A/N: Good evening, Brothers and Sisters – I simply couldn't sit on this one anymore, so I'm posting it. I had a double post planned – the second being Uvelaes's one-shot POV on entering the Brotherhood (it's still coming, it's just not ready yet). So in that one I expanded on his dialog a little more – you'll understand what I mean when you read on (I don't wanna hand out unnecessary spoilers:3) So, read on, enjoy, and review. May you walk always in the shadow of Sithis.
Edit: Welcome Home, Brother is Uvelaes Nilera's POV for this chapter, as promised. Check it out, if you'd like.

Chapter 23: Nothing Like Revenge

"ALLYSSSAAAA!"

I put down my tankard, a broad, smug grin plastered over my face. Astrid's shriek almost rang throughout the entire Sanctuary. I looked around the table at my brothers, and Cicero giggled. "What did you do, O Great Listener?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" I said, pushing out my chair, still grinning as Astrid shrieked my name again. I walked over to the training area, my brothers all in tow and trying hard not to giggle as Cicero was desperately trying to make me tell him what was going on. Before I could stop him, or say anything, Astrid let loose another furious shriek about what she would do if she found me – naturally making Cicero fume and sputter out a few of his own interesting insults – Babette's tired voice called out: "Shut up, girl! And respect your Listener's actions!"

Everyone turned to stare at her, the Sanctuary silent. Astrid wore a mixed expression of shock, anger and betrayal, while Babette's eyes had widened and a hand was clamped over her mouth, suddenly afraid of what had just slipped out of her mouth. She fled back to her chambers immediately.
I turned back to Astrid to see Uvelaes standing calmly behind her, a cocky grin on his face when he saw me. "Ah, I remember you as the assassin who found me and brought me home. You really are quite exquisite without the hood and cowl, although the armor is much more flattering…" his eyes travelled over me suggestively. My vision sharpened as my blood cooled in mild annoyance towards this Dark Elf.

"You speak to the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood! You should show respect towards the greatest of us all, new blood," Cicero spat from next to me, a hand on his ebony dagger. I lifted my chin at Uvelaes when he glanced between us, Astrid's little show of stamping her foot and glaring at me lost to the elf. "Forgive me; I had not meant to disrespect you, my Listener," he bowed slightly in my direction. I could have sworn Astrid was lighting up like an Illusion mage's spell the way she was glowering, and Cicero seemed speechless from the quick save. "Hm," was all I could muster short of a dagger in his side. "Astrid, meet our newest member, Uvelaes Nilera. Uvelaes, meet Astrid, the current… leader… of our Sanctuary," I struggled a little with the last 'leader' part. I could tell neither was impressed with the other – it pleased me immensely.

"So you just happened upon a new brother, then Alysa?" Astrid asked stiffly.
I smiled. "You could say that, I suppose – though I doubt that would please the Night Mother. I'm sure our brother would like to get settled in somewhere – Aventus can show you around," I finished, looking at Uvelaes – Astrid had already started storming off to her chambers, no doubt to fume at Arnbjorn if he was here. I turned to Cicero and beamed at him, just as he started reveling in how I had found our new brother.

My breath whooshed out of me as Cicero wrapped his arms around me, picking me up and spinning me around and around as he sang and giggled about the Brotherhood's glory and expansion. "To the Night Mother! To Sithis! To the Dark Brotherhood! To glory! To bloodshed and murder! To the LISTENER!" he finished, beaming from ear to ear.

Ah! It makes Cicero so happy to see that the Listener is finding new siblings! And that you, O Unholy Matron, sweet Night Mother, told her where to go to find this one! He seems like an interesting elf, though Cicero thinks he would prefer it if he stayed away from the Listener when not speaking professionally…. Hehe, Cicero is already very possessive of sweet Alysa…. Cicero's not-so-guilty guilty pleasure, Mother.

Our siblings parted and I swept Alysa around again, then she pulled me along up the stairs to the Night Mother and Cicero's chambers! Giggling and smiling and being so very pretty as she always is. She left humble Cicero once we stood inside your chambers, Mother – and she flung open your coffin doors, kneeling briefly while Cicero stood by the door. The proper door, between our chambers and the rest of the Sanctuary, of course, smiling softly at dear, beloved Alysa's back, closing the door softly. Cicero pulled off his gloves and put them on the table as he slowly walked to stand a little behind and aside from his beloved Listener, waiting for her. I bowed my head a little too – and I prayed as well.

Cicero prayed for the glory and respect of the Dark Brotherhood, for the honor and fear of you, sweet Mother, Unholy Matron, and Sithis, our Dread Father in the Void, and Cicero prayed the hardest for his Listener – for success in her contracts, her kills to give her pleasure and to be happy as such a great and wonderful woman should be. When Cicero looked up, Alysa flashed a smile – finished before Cicero – and closed the coffin. Then she turned back to the humble Fool of Hearts.

"Cicero is pleased to see you again, Alysa," he said softly, taking a few steps closer to his beloved Listener.
"Oh, really?" she asked coyly, smirking, her pretty blue eyes half-closed, half-opened.
Cicero mock-scowled. "You should know humble Cicero would never lie to his Listener!"
Alysa took a step closer to Cicero. "Your Listener?" Cicero doubted he could miss the way her eyes shone when she asked that. Cicero closed the gap – it was still far too big in Cicero's opinion (I did want to hold her, after all) – between myself and Alysa. "My Listener," he confirmed, touching her face so gently, so softly. Those pretty eyes closed, leaning into Cicero's hand. Cicero couldn't help himself anymore – he lent forwards, and kissed the Listener Alysa.

My heart was working hard when Cicero's fingertips touched my cheek, standing so close to me it almost hurt. I leaned into his touch, reveling in the feel of his palm against my face when a soft rustle of clothing preceded his lips against mine.

It sent my heart racing.

I wanted more of Cicero, and kissed back eagerly. I reached for him, my fingers curling around his motley tunic as our kiss deepened, and I tasted him. His free arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer and I ran my hands up over his chest to tangle in his hair.

We finally broke apart, breathing heavily, our foreheads resting against each other.

It was a fairly relaxed day after that, and Cicero and I had spent most of our time together just talking, sometimes touching when I reached for him, or when he seemed to know just how and when to hold me, kiss me lightly. I liked that he still respected my natural distrust of contact, and especially since I had been out and busy by myself. I was warming up to it again.

At dinner we finally left Cicero's chambers and spent some time with Uvelaes, Aventus and Nazir at the table in the lab area. Babette and Festus were probably debating some arcane thing in peace elsewhere, and Astrid and Arnbjorn had yet to show themselves after the arrival of their new brother – my prodigy – and once everyone had gotten enough of Uvelaes, the first thing he had done when he saw Gabriella walk into the room was flirt with her, and the jokes grew increasingly suggestive when she mentioned she enjoyed knitting – even Nazir had sputtered about one, and I turned away in time to hide my blush while Aventus laughed openly and Cicero had giggled nervously.
It made me turn my thoughts back to when Cicero and I had kissed, and a foreign warmth blossomed in the pit of my stomach. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't entirely welcome, either. I wondered what this meant for the two of us – we had crossed a line now and there was no going back. Would I want to go back? I asked myself, ignoring the banter around the table. I snuck a glance at Cicero and couldn't stop the grin from spreading. Definitely not! I settled the matter, and pretended to be interested in Aventus's little contracts from Nazir. He still seemed a little in love with me, but Uvelaes's offhanded suggestions and flirtatious mannerisms at anyone and everyone when the moment was right put the young Imperial off a little. It made me snigger now and again.
Gabriella eventually gave up on fighting her fellow Dunmer's advances much to Nazir's disgust, and the Redguard made a few sarcastic comments under his breath before disappearing from the lab area to make food for us.

"Who do I speak to for contracts, the charming Redguard who just left us, or you, my Listener?" Uvelaes asked me.
I sniggered when Cicero mumbled something into his tankard. "Nazir has most of the contracts around Skyrim, so it would be best to speak to him, first. I'll let you know if anything else comes up from the Night Mother," I replied easily. I was really enjoying this whole Listener thing more and more as time went on – the more members got used to this, the closer we would get to the Old Ways, and the greater power and influence we would have once more. Gabriella was fascinated with my ability to speak to the Night Mother, and asked many questions about how we communicated. I tried to explain it as best I could, but I suppose I could have been a little more honest and open about it. I couldn't help my selfishness in the matter.

Cicero held her close, careful – but he was so happy! So thrilled! Dear Alysa felt the same as Cicero! Surely they were blessed by Sithis and the Night Mother to be together like this! Oh, it was so perfect! Thank you thank you thank you! Ha ha ha!

Cicero had been careful with Alysa after that – she was so much like the Void; always close but never really within reach. Cicero never wanted to send her away, but Cicero wanted her to stay forever and ever and ever and ever and ever with him – so he was patient, letting his Listener take her time with everything again. Cicero could have sworn she appreciated it. It made Cicero want to dance and sing and jump!

He also felt a little better when he realized that Uvelaes flirted with everyone – specifically Gabriella, then Aventus. Humble Cicero had giggled nervously when his new brother (how he longed for another sister; too many men and mer around) had made a very… specific joke about knitting…. He he he, Cicero couldn't help but think of the lovely Alysa and that made it worse, really.
But what had surprised this humble Keeper the most was when Nazir decided to leave! Cicero wondered exactly what his relationship or not-relationship was with the strange she-Dunmer – Cicero will admit, he finds it strange for men and mer to be lovers… it never seems to work out and, well, someone always insists, insists, INSISTS that it must happen – but Cicero is rambling. Hehehe.

The harlot and her dog didn't come to dinner; and the wondrous Festus and un-child came in for a short time to argue about potions and magic, and then the Shadowscale returned! He looked awful, horrid, terrible! Like he'd spent a night or three in jail and then ridden until he couldn't ride more – or until the horse couldn't go more. Cicero's one sister in Cheydinhal had done that every time she went out; one horse to leave, another horse to come back. Good thing she was a thief! But Cicero still doesn't understand them – why steal it to make it yours-not-yours when you can kill them and then it really is yours? Oh well, this foolish Imperial will never know….

He quite enjoyed the dinner and the tales of the Solitude contract, especially the part where the Listener made her mark in pig's blood on the balcony's wall. So much like the Dark Brotherhood before it all went wrong. Cicero also loved how the Listener described how Vici had gurgled and sputtered and gasped and gagged while she bled and died from an arrow in her throat in the middle of a speech! Ha ha! Oh, it was charming! Perfect! Cicero loved it!

Cicero's many brothers and few sisters seemed tired tonight, and everyone retired early, but Cicero managed a quick moment alone and in private with his beloved Listener. She smiled up at him, made his heart skip a beat – though it's quite right for the Fool of Hearts to have his heart act like a fool – and she reached for Cicero's hand. "Good night, Cicero."
"Good night, dear Alysa."
She grinned darkly, then let go of Cicero's hand, and hugged him. I couldn't help but bounce a little bit as I hugged her back – I couldn't exactly sing and dance for all to hear, just yet – and when she let go, Cicero caught her face between his hands very gently and kissed her again. Oh, he loved the way she held onto this one and only Fool of Hearts! The way she kissed back! Tasted like all things a Listener should – the Void, the cold blade of a dagger, the warm crimson-red of a target's life-force!

Well, maybe not quite exactly like that, but it's what he thought of when he kissed her.

"May Sithis and the Night Mother keep you in your dreams, dear Alysa."
"And you, my Keeper," she said, untangling herself from Cicero and heading up, up, up the stairs to her bed.
Cicero had a feeling she didn't just mean his title when she called him her Keeper – he was still grinning when he finally went to bed.