Ray deposited Krux in Wu's office, leaving right after. Krux rubbed his arm with a scowl, glaring after the other man, "really" he grumbled "there was no need for that"

Wu sighed, not quite having the energy to care, "I'll talk to him later" he said, mentally running through when he might have the time for it, "But there are more important things to discuss- it's about your brother"

"Ah, I was hoping to talk to you about that- he's been in that cell for a long time, we were hoping that, now that he's devenomed, he could move back in with me"

"No"

Krux blinked, "what?"

"He can't go home with you, Krux, and thats what I'm here to talk about" he pushed some papers towards him, "we've set up some... homes, for people who were bitten during the war, your brother will be safe there, cared for, and he won't be able to hurt anyone"

Krux's head shot up from where he'd been scanning the fine print, offended on his brother's behalf, "Hey, my brother is perfectly able to-"

"I know you always controlled the finances" Wu cut him off, "but, regardless, thats not why I'm sending him there"

Krux's mouth narrowed into a thin line. He set down the papers, ever so gently, and said "I'm not signing this"

"It's this, or he stays in his cell"

"I'm not putting up with this" muttered Krux, raising his voice, he said "He can't do anything, his venom glands are out! He's harmless-"

"Just because he can't turn anyone, doesn't mean he's harmless" snaps Wu, shutting Krux up, "You forget that he's still a snake- cunning, manipulative, cruel, you remember the war, don't you? How many of our own fell to the serpentine? I want the best for him just as much as you do, but you have to understand that he isn't your brother anymore- he knows how to act like it, he has Acronix's memories, and he can use that to manipulate you into getting him what he wants"

Krux was silent. As far as he knew, Wu was right, many of the bitten had fought alongside the serpentine in the war, betraying their former species in favor of the vile reptiles.

There was no reason to believe his brother would be any different.

Krux fell silent, staring ahead. He could feel tears beginning to form, and he bit his lip in an attempt to hold them back, at the very least until he was alone.

"And why does he have to go here? Why can't he stay with me?"

Wu looked away, saddened, "as his family, you are prone to being sentimental, to treating him like he's still the man you grew up with, forget that, no matter how well he plays his part, the moment you let your guard down, he'll kill you in a heartbeat."

Krux found that difficult to imagine, he just couldn't see his brother, someone who'd been there for his entire life, the only member of his family he still spoke to, the man who, just a few moments ago, had been overjoyed to see him, being the one to end his life.

Maybe that just proved Wu right.

But he didn't care. "I'm not subjecting my brother to this" he said lowly, "I don't care if he's not there anymore, or if he's manipulating me or biding his time until the serpentine are free, the way I see it, that's not his fault, he deserves better then to be abandoned by his own family"

"I understand, Krux, believe me, I do- but I'm not putting you at risk, Acronix will be perfectly safe, I promise" Wu reached for his hand, but Krux pulled away.

"He's my brother! Don't I get a say in this?" he said, slamming a hand against Wu's desk.

Wu sighed, "I get that you're upset, but no, you don't get a say in this- because your not the only one in danger. If Acronix hurts anyone, it'll be your fault, and if he get's hurt, then it'll be your fault, do you want the blood of an innocent on your hands? Or the blood of your own brother? If not, then you'll let him go"

Krux wanted to argue, but he bit his tongue.

He couldn't give a shit if Acronix hurt someone- he could admit that, so, he loved his brother! Sue 'em! Someone had to!

But the idea that someone could hurt him- that by giving him a home, he was putting his brother in danger, that terrified him.

He sighed, "your right, I-I'll sign"

Wu nodded, satisfied, and handed over the papers.

Hearing the click of the cell door being unlocked, Acronix looked up with a smile, "Wu!" he said getting to his feet, "are you here to let me out?"

Unable to even look at him, Wu took a moment to reply.

Acronix's smile faded. "Wu?" he repeated, more subdued, "I can leave, right?"

"No" said Wu, "but you won't be stuck here- we have somewhere you can stay, somewhere safe"

"Ugggh, when can I go home?" moan Acronix, flopping dramatically down on his bed.

Wu paused, guilt flashing across his features, but he shook it off.

This wasn't Acronix.

"You'll get to go home, this surgery is very experimental- we don't even know if it worked, we just need to keep you somewhere where you can heal, and we can make sure your safe to reenter society"

"oh" he was visibly disappointed, but seemed to take Wu's words at face value.

A troubled look crossed his face, "if it doesn't work-"

Wu interrupted him, "if it doesn't work, we'll find a way- don't worry, I'm not letting you die"

Acronix smiled, genuinely, "thanks, Wu, you really are a good friend"
_

Krux went home to an empty house and a deep sense that he'd done something wrong.

This mourning, he'd expected his brother would spend the night in his own bed, things would, more or less, go back to normal- what's the danger in a fangpyre without venom?

But he supposed that was being nieve.

Sighing, he plopped himself down on the couch- right as the doorbell rang.

He dragged himself up to answer the door- only to come face to face with Garmadon.

At one point, simply seeing his face would be enough to alleviate his sour mood- but not tonight.

"What do you want" he snapped.

Garmadon flinched, red eyes glowing dimly in the night, "I just want to talk"

"I don't" said Krux and slammed the door.

A moment later, he opened it again, "but... I don't want to be alone, either"

Garmadon smiled, "thats okay, I understand that today must've been rough for you- my brother... well, he means well, but he's not good at communicating his actual plans"

Krux snorted, opening the door to let him in.

He returned to the couch, and Garmadon sat on the opposite end, keeping a respectful distance.

After a few minutes, Krux moved a bit closer- not quite touching, not yet.

"I thought he'd spend tonight on this couch" muttered Krux, "I'd have spent the next couple weeks setting up a bedroom for him- I didn't expect him to ever live here, when I got the house, I thought he'd- I thought he'd be dead"

Garmadon looked over at him, edging a sickly pale hand toward Krux's tanned one.

Krux noticed and took it.

"Krux-" Garmadon started, gently squeezing the other's hand.

"Then Wu comes to me with this surgery- a way to keep my brother alive, without endangering anyone, but then all of a sudden he's still 'too dangerous'?" Krux lay down, resting his head in Garmadon's lap. "I just... I want my brother back, I don't care if he can't love me"

Garmadon thinks about this, running his fingers through Krux's hair "I- I've never been bitten by a fangpyre" he mutters, "but, years ago, when I was young, the venom of the Great Devourer herself ended up in my blood. It- it calls to you, calls you to do things you know are wrong, but- it just gets harder and harder to control yourself, and then you just- you give in. And the more you give in, the more powerful it gets, if fangpyre venom if anything like that, then... just know, your brother still loves you"

The words weren't quite comforting, but it was a better picture than what Wu had painted. It hurt less.

Krux shifted, sitting up in Garmadon's neck and nuzzling into his neck.

"Can you stay tonight?"

Garmadon hesitated, hands lingering over the other's body,

Krux realized what he'd implied and blushed, "Not like that, not tonight- I just- I don't want to be alone"

Gently, a hand landed on his side, close to his hip.

Krux's heart pounded. He knew they were treading in dangerous territory, even with just this, and it had never ceased to thrill him, even with the guilt nibbling at the back of his mind- a small part of him that cared more about the feelings of others than his own pleasure, his own safety, even.

But something about what Garmadon had said troubled him.

"what you said about Her venom" he said, practically whispering in the dark, "about... it calling you to do what you know is wrong... is that all I was to you?" he asked

He could feel Garmadon shift, practically hear the gears turning in his head.

But he never got an answer.