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

62. Any Means Necessary

Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat or its characters.

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"I see your arm is recovering quite nicely. Does it hurt?"

Charden glared at the scientist, each one of his words coming out in quick, short successions. "Don't change the subject."

Kanzaki shrugged. "I'm just trying to make sure you're doing well. What's wrong with that?"

Charden hardened his glare, his patience for the scientist tenuous at best. "I think we both know you don't truly care about my well being."

Doctor frowned, the expression being anything but sincere. After spending so much time with that woman,faking sympathetic emotions had become a habit. "I really would like to know if it hurts because if it does, that means I need to change your recovery regimen."

Chraden turned his attention to his newly reformed arm that was resting on the table. He flipped it over so his palm was facing the ceiling and flexed his muscles, wiggling his fingers slightly as he watched the bones in his hand squirm underneath his skin and flesh.

Feels good to have it back.

"It doesn't hurt at all."

Doctor smiled. "Just wait until you see what you can do with it…"

Charden could feel a sinister ambition shimmer in his eyes as his mind flooded with the possibilities the bots gave him. However, he was able to rid himself of the covetous thoughts to bring them back to the matter at hand. "That's enough idle chit chat, Doctor."

Charden rested his fingers quietly on the table, stretching them slightly, relieved that he was able to move them so freely and effortlessly. It had been far too long since he felt that good.

Better than good, actually. Incredible. While I don't want to divert the conversation to the Nanomachines yet, it is something Doctor and I need to discuss.

His eyes drifted to the screen that sat in front of him.

But later. We have more important time sensitive matters to discuss at the moment.

He drummed his new Nano-created fingers along the wooden surface of the large table, an annoyed look on his face as he leaned his cheek on the palm of his other hand. His frow was knotted in irritation and his stern eyes were flaming slightly with an irksome glow. The enraged expression etched onto his comely face was caused by what it was focused on at that precise moment.

He frowned when the image on the screen turned over, giving the Blood Taoist full view of the individual's face. Their prisoner had a face that looked as though it began the process of aging far too soon, but the rest of their body appeared to be in peak physical shape. It was clear they went out of their way to make sure they looked their best.

What fresh Hell Kanzaki has brought to our door by bringing this woman here?

Charden gestured towards the screen with his Nano-fingers. "Care to explain yourself?" He turned his fatally livid eyes to the madman in question. "Yet again…"

Kanzaki smiled confidently, not at all affected by the deadly look Charden was giving him since he was positive his plan would work. Even if his leader did not agree.

The madman adjusted his glasses slightly, the small spectiles gleaming ominously in the unnecessarily bright light of the room. "I believe I already did. Several times, in fact."

Charden let out an exasperated sigh, turning his eyes away from the scientist and back to the screen that sat between them on the table. "How did you get her to come here? I'm assuming the fact that she's being kept in our prison chambers she wasn't willing to come?

Doctor chuckled. "To be perfectly honest, I don't know since I didn't bother asking her."

Charden rolled his eyes, not surprised at the man's insinuation. "You drugged her?"

The scientist smiled again. "You know me so well. The fact that she fell for the facade of a relationship we had so quickly made it easy to earn her trust. I simply offered to cook her a meal and she happily accepted."

He glanced at the screen again and smirked. "The last thing she probably remembers is me setting the meal in front of her. She's a rather small woman, so I didn't need to use much to knock her out. After that, it was as easy as getting Aja to transport us all back home."

Charden turned his head back to the sleeping woman.

She's in for quite a rude awakening...

"...What makes you think this is actually going to work?" Charden spoke his words quickly and soundly, but did not look at the madman.

Doctor smirked wickedly, unaware of how devious the expression looked since his intention for the gesture was meant to be benign rather than lethal. "Do I need to remind you of the soft spot the Black Cat has always had for women?"

Echidna rolled her eyes, the actress standing several feet behind Charden as she watched the men from afar. "A rather sexist ideology really…"

She knew Train had the same philosophy about children and she knew it was because he viewed them as weak.

The fact that he puts women in the same category as children is insulting.

The actress sighed quietly and looked out the window. "Just another one of the many things that makes me despise the cat so much…"

She made sure to keep her voice low and her presence muted since she had no intention of getting involved in their conversation. Her habitation in the room was merely a courtesy for her lover. It wasn't that she thought Doctor's plan was flawed, she just didn't see the point of it.

The sweepers and Chronos know the final battle is approaching, how will using this woman give us the upper hand?

"I understand the Black Cat's sexist opinions, you don't need to point them out to me. What I don't understand is why this particular woman is any better than any other on the planet."

Echidna couldn't help but smile slightly at her partner's statement. Despite how far he had slipped from the realm of sanity, it was comforting to know his respect for her had not wavered.

It's also comforting to know our views still align at least a little… Maybe the idea of ending this war before it even starts won't be something I had to force on him.

She glanced at her lover once again, a surge of hope swelling in her chest as she watched him glare at Kanzaki. However, her swelling of faith quickly tumbled into despair when she noticed the unmistakable reflection of potent rage in his eyes.

Nevermind...

The actress rested her head against the wall, once again turning her gaze away from her partner and outside the window.

Guess I'm back to figuring out how to save his soul on my own…

"You really believe the Black Cat's view on women is due to some sexist belief that he thinks they're weak?" Doctor blinked in innocent confusion at his leader, ignoring everything else in Charden's sentence in favor of the rest of his question.

Charden cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

Doctor continued smiling at the man, still oblivious to how much of an opposite effect his expressions were having. "I always believed the Black Cat held that belief because he knew what it was like to have an entire family die. Similar to how they always say 'women and children first' when a ship is sinking, Train understands the imperativeness of maintaining our youth and the people who are responsible for their existence."

Kanzaki looked at Echidna, seemingly reading her thoughts as he turned his conflicting smile to the actress. "If anything, I'd say Heartnet's weakness for women and children is far more respectful and sweet than sexist and flippant."

Echidna scoffed and rolled her eyes again, refusing to admit that he may have had a point. Especially after seeing the women the Black Cat was constantly surrounded with, it was hard believe the legendary assassin saw women in such a bigoted light.

His respect for Number One should be proof enough of that.

She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts, then glanced down at the screen that held the small image of their prisoner, keeping her mouth shut since she did not want to be involved in their plans for the upcoming battle. The further reach from stability she saw her partner fall, the less invested in their war she became.

Charden shook his head and started drumming his fingers against the table yet again. "You don't get to choose what part of my sentences you respond to, Doctor. Answer my question."

Doctor turned his conflicting smile back to his male leader. "Because this particular woman is essentially the new version of the sweeper girl Creed-sama killed."

Charden sighed, understanding Doctor was being purposefully vague in order to get him to ask more questions. "...Please elaborate."

Kanzaki knew the Blood Taoist'spoliet choice of words weren't meant to be taken as an act of kindness. "This woman known simply as E is an old friend of the Black Cat's."

Charden rolled his eyes and gestured with his hand for the madman to give him more details. "And your point…? The Black Cat has a lot of friends. Hell, he has a fanclub full of fangirls and boys. What makes this woman so special?"

Doctor chuckled as he looked at the screen that held the image of the sleeping woman. "Trust me, E is not a fangirl."

Charden sighed again and rested his face in his hand. "That's besides the point, Doctor. Stop playing coy. You know my patience with you is nearly non-existent as it is. The fact that you're still alive is beyond me."

Echidna frowned, knowing exactly why the man was alive, and it had very little to do with whatever his plan for that woman was.

We need him… We probably need him more than any other member in this organization.

Of all the people Echidna wished to be spared from Charden's warth, Doctor was not one of them.

Kanzaki attempted to smile kindly at his leaders, but it again came off far too sinister. "I missed you too, Charden…"

Charden reacted instinctively and slammed his hand on the table again. However, as he hit the surface, his first turned into the head of a sledge hammer, cracking the wood slightly as his eyes jolted down to the limb.

The room was silent as all three occupants inside stared at Charden's hand in shock. Well, at least two of them were shocked. Doctor, on the other hand, was smiling proudly.

Kanzaki turned his eyes to his leader's stunned face. "Are you sure you don't wish to talk about your Nanomachines first?"

Charden blinked at his hand a few times, watching as the wood splintered around it and pulled it out of the broken wood. Once it was removed, he shook his arm and watched as it turned back to normal. He wasn't sure how he managed to reform the shape, but then again he also wasn't sure how he turned it into a hammer in the first place either.

...I cannot get distracted by this yet.

Charden shook his head and flexed his fingers. "Not yet. I need you to explain your plans with this woman first and I need you to explain now. Stop trying to change the subject."

Doctor sighed and leaned back in his chair. "What makes you think I'm trying to change the subject?"

"Because your plan is pointless and you know when Charden finds out, you will be dealt with accordingly."

Kanzaki turned his eyes towards Echidna and smirked at her salty comment. "I wouldn't have brought the woman here if I thought my plan was pointless, Ms. Parass. I would have dealt with the woman myself if that was the case. Or at the very least, I would have left her alone."

He watched as the actress rolled her eyes and checked out of the conversation again. He knew she was only there to keep an eye on her lover and she made it perfectly clear that she had no interest in anything he had to say.

And it's obvious that she's already made up her mind about my plan. Even though she hasn't heard it yet.

He turned his smirk into a smile. "Please forgive me, Charden-sama. I don't mean to keep changing the subject. We simply just have a lot to talk about. It has been a while since we've seen each other."

"Doctor…" Charden said as he scowled at the scientist and pointed harshly at the sleeping woman on the screen. "Explain."

Doctor turned his smile to the Blood Taoist once again. "As I said before, this woman is like a replacement for that dead sweeper girl… What was her name again?"

Echidna sighed. "Saya."

Honestly, the way both he and Creed talked about her when they were running the Apostles you think he'd have the name etched into his head like I do.

Doctor nodded thankfully at her, then turned back to Charden. "Yes, Saya. The Black Cat met this woman after he left the Apostles. She's the reason he decided to become a sweeper and is pretty much the reason he decided to re-acclimate himself into society."

Charden nodded in understanding. "Okay… So you're saying she's special to Heartnet?" Seeing Doctor nod, he sighed. "The Black Cat has a lot of people who are special to him. We could have also kidnapped that bio-girl, the older male sweeper, the thief, that fire breathing turncoat, or literally any of Creed's music friends and he'd come for them."

Doctor shrugged. "True. But, this woman is different. Both Creed and Train saw her as a sign from the other side."

Charden cocked an eyebrow at him. "The other side?"

Kanzaki nodded. "Yes. From what this woman has told me, the Black Cat kept running into her at moments when he needed her most. Like I said, the first time was when he was at his lowest after leaving Creed and the Apostles and every time he ran into her after that seemed to be when he was questioning himself again."

He turned to the image on the screen and gave the sleeping woman a devious smirk. "She was unknowingly there for Train when he was desolate and broken hearted after finding out what his possessive lover had done to keep the cat for himself. She was the catalyst Train needed to finally pick up the shattered remains of his life, and the reason he lives the life he lives now."

Doctor chuckled at his own words. "Even if his new life just happens to be with the man that ruined it in the first place."

Charden an annoyed sound. "Are you explaining your reasoning to me or pitching a screenplay for a soap opera?"

Doctor turned back to his leader. "This woman wasn't just a sign for Train, but for Creed as well. He ran into her by chance just like Train did so many times before him. They also met around the time he and the Black Cat were rekindling their relationship and Creed's adventitious encounter with E helped him form a strong connection with her."

Kanzaki crossed his legs and arms as he finished his thoughts. "Both of our former leaders see her as a sign of something more. A sign that they believe their relationship was always meant to be, and a sign of what they believe their future is going to be."

Again, Charden sighed. "So, you're saying this woman is a different kind of special to them?"

Doctor nodded. "Exactly. And unlike the rest of the people in their group, she's a foriegn and unidentified person. Meaning she's vulnerable and out of the reach of Chronos."

Charden's ears perked a little at that statement. "...Chronos doesn't know about her?"

Doctor smirked, happy to see his leader was finally beginning to understand where he was going with his line of reasoning. "Precisely. And the better news is Creed has been trying to set up a reunion with this woman for quite some time now. I just so happened to find her at the perfect moment."

Charden leaned back in his chair. "She's been in recent contact with them?"

Doctor made a so-so gesture with his hand. "Kind of. It sounds like they lost touch again when we had the Black Cat as prisoner. However, after everything fell apart-"

"-You mean after you cost us our most valuable weapon due to your insatiable desire to prove your worth?"

Kazanki sighed at his leader's interruption, but knew better than to correct him. They hadn't gotten into the details of his disappearance yet, but he knew that conversation wasn't far in the future. He also figured if he was honest and owned up to his actions, maybe Charden would be more inclined to accept his plan and forgive him.

"Yes… After I cost us the Black Cat, Aja just so happened to transport me to this woman's town where this time I had a chance meeting with her."

Charden gave the scientist a skeptical look. "That sounds like a huge coincidence that Aja would just happen to bring you to the town where this woman just happened to live."

Doctor smiled at the blonde man. "It's not so much of a coincidence when you remember her connection with the Black Cat. When she transported us away, I did not give her clear instructions as to where to go since we were in a rush, so she probably acted on instinct. Again, similar to Train."

Charden sighed and drummed his fingers on the table again. "And you believe her first instinct was to bring you to the town this woman happened to live in? A town none of us have ever heard of and can't even be found on most maps?"

Again, Doctor smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what I believe. I understand it may seem strange, but it really isn't. Train found that town and that woman by chance and from what she's explained to me, he spent quite a lot of time there. He used it to give himself seclusion from the world so he could gather his thoughts and figure out what he wanted without the influence of Creed, Chronos, or the Apostles."

He glanced at the screen where his fake now ex-lover was still sleeping and gave the woman a malevolent grin. "While I don't believe in any form of an afterlife or really anything spiritual, I do believe I was meant to find this woman. As you stated, it's far too big of a coincidence that I found her by accident. There has to be a reason behind our meeting."

If E meeting both the Black Cat and Creed by accident just when they needed her the most is fate, then what else could it possibly be that I happened to meet her in my time of need as well?

The scientist turned back to Charden as he finished his statement. "It's a sign. I'm sure of it."

Charden continued drumming his fingers as he locked eyes with Kanzaki once again, then looked back at the screen. "...If she's really unknown to Chronos and already has a relationship with those men… then maybe she will be worth our time."

Echidna opened her mouth to protest her lover's words, but shut it quickly when she realized it wouldn't make a difference. Charden stopped taking her opinion seriously a long time ago, so she knew there wasn't a point in stating her view on the matter.

As much as I want to tell him Doctor's plans have never worked in our favor in the past, I won't. He's already proven there's no talking sense in him, so what would make this moment any different?

Echidna looked at the sleeping woman out of the corner of her eye.

...I'll keep my idea for the war alive and to myself while he forms yet another failed arrangement with this madman.

"What are your plans with her? Just use her as bait? Is that it?"

Doctor frowned. "That's not enough?"

Charden sighed and leaned forward, resting both his Nano-created arm and his natural arm on the table as he eyed Kanzaki. "Since her existence is unknown to Chronos, I agree she'll be good bait to lure our Creed and Train out by themselves, but what's the plan after that?"

Doctor deepened his frown. "I thought the rest of it was obvious…"

Charden looked at the man out of the corner of his eyes. "We just... jump them?"

Kanzaki turned his frown into a smile. "Yes."

It was Charden's turn to frown. "That's rather simplistic…"

Doctor sighed and leaned forward to rest his arms on the table as well. "What's wrong with having a simplistic plan? Everything we've done up until now has been over the top or overly convoluted and none of it has worked. Maybe the issue has been that we're thinking too hard about it. Maybe we need to dial it back a bit and stop thinking so far outside the box."

Kanzaki chuckled as he completed his thoughts. "After all, the Black Cat never puts that much thought into his plans and they always seem to work out in his favor."

Charden ran his finger through his golden hair. "Yes, but Creed always has a plan, and I firmly believe that's why Heartnet is still alive. Because his plans always work in the cat's favor."

Doctor leaned back in his chair. "True, but Creed's plans are also never needlessly complicated. Their genius and beauty lines in their simplisticity. Which is exactly what I'm trying to do right now."

Charden turned his eyes back to the screen that held the unconscious woman. "...You're positive neither the Black Cat or Creed know it's been you messaging them under the guise of this woman?"

Doctor shrugged and looked out the window, a lackadaisical look on his face as he spoke. "That is my belief, yes."

Charden turned another heated glare onto the scientist. "I don't want your belief, Doctor. After everything you've done and after everything we've been through, I want absolute certainty. We no longer have the luxury to put our eggs in a singular, unstable, unpredictable basket. If we're going to do this, we need to be unimpeachably assured it is going to work."

Doctor began drumming his fingers on the table as well, trying to figure out what he could say to his leader to get him to agree his plan was the best course of action for them. The biggest issue he was having was that all he had to prove his plan would work was his gut.

And I'm not one to normally follow my gut and neither is Charden. The only reason I'm listening to it now is because I don't think there are any other options.

Besides that, if studying the Black Cat for as long as he had taught him anything, it was that following your instincts was a valid course of action when in a crisis. While it was true Train had the good fortune of having Lady Luck and Creed Diskenth absolutely infatuated with him along with the skills and talent needed to back up their support, that didn't change the gunman always managed to get himself out of the tightest of pinches just by following his gut.

And if it works for him, it should work for us.

However, Doctor knew none of that was going to convince his leader. He was going to have to approach the subject from another angle in order to get Charden on board.

Similar to me, he's never been one to believe in fate or luck. If I tell him I believe it will work because my instincts say it will, he'll dismiss my plan completely and just kill the woman.

He glanced at the screen again and smirked.

Not that I'd mind that much. I'm kind of hoping this plan ends in the woman's death. Despite the usefulness she may provide soon, she's been nothing but a thorn in my side since I met her.

With the same contradictingly calm, yet malignant look on his face, Doctor locked eyes with his leader once again. "Do you have a better plan?"

Echidna couldn't help herself as she answered his rhetorical question. "Literally anything else in the world…"

Since Charden woke up, Shiki and Maro had been pushing to just outright abmush Chronos while they might still be weak. Echidna agreed with the point they made that their enemies had been given enough time to recover and possibly become stronger while the Apostles were resting and she couldn't help but agree with them.

But, of course, Charden disagreed with me.

"Could you please elaborate what you mean by that statement, Darling?"

Echidna jumped when she heard Charden address her, turning her head away from the window to make eye contact with her lover. Her heart swelled with heat when she saw the devoted look in his eyes and for a brief second, the actress felt as though her partner had returned to her. For a brief second, Echidna thought that maybe Charden was going to take her in his arms and sing words of love to her once again.

However, the moment turned out to be a fleeting one since his dutiful look soon twisted into a carcinogenic one again, making the woman sigh, but answer his question nonetheless.

He did ask for my opinion this time… Maybe he'll be more willing to listen when he requests it instead of when I offer it.

She knew her thoughts were naive, but she figured it didn't hurt to cling to a small bit of hope when it so generously presented itself to her. "I hate to say I agree with Shiki and Maro, but they brought up a good point. None of our plans to take down Creed and Train on their own have worked, so at this point why not just go in guns blazing and take down Chronos while they still might be weak?"

The actress looked at her lover's arm as she spoke. "Now that your arm is fully recovered, what's the point of coming up with another plan? Let's just get this war over with so we can finally be done with the headache of Chronos and the sweepers."

Echidna could tell the frown Charden was giving her was meant to be interpreted as sympathetic, but it came off as callous and uncaring. "My Dear… Are you really that eager to get this war over with?"

Echidna frowned at her partner, attempting to show him how much pain she was in by the expression on her face and the look in her eyes. "You're not?"

Seeing the Blood Taoist's eyes did not leave her and noting a momentary flash of compassion in them, Echidna quickly took advantage of his pithy return to sanity and hurried over to the man she loved. She reached out and took both his hands in her own, squeezing them tightly and ignoring the inorganic touch of his Nano-limb.

"Charden…" She started, her eyes bright with adoration and piety, keeping them locked onto her partner's, desperate to adhere all her hopes and dreams onto the brief moment of humanity he was displaying. "Isn't that what you want? Don't you want this war to be over? So we can finally live peacefully in the world you wish you create?"

She squeezed his hands a little tighter, even going so far as to give them a light kiss as she rested her forehead on his fingers. "Let's just end this war, my love. Let's end it quickly so we can fast forward to our happily ever after. And let's end it by any means necessary. Even if that means kicking Chronos' door down and disposing of them all once and for all."

Charden blinked at his partner several times, a familiar warm sensation rising his chest; a sensation he hadn't experienced in far longer than he cared to admit. When he saw a single tear fall from her eye and land on his hand, he instinctively brushed it away with his finger which caused the actress to twitch and raise her head to meet his gaze once more.

As their eyes met for a second time, the Blood Taoist smiled. A true, genuine smile. One that was filled with nothing but love and devotion for the woman staring at him. A smile that he hadn't communicated in so long, it actually hurt his lips to twist themselves into that specific position. It felt like it had been centuries since he was capable of feeling such warmth and reverence, and the muscles of his face were having a hard time maintaining the expression.

Echidna felt hope swell in her chest as she watched her partner slowly return to her and watched as he opened his mouth to speak. However, instead of hearing the soothing, baritone voice of her lover, her ears were instead greeted with the terrible, tenor timbre of the Doctor.

"Knocking down the door to Chronos headquarters is a death sentence. If we do that, you'll never be able to run off into the sunset with each other because one, if not both of you, will be dead."

Echidna turned her head quickly to Kanzaki, fire in her venomous eyes as she silently cursed the man.

Kanzaki ignored the woman's deadly look as he continued. "I know I don't have proof that this plan will work, but I can assure you it will work better than going into Chronos headquarters, gun blazing, with absolutely no plan in mind. If you ask me, that's not a plan. That's a suicide mission."

He leaned forward so Charden could see the look in his eyes. "If you truly want to take Chronos down. If you truly want this war to be over and come out victorious on the other side so you can live happily ever after with your beloved, then using this woman is our best course of action. This will be the best way to rid ourselves of our two most deadly and dangerous enemies."

Charden stared at the scientist, listening to every one of his words and feeling the heat Echidna had created in his chest slowly dissipating. He squeezed the woman's hands, thinking of the future he wished to share with her and the rest of society and knew exactly what their next course of action should be.

"I agree. Running into Chronos headquarters with no plan in mind will only end in our deaths." Charden pulled his hands away from Echidna. "Need I remind you we've had just as much time as our enemies to get stronger? Jax is practically at his limit for strength and from what I understand, the other members have been training non-stop, correct?"

Seeing the man's eyes glance at her, Echidna sighed quietly. "Yes…"

Charden looked back to Doctor. "And Hue says most of the children are ready for battle as well. I expect you will check on that just to be sure, but that combined with the rest of the Taoists' improved skills, I think we should be more than prepared for battle. Assuming we can get rid of those two men first."

He could tell Echidna was about to speak so he put a hand up to stop her, his eyes locked back onto the screen as he spoke. "On top of all that, I have the Nanomachines…"

His eyes drifted to his arm, smirking as he watched the muscles in his limb flex inhumanly. "...With help, I'm sure I can learn how to properly wield them in battle. Isn't that right, Doctor?"

Seeing the madman return his smirk and nod, Charden turned back to his partner and attempted to give her another loving look. However, since the odious glow had reinstituted itself in his eyes, the expression came off as anything but caring and Echidna felt all the hope she just reclaimed disappear almost as quickly as they had come.

"There's no need to rush, my love. Patience is a virtue, and I shan't waste that virtue just because you're feeling eager to end this war."

Echidna stared at the man for several more seconds before finally stepping away from him and towards the window. She turned her back towards her partner and Kanzaki, resting her hand on the window as she felt another tear fall from her eye.

She didn't know how it was possible, but her heart somehow managed to break all over again. In that brief moment when Charden came back, she allowed herself to believe that he was going to take her in his arms and agree that the war wasn't worth all the pain they'd been through. She even went so far as to fantasize he was going to suggest they run away together.

This time I have no one else to blame but myself for the pain. I should have known better than to think he'd throw everything away for me.

She rested her forehead against the pane of the window, shutting her eyes as she tried to stop the tears from flowing down her face. In the background, she faintly heard Doctor and Charden solidify their plans, but Echidna did not care. She was too busy trying to figure out what she could do to save her lover's soul.

Even if it is too late...

The actress shook her head and opened her eyes, staring at her reflection in the window as she made a silent resolution to herself.

No. I won't think that way and I won't be pathetic anymore. I won't be weak. I'll find a way out of this hellscape we've found ourselves in and save Charden.

Her eyes fell to the reflection of Charden's figure in the window as the man had a heated conversation with Kanzaki and clenched her fist.

By any means necessary.

"And what if it doesn't work?" Echidna said suddenly, not bothering to cover up the animosity in her voice as she spoke. "What if Chronos does know about this woman and is prepared for an ambush? What if Train and Creed don't come alone?"

Another reason Echidna thought the plan was stupid was because she thought it was absolutely absurd Sephiria didn't know anything about that woman's existence. She was the leader of the most powerful organization in the world. There was no way she didn't at least have a whiff of E's presence in the Black Cat's life.

Not to mention Creed still remains one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. There's a chance he's caught onto Doctor through their digital conversations. I can't imagine Kanzaki would make a very convincing woman. Even if it is through a phone.

Echidna couldn't help but smirk slightly at the image of Doctor in a wig and dress and decided to use it as inspiration for the strength she needed to finish her statement. "What if your plan fails yet again, Doctor? What then?"

Doctor kept his eyes fastened onto the woman's for a moment, then gave her another fake smile as he spoke in the most condescending tone Echidna had ever heard. "Don't worry, Ms. Parass. Similar to Creed, my plan is contingent on the Black Cat throwing us a curveball at the last minute."

He leaned back in his chair, keeping his eyes and his tone the same as he continued. "I would never purposefully endanger Charden-sama or anyone else in our dysfunctional family. If my time apart has taught me anything, it's that I am most myself when I'm with the Apostles. I don't want anything to happen to any of you."

He sweetened his already luscious smirk, making the actress subtly twitch with silent rage as he completed his thought. "I missed you all."

Echidna clenched her fists then continued to ignore everything else the men said.

Charden was too busy staring at the screen and thinking about the plan he just concocted with Kanzaki to hear or see the exchange between the two. "We'll need that monkey for this plan, correct?"

Kanzaki turned back to his leader. "Correct. And if it all pans out the way we want, they will be coming to us. Which means everyone else should be ready to attack the moment we return."

Charden nodded and stood up quickly, shoving his chair back as he raised his Nano-machine arm in the hand. "Good. Now that we've settled the arrangement for the final battle, I need you to show me how to properly wield the Nanomachines."

Doctor smirked and stood up as well, making his way to the door as he spoke. "Let's collect Jax as well. From what I understand, he's done an impeccable job on his own and could potentially help you."

Echidna listened as the men left the room as she continued staring out the window. When she heard the door close, she turned quickly on her heel and exited the door opposite the one her lover had used, symbolic of how her destination was paradoxical to theirs.

As she left the room, there was only one thought on her mind.

By any means necessary…

---

Oh my God! So bored! Why do I always feel like I'm waiting for Sephiria?!

Golden eyes stared listlessly at the bland ceiling, the owner of said eyes resting his feet on a large conference table and stretching his arms in the air. Train crooned out a loud groan as he flung his arms in the air, the exaggerated motion along with the cumbrous sound eliciting a few annoyed noises from the other occupants in the room. All except for one.

He ignored the numbers' annoyed looks and turned to the empty chair next to him that his partner once occupied.

Well, I'm either waiting for her or someone else. Why would Sephiria take Creed with her?

Train was currently sitting in the conference room of Chronos Headquarters, waiting for Number One to come back with his fiancé along with what would hopefully be a more solid plan for what they were going to do about E.

I still don't want to believe that she's been taken hostage or is going to betray us, but after everything that's happened, I can't rule it out.

Train tried to come up with a million reasons as to why it didn't make sense that E was somehow connected to the Apostles, but when he realized he made the same excuses for Nica and the others, he quickly stopped those hopeful thoughts.

I didn't listen to Sephiria the first time, so I have to listen to her now. And if they do have E hostage, I'll save her. No matter what.

Train nodded to himself then leaned back in his chair to the point that one of the occupants in the room decided to vocalize his concern. "Train… You're going to fall."

Train brushed Lin's words aside and scoffed. "I'm not going to fall."

Baldor spoke with barely contained anger. "I'd be more than happy to give you a push…"

Train turned a cheeky smirk to the large man. "Is that a threat?"

Baldor rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath. "Such an annoying brat…"

The golden man noticed Lin was about to speak in his defense, but Train beat him to the punch. "This coming from a man who refuses to sit down. You know, in all the years I've known you, I've never seen you sit."

Baldor looked at the gunman out of the corner of his eye. "...And that's annoying how?"

Train continued giving him a cheeky smile since he knew the older man hated his playful looks. "It's not so much annoying as it is offensive."

Baldor cocked an eyebrow at the younger man. "How so?"

Train sighed, trying to make it seem as though he was annoyed just to further push the other man's buttons. "I mean, think about it from the chair's point of view."

Train gestured towards the chair closest to Baldor. "It's just sitting there wondering what's so wrong with it that you refuse to even acknowledge its presence. The whole point of its existence is to have a butt resting in it, yet you deny it the one job it was created for. You deny it the one duty it wishes nothing more than to carry out. It's just plain rude."

Baldor rolled his eyes and was about to open his mouth when the voice of another man who caused him nothing by frustration spoke.

"That's not entirely true, Train."

Train turned to Jenos who was leaning on the table and looked over Lin so he could see the cat. The gunman cocked an eyebrow at him. "Oh? Is that so?"

Jenos nodded and began counting on his fingers. "Chairs can also be used as stools, props to hold doors open, barricades for doors and windows, weapons if you're really in a tight pinch, or even to lean on as a crutch."

Train thought about what Number VII said, then nodded in agreement. "I guess that's all true. But, my point is its primary purpose is for people to sit in it."

Jenos nodded as well. "Agreed. I'm just saying they can be used for more, so maybe Baldor doesn't have to feel so bad about not using it."

"I DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT!" Baldor shouted, pushing himself off the wall he was leaning on as he glared between the two men. "Why the hell are you even discussing the make believe scenario that an inanimate object is having an existential crisis?!"

"OH! They can be used for jousting too!" Train exclaimed, completely ignoring Baldor's outburst as he pushed his chair forward and leaned on the table to see Jenos.

It was Jenos' time to ponder what the cat said, then nodded. "Huh… Guess I could see that."

Baldor was fuming as he shot his heated scowl back and forth between the comical men, then stopped at the man sitting between them who had been giggling non-stop. "Just what the hell do you find so funny…?"

Lin snickered as he spoke. "Everything. Your face, your anger, and the idea of a chair having its heart broken over not being able to hold your oversized butt."

Train gave a mocking frown as he leaned back in his chair again. "I didn't think about that… Maybe it's actually alleviated by the fact that it's not weighted down by his massive ass."

"HEY!" Baldor shouted as he took several steps towards the table. "If chairs really had feelings, then how do you think yours is feeling by having to balance your precarious ass with that ridiculous and disrespectful position you refuse to move from?!"

Kranz sighed. "Number VIII, don't fall into the cat's shenanigans. If you do that, he wins."

Baldor glanced at his partner, then stepped away from the table and back to the wall, grumbling more harsh words about the Black Cat.

"I agree with the Black Cat to a certain point."

All eyes fell to Nizer, who had been relatively quiet the entire time. Seeing the confusion in their eyes and the annoyance in Baldor's, he elaborated. "I mean the part about being disrespectful. I could see how Number One might view your standing position as a sign that you really don't want to be here. That you are on your feet so you'll be ready to leave the moment the meeting is over."

Baldor frowned at Number V. "Or she could see it as I'm ready to go no matter what."

"That would only be true if we were going to battle immediately after this." Kranz chimed in. "Otherwise, I agree with Nizer."

Baldor growled again and clenched his fists, further enraged by the proud smirk Train was giving him upon hearing everyone agree with him. "And what if there's an ambush? I'll be the first one ready to resp-."

Baldor cut his sentence short and threw his flail in front of his face when he saw a bright light out of the corner of his eye hurtling towards him. Once he removed his weapon, he saw Train's smirk had widened, his fingers sparking brightly and pointing in his direction.

Train winked at the man as he spoke. "Don't be so certain the rest of us aren't ready for a fight while still in a seated position. Just look at your friends."

Baldor gave the cat another glare before scanning the room, seeing all the other numbers had stood up with their weapons at the ready. It seemed that the gunman's sudden, but small attack was triggering enough to make the rest of the assassins believe it was an actual enemy assault.

Baldor set Heimdall aside as the rest of the numbers sat back down. "...Do that again and it'll be the last prank you ever pull."

Lin glared at Number VIII as he put his weapon away as well. "Don't threaten Train. Especially not in Chronos Headquarters where Sephiria can hear you."

Baldor growled at the smaller man's need to protect the cat's honor. "Then tell your precious little cat not to use his Tao in Chronos Headquarters unless we're actually under attack."

Train slammed both his hands on the table. "YOU'RE NOT MY SUPERVISOR!"

Lin giggled again at his Sweet Love's reaction, then patted Train's shoulder to get his attention. "He's right, Train. If Sephiria catches you using your Tao or your Nanomachines as a means to annoy the other numbers, she'll make you leave."

Train grumbled, then leaned back in his chair again, much to Lin's displeasure. "Fine by me… We're not getting anything done here anyway."

Kazuki frowned as he glanced at the large clock on the wall. "Where is Sephiria anyway? She's been gone for almost an hour."

Jenos rolled his eyes. "Miss her already?"

Kazuki blushed, then glared at Jenos. "I'm just concerned since she's with Diskenth."

Train turned a warning look to the new Number XIII. "...And just what do you mean by that?"

Kazuki realized what he said, then sighed and brushed his words aside. "Nothing…"

Train hardened his scowl and set his chair right again, much to Lin's pleasure. "You know he was deemed fit for duty by your organization, right?"

Again, Kazuki waved his hand in the air, turning his gaze away from Train's as if that would save him from the legendary assassin's wrath. "Like I said, I meant nothing by it."

Train growled quietly under his breath before opening his mouth to speak again. However, he stopped when he felt a hand being gently placed on his own and he turned to Lin instead.

Number X smiled and patted Train's hand. "Let it go, Train. We all know both you and Creed are credible allies. We wouldn't have trained with you today if that wasn't the case."

Train stared at his former lover for a few moments, only just then realizing how many cuts and bruises he had on his face. He then scanned the room quickly and noticed the disheveled condition of all the other numbers. They had literally just come from their training session and unlike him and Creed, the assassins had no means of healing their wounds quickly.

Train turned back to Lin and frowned, noticing how worse off he looked than everyone else.

That's because he refused to attack me and ended up getting pummeled far more. He really needs to stop trying to protect me.

Still, Train was touched by the depth of the man's affection for him and decided to repay Lin for his kindness.

Lin blushed wildly and stammered his words when he noticed the gunman was reaching his hands out towards him. "Wh-what are you doing, Train?!"

Train smiled. "Helping you with your wounds. Seeing as I caused most of them, it's the least I could do."

Lin emitted a quiet, blissful sigh the moment Train's strong, calloused hands cupped each of his cheeks. He couldn't remember the last time the cat touched him so tenderly, and he was quickly swept away by the crest of heat that slowly swelled through his body, sending pleasurable shivers down his spine.

The assassin shut his eyes and leaned into his Sweetness' hands, resting his face as far as it could go, reveling in the rewarding warmth of Train. As he relaxed his head in the Black Cat's hand, he felt a different surge of incalescence encompassing only his face. While it was still a pleasant sensation, it was one he had never experienced before.

Is it possible I've somehow managed to fall even further in love with him and am now experiencing a new and even stronger sensation of love?

Curious, the assassin opened his eyes to see what exactly Train was doing. It certainly felt like he was simply only holding his face, but there was something about the slight change in temperature of his hands that made Lin think the gunman was actually doing something to him.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he blinked a few times in shock at what he saw. Train's arms all the way up to his wrists were glowing a bright shade of purple that mixed with a light shade of blue, giving his limbs a lavender hue. The cat had his eyes shut, his brow furrowed slightly as if he were concentrating.

The color that wrapped around Train's arm extended towards Number X and engulfed his face, staining Lin's skin the same complexion of the Black Cat's. As the color surrounded his entire head, Lin felt the minor pain in his face gradually subside. That was when he realized what Train was doing.

"Train, are you-"

"-Shhh, be quiet. I've only done this a few times. I need to concentrate."

Lin shut his mouth and made sure not to nod his head so as not to jar his Sweetness out of his concentrated state.

The rest of the room was silent as well, a few of the numbers holding their breath as they watched the former assassin heal his friend. Other than Lin, none of them had ever seen Train actually use his Nanomachines before, so even if it was a small example of how they worked, it was quite an exciting event for them to witness.

While everyone watched with bated breath, Lin swooned longingly in Train's hands, overjoyed because his Sweetness was touching him in what could be interpreted as an intimate embrace between lovers. That, combined with the natural warmth and kindness Train's touches always held and the soothing heat the Nanomachines provided, Lin felt like he was bathing in a euphoric river of sultry fire and prayed he'd never be broken from his sweet love's hold.

And then there's his face… It's so completely and utterly precious! How can one person look so adorable while concentrating?

There was a child-like innocence to Train's expression whenever he was thinking. The way his brow furrowed and his eyes squeezed shut was far too captivating for words. The charming look created little wrinkles throughout the cat's face which sent Lin's heart ablaze and he found himself etching the image of his Sweet Love in his head. Just in case he'd never see it again.

No. Don't think like that. Train won't die. He won't allow himself to be killed in the final battle.

Honestly, Train being murdered by the Apostles wasn't his biggest fear. He didn't think any of the Taoists were a threat to him. What worried him was Train sacrificing himself for one of his friends. Lin believed that was totally within the realm of reality.

But, if I think about it, I won't be able to focus on the war and I'll lose my cool which could result in him trying to save me and…

Again, Lin shoved the thought out of his head and chose to instead focus on the way Train made his heart flutter. After a few minutes, all the pain in his face had completely disappeared and Lin frowned since he knew that meant Train was going to take his hands away.

As he watched Train slowly open his eyes, the small assassin melted when the man's magnanimous amber irises met his own. The Number didn't notice the soft whimper that left his mouth, but Train did. The muted noise caused the cat to smile cordially at Lin, knowing his ex-lover wanted more than just a kind smile and the knowledge that he couldn't provide his friend with more broke his heart.

Train pinched Lin's cheeks and turned his expression into a playful one. "Does it still hurt?"

Lin frowned as best he could behind the cat's gesture, shoving aside his broken heart in favor of answering Train's question. "Well, yeah, you're pinching me."

Train laughed and pulled his hands away. "Fair enough. How about now?"

Lin rubbed his cheeks, then his lips where he knew he had a rather large cut just moments ago. He smiled, feeling it was no longer there, and noticed the discomfort he once felt was completely gone as well. "Doesn't hurt at all. Thank you, Train."

Train put his feet back on the table so he could lean back in his chair again and scanned the room. As he looked around, he noticed all eyes were on him, and he had a feeling it wasn't because of how he was sitting.

He gave the numbers a cheeky smile as he spoke. "Anyone want to go next?"

Jenos was the first to speak as he leaned across the table. "How did you do that?!"

Train turned his to face the man. "Eve taught me."

"Can you heal bigger wounds?" Nizer asked next.

Train shrugged. "Not sure. I haven't been presented with anything more problematic than a cut or bruise. Eve says I should be able to heal broken bones, but I haven't tried yet."

Baldor frowned as he spoke. "Cuts and bruises? That's it?"

Train rolled his eyes and put his hands behind his head and leaned further back in the chair. "Weren't you listening? I said I should be able to heal bones as well."

Baldor sighed and rubbed his forehead. He could feel a headache forming, and he was positive it was due to the aggravating actions of the cat. "Yes, but the point is you haven't, so we can't rely on that during the fight with the Apostles."

Train sighed. "It's better than nothing isn't it? Besides, I'm confident I can do it! The other night, Creed cut himself pretty deeply on a knife while making dinner and I was able to heal it."

Baldor looked to Lin who nodded. "It's true. I was there. It was a pretty bad laceration and Train was able to repair it with no problem."

When Baldor looked back at Train, the gunman beamed at him. "You'll be in good hands."

Baldor crossed his arms against his chest, then turned his head away from the whole group.

Train decided he didn't care about the older man's naturally disgruntled nature and began staring at the ceiling again. He pushed his feet against the table, causing his chair to lean back even further which earned another complaint from Lin.

"Train, seriously, sit the right way. You're gonna fall and the wall is right behind you."

Train rolled his eyes. "I've had worse and you know it."

Lin shivered as dark memories resurfaced and he pouted at his Sweetness. "Train, please…"

Train sighed and looked at the man. "I'll fix my chair when Sephiria gets here, okay?"

Lin opened his mouth to protest again, but his eyes darted to the door opening behind the Black Cat. Train turned as well to see if it was the woman they had been waiting for, but his motion was too fast. As soon as he turned his head, his chair began to fall backwards, and he braced himself for impact on the wall Lin just warned him about.

However, instead of hitting anything solid, he felt the chair stop and push upright. Train blinked, then looked up to see his lover's worried, yet annoyed eyes glowering down at him.

Train smiled bashfully and chuckled awkwardly. "Hey, Creed…"

Creed narrowed his eyes for a second, then took a seat next to his beloved. "Honestly, Train, why do you have to be so careless? That position is a great way to get a concussion."

Train pouted at his partner. "Sorry…"

Lin frowned as he watched Creed place a loving hand on Train's head and began to gently pet the golden man's chocolate locks. To make matters worse, Creed leaned forward and whispered something into the cat's ear and judging by the look on Train's face, Lin could tell it was something sweet and affectionate.

Not wanting to subject himself to the scene any longer, Lin turned to his leader who had stepped into the room after Creed and took a seat at the head of the table, Belze standing faithfully at her side as always.

"Do we have a plan?"

Sephiria glanced at Lin. "We do."

Baldor stepped away from the wall and sat in the chair that was meant for him. "What is it?"

Sephiria looked at Creed and noticed he had become too preoccupied with Train and decided to speak for both of them. "After speaking with Diskenth, I can confidently say I do not think he's been speaking to the woman known as E."

"What?!" Train said as he shot his head up and off the table, pushing his lover's soothing hand off him. "What makes you so sure? And what do you think happened to her?"

Creed frowned when his Kitten shot his eyes at him. "We don't know, Train…"

"Is it possible she's been working for the Apostles the entire time like those other people?"

Train threw his pained eyes over to Kranz. "No. There's no way that's true."

Since none of the numbers other than Lin trusted Train's judgement, they looked to Sephiria who was looking at the panicked gunman

She folded her hands on the table and leaned forward. "No, we don't think she's been working with the Apostles. If anything, she's a hostage."

"Hostage?!" Train's momentary relief at hearing Sephiria didn't believe she was a traitor quickly vanished as images of his captivity with the Apostles flooded his mind.

Creed could sense his Kitten's anxiety rising and used one hand to tangle their fingers together, the other resting on his knee, squeezing it firmly. "It'll be okay, Love…"

"What makes you so certain she's being held hostage and isn't a traitor?" Nizer added, clearly not caring around the Black Cat's growing trepidation.

Sephiria turned her gaze towards Nizer, choosing to let Creed handle the worried cat. "Because it doesn't make sense to be anything else. Heartnet met her when he left the Apostles and since Creed had no idea she even existed until earlier this year, there's no way she had anything to do with them back then."

Jenos spoke next, throwing worried eyes quickly in Train's direction before he voiced his question. "Is it possible someone else in the Apostles found her and used her?"

Sephiria looked at Number VII. "I thought about that, but it's a stretch. While Charden always seems to be ready for anything, there's no way he'd be ready for something like that. He didn't even take over the Apostles until months after Diskenth left."

Kranz sighed. "If she isn't working with the Apostles, how did they find her?"

Sephiria frowned. "That creature Doctor infused with Train's DNA has some kind of connection with him. Considering the timing of Kanzaki's disappearance and this woman suddenly acting differently, we think it's possible that panther might have transported him to the town she lives in after Creed and Train fought in the woods."

Nizer frowned. "That's a big hypothesis…"

Sephiria turned to the man. "It's the best we have."

Baldor shot a glare at Creed. "And remind me why we're taking his words at face value? Do I need to remind you the Apostles only exist because of him?"

Sephiria didn't need to see the pained look on Creed's face to know it was there. However, what she was feeling was fury rather than sadness at hearing her numbers remained untrusting.

"Do I need to remind you of all the precautions we've taken over the years to make sure Diskenth was no longer affiliated with the Apostles? Do I need to show you all of Number X's reports of him no longer being a threat? Or do I need to show you the results of his evaluation where the therapist said he was one of the most sensitive, mellow men she had ever met?"

Sephiria continued glaring at her subordinate. "While I understand your reservations, I will not have anyone mistrusting our allies. We are all on the team side and if we begin questioning one another's intentions, we'll lose."

Creed smiled a little, his hands still caressing his love as he listened to Sephiria defend him.

Seeing the stern look in his leader's eyes, Baldor bowed his head obediently. "Understood…"

"So, what's the plan?" Kazuki asked as he leaned on the table. "If this woman really has been taken hostage, what consequence is it to us? Why don't we just go knock their door down and destroy the organization once and for all?"

Sephiria turned to her youngest member. "We will not allow an innocent civilian to die."

Number XIII frowned and sulked in his chair. "Yes, Ma'am…"

"She is of importance!" Train shouted as he stood up and slammed his hands on the table. "She's not just a hostage, she's a prisoner! And like Sephiria said, she's completely innocent!"

It's all my fault…

"She has absolutely nothing to do with this war and absolutely no connection to the Apostles!"

Everyone I get close to dies or gets hurt…

Train lowered his head, his fingers slowly curling into fists as he spoke. "She's… E's… E doesn't deserve this…"

I should have never spoken to her. I should have never gotten close to her. If I hadn't, none of this would have happened…

Train felt his vision beginning to blur and his head was feeling light as he choked out his next words. "...She never should have gotten involved in my life."

It's my fault she's in danger…

Creed stared at his love for a moment, allowing him to have his outburst before standing up and gently pushing his Kitten back in his chair. "It's not your fault, Train…"

Lin frowned and placed a gentle hand on Train's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself…"

Train ignored their words and hands and instead slumped in his chair and tried to block out the rest of the conversation. He had a feeling the word 'hostage' would pop up multiple times, and he really didn't want to hear it being said.

Sephiria watched Train, then turned back to the rest of the numbers. "The plan is for Creed to set a date within the next couple of weeks. That will give us time to run through several different scenarios and allow the Black Cat to gain more control over his Nanomachines."

She paused for a moment, knowing the next thing she was about to say might not sit well with her numbers. "And it will give us time to let Aliane hone her skills as well."

Baldor widened his eyes. "What?"

Nizer jumped a little. "We're using that girl?"

Sephiria nodded. "Yes. She's proven to be a valuable asset and her ability will make a fantastic ace in the hole. They also won't expect us to use her since they most likely believe she's dead."

The room was silent for several seconds until Kazuki's voice broke the tension in the room. "That makes sense, Number One. Just tell us what to do."

Sephiria nodded, then addressed her numbers as a group. "Once Creed contacts E and sets up a time to meet, we'll be ready to train in different scenarios. In the meantime, everyone keeps training as you have been and we will continue training with the Black Cat, Creed, and the sweepers."

Jenos frowned. "Do they really have to be involved, Sephiria…?"

Number One sighed at the man's troubled voice. "Yes. We need all the help we can get. That thief is a capable woman. You should give her more credit."

Jenos lowered his head, wanting to say more, but knowing it would get him nowhere.

"So, will all of us be at this meeting?"

Sephiria looked at Lin, noticing he still had one hand on Train's shoulder while the other had a firm hold on the cat's elbow. "Yes. But, we will be in the shadows. On the off chance that this really does turn out to be a reunion between old friends, we don't want to attack an innocent woman. However, we need to be prepared for all of the Apostles to be there."

Kranz frowned. "Do you really think Charden would do that? Send out all his members just to kill two men?"

Sephiria pressed his lips against her fingers and stared blankly at the empty space in front of her. "Considering who those men are and the threat they pose to their organization, yes. We believe this entire situation is set up precisely so they can get Creed and Train alone and kill them before the final fight."

Baldor nodded in understanding. "They're using this woman as bait."

Number One glanced at Number VIII. "Yes."

Nizer sighed. "And we're just going to take it?"

Sephiria looked at her other number. "Yes. We'll ambush their ambush."

Baldor sighed and leaned back in his chair. "If only we had good bait like that woman…"

A loud bang brought all eyes towards Train and watched as the cat suddenly stood up, his quick motion knocking his chair over. He kept his eyes down, his spiky hair covering his face as he gripped the edge of the table. He did not speak, nor did he raise his head.

Creed opened his mouth to say something to his beloved, but Train turned away and walked towards the door before anyone could stop him. They prepared themselves for the door to slam behind the golden man, but Train instead made a point to close it as quietly as possible. As if he didn't want to create a further disturbance.

Creed whimpered at his love's disappearance, then turned to Sephiria. "Is there anything else you need us for?"

Sephiria turned her eyes from the door to the silverette. "No. You can go. Just be in contact with me the moment you have a date and location."

Creed nodded, stood up, and walked out of the room after his Kitten. He wasn't surprised when he heard Lin following after him and even picking up the pace of his walk. Creed rolled his eyes as Lin stepped out of the building before him.

I understand he's worried, but what does he think is going to happen? Train's going to see he came out after him first, sweep him up in his arms, carry him off into the sunset?

Creed sighed in annoyance at the farcical image in his head since Lin knew as well as he did that it was something that would never come to fruition. Still, he couldn't fault the shorter man for continuing to dream. Even if it was silently to himself.

Can't say I was any better when I was pining after Train while they were together.

"Train?"

Creed was thrown out of his thoughts when he heard Lin's voice and realized the same thing the assassin did.

Where did Train go?

"Train?" Lin said a little louder as he approached that car that brought them to Headquarters.

Creed watched as Lin opened the door to the car and peaked his head inside. He felt his pulse pick up as images of his beloved being snatched away by the Apostles again swam through his head and his vision began to go blurry. His knees buckled slightly underneath him and he grabbed onto the handrail on the steps next to him to keep himself upright.

Calm down… the Apostles would never take him outside Chronos Headquarters. That's idotic.

Creed took a few steady breaths as he slowly stood up straight, running his fingers through his hair as he felt his vision slowly return.

Train's fine…

"TRAIN?! TRAIN, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Creed could tell Lin's thoughts had not come to the same conclusion his had yet. When Number X turned around and gave him a frantic look, Creed smiled. "Train's fine, Lin."

Lin glared at the silverette. "How do you know that?! Did he text you?!"

Lin pulled out his phone to check his messages and Creed gently placed his hand over the shorter man's device. "Stop. Train was clearly upset when he left, which means he probably flashed somewhere to be alone."

Lin frowned at the taller man, unsatisfied with his response. "How do you know that? How do you know they didn't take him again?!"

Creed sighed. "Because neither Charden nor Kanzaki are stupid enough to kidnap him right in front of Chronos Headquarters and even if they were, Train wouldn't have gone without a fight. We would have heard something, or there would be remains of a battle here."

Lin scanned the area quickly again, then sighed when he noticed not a single blade of grass was out of place. "I guess you're right…"

Creed smiled as he stepped away. "I am right. Train does this all the time when he's upset."

Creed looked down at the ground and noticed a few burnt pieces of grass and Earth which confirmed what he already knew was true. "He goes somewhere he thinks he can be alone, but knows I'll easily be able to find him."

Lin frowned as he watched Creed step towards the car that was ready to take him home. "Then where did he go?"

Creed brushed away the Chronos lackey that was going to open the door for him and opened it himself. "Home."

Lin watched as the silver man slipped into the car without another word and felt his heart shatter a bit. "...You don't mean home with the sweepers, do you?"

Creed stopped himself from closing the door, then turned to the number to give him one more sympathetic smile. "He's fine, Lin. I'll let you know as soon as I find him."

Lin locked eyes with Creed for a moment, then finally sighed. "Okay… Thank you, Creed."

Creed smiled again, then shut the door, giving the driver a different location than the sweeper hideout to take him to.

---

"Let's sing the world's song…"

Train did his best to match the notes he was singing to the notes he was playing on the piano, but could tell he was failing miserably. However, it didn't stop him from continuing the melody.

"How far shall we go?"

His performance was slow since he did not want to further complicate the already complicated musical situation he put himself in. Not only was he trying to sing along with his piano playing, but he was also trying to perform the chords that accompanied the simple song, which he realized rather quickly was not as easy as Creed made it look.

"Looking up in the sky…"

He grumbled as he missed a note, but did as Creed taught him and continued moving forward. His lover had taught him that one of the most important parts of practicing music was to pick a comfortable tempo and stick to it, even if that meant it was extremely slow.

"Crawl before you walk, and you walk before you run. If you can't play the piece slow, then you can't play it fast."

Train smiled at his lover's words and continued singing his dead friend's song.

"A baby's first cry…"

Train frowned when he missed a chord, but made sure his tempo stayed the same.

"The beating of an insect's wings…"

He couldn't help but smirk as he remembered one of his favorite pastimes of annoying a certain bug Taoist. Other than discovering his love for Creed, irritating Shiki was the only fond memory he had with the Apostles.

"Lightly, lightly floating… Carry our feelings…"

Train finished the song on the piano when he heard the very familiar and passion inducing overtones of his fiancé's voice. His halt had nothing to do with any animosity at his partner's arrival, he just wasn't ready to suddenly have Creed join in the song.

Train smiled at his lover as he smoothly leapt onto the stage, a rousing smile etched onto his face as he approached the cat. "Since when did you sing, Train?"

Train rolled his eyes and turned back to the piano, fingering Saya's song quietly to himself as he spoke. "I don't. That was the first time. Terrible, I know."

Creed chuckled. "I'll admit you were a bit out of tune, but your rhythm was impeccable and the passion behind your words was unmistakingly pure. Don't sell yourself short, Love."

Noticing Train didn't respond, Creed stooped behind his Kitten and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on the cat's shoulder as he spoke. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Train sighed and leaned his head to the side, his cheek now pressed against Creed' heads as he stared at the keys in front of him. "It isn't obvious from what you walked in on?"

Creed frowned and tilted his head slightly so he could gently kiss his lover's neck. "Saya?"

Train relaxed in his partner's arms, his right hand continuing to quietly finger the melody as he spoke. "That's one of the things on my mind, yes. Also E and how it's my fault."

Creed nuzzled his face into Train's neck and gave him several more kisses. "It's not your fault."

He continued kissing Train, frowning when he realized the cat wasn't going to answer. Since he was able to tell his lover didn't really want to talk about E, he decided to watch Train's fingers move elegantly along the keys instead. "You've been practicing."

Train shrugged. "Not as much as I'd like. I haven't had time to practice my Ukulele let alone the piano. We also haven't been here much. We've been with Sven and Chronos nearly non-stop."

Creed pouted at his love's words since he knew they were true. "Trust me, Train, I've realized that with a broken heart as well. But, it's okay because we're doing it so we can keep training. And the more we train, the closer we get to being free."

Train sighed, goosebumps rising from the way his lover's mouth felt against his skin. "I know… Doesn't change that it's one of the many things I've got on my mind." The cat frowned as he watched his fingers glide along the piano. "By any means necessary…"

Creed was able to tell by the tone in Train's voice he didn't mean to say those words out loud. He kissed his love a few more times, moving his head to the other side of Train's neck so he could give attention to the neglected skin there.

I know he's upset about E, but that doesn't seem to be the sole reason for his current stress. It seems more like this is a cumulation of multiple topics all rolled up into one tiny little stress ball.

Creed knew exactly how Train was feeling since he had been battling with the same emotions as well. Ever since their weekend getaway ended, it felt like everything was moving so fast and neither of them had the time to properly comprehend where they were going or what they were doing, and they barely had any time alone with one another.

We haven't even had a chance to fathom the possible outcomes of this war. I know we don't intend to kill any of them, but we both know full well they intend to kill us.

Before they were engaged, it was easy to ignore the harsh reality of how the war might end. But, after all the training sessions with Chronos and the eye-opening conversation with Sephiria, there was no avoiding the very real probability that one of them may not come out alive.

The silverette buried his face into Train's neck and wrapped his arms tighter around his waist. Creed's mind quickly began wandering to a world without his Kitten in it, images of his beloved's corpse laying at his feet viciously entering his mind and he felt his body beginning to shake. The idea of running away with Train and never speaking to Chronos or the sweepers ever again had occurred to him, but he knew that wasn't an option.

Not only will the Apostles eventually find us, but we'd never be able to live peacefully. We'd constantly be on the run.

He squeezed Train a little tighter.

We'd never be able to fully settle into our marriage or our lives…

Creed didn't need to remind himself that his and Train's disappearance would also cause trouble for the rest of their family as well. The sweepers would be hunted down and murdered like dogs and that was something neither of them wanted.

We started this mess, and it's our time to end it.

Creed went back to kissing Train's neck, whispering his words between each of his lips' pecks. "What do you think the meaning behind that song is?"

Train furrowed his brow in thought. "Honestly, when she first sang it to me, I thought it was nonsense. But, the more I think about it, the more I think it's about life and how precious it is."

Creed smiled and kissed just below Train's jaw. "I agree wholeheartedly. It's about the fragility of life and the world, and how the innate beauty of it affects the people in it. It's about how we as people need to take a step back and appreciate the simple things in life before we let the world's pain and torment consume our souls."

Train chuckled at his partner's theraterical words. "You got all that from a song that is literally seven lines long?"

Creed smiled as he nibbled at his love's earlobe. "While it is quite a turn on to hear you use proper musical terminology, I won't let your organic voluptuousness get between me and the point I'm trying to make."

He kissed Train's ear as he sang the first line of the song. "Let's sing the world's song… I think the first part of the song is pretty obvious. The song is meant to be the song of the world."

Creed moved his lips down to his love's cheek, kissing the velvety skin there before he sang the next words. "'How far shall we go? Looking up in the sky.' I believe those words are meant to make us understand the limitless splendor of the world and make us understand we are boundless in where we go and what we do with our lives."

He slid his lips a little further down to Train's neck. "'A baby's first cry. The beating of an insect's wings.' I believe those words are pretty clear as well and they actually happen to be my favorite lines of the song."

Creed pressed his face against Train's cheek, tightening the hold he had on his fiancé's thin waist. "They make us reflect on the innocent charm of the little things in life. They force us to take a step back from whatever complications we may be experiencing to take a moment and enjoy the simple things in life, giving us a lucid understanding of what is really important by making us think of the things we wouldn't normally think about."

He kissed his cat's cheek. "Humans recognize a baby's first cry as a miracle since it means they have successfully taken their first breath. However, we rarely place the warm feeling that sound gives us in the same realm as the beating of an insect's wings."

Train elicited a contented moan. "Well, most people don't understand the importance of bugs."

Creed smiled. "That's correct, Love. We hold children, especially babies, on a pedestal because of their innocence and cuteness. And we do this because they are a symbol of the future and reflection of ourselves. Humans are very egotistical, so we cling to anything that reminds us of ourselves."

Train chuckled. "Which is also why we're so obsessed with monkeys and apes."

Creed giggled. "Correct again. But, what we don't value in life is bugs. We see them as insignificant and therefore unworthy of our attention. However, if all insects were to suddenly disappear, the human race would be doomed. As much as we hate to admit it because they are gross, we need bugs to keep the world spinning."

He slid one of his arms up Train's chest and gripped tightly to his shoulder, pulling the other man's back against his chest. "Those lyrics to the song are my favorite because they put bugs and babies in the same category. They make the listener realize how important even the most insignificant creature is to the world and remind us how we cannot take anything for granted."

Creed rested his chin on Train's shoulder, watching as his love's fingers moved effortlessly against the keys. "Yet at the same time, it makes us think how the world will find a way to survive no matter what. No matter what happens, it will continue to spin."

He could tell Train understood what dark truth he was hinting at by the way his body tensed up, so Creed squeezed his love tighter and sang the last words of the song. "'Lightly, lightly floating… Carry our feelings.' Those words I think are the most significant to the song and end it on a beautiful note."

Train frowned as he finished the song and pulled his hand away from the piano. "How so?"

Creed smiled at his love, cupping Train's cheek and turning the cat's head to face him. He pressed their foreheads together, breathing in the scent of his Kitten as he spoke.

"Because those words let us know that no matter what happens, our memory will live on. No matter what becomes of our physical bodies, the impression we made on the world and the people in it will never fade. Much like the beating of an insect's wings, even the most insignificant person in the world will leave an everlasting impact on someone or something it leaves behind, which means it's disappearance in this world will never be meaningless."

Train felt his body relax as he absorbed Creed's words, understanding completely what his lover meant. While it didn't necessarily make him feel better and the idea of E or anyone else he loved dying broke his heart, it was comforting to hear Creed speak such reassuring words.

Train wrapped his arms around Creed's back and when he felt his silver Stallion turn his head and press their lips together, the cat activated his transportation ability.

As Creed kissed Train, he felt a warm, fuzzy feeling encompassing his body. He did not question the sensation since it was what he felt every time he kissed Train. However, when he felt the cool summer night air brush against his neck, Creed opened his eyes in confusion.

He pulled his lips away from Train and scanned the area around them. He wasn't able to immediately recognize where they were since he was too shocked at the meaning behind their departure from the music school.

"Train…?" Creed questioned as he looked around, his arms still around his beloved. "...Since when can you transport indoors?"

Train shrugged and removed himself from Creed's embrace and stepped away from his lover. "Since now, apparently. Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are. I'm not sure how I did it. I just thought about Saya and BAM, here we are."

Creed watched his love, instantly forgetting the confusion he felt at his lover's precipitous upgrade in ability when he realized where they were.

"Saya's grave…?"

Train nodded as he approached his dead friend, his back towards Creed as he spoke. "Yeah… I wanted to see her one last time before…"

Creed frowned and stepped up behind his love, tangling their fingers together. "You don't have to finish that sentence, Train. I understand."

Train squeezed his lover's fingers, his eyes locked onto the spot he knew Saya's body laid to rest. Nature had reclaimed the territory long ago, but the memory of that night was still so vivid in his mind that he didn't need to question exactly where she was.

"Creed…" Train started slowly since he didn't know how his finance would take his question. "I know you don't remember a lot of our time at Chronos due to the drug but… Do you remember killing her?"

Creed felt his body freeze at his love's question. Nothing about the tone Train used was bitter or angry, but the reminder of what he did to the poor innocent girl returned to him like a sickening nightmare he knew he'd never wake up from. In that instant, the memory of the night unabashedly flooded his mind, causing the silver man to feel light headed and stumble.

Creed felt Train's caring arm catch him before he fell, but he refused to meet his beloved's gorgeous golden gaze since he knew his answer was going to hurt them both.

"Yes. I remember every detail of the night. Including the part where Sven tried to save her…"

Train frowned as he straightened his partner's body. "Creed… You don't have to-"

"-No." Creed said firmly as he wrapped his fingers around Train's elbows, keeping his eyes low. "I do, Train. We've never discussed what happened that night, and I owe you that."

Hearing nothing but silence coming from his love, Creed took a deep breath. "She… Didn't beg for her life. It felt like she only fought to protect Sven and anyone else that may have happened to walk by."

Creed shivered as he remembered the look in the girl's eyes. "When she first saw me… she thought I was a friend of yours. She… wanted to be friends too. She… wanted to watch the fireworks with me as well…"

Creed allowed a wistful smile to claim control on his lips. "I… wish I took her up on her offer… To watch fireworks with such a lively woman would have been a night to remember…" He shivered again. "...A better memory than what I'm haunted with now."

"Creed…" Train started as he reached out to wipe away a tear his partner didn't realize had fallen. "Creed… You don't-"

"-I'm so sorry, Train…" Creed choked out as he began to sob. "I'm so, so, so sorry… I know I could say it a million times and it will still never be enough. I know I could learn some kind of dark necromancy to bring her back and it still won't be enough to make up for what I did. I know I use the Chronos drug as justification for killing her, but nothing will ever be enough to make up for the sin I committed."

Creed felt his body convulse as he continued his guilt ridden thoughts. "I could live a thousand years and cure every disease known to man and it will still never be enough to make up for what I did. She… Saya didn't deserve the fate I forced upon her. She was so young… so full of life… so innocent, so pure…"

He felt more tears fall from his eyes. "She had so much to live for and so much to offer the world. So much more than I could ever give. Her light was so bright and perfect, and I snuffed it out all because I wanted you to look at me instead of her. All because I was so utterly obsessed that I couldn't live with even the idea of you possibly falling for someone else."

Creed squeezed his beloved's elbows tighter and pressed his face against Train's chest. "I'm sorry, Train… I was a sick man, but… That's no excuse for what I did. I wish I could go back in time and prevent that from happening. Even if it means I create a butterfly effect that causes me to lose you, I'll do it if that means she'll be alive again."

Train watched as his lover wept against his chest, his heart howling painfully for the man he loved. But, he allowed Creed to openly weep in his arms for a few minutes before he gently cupped the silverette's chin and turned his head up so their eyes met.

The Black Cat stared at Creed for what felt like centuries before he pressed his lips against his partner's, sliding one of his arms around the man's lithe waist to pull him closer. Train tilted Creed's head back and slid his tongue between his Stallion's lips to deepen the kiss.

As soon as he felt Creed relax and return his kiss, Train electrified his body and transported them once again. However, that time as soon as they landed at their destination, Train used one hand to press his partner down firmly against the soft surface beneath them, running his other hands through Creed's hair as he continued tasting every inch of the other man's mouth.

Creed arched his back and moaned wildly when he felt Train's chest press against his, his beloved's heart beating in sync with his as he slid his arms up the gunman's back. When he felt Train push his hips down against him, Creed gasped into his love's mouth.

"T-Train…" Creed moaned as his Kitten moved his lips to his neck, nipping and sucking at the smooth skin there as he continued swaying his hips back and forth. "Train… What're you-"

His words were cut off as Train engaged him in another heated kiss, thrusting his hips harshly against Creed's as he swirled their tongues together. The cat elegantly untangled his fingers from Creed's hair and slowly slid them down the rest of the swordsman's body, finally resting it against his Stallion hip as he pulled his lips away.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Train moved his hand a little lower, landing between Creed's legs and massaging the sensitive organ that resided there. "I'm making good on my promise."

Creed cried out as he felt Train's hand rub between his legs, arching his back again as his love's lips fastened back onto his neck. The silverette immediately spread his legs and coiled his lithe fingers in the cat's chocolate locks, encouraging his beloved to suck harder at his neck by applying pressure to the back of Train's head.

"Oh, Train…" He moaned as he felt his love's free hand unbuttoning his pants, the other still eagerly caressing his growing flesh. "Train… Train… I love you…"

As soon as Creed's pants were undone, Train ripped off his boxers as well, tossing them off the bed along with his pants and began slowly jerking his lover off. "I love you, Creed… Maintenant permets-moi de te montrer exactement combien je t'aime…" (1)

Creed's entire body was obsessed with the way Train's hand skillfully moved against his member and the way his hot lips scorched his skin. He tangled his fingers even deeper into his love's hair, shutting his eyes as he relished the way Train's tongue lapped hungrily at his neck, the way his teeth eagerly embedded themselves into his flesh, and the way his fingers sent wave after wave of pleasure throughout his body.

"Oooh… Train…"

Train gripped tighter and moved his hand faster along Creed's cock as his other hand slipped down and began undoing his own pants. He made sure as he slid his clothes away from his body that he did not stop the motions his hand was making against his lover's throbbing member.

Train outlined his lover's neck with his tongue again as he quickly slipped his pants and boxers off, tossing them both to the side. As soon as both their lower bodies were fully exposed, Train repositioned himself so he was sitting between Creed's legs and moved his hand even faster

"Train…!" Creed gasped out as he felt Train lean forward and attack his neck again. He didn't care if he was covered in bruises later. There wasn't anything he wanted more in the world than to feel his Kitten's love pulsating inside him. "Oh, Train… Make love to me… Please…!"

Train pulled away from Creed's neck long enough that he could press his forehead against the other man's as he began to unbutton his lover's shirt. "I'm more than happy to oblique that simple request, Mon étalon…" (2)

Creed's entire body burst into urgent flames when Train quite literally ripped the shirt off his body, throwing the tattered remains of it to the side as he pulled back quick enough to pull the shirt off his own back. Normally, Creed would have been furious with his lover for ruining a perfectly good shirt, but at that moment, all he could think about was what it would feel like to have Train's cock throbbing deep inside him.

As soon as Train was fully nude, he threw himself back on top of Creed, immediately attacking his neck once again with his mouth as he pressed his exposed lower body against the silver man's. Creed cried out and gripped harshly at Train's neck at the feel of the electrical sparks his partner's body emitted. He shut his eyes at the sensation of their bare member pressing against each other, moaning animalistically at the way his love's hard flesh felt against his own.

"Oh, Train!" Creed moaned as he felt his lover sway against him. "Train… Faster… faster!"

Train complied to his lover's request and moved his hips faster, licking up the sweat pooling around Creed's neck before sucking earnestly under his chin. He slipped one of his hands up to the silver man's nipple and began teasing it with his fingers as his other hand reached to the nightstand where he knew the necessary lube lived.

Creed gasped and moaned loudly as his love's cock brushed wildly against his own, Train's fingers working magic against his nipples as the cat's mouth sucked every inch of his neck. He screamed when he felt Train's body spark hotter and dug his fingers deeply into his love's hair.

"Train…!" Creed cried out as his beloved moved his hips faster, his finger pinching and massaging the pink flesh that protruded from his chest. "Oh, Train… Please… Please…!"

Train knew exactly what his lover was begging for and had finished lubricating his shaft. He heedlessly tossed the bottle aside and lifted his lover's ass up by throwing one of Creed's legs over his shoulder. In his eagerness to be inside the man, he almost forgot to prepare his partner's body to accept his cock.

He quickly remedied the situation by pulling his hands away from Creed's nipple and sucked on his fingers quickly. As he wetted his digits, the man lying beneath him moaned painfully and lifted his lower body higher.

"Train… Please… Hurry!"

Train figured his fingers had to be moistened enough to enter the man and removed them from his mouth so he could slowly insert one finger inside his lover. Creed pulled his hands away from Train's neck and gripped tightly at the mattress, his body tensing as he felt his Kitten's finger slowly enter his body.

"Ah…" Creed muttered as he twitched. "I can't remember the last time I've been penetrated."

Train smiled lovingly at the man and pushed his finger in a little further. "Just let me know when it's too much…"

Creed nodded as he tangled his fingers in his own hair. "No… Add more, Train. I know how big you are… I need all the prep I can get."

Train leaned forward and kissed Creed's forehead as he readied a second finger. "You sure?"

Creed nodded again as he shut his eyes. "Yesss…. I want you to make love to me as soon as possible so the sooner my body gets stretched out, the better."

Train nodded and slowly inserted his next finger. "Anything you say, mon étalon…"

Creed winced as Train entered another finger, but took a deep breath and relaxed his body. He nodded his head and spoke again. "Another."

Train blinked down at Creed. "Are you sure?"

Creed nodded yet again and gripped the bed. "Yes."

Train leaned forward and kissed his lover on the lips as he pushed his next finger inside. He felt Creed's body tense and left his fingers where they were, waiting until the man beneath him relaxed and encouraged him to start moving.

After a few minutes, Creed nodded and moaned in pain as Train began moving his fingers back and forth. However, it didn't take long for his body to relax and his painful moans soon turned into delighted ones. He wrapped his arms around his Kitten's neck, lifting his lower body up higher so his love had more room to work.

When Train felt Creed lift himself higher, he moved closer to his Stallion ass, adjusting his lover's leg slightly against his shoulder. He used his other hand to wrap around Creed's knee, making sure he had a tight grip on the other man so his partner's body wouldn't move too much.

Once he was sure Creed was in an appropriate position, Train moved his fingers faster, searching the silverette's ass for the spot he knew would make the man see stars. As soon as Creed twitched and moaned, Train smirked, knowing that meant he found his target.

The Black Cat massaged the pleasurable spot he found over and over again, making sure all three of his fingers rubbed against it as he continued moving them in and out of his lover. Train repeated the gesture in a faster motion as he felt his lover's body convulse again and tighten his hold around his neck.

"Traaaiiin…" Creed moaned as he dug his fingers into his lover's neck. "Ooooh, Traiiiin… Fassterrr…

Instead of complying, Train pulled his fingers out much to the other man's displeasure and wrapped them around his own cock. He then moved his member close to Creed's entrance, poking playfully at his partner's ass as he pressed the tip of his shaft as his fiancé's pink hole.

The cat learned forward and smiled at Creed. "Are you ready?"

Creed stared breathlessly at his lover, nodding as if he were drunk. "Yes… Yes! Please, Train! Please! Make love to me!"

Train smiled at Creed for a few more minutes before kissing his lover deeply and slowly inserting his massive cock inside him. Creed wrapped his arms around Train's shoulders and moaned wildly as he felt his Kitten slowly enter him. He lifted his lower body a little higher, ignoring the stinging pain his ass felt upon being penetrated. He refused to let the mild discomfort ruin the moment.

"A-Aahh… Traiiiin…" Creed cried as Train fully entered him. "Oh, Train… It feels so good…"

Train was panting furiously at the way his lover's ass wrapped possessively around his cock, his instincts begging him to thrust furiously in and out of the silverette, but he refrained for the moment. He didn't want to hurt his lover.

Instead of fucking Creed before he was ready, Train controled himself by pressing his mouth against his fiancé's shoulder and bit harshly down on the flesh, his sparking fingers digging deeply into his partner's knee and the sheets beneath them as he gave the man he was piercing a moment to adjust.

"Just let me know when you're ready, Creed…"

Creed moaned longingly as he pushed himself further onto Train's dick. "I'm ready now, Train… Please… Please just make love to me already!"

Train nodded and changed his lover's position since he wanted to be closer to his Stallion. The cat removed the leg that was on his shoulder and instead of holding onto Creed's knee, Train moved one hand so it was wrapped around Creed's lower back, the other wrapping the other man's wrist and pinning it against the bed.

As he did that, Train was intrigued by the barbaric moan his partner let out and applied a little more pressure to Creed's wrist. Hearing the man moan even louder, Train smirked and sucked at his shoulder for a moment as Creed wrapped his ankles around the gunman's waist. Train stayed like that for a little longer, pinning his partner harder to the bed, relishing each voluptuous sound his lover made at the forceful gesture.

Finally, Train moved his lips from Creed's shoulder to his ear, whispering ardently in his ear as he pushed himself harder inside his fiancé. "As you wish, my Stallion…"

Creed's eyes widened as he felt Train's cock brush against his sweet spot, his free hand tangling itself deeply in the flesh of his Kitten's shoulders as he cried out. "Oh, Train!"

Train pushed Creed's wrist harder against the bed as his body flared wildly with electricity, his hips moving back and forth in an elegant motion as he continued to rub against his lover's sweet spot. When he heard Creed release a hedonistic moan, Train moved his hips faster, applying a bit more force to his lover's limb as he buried his face into the other man's neck.

"Creed…" Train moaned as he thrust in and out of his lover's ass, the heat in his cock growing as the swordsman's body tensed and tightened around him. "Oh, Creed… You feel incredible…"

Creed screamed and wrapped his tighter legs around Train's waist, arching his back and digging his fingers as deeply into his beloved's flesh as he could. Feeling his Kitten's hand pin his harder to the bed, Creed felt a carnal desire spark in him that he had never felt before. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to be dominated by the Black Cat, to feel the man's power surging both inside and outside of him.

But, he refrained from speaking those desires out loud, since he wasn't sure how his lover would take them. "Train… My sweet, precious, perfect, flawless Kitten… You're the closest to Heaven I'll ever be…!"

Train increased the speed and force of his thrust and shoved Creed's wrist further into the mattress as his body began glowing brightly with a passionate electrical blaze. He bit down on Creed's neck, then whispered lovingly into his ear. "Don't give yourself such little credit, My Stallion… Heaven would be lucky to have you…"

Creed screamed again as Train's electrified cock moved slightly and slammed straight onto his prostate, causing the silverette to scream out and throw his head back.

"TRAIN!" The swordsman wrapped his legs tighter around Train' waist, but not so tight his lover didn't have room to thrust his dick in and out of his ass. "OH, TRAIN! FASTER! HARDER, MY LOVE!"

Train obeyed his partner's request and shoved his cock in and out of Creed's ass forcefully and rapidly, the bed under them swaying back and forth with each of his thrusts. As the Black Cat fucked his lover, Train cried out wildly and pushed Creed wrist harder to the bed. When he did that, he heard the man beneath him gasp wildly and say something he didn't expect.

"Dominate me, my love!" The heat between Creed's legs was growing rapidly and was continuously encouraged to evolve every time Train pinned him down. "Let me feel your power, Black Cat!"

Train continued thrusting in and out of Creed, the heat in his groin building as he made sure to hit his Stallion's prostate with every one of his motions. The harder and longer he made love to the man, the more difficult it was becoming to keep the fire inside his cock.

Still, his partner's words intrigued the cat, so he decided to test the waters of what appeared to be a new fetish coming out. Train grabbed Creed's other wrist and pinned it above the silver man's head, then moved the wrist he was already holding next to his Stallion's trapped limb and pushed them both harshly into the mattress.

Creed howled wildly when he felt his beloved pinning both his arms above his head and against the bed, reliving the many fantasies he had of the Black Cat taking advantage of his vulnerable body. The heat between his legs grew and grew as he felt Train's power surging through his body, each of his beloved's thrusts becoming more assertive than the last.

"TRAIN…!" Creed screamed again, overjoyed with the fact that he couldn't move his hands behind Train's powerful grip. "OH, TRAIN! MORE…! MORE!"

He wailed in ecstasy as Train's cock repeatedly collided with his sweet spot, sending an incomprehensible storm of pleasure throughout his body, his Kitten's emphatic love making throwing Creed into a hole of gratifying sensation he never thought he was worthy of experiencing.

"Train!" He screamed again as his love's cock stabbed his pleasurable spot over and over again, not sure how much more of the heat course between his legs he could take. "Train! Let me feel your power! Let me feel the true strength of the Black Cat!"

Train heaved and gasped loudly into his lover's ear as he moved his hips even faster, making sure his dick never missed the mark inside Creed's ass as he thrust as hard into the other man as possible. As he did that, he made sure to spark his body wildly and keep his lover pinned to the bed. At one point, he thought he felt Creed try to break free and almost let his lover go. However, when he heard the silverette moan in disappointment, he pinned him down again.

Train whispered into his partner's ear. "Trying to break free, are you?"

Creed quaked violently at the commanding tone his beloved used, crying out loudly when he felt Train's cock shove against his sweet spot again, but did not move. The silver man arched his back and whimpered wildly, the sparks his cat was blessing him with along with the possessive position being more than he could bear.

When he realized Train wasn't going to continue fucking him until he responded, Creed shook his head. "Why would I ever run away from you, Black Cat?"

Train smirked and bit down on Creed's neck, shoving his cock a little further into his lover's ass so he was forcefully pressed against the man's sweet spot. Hearing the wild cry Creed let out, the gunman finally resumed his authoritative love making, getting lost in how tight his Stallion's ass was wrapped around his cock.

"Good…" Train whispered as he moved his cock faster and faster, harder and harder. "I'd hate to ruin this moment by letting you escape…"

The heat consuming Train's body was almost more than he could bear, but he maintained his composure in order to keep giving his Stallion the abusive pleasure he was begging for. He shoved his cock in and out of Creed's ass with so much force he was concerned they were going to break the bed. However, he wasn't concerned enough that he felt the need to stop.

Since he could tell Creed enjoyed being his prisoner, Train pushed his lover's wrists harder against the bed, pressing their foreheads together as he thrust in and out of the other man's ass as fast and accurately as he could, adding more possessive words to his dominating love making.

"You're mine, Creed Diskenth…" Train whispered harshly against the other man's lips, his cock continuing to vigorously stab at his pleasurable spot. "You belong to the Black Cat…"

Creed screamed and threw his head back, the heat in his cock building to an inexplicably intense level at each one of Train's possessive words. While he knew it wasn't Train's personality to claim such fierce ownership of him, hearing his Kitten say those acquisitive words was more than enough to send him deeper down the hole of pleasure.

"A-AAAHH! TRAIIIIN!" Creed screamed as he felt his love's dick slam into his ass over and over again, the large, throbbing extension of flesh making harsh contact with his sweet spot each time it entered him. "TRAIIN! TRAINN! FASSSSTERRR! HARDERRR MY LOOOVE!"

Train felt the sweat pooling down his forehead but managed to move his hips even faster and harder into the other man's entrance, pinning Creed's arms roughly against the bed as he kissed his lover deeply. He slid his tongue greedily against Creed's, sucking and licking every bit of the other man's mouth before he pulled away and bit avariciously at his lower lip.

"Creed…!" Train screamed as he threw his head back, the heat evolving and growing to the point of explosion, but not releasing just yet. "Tighter…! Tighter, my Stallion!"

Creed wrapped his ankles firmly around Train's waist and tightened his ass as much as he could, screaming wildly with each of his love's thrusts. No matter how much he never wanted that moment to end, he knew the fire between his legs was not going to remain in its home for much longer.

"A-AAH… T-TRAIN!" Creed screamed as he desperately tried to hold onto whatever was left of his pleasurable sensations before he finally let go. "T-Train… Train… TRAIN…!"

Creed screamed again and again, his fiancé's cock sending an influx of pleasure he could not contain for much longer. With a few more thrusts from Train, the throbbing flesh stabbing frantically at his sweet spot, Creed let out another loud howl, his voice reverberating against the walls of their bedroom.

"TRAAIIIINNN!"

Train felt Creed's ass tighten around his cock brutally, the other man's body twitching violently as he arched his back and screamed into the ceiling. As soon as he felt his lover's semen stain his stomach, Train thrust for a few more moments before the fire in his groin was no longer able to be contained. He threw his head back and echoed Creed's scream, shoving his cock into his partner's ass once more as he cried out the other man's name in return.

"CREEEEED!"

As Train released his semen inside of Creed, he shuddered wildly and fell against his fiancé's chest, gasping for breath as his sweat cover body stuck to the swordsman's heaving torso. He finally lightened his hold on Creed's wrists, but neither of them bothered moving their hands.

After a few minutes, Creed caught his breath. "Oh my God… That was more incredible than I ever imagined…"

Train smirked proudly. "Does that mean you'll stop shoving your overly theatrical ideas of our wedding down my throat?"

Creed sighed and shut his eyes. "Yeah… I guess so…"

As he laid there beneath Train, Creed couldn't help but think about what brought them to that climatic moment. "Train… Can I ask what made you finally do that?"

Train frowned, understanding what Creed meant. "Are you asking about the strange timing?"

Creed moaned sadly as he felt his love finally pull out of his ass, then nodded. "Yes…"

As the cat pulled his limp member out of Creed, he rolled next to the other man and wrapped his arms around the silverette's thin frame. He pulled Creed flush against his chest, gently tickling the silver man's back with his fingers as he rested his partner's head against his shoulder.

"I understand the circumstances that inspired me were… strange, but couldn't help myself when I saw how distraught you were."

Creed blinked in confusion and pulled his head away from his Kitten's chest, giving the golden man an odd look. "What?"

Train chuckled and kissed his fiancé. "I worded that wrong. What I meant to say was, seeing you like that reminded me how much you've changed. No. That's not even the right words…"

He furrowed his brow as he felt Creed press his face against his chest and wrap his arms around him. "Seeing you like that reminded me of who you really are, who you were always meant to be, who you used to be, and who you would have been if it wasn't for Chronos."

Creed frowned slightly as he shut his eyes and allowed his body to be engulfed by Train's lean frame and warming aura. "And what kind of person is that?"

Train smiled, then buried his face into Creed's hair. "The kind of person who sees the beauty in the world despite what it's done to him. The kind of person that would blame himself for something that wasn't his fault at all even years after the event took place."

Feeling his lover shake in his arms, Train squeezed Creed closer. "I'm sorry I asked you about that night. It just... came out. I… didn't mean to make you relive such a traumatic memory…"

Hearing his love say that, any doubts Creed might have had about Train harboring any ill will towards him about Saya's death completely disappeared. It was clear by the way his Kitten's voice shook with regret that he held absolutely no feelings of animosity towards him. In fact, based on what he said, it sounded like Train pitied him. Train truly believed that Creed had been just as traumatized by Saya's death as he was.

"...I still wish I could bring her back." Creed whispered as he buried his face into Train's chest. "I wish I could bring her back so she could live her life with us… So I could thank her for everything she did. I wish I could bring her back so… So I could be her friend as well…"

Train smiled at his lover's words, knowing he didn't mean to say them out loud which made them even more meaningful. He could tell Creed was telling the truth. He really would have given up anything and everything to bring Saya back.

He'd even be willing to sacrifice me if it meant she was alive…

Train wasn't so naïve to not see how his young friend's death had inadvertently given him the happiness he now found himself physically tangled with. As ironically depressing as the thought was, Train knew if it wasn't for Saya's life and subsequent downfall, he may have never found himself as blissfully happy and at peace as he was with Creed.

"All Saya ever wanted for me was to live a peaceful life full of happiness. All she wanted was for me to see the beauty the world has despite its pain, and she gave her life for that. She gave her life for her beliefs and for me."

Train pulled Creed away from his chest, wiping away his lover's tears as he smiled down at the man. "And she didn't give up her life just for me, Creed. She gave it up for you too."

Creed felt his lower lip quiver, then shoved his face back against Train' chest as tears soaked his cat's chest. His heart ached to bring the girl back to life and at the same time, praised her existence. As badly as Creed wished he hadn't done what he did, he was grateful for everything the sweeper girl had given them and in a sick, twisted sort of way, he was grateful to Chronos for making him so unstable that he accidentally ended up with Train.

"Irony is a clear consciousness of an eternal agility, of the infinitely abundant chaos."

Train rolled his eyes at what was very obviously a quote. "Who are you plagiarizing this time?"

Creed chuckled between his bouts of sobs. "Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel. I'm simply saying that it's ironic that the one thing I would change to make our lives absolutely perfect might be the one thing that would completely ruin what has made us so happy."

Train nodded and squeezed Creed closer. "As much as I wish I had her back as well, I wouldn't change a thing about the life we have now. And I know she wouldn't either. And Creed…"

Train pulled back slightly and cupped Creed's chin so their eyes met. "Don't ever apologize for her death again. It wasn't your fault."

Seeing Creed was about to open his mouth to protest, Train pressed his lips against the silver man's, wrapping his other arm around Creed's waist and pushing their bare chests so they were flushed against one another. Creed returned his beloved's kiss, savoring the way his lover tasted one last time before they shut their eyes for the night.

When Train pulled away, he pressed his forehead against Creed's. "We've put this behind us, Creed. Everyone knows it wasn't your fault. You're the only one that's still blaming yourself for it, and I won't stand for it. Even Saya has made it clear she doesn't blame you."

Creed pouted and opened his mouth again, but shut it quickly when he saw the stubborn look on his Kitten's face. He sighed and buried his head back into Train's chest. "Okay, Train…"

Train smiled, then rested his head against Creed's and shut his eyes. "Now sleep. The big day's coming up soon."

Creed sighed and snuggled his body closer to Train. "You mean the final battle…?"

Train chuckled and shook his head, squeezing Creed closer. "No. I mean the wedding day."

Creed smiled and felt his body get warm and fuzzy. "Sei letteralmente la persona più straordinaria del mondo, Train Heartnet." (3)

Train smiled, then yawned. "I know. Go to sleep. You should be more than satisfied to sleep for days after that encounter."

Creed giggled and nodded as he shut his eyes. "That I am, my love…" He yawned and nuzzled his face as close to Train's chest as he could. "That I am…"

---

Train watched his lover sleep for a few hours, unable to sleep himself despite how tired both his body and mind felt. It wasn't like him to not be able to sleep, but he found it nearly impossible at the moment.

It's especially shocking considering what we just did.

Train snickered quietly to himself so as not to wake up his partner, tucking a few strands of Creed's hair behind his ear as he smiled down at the man sleeping contentedly in his arm.

But I learned something new tonight. It appears my Stallion has a bit of a kink…

The cat felt his heart fill with warmth when he replayed the loving making that had just taken place, and kissed Creed's forehead. His heart trembled fiercely when he saw the delighted look on his fiancé's face and heard cute, sleepy coons of satisfaction leave his soft lips.

Guess we'll have to explore that more in the future. He's mentioned handcuffs before, but I always thought he was kidding.

The gunman chuckled at his own thoughts as he felt Creed press his face into his chest.

I should have known better than to think he was kidding about something like that.

As Train ran his fingers through Creed's silky hair, he trailed them down the man's lean shoulder, tracing every curve in his arm as he planted kiss after kiss on his head. He relished each charming mewl the man emitted until Creed's peaceful purrs turned painful hisses.

Train stopped kissing him and looked down at where his hand had landed. He trailed his fingers down enough that they were resting on Creed's wrist, which was turning a dark shade of blue.

The cat frowned and gingerly fingered both of his lover's wrists.

Was that from me?

Hearing his partner moan quietly and snuggle further into his chest, Train pouted and kissed Creed's forehead again. "I'm sorry, my Stallion. I didn't mean to hurt you."

I guess if this is a kink we want to explore, we'll have to do it in a way I won't hurt him.

Based on Creed's reactions, Train knew without a shadow of a doubt his lover would absolutely want to do that again.

And he'll probably want to go further next time.

Train sighed. He wanted to pleasure Creed in whatever fashion he wanted, but he didn't want to do it at the expense of causing the man pain.

Yet somehow I think denying him an even more intense night than tonight will be more painful to him than accidentally giving him more bruises.

The Black Cat gently grasped his partner's wrists in his hands and shut his eyes as he activated his Nanomachines. He concentrated on the bruises on Creed's wrists, allowing the bots to freely flow through him and into his fiancé's body just as Eve taught him.

After a few minutes, Train opened his eyes to make sure the bruises were gone, then sighed in relief when he saw they were.

"Good as new." He whispered as he kissed the palm of his lover's hands, earning him more joyful purrs.

Train smiled as he kissed every one of Creed's fingers, then wrapped his arms around the silver man's back and squeezed him against his chest. He felt his heart burst into flames when Creed buried his face deeply into his chest and quietly murmured his name.

The golden man wrapped his ankles around Creed's and kissed the top of his head over and over again. "I love you, Creed…"

His heart fluttered wildly when he felt Creed's breath wash against his bare chest as the silverette sighed and Train buried his face into the man's velvety locks. "I'd say I love you more than you could ever know, but I'm pretty sure you'd get offended by that."

Train chuckled when he heard Creed make an annoyed sound as if he heard what the cat just said. "I thought so…"

The golden man remained like that for several minutes, gingerly tickling his lover's back, holding Creed firmly against his chest, and showering the silverette in kisses. However, he knew he eventually had to stop, since he understood why he couldn't sleep.

Train sighed sadly as he slowly let go of his lover, his heart breaking at the way Creed whimpered and tried to cuddle back into his chest. He slowly slid himself off the bed, his hands gently wrapping around Creed's as he repeatedly kissed them.

"I'll be right back, Creed. I promise."

His words weren't enough and Creed actually tried to follow after him, rolling his body slightly on and reaching out towards Train as he whined like a puppy.

Train sighed again and leaned forward, gently pushing his sleeping lover back on the bed by kissing him on the lips. As he kissed Creed, Train pulled the blankets up and over his naked body, tucking the man in all while keeping their lips connected to one another.

Once his partner was properly tucked in and relaxed, Train pressed his forehead against Creed's. "Like I said, I'll be right back. There's just something I need to do real quick."

He heard Creed mutter more complimentary words about him in French and smiled. Giving his partner one more kiss, Train stood up and began dressing himself. Once he was fully clothed, he turned back to Creed, running his hand through the silverette's hair and stepped away.

Deciding that would also be a great time to test his new ability to flash indoors, Train sparked his body and concentrated on the location he wanted to go to. His vision was quickly surrounded by a bright, white light which engulfed his entire body in an electric haze. The cat shut his eyes and when he opened them again he found himself back at Saya's grave.

Train smirked down at his flaring hands. "Guess the saying is true. You really do learn something new every day."

He stared at the spot where his friend was buried, waiting for the electricity around him to dissipate. Once it had, he stepped forward and knelt on the ground where Saya's body rested. He placed a hand on top of the ground that was now covered in weeds and grass.

"Hey, Saya…"

He wasn't sure what he was going to say, but he decided to do as he always did: Follow his instincts.

He gently massaged the ground as if the girl could feel his touch. "Sorry I've never visited you, but considering how you've practically stalked me and Creed… and even Lin, I suppose you aren't offended. After all, the body is just a vessel for the soul. That's what you used to say."

He chuckled as he sat criss cross on the grass. "Now that I think about it, I don't know how that tiny body of yours held such a giant soul. It must have been fighting to get out every second of your life. That's probably why you were so insane."

Train leaned back on his hands to stare up at the sky. "Then again, I guess you could say the same thing about me… That must have been why we were drawn to each other."

He smiled when he saw a star twinkle at him, positive she was listening. "I know Creed must have apologized a thousand times, but… I wanted to say sorry as well."

Train looked away from the star and back down at the ground that hid his friend. "I'm sorry for getting you involved in the drama that is my life. I know you don't blame me, so I don't want to be haunted by you stealing my milk over and over again tonight."

He placed his hand where he believed her face would be, a nostalgic smile still painted on his face. "I know you don't want to hear me say sorry… You probably don't want to hear Creed say it either, but you need to let us say it because it'll make us feel better."

Train caressed the dirt as he spoke. "I'm sorry, Saya…"

A single tear fell from his eye and into the earth beneath him, being absorbed instantly as a few more followed suit. "I'm sorry I became your friend and got you killed. I'm sorry you cared so deeply about someone like me. I'm sorry our meeting ended up being the end of your life."

Train knew he didn't need to repeat it wasn't Creed's fault Saya was gone, and he also knew he didn't need to convince the girl of that either. She made it clear with her multiple visits to the silver man that she didn't blame him.

"...I guess I should come up with excuses about how it wasn't Chronos' fault either, but I honestly don't think that's true."

He kept his hand on the plot of earth and looked back up at the sky. "While I don't place any blame on Sephiria or any one in Chronos, I do think the way they went about keeping us under control is the cause of your death. But…"

Train turned back to the grave, more tears falling down his face as he spoke in a quiet voice. "...Chances are you've already forgiven them as well. And you'd want me to forgive them too. That's just the kind of person you were."

Train chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry, that's the kind of person you are. You've made it perfectly clear that while your physical body is gone, your spirit is still very much alive."

He smirked when a thought occurred to him. "Are you in contact with that old bat? Is she watching us too?"

To get his answer, Train turned back to the sky and watched the stars. Seeing two of them twinkling brightly, he nodded. "That's what I thought. I'm sure you're both talking about how annoyed you are with me and Creed for constantly blaming ourselves for everything bad that happens to us or anyone we care about."

He held his pinky up to the sky. "I promise we'll work on that."

Train noticed his engagement ring shimmering in the glow of the radiant stars and smiled. He spread his fingers and turned his hand, staring at the piece of jewelry as he spoke. "I also wanted to say thank you…"

The cat looked back at the grave, placing the hand with his ring on it as a few more tears fell from his eyes. "Thank you for sacrificing your life for my happiness. Thank you for being the guardian angel I needed when I was at my darkest, and thank you for making me see what a beautiful world we live in."

He stared at the ring and used his other hand to wipe away his tears. "Thank you for leading me to Creed. For leading me to the life I now realize I was destined to have. I know that wasn't your intention, and I know if you were alive you probably would have pushed me and Creed together whether I liked it or not, but I understand now why things worked out the way they did."

He smiled at the ring, then looked back at the grave. "Everything happened the way it happened because I wouldn't have accepted my destiny if it didn't. I would have dug my feet in the ground and continued to refuse to acknowledge Creed. Even if you forced me to look at him, I know the man I used to be would have clung to the stubborn side of me that refused to let anyone get that close."

Train fingered the ring on his hand. "While your life may have been the catalyst I needed to see the allure of the world, ironically it was your death that made me realize what I was truly missing. In a way, your death was what I needed to finally accept happiness. To finally not take life for granted."

He smiled and rested his hand back on the ground. "You made me realize you only live once, so you better make it count. And while I wish you were still physically here to watch me run into my destiny with open arms and an open heart, I understand now that isn't necessary. I understand now that no matter what I do, no matter where I go, I'll never be rid of you."

Train stretched his legs out and looked back up at the sky. "...And I'll do your memory proud. I'll make sure to win this war, save E, and live happily ever after with my soulmate."

He frowned when he thought of his other friend, his heart dropping when he realized what the Apostles might be doing to her at that exact moment. He quickly shook his head of the thought when he realized it didn't make sense for them to torture her. If they really wanted to use her as bait, they'd want to leave her unharmed so she could be there to lure them out.

The cat took a deep breath. "I'll save her. I'll save E and put an end to this war. I'll make sure she and nobody else ever gets hurt by the Apostles. I'll save her and win, Saya."

He looked back at her grave and smiled. "I promise."

Train leaned forward and pressed the palm of his hand against the area he believed the sweeper girl's cheek would be, then gently grasped the grass that was there. "I'll make you proud, Saya. So keep watching me."

Train stood up and brushed his pants off, staring down at his friend's grave for a few minutes before saying one last thing. "Thank you for everything, Saya. I never would be the man who I am now without you."

With that sentiment vocalized, Train shut his eyes and flashed himself back to the music school where his sleeping lover waited for him. As soon as he felt his feet hit solid carpeted ground, Train opened his eyes and looked immediately to the man who was still in the bed.

Creed's back was facing him, but he could still hear the man's faint loving mumbles from where he was standing. Train rolled his eyes and began undressing again.

"Do you ever think about anything else? And how is it possible you were able to sleep through both my flashes?"

Train knew when he transported himself and others it was never quiet or subtle, so it was shocking to see a man who normally slept so lightly sleep through two of his loud transits.

He snickered as a thought occurred to him. "Guess I really wore you out, huh?"

Hearing Creed mumble a few more incoherently adorable words, Train smiled and pulled the blankets back, crawling into the bed next to his partner. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Creed jolted awake and shot his head up, looking around the room as if he had no idea where he was.

"Hm? What? Train? Is that you?"

Train kissed the back of Creed's head, wrapping his arm around the man's thin waist as he pulled him back against the mattress. "Who else would be crawling in bed next to you? Even with how bold Sergey is, I don't know if he'd be brave enough to cuddle you like this."

Creed relaxed into the sheets when he felt his love's lips gently caress his neck and shoulder, pushing his body backwards and into the cat's as he tangled his fingers with the hand Train slid around his chest. He sighed and brought the finger that had his Kitten's engagement ring on it, kissing it lightly as he shut his eyes again.

"Don't bring that man up when I'm feeling this relaxed. I'd rather go back to replaying what you just did to me…"

Train chuckled and kissed his Stallion's neck. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Creed moaned. "More than enjoyed… It was pure bliss. It was like touching Heaven."

The cat smiled and squeezed the man tighter to his chest. "Then I'll make sure to do it again."

Creed nodded rapidly and adjusted his body slightly so it was flushed against Train's. "Yes please… And maybe a little more next time…?"

Train smirked at the hesitant tone in Creed's voice, as if he was scared of how the gunman would react to his request. To reassure his lover, Train nibbled lightly at his ear. "Whatever your heart desires, my Stallion… As long as we find a way to do it without hurting you."

Creed shivered at the way Train emphasized the word 'my', then turned his body around so he could pressed his face against his beloved's chest. "You didn't hurt me, Train."

Train frowned. "Yes, I did. I bruised your wrists." Seeing Creed blink in confusion and look down at his wrists, the cat sighed. "I fixed it with my Nanomachines while you were sleeping."

Creed blinked a few more times, then sighed and cuddled back into his Kitten. "I love you, Train…"

Train kissed the top of Creed's head and wrapped his arms around his back. "I love you, too. Sleep now, Mon étalon."

Creed kissed Train's chest over and over again, right where he knew the cat's heart was. "I will. E non sognerò altro che te, amore mio." (4)

With those last loving words, the men shut their eyes, choosing to forget about the dark cloud that hovered ominously over their heads, ignoring the potential foreboding future their fate might hold in favor of the sweet, satiating warmth their bodies provided one another.

Instead of thinking about the quickly approaching war and what might become of one or both of them during it, they chose to bask in the way their breath brushed against the other's heated, bare flesh, the way their arms encased around one another and made them feel safe, and the way their hearts beat as one.

Blissful ignorance was the best way to deal with the idea that in just a few more passes of the sun, all their hopes and dreams could either come crashing down, or finally come to fruition.

---

Translation:

(1) "Now allow me to show you exactly how much I love you…

(2) "My Stallion…"

(3) "You are literally the most amazing person in the world, Train Heartnet."

(4) "And I'll dream of nothing but you, my love."