand held an umbrella that had water dripping from it, signaling that it was raining outside.

Train peaked his head over the bed, smirking as he saluted the man at the door. "Sup, Doc?"

Eve blinked at Train.

Did Train just call him 'Doc'? I think that's the first time I heard him use any words or terms that were close to 'doctor'.

Creed sat up as well, giving his beloved a relieved look. He then turned to Eve who nodded in approval. Train was having a good day, and they didn't want to ruin it. However, they knew it could have been wrecked after the Nano-girl and doctor were finished with him.

But, his good mood makes this the best time for me and Dr. Lee to look at Train.

Train took no notice of the diagnostic, yet alleviated looks he was getting in favor of the physician's umbrella. "Is it raining?"

The doctor rolled his eyes. "No. I just decided to dunk my umbrella in a bucket of water before I got here just to confuse you."

Train pouted, sitting up slightly, but not leaving the floor. He was currently sitting in Creed's lap, resting his chin on the mattress as he frowned at the man. "Very funny…"

Creed could sense the sadness in his love's voice so he leaned forward, wrapped his arms around his love's lean frame, and rested his head on Train's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Train leaned back into his lover, his demeanor beginning to very much look like a moping child as he spoke. "I wanted to go on the roof today… It's been too long since I talked to Saya…"

Creed frowned, then kissed his beloved's cheek and squeezed him closer. "I'm sorry, Train… We'll find time for that, don't worry."

Train sighed and curled into the other man, needing Creed's comfort so he wouldn't show how upset he actually was at learning about the state of the outdoors.

I had a dream about her last night and it wasn't a bad one. I really want to reach out to her…

Eve heard the front door open and close again, so she leaned out of the room to see who was entering. Upon seeing who it was, she looked back at the couple that was still cuddling on the floor. "Lin's coming."

Creed sighed as Train nodded and crawled out of his partner's lap and onto the bed. The cat got back into bed at the perfect time, since Lin walked into that room at that exact moment. He beamed with glee the moment he locked eyes with Train, and he even jumped a little with joy when the cat smiled at time. Number X walked into the room, pulling the armchair next to his Sweetness's bed before sitting in it.

Lin leaned on the arm of the chair, fighting the urge to crawl on the bed with Train as he continued smiling at the man he loved. "How have you been, Train?"

Train smiled and flexed his arms, noticing the Nanomachines circulating through him and feeling a bit more at peace with it. "Better. I haven't even followed any orders today." He turned to Creed with his next question. "Right?"

Creed nodded. "That's right, Train. You've been doing a really good job today."

Train pouted at his lover. "I told you to stop speaking to me like I'm a child..."

Creed giggled and poked his beloved's nose. "And I told you when you grow up, I'll stop speaking to you like a child."

Train sighed and rolled his eyes, allowing his partner to take his hand and kiss it. "Whatever…"

Lin frowned when he realized Train and Creed were holding hands, then shook his head to rid himself of his jealous thoughts. His reasonable, calm side had come back since he had time to sleep, so he was more able to be incontrol of his possessive emotions over Train.

I still want nothing more than to shove Creed off him and wrap my arms around Train, but at least now I don't feel like I'm going to explode if I don't.

"How about you? How have you been Lin?"

Lin jumped at Train's kind words, then smiled warmly. "Much better as well, thank you, Train."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to let the girl get started so I can get started." The doctor set his bag on the dresser across from the bed and began taking out his equipment.

Train rolled his eyes. "Geeze, sorry to be such a burden to you, Doc…"

Lin blinked at Train, then at Creed who smiled merrily, letting the number know Train was doing well enough to call the physician by that pet name. They shared a delighted smile, then looked back at the Black Cat.

"Doctor, I've been trying to examine Train for what's felt like hours, but it seems like too much of his old self has returned. His ADHD keeps kicking in which makes it impossible to stay on task."

Train frowned at the bio-girl. "Such a mean doctor you are, Lil Princess…"

Doctor Lee rolled his eyes. "With a patient as obstinate as you, she doesn't have a choice but to be mean."

Train gave the man a pained look. "Why must you gang up on me?!"

"We're not ganging up on you, we're just stating facts. It just so happens that you dislike what those facts are." Eve said as she subtlety activated her Nano-machines. "Are you ready?"

Train wanted to make another smartass comment, but decided against it. He felt a bit of his anxiety returning when he saw the girl's hair glow, and swallowed thickly. He clung tighter to Creed's hand, then reached out and grabbed Lin's as well. Number X responded immediately and warped his fingers around Train's, leaning forward so his elbows were on the bed as he spoke to the Black Cat.

"It's okay, Train. We're here." Lin said as he caressed his sweet love's fingers with his thumb. "We won't leave you alone."

Train glanced at Lin, then at Creed who smiled and took a deep breath. "Okay, Eve. I'm ready."

Eve gave Train a minute to settle, then extended her hair and started searching the cat's body. Train winced when he felt the girl's locks coursing through his system, trying to get himself used to the feeling since he knew it might take a while. Both Creed and Lin gripped Train's hand tighter when they felt the cat clench up, which helped him relax.

After a few minutes of her searching, Creed spoke. "What are you finding, Eve?"

Eve had her eyes shut as she spoke. "They're all over his body, but…" She paused as she scrunched her face slightly. "...I can feel both healing and transformation ones inside him."

Lin whimpered. "That's… not good, right?"

Eve shook her head. "It doesn't mean anything. We had a feeling this was the case, since we've seen him heal and Creed mentioned how flexible his arms are."

The doctor was growing more interested and asked his own question. "Can you check his arms specifically?"

Eve nodded again. "Already on it."

Train shuddered as he felt the girl's hair move to his arms, doing his best to keep his body still at Eve's request. It was difficult since it felt like a nest of snakes were slithering ghoulishly through his body. To add to the idiosyncrasy of the situation, some of the girl's locks felt cold, while others felt hot. He believed that must have had something to do with what kind of Nanomachines she was using to search, because whenever the bots healed him, he felt warm, but whenever he bent his fingers, they felt cold.

She must be trying to use the Nanomachines to search for their parallels in my body.

Train didn't particularly care what her method for searching his body was. All he knew was that he didn't like it and he wanted it to end. Still, he gripped Creed and Lin's hands tighter, resting his head on the back of the pillow as he tried to get his body to relax.

Creed frowned and leaned forward, kissing his love's forehead gently. "Does it hurt?"

Train shook his head. "No… It just feels weird… Like I have worms crawling under my skin."

Eve attempted to make a joke to lighten the cat's mood. "Don't call my hair worms."

Train chuckled and opened an eye to look at the girl. "Then stop making them feel so worm like…"

Eve shrugged her shoulders. "You don't have to put up with it for much longer. I'm almost done."

Train nodded and let out a long, haggard breath. "Take your time, Lil' Princess. I've got all day."

"Well, I don't. I've got like ten other patients to look at today, so wrap it up!" The doctor snapped his fingers very sarcastically, letting the gunman know he was also trying to alleviate some of his stress.

Train laughed again. "I miss the mean optimist…"

The doctor smirked. "He's still here. I'm just letting the mean part shine more."

Creed gave his love a frightened look. "Speaking of shining…"

Lin widened his eyes. "Eve... Is Train supposed to be glowing?"

Eve opened one eye to see what they were talking about. Train's arms and hands were glowing a bright yellow mixed with a light blue, and the rest of his body was shining a darker shade of blue that mixed with a bit of purple. She recognized those colors right away, and they confirmed what she was beginning to realize about the cat's body.

"Yes, it's normal. The yellow means transformation Nanomachines, and the blue and purple means healing."

Creed nodded in understanding, then leaned forward to give his Kitten another kiss. "So, that means he has healing Nanos all over his body, but only transformation ones in his arms?"

Eve nodded, then looked at the cat. "I'm done, Train, so I'm going to pull my hair out. It'll probably feel weird."

Train nodded his head frantically. "Great! Get these yellow worms out of me!"

Eve gave the Black Cat an indignant look. "Stop calling my hair worms."

Train felt his body relax as the girl removed her hair, then sighed in relief as his body relaxed in the bed. "Oh my God, that's so much better…"

Eve rolled her eyes. "Grow up, Train."

Train smirked tiredly as Creed crawled onto the bed next to him, wrapping his arms around his beloved's slightly sweaty figure. "Kids shouldn't tell adults what to do."

Eve sighed. "I think you need to look up the definition for the word adult, because I don't think it means what you think it means."

Train was about to make a smartass comment, then realized he was too tired for it and decided to relax into his lover's embrace instead. The silver man was running his fingers through the cat's hair, caressing his cheek with the back of his hand and snuggling his face into Train's dark locks. The gunman released Lin's hand and rolled over so he was nestled more firmly in Creed's arms, feeling more exhausted than he thought he would after Eve's examination.

Creed kissed his love's head, then wrapped his arms around Train's back to hold the man against his chest. "Does this mean Train should be able to transform his arms and hands?"

Eve nodded her head. "At least a little, yes."

Her search also confirmed her earlier thoughts that if she didn't remove the bots soon, they would be harder to dislodge from Train's system. They had melded with his body pretty tightly, but she wasn't prepared to announce that discovery yet. Even though Train seemed to be having a good day, she still didn't think it was the right time. She also wanted to talk to Creed about it first so he could be the one to explain it to the golden man.

Maybe I should just request to remove them again now.

"Train… would you be willing to let me remove them now?" Eve made sure her voice was caring, making sure the cat knew she wasn't trying to push the subject.

Train furrowed his brow, then turned away from Creed's embrace to respond. "I'm… not ready for that. Especially with Lee here."

Eve nodded her head. "Okay. Just let me know when you are."

Train gave her a grateful smile, then resumed his position against his partner's chest. Eve released a quiet sigh, making sure no one heard it. She didn't like the fact that Train referred to the doctor as 'Lee' again, since that meant he was starting to slip back into his dark thoughts.

It's little signs like that we've learned to pick up on to know he's starting to slip. I don't know if Train does it on purpose, but I'm glad we've been able to notice it.

She watched Lin move his armchair closer, but continued to keep a respectful distance from the gunman. His face clearly showed signs of wanting to throw himself at Train and cling to him for dear life, but he seemed to have an easier time refraining from such needy actions. Eve was thankful for that not just because she didn't want Train and Creed to have to go through that again, but because it meant Number X was also regaining more of his true self.

"So, Heartnet should be able to transform his arms."

Eve glanced over her shoulder to see the owner of the new voice, but she could tell by the cool tone it used that it belonged to Number One. "Yes. Maybe not to the extent that I can, but if he concentrates, he should be able to."

Sephiria stepped into the room. "Then maybe we should test that out a little."

Eve glanced out the door again to see Number II was leaning against the wall across the hall from the room. It didn't seem like he intended on entering, just wanted to keep an eye on his superior. Eve noticed a long time ago the man never really said much or did much, but he was always by Sephiria's side. Even when she ordered him not to.

Eve watched as the woman approached Train, glancing around the room, taking note of who was there, and addressed Eve again. "Where's the rest of the sweepers?"

Eve sighed, not liking how the woman still almost never referred to them by their names, but understood that was just part of her personality. "Sven and Rins are resting in their rooms. They still have wounds to heal."

Just like you probably should be…

Even though both she and Belze looked well rested, Eve could tell they were not ready for a fight. The cast on Number II's leg was proof enough of that. Despite the four days of sleep, it took longer than that to heal wounds like broken bones and fractured ribs. Even though they may have all appeared well rested, most of them were normal people who did have the luxury of the Tao or Nanomachines to heal them. While she, Train, Creed, and even Kyoko seemed to physically be back to normal, Rinslet, Sven, and Chronos were still sporting quite a few wounds.

Sephiria nodded. "And what about the fire breathing girl? Has her Tao healed her wounds?"

Eve rolled her eyes and mumbled her next sentence under her breath. "She has a name…"

"What was that?" Sephiria asked, genuinely curious since she didn't believe the bio-girl to be the sarcastic type.

Eve brushed her own words away and responded to the older woman. "Nothing. Yes, her wounds are almost completely healed. As for where she is, if she's not bothering Train, she's probably in her room on her phone."

Belze's voice entered from behind her. "No. She's in the kitchen. Presumably trying to burn the house down with her pathetic attempt at cooking."

"WHAT?!" Train, Creed, and Lin all shouted at the same time. They had spent enough time with the teen to know she was not that one to be cooking anything.

"What the hell is she cooking?!" Creed exclaimed, sitting up in the bed next to his beloved.

Belze frowned and sniffed the air. "Smells like poison." He turned back to ask Train and Creed a question. "You're sure she's on your side, right?"

Before any of the house's occupants could run out and stop the teen from setting their home on fire, Sephirira turned to Belze. "Go check on the girl, Number II. Make sure she doesn't think her breathing ability can be used for cooking."

Belze nodded and bowed slightly to the woman, then walked away.

Creed blinked at the woman. "Is Belze the best choice to check on Kyoko? I know she's grown a lot, but she's still a kid."

Sephiria nodded. "Yes. Not only does Belze know his way around the kitchen, but he's also intimidating enough that even someone as rambunctious as that girl won't think to defy him."

Train gawked at the woman, not willing to let part of her statement slip by. "Wait, wait, wait… Did you just imply Belze in a good cook?"

Sephiria tilted her head slightly in confusion. "Yes, I did. Why?"

Train suddenly had an image of the large man in a frilly pink apron with a hair net covering his head and oven mitts on each of his hands. The cat snorted at the visual, then covered his mouth with his hands to control his laughter since he was sure Sephiria wouldn't appreciate his amusement at Number II's expense. However, as he pictured Belze flipping a pancake, he couldn't hold it back anymore and let out a loud, indecorous laugh, then began rolling on the bed, tears streaming down his face.

Sephiria watched as the cat struggled to breathe, frowning in confusion as she addressed Creed. "Explain your partner's actions."

Creed was using one of his hands to cover his mouth as well, trying to hide how amused he was as well. "N-Nothing… I-It's nothing…"

Sephiria gave him a strange look, then turned to Number X. He wasn't laughing quite as hard as Train, but definitely more than Creed as he stared out the door with a wickedly pleased smirk on his face. The only reason Sephiria couldn't hear his laughter was because Train's was far too loud, but she could still tell questioning Lin wouldn't get her anywhere.

Deciding she had no other choice, she turned to the bio-girl, who also seemed amused by something too, but more in control of her immature and unwarranted laughter than the fully grown men that scattered the room. "Do they often act so childishly for no reason?"

Eve let out a composed giggle, then nodded. "Yes, but I don't think their laughter is for no reason right now…"

Still confused, Sephiria pressed further for answers. "Then what's so funny?"

"Oh, come on, Sephiria!" Train said as he pushed Creed off him, the silver man having lost his balance from laughter and fallen against the cat. "You're not telling me the image of Belze cooking isn't hilarious!"

Sephiria frowned. "It's not. What's wrong with the fact that he knows how to cook?"

Creed wiped the tears from his eyes. "It's just not something you'd expect someone as cold and callous as Number II to be good at. It's often considered a… dainty and soft task."

Sephiria rolled her eyes. "I wholly disagree with that. Belze has a stomahe. He needs to eat like everyone else."

"That's not the point!" Lin said as he held his sides, beginning to laugh more as his mental image of the man slowly began to match Train's. "Of course he needs to eat! But the idea that he's good at it is just so ironically priceless!"

Sephiria looked around the room and noticed everyone was laughing. Even the doctor seemed like he had a hard time holding in it, but he was making sure Number One wasn't able to see his face. She glared at everyone, about to speak again, but was interrupted by Train.

"The little pink apron! I can't handle it!"

"What are you talking about, Train? Belze wouldn't wear something that ridiculous! He'd be meta and wear something that made it obvious he was a high ranking assassin in Chronos cooking a meal!" Lin added, realizing his visual of Belze was slightly different than Train's.

Creed chuckled again as he leaned against his beloved and responded to Number X. "What could be more meta than Chronos' Number II wearing a frilly pink apron while he cooks?!"

"I don't know, like an apron that says something like 'Hot Stuff Coming Through'!" Lin said as he fell off the chair in laughter.

Train threw himself on the bed, thrashing his arms and legs at the image. "OH MY GOD THAT'S EVEN BETTER!"

Even Eve had a hard time keeping herself composed at that image and turned away from Sephiria and the men in the room. Lin was punching the cushion of the chair he was sitting on while Train buried his face in a pillow, drenching it with his tears of laughter. Creed covered his face completely in his hands, turning away from Number One for fear of the woman's wrath.

Sephiria still didn't understand what was so funny and ended up saying something that made everything worse. She wasn't even sure why she said it, since it was none of their business, but a part of her felt like she had to protect her second in command's image.

"Belze's apron is a very reasonable blue. I don't know where you're getting these frilly pink and jocosely worded aprons from."

The room was suddenly quiet as all eyes fell on her, until finally Number X gave his leader a knowing smirk. "Sephiria… Why do you know what color apron he wears?"

Sephiria felt her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, but she was in enough control of her emotions to push it aside as she glared at the man. "Know your place, Number X…"

Lin put his hands up defensively as he rested his elbows on the chair. "Trust me, I know what my place is…" He paused, then gave the woman a cheeky smile, something he hadn't done in almost two weeks. "I guess I'm just curious what Number II's place is…"

Train snorted again, causing the woman's eyes to dart dangerously over to his. She noticed Creed wrapped his hand around his partner's mouth to keep him from laughing, giving the woman an apologetic, sweet smile in hopes it would redirect her rage towards the man that had created it in the first place. Sephiria looked back at Number X, noticing he still had that brash smile on his face, and couldn't but feel a bit relieved at his actions and his words.

It's good to have Lin back to his old, mischievous self.

Still, she needed the man to know his words were inappropriate and gave him a stern look. "Need I remind you of the deep water you're currently treading through?"

Lin sighed and nodded, pulling himself up so he was sitting in the chair again. "Yes, Ma'am. I apologize."

She saw Number X locked eyes with Train, who smirked at the smaller man. Lin smiled and blushed, and Sephiria knew that he didn't regret any of his disrespectful words or actions.

How can Heartnet be such a positive and negative influence at the same time?

She sighed. "This uproarious, childish behavior is completely unacceptable and not what any of us came here for." Number One turned back to Eve. "How do we get Train to activate the Nanomachines in his arms?"

Eve took a breath and wiped the single tear that fell from her eye as she addressed the woman. "That's up to Train, not me. He just needs to activate them."

Sephiria turned back to Train. "Is that something you're capable of, Heartnet?"

Hearing the seriousness in her tone and understanding Lin could get in more trouble if the Black Cat didn't stop encouraging him, Train was able to compose himself rather easily.

I don't know what he did to get him in so much trouble, but I'll find out later. Right now, I need to make sure I don't get him into more trouble.

He frowned at Number One, aware that she was asking and not commanding him because she wasn't sure how much he had recovered. She still had erasers on constant guard around their house, and even sent one to check on the cat every day to give her an update. That made Train believe his former superior didn't fully trust that he was getting better.

That fact bothered him because that, along with his friends keeping him in the dark about what happened when he was a prisoner, reminded him of the precarious situation everyone believed he was in. Which was not helping his mental and emotional state.

It stresses me out that they think I'm so helpless…

The gunman sighed and looked at his hands. "I don't want to say I'm not capable of it, I just don't know how to activate them. I can feel them crawling around in my body, but I can't get them to listen to me or even stay in one place."

Sephiria cocked an eyebrow at him. "You've tried?"

Train nodded. "Yes. Creed and I tried last night. And since he still won't let me use my Tao-" He gave a small glare to his partner, who returned it with a serious one of his own. "-I decided to jump on the chance to at least do something other than sit in bed all day."

Creed poked his beloved's forehead, then rested his back against the headboard of the bed. "There's no such thing as too much rest. Besides, it's helping you. Just took at how much better you've gotten."

Train hardened his glare on his partner as he rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, but you know if I don't move soon, I'm going to lose my mind. I'm already starting to get restless!"

He was locked up at the Apostles for nine days, and he didn't want to be locked up in his own home because his friends and lover were too protective. Especially when he didn't understand why or what they were being protective of.

Hopefully, they'll tell me soon…

Creed sighed. "I know, Train, I know…" He looked out the window and frowned at the rain he only just now noticed was falling. "We'll get you out and about soon enough…"

Sephiria glanced at Creed, then back to Train. "I agree with Creed. After how badly using your Tao ended the last few times, we need to be careful and make sure we're in the right environment for it."

Train frowned. "Are you going to tell me what the hell happened while I was gone yet?"

Everyone was quiet for a moment, staring at anywhere but the Black Cat, unsure of how to respond to that question.

Creed sighed and turned his gaze back to his beloved, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly. "We'll tell you soon, Train. I promise."

Train sulked against the mattress. "Fine… But, yes, we gave it a try last night, and I couldn't figure out how to get them to cooperate."

Eve took a step towards the bed and reached out to grab Train's unoccupied hand. She massaged the fingers slightly, using the bots in her body to quietly communicate with Train's. "What exactly did you try to do?"

Train looked at the hand she was inspecting. "We tried to get me to make a shape with my fist."

Eve released Train's hand. "That's a good start. You want to think of whatever figure or shape you want your body to make, but you also need to imagine that your hand is that shape."

Train blinked in confusion at her. "What does that mean?"

Eve sighed, not sure how to explain her reasoning. Changing the shape of her body came so naturally to her that she wasn't sure how to relay that information to someone else. She never thought she'd have to.

The girl lifted her own hand and turned it into a blade. She showed it to Train, then gestured with her head for him to touch it. "I think maybe if my Nanomachines are activated, yours might react to it and know what to do."

Train stared at her for a second, glancing at Creed who looked as uneasy as he did. But, seeing his partner didn't protest, he did as the girl asked. As soon as he touched her blade, he felt like his arm had been dipped in a bucket of ice and he had to pull his hand back quickly.

"Whoa…" He looked closely at his limb, turning it over as he scrutinized it with his eyes, trying to figure out what the feeling was.

Eve nodded, knowing exactly what the man was experiencing. "That's normal. When I first started using mine as often as I do, I felt like my entire body was swimming through a pool of ice all the time. But, when I heal, it feels like I'm on fire. You get used to it."

Although, I wish he wouldn't. If he doesn't want to keep them, he needs to let me remove them.

"Does it really matter if he can activate them?" Lin's voice echoed the bio-girl's thoughts. "I mean, if Eve is going to remove them, why does it matter if he can use them?"

Creed nodded in agreement as his concerned eyes scanned his love's curious face. "Lin makes a good point, Sephiria. We know what kind of Nanomachines are in him now, and Eve said she was confident she could remove them, right?"

Eve nodded. "Right. Especially now that I know what they are."

Sephiria put a hand on her hip. "That's a valid point. Heartnet, maybe it's better that we-"

She ended her sentence quickly when she saw all five of the cat's fingers swiftly extend several inches up, angling themselves in a manner that gave them the appearance of five long claws.

"WHOA!" Train shouted as he jumped, pushing his hand away from his face as he gawked at the state of his hand.

Save for Sephiria, everyone else in the room jumped as well, not ready for the sudden movement of Train's body, nor were they prepared for the raucous, alarmed outburst he created. As Train examined the sharpened digits, they glinted slightly in the light of the room, the malignant shine letting everyone know they were sharp. Train flexed his fingers slightly, his body relaxing as he slowly realized he could feel the Nanomachines finally listening to him.

"Whoa…" Train said again as he brought his hand closer to his face.

Lin blinked at his sweet love, opening and closing his mouth a few times as he tried to voice his question. "How… did you do that…?"

Train continued staring at his hand as he answered the number's question. "I just did as Eve said. I imagined a shape, controlled the cold feeling in my arm and BAM, cat claws!"

Creed moved his upper body to the side to dodge the claws Train was swaying back and forth, frowning at his love's jovial smile. "And you went with cat claws?"

Train nodded his head enthusiastically. "Of course I did! I'm the Black Cat, after all!"

Lin giggled sweetly at Train's adorable behavior. "I think it's very fitting. How does it feel?"

Train continued eying his hand. "It's hard to describe, but… it's kind of like I'm controlling and hardening bits of cooled lava in my body, and repositioning them to a different focal point. I also feel like they are speaking to me."

Eve nodded her head. "That's actually a great way to describe it."

"Can you change the shape?" Sephiria asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. She knew the cat wanted to remove them, but if he was capable of some of the things Eve was, then they'd have even more of an advantage over the Apostles.

Creed frowned at Sephiria. "I'm not sure how wise that is, Sephiria… Like we said before, Train doesn't intend on kee-."

"-Lemme try."

Creed blinked in confusion at his beloved, watching as Train's fingers merged together into a single blade, similar to Eve's. The Black Cat smirked proudly, then moved his arm closer to Sephiria, as if he was a child asking for his mother's approval.

"Like this?"

Sephiria moved closer to the bed, leaning forward so she could get a better look at the appendage. She reached her finger out and poked the tip of the blade, retreating her hand quickly when she felt how sharp it was. Number One nodded, then stepped away again.

"Interesting…" The woman said, her mind racing with the possibility that the Black Cat could be capable of more than just his natural skills and Tao.

Creed continued wearily eying his Kitten. "Train… Do you intend on having Eve remove them?"

Train looked back at Creed and frowned. "I do… But is it so bad to have some fun until then?"

Eve sighed. "When do you intend on having me remove them?"

Train shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know… Exactly how many are in me?"

Eve frowned in thought. "It's hard to put a number on them, but in comparison to me, not a whole lot. I imagine the plan was to slowly add more and more of them to your body until you were more like me, but they were only able to give you the first dose."

Creed felt his heart tremble with fear at Eve's sentence. "That was the first dose?"

Eve shrugged her shoulders. "I'm assuming. Considering how minuscule of a percentage they take up when compared to the rest of his body, there was probably still more they wanted to do."

Creed felt his beloved shiver, able to tell the cat was going to a dark place and wrapped his arms around the fragile man's body. He gave his Kitten a kiss on the cheek, then began rocking their bodies back and forth slowly, knowing the gesture helped calm his lover down.

"It's okay, Train. They didn't get a chance and they never will."

Sephiria watched the scene for a moment, wondering if the cat was going to flip out again and concerned she'd have to take physical actions to stop him. Seeing the gunman visibly relax in Creed's arms, she took her hand away from Christ and turned towards the doctor and Eve.

"What does having even a small amount of Nanomachines in his body mean?"

The doctor pointed to himself, as if he was shocked to be addressed. He had set up his materials what felt like aeons ago, but the maverick group of eccentrics seemed more intent on entertaining themselves than letting him do his job. He was starting to think they forgot he was there.

Seeing Sephiria nod in confirmation at him, he smiled. "Not much. Once they're acclimated with his body, they won't cause him any harm. The whole point of using the Nanomachines on a human is to make them better, not worse."

Eve sighed and looked away from everyone in the room. "...Or it's meant to make you a weapon…"

Train's ears perked when he heard the girl say that, and he felt his heart break. He was surprised hearing someone being used as a weapon didn't set him off, but he had a feeling the sadness in the girl's voice was what kept him calm.

"Eve… You're not a weapon. If yesterday's bra incident showed us anything, it's that you're growing just like any other girl your age."

Lin blinked in confusion at that. "Bra… incident?"

Train brushed his friend's words away. "Not important Creed measured the girls for their sizes to make sure they were comfortable and-."

"Whoa, wait, WHAT! You can't just slide that into the conversation and act like it's nothing!" Lin shouted as he pointed at Train's face. "I demand an explanation! And I want to know why I'm being left out of the sweepers' daily shenanigans!"

Train rolled his eyes. "Because you weren't here…"

Lin pouted and crossed his arms like a petulant child. "It's not like I didn't want to be…"

Sephiria sighed when she felt Number X's annoyed gaze on her. "I'm not getting into that again. Besides, it sounds like Diskenth did them a favor. Wearing the wrong size could cause pain and throw off your concentration in battle. And we're going to need everyone in their best and most comfortable shape for when we finally track down the Apostles."

Again, everyone in the room was silent, not sure how to respond to the woman's words. As strange as it was to hear Number One talk about the female body, the straight forward, matter of fact way she went about it was very in character for the Chronos' leader. It also made a strange sort of sense that she was not perturbed or embarrassed about the conversation at all.

Train voiced a question to his partner. "Creed… Does Sephiria wear the right size?"

Sephiria scowled at the cat. "You can direct your questions at me, Black Cat."

Train turned his head suddenly to her, his eyes going blank as he nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

Sephiria sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Damnit…"

To think such a mundane topic would get him to turn back to his submissive self…

Creed pouted at his love, squeezing Train in his arms and kissing his neck soothingly. "That wasn't an order, Train. And yes, Sephiria does wear the correct size."

Bringing them back to the ridiculous conversation was apparently enough to snap Train out of it, which was a relief to everyone in the room. The cat blinked and shook his head, not realizing he had temporarily left. "Oh, that's good to hear! We can't have the infamous leader of the Chronos' numbers having any slip ups!"

Sephiria sighed again, and then turned to the doctor. "How much more of the antidote does he need so that stops happening altogether?"

The doctor smiled, happy to finally be able to be of use to his leader. "I'm glad to have finally been asked that question! We got Heartnet's blood results back, so that's the good news."

Creed caressed Train's cheek with the back of his hand then turned to ask the doctor a question of his own. "Does that imply there's bad news?"

The doctor nodded his head grimly. "Yes… The amount of that drug in his system is quite significant, and it seems as though they were able to change it into something almost completely different. It seems like the only ingredient we were able to find that was the same as the original drug is the one that makes the individual obedient and welcoming of orders."

The man watched as the Black Cat shivered, then added his opinion to prevent him from sinking deeper into his depression. "It's not all doom and gloom! The fact that Mrs. Arks' order was the first one Train followed since I've been here is good news. It means the antidote and being with his friends has been working!"

Train blinked in confusion. "Order?" He looked at Sephiria and frowned. "What order?"

Sephiria sighed and brushed Train's words away, then turned back to the doctor. "And why does that keep happening? Why can't he remember anything after he follows an order?"

Train frowned deeper, not liking the fact that Sephiria was talking about him as if he wasn't in the room. Between the woman talking to the doctor as if Train was her son and Creed rocking him in his arms like a child, the gunman was beginning to feel more and more pathetic, and he didn't like it.

I feel like a destitute child that needs the comfort of their parents to help him get through a doctor's appointment… And that hasn't happened to me since I actually was a kid who was scared of needles.

Images of his child-like self swam through his head and in an instant he was sitting on his mother's lap, the woman rocking him back and forth as he cried over getting his shots. His father was talking to the doctor in the background, discussing his health and setting up a time for their next appointment. He heard himself protest over having to come back, then calmed down when the doctor said he could look through the treasure chest for being brave.

I hated going to the doctor. And right now, I feel like I'm that weak, feeble child again. But I'm not. I'm an adult man being rocked back and forth by his lover, and excluded in conversations by his previous employer. I'm pathetic.

That thought was enough to make him gently push Creed's arms away. "I'm not a baby, Creed."

Creed frowned at his beloved, looking between his empty arms and Train's forlorn body. "I know that, Train… I'm just-"

"-I'm fine, Creed. I can handle a doctor's appointment." Train attempted to give his partner a cheeky smile, trying to let the silver man know he wasn't mad at him.

I'm mad at myself for being so weak and needing him and Sephiria to coddle me.

Train looked up at the doctor, noticing Number One was talking to him how his father used to talk to doctors and decided to ask his own question. "Other than time, how will the memory lapses stop?"

The doctor blinked at Train, shocked to hear the man ask a question, but smiled because of it. "Glad to see you joining the conversation, Heartnet. As I just told Sephiria, I don't know how they were able to do it, but they-"

Train put up a hand to stop him, understanding why the man kept saying 'they' instead of specific names and deciding he no longer liked it.

Just a few hours ago, I was grateful for Eve not saying the word 'doctor', but now it's just another reminder of how weak I am.

"If I'm going to get better, we need to start using the man's name."

Train lowered his hand and his eyes, balling his fingers into fists. He felt his body beginning to shake, but took a deep breath so he could continue making his point and therefore fighting for his freedom from the scientist.

He did this to me… He made me weak. This is his fault. And if I can't say his name, how can I expect to face him again? If I can't even say his name without freaking out… he wins.

Train raised his head again and made sure to lock eyes with everyone in the room one by one. He met Creed's gaze last, using the strength he felt whenever the swordsman was looking at him to help him get through his words.

"The Apostles did this to me… Charden did this to me… And…" He trailed off for a second, brushing Creed's caring hands away since he was fighting to gain his independence back. "...Kanzaki did this to me. Doctor… is the man who tried to turn me into a weapon."

His heart fluttered when Creed smiled lovingly at him, but kept his hands to himself. His partner seemed to pick up on the idea that Train wanted to work through the pain on his own. No matter how much he loved Creed, he needed to be able to speak the name of his abuser without slipping back into his dark cave.

Train returned his lover's smile, then looked back at the rest of the room. "Stop avoiding his name. I know the last battle is just around the corner, and I need to be able to say his name if I'm going to face the Apostles again… If I'm going to be able to face Doctor again."

He locked eyes with Sephiria, who seemed to be taking a slightly defensive stance. Train noticed the second her head wrapped around the hilt of Christ, and he wasn't offended at all. Even though he didn't remember a lot, he understood why she was ready for a fight. The little he was able to work out was that he kept losing his cool and attacking his friends, and he'd never forgive himself if he hurt any of them.

If I become dangerous, then I want Sephiria to strike me down before I can hurt anyone. And I'm sure she's knows that.

Train smiled at Number One and nodded his head reassuringly. "I'm good, Sephiria. You don't have to worry. I'm in control. Like you said, we all need to be in the best and most comfortable shape for the final battle, right?"

Sephiria nodded in return and removed her hand from her sword. "Right." She turned back to the doctor. "Answer Heartnet's question. What else can we do to stop the memory lapses?"

The man addressed Train as he spoke, since the cat was the topic of their conversation. "As I said before, I don't know exactly what Kanzaki did to the drug, but he was able to perfect it. Well, perfect it in the manner they wanted to use it. Not only was he able to make the drug render you completely submissive and welcoming of orders, but he added something else to it that altered our memories. That's why you saw your friends as someone else at first. He must have used bits of your past to make sure if you saw your fellow sweepers, you wouldn't listen to them since they held the face of an enemy. It would also make you more susceptible to the idea of killing them."

Train pushed away both Lin and Creed's comforting hands. He felt the darkness beginning to encompass him again, but he refused to let that show and he refused to beg the two men he cared about the most to provide him comfort.

I need to start being strong and taking care of myself to show them I'm going to be okay.

The Black Cat took a deep breath and nodded. "So… the fogginess I feel, the memory lapses I have, are those all side effects of the altered Chronos drug?"

The doctor smirked and poked his nose. "Bingo. And they told me you were clueless."

Train blinked at the man. "Who told you that?"

Lin put up his hands in defense when Train looked at him. "Don't look at me! I've barely spoken to this guy!"

Train looked at his lover next, who gasped and clutched his chest dramatically. "How could you think I'd ever say such a disrespectful thing about you, my love?!"

Train rolled his eyes and flicked Creed's forehead, then looked at Sephiria. The woman did not make eye contact with him, which was all the confirmation he needed. However, just as he was about to open his mouth and scold the woman who was speaking so illy of him, Sephiria brought them back on topic again.

"Will the new antidote help with the memory issues?"

The doctor turned to her. "That depends what exactly you're asking. Are you asking if his memories will return, or will his forgetfulness stop?"

Sephiria glanced at Train. "Both."

The physician smiled. "His memories may return over time as the drug wears off, but I don't think that's just because of the drug. I think Train is subconsciously suppressing certain parts of his time with the Apostles because of how traumatic they were."

The doctor looked at Train. "Do you feel like you're remembering things slowly?"

Train frowned, then nodded his head slowly. "Yes… very small bits and pieces… I… remember Aliane feeding me. I remember her talking to me, and-"

"-What do you remember the girl saying to you?"

Train raised his head and stared at Sephiria's stern face. "I remember her trying to remind me who she was and her asking me if I hated her. I also remember her trying to command me to leave and…"

The cat rubbed his neck, still able to feel the collar that was against his flesh. "...I remember her unchaining me at one point. She slipped her hand into the chain around my neck and unlocked it. But… I didn't leave…"

A bit of his desperation came back and he felt himself needing Creed's comfort again. As much as he hated the fact that he needed to rely on his lover so much support, he knew that if he didn't get it right away, he might disappear or worse.

Train grabbed Creed's hand and squeezed it tightly, eyes locked onto the blankets on his lap as he spoke. "Wh-why… Didn't I leave when I had the chance?"

Creed whimpered at the discouraged look and dejected tone his beloved slowly took on. It seemed like while his Kitten was trying his best to be strong and prove that he didn't need to be fussed over, it was still difficult for Train to keep the stable veneer going at the mention of certain memories or at specific realizations.

"It wasn't your fault, Train…" Lin's voice came in before Creed's could as he leaned across the arm chair and patted the gunman's arm soothingly. "You weren't yourself while they had you."

Train glanced at the thin hand that was rubbing his arm, then up at Lin. "What… What else did I do while I was out…?" He glanced over at Creed, giving his lover a more direct look than he did Number X. "Are you sure I didn't hurt anyone?"

Again, Creed opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Sephiria. "What do you remember, Train?"

Train turned to look at Number One, surprised at how gentle her tone was. "If you're asking what I remember Doctor doing to me, not much. I remember when I first got there I was tied up to a rubber bed with rubber straps. I remember most of the Apostles were there, and I remember Doctor and Charden talking about what their plans were."

Sephiria's eyes widened at that. "What do you remember about their plans?"

Train sighed and shook his head. "Nothing. I didn't actually hear anything because Watts was too busy beating the shit out of me while I was chained up." He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "Son of a bitch kills Anastasia, then beats me to a bloody pulp when I'm unable to fight back… And I already had a few broken bones at that point too."

He felt Creed twitch and realized that was the first time he mentioned his lover's mentor since he'd been home.

Train gripped his partner's hand tighter, caressing the back of Creed's hand with his thumb as he spoke. "If it makes you feel better, I was able to slip my arm out of the binds and punch him in the back of the head."

Creed smiled at his beloved. "The only thing that makes everything even remotely okay is the fact that you're home, Train."

Sephiria frowned at the couple smiling tenderly at each other. "And you didn't try to break free the first time you slipped the chains?"

Train sighed and looked back at Number One. "I told you, half of the Apostles were there. They were able to subdue me rather easily. After that…"

Train stopped again, fighting the darkness swelling inside him, forcing himself to finish his story. "After that… I remember Doctor injecting me with the drug and the Nanomachines… I… I remember it burning my insides. Like he was pouring lava directly into my veins. It… spread to my organs and the rest of my body and he… made me stay awake for the entire ordeal. I don't know how long it lasted, but after a while I passed out. After that, things become a blur."

Creed watched as Train slowly told his story, his heart shattering as he watched his beloved's bright, jubilant face slowly blacken and drain itself of peace. "Train…"

Creed reached a hand out and cupped his love's cheek, turning the cat's head so their eyes met. "It's okay, Train… You don't have to keep going. One day at a time right?"

The silver man watched as his partner's face changed from dark and gloomy to blank and submissive. Train nodded his head and spoke the words Creed dreaded hearing. "Yes, Master."

Creed sighed shakily, holding back his own tears as he pressed his forehead against Train's. "Oh, my sweet Kitten…"

Sephiria turned to the doctor, letting Creed handle bringing his lover back to address the issue they just watched unfold. "Why does he listen to some commands, but not all?"

The doctor sighed as he took a step towards Train, preparing to start his physical as soon as Creed brought him back to reality. "That time I believe it was because he was already in a vulnerable state of mind. He was slowly reliving his trauma, which made his mind weak, and the drug was able to take over again. As for the command you gave earlier when he seemed to be at his happiest… I think that's just the effect you have on people."

Sephiria frowned as she watched Creed kiss Train, speaking soothing words to the man that slowly eased him back into reality. "I thought he listened to Creed above everyone else."

The doctor shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know the details of that specifically, so I can't really speak to it. I'm just giving my opinion that you have a commanding presence. Plus, you used to give him orders all the time and he's been around Creed more the last four days. He's probably been able to learn his lover doesn't mean to command him."

Sephiria nodded in understanding as he watched Train adjust himself on the bed, allowing his legs to hang off the side so the doctor could check his reflexes. She glanced at Lin and debated asking him to command the cat to do something to test their theory, but decided against.

Chances are he'll listen because his mind is still vulnerable from the memories. It's going to be a slow process for the Black Cat to return to normal.

"And to put the questions about Train's memories to rest, the best I can say is he needs time and more of the antidote. Which I have right here."

The physician put his reflex hammer away and took out a box of syringes. He handed the box to Creed and pulled out his stethoscope. "Did you give Train his dose today?"

Creed nodded his head, opening the box with one hand and running his fingers around Train's hair with the other. "I did. Just before you got here, actually."

The doctor nodded as he checked Train's heart rate. "These new doses don't really have much different in them than the other shots. They're just stronger and may knock you out. I suggest taking them right before you go to bed."

Train blinked when he realized the man was speaking to him, which forced him to pay attention and thus bring him more back to reality. "Should I… still take it tonight?"

The doctor nodded as he pulled his stethoscope away and put it back in his bag. "Yes. I'm sure the amount of the drug in your system has lessened since I last saw you, but you could still use another dose of the stronger stuff."

Train nodded his head and smiled, happy that the physician was talking to him instead of someone else. "Roger that, Doc!"

The doctor rolled his eyes, but smiled. "It's a really good sign that you're able to joke so quickly after reliving those traumatic moments."

Train gave him a cheeky smile. "My whole life has been traumatic, Doc. And if I can't laugh at my own drama, then I'm doing something wrong."

The man smirked as he checked the cat's blood pressure. "Glad to see your optimism is returning as well."

Train chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I have a feeling if I didn't look at the glass half full in your presence, you'd walk out of the room and never see me again."

The doctor laughed. "That's true. Now more than ever you need to look on the bright side, otherwise I think you'd go insane."

Train nodded in agreement as the man pulled his sphygmomanometer off the gunman's arm and placed it back into his bag. "Very true…"

The doctor glanced at Creed, giving him a precautionary look as he took out a syringe to draw more of Train's blood. The silver man noticed the change in equipment, then looked at his Kitten to see if Train noticed it as well. Seeing his beloved had not seen the switch yet, Creed tucked some of his lover's hair behind his ear and nuzzled his face into Train's cheek.

"Train… Are you grounded enough to have more blood drawn?"

Train blinked at his partner, then at the doctor's hand and felt his blood go cold.

Stop being a baby! You've proven that Sephiria is not your father that the doctor needs to explain everything to, and now you need to verify that Creed isn't the mother you need to cling to at the first sight of a needle.

The cat shook his body to rid himself of the anxiety attack he felt coming on, shutting his eyes and tangling his fingers around Creeds, deciding it was okay to use the man for support a little.

He took in another deep breath, then nodded as he gave the doctor his arm. "I'm ready."

The doctor glanced at Creed, then back at Train and inserted the needle. He concentrated on filling the syringe instead of the quiet, sad noises the Black Cat was making. Once it was filled with the gunman's life force, he pulled it out and placed a cotton ball on the vein swiftly, wrapping it in a bandage as he put the syringe away before the cat could see it.

"Depending on how much of the drug is left in his system, I should only need to do this one or two more times. I need to make sure it's gone before we can give him a clean bill of health."

Sephiria nodded. "How much of the drug do you expect to be out of his system by now?"

She watched the gunman calm down as Lin had crawled on the bed as well to rub Train's back and Eve took the doctor's place in front of the cat to rub his knees.

The physician began packing up his equipment. "A fair amount of it, but still not all of it. I expect this new antidote to do a better job at removing the last of it."

Number One looked back at the Black Cat and his friends, leaning against the wall as she spoke to the former assassin. "How are you feeling emotionally, Heartnet?"

Creed released Train so he could turn to look at the number. "I'm… okay. Emotionally exhausted, but okay."

Sephiria nodded. "Then do you think you could tell us more about what you remember while you were at the Apostles?"

Creed glared at the woman. "Can't that wait until he's fully better? We need to ease him back into his normal life, not force him to remember everything that's happened all at once."

Train sighed at his lover's protective demeanor, then finally brushed him along with all of his friends caring hands off him. "Like I said I'm fine. No need to be so protective."

And maybe if I say that enough, I'll believe it myself.

He looked at Sephiria as he spoke. "Everything I told you is all I remember. If anything else comes to mind, I'll give you a call." Train frowned, then glanced at Creed. "At least, I will after I get a new phone."

Creed sighed and leaned his back against the headboard, pulling one leg up on the bed that he used to kick his lover with slightly. "We'll go out and get news ones soon, Train. Remember, I need one too."

Train smirked at his lover and grabbed his foot to stop the silver man from kicking him. "Good. I'm starting to lose my mind being cooped up in this house."

Lin frowned as he sat back on his knees, still sitting on the bed behind Train. "It's only been four days… And haven't you been sleeping for most of it?"

Train glanced over his shoulder at his ex-lover, hand still wrapped around Creed's foot as he spoke. "Yes, but added to the eternity I was a prisoner, I need to get out into the world again."

Creed smiled, pulled his foot out of Train's grasp, and placed it on his lap. "We'll be there soon, Love."

Train looked at his partner and smiled, beginning to rub the foot on his lap as he spoke. "I know. But, you know me. I'm not a patient person."

Creed giggled and lifted his other foot to rest on his beloved lap as well. "I'll say…"

The silver haired man watched as his Kitten's gaze went from him to the window, a wistful look on his beautiful face that broke Creed's heart.

He really wants to talk to Saya, but the rain doesn't look like it's going to let up at all.

He sighed as he relaxed onto the bed, able to tell that despite his love's forlorn look, he was enjoying being able to do something for Creed instead of Creed doing something for him. Even if it was just a simple foot rub.

I'll figure something out for Train. If he wants to talk to Saya, I'll make sure he has a chance.

"Are you going to tell me what happened while I was gone yet?"

Creed frowned at his beloved, then glanced at Sephiria who had a thoughtful look on her face. He looked over at Lin who was staring at Train's back, frowning deeply as Eve leaned against the windowsill across from the bed. Train wasn't looking at anyone in particular, his eyes locked onto the falling rain, contemplative look still painted on his flawless face.

Upon seeing Number One was about to speak, Creed locked eyes with Sephiria and shook his head. The woman closed her mouth, understanding immediately what the swordsman meant and agreeing with him right away.

Creed looked back at his beloved and smiled warmly. "I promise I'll tell you later, Train. Right now-" He sniffed the air and glanced out the door. "-I think Chef Belze is going to announce a meal is ready any minute."

Train pouted at his partner, opening his mouth to speak again, but his voice was drowned out by another person's in the house.

"CREED DID WHAT?!"

Everyone stared out the door as they heard footsteps running towards the entrance of the room they were in. The next thing everyone saw the Jenos running up to the door, pressing both of his hands on the frame as he leaned into the room.

Number VII scanned the room then locked eyes with Creed, pointing an accusing finger at the silver haired man. "YOU! You need to teach me how to measure a woman for her bra size. RIGHT NOW!"

Creed blinked at the man, then looked at Sephiria, confused that the man was even there.

Sephiria sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Forgot to mention Number VII tagged along to see the thief… Sorry, I didn't know he'd be this obnoxious."

Creed glanced at Sephiria again, then looked back at Jenos and sighed. "I guess Rins told you about yesterday's events?"

Jenos glared at him. "Yes, and I'm going to forgive your overstep on the condition that you never do it again and teach me how to do it!"

Creed rolled his eyes. "Why does everyone keep making this a sexual thing? Measuring a woman's breast size is not a sensual experience and is done in a manner of seconds. You'd have to be a pervert to make it anything but scientific."

Jenos narrowed his eyes, then glanced at Train. "You're just saying that because of your preferences…"

Creed glared at him. "Now you're just being ignorant and rude! Calling my sexual orientation a 'preference' is not accurate and extremely closed minded. I can't help who I'm attracted to, and I can't help who I love."

He caressed Train's cheek, smiling adoringly at his Kitten as he spoke. "Besides that, I guarantee you I've been with more women than you have."

Jenos' face went pale at that knowledge and his jaw dropped. "Wh-what…?"

Creed smirked and winked at the number. "Don't judge a book by it's cover, Jenos. I'm a very open-minded and charming man with a trail of broken hearts behind him."

Jenos glowered at the man, then adjusted his finger so it pointed at Train. "Are you saying you were okay with this?! Especially after hearing all that?!"

Train shrugged his shoulders and continued rubbing his partner's feet. For some reason, the mindless gesture made him feel better. "Not all of us are as insecure as you are, Jenos. And have you seen the way Creed looks at me? I have nothing to worry about."

Jenos gawked at Train, then noticed Eve was in the room as well. His eyes traveled down to the rest of the girl's body, and was immediately kicked in the head by an unknown assailant. Jenos cried out as he went flying down the hall, leaving a fuming, red faced Rinslet standing in the doorway.

Jenos clutched the side of his head and sat up to stare pathetically at the woman. "What was that for?!"

Rinslet's body shaking as he spoke. "THAT WAS FOR THE PERVERTED THOUGHTS YOU WERE JUST HAVING STARING AT OUR LITTLE PRINCESS!"

Jenos' face turned an even brighter shade of red and began to panic. "Wh-what are you talking about?! How do you even know what I was looking at just now!"

Rinslet crossed her arms, ignoring the pain that coursed through her body from her healing injuries and continued glaring at the man. "A woman knows when a man is being a pervert! Besides, I could hear your sick request from Creed down the hall! He's right, you are a pervert!"

"He also claimed that Eve was bigger than you, Rins."

Jenos' eyes widened when he saw Lin sticking his head out the door, smirking down at Number VII with a devious look in his eyes. "WHAT THE HELL, LIN!?"

Rinslet's face turned an even brighter shade of red as she bawled her hands into fists, her entire body trembling with rage as she approached the man sprawled out on the ground. She didn't care if she wasn't fully recovered yet, she was going to make him pay.

"You sick, twisted, bastard..."

Jenos gulped at the look the woman was giving him, crawling backwards as he tried to calm her down. "N-Now Rins… you know Lin's a jokester… I-I never said that, right guys?!"

By that point, Train had jumped off the bed as well, wanting to watch the number get pummeled by the thief. "Nah, I heard it too!"

Jenos gave the cat a pathetic look. "OH, COME ON, TRAIN! Creed! Back me up!"

"Huh? What's that? I can't hear you over your pathetic whimpers!" Creed shouted from the other room, deciding he'd enjoy listening to the man get attacked instead of watching.

Jenos swallowed thickly as Rinslet cracked her knuckles and stepped closer to the man. "YOU GUYS ARE THE WORST!"

Sephiria finally stepped out of the room and towards the pitiful man, making Rinslet stop her assault and Jenos sigh in relief. "Oh, thank you Sephy-san! I knew I could count on you."

Sephiria smacked him in the face with the sheath of her sword as she walked past him and towards the kitchen where Number II was. "If you weren't prepared for the punishment, then you shouldn't have commited the crime, Number VII."

Jenos held his face where the sword hit, then widened his eyes when he saw Rinslet hovering on top of him. The man smiled weakly at her and put his hands up, as if he was surrendering before the fight even started.

"Aahaha… Sorry…?" He said as the woman leaned over him.

Rinslet smirked as she gripped the collar of his shirt. "Too late."

Train and Lin began laughing wildly as the injured thief began beating the man that was supposed to be her lover. Train leaned against the doorway and slowly slid to the ground, banging his fist against the floor as he roared with laughter. Lin wrapped his fingers around the doorframe to keep himself up, pressing the front of body against the wood scaffolding as the volume of his guffaw matched that of the Black Cat's. Eve was still leaning against the windowsill, not caring that Lin decided to mess with the number, but a little peeved that she had been the focal point of that teasing.

Creed was chuckling on the bed, not noticing the doctor had packed up his bag and stepped out of the room after Sephiria. His attention was too preoccupied with watching his beloved's perfect body thrashing merrily on the floor with laughter, his ears full of his Kitten's beautiful, jovial giggles that bewitched the silver man's heart and soul.

To see him smile like this again… to hear him laugh so unrestrainedly makes me happier than words could ever describe.

He watched as Train sat up and leaned against the door frame, wiping his eyes as he tried to calm himself down a little.

We just need to keep acting as normal as possible and he'll be back to himself in no time.

Creed glanced out the window and frowned at the rain, trying to think of a way he could get his beloved outside to talk to Saya tonight.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE?! DON'T YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO RECOVER?!"

Sven stepped out of his room and glared at the brawl happening in his house. He glanced at Train and Lin who were still not composed enough to respond to the man, then back to the thief and her number. The older sweeper sighed as he rubbed his eyes, able to figure out what was going on just from the sight in front of him.

"...What'd you do this time, Jenos?"

Jenos looked up from underneath Rinslet at the green haired man, giving him a desperate look as he spoke. "NOTHING, I SWEAR!"

Sven rolled his eyes as he made his way down the hall. "Yeah, right…" He sniffed the air as he made it to the front of Train and Creed's room, looking at the people who occupied it as he spoke. "How could something smell so good in this house if Creed and Eve are both in here?"

Lin pointed down the hall, smirk plastered on his face as he spoke. "That's courtesy of Number II! Apparently, he's an accomplished chef."

Sven blinked at him, then glanced at Train. "Is that true?-Wait, don't answer that, this is probably just a prank the two of you are in on together."

"It isn't, Sven, go see for yourself. Number II is cooking with Kyoko." Eve said as she finally stepped away from the window and towards her guardian.

Sven's eyes widened. "With Kyoko?! Okay, this wizardry I have to see with my own eyes."

Train finally regained his dignity and seeing that Rinslet was done with her assault, he decided that it was best for him to move on from the show as well.

The cat slowly made his way towards the kitchen. "Man, I'm starving. Especially after all that excitement." He looked back at Creed who started sliding off the bed the moment Train stood up. "Let's go see what he's up to in there."

Creed smiled at his beloved, stepping out of the room after Train. "As long as he's not wearing my apron, I don't care what he's cooking."

"You mean the one with the roses on it?" Lin said as he followed after the taller men. Seeing Creed nod, Number X smirked. "Actually… I kind of hope he is using your apron…"

Train smiled over his shoulder at the number. "Same. That'd be a sight to see."

"I'm not using an apron, so you can both stop dressing me with your demented mind's eye." Belze's voice entered suddenly as he placed a large pot on their small, dining room table.

Lin and Train both stopped suddenly, looking anywhere except the large man's intimidating gaze as they stepped past him and toward the table. Kyoko came out next with a stack of bowls in one arm and a handful of spoons in the other.

Belze noticed the teen's predicament and sighed in defeat. "I told you to make two trips…"

Kyoko didn't hear what he had to say since she was concentrating too much on making sure she didn't drop anything. As soon as Eve and Sven stepped into the room they saw the teen's precarious situation and jumped into action, catching a few bowls before they fell. The three sweepers placed the dishes on the table and Kyoko put the spoon in a pile next to the pot. Sephiria stepped out of the kitchen next, dropping a stack of napkins on the table as well.

When Creed walked over to the table and glanced inside the pot. "Soup?"

Belze nodded. "Yes. It's what the girl was failing miserably to make. Luckily, I was able to salvage the meal."

Creed nodded gratefully and took a bowl for both himself and his beloved. "Thank you, Belze."

Number II did not acknowledge the man's gratitude and instead began using the ladle to pour a bowl for his superior.

Train smiled at Creed as he handed him a bowl, leaping over the couch to sit on its cushion. "This seems like a good rainy day meal."

Creed nodded and took a seat next to his beloved, lifting his leg and placing it on top of his Train's as he spoke. "It's an absolutely perfect idea." He noticed his love was frowning and rubbed Train's chin with his thumb. "What's wrong?"

Train was staring at his warped reflection in the soup, then looked up at his lover. "I just… Hate feeling so pathetic…"

Creed sighed and rested his chin on Train's shoulder. "You're not pathetic, Train. You just need help right now. And there's nothing wrong with needing a little help."

Train sighed again and tilted his head so it was on top of Creed's as he spoke. "Then… will we be able to train soon? Will I be able to use my Tao soon?"

Creed was quiet for a minute, deciding how to answer then chose his words delicately. "Can we… start out small at first? Maybe go back to the basics with your wind controlling powers and then work our way up from there?"

Train frowned, understanding his partner's hesitancy, but wanting nothing more than to cut loose and prove to everyone he was okay.

But, I'm not okay. Not yet at least.

The cat nodded. "Yeah… we can start from there I guess…" Seeing Creed was about to say something else, Train shoved a spoonful of food into his lover's mouth. "I don't need an apology or explanation, Creed. I understand you're trying to keep me safe. It's just…"

Creed smiled warmly at his love, swallowing the bite Train force fed him as he finished his beloved's trailed off sentence. "...You hate feeling useless and weak. I know that feeling, and I promise I won't let you feel that way for long."

Train forced himself to smile at his partner. While he was truly grateful for everything the swordsman had done for him, it still bothered him that he was being kept in the dark. "And when are you going to tell me what happened while I was gone?"

Creed glanced out the window, still trying to think about what he could do to allow his love to talk to Saya that night. "I'll… Tell you soon, Train. Very, very soon."

I'm just worried how you'll take the news of my uselessness the first four days of your kidnapping… I'm scared how you'll take the fact that I gave up on you…

Train's protection wasn't the only reason he hadn't told his love what happened while he was gone. Creed was scared how his Kitten would handle the news of not only what he did under the influence of the drug, but how the man who supposedly loved him handled the nightmarish ordeal.

I'm sure he'll forgive me, but… I don't know how hearing his lover gave up on him will meld with his fragile mental state. And I don't even know how to deal with that since he won't like hearing his mental state is fragile. Even though that's the truth.

Train noticed his partner was deep in thought, then sighed and placed his empty bowl on the arm of the couch, tangling his fingers around Creed's as he spoke. "Okay, Creed. I trust you."

Creed noticed his love's bowl was empty and knew right away he'd want more. The silverette unwillingly detached his hand from his beloved's, grabbed Train's bowl, and gave the cat a kiss on the cheek as he stood up to get him more.

Train watched as Creed walked away, then glanced over at Sephiria as a new thought occurred to him. "Sephiria… Where's Aliane?"

Sephiria looked up from her bowl, leaning against a wall as she quietly enjoyed the meal her second in command provided her. "Locked up at Chronos headquarters."

Train wasn't surprised by that answer, and had another question. "Can I… Talk to her?"

Creed stopped pouring his love another bowl and shot his eyes up to Sephiria, then back at Train. "Train… are you sure?"

Train didn't look at his lover, nor did he respond to the silver man's question. He kept his eyes locked onto Number One's, wanting the woman to see his resolve and hoped that would be enough to persuade her to say yes.

After a few minutes of silence, Sephiria nodded. "Yes. Just let me know when and I'll set it up."

Train smiled at her. "Thank you, Sephiria."

---

Train sighed as he stared out the window of his bedroom, lightly banging his head against the glass pane as he watched the rain continue to relentlessly fall. Much like a tyrant attempting to keep its subjects in line, the weather was controlling the Black Cat's ability to step outside with at least somewhat of a clear head for the first time. It seemed as though Mother Nature did not want him to experience the world again after the traumatic situation he had barely survived.

Train maintained his head bashing status, glaring at the droplets that clashed against the glass. "So. Bored."

Train winced when he hit his head a bit too hard, making it slip slightly and smack against the window frame. It didn't hurt, it just caught him off guard. He expected his face to hit flat, cold glass, not hard, solid wood.

Train turned his glare from the weather to the frame, smacking it with the back of his hand as if the inanimate object were at fault for his minor injury. "Stupid window…"

Train looked out the glass again and frowned. "Stupid weather. Stupid Mother Nature. Stupid boredom. Stupid being locked away in a house because of the stupid rain and the stupid Apostles for traumatizing me and making me weak and pathetic and unable to do anything fun."

Train growled at his own statement, inadvertently reminding himself how helpless and clingy he was. He was proud of himself for being as independent as he was during their meeting with Sephiria, but there were still far too many times he relied on Creed or Lin's support.

Even Eve started comforting me! I appreciate all of them caring about me, I wish I didn't need them as much as I obviously do… I may not have proof of it, but I can tell my current fragility required the close proximity of his loved ones.

He sighed and sulked against the window, allowing his dismal thoughts to continue.

But… Is it really so bad to require the support of my friends as much as I do?

Even though he had leaned on his friends before, right now it felt different. Back when he needed Sven to watch Kyoko while he was discovering himself, it felt like he was doing Train a favor rather than supporting him. And when he left the Apostles and sought out the sweepers for the first time, he made the decision and again it felt like Sven was just doing the right thing.

Those situations made him feel like he was weak or needed his friends. Even when he came back after his six month disappearance and desired human contact, he didn't feel weak, just lonely. And Train didn't view loneliness as a weakness, he saw it as a normal human emotion.

I hate being weak and needy. I hate not being able to take care of myself.

Train was an independent person which was why it irritated him so much to depend upon the adjacency of his friends. Even now with Creed not in the room and his friends deciding to go to bed early, Train felt like he was beginning to fall apart.

I just saw Creed an hour ago and I'm losing my mind! I don't know what he's doing, but he said he needed time alone for a bit while he set something up and he'd come get me soon.

If it was anyone else, Train would have thought they were sick of his neediness, but considering it was Creed, he knew that wasn't true. Creed was the king of clingy.

Did Kyoko go to bed too…? Would she care if I woke her up until Creed came to get me?

Train shook his head and banged it against the glass again, purposefully making the gesture rough since he wanted to punish himself for having that thought.

Man, I really am pathetic if I'm thinking about waking up literally the clingiest person in the world so I can cling to her.

Deciding that hitting his head against the window wasn't enough suffering after having such abhorrent thoughts, Train started punching himself lightly in the head. The motion was also to prevent his body from actually walking to the teen's room. No matter how needy he was feeling, he knew knocking on Kyoko's door was an awful idea he'd regret later.

Then why am I still debating it? Why do I have to fight walking out of the door?

Train slowly began to tangle his fingers into his hair, pulling slightly at his chocolate locks as his head slowly lowered to his chest, a voice that haunted his nightmares replacing his thoughts.

"Tell me, Black Cat, what does it feel like?"

Train felt himself beginning to tremble, shaking his head back and forth as he tried to stop the dark memories from surfacing.

"No… Stop…"

"Your cheeky attitude means there's not enough Chronos drugs in you. A fourth dose will fix that."

Train felt a non-existent needle puncture his skin and fill him with the unwanted drug. The all too familiar feeling of the solvent gradually slithered through his veins, wrapping around his nerves and taking over his body's sensations.

"Shut… up…"

"Are you ready to describe the pain to me?"

Train gritted his teeth as pain engulfed his body, his fingers digging deeper into his hair, unable to feel the claws his Nanomachines created that slowly embedded themselves in his skull.

"Stop it… Stop it…"

"Burn in Hell…"

Train heard his voice growled at the man, to which the man responded with a cold, calloused tone.

"You first, Black Cat."

Train didn't feel himself fall to the floor, nor did he realize there were drips of blood escaping his skull and clotting in his hair. He also did not notice when electrical shocks started to flare off his lean frame, static causing his hair to stand on end as he curled himself into a miserable, anemic ball on the floor.

"Does it feel like fire raging on your insides?"

The Black cat's world went dark and his mind went vacant as he slipped back into his solemn, empty void. And as he felt the agonizing memory of his torturous time with the Apostles return, he began to welcome the elegiac abyss to encompass his consciousness. It was the only thing that provided him even a small bit of comfort during his imprisonment, since it took him away from scorching torment the Nanomachines provided and the never ending desolation the enemy layer shrouded his heart with. At least in his manmade void, he was able to make the choice of what he could and could not feel. And it was always inevitably nothing.

"...Or does it feel like someone's slowly slicing each one of them open?"

Train didn't realize he was hovering above the ground, the electricity he was accidentally creating burning the carpet beneath him as he quivered like a dried leaf hanging for dear life on a dying tree, which eerily mirrored how he was feeling. Train was desperately trying to cling to reality, but at the same time was pathetically seeking the soothing comfort of his hollow void.

The cat could hear Kanzaki's sick laugh ring dementedly in the back of his head, which was the last thing Trian needed to push himself over the edge. Blood was slowly snaking down his head and outlining his face, dripping onto the floor Train was now floating several feet above.

"Tell me how it feels, Black Cat. Describe the pain to me. And don't get greedy with the details. I want to know how much pain you're in…"

Train let out a monstrous, low growl, which was soon followed by a quiet howl of pain and whimper of solitude. A few more sparks emitted from his body as he shouted out his next words, his voice horse and scatological as he screamed.

"FUCK YOU, YOU BASTARD!"

A reticent, peaceful tune entered the unstable cat's ear, making him open his eyes and slowly scan the room for the source of the sound.

"Saya…?"

As Train searched the room for his friend, his eyes landed on his partner instead, which was just as relieving if not more so than the music that was still playing in the background.

"Creed..?"

Creed sighed in relief as he placed the music box in his robe's pocket and slowly approached his beloved. "Yes, Train. It's me. Do you remember what happened?"

Train's eyes fell onto the carpeted floor he was now sitting on and frowned at the burn marks that surrounded him. "I… don't know. He… was injecting me with things and… asking me to describe the pain… I-"

"Shhh, my love, it's okay." Creed said as he wrapped his arms around his Kitten, pulling the man he loved against his chest, running his fingers soothingly through Train's cinnamon hair. "It's my fault for leaving you alone for so long…"

Train took in several deep, haggard breaths, trying to comprehend what just happened and what triggered it. Fortunately, his lover's words were enough to make him remember what created the panic attack and he began mentally berating himself for the pitiful behavior.

I'm so pathetic! I can't even last an hour without Creed by my side without losing my shit…

"Train… you're not pathetic. No one expects you to be better in just a few days."

Train blinked and looked up at the man, frowning deeply as he realized he said his thoughts out loud. "I guess it's because I'm not in a good mental state… I can't have my own thoughts right now. I need to speak them all out loud."

Creed cocked an eyebrow at his love, not sure what he meant by that statement. "Are you trying to tell me you're speaking your thoughts out loud?"

Train sighed, pressing his head into Creed's chest since that seemed to be what he needed at that moment. "Yeah… I guess I am…"

Creed sighed as well and squeezed his cat tighter. "It's okay to need us right now, Train… Didn't you say yourself a few days ago that having us near you keeps you grounded?"

Train nodded and clung to his partner's shirt, using the warmth and scent of the man he loved to keep him tied to the world. "Yes… But… I was hoping that I wouldn't continue to need you all for this long. I don't want to be a burden…"

Creed ran his fingers up and down his love's tense back. "You're not a burden, Train. We're all here for you because we love and care about you. You will never be a burden to us."

Train cuddled further into his partner and let out another shaky breath. "That doesn't change how much I hate not being able to take care of myself… I hate feeling so desperate to have everyone near me. I hate being so needy… I actually thought about waking up Kyoko to keep me company while you were off doing whatever it was you were doing."

Creed chuckled and kissed the top of his love's head. "Now that is sad. That you can absolutely be upset about."

Train pulled back slightly so he could flick his partner's forehead. "Aren't you supposed to be being extra nice to me right now? Don't you know I'm a pathetic, weak, little kitty?"

Creed smirked and tried to bite Train's fingers before he pulled them away. "There is, nor will there every will be, anything pathetic or weak about the infamous and awe inspiring Black Cat. You are perfect and strong in every way. This is just a small hiccup in Train Heartnet's life."

Train smiled at his lover, then rested his head against Creed's shoulder. "Thank you, Creed…"

Creed smiled and was about to kiss his beloved again, when he noticed dried blood caking his flawless feline's impeccable skin. The silver man grabbed Train by his chin and turned the gunman's head so it was facing him, giving the swordsman a better look at the damage.

"Train… Why are you bleeding?"

Train blinked at Creed, then attempted to look at the sides of his face to see what he was talking about. He pulled his head out of Creed's grasp and ran his finger against his skin, then jumped slightly as he scratched his face.

"What the hell…?"

Before he had a chance to inspect his hand, Creed grabbed it and began gently fingering the claws the golden man didn't remember forming. Creed frowned at his sharpened digits, then tenderly cupped the cat's cheek.

"Train… Do you remember activating your Nanomachines?"

Train shook his head as he stared at his hand. "No. But I can turn them off now. I don't know if that's the right term to use since I'm pretty sure they're alway on, but, you know what I mean."

Creed watched as Train's hands went back to normal, then pulled his love up with him and brought him to the bathroom. "Let's clean up your wounds, okay, Train?"

Train sighed, knowing Creed was using specific wording to make sure he didn't interpret any of his statements for commands. "Whatever you say…"

Creed frowned as they reached the bathroom and Train sat himself on the toilet. He watched his beloved out of the corner of his eye as he pulled first aid materials out of the medicine cabinet. "Are you… mad at me, Train?"

Train shook his head, then lowered it so his forehead rested in his hands. "No… I'm mad at myself. I'm mad that I can't even go an hour without you near me without freaking out. I don't even know if anything actually triggered me other than being by myself!"

Creed deepened his frown, his mind wandering off to the day they made love after Train returned.

I knew that was a mistake… He was just desperate for human contact and now I've probably made it all worse by giving him so much of it so soon.

Creed closed the cabinet and stepped over to his love, lifting Train's chin so their eyes met and giving him the most loving smile he could. "We're still working out what your triggers are, Train. For all we know, a bird flying by the window could be a trigger."

Train sighed as Creed began to dab at the self inflicted wounds on his head. "I certainly hope not. That's going to make rooftop sunbathing much harder."

Creed chuckled, the gesture feeling empty as doubts began surfacing in his head. "We'll keep going slow and make sure to find all of your triggers. We'll get you back to normal."

Train winced a little as Creed rubbed at some dried blood. "And what if I'm never able to truly be normal again?"

Creed stopped for a second to poke his beloved on the nose. "Were you ever normal in the first place, Kitten?"

Train smirked at him, then laughed quietly. "I guess not…"

They were silent for a moment as Creed continued cleaning Train's wounds, both of them lost in their own thoughts, trying to figure out how to explain to the other how they were feeling. Creed was worried he made Train too dependent on him, and Train was concerned he was always going to need the comfort of his friends in order to function. Both of them wanted to speak their emotions to the other, but neither were sure how to outwardly convey their inner turmoil.

Creed, always being the first one to initiate everything in their relationship, decided to speak first. "Train… Did I… push you too hard a few days ago?"

Train blinked in confusion, not sure what the man was talking about. "What?"

Creed sighed and leaned back, looking over his love's face for any more wounds along with any animosity. "Did I push you too far by… sleeping with you too soon after returning home?"

Train continued blinking at his partner, then rolled his eyes and pinched both of Creed's cheeks. "No! Why would you think that?"

Creed frowned as best he could behind the comical gesture his beloved had forced his face into. "Because you're so concerned with needing us nearby, I'm worried I'm the cause of it."

Train squeezed his cheeks harder. "You think you're the cause of all my pain when in reality, you're the opposite. You soothe my pain, Creed." He grabbed Creed's hand that was holding the medicine. "This is what you are to me, and this is what that day was to me. It helped heal me. If that didn't happen, I don't think I would be as far along as I am."

Creed smiled warmly as Train left his face and hand go. "Did I just properly convince you that you are getting better?"

Train blinked again, then glared. "Did you just fabricate guilty feelings to make me admit that?"

Creed shook his head. "No, the guilt was real. I just happened to notice you offered up your fantastic progress and wanted to ever so politely point it out to you."

Train rolled his eyes as Creed stood up and began wetting a washcloth to clean his face of the dried blood. "Whatever… It didn't work. I still hate myself for needing you all so much."

Creed stepped back in front of his cat, using the damp cloth to cleanse Train's beautiful face of the unwanted red substance. "You need us less and less every day. And what's so wrong with needing your friends?"

Train frowned as Creed moved his head back and forth, making sure he didn't miss any spots. "I'm not saying needing my friends is wrong. What I'm saying is I hate feeling useless without you all. I hate the fact that you have to baby me and tip toe around my feelings. Hell, you almost have to spoon feed me food because eating might be a trigger! I hate feeling like I'm a helpless sack of flesh unless you guys are around."

He leaned back as Creed continued cleaning his face. "That's why I want to talk to Saya…"

Creed almost froze at the first part of Train's sentence, since it reminded him of how useless he was the first four days his love was gone.

Is now a good time to talk about that? He seems emotionally fragile right now... I don't want to push him.

Creed shook his head.

No. He just admitted that he feels like we're babying him. And I know what happens when you keep secrets from Train for too long. She shouldn't hear this from someone else.

Creed nodded at his own thoughts, not realizing how insane he looked to be outwardly having an inward conversation with himself.

He has to hear it from me. I planned on telling him everything tonight anyway.

"You seem to be in agreement with yourself about something. Care to let me in on the story? Or is it an inside joke I wouldn't understand?"

Creed giggled at his love's words, happy to hear Train's jokes were returning to normal as well. "I… I was just mentally preparing to tell you what happened while you were at the Apostles."

The cat was quiet for a few seconds, then Train nodded his head, a grateful smile on his piquant lips. "Yes. Yes, please tell me. And don't skimp on the details." He grabbed Creed's hand and squeezed it tightly. "I can take it, Creed. Please."

Creed stared at his love for a second, then at the hand that squeezed his. He could feel the thankfulness oozing from his cat's body and just prayed it would stay there as he told his story.

The silver man took a deep breath, then kissed his Kitten's hand. "First thing I want to tell you is how I handled your kidnapping…"

Train nodded, willing to hear whatever it was his partner had to say as long as he was finally told what they all went through and what he had done while he was out.

Creed paused, then decided to start at the beginning. "That day when we were supposed to meet at the music school… Do you remember me being late?"

Train frowned as he thought, then nodded. "Yes. I remember because I was driving Anastasia nuts with my antics. She eventually made me play the Ukulele to shut me up." He laughed at the memory, then thought about what he said. "By the way, where is my Ukulele?"

Creed smiled. "You'll get it back soon, Love. Are you okay for me to continue?"

Seeing Train nod his head, the swordsman went on. "I was late because…" He paused, then took a deep breath to summon the courage he needed to finish his statement. "...Because I was talking to Echidna."

Train froze. "What?"

Creed winced at the pained look in his love's eyes and continued immediately. "I-I'm so sorry, Train! I was on my way to see you when Echidna came out of nowhere and started asking me some really cryptic questions that I'm now positive were about Charden."

Train blinked. "What?"

Creed tried to elaborate. "It's a long story I'll get into later. I want to finish this one if that's okay." Seeing his love nod and encouraged by the fact that Train didn't let go of his hand, he went on. "When I finished talking to her, I noticed Eve had been calling me, but I didn't answer her since I didn't think it was an emergency. When I finally did, I realized how wrong I was."

Train cocked an eyebrow. It wasn't like Creed to not answer his phone for one of his closest friends. "Why didn't you answer?"

Creed couldn't tell if Train's tone was angry or not, then sighed as he realized he was going to have to reveal another secret. "I was… talking to E."

Train tilted his head in confusion. "My E?"

Creed nodded. "Yes. It was another birthday surprise. That music box is the same box from that store you mentioned in your memory of that small town, and I managed to track E down as well. We were going to meet with her for lunch that day, but I had to cancel at the last minute in order to contact Sephiria about the encounter with Echidna."

Train rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Creed? You need to stop with the birthday stuff. Your overly affectionate gestures have now only gotten us into trouble."

Creed shivered at his love's words, but relaxed when he felt Train squeeze his hand. "I'm sorry, Train…"

Train flicked Creed's forehead again. "It's fine. I'm actually more curious what happened with Echidna. Did you get into a fight?"

Creed shook his head. "No. I had my swords drawn and pointed at her neck, but she was weaponless and refused to fight. She claimed she just wanted to talk."

Train frowned. "About Charden you said?"

Creed nodded. "Yes. Like I said, I'll get into more details about that later, for now… I really want to finish this part of the story up."

Train frowned then nodded. "Okay. Keep going."

Creed smiled at his beloved, then did as Train requested. "Once E was gone I called Eve back and she told me to go to the music school. That's where I saw…"

Train watched as his lover's eye went blank and was able to figure out what Creed was imagining. It was the same thing he saw every night in his nightmares. "You saw Anastasia…"

Creed nodded and wiped a few tears away with the back of his hand. He felt Train pull him against his chest and the silver man allowed a few more tears to fall. However, that was the only luxury he permitted his selfish emotions, since he knew Train might not be willing to comfort him by the end of his story.

Creed gently and unwillingly pushed himself out of his cat's arms. "I'm okay, Train..."

Train frowned at his partner and pulled him against his chest again, running his hands up and down his back. "No, you're not. How come you can comfort me, but I can't comfort you."

Creed relaxed into his beloved's strong arms despite himself. "That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying let me finish my story before you decide whether or not you want to comfort me. Besides, we can mourn her together when we visit her at the music school."

Train stared wide-eyed at his lover. "What?"

Creed sighed. "Her ashes are there. We could go visit her soon. It is my business after all."

Train smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Creed smiled as well, then offered his next statement hesitantly. "You're… not mad that I was late? You don't blame me for you getting taken?"

Train gave Creed a shocked look. "How the hell is that your fault? You were being confronted by an enemy! What else were you supposed to do?"

Creed pouted. "Yeah, but-"

Train pulled back and placed a finger on Creed's lips to stop him. "-I know what you're going to say. Since she was weaponless, you could have told her to go screw herself and walked away. And even though I don't know what the conversation was about, I can say that it must have been somewhat interesting if it kept you rooted to the spot. And even if it wasn't, it's not like you could just skip away like nothing happened. Especially if E was near by. More Apostles could have shown up and she would have gotten hurt."

Train pulled his hand away and caressed his Stallion's cheek. "You did the right thing, Creed. You avoided making a dangerous situation more dangerous. Don't blame yourself for that."

Creed sighed in relief. "Thank you, Train. That means a lot coming from you…"

Train smirked and leaned forward to kiss Creed's cheek. "Anytime." He paused as he thought of something. "Do you still have E's contact information?"

Creed nodded. "Yes. I wrote her number down."

Train smiled fondly as he remembered the woman. "Good. I'd like to see her again."

Creed nodded again. "Then we will. I promise." He then lowered his head as he continued his story. "After I realized you were gone and Anastasia was…" He shook his head. "...After I learned what happened… Everything went dark. I… I completely shut down."

Train frowned at his partner, running his fingers through his silver hair. "What do you mean?"

Creed leaned into the gesture, then stopped himself when he realized he didn't deserve Train's touch. "I… Don't remember much after that. I vaguely remember Sergey carrying me home and I remember our lives flashing before my eyes. I remember calling out to you, but you didn't hear me. I remember never sleeping, yet having nightmares of your death and torture over and over again. I remember all of that, yet I don't remember moving a single muscle. I sat in bed and did absolutely nothing for four days until Lin quite literally beat some sense into me."

He paused again, head still hanging low since he was unwilling to grant himself the blessed view of Train's beautiful amber eyes. "I… gave up on you, Train… I gave up on us. I had resigned myself to your death and began praying for death myself. If it wasn't for everyone else taking care of me all while searching for you, I… probably wouldn't be here right now."

Train watched as his partner fell apart in front of him. He wasn't sure if Creed knew he was crying, but the cat could relate to his feelings all too well.

...He was relying on our friends just like I am right now. If it wasn't for them, neither of us would be here right now.

He could also relate to the dark hole Creed dug himself since it was the same thing Train had done. As soon as Creed said he had given up, Train realized he had at one point too. That empty void the cat thrust himself into when the torture and loneliness became too much was exactly like what his lover had been putting himself through.

I can't fault him for something that I did too…

Train gently lifted Creed's chin so their eyes met, giving his lover a warm smile as he spoke. "It's okay, Creed… As you can see, I'm still alive and kicking."

Creed choked on a sob as he spoke. "But I gave up on you! Me! The man who has been obsessed with you since the day we met! While you were being tortured, I was wallowing in my own self pity and being completely use-OW! WHAT THE HELL, TRAIN?!"

Train smirked, chuckling as Creed pushed his hand aside. The cat cut off Creed's sentence by pinching his arm with his newly discovered Nanomachine fingers which he turned into cat's claws for that precise reason. "Creed, I can't blame you for something I did as well."

Creed blinked at his love as he rubbed the spot Train pinched. "What do you mean?"

Train massaged his partner's injured area as well. "I… gave up as well. Saya tried helping me, but even that wasn't enough. I was… too lost to keep fighting."

Creed frowned at his love dejected look. "But you were still fighting, Train. You refused to kill anyone. You were fighting the entire time."

Train gave Creed a strange look. "You're going to explain why you keep saying that too, right?"

Creed sighed, then nodded. "Yes… But I want to finish this part of the story first…"

Train smiled kindly at his lover, then gently punched his chin. "Isn't that the end of it?"

Creed blinked at his Kitten again. "What?"

Train rolled his eyes. "Well, clearly you found me. You're the one that brought me home. Which means whatever beating Lin gave you worked. Which, by the way, we're not skating past that either. You're going to describe every detail of that moment so I know what to do the next time you annoy me."

Creed couldn't help but giggle at his love's playful threat. "It was pretty brutal, but… nowhere near as bad as what he was saying."

Train cocked an eyebrow at him. "Oh? What was he saying?"

Creed looked to the side and glared as if he could see Lin's mocking grin. "Stupid shit like you were going to be his after he found you. But…" He smiled as he remembered everything Lin did for them. "He did put himself through a lot to find you. He nearly killed himself from exhaustion to get you back."

Train stared at Creed for a moment, then sighed as he thought of Lin tearing apart every inch of the world to find him. "I'll have to make sure to thank him better the next time I see him…"

Creed pouted. "In what way…?"

Train let out a frustrated sound, then wrapped his arm around Creed's neck to pull him into a noogie. "Not in that way! Geeze, I thought that jealous side of you was gone!"

Creed giggled at his love's playful gesture, then pulled himself out of Train's grasp. "It will never be truly gone, Train."

Train rolled his eyes and leaned back on the toilet he still sat on. "Whatever…"

Creed stared at him silently for a few minutes, then spoke again. "So you're… really not mad?"

Train gave him a strange look. "Why would I be mad at you for something you can't control?"

Creed gave his love a curious look. "What do you mean?"

Train leaned forward. "It's not like you said to yourself, 'Well, I guess Train's dead forever. May as well lose myself in my own depressive, empty thoughts and not even bother looking for him! Oh, whoa is me!' Right?"

Creed smiled sadly and shook his head. "No… I guess I didn't do that."

Train smiled fondly at his partner. "Your body just reacted. It sounds like you went into shock, honestly. And no one should blame you for something you can't control. No one chooses to go into shock. It's a defensive mechanism. Your body was protecting itself."

Creed sighed and lowered his head. "Lin sure could blame me."

Train rolled his eyes again. "And we all know what Lin really wants, but I don't blame him either. People react to trauma differently, and if he was really hurting himself that much to find me, I can't say his way was any better. I'll have to thank him and scold him."

Creed chuckled and lifted his head to meet Train's gaze. "I have a feeling he'll like that…"

Train sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Creed."

Creed chuckled again, then smiled. "I'm… happy you're not mad at me…"

Train shrugged his shoulders. "Even if I felt like I had the right to be mad, it wouldn't get me anywhere and it wouldn't change how I feel about you. So, instead of creating more drama in our already dramatic lives, I think it's best to just move forward. We've got enough shit going on right now, the last thing we need to be doing is fighting with each other, right?"

Creed nodded, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Right."

Train smiled at his lover, then looked out the small window in the bathroom and frowned. "Saya must have given up on me for real. The last time I heard anything from her was when I was losing consciousness at the Apostles'. And this rain is making me think she's avoiding me…"

Creed watched his love for a second, then stood up and put away the cleaning supplies. "You know she visited me and Lin too, right?"

Train turned and gave his partner another strange look. "Really?"

Creed nodded and closed the medicine cabinet. "Yup. I don't think Lin knows it yet, but he described a woman who kept appearing in his dreams. She sounded like Saya. He didn't believe me when I told him, but I think if you tell him, he'll understand what was happening."

Train smiled, then looked back out the window. "I guess maybe she didn't give up on me…"

Creed watched his love watch the rain through the window, then stepped in front of him and offered Train his hand. "Do you want to try and talk to her tonight?"

Train turned and gave Creed a defeated look. "How can I with this rain? I can't see any stars."

Creed smirked. "Have you no faith in me? What do you think I've been doing this whole time?"

Train stared at Creed, then his hand, then sighed and the limb. "Alright… Let's see what the Almighty Creed has cooked up for the Black Cat this time."

Creed rolled his eyes. "Shut up. You always end up enjoying it."

Train shrugged his shoulders as Creed led him out of the bathroom. "True…"

As Creed walked him through the common room and kitchen, he realized the silver man was leading him to the back door. When they stepped outside, Train prepared himself to be hit with an onslaught of rain, but instead was protected by a tarp that stretched out several feet in front of them. He saw the large poles stuck in the ground that held the fabric up, but didn't have time to appreciate the genius behind Creed's set up as the swordsman was pulling him along faster.

"Hurry up! This was hastily made, so I don't know how long it'll stay up! And don't use your Tao to shield us from the rain. I worked too hard on his set up to use that as a bail out."

Train rolled his eyes, knowing that wasn't the real reason. Creed really just didn't want him to use his abilities without a controlled testing scenario. As much as he hated the fact that Creed was right, he knew that after what just happened, he couldn't blame the swordsman.

"Where are Sephiria's Erasers?" Train asked as he tried to scan the area for the watchers.

Creed shrugged his shoulders. "Around. They don't matter, just follow me."

Train ran with his partner towards a tent. Once they reached it, he watched Creed quickly unzipped it and as soon as the door was open, Creed slipped inside and pulled Train after him, then zipped it closed again.

Train crawled into the tent and sat on the ground, giving his Stallion a bewildered look. "Where the hell did you get a tent?"

Creed turned around to face his love. "I bought this a while ago."

Train blinked. "Why?"

Creed gave Train an offended look. "Do I not look like a camper to you?!"

Train rolled his eyes. "Actually, no. You seem too prissy for that."

Creed gasped. "Prissy?! What a sexist thing to say, Train!"

Train sighed and reached his leg across to kick Creed's foot. "You know what I mean. You're alway so proper and clean. Isn't camping the opposite of that?"

Creed stood up as best he could in the tent, unzipping another portion of it. "I guess if you look at it from only one point of view it is. Personally, I find it relaxing."

Train frowned as he watched his lover fumble with a new zipper. "How so?"

Creed cursed as fabric got stuck underneath the zipper and tried to dislodge it. "Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, peace and quiet, campfires to keep you warm, and the sweet, melodic sounds of nature being the only symphony to keep you company… It's romantic."

Train smiled, Creed's poetic words never failing to make his heart beat faster. "Did you buy this as another birthday surprise for me?"

Creed frowned. "No… It was an anniversary surprise…"

Train blinked again. "We have an anniversary?"

Creed stopped what he was going and gave Train an offended look. "Of course course we do! We have several! But, I bought this one for the most important one."

Train had a feeling he knew what some of the anniversaries were, but was also aware Creed probably had some weird ones like the first time he ever saw the Black Cat accomplish a mission. "What's the most important one?"

Creed smiled as he finally undid the zipper, revealing a clear ceiling that allowed their eyes access to the sky. "The day I first laid eyes on you…"

Train smiled as Creed situated himself across from him, then looked up at the raining sky. "Is that today?"

Creed shook his head. "No. It's next month. But, I wanted to have this ready before that. And I'm glad I did, because now you can talk to Saya."

Train frowned as he watched the rain fall. "How can I? I can't see the stars…"

Creed crawled over to his love, sitting next to him and leaning against his lean frame. "You just have to look harder, Kitten. Saya's not avoiding you. You're just having a hard time reaching each other, that's all. Like a long distance relationship where you keep getting each other's answering machines."

Train chuckled at Creed's comment and placed his hand on top of his partner's. "No one leaves messages anymore, Creed…"

Creed glared at Train. "I do. And before you make fun of me, shut up."

Train laughed a little louder. "Oh? That's your comeback to my nonexistent invective?"

Creed nodded. "Yes. Now be quiet and look for a-HA, THERE YOU SEE! Right there!"

Train frowned and leaned his head in front of Creed, trying to see what he saw. "Right where?"

Creed sighed and grabbed Train's head to lead him in the right direction. "Right there. It's the only star we can see. That has to be Saya."

Train squinted, then smiled when he saw the bright dot. "Yeah… That's gotta be her…"

Creed let go of his love's head and smiled warmly. "Now you can bring her up to date on everything that's happened. Even though I'm sure she already knows."

Train nodded, not noticing that Creed was reaching for something. "Yeah. We can finally talk."

Creed smiled as he handed Train his Ukulele. "Here. You can play this for her as well."

Train blinked at the instrument being handed to him, then smiled as he took it. "Is it tuned?"

Creed nodded. "Yes. I did that before I brought you here."

The swordsman watched as Train plucked the strings, then made his way towards the door.

As much as I worry about him being left alone, I want to give him privacy with Saya. I also want him to understand I trust him being by himself.

As he placed his hand on the zipper, he sighed wistfully at his love, his heart swelling with warmth at the innocent image of his Kitten smiling sweetly at a star he believed to be his friend.

Creed unzipped the door. "Let me know if you need anything. I'm just a few steps away."

Train jumped forward and grabbed Creed's wrist. "Where are you going?"

Creed gave his beloved a confused look. "Giving you space. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Train sighed and shook his head. "No… Well, not this way at least… If you heard me correctly, I said we can finally talk. Meaning the three of us. We've never actually done that, have we?"

Creed thought about that, then shook his head. "No, we haven't. Well, at least not on good and honest terms that is…"

Train smirked and pulled Creed towards him. "How do you expect me to tell her everything when I still don't know everything? You need to tell Saya as well as me."

Creed smiled adoringly as Train pulled him against his chest, the cat spreading his legs slightly so the silver man could crawl between them and cuddle against his chest. Train wrapped his arms around Creed's body, strumming a few chords he remembered his lover teaching him.

Creed sighed blissfully as he rested his ear against Train's heart. "Yeah… Guess that's true."

Train smiled at his lover, continuing to strum as he kissed the top of Creed's head. "And don't leave out anything. I want to hear every tiny detail."

Creed frowned when he realized it was going to be a long night.

Doesn't matter as long as he's here. I can recite every epic poem ever written if it means I can be in Train's arms forever.

Creed glanced up at the star that they decided was Saya and wrapped his arms around Train's body. "Where do you want me to start?"

Train thought about it for a second, then smirked as he looked mischievously down at his partner. "How about when Lin was beating you up?"

Creed rolled his eyes. "Really?" Feeling his cat nod his head, he sighed again. "Fine… But I was black and blue for days afterwards."

Train smirked. "Even better."

Creed pinched Train's arm. "You machinist."

Train smacked him lightly with the Ukulele. "Shut up and tell the story! And don't make me a princess or damsel in distress this time!"

Creed giggled and began. "Once Upon A Time…"

His story was cut off as Train tackled him to the ground and began attacking him for doing exactly the opposite of what the cat requested.