Just saying... DANCE, FUCKER DANCE! Lol. See bottom A/N after... XPD.

Last time:

"Father Nightroad, if you cannot answer that for yourself, then you do not know me at all." Tres made to leave, but Abel stopped him.

"I don't know you at all. So tell me." Silver-blue eyes looked pleadingly at the machine.

"...Alright."

Tres sat down, his eyes fixed on the floor. He refused to look at Abel; the man had already found out his secret.

"Tres-kun?" Abel sat opposite Tres and leaned towards him.

"Father Abel."

Abel tilted his head to the side at hearing his first name spoken by Tres.

"You tell me that I have no understanding of human emotions... but that is not true." Tres finally looked up at Abel. "I am not fully a machine."

"You... aren't? Then why do you not feel pain?" Abel asked, frowning.

"Re-input information. I am not fully a machine. That does not mean I am human." Tres corrected. "This may sound blunt, but I have a human heart and brain."

Abel's eyes widened into that comical look that we readers know all too well. (1)

"Positive. They are kept in reinforced steel; bullets cannot penetrate that. I also... a section of my frontal lobe was removed. That is why I do not feel pain." Tres glanced away from Abel. "But that does not mean that I do not feel emotions."

Tres started as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Abel who was staring deep into his eyes. "Tres-kun... if you will accept, I am happy to help you."

"Help?" Tres had the urge to say 'How could you possibly help me?'

"Yes. Or 'positive' as you would say."

"...Thank you, Abel-san."

-------------

Tres was confused, something that usually didn't happen. First off, he was confused about his feelings for Esther. He had always believed that since he was 'machine', he couldn't feel. He had been trained not to feel. He was programmed not to feel... but he still did.

Then there was Abel's readiness to help. One, why would Abel help him? Tres had always been certain that Abel had fallen for Esther. And then two, how would Abel help?

Tres closed his eyes and tried to get to sleep. This was going to be a long night.

-------------

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Abel began to get frustrated. He couldn't think of how to help Tres.

Damn, it was too early in the morning for this.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Come in, Tres-kun." Abel said; there was only one person who would be awake this early. The door opened and Tres walked in. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"... You told me you would help me. I cannot help but wonder how you propose to do that."

"Myeh... I have some ideas, but they're fairly sketchy, if you get my drift."

"Negative."

"Okay, the ideas aren't that good anyway. Gah... It's just too early..." Abel muttered and flopped down in a chair.

"Then why are you awake?" Tres asked.

"Don't ask me. It's not as if I wanted to wake up early or anything..." he yawned.

"Then go back to sleep." Tres said simply.

"I did try... but I can't..." Abel yawned again. "I'm not going to be of much use to you, Tres-kun."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"I didn't say that. I meant that there's no point in you staying."

"If you want me to." Tres shrugged and walked out.

"..." Abel watched Tres shut the door. That was very un-Tres-like.

-------------

"Father Tres?" Esther's soft voice made Tres look away from the fountain he had been staring at.

"Miss Esther." Tres turned to look at her and his jaw nearly dropped. Luckily he kept it in place, but it was hard; Esther was wearing a completely new habit – it was red and more close-fitting than the one she used to wear. "I do not recall a special occasion that is taking place today."

"No – I got promoted!" Esther said, twirling around.

"Congratulations. You felt the need to tell me because...?"

"It means I'll be working with you!" Tres' eyes widened fractionally at those words. He could hardly believe his luck.

"Congratulations, Miss Esther!" another voice chipped in. Then a vaguely familiar man stepped into view.

"Brother Hugue." Tres greeted.

"Brother Tres." Then Hugue paused and looked from Tres to Esther. Then he grinned suddenly. "Brother Tres, come with me." Hugue took Tres by the arm and with unnatural strength led Tres away, back inside.

-------------

Abel raised a hand in greeting as he saw Hugue dragging Tres over to him.

"Thanks for coming."

"No problemo. I thought you might have been joking, but... ah well. Time to play the matchmaker, eh?" Tres thought he saw a glint in Hugue's eyes, but it must have been a trick of the light.

Hopefully.

"So how exactly are you going to help me?" Tres removed his arm from Hugue's grip.

"You have no need to worry. By the time we're done, you will have your fair Esther." Hugue made a 'V' sign with his left hand, the other on his hip. Next to him, Abel mirrored Hugue's position.

Tres stormed off.

Abel let his hand drop. "I hate having to play matchmaker..." he sighed, staring after Tres.

---x---x---x---

Yeah!! Yeahyeahyeah!!! Another chapter, fiiiinally done! At last! *sighs in relief* huge thanks to InLuvWithMicky for reviewing my first chappie, and of course Luce for giving me her support... well. I'd thank Lucy NOT to throw ink cartridges at the back of my head. That ink stayed for TWO FREAKING DAYS. But we had a very interesting conversation when Lucy saw my favourites list.

Lucy: Abie, you should get your ass over here.

Me: *walks over and looks at her screen* ...

Lucy: I had no idea you read gay porn.

Me: *chokes* You read it too!

Lucy: Yeah, but I'm not a guy.

Me: ...I sometimes wonder how you manage to forget the little fact that... I AM GAY. *walks away* idiot.

Yeah. That was funny.

So, until next chapter!

Abie-chan