Cathedrals of the Mind
By Leokitsune

A/N: This is the story after "Of Kittens and Dogs" and "Opening Doors." You might want to read those first, otherwise I fear aspects of this story won't make much sense to you. Set between the original series and Glühen, and ignores the drama CDs. /talk talk talk/ is Schuldig's telepathy. Italics are used for emphasis and non-English words. Translations are at the bottom of the chapter.

Disclaimer: Schwarz, Weiß, and all things associated do not belong to me. They belong to Project Weiß and Koyasu Takehito.

Warning: Boy/boy love, some profanity, some death and violence. Some blasphemous religious references. If any of this squicks or offends you, you might not want to read. Thank you.


Chapter 1: Breakfast for Two

Schuldig drank the cup of heavenly ambrosia that was called coffee. Crawford had made enough for him this morning, as he had every morning since Schuldig had returned to the fold. They hadn't said anything about the new generosity, by mutual tacit agreement, but Schuldig never failed to be surprised and grateful by the small gesture.

Crawford was in his office, having finished his coffee and paper a few minutes earlier. The office door was closed, as usual. Some things had changed, but many things had stayed the same. Schuldig enjoyed the changes, but was reassured by the consistencies. Crawford was still Crawford.

A sheaf of papers slapped down in front of him almost caused him to spill that precious brew down the front of his shirt. He looked up at Crawford in annoyance. "Jesus, Brad. You almost made me spill my coffee."

"Crawford," the American replied. He gestured to the stack of papers with a slight incline of his head as he sat down across from the telepath. Schuldig picked up the papers with his free hand, an irritated frown creasing his brow. His face smoothed over into impassivity when he realized what he had in his hand.

"When?" Schuldig asked. He set his coffee cup down on the table so he could flip through the papers faster.

"We leave at the end of the week. Pack everything you need, and pack the rest for storage. We won't be back for awhile." Crawford was flipping through a stack of his own.

Schuldig read the file more carefully. Yes, this assignment was going to take awhile. "Telekinetics? A pyro? Too bad we don't have Nagi for this one." Schuldig paused, then looked at Crawford warily. "Or do we?"

Crawford shook his head. He meticulously began straightening his file. "I told them that it was just going to be the two of us."

"I'm surprised they agreed to it," Schuldig said lightly, then his smile disappeared when he saw Crawford's eyelids flicker. "They didn't agree to it, did they?"

"No." Crawford was suddenly very interested in the file he must have already pored over.

"What did you tell them, Brad?"

Crawford let the use of his first name slide. "I told them that we were the only active members of Schwarz left."

Schuldig dropped the files on the table. "You didn't."

Crawford adjusted his glasses. "I did. I couldn't keep it a secret for much longer, Schuldig."

Schuldig threw up his hands. "That's great, just great. What about Nagi?"

Crawford's jaw tightened. "I told them about Farfarello's death, and explained about Nagi."

"What!" Schuldig shot out of his chair. "How could you just throw Nagi to the wolves? What's wrong with you? Doesn't he deserve a chance at making his own life, learning to live? He can't do that under Esset's shadow!"

Crawford stood up and slammed his file down, scattering papers all over the table. "Don't you think I know that?"

"Then why did you tell Esset that Nagi wasn't working for them anymore? If you knew that, why did you do it?" Schuldig fisted his hand into Crawford's lapel and jerked him forward.

Crawford glared back. "It's so nice to know your true opinion of me," he said coldly. He shoved Schuldig back, breaking his hold. "For your information, I did NOT 'throw Nagi to the wolves.'" He straightened his jacket where Schuldig had rumpled it. "I told Esset that Nagi was enrolled in school, and that I have taken him off of active duty to allow for further educational advancement. And also to keep an eye on a potential situation that I foresaw occurring in three months time concerning Weiß."

Schuldig sat back down, never taking his wary gaze off of Crawford. "You said that. And they accepted it."

"Yes." Crawford seated himself again. "I convinced them we could handle it. Just the two of us."

"Just like old times." Schuldig smiled slightly.

Crawford found himself smiling reluctantly back. "Just like old times."

Schuldig huffed out a breath. "I guess I owe you an apology, then."

"No, you don't." Crawford studied his clasped hands resting on the tabletop. "I've never given you reason to believe that I wouldn't report Nagi."

Schuldig stared at Crawford's slightly bent head. "If I had thought it through, I had all the reason to believe that." He shrugged, and snagged the coffee cup. "After all, you didn't report us when we had left after Farfarello's death." He raised the cup in Crawford's direction, then took a sip.

"My silence in that matter was not a good thing, Schuldig," Crawford said warningly.

"That's what you think," Schuldig replied. He shifted through the papers scattered in front of him. "Boston, huh? Isn't that where you are from?"

"Yes."

"Hell of a coincidence."

"Esset doesn't deal in coincidences," Crawford replied dryly. "They wanted Schwarz for this task because of my connections there." He began gathering papers. "This organization doesn't want to play with Esset the way Esset dictates, so Esset wants them gone. They're wily and obviously well-connected. That is where my connections might come in handy. If we can flush out their mysterious benefactor, then we can wrap this up handily and leave."

Schuldig drummed his fingers on the table. "Can we handle this?" He picked up the sheet with the target information. Two TKs, a pyro, and an empath. It was a lot to handle with just two. Even if the two in question were two of Esset's strongest talents and best field agents.

"We have to," Crawford told him solemnly. "If we want to keep Nagi out of it, and don't want to bring in any one new."

They exchanged a glance. Crawford was right. The decision to keep Nagi clear had been made, and both men were determined to keep it that way. And to bring in anyone else, a stranger, an outsider. . . "So the plan, our plan, is still in effect?" Schuldig asked.

"When was it ever not?" Crawford asked with a smirk.

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