Silhouette

A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but I hope this chapter makes up for it. It's a LOT longer, and I even managed to sneak in some smut at the end.

The theme for this chapter is: Red.

To my Reviewers!

Sam - Awww... I'm glad you like this story so much! It really is appreciated.

Mitternacht - :P Good. I want you guys to be able to imagine this stuff in your head, plague you with my own problems.

Cloka - I hope you continue to read this and enjoy it!

Rinchans-Flower - ^_^ w00t w00t. I'm glad I can be considered somebody's favorite.

lunatic_vn - Hey, hey... do you Oreo? :D I know this chapter was short, but this one by far makes up for it.

Rio - Funny that you review the day I plan on updating. Don't worry about gushing, it does wonders for my ego. :3 Seriously though, I'm glad you can't find anything wrong. My beta does wonders...

--

“My, isn’t he handsome?” Scarlet [*] quietly observed. She had been watching Weiss’s resting form, which was currently residing inside a Mako bath, his figure blurred by the green glowing swarm of lifestream. Hojo sneered, moving up to stand beside the woman, who in his opinion was nauseatingly out of place. Fortunately, her appearance was deceiving, as she was as cunning and ruthless as any other Shin-Ra Administrator.

“More trouble than he’s worth, that’s for sure,” Hojo growled, surveying the subject with his own eyes. Weeks of costly experiments and projects had to be put on hold because of Nero and Weiss’s stupidity. His entire thoracic cavity had to be rebuilt, slowly, painstakingly, and it was beginning to try Hojo’s patience.

Not to mention, Nero’s poison in his life-force had to be purged as well, freeing Weiss of the pollution it had caused. If it weren’t for the importance and uniqueness of this particular specimen, Hojo wouldn’t have even bothered.

“If he’s that much of problem, maybe I could take him off your hands for a night or two,” Scarlet replied, giving Hojo a sultry wink which only moved to try his patience even more.

“He’s a miserable little brat, that’s what he is, more trouble then even Sephiroth,” Hojo spat, glaring at the infuriating woman before him. Scarlet merely gave him a frosty smile, before returning her gaze back to Weiss.

“It’s a pity, that while your best experiments turn out to be quite the eyeful, they always seem to be lacking on the mental stability end,” she said, loving the way she seemed to be able to grate Hojo’s last nerve. It was embarrassingly simple to set that man off into fits, which is why she wasn’t surprised when he made a noise similar to that of an angry cat before stalking off. Her eyes turned back to Weiss, where she surveyed the muscular chest, before flitting up to gaze once again at his face. She couldn’t suppress a gasp of surprise as her own eyes locked with the palest blue eyes she had ever seen. Or at least she assumed that was their color. The green tint of the Mako was making it slightly hard to tell.

“He’s awake!” She exclaimed, studying the face with renewed interest. Oh, he was handsome; there was no doubt about it. And he had the eyes of a SOLDIER, bred and born to kill. They were cold, merciless, and ever observant. Scarlet grinned again. It was her kind of man.

“Oh course he’s awake you insolent woman, he isn’t dead you know,” Hojo muttered, not even bothering to look over at Weiss. He had much more important things on his mind, such as finding a way to control that brat of a little brother…

“Can he hear me?” Scarlet asked, reaching up and tapping the glass with a finger, as though she was trying to provoke some animal into movement. She could’ve sworn she saw his eyes narrow slightly as he fixed his gaze on her.

“Enough with your nonsense, it’s not him that I brought you here for,” Hojo sneered, moving across the area that he had made to be his main laboratory. “You brought the equipment I commissioned you to make?” he asked, clearly not interested at all in Weiss’s well being. Sighing, Scarlet turned around, her hands moving to her hips as she stared at Hojo with indignation.

“Of course I brought it. Though I have yet to see why,” she snapped, moving away, albeit reluctantly, from Weiss. “It obviously isn’t for Weiss, and I have yet to be introduced to any of your other specimens,” she continued, walking over to a sealed case that she had brought with her into the labs. Hojo had requested that she fashion a SOLDIER uniform with a specific array of restraints and inhibitors, though she knew from the sizing that it was meant for someone much smaller than Weiss.

“You would’ve seen him already if you weren’t too busy making googly eyes at the Emperor!” Hojo hissed back, not pleased with Scarlet’s antics. Being a scientist, he didn’t have time for such foolish thoughts as romance. The only things that mattered to him were his experiments.

Scarlet rolled her eyes but decided not to comment, her curiosity perked by the thought of meeting another one of Hojo’s “prized” experiments. President ShinRa had been exceedingly pleased with his last inspection of Deepground, and Scarlet was eager to see with her own eyes if this covert SOLDIER unit was really all it was trumped up to be.

“My other specimen is in a very delicate mind set. We have to keep him in near isolation for own safety as well as his,” Hojo began to explain as he motioned Scarlet to follow him further into his labs. “We had to resort to teaching him and training him via a SND, because as a child it was far too dangerous to get close to him. This resulted in very little human interaction, and as left him mute and slightly deranged.”

A small smile flitted across Scarlet’s face. She knew that Hojo had very little patience for unruly or imperfect specimen, so Nero must have something extraordinary about him that made his life worth keeping. At least she knew what her uniform was for now. Picking up the container it was held in, she made her way across the room to join Hojo.

“A word of advice my dear,” Hojo began again, as the two of them continued to make their way through Hojo’s labs. “Nero, for all his exceptional powers, has managed to gain very little control over them.” he explained, a note of sadistic amusement in his voice.

“I’d stay my ground if I were you, until you get a better picture of how he’ll react,” Hojo finished, all but giggling at the idea. Oh yes, he was proud of Nero’s power. Even if he despised the foul little boy, there was no denying his usefulness once they managed to get him under control. The ability to pull in anything, anyone into that magnificent void of his, and discharge them at his pleasing was simply astounding. Hojo desired to study the effects on people, knowing that entire armies could be wiped out if only Nero would show some common sense.

Scarlet, on the other hand, felt the first inkling of fear. Anything that made Hojo happy was sure to spell despair for anyone else. He was as cruel and merciless as some of his experiments, and even more insane. She new her invention would have the desired effect on Nero, but she never once considered how she was going to get him into it.

“And how do you expect me to restrain him if I can’t get near to him?” she snapped, voicing her internal questions. Hojo merely smiled a cruel smile, obviously having already thought this one through.

“If Nero becomes too problematic, we’ll use Weiss as a leverage to make him submit,” Hojo answered, actually snickering slightly with the idea. Nero was irrationally attached to his older brother, despite having only met him once. The only way to make him calm down and obey would be to sit him in front of Weiss’s previously unconscious form for a few minutes, and low and behold he instantly became docile. It was influence that Hojo would be sure to exploit to its fullest potential. It would make matters even better if Weiss showed the same disposition.

“Why Weiss?” Scarlet questioned, her thoughts drifting back to the white haired SOLDIER. He had earned himself the title of Immaculate Emperor, and now she could see why. He was utterly flawless, at least on a physical standard.

“Hmm? Oh, yes, well, it might surprise you to know that Nero and Weiss are brothers,” Hojo explained, only paying Scarlet half a mind. He was too busy thinking to really concentrate on idle chit-chat.

“Weiss has a brother?” Scarlet blurted out, her mind going straight to the gutter. As if Weiss alone wasn’t enough.

“Oh yes. Leda[*] was an exceptional mother. She was able to provide two living specimen that survived to maturity. Unfortunately Nero… hmph, well… it’s of no matter to you. We’re here,” Hojo finished, pausing in front of a solid steel door. Scarlet could feel the apprehension and excitement building in her gut. Deepground was a much her playing field as it was Hojo. He created the SOLDIERs, she created their weapons for battle, while Heiddegger supervised their training. The success, or failure, of the project would be shared by them all.

Hojo reached over to the keypad that sealed the door, entering the code that would grant them both access. He braced himself for the sudden flooding of light as the door was opened; revealing a painfully white room with a long figure crouched inside. Scarlet however, wasn’t prepared and found herself blinking back tears at the blinding illumination.

“What…?”

“It merely serves to irritate, nothing more. Nero, as you can probably tell by his name, prefers the dark. Not to mention his… captivity has made his eyes ultra sensitive to light. It keeps him stationary, for the most part,” Hojo explained, not bothering to let Scarlet finish her question strolling into the room to glare with obvious distaste at the boy crouched on the floor. Scarlet, her eyes finally adjusted, followed Hojo’s eyes and felt her heart drop with disappointment at the sight that awaited her.

She had expected another Weiss. She had expected to see a strong, confident man full of defiance and pride. What she saw was a small sickly looking… boy, cruelly restrained and crouched on the floor.

He had long messy black hair that fell over his bowed head and shoulders, a frail looking torso that was hunched over slightly, his arms pulled behind his back and fastened by something she couldn’t see. He was clad in standard SOLDIER pants, but other then that he was entirely bare. He remained motionless, kneeling on the hard floor in what had to be a terribly uncomfortable position, not even flinching as the two people entered the room. In fact, if it weren’t for the steady rise and fall of his chest Scarlet would’ve taken him for dead. He sure was emancipated and pale enough to be.

“Impressive,” Scarlet said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. This boy looked as though he couldn’t even stand, let alone fight. All the precautions and warnings, the connection with Weiss… she had expected something awe inspiring, or at least terrifying, and this was it?

Hojo merely smiled, figuring it was best if Scarlet discovered just how dangerous Nero could be on her own. He wasn’t the least bit surprised as she dropped all caution, strolling forward fearlessly with a disappointed look on her face.

“You made me stop all my current projects and developments and dragged down into this hell forsaken place to give a specially designed uniform to this… Slum rat?!” She said, coming up with the first analogy she could think of. He certainly looked as though he had spent his entire life in that sunless place, scrounging for a living amongst the waste from the upper plate.

“Looks can be deceiving my dear…” Hojo said, still smiling. Scarlet let out an unattractive snort, circling around the boy as though expecting something new and amazing to show itself. To her further disappointment, the boy didn’t even flinch.

“I’ll bet,” she snapped, angry at what she saw was a wasted and fruitless trip all the way down here. She didn’t even want to think of all of her other projects she had forsaken just to get the special uniform done.

“What a waste of my time,” she growled, the last word accented as she used the toe of her high heel shoe to give a sharp kick to Nero’s side.

The attack was soundless. She had barely turned her back before something behind her flared up, reaching up and coiling around the leg that had struck the boy’s side. Scarlet let out a shriek, the case she was carrying dropping to the ground as she felt something tear at her, causing her to lose her balance and come crashing to the floor hard on her stomach. Eyes wide, she tried to turn herself over, only to find that something held her left leg fast. She did manage however, to look behind her, her mouth falling open as she saw that the formerly docile Nero surrounded in flames and coils of darkness that all but hid his form. He himself hadn’t moved, still kneeling and head bowed, but the… things that surround him were flaring with obvious angry, twisting and turning and preparing to lash out at Scarlet.

“HOJO!” She shrieked, trying to pull herself vainly away from whatever it is that held her. Her fear only grew as the darkness began to seep across the floor, inching towards her and getting ready to swallow her whole.

“Nero, enough!” Hojo snapped, having enough of his fun. He strode forward; somewhat hoping that he wouldn’t be able to save this sickening woman. For the first time, Nero moved, lifting his head just to let his cold crimson eyes glare at the scientist that was trying to stop him. Although neither of the others could see it, his lips had curled back in a snarl at the sight at Hojo. How he hated this man, who toyed with his mind and body for his project. He knew that if he didn’t comply he’d be beaten, and locked inside that cruel canister, shut off from all semblance of life, only to be taken out for their sick experiments. And they would take him away forever as well.

“Hojo, stop him!” Scarlet wailed, her nails scratching on the floor as she felt the darkness begin to curl around her lower half. She was going to die here, she was going to die inside a bottomless bit of darkness while Hojo sat there and took notes about it.

“Nero…” Hojo warned once more, not liking the fact that he could do little to save Scarlet if Nero didn’t relent. The only thing he could do was to punish the boy after the act was done.

Luckily however, Nero’s eyes narrowed slightly and he pulled his darkness back, obviously content or afraid enough not to push the matter further. Scarlet scampered away, pulling herself to her feet as fast as she could, hurrying over to hide behind Hojo and stare wide-eyed at Nero.

“What… what…?”

“An endless void, he can control it, to an extent. He devours everything, and releases it if he so pleases. The darkness also plays with people’s heads if given the chance, making them relieve horrible moments of fear or pain,” Hojo replied smugly, having proven the woman wrong in her initial analyses.

“Devours?” Scarlet gasped, just beginning to grasp what Nero could do. If the void was truly endless, he could consume anything… everything…

“And you see why I sanctioned those restraints to be fashioned. Until Nero gains full control, and we gain full control of Nero, he is little use to us. If we can seal his power for now, we can work on… breaking him in,” Hojo replied, a cruel smile on his face. Nero merely lowered his head, not bothering to look at the two people anymore. Scarlet slowly began to regain her composure, and dared to step out from behind Hojo to start shakily towards her dropped item. She kept her eyes fixated on Nero, watching for any sign that he was about to attack again. She was impressed now, as she watched the darkness coil around the boy, shielding him like a blanket, only allowing glimpses of his fail form.

“Amazing,” she muttered, not hint of sarcasm or jest in her voice. Hojo was right. She had learned her lesson. Kneeling down to the dropped case, she undid the clasps that held it tight and opened the lid, revealing a neatly folded uniform.

“The suit is designed as you had intended. Weights, straps, and other devices will help to restrain any physical movements. There are also magnetized cuffs along the wrists and ankles that can be remote activated to serve as shackles if needed. As for his… powers… as requested, there is an interlaying network of refined Mako that will serve to inhibit it as well,” Scarlet explained, lifting the heavy outfit with some difficulty to show Hojo.[*] Hojo nodded his approval before directing his attention back to Nero.

“Put it on boy,” he snapped, knowing that Nero understood every word that was going on. His SND training had shown that he was actually quite intelligent despite his animalist behavior.

Nero lifted his head again, glaring at Hojo as though to ask “and if I don’t?”, already showing the stubborn streak that his brother had. Hojo snarled, stamping one foot in a short display of anger, already tired of Nero’s insubordination.

“You will do as you’re told boy, or I will fetch Restrictor and make him do it for you,” Hojo warned, knowing that Nero knew it was no empty threat. The last beating he had receiving from Restrictor had left him in shape nearly as bad as Weiss’. It had taken a week of Materia treatments and Mako baths before he could walk again. If there was one person on the Planet he hated more then Hojo, it was Restrictor.

Grudgingly he stood up, walking towards the case that the woman stood by. He got some delight watching the way she scampered away, though his face remained a cold and emotionless mask. Looking down at the discarded uniform, he tried to make sense of mass of cloth and buckles. Slowly, obstinately he reached down, letting out a small grunt as he struggled to lift the heavy outfit. Scarlet realized with a flinch that he would need assistance putting it on, seeing as the uniform was designed to keep him in, which meant he wouldn’t be able to get in, or out of it, without assistance. Sucking up her courage, she stepped forward once again knowing that the sooner she got this done and over with, the safer she would be.

“Here,” Scarlet said, helping to rearrange the outfit so he would be able to step into it. It was a singular piece, a straight body suit that zipped up the back, providing a seamless seal around his body. Nero looked at her with emotionless eyes before doing as directed, discarding the pants he wore before stepping into the outfit, eyebrows furrowing slightly as he put his arms though the attached sleeves, already not likely the snug feel of the cloth of his skin. He hated to be contained and restrained, and yet here he was, willingly allowing it.

His discomfort only grew as the woman stepped behind him, zipping the uniform from the very base of his back all the way up to the back of his head. The darkness began to swirl around him in a more agitated state, showing his feelings of unease. Nero swallowed hard, standing their motionless as the woman began to pull and buckle the straps that were on his arms, legs, and across the torso. The clothing was too heavy, it was hard for him to move, the straps were too tight, it was hard for him to breathe… Nero felt himself on the verge of panicking as he was further constricted. As the woman went to tighten a strap that wrapped around his neck, he jumped back, letting out a soft hiss to show that he wouldn’t allow it. It was too late for that however, seeing as the uniform was mostly on anyways.

Scarlet merely smirked before reaching back down into her case, pulling out a small hand held remote. Pressing something he couldn’t see, Nero’s eyes went wide as a sudden and intense tug pulled his wrists and ankles together, making him lose his balance and crash to the floor. Nero growled, trying to pull his limbs apart but to no avail. Lips curling back, he prepared to engulf this woman and her toy, but Scarlet had already prepared for it.

Before Nero could recover his baring, she slipped a small chip behind the SOLDIER insignia on his chest, locking it into place as a sudden electric blue glow emitted from the stripes along the uniform. Nero’s head flung back in a silent scream as the darkness was forced back inside his body, being restrained from the strange substance that flowed through the uniform and burned his skin.

He writhed on the floor, trying to free his arms and legs, trying to rid himself of the uniform that hugged his body too tightly and the stream of Mako that hurt him. The darkness formed a coiled ball of tension in his stomach, aching to be released but unable to do so.

“As you can see, not even his darkness can overcome my work,” Scarlet said proudly, tossing the small remote to Hojo. Hojo grinned, actually tempted to say “Good Job”. The uniform exceeded his expectations. He was right in guessing that pure Mako would have the same effect on Nero as his darkness had on Weiss. The boy was now as tethered as his elder brother was.

Realizing that Nero was going to hurt himself if he continued this thrashing, Hojo released the magnetic bonds that held his limbs. Nero collapsed limp on the floor, his chest heaving in short quick breaths as he struggled for air, having forgotten to even breathe in his attempt to get free. Scarlet let out a cruel laugh, her bravado returned after successfully restraining Nero. Stepping forward with renewed confidence, she pulled the remaining articles out of the case, simply being a pair of gloves that would extend up Nero’s forearms. Nero made no struggle as she put them on him, tightening the straps that also ran along them. He didn’t move as she tightened the strap around his neck, even if it made it harder to breath. He merely lay there, eyes closed, breathing haggard between pale blue lips, eyes squeezed shut as he tried to calm his senses.

“There,” Scarlet said, stepping back and observing the boy. She felt something that might, in a long stretch, be associated with pity for the boy. He looked so frail, and in so much pain, laying on the floor bound in an outfit designed to contain a madman. The feeling was short lived however, as she remembered how the boy had nearly killed her.

“It’ll contain him, for now, judging by his current power output. I will continue to investigate a way to restrain him, as well as a universal way for all your Tsviets,” Scarlet started, turning back to Hojo. “I’ve sent a prototype design to your lab of a microchip that can be embedded in the spinal cord inhibiting physical movements when activated. It’s still in the test phases, but given a few years it should be safe to implant them into them.” [*]

Hojo nodded his approval, grinning as he watched Nero struggle to rise to his feet. It looked like he could barely move, and there wasn’t a trace of the darkness that usually swirled around his body. Scarlet had done her work, and done it well. He felt a new found respect for this woman. She would serve the project very well.

“I have a favor to ask of you,” Hojo frowned, his respect vanishing in an instant at the thought of having to repay to Scarlet.

“You mentioned Weiss having an unusual effect on Nero,” Scarlet began, though Hojo didn’t have to be a genius to see what she was getting at. “and I want to see their reaction together. To report back to the President, of course.” She finished, a smirk gracing her features as she saw the way Nero’s attention snapped towards her.

Hojo opened his mouth to object, but closed it, licking his lips in contemplation. It would be a good idea, considering it would pacify Nero after this ordeal, and it would give a second hand account to report.

“So be it,” he snapped, turning on his heal and storming out of the room. Scarlet nodded her head to show that Nero was to go before her, and he complied, his brows furrowing as he struggled to move in his new outfit. The straps that wound around his legs made it hard for him to walk, not to mention the added weight from the having plates of metal that ran along his back, thighs and shoulders. Each step took at least ten times more effort that he was used to, and by the time he made his way into the main part of the lab he was exhausted. To make it worse, the darkness that was now trapped inside his body raged against him, making him feel sick and lightheaded. Trembling slightly from fatigue, his eyes instantly darted to the canister that held Weiss’s now sleeping form. A soft smile reached his eyes through his pain and weariness and he slowly made his way over to the glass tube.

Weiss, beautiful Weiss, his eyes narrowed as he was filled with a warm affection for this man. He couldn’t explain it, and he didn’t want to, afraid that it would take away from whatever it was that was making him feel this way. Weiss wasn’t afraid of him, hadn’t hurt him or used him. He had comforted him and stroked his hair. Nero relived that moment over and over in his hours of desolation. Reaching up attentively, he placed a now gloved hand against the smooth surface of the glace, wishing he could reach through the clear barrier and touch Weiss.

His lips parted in surprise as Weiss’ eyes flew open, their initial sharpness softening as he saw that it was Nero that had disrupted him again. The two brothers stared at each other, neither moving as they took in each others appearance. Nero was overjoyed to see Weiss awake and healthy, his previous wounds all but vanished. It had haunted him day and night the possibility that he might’ve been an instrument in his death. But seeing him awake and weary eased some of the tension, and he found himself relaxing, a ghost of a smile across his lips.

Weiss on the other hand, looked at Nero with obvious confusion. He was sickly pale, his face looking strained despite his obvious delight at seeing Weiss. Weiss looked over the skinny, lanky form that was now concealed beneath a strange binding ensemble. Weiss’ eyes flickered away from Nero and came to rest on the two others in the room, guessing that they were the ones responsible. Hojo was no mystery to him, and Weiss guessed the woman standing next to him was the Head of Weapons Development, Scarlet.

Ignoring them for the moment, Weiss turned his gaze back to Nero, and the small hand that was still pressed against the glass. Letting himself be amused at the small gesture, he reached out with his own hand, pressing against the glass opposite of Nero.

Nero’s face broke out in a true smile, leaning forward to press his forehead against the cool glass. It somehow made it all better, knowing that Weiss wasn’t angry at him, and that he desired to be close to him. Feeling some of the recent strain seep out of his body, Nero relaxed against the glass, closing his eyes and just letting the presence of Weiss wash over him.

“Endearing,” Scarlet said coolly, watching the interaction between the two brothers. Hojo said nothing, his eyes focused solely on Nero’s restating form, watching the way Nero’s shoulders tensed again at the sound of her voice. It would appear as though he had forgotten their existence in lieu of Weiss.

“It’s a great advantage,” Hojo replied, keeping his eyes focused on Nero and Weiss. “As long as they behave, they get to see each other. Even Weiss behaved himself for a time.”

Scarlet let out a wry smile, knowing her visit to Deepground was complete. She had seen what she had wanted to see, and done what she had came here to do.

“I’d be careful though,” she began as she made her to exit the lab. Hojo turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing at the connotation of her voice. “You might find one day that together they’ll turn against you.”

--

“You’re training exercise for today will consist of a one-on-one battle between you and another Deepground SOLDIER who had attained the rank of Tsviet,” Restrictor calmly explained, keeping his eyes trained on Weiss at all times.

“During your weeks of… incapacitation, Professor Hojo fears that you may have lost your edge, Emperor,” he continued, circling around the silent figure before him.

“There will be no handicap, and it’s strictly on a hand to hand basis. I’d be forewarned if I were you little Weiss. If you fail to complete this exercise on top, you might find your survival here in Deepground… questionable,” Restrictor finished, barely concealing the threat in his voice.

Weiss rolled his eyes at the implication. It wasn’t an unusual hazard, death or victory. It was the rule here in Deepground. The winner’s prize was the assurance that you’d be permitted to live until the next battle, or the next mission, or the next training exercise. It was always the same. Only the strong survived.

He wouldn’t show it though, but he felt the slightest edge of fear for the first time. His last encounter with the Restrictor had left him stuck in a glass tube for over three months, as Hojo continually reminded him; and in the eight weeks since he hadn’t been given allowance for any real training.

If this was a member of Tsviets, they might actually pose a threat.

Weiss scowled, forgoing this thought as quickly as it entered his head. He would not let Restrictor, or any other SOLDIER in this place get the better of him.

“I will be viewing the fight from the observation room,” Restrictor began again, moving to exit the room, where he would head to the upper level room that overlooked this particular training field. “Where I will pray for your undoing.”

Weiss rolled his eyes, wondering what the hell put Restrictor in such a melodramatic mood. Part of him guessed it was the fact that Weiss seemed to conquer everything Restrictor or any of the scientist tried to throw his way. Either that or someone peed in his cornflakes this morning.

Weiss didn’t have to wait long for his opponent to arrive. What surprised him most of the distinctly female voice that came from… her?

“Get your hands off of me you ShinRa scum!” She spat, being escorted into the room by two masked Deepground SOLDIERs, her hands bound before her in cuffs.

Weiss quirked an eyebrow at her appearance, obviously not expecting a young woman to his opponent for the day. Weiss’s first thought upon seeing her was that she was awfully… red. Her hair, eyes, down to the cape that trailed behind her were all stained the color of blood.

“Rosso the Crimson.” A voice from a loudspeaker spoke, informing Weiss of exactly who he was fighting. Rosso paused, quirking her head in the direction of the voice, a sadistic grin spreading across her face.

“Ah, Restrictor. So glad you were kind enough to show up. Why don’t you come down here so I can practice my disemboweling?” she asked, her eyes flickering to the glass window that led to the observation room. Weiss noticed for the first time that she had a strange accent to her voice; her words coming out clipped and sharp as a sword.

“Or am I to use you as a warm up?” she continued, her gaze flickering towards Weiss. He made no reply, merely smirking at her words. “Only one? Restrictor, I’m ashamed. One would think I couldn’t handle one little boy.”

Weiss found himself tempted to roll his eyes again. “Little boy”? She didn’t look older then her late teens, and was at least a foot smaller then him. Weiss was by far the older, taller, and physically stronger of the two.

“Speak for yourself, little girl,” Weiss spat, laughing softly as he watched the look on Rosso’s face turn to one of infuriation. “I’ll try not to break one of your pretty nails,” Weiss continued scathingly, watching the way Rosso narrowed her eyes and let out a cat-like hiss.

“See if you can, boy!” She growled back, raising her hands to show her metal gauntlets that ended in sharp nails that resembled talons. “Restrictor! Tell your goons to release me, so I can sharpen my claws,” she growled. Restrictor nodded his head once, and her two escorts stepped forward and undid her restraints.

She moved in a flash of red, so quickly that the unprepared Weiss couldn’t keep up with her movements. The next thing he knew her two guards were laying in a pool of their own blood, throats slashed open by her nails.

“Ahh… much better,” she said, lifting her blood stained hands to look satisfyingly at their crimson tips. Lifting one hand to her lips, her tongue darted out to taste the red liquid that rolled down the metal gloves.

“Nothing gets my blood flowing like the sight of that of others’ on my hands,” she said, stepping past the two bodies that lay strewn on the floor. Weiss merely smirked, watching the sadistic she-devil make her way closer to him.

“So do you have a name, little boy? I might grant you the pleasure of living long enough for me to carve it on your chest,” she said, eyeing Weiss’s naked torso like a piece of meat. Weiss found himself laughing at the implication, knowing now that Rosso would be lucky if she managed to land a blow.

“Weiss,” he answered, his lips curling into a cruel smile of his own. The name sparked some interest in Rosso, and Weiss knew from the look on her face that she had heard of him. It came as a slight surprise to him, and he decided he would have to question her about it later.

“Weiss, is it? Well Weiss, let me see how pretty your blood is!” She cried, launching forward in an attack so fast a normal eye wouldn’t be able to see it.

Only, Weiss didn’t have normal eyes, and Rosso had ruined her advantage of surprise by her earlier display of speed. Weiss was expecting the sudden and unannounced display, and faster then even Rosso could move his hand snapped out, grabbing both of Rosso’s hands before she could land her attack.

Rosso let out a gasp of surprise, obviously not expecting to be stopped so quickly and efficiently. Letting out an animalistic growl she pulled herself free, darting across the enclosure to put some distance between herself and her opponent.

Weiss did nothing, merely gazing down at his own hands that had been covered in the blood of the SOLDIERs Rosso had killed.

“Red really isn’t my color, don’t you agree?” He said, smiling as he watched the infuriated Rosso circle him like a caged animal. He waited, patiently for her to make her next attack, wanting Rosso to learn the hard way that he was not a “boy” to be toyed with.

She struck again, leaping across the enclosure with another battle cry, slashing at the air like a madwomen intent on killing. Weiss smirked, not bothering to stop her attacks but moving only enough to dodge them, watch as she vainly struck out again and again and again.

But eventually he tired of it, and his own hand snapped out in a flash of white, grabbing her neck and halting her movements. Her eyes went wide as he applied just enough pressure to show that he could, and would, easily snap her neck.

“Kill me,” she sputtered, her hands reaching up to grab vainly at Weiss’s arms, knowing there was no way she could dislodge him. Weiss scoffed at the request, releasing the deranged girl and stepping back.

“No? Then I shall kill myself!” She spat, reaching up to drag her own nails across her throat. Weiss’s expression suddenly changed, reaching out and pushing Rosso with enough force to send her flying against a far wall.

Using his own superhuman speed he was upon her, grabbing her wrist and slamming them into the wall. Rosso let out a pained gasp, staring with hate and malice at the man that held her.

“I will not let myself be defeated by anyone!” She howled, now deciding to struggle against the arms that held her, bringing her knees into play as she tried to knee Weiss in the stomach.

He ignored the assault, staring calmly at the girl in his grasp as though he felt nothing at all.

“There is no honor in death. You kill yourself now and you throw away any and all strength you may obtain. You will die, cold, alone, and forgotten in this place without knowing any true freedom at all,” Weiss snapped back bitterly, voicing his own dark feelings. Rosso stopped, looking as though the words had physically slapped her across the face.

“Freedom? What freedom? The keep me caged here like an animal, underground, away from the sun and sky and everything living and real,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Welcome to my world,” Weiss replied, a wry smile gracing his features. Rosso gave him a look as though she had never seen the like of him before.

“And you let them? You’re their pretty little pet that they display like a show animal?” she snarled, her wonder fading at Weiss’s apparent sign of weakness. Weiss laughed, releasing the hands that he held so he could throw back his head in amusement, getting great pleasure at the idea of him being anybody’s pet.

“I assure you, they keep me in my own cage. I am nobody’s pet” He replied, thinking of the biological time bomb that floated in his blood. He stepped back from Rosso, giving her permission to attack or flee if she desired. She did nothing, still watching Weiss with a strange mixture of wonder and scorn.

“So then, the rumors are true,” she muttered, surveying Weiss up and down once again. Weiss frowned, his eyebrows knitting slightly in confusion having no idea what she was talking about.

“The rumors that in Deepground, there exists a SOLDIER so powerful that he can only be called Immaculate, the Emperor of the vast army that occupies these caverns,” she said, her voice rising slightly with excitement. Weiss felt his face deadpan, knowing that the “rumors” had to be about him, seeing as he was the only one that he knew of that went by the nickname Immaculate Emperor.

“That is absurd,” he said flatly, not having time for petty rumors or gossip.

“Absurd is it? Having fought you myself, I can guarantee that there isn’t anyone in existence here that it stronger then you.” She pointed out, lifting her chin slightly. That might be true, if it weren’t for…

“Fight me,” Weiss hissed, suddenly remembering where they still were. Rosso looked at him confused, but nodding her head in agreement. If this man was indeed the Emperor, then she was loyally bound to obey him.

Letting out a now familiar cry she struck, surprised when Weiss used her momentum to flip her onto the back but finding little pain as she was flung purposely to the floor.

“Except for Restrictor,” Weiss hissed, informing Rosso of why he wanted to feign fighting her. She smirked, realizing that it was a clever plan, that as long as they continued to fight, Restrictor wouldn’t interfere. Flipping to her feet, she tried a high kick to Weiss’s head, fully expecting him to dodge it. He did, ducking under it and rushing forward, picking up her body to slam it into the wall. His movements were slower however, and she was able to brace herself for the impact.

“Then you must think of a way to dispose of him,” Rosso hissed back at Weiss, careful to keep her voice low and hopefully out of range of whatever surveillance equipment that was surely scattered throughout the room. Weiss grinned, motioning for Rosso to try again; which she willingly did, using all her strength and speed knowing that it was fruitless and to make it appear as realistic as it was.

“Will you help me then, as one of my Tsviets?” he whispered, as he wrapped an arm around her neck, getting her into a chock hold and pulling her flush against his chest. The Tsviets, the Deepground SOLDIERs, he would make all of it his as his epithet claimed it to be.

“Of course,” Rosso murmured, bowing her head slightly to show her consent. She had been raised on the stories of the strength of the Emperor. Who was she to fight him? Maybe if she followed him, she would find her freedom…

“Restrictor!” Weiss shouted, stepping back from Rosso. “We’re done here,” he said flatly, smirking at Rosso as he made to leave the room. It looks like he had just found himself a new ally. She had, after all, planted the first seeds of true rebellion in Weiss.

--

“The rumors that in Deepground, there exists a SOLDIER so powerful that he can only be called Immaculate…”

Weiss shifted on his “throne”, mulling these thoughts over in his head. If what Rosso spoke of was true, then somehow he had become an iconic figure amongst the SOLDIERs of Deepground. He smiled to himself, knowing that it would aid him if he ever decided to take control. That was what he was trained for, correct? He would only alter the plans slightly, making it so he was in absolute control, and not some ShinRa lapdog.

He knew he was Deepground’s pride and joy, which was why it was so important to keep him under their thumb. The last thing they needed was an errant Emperor that didn’t do as he was told. How he would love to upset them all. If he could only get rid of Restrictor…

The man was human, or at least, once was. He wasn’t immortal, there had to be a way to get around the virus that plagued his system. Somewhere, there had to be a counter control incase the Restrictor failed in his duty. Weiss only needed to discover what it was.

Chuckling he closed his eyes, figuring it had been a rather productive day indeed.

The skin was soft and smooth beneath his fingertips, near glowing in the halo light provided by the Mako that filtrated this place. It shivered and trembled with delight, the smooth muscles beneath the delicate flesh pulling tight as the sensations wrecked his body, his soft blue lips opening in a silent cry.

Weiss smiled at the shadowed figure below him, running his hand over that smooth chest, resisting the urge to play with the dusky nipples that were pert with pleasure. The lithe body shivered, trembled shattered at the slightest touches and Weiss gloated in every new movement that he brought forth.

There was no sound except for the heavy panting of their breaths, no cries escaped from the body beneath him not matter how hard Weiss tried to coax them from it. Weiss bowed his head, sucking at the taunt tendons in the boy’s neck, licking and nibbling and marking it as his own.

The one beneath him bucked again, trying to bring Weiss closer to him, and Weiss was more then happy to comply. He shifted his hand, lifting from the stomach to be placed on a quivering thigh, thumb rubbing slightly against the alabaster skin before stroking upwards, just bare inches from that hot, pulsing point of need.

“Say it…” Weiss whispered into the shell of delicate here, his nose nuzzling against the soft locks of sable black hair. A slight whimper, two hands reaching up to wrap in his own mane of hair, tugging with need and want and desire…

“Say it…” He whispered again, ghosting a touch through the soft black curls that surrounded the hard length, allowing only the faintest of touches, knowing it was going to drive the boy crazy, but not giving until he heard him say…

The pale lips were caught between pearl white teeth, a sharp bite of desperation that was broken by a hiccupped sob of a single name…

“Weiss….”

Weiss bolted upright, breath coming in short gasps, eyes wide and body tensed. Did he…?

Groaning, he slumped back into his throne, realizing with a sickening feeling in his gut that he just did. Nero. It had to be him. The pale blue lips, the dark hair, the small body that tucked so perfectly beneath his own…

He was a boy, he was his brother, and he was fantasizing about him? He had seen him twice, yet every part of his anatomy was embedded perfectly into his mind, and Weiss realized with a sickening roll of his stomach that he wanted to consume that exact opposite of him.

Wiping a hand over his sweat soaked face, it suddenly dawned on him just how painfully aroused he was. This was… he groaned again, resting his face in his hand. He was a grown man for Holy’s sake, and he was having naughty dreams like some hormonal teenager.

Weiss made a face at that thought. Not even as a hormonal teenager did he have any desire or interest in sex. It wasn’t something that was talked about or experienced in Deepground, or at least from his perspective. It was something that he had no personal knowledge of.

He wasn’t naïve though. He remembered vividly the discussions the scientist had had shortly after reaching puberty, wondering if it would be safe or productive if they “bred” him. It was around that time he received his only sexual education and it was strictly on a scientific level.

Weiss let himself laugh slightly at the memories. They were very thorough in their explanations.

Nero, scrawny little boy that he was, had somehow awakened feelings and desires that had laid dormant inside of him for his entire life.

But he won’t be a little boy for long. In the next few years he’ll grow into a man, and he loves you already…

Weiss tried to ignore the voice in the back of his head that was condoning such thoughts and ideas. It was true though. Nero would grow up soon enough, and maybe he would have his own thoughts of…

Weiss shook his head. Did he keep forgetting that Nero was his brother? That it was so wrong on so many levels…

But here? In Deepground? Since when have morals or sanity interfered with anything? Your very existence, his existence as well, is a blatant display of morals that do not exist…

Weiss let out a frustrated growl, wishing that these thoughts weren’t plaguing his head. But they were, and his arousal wasn’t going away, and he was curious…

Weiss blushed, realizing that one of his hands had inched towards his groin. Could he… should he? What if somebody found out? What if…? His eyes suddenly hardened in cold defiance. It was his body; there was nothing to be ashamed about.

Undoing the black sash that served as a belt, Weiss slid his pants down to his knees, not bothering to discard them all the way.

Cautiously, almost fearfully he touched the hard length, hissing as it sent a sudden sensation of pleasure down his spine. Oh, he liked this…

Grasping the length firmly in one hand, he used the other to tease himself, running just his palm up and down his cock, groaning and spreading his legs as wide as his half on pants would allow.

It was doing nothing to satiate his desire, only spurred it on more, and as his eyes fluttered shut he remembered crimson red eyes staring up at him through the hazy glow of Mako, filled with delight and love and yearning..

Weiss gasped, forgoing his teasing touches for actual strokes, pumping up and down and moaning at the touch of his own hand. This was absurd, this was ridiculous, this was… so fucking good.

His hips bucked into his own hand, and Weiss found himself gripping the base harder, stroking with more vigor, adding gentle squeezes that grew harder as his mind played with, reminding him of time when he had lain there, surrounded by darkness with only Nero there, beautiful little Nero, his brother…

His gasps turned into deep groans as his body began to writhe, his flesh slick with his own sweat, his palms with his own precum and he hated and loved every moment of it.

He wondered what it would be like to have Nero, how he would take him and show him this pleasure that he was feeling. He wanted to kiss Nero, lick Nero, taste Nero…

He knew, innately he knew that somehow it would better having Nero touch him, because each touch wouldn’t be a device of his own making.

But the pressure was building in his loins, and with a strangled cry he came, his eyes flinging open as his release was painted across his hands and thighs, the only coherent thought in his head was of Nero…

He lay there, slumped against his throne, body covered in sweat and… Weiss chuckled, looking down at the evidence of his own release. Somehow he knew that he wasn’t going to have a decent nights sleep in a long time.

--
[*]Scarlet was one of the four ShinRa Executives that knew about the existence of Deepground.

[*]Leda was the mythological mother of the twin brothers Castor and Pollux. Pollux was the son of Zeus and immortal while Castor was the son of a human mortal. When Castor died, Pollux granted him part of his immortality so that they spend alternating days in either Olympus or the Underworld. I thought the name would be quite fitting.

[*]Ehh… it’s not the exact suit he wears in DoC. Imagine it as a type of prototype design. The other suit with the arm thingies play in later.

[*]The whole chip implanted in their spinal cord is another one of those things I pulled from the Multiplayer Mode, ergo, it’s true… err… will be true.

A/N: And there you have it. I plan on having a bit more Weiss and Nero interaction next chapter, so I hope you look forward to it! Keep an eye out for the rest of the Tsviets, they’ll be popping in soon as well.