Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me.

Warning: Mild language, violence, sexual content between males, and disturbing imagery. If any of this bothers you, do not read.

Switching Sweaters

Ken held the sweater to his face marveling at the texture. It was still so soft after all the years of being stained in blood. Ken didn't quite understand why he always wore it around his waist during missions like some flag. But that's what it was, a flag that represented all of Ken's pain and anger. His dad had bought it for him just after he had graduated. It was the last thing his dad had given him before he kicked him out of the house. His father had beat him the night he found out that Ken was going to play for the J-league instead of following in his father's footsteps and becoming a lawyer. He remembered his mother just stared as she watched him get pounded on for the millionth time. He figured she was just happy that it wasn't her.

Ken never talked about his family because he never thought of them as family. They, in all reality, never really cared about him. The only real friend that Ken had at that time was Kase who he had recently found out secretly resented him all of his life. Ken felt tears well up as he remembered the hate in Kase's eyes just before he killed him. Kase had given him no choice; it was kill or be killed. In the few seconds before Ken gave Kase the final blow he had many flashbacks from when they were kids. The many times he would sneak into Kase's windows bloodied from his father's fists, and he would curl up next to Kase and they would just hold each other.

Ken knew now that Kase never really cared for him; no one had. He knew Omi, Youji, and Aya wondered why he had become an assassin. It was more than just some soccer scandal that had caught Kritiker's attention. It was the fact that Ken had nothing to live for, and when he thought about it none of them really did.

He threw his sweater in the washer. They had a mission tonight to take down some drug dealers who were running an operation in an abandoned warehouse. The mission would be easy he thought with some disappointment. He liked the ones where they were on the verge of death because they always reminded him that he was still alive.

Ken loved the feeling of pushing his bugnuk through the thug's chest. This was his favorite part of the job, and unlike the rest, Ken truly enjoyed taking life. He knew it was sick, but it always gave him a slight rush. He watched in fascination as blood splattered onto his face as he ripped his claws out and dug them back into the flesh.

"I think he's dead," Youji said as he gawked at Ken who kept on clawing at the man like some wild cat.

"Uh, yeah," Ken laughed nervously as he brought his hand up to his head and scratched. "Ouch!" Ken cried as he realized he had used the hand with the claw. Blood trickled down his face as his teammates stared at him in awe.

"Wow, I must say, that has got to be the most moronic thing I've seen you do yet, Ken." Youji laughed.

"Mission complete." Aya interrupted Youji's taunting while he looked at Ken with disgust.

Omi on the other hand showed legitimate concern for him. "Are you okay, Ken, it's not like you to be so careless," he said as he headed toward Ken. Omi inspected Ken's head thoroughly before breathing a sigh of relief. "It doesn't look too bad, at least I don't think we'll have to shave your hair off and stitch any of them up."

Youji gave a snort and headed out the door leaving the two younger boys alone.

"Don't worry about those two, Ken. Lets just get you home and clean you up; you're a real mess."

Once home, all four boys began slowly inspecting themselves for cuts and bruises. Youji was the first to claim the shower as usual. Ken had never understood why Kritiker couldn't have found a place with more than one bathroom. When Yoji was done with his shower, Aya claimed it next. Neither Omi or Ken ever complained about being last. Aya usually took fast showers.

"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow," Youji said with a grin. "I'm going to the bar so don't wait up for me." He winked at Omi.

"Don't worry, Youji, I never have and I don't plan on starting tonight." Omi rolled his eyes at Youji, but Ken could tell that Omi wasn't really offended by the teasing.

Youji left as Aya emerged from the bathroom and immediately went to his room. Ken heard a clicking sound signaling that Aya had locked his door and wouldn't be out until morning.

Ken stood up and stretched as he made his way to the bathroom. Omi followed slightly behind him. Once inside Omi shucked off his clothing and hopped into the shower starting the warm spray of water. Ken pulled his blood soaked sweater from his waist and threw it into the corner of the bathroom. Man, it's going to take a lot to get the blood out this time, he thought as he removed the rest of his clothes.

He joined Omi in the shower. It was a normal routine the younger members of Weiss had. They had both gotten tired of taking cold showers after missions so they started showering together, but it was more than just warm water, it was something the two of them shared only with each other. Ken often wondered what Youji or Aya would think if they ever found out.

Ken stood under the faucet, letting the blood rinse off him and down the drain. He grabbed a bottle of shampoo and poured some in his palm. Omi turned his back to Ken waiting expectantly for him to begin messaging his scalp. He stood behind Omi running his fingers through the downy blonde hair as he marveled at its softness.

"Mmmn," Omi moaned.

"You know you're letting your hair get too long, but I think I kind of like it."

"You really scared me today, Ken." Omi turned to face him staring up at him with his large blue eyes.

"Why?" He asked as he moved out from under the water to allow Omi to wash away the suds.

"Because I didn't think you would stop, Ken. You seemed to be enjoying yourself a little too much. I don't blame you, Ken, I just think you need to learn to keep that rage of yours in check or else you might end up hurting someone you shouldn't."

"I know. It's sick, isn't it, the way I get off on taking lives. You should have seen the way Youji was looking at me as if I were some kind of wild animal." Ken felt tears running down his cheeks.

Omi grabbed and pulled him into a hug causing their naked bodies to press into one another. "You know, Ken, all you have to do is ask, and you can take out some of that aggression on me."

"I know, and same goes for you." Ken tilted Omi's face toward him. He stared into the large innocent eyes for a while. Omi and him were probably the most unstable of the group, although nobody could tell at first glance. Aya and Youji allowed people to see their odd actions, but Omi and Ken kept it all locked away. They both masked their pain with fake smiles.

Ken leaned down and kissed Omi while he pushed the small boy into the shower wall. Both boys moaned as Ken's hips moved up against Omi's. This wasn't the first time the two boys had done anything in the shower. They often made out to relieve their tension. It usually went on until both parties found release. They never actually had sex but often came close. Both boys shuddered as they came at the same time.

Ken slowly backed away from Omi. They quickly washed each other and made their way back to their own rooms. Neither would say anything about the incident tomorrow. They never once talked about their after mission shower time which was a relief to Ken. He didn't really have time to deal with the issue that he might be gay. He didn't really believe Omi was, after all he had a thing for Ouka until he found out they were related.

Ken sighed as he pulled on his pajama pants and crawled into bed. Sleep would be a long time coming.

TBC

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