The Frozen Melody

10.Hell.

"I don't approve of this." Neine stated as soon as she came into the room. She hadn't been that upset with the Second in Command until Tiger finally showed up at Hell's gate looking like death chewed him to pieces and spat him back out.

The boy had lost a significant amount of weight, and his body was covered in blood and heavy wounds. It didn't help that his hair had grown long, so it took awhile for the gate keepers to see the slave brand around his neck and recognized him for Tiger, Joker's favorite toy. Luckily, Hell's boost in magic enabled him to quickly heal his physical wounds.

Neine had cut the boy's hair short for him since then, knowing that the pup preferred looking more masculine. Even before he came back looking so skinny, he had gotten teased many times for his short height and big puppy eyes. So now that he lost all his muscle mass, the mutt could have easily passed as a girl if he had kept the long hair.

But no matter how displeased Neine was at Joker's treatment of Tiger, she did not lecture him about it. She only made Joker give up his bed for the boy, and asked him to bring his work into the room so he could keep an eye on Tiger.

"I did not think I needed your approval. Is he not mine to do as I please?" Pye retorted casually, not looking up from the thick stack of banking statements he was reading. The reading glasses he wore looked like they wanted to slip off.

"But I thought you like this one!" Neine exclaimed. She sat down on the empty side of the bed facing Pye and picked up a pillow to hug.

"I do."

"But apparently not enough. You wouldn't have treated me like this."

This finally made the Commander pause and look up. "Of course not. You mean everything to me. How absurd of you to compare yourself with him."

"That doesn't make me happy," Neine huffed and took out her frustration on the puffy pillow, "I want Tiger to wake up, discover his powers, and become big and strong!"

The Commander chuckled and looked back down, turning a page of his reading material, "I am sure he will."

"I thought you are busy creating a new world." Pye prompted after a few moments passed by with the Diábolos still abusing the cushion.

"I'm tired. And bored. Spend time with me." Neine pouted.

"If Zitrinna is more competent, I would have more freedom to entertain you." The Commander had brought up this topic before, and had it dismissed. "I realize she saved you once upon a time, but she has proved to be more trouble than she is worth. I implore you to get rid of her."

Neine giggled at Joker's complaining, "Naww, but she's the mother of your son."

The blonde narrowed his eyes at her, "Do not tease me. If you had not stopped me, I would have eaten him a long time ago."

Neine finally dropped the pillow and came over to stand beside Pye. She raised her hand and ran her fingers through his un-gelled hair. "Give them a chance."

Joker closed his eyes and enjoyed the massage for a moment before arguing, "We have given them enough time. How many years has it been already? Give me permission to-"

"Seeing Tiger like this, you really don't regret leaving him?" Neine's gaze was fixed on the figure lying in the large bed.

Joker raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in topic, but gave in with a sigh. "No, I do not regret." His reply was firm. Years ago in that small world, he had given Dr.Oka the package filled with Tiger's data knowing exactly what was going to happen. He had told the scientists how to capture the shapeshifter, his physical abilities and limitations, the exact dosage of serum needed to render him useless and docile for their experiments... All the attention was geared toward Tiger, allowing Pye to accomplish his main task successfully.