Chapter 8

"Sor-" Asch cut himself short, he wasn't used to apologizing, and if he did it now it would ruin any remaining dignity he had in himself. "I'm not ready to tell you, just give me some time."

Luke sighed, he honestly couldn't stand Asch's pride sometimes. There always had to be secrets, why couldn't he be open with his feelings, or even just a little less self-conscience? But then again, Luke had to let Asch's pride be, whatever was bothering him would come out eventually, even if Luke had to force it.

Asch sat down on the mattress, pulling his boots off as he did. Luke stared at him as he rolled the lengthy material down from his thighs. Luke hadn't noticed before, but Asch's legs were thinner than his own. Then again, they probably would have been better a year ago when Asch and himself were still running around the globe.

Asch caught Luke staring out of the corner of his eye, Luke flinched slightly when he spoke. "Do you mind?"

Luke snapped out of his trance, realising his mouth was hanging open. Out of embarrassment he walked to the other side of the bed and began taking off his cream jacket. After it had fallen off his shoulders he chanced a look behind him at Asch.

His twin was slipping under the sheets and when familiar green eyes met with his own Luke shied away. Suddenly the buttons on his baggy geans seemed to be much harder to open.

Amused by his replica's unusual behaviour Asch smirked, leaning over to give the other red-head a hand. He shooed Luke's hands out of the way and unfastened the geans himself before pulling Luke down onto the bed to get them off.

The two of them soon laid back side-by-side as Asch extinguished the light from a glowing fon stone above their heads. They stayed like that, in silence, for a few minutes unsure of whether to sleep or address their counterpart beside them.

Asch was the first to drift off, Luke watched him intently before curling up closer. He had considered sneaking off to speak to the doctor at the hospital about Asch, but Asch would catch him before he got out of the hotel room. There was another reason too, if he spoke to that medical practitioner he would be betraying Asch's trust, he couldn't do that.

Hours pasted as Luke contemplated the thoughts in his mind. He wanted to help Asch,By whatever means necessary. He snuggled up closer to Asch, and unconsciously, in his wavering state, he slung an arm around Asch, some of the explanation he arrived at made him uncomfortable.

Luke jumped as Asch sighed before opening an eye. "Why are you still awake? It must be the early hours of the morning Luke." Asch sensed Luke's fragile mood and held him. "What are you thinking that's making you sad?"

Luke rubbed the bridge of his nose against Asch's neck. "It's nothing..."

"Tell me, you know I'll come in their if you don't." It was still a threat, even if Asch said it softly.

"Asch, tell me what happened, I want to know what will cure. Even if it's something terrible. I'd rather know what it is than guess what it might be. Trying to but me out of your problems only works when I don't know about them."

Asch considered this, then pulled back.

Asch was readily bored. Reasonably happy, but very, very bored. He supposed this sort of thing was like frustration. Only, frustration didn't usually feel like someone had dropped butterflies into his stomach, no, usually it was his muscles tensing ready to rip something -anything- limb from limb.

He decided to change out of the medical gown he was wearing back into his clothes, after all, he didn't really like wearing paper.

The door opened as he adjusting his collar. He felt the urge to let out some sarcastic remark like: "You certainly took your time" or "What were you doing, waiting for the cows to come home?" but he held in him, his curiosity found the small box under the man arm more interesting than idle comments about his terrible time keeping.

"Now Asch, what I have in here..." The doctor said handing the box over to Asch. " Is part of the research which could cure you." Asch nearly broke the lid getting it off. Inside were just over twenty small glass syringes all filled with an odd transparent liquid.

"The theory is, because you've been in such close proximity with your replica, your own bodily fonons and his have begun getting replying each other out of confusion. A lack of friction between you two may also be a factor. So, if could merge both your D.N.A together, the process that has been bothering you for so many years may finally stop."

"What?! I'm cured? Just like that?" Asch eyes lit up like they hadn't done in years.

"Calm down Asch. Unfortunately, the only act where it can actually merge properly is...well, sexual intercourse."

Asch choked on his happiness, the fluttering sensation in his gut now felt like impeding sickness. The doctor sighed raising his hands as Asch opened his mouth to protest.

"I know, it not something you would be...interested in doing, however, I'm afraid it only gets worse. Because your body is the main basis point for fonons, in other words you're giving Luke fonons, the transaction would only work if Luke was... well-"

Asch paled, the doctor moved off the subject out of fear that he would faint. "In any situation, those syringes contain a liquid which will aid the process along. I know your not keen, but think about it-"

"Hell no."

"I'm only saying-"

"Hell. No."

"I see... That's all?"

Asch raised an eyebrow. "'All'? Do you even know what sex is?" Luke shook his head and Asch let out a heavy sigh of restraint.

"I know that there's kissing and stuff involved, but how bad could it be compared to dying?"

"And you expect me to live without dignity? Go to sleep." Asch rolled over. Luke followed him, as he did Asch's hand pushed him back."Leave it alone, Luke. And don't mention it to anyone else, you hear?"

Luke sat up on the bed and lent forward over Asch. Asch raised a hand to push him back down on to the mattress, but it was snatched away by Luke's impatient one. Their faces were very close together, Luke could feel Asch's uneasy breath on cheeks.

"Luke I'm warning you..."

Putting all of his weight onto his knees Luke placed his free hand over Asch's eyes, and gently pressed down on his lips. Asch simply froze in shock. His caged palm went limp inside Luke's.

Luke soon pulled back. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Be quiet and go to sleep before I knock you out and make you."

Luke looked over at the window. He really wasn't tired. Asch was though. He'd been sound since he closed his eyes after their argument. Luke supposed waking him up again would push the older one over the edge and earn him a thump, so bothering him or doing anything that might wake him up.

Still, gazing over at him wouldn't do any harm to either of them. Asch had rolled over onto his belly and was chewing on his pillow. He'd never actually seen Asch eat. It was almost, cute.

Something prodded him in the back of his mind. Bored, he deciced to look into it. Closing his eyes and laying back on the pillow, Luke cleared his thoughts and opened his mind to whatever it might be.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Belkend, Guy crouched down behind darkened evergreen brushes. He glanced out at the town in the distance, before shaking his head.

"The main gate is crawling with guards," He turned back to face the others behind him. In the poor light he could barely see them.

"What about the other entrances?" Tear voiced, her words were faded beyond a whisper.

"Also out of the question. Van's got guards everywhere, I can't see a blank spot -even from this vantage point." The moonlight caught the side of Tear's face and Guy could see it contort in frustration.

"There checking escorts too..." Anise sighed, her normally perked voice drooped as she mouthed the words. She wasn't the only one. They had all been up planning since the 'twins' -as nicknamed by Jade- had disappeared this morning. What had been planned as a well deserved day off, had become another early morning/ late evening mission against Van.

"Van certainly has played his cards right this time. But there must still be a blind spot in amongst all this preparation..." Jade said with a touch of consideration. "Even Van is bond to have missed something..."

"What about a distraction? It might work if we spilt up and cause multiple chaos points." It wasn't an idea Guy was too fond of putting forward, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"It's a very unstable plan, if we get the timing off or the guards notice us we're hot water."

"I agree with Tear. Though, that has given me inspiration for a plan of my own." Jade interjected, it may have been dark but Guy was sure he saw that dangerous glint in his eyes when he pushed his glasses up his nose. The one Guy thoroughly hated. He supposed the others felt the same but didn't pull his claims to the surface. They had more aggravating things to worry about right now than what Jade had planned.

By accident, Luke drifted off. He was not intirely asleep, but enough to dream.

"Luke." Luke opened his eyes. Before him stood Asch, stripped of his armour and weapons, speaking quietly. He was so close now, their noses almost touched. His old worn military jacket clutshed tightly to him, it wet from a substance Luke could only suppose was rain. "Don't forget me..."

Asch leaned on Luke."I-I won't?" Luke caught and held Asch's weight as he slumped. But he could not hold onto it. They were on their knees now. "Hey, what's gotten into you? Are you drunk?"

Asch disappeared and a vague blurry room materialised around him. Luke got to his feet as a door to his right opened and a young child no older than ten years old ran in excitedly barely coming to a stop before he hit the bed which sat in alignment with the doorway.

Spinning around the boy turned to face another figure at the door, he was still hopping about like a giddy rapig. "Can touch him master, can I? Can I? Please? I promise I won't wake him, I promise!" The man came over and kneel down, petting the child's head.

"Alright, but don't get too attached. He not staying forever, Asch." The last word seemed to echo sightly. Was this Asch's memory of someone special?

The young red-head twirled around to face the bed as his master left, the child the bed next to him, there lay another. He carefully reached over and smoothed back the sleeping child's hair.

"You aren't like mom and dad, or even Guy! I'm older than you are, so that means I have to take care of you. Okay? Good!" The young Asch leaned over further, and gently placed a kiss on sleeping one's forehead. "From now on, I'm your big brother."

The one sleeping in the bed slept calmly as Asch watched over him. He had never seen Asch smile like that, though this whole situation seemed vaguely familiar, an odd yet simple recurrence, like déjá vu. But Luke could have sworn this happened with him present.

AN- It didn't quite go as far as planned, but I don't want to make this chapter any longer than it is. As always, let me know.

Preview.

"Control, desired by many, achieved by few. Especially those who want it."