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How Could This Happen?
Like Weiss on Rice

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God he hated these things. He had them for over a year and he still couldn’t quite get the hang of them. They moved along with his hands, frequently getting in the way. He grabbed them once in his frustration, flinging them off behind his back. He didn’t realize how much it would hurt until he did it. He yelped in pain.

“Just calm down.” Weiss finally said, watching the whole thing. “You’ve worked well with them before… you just have to stop thinking about it so much.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” He said sullenly, wishing already he could take it back.

“It is easy, you’re right.” She didn’t have mechanical wings shooting out her back. Nero seemed surprised at this and she shrugged. “But I know you… and I’ve seen what you can do.”

He nodded a little dumbly.

“Now why don’t you come over here so I can wash your hair?” He did, he went to her and sat in front of her. “You’re getting tall!” She said, having to push him down a little further than she remembered having to do before. “I didn’t even notice.” She worked his hair into a lather. He liked her hands, the way the messaged his scalp. He was lucky to have her for a sister. Sure life was hard down here sometimes… well… all the time, but she definitely made things bearable and almost normal. “You should bathe more you know… you get so dirty all the time.”

Yes, because I fight all the time and I’m usually the one who gets tossed onto the ground.

“You won’t find a woman if you keep this up.” And he scoffed at her. “It’s true. One day you’ll care about it… at least that’s what all the boys grow up doing.” She grabbed the small white tub she kept her toiletries in and dumped them to the ground. She filled it with water and dumped it on his head suddenly and he sputtered. “Hold still, it’s almost out. Keep those eyes shut now!” She laughed.

“You could have warned me.” He huffed.

“So are there any girls you like Nero?” She asked suddenly and he froze. No… no he didn’t know any girls he liked. “Oooh… maybe you like boys instead? You are a little feminine.”

“Nee-san!” He said, exasperated with her. When she worked conditioner in though, he had to stop a minute. Oh that felt nice.

She snickered at how limp he went when she did that, almost like a baby kitten when scruffed by its mother.

“There’s no one.” He finally said.

“That’s a shame… you’re such a handsome boy.” She said thoughtfully.

She thought he was handsome? He blushed a little when she dumped water on his head, this time he was ready and closed his eyes. Why was his heart beating so fast anyway?

“Do you have anyone you like Weiss?”

“It wouldn’t matter if I did.” Weiss huffed, “But I haven’t found anyone either.”

Nero couldn’t help but feel relieved, but he didn’t know why. He borrowed her statement from earlier. “That’s a shame… you’re so pretty.”

“Suck up.”

“It’s true.” He said it so sincerely that she had to smile a little.

“Well, thank you.” Then she finally asked. “So… what’s your type anyway?”

What was his type? “I think I’d like it to be someone older.”

“Ooh, Nero you cad.” She smacked his shoulder playfully. “Wanting someone with a little experience?”

“N-no.” What in the hell was wrong with him? He was feeling so weak suddenly… like he was dizzy and couldn’t breathe.

“No? Then why do you want an older person for then?”

Realization was dawning on him so suddenly it felt painful. No, no… that couldn’t be it. “I don’t know.” God she was so close to him now, he could feel the heat radiating from her onto his back. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. “Maybe so they would be a little more developed?” That wasn’t it at all.

She stifled a laugh. “What, girls your age not busty enough for you?”

He thought he would joke to lighten the almost stifling mood he was in, “The bigger the better.”

She couldn’t help the stream of laughter that came from her lips at his unexpected answer. She steadied herself by hugging him from behind, his wings were out of the way just enough for her to press herself against him. “You kill me Nero.”

No, you kill me Weiss. She was molded into his back. She was ‘busty’ enough as she put it. Her laugh vibrated against the skin of his neck and it went through him. He was trembling now. Not this… no… please… no! But it kept on and his heart felt like it was about to burst. He had to tear himself away from her right this instant and so he did, leaving her staring at him.

“Nero?” She looked down at her hand, which he was holding gently onto. His body didn’t want to get away from her. “Your back? Did I hurt you?”

Why didn’t he notice it before? His other hand reached for hers, holding onto her for support now. He gathered himself to his full height, only realizing now that he was taller than she was. He could barely hear anymore, just barely see.

Weiss just looked up at him and laughed nervously. She was by no means afraid, but wondered what the heck had gotten into him. “Are you okay?”

What in the hell was he doing? Weiss… Weiss… He wanted… he wanted to… His grip around her wrists began to quake. He had to stop… he needed to stop. “I have to go.” He said suddenly, letting her hands fall and he bolted out of the water, grabbing his clothes sloppily.

“Nero!” She shouted after him, jumping out and grabbing at his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t touch me!” He cried, trying to put some distance between them. He didn’t stop until he found a place to hide from her, a closet. Dripping wet he fell down against the wall and began to cry. He loved her… he loved his sister! How could this happen?