Trinity Blood Fan Fiction / Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Darker Angels ❯ Chest Beating and Jealous Robots ( Chapter 10 )

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//You really should just take him for a test drive, Taka. Y'know, make sure the chassis will stand up to the wear and tear.//

 

//Star! I will do no such thing.//

 

//I swear to the gods you're such a prude when it comes to this but you have no qualms whatsoever with beating the pretty little vampire boy senseless. I don't get it. By the way, he's staring at your ass.//

 

Takara stifled the urge to look over her shoulder at Tres, who was following them along the corridor to Cardinal Sforza's office.

 

//Liar.//

 

//I do not lie. Fine, would you believe me if I said he's been looking at you like he'd love to find the nearest dark corner to ravish you in? They must have upgraded his programming or something.//

 

//You are worse than my mother.//

 

//Hell, kid, I take that as a high compliment. Look on the bright side, since he's a battle robot you'll have less of a chance at breaking him during licentious activities. Wonder if he has a bellybutton.//

 

//Oh, gods! Only you would want to know that.//

 

//Better yet, I wonder if he has regular boy bits.//

 

//Please stop.//

 

//I'm just sayin'.//

 

Takara breathed an audible sigh of relief when they reached the Cardinal's office. She was absolutely mortified by the mental conversation she and Star had been having. It didn't help to realize everything she'd been saying had merit. Tres really HAD been looking at her as though she were an edible substance. Which unnerved and thrilled her at the same time. It was just . . . odd.

 

As they walked in to Cardinal Sforza's office they noticed that most of the AX was there. Abel was missing because he was still recovering from his fight with Cain. Jeirn was seated comfortably in a chair across from the desk and off to the right by the windows stood someone that both women recognized immediately.

 

“Baby!” Star exclaimed and rushed to greet her nephew. Emerald wings enfolded her and she seemed to disappear for a moment.

 

“I see you know Camael's avatar then,” Cardinal Sforza said with a smile.

 

“Only since the outside of forever. What are you doing here? Better yet, why are you in full angel mode and battle gear?”

 

“Delivering a message from Goddess. Probably a good thing it was me Mom sent instead of Hunter.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Have you *seen* what's recovering in Goddess' guest room?”

 

“What do you . . . oh, hell, never mind. I know what you're getting at. Hunt would have flipped him over and shagged him senseless, injuries be damned. At least you have some restraint.”

 

“Thank you for that compliment.”

 

“So what was the message?”

 

“That Cain showed up on her doorstep personally. She was worried that he might get the bright idea to do the same here.”

 

“And since the Vatican isn't nearly as well guarded as the compound is . . .” Takara said.

 

“It would be far more dangerous for human beings to handle than it would for any of us.”

 

“But why would Cain show up personally,” Leon wondered aloud. “Doesn't he usually send his henchmen to do the dirty work for him?”

 

“Evidently, that was part of the problem. Two of them have turned up missing via kidnap and he seems to be under the misguided impression that Goddess has them.” He turned to look at Star. “You wouldn't know anything about that would you, mein tante?”

 

“No idea,” Star said, her voice perfectly level.

 

He looked at Takara suspiciously. “Schweister?”

 

She grinned at him then walked over and kissed his cheek. “Nein, bruder.”

 

Tres frowned slightly. It went against all of his programming to have the inclination to shoot an unarmed individual. He puzzled over that thought, wondering why it had been such a sudden and violent urge to him. He shook his head slightly; thinking he'd have to have the Professor adjust his new program.

 

William fought to hide his grin. Watching the play of emotions across Tres' face had been priceless. He considered it an unmitigated success that Tres could *have* emotions. He would have been glowing with triumph had Cardinal Sforza not been giving him her patent “What did you DO?” look.

 

“Are you staying?” Star was asking the young man.

 

“Nein. I have duties elsewhere,” he said. He hugged her then Takara again.

 

//Sister of my heart, I think you have a jealous boyfriend.// He glanced meaningfully in Tres' direction.

 

//Not possible. He's an android.//

 

//Ja. A jealous one who's broadcasting how much he'd like to shoot me.//

 

//Here I thought your twin was the insane one.//

 

He winked at her and stepped back. “We'll catch up on family matters later, tante. Behave,” he said with a grin. “Or at least make the attempt.”

 

“That's so not happening,” Star said, waving him off.

 

He wrapped his wings around himself and then disappeared, leaving most of the room staring at the spot where he had been.

 

Star turned around to look at Hugue, who was looking very much like he was about to bite his own tongue off in the effort to keep silent. “What's on your mind, blondie? You might as well let it out.”

 

Hugue's look was murderous. “I fail to see how one of the angelic hosts would associate, much less be related to your kind,” he spat out. Then suddenly found his neck being threatened by a sword point.

 

“You will apologize to my wife. NOW!” Jeirn growled.

 

“Boys!” Cardinal Sforza said. All attention turned to her. “If you're going to fight, take it outside. After that, I don't want anymore of this nonsense. AX *will* be working with these people now and in the future. Deal with it however you can after this but get it out of your system.”

 

“As you wish, my lady,” Hugue said, glaring at Jeirn. “Outside,” he growled at the other man.

 

Jeirn snorted and turned toward the door. “Pleasure.”

 

“Three cuts is the winner. Don't kill eachother,” Cardinal Sforza called as they left.

 

“Can't guarantee that,” Jeirn mumbled under his breath. He was already halfway down the hall and headed out to the gardens where he would have enough room to maneuver easily. He had pulled his shirt off by the time Star and Takara caught up with him, exposing the myriad of blue tattooing covering his back, chest and arms.

 

“Taka, give me Shadow Song.”

 

“Why?” she asked, looking at him suspiciously. “You have your own blade.”

 

“Do you *want* him to die on the first cut? You know Death Song is poisoned.”

 

“Hadn't thought about that,” Takara said, drawing her sword from the sheath settled between her shoulder blades and handing it to him.

 

“Jeirn, you don't need to do this, babe,” Star said. “He has issues concerning the Methuselah that run hard and deep. I'd probably have the same problems if it were me.”

 

“We are not Methuselah, Star. We are something completely different. Most of the Red Shaman team was dust and dry bones long before the Methuselah ever came to be. And NO ONE insults you in front of me no matter what their damage happens to be.”

 

Takara shook her head then nudged Star to get her attention. //Let it go, Star. At this point it's a testosterone thing. You won't get anywhere using logic.//

 

Star sighed as everyone filed into the garden. Jeirn and Hugue squared off and Takara took up the position as referee.

 

“Cardinal Sforza has set this for three cuts. Whoever gets the three cuts to his opponent wins. There will be no hits to kill or seriously injure. Meaning, no head shots, no cuts to the eyes or vital organs. Are the rules clear, gentlemen?”

 

“Oui.”

 

“Cinnte.”

 

“Let's get this chest beating over with. Go.”

 

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Translations: German; Mein tante: my aunt

Schweister: sister

Bruder: brother

 

Irish: Cinnte; yes or yes indeed.