Title: If I Am Gifted
Authors: Anna Maxwell, Chase Yuy
Rating: …….we'll say PG-13
Disclaimer: Braddy and Schu don't belong to us, and the rest of the original Weiß Kreuz members don't either. All original characters do
Author's notes: Yes, it's a Rosenkreuz fic. Is it like everyone else's? I have no clue, I haven't read one yet. Please read and review, it makes us happy. ^_^ And for those of you reading my fic 'A Matter of Time,' I'll be updating soon. Danke!!
/indicates thought./ (We were going to use but it made our text disappear….)
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have the absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.
Chapter One: Rosenkreuz, a school or hell on earth?
Schuldig walked along the halls of Rosenkreuz. His head ached like nothing else. Someone had been managing to take down his barriers and had been keeping him from rebuilding them. It was taking everything he had to make it back to his quarters. His mind was so focused on that task he didn't see the raven-haired boy before he bumped strait into him.
Bradley Crawford was thrown off by the boy who had walked into him, because he hadn't seen it coming. He glared down at the flaming red hair. "Excuse me," he said mildly. He hadn't been at Rosenkreuz long, and he already disliked the entire experience.
"My fault," Schuldig muttered as he stood. The motion was too quick for his aching head and he stumbled into the wall, slumping down against it. He growled something in German, golden eyes flickering in pain.
/Why is he hurting?/ Brad wondered. Out loud he asked in English, "What's the matter with you?"
The German boy gave him an odd look. What language was that? English? Should have paid more attention in that class...
Brad sighed and shook his bangs out of his eyes and switched his question into German. "What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing... Just a migraine," the younger boy muttered. /Blasted shields won't go up.../
He jumped at the comment that rang through his head. /He's a telepath,/ Brad growled to himself mentally, then immediately felt stupid for *thinking* it. "See the school nurse. They have one, ne?" he said coolly.
Schuldig smirked slightly. "Yes, I am telepathic. And the nurse stopped giving me anything for these a long time ago."
A dark eyebrow lifted. "Why?"
"Said they can't do anything about it, and that I was taking too many of stuff that was way too strong," the green haired boy said with a small smile.
The bell rang, signaling first classes. Impulsively, Brad offered the younger boy a hand to help him up.
"Aren't you the new kid in my first class? Sit next row to the front, right?"
Brad pulled him to his feet, without thinking anything. "Yes, I am." he said.
"Tell 'em I had one of my headaches and I'll get my notes later, okay? That teacher likes me. He'll understand."
He nodded, not sure why. He didn't usually do things, even small things, for other people, much less nasal sounding German kids that ran into him. "I'll tell him."
"Thanks," Schuldig whispered as he stood again. His head swam and he leaned against the wall.
The warning bell rang, and Brad looked back at the boy before disappearing into the first class. He suddenly wished he would get a vision of what was going to happen to him and his headache. He hadn't even gotten his name. The class began.
The teacher looked over the class. Where was Schuldig? Late? Not for his class. Something was wrong...
Crawford stepped up to the man. "There's a student who asked me to tell you he'd get his notes later. He had a headache."
"Schuldig?"
Crawford shrugged indifferently as he took his seat. "I didn't get his name."
"Has to be him. Where did you see him?"
"In the hall."
The teacher's eyes darkened with worry. "Show me. These headaches of his have been getting worse and worse the past couple of weeks."
Brad put his bag down under his desk and went back out into the hall, the teacher on his heels. /His name is Schuldig./ Brad catalogued. "He was over there," he told the man.
The older man looked to see a still form resting against the wall a ways down. "Schu..."
/The guilty one./ The American translated. He followed the teacher over to where the young boy was sitting.
His face was paler than usual, his breathing heavy. Two golden eyes slid open and focused. "Herr Connor," he whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to class..."
Herr Connor smiled and scooped him up. "I'm sure the others will be grateful that I'm late for the class," he said with a smile.
"Why won't they give him anything if he hurts that bad?" Brad asked, unsure if he should follow them or not.
"Because his barriers have been knocked down and voices come flooding in. Medicine can't help that. He was taking stuff that was far to strong for him."
"They put me out of it at least," the young German muttered.
"What can help him?" the oracle asked.
"Rest and allowing him to rebuild his barriers. Are you returning to class now or would you like to help?"
"I can't help him." Crawford said slowly. He didn't know if he could or not, or even if he wanted to.
By now the young German had slumped into Herr Connor's arms. "I'm sure you could be of some assistance."
"If he wishes it."
/I don't care,/ the quiet thought entered his mind.
Brad nearly jumped again. This boy made him edgy. "I'll come with you, then." This *telepath* made him impulsive.
The young boy groaned. This was not how he wanted to start the day....
Images of a tall man dressed in mostly black except for a red shirt, no, red tie...beating...something, no, someone..., no...Brad shook his head and mumbled something in Japanese. This whole place was putting him on edge.
"You all right?" Herr Connor asked.
Crawford looked up, startled. "Me?"
"You're precog aren't you? What did you see?"
He eyed the man, uncertain of what to say. No one ever cared about what he saw, unless it had to do with him or her and his or her happiness. "Just...nothing really. Flashes of a man." Brad shrugged.
"Tell me later."
Herr Connor entered a small room with Brad close behind him. He lay the small German down on the bed and grabbed the ever-present aspirin from the stand.
The nurse entered the room almost immediately. "That is not going to do anything." She said. Her voice was cold and harsh, and not very nurse like. "Herr Geheim said that boy was a nuisance." she added, distastefully.
The ill boy looked away, ignoring the comment. He didn't care.
/Geheim? Doesn't that mean dark?/ Crawford wondered.
The nurse pushed past him and got in Herr Conner's face. "You can't shelter the boy. He needs to build his own defenses."
"There's something the matter. Schuldig is very talented in his gift. This isn't just happening," the tall man responded.
The nurse sneered down at the boy. "He's probably doing it to himself."
"That isn't true." Crawford protested softly.
All eyes in the room turned to him. "What do you mean?" Herr Connor asked gently.
Brad paled. He wasn't sure, he just knew...The man in the images..."No one would bring that kind of pain on themselves. And no one can fake pain that well," he offered.
Herr Connor smiled. He liked the boy. It was time that someone had a kinder spirit there at Rosenkruez. The nurse scoffed.
"He could, and the brat would. I'll leave you to your own devices, but I warned you. Herr Geheim will have that boy disciplined." she stressed the last word before vanishing out of sight.
Schuldig looked up at the two others. "In other words he'll beat the crap out of me," he muttered.
"Does he wear black and red?" Brad asked off handedly.
"Yeah, why?" the German responded.
/Shimatta./ Brad shrugged. "Just wondering."
Schuldig relaxed as his barriers went into place. He took his chance to poke into the older boy's mind, trying to quench his curiosity over the question.
Brad glared at him. "I'll only give you another headache." he warned.
He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry... Curious, that's all."
"Curiosity killed the cat, ne?" Brad retorted.
"Satisfaction brought it back."
Brad blinked at him. "You have to be kidding..."
"You've never heard that?"
"Apparently they don't make the same jokes where I come from."
The German smirked. "You could just answer the question and it would be a lot easier. Herr Connor said you were precog. Precogs have a reason for random questions as far as I've seen."
"I prefer the term clairvoyant, and if I wanted you to know I'd tell you. You don't even know what my name is." Brad said sharply.
"Bradley Crawford."
This was getting too much for the usually loner Brad. "Stay out of my head." he growled. "I'll be in class."
Schuldig smiled weakly. Herr Connor frowned. "Don't toy with the new student's heads."
Brad stalked down the hall back towards the classroom. Who did that idiot think he was? Prying into his mind as if he had all the invitation in the world. He would have to work on his own barriers.
By lunch time Schuldig had found the strength to get to his afternoon classes. He was lost in thoughts of earlier that morning and bumped into someone. "Crawford! What a surprise bumping into you!"
The taller boy glared at him, and moved passed him to his locker. "I hope your head has improved.," he said flatly.
"Yup. No more headaches for quite a while hopefully."
Crawford said and thought nothing as he pulled the required books out for his next subject. He looked up when all the other students in the hall stiffened and stood straight.
Herr Geheim walked down the hall and stopped before them. "Hello there, Schuldig. I see you're feeling well enough to talk to a friend," he growled.
Brad fought the impulse to run. This man was tall...and had an aura of total power around him. He looked at Schuldig.
"I had another headache," the smaller boy answered. "Excuse me, but my next class starts soon." As the German started to turn away, Herr Geheim grabbed him by his shirt collar and pulled him up roughly.
As soon as Herr Geheim touched Schuldig, Brad sucked in his breath and his mind was taken over by a vision. He was being restrained by someone...no, something and in front of him, Herr Geheim was beating on a boy...no..no it couldn't be..it was Schuldig..and he was beating him mentally too. Herr Geheim was telepathic as well, and who knows what else.
Brad lashed out, striking the man in the upper arm. "Let him go! I started the conversation." he said quickly.
Herr Geheim backhanded the young man, using telekinetic powers, sending him flying. He then turned his attention back to the teenage German, keeping a small part of his mind on the American as well.
Crawford let go of the books he was holding on impact and leaned against the wall in shock. As soon as he regained some of his senses, an intense hatred swelled inside him against the man. He growled something and headed back towards him.
Schuldig felt the pain from earlier return, much stronger this time. The pain spread to his entire body as he collided with the ground with a hard force. His golden eyes looked up.
Herr Geheim sneered over him. "You think I'd believe anything you say, *Schuldig*?" He grabbed the boy up by the collar again. "You know what I'm going to do with you?" Crawford charged at him from behind.
A physical barrier was put up between the clairvoyant and the teacher. What was this man? /You don't want to make an enemy of him, Braddy,/ Schuldig told him silently. /It could cost you your life./
The blue eyes darted from German to teacher, trying to find a weakness in the barrier. He severely disliked not being in control, and this man provoked a sense of evil. Brad found the weak spot.
/Don't call me that,/ he added.
/Don't call you wha-/ The thought was cut off as Schuldig found the teacher's boot in his ribcage. Apparently he'd been talking and disliked being ignored.
Brad pushed through the weak spot and landed a swift roundhouse kick to Herr Geheim's neck. It didn't even faze the man, and Brad found himself being lifted by an invisible force, and began choking.
/Brad!/ Schuldig yelped mentally. "He didn't do anything!" the boy yelled. "Leave him alone!"
A smile curved over Crawford's lips even as he choked. /You're a telepath, too, aren't you, Herr Geheim? Am I too much for you? A boy such as I? Go ahead. Choke me to death. I dare you./ Brad thought.
/YOU IDIOT!! DON'T DARE HIM! HE'S GOT THE AUTHORITY TO-/ Crawford didn't hear him finish the thought as the German was thrown in to the wall and silenced.
Crawford cringed as Schuldig hit the wall, but soon found himself thrown to the floor, choke hold released. He looked up at the older man. /Coward./ He sneered.
Herr Geheim smiled coldly. "Your time will come. Take care of him, Mr. Crawford, you'll need him later."
Crawford looked over to the younger boy her was slumped against the wall, head against his chest and greenish-blond bangs falling over the restraining headband. A small bit of blood found its way down his face.
As the power hungry man walked away, Crawford picked himself over and knelt by Schuldig. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently tipped the boy's head up to wipe the blood away. "Hey, you. Wake up. Daijoubu?" he murmured.
Schuldig winced and his golden orbs fluttered open. He seemed to focus on something behind the young American. Crawford turned to see Herr Connor standing there. "What happened?"
"Schuldig was kind enough to introduce me to Herr Geheim." Crawford replied, still wiping blood from a cut on the German's forehead.
Herr Connor's shoulders slumped and he sighed. He knelt down next to the two boys and looked at Schuldig. "How bad are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," the boy answered with a reassuring smile.
Brad stood, leaving the cloth in Schuldig's hand. He turned a pointed gaze on Herr Conner. "Would he actually kill one of the students?"
"Of course. Obviously you haven't heard the horror stories of Rosenkruez."
"I come from America. They sugarcoat everything there. Apparently I've made his 'students to kill' list, ne? What horror stories?"
"The ones about the kids that aren't good enough to make it out," the German responded. He struggled to his feet and then gasped as he held his ribs, muttering some colorful metaphors in German.
"You lied," Connor said. "You told me you were okay."
"I didn't particularly lie... I got off pretty well..."
Connor sighed. "Crawford, go to the nurse's room and ask for Amy. Tell her to go to Jack Connor's room, ne? She'll actually help, unlike the rest of them."
"As you wish." Crawford said. He took the German's arm and led him down the hall. Schuldig tried to push the edges of his mind a bit, and was instantly blocked. "Why aren't you thinking anything?" he pouted.
"I am. I'm just doing it where you can't hear." Brad replied shortly. "Just because I stood up for you, don't expect a free look into my head."
On a different floor of the building,
Herr Geheim sat down and straitened his tie. "I'm sorry for the delay, Ms. Takashima. Why are you here?"
The young woman smiled delicately. "Mr. Takatori would like me to spend some time here developing my leadership skills by being a teacher."
The telepath pouted slightly. "You're such a spoilsport, Braddy," he responded light heartedly.
"Didn't I tell you *not* to call me that?" Brad growled. They finally made it to the nurse's office. "He said to ask for Amy." Brad reminded him.
"Ja. So ask for her," Schuldig said as he leaned on the wall next to the door, apparently not planning to enter.
"Unh-uh. You're going in. I'm going back to class." Brad said firmly. "This is my second week here. I don't know how I managed to escape you before."
"I'm not going in there!" the young German stated. "You think I want an other beating?"
"He said Amy was nicer than the others. You have to get that cut looked at. If you don't, it's going to get infected." the oracle snapped.
"So go get her and bring her out here. They hate me in there."
/Am I going to have to everything for him?/ Crawford wondered. "Fine." He disappeared inside the office.
Schuldig slumped against the wall. It wasn't his head that was the problem; for once it was his ribs. He'd forgotten how powerful the man was....
Crawford sighed when he saw that there was no one in the office. He rang the bell and hoped somebody showed up soon. A young woman came around the cubicle.
"Hello there," she said sweetly. "May I help you?"
Crawford pointed to the hall. "His name is Schuldig. He needs medical attention." he said simply.
"Schu?" the woman asked worriedly. She started for the hallway.
/This guy's like Monopoly. They either love him or hate him./ Brad thought dryly. "I have to go back to class." he said absently.
The young woman -Amy- nodded. "Does Jack know?" She paused. "Herr Connor," she corrected.
"Yes. He sent him here." Brad told her.
"Okay, if you could, please tell him on your way back that I'll tend to Schu," she said as she exited. She saw the young boy slumped against the wall. "Hey, there Schu. Get in trouble again?"
He looked up and his dulled eyes brightened slightly. "Ja. Just a little."
Brad gave the green-brown haired boy one last look before taking off down the hall. He could still catch two classes today, if he was lucky and didn't run into Herr Geheim again.
"I'd say it was a lot more than a little trouble, my young friend," Amy responded. "What'd he do to you?"
"I think he cracked a rib," he whispered truthfully.
She sighed. "As soon as Jack gets here, I'm going to have him move you to his room Geheim can't hurt you if you're there."
The young American slipped into his advanced English class just as the warning bell stopped ringing. He was the last student there, but at least he made it. A young woman was leaning against the desk. "Now that we're all here, I'll introduce myself. My name is Julia Takashima. You may call me Frauline or Julia or both. I'll be your English teacher for the rest of this year."
The muffled voices of the students could be heard as they discussed their new teacher. She smiled at them, but Crawford saw it was a cold smile, hidden behind a friendly mask.
Her eyes met with Brad's and her smile became genuine for an instant. As soon as she looked back it returned to the careful mask. "If you'll open your books to the third chapter, we'll begin."
Schuldig felt himself being laid upon the bed carefully by his teacher and friend. A cold sweat had broken across his face and he felt a cloth wipe it away. Perhaps he had been hurt worse than he imagined in the first place...
As his last class dismissed for the day, Brad let out a weary sigh. Schuldig hadn't been at the last class, and he should have been. He headed for his dorm room, and Julia Takashima fell in step beside him. "You're concerned about someone, ne?" she said.
He looked up at her. "Eh?"
She laughed gently. "I'm an empath." she explained. "They've moved your friend, if you want to see him." she added.
Jack Connor stepped outside of his room. Amy was tending to the young German, and he knew he shouldn't worry. He ran a gloved hand through his hair and sighed.
"Herr Conner. It's good to see you again." Julia said as she and Brad approached. Brad wasn't sure why he followed her. He was fairly sure that being around the German boy in there was a dangerous thing.
"Hello Frauline," he responded distantly. For some odd reason other empaths made him uneasy, this one in particular.
"Brad here would like to see Schuldig, if that's all right." Julia said calmly. She watched her former teacher carefully. She knew he felt uneasy and she mentally shook her head.
Jack Connor nodded and motioned for the boy to enter. Crawford did so to find Schuldig looking much worse than before. His face was ashen and his breathing came with difficulty. Amy glanced his way and smiled sadly.
"What's wrong with him? He didn't look that bad earlier." Crawford said.
Out in the hall, Julia smiled coolly at Herr Conner. "Do you know why I came back?"
The young man shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't."
"He had several cracked ribs and other injuries that have caused a high fever," the nurse responded. "Was that Julia out there?"
Julia pushed silver bangs out of her face. "I'm here to recruit the first boy for Takatori's bodyguard team. Adrian and I aren't good enough anymore."
Brad nodded. "Frauline Takashima, yes."
A small cough was heard from the bed and the two telepaths outside stuck their heads in.
Amy bent over the small German. "How are you feeling, Schu?"
"Like crap," he answered.
Julia's green eyes flickered from Brad to Schuldig. /One of them, maybe./ She thought.
"Your shields again?" Brad asked.
"No... I think my head's the only thing that doesn't hurt at the moment..."
"You can have free pass from my classes tomorrow, if you need them." Julia said.
/Thank you,/ Schuldig's voice rang in her head. He suddenly felt so tired...
Brad was going to say something, but was sucked into a vision before he could get it out. It was the same as he had earlier. He was being tied down by something and he was watching Herr Geheim beating someone...
Julia jumped slightly at the voice in her head. "You're telepathic," she responded with a smile, still slightly startled.
She was distracted from Schuldig when she felt Brad seize up inside. He had a blank look on his face, as if he was far away.
Schuldig looked over to his new friend. /Brad?/
He was frozen, watching the scene play out in front of him. Inside he was screaming, and fighting for control. His visions weren't supposed to get out of control like this.
Schuldig looked at him. Something was wrong. He closed his eyes, concentrating and wondered into the clairvoyant's mind. /Brad? C'mon, what's going on?/
As soon as Brad's mind recognized that Schuldig was inside his head, the vision ended and Brad inhaled sharply. /Nothing./ he responded immediately.
/You were spacey there for a minute.../
/Sorry. Headache./
/Liar./
/Isn't that your job?/
/Lying? I don't lie. I thought I'd made that clear./
/Your name would imply otherwise./
A block went up and Schuldig was gone from his mind. When Brad opened his eyes, the young German was glaring at him harshly.
"It's amazing. If I didn't know he was telepathic, I'd assume they just enjoyed staring at each other. Or glaring." Julia murmured. Brad simply gazed at the younger boy. He had won.
"Get out," the boy growled.
Brad placed a smirk on his lips. "As you wish."
"I'll walk you back to your room." Julia said. There was a dark feeling pushing on the back or her mind. It was either a storm, or Herr Geheim. The latter was more likely.
Schuldig threw himself back onto the pillows in frustration. He had to bring it up... Herr Connor smiled and Amy embraced him. They knew what had happened, but the difference was, they knew the story behind it.
Julia walked Crawford down the hall, taking the longer route to his room to avoid Herr Geheim. "What did you say that made him so angry?" she asked.
"I told him his name made him guilty." Brad replied.
Julia looked at him oddly. "I believe there was a story behind that, but Herr Connor never told it. He knows though."
Brad shrugged. Julia focused for a moment. "You're disappointed he sent you away, aren't you?"
"No," Brad instantly replied.
"He'd make a good friend for you. Why don't you have many friends?" she asked. She looked over her shoulder. Something didn't feel right from the room they had been in.
"He didn't know what he was saying," Connor stated. "He couldn't have."
"I don't care," Schuldig responded. "He shouldn't have said anything."
Brad snorted. "Because nobody ever cared, and I don't want them to now. My parents sent me to boarding school because they didn't want me, then sent me here so no one in their circle would find out their son was a freak. He's just like anybody else. I don't need them."
Schuldig pouted slightly and looked away. He suddenly turned to the door with a slight gasp. He muttered a curse in German.
"Have you ever considered that they..he..might need you?" Julia asked gently.
"No." Brad said.
"He might. Are you strong enough for him to need you, or you to need each other?" Brad stared at her. She stopped and looked at him. "Don't cut him and leave him bleeding, Brad."
"I'm not apologizing." he replied.
"Maybe not." She looked back towards Herr Conner's room and frowned.
"What?" the raven-haired boy asked. A vision suddenly hit him and he understood what her worry was about.
She felt the boy tense up and fear come over him. Julia muttered a curse in Japanese and broke into a run towards Conner's run.
The door swung open and Schuldig scrambled back in the bed. His mind raced. He thought he was safe here...
Crawford stood there, frozen in place as he watched Frauline Takashima dash down the corridor. Herr Geheim was a ruthless man. Could he make an exception and care about someone else just once? Brad decided he could and ran after her.
Schuldig felt his body hit the wall with a strong force. He looked over to see Herr Connor and Amy struggling against the invisible restraints. He coughed as his eyes focused on the large man looming over him.
"Thought you could get away from me, did you? Thought you could have your little precog friend save you? You were highly mistaken, Schuldig. I have plans for you." Herr Geheim spat. He temporarily released his hold, sending Schuldig crashing to the floor.
The boy shuddered involuntarily. /What did I ever do to him?/ he thought angrily.
"Nothing. That's the beauty of it." Herr Geheim leered. He picked the boy up by his collar and slapped him.
Julia threw the door open. "What are you doing to him?" she snarled.
Schuldig felt himself fall to the ground in a heap, his strength sapped from him. His golden eyes opened sluggishly and his green-blond hair fell in his face over the headband as he watched Geheim.
Geheim didn't even look at the young woman. "Disciplining him." he said with a smirk. Brad appeared behind Julia and looked with horror at Schuldig. That got Geheim's interest.
"I heard you were quite the loner, Mr. Crawford. What about this boy has sparked your interest?"
/Get out of here, dolt, before he decides to take out his anger on you!/ Schuldig's voice rang in the clairvoyant's head,
"What about him has sparked yours?" he retorted quickly.
/I'll leave when I want./ he told Schuldig.
Geheim faced him. "Maybe the same thing that has sparked my interest in you, boy."
/You idiot! I knew you were stupid when I met you, but this crosses the lines of stupidity into insanity!/ Maybe that would make him leave....
The blue eyes sparkled behind the wire frames for a moment. /No one ever said I was sane./ "Oh really? And what is that, exactly?" Brad asked Geheim.
Schuldig felt himself being lifted off the ground telepathically, then hurled across the room. His tattered body offered no resistance. Apparently Geheim didn't want to him to think he was forgotten.
"Defiance. I'm going to break you of it." Geheim said. He lifted Brad off the ground telepathically as he had done with Schuldig, but did not throw him. "Do you know what a psychosomatic wound is, Mr. Crawford?" he asked pleasantly.
Julia gasped. "No, you can't do that!"
The young man shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"It's when you think you've been mortally wounded and your body responds as such. You can bleed to death without a scratch on you. You can have sever convulsions and there's nothing really wrong, but your body doesn't know that until your dead."
"He hasn't done anything! Just let him go!" Schuldig pleaded as he struggled to stand.
Brad looked at the man as if he'd lost his mind. "You can't have that much mental control." he said.
Julia found herself restrained like Amy and Conner. "You can't do that," she hissed. Brad suddenly had the image of a gun in his mind, and it was pointed at him.
"Quit it!" Schuldig yelled. /STOP! //
/I hope this counts as an apology./ Brad thought. The gun went off and his whole body seized up. Geheim dropped him to the floor. "Watch him die. And let it be a lesson." Brad lay on the ground, gasping.
Schuldig stumbled over to the older boy. "Brad?" he asked, frightened. He placed a hand on his shoulder. /Brad?/
The German was almost thrown back by the serge of pain that Brad's mind was. The oracle's mind was completely absorbed in the fact that he had been shot, and was severely bleeding.
Schuldig focused everything he had left to entering the blue-eyed American's mind. /Brad, listen to me, you're fine. Do you hear me?/
He didn't respond at all. Julia slumped to the floor. "You can't reach him. It's over." she said softly.
Schuldig shook his head. He knew he was one of the strongest telepaths at the school. Raw talent, yes, but the facts remained. He KNEW he could save this boy. /BRADDY!/
Authors: Anna Maxwell, Chase Yuy
Rating: …….we'll say PG-13
Disclaimer: Braddy and Schu don't belong to us, and the rest of the original Weiß Kreuz members don't either. All original characters do
Author's notes: Yes, it's a Rosenkreuz fic. Is it like everyone else's? I have no clue, I haven't read one yet. Please read and review, it makes us happy. ^_^ And for those of you reading my fic 'A Matter of Time,' I'll be updating soon. Danke!!
/indicates thought./ (We were going to use but it made our text disappear….)
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have the absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.
Chapter One: Rosenkreuz, a school or hell on earth?
Schuldig walked along the halls of Rosenkreuz. His head ached like nothing else. Someone had been managing to take down his barriers and had been keeping him from rebuilding them. It was taking everything he had to make it back to his quarters. His mind was so focused on that task he didn't see the raven-haired boy before he bumped strait into him.
Bradley Crawford was thrown off by the boy who had walked into him, because he hadn't seen it coming. He glared down at the flaming red hair. "Excuse me," he said mildly. He hadn't been at Rosenkreuz long, and he already disliked the entire experience.
"My fault," Schuldig muttered as he stood. The motion was too quick for his aching head and he stumbled into the wall, slumping down against it. He growled something in German, golden eyes flickering in pain.
/Why is he hurting?/ Brad wondered. Out loud he asked in English, "What's the matter with you?"
The German boy gave him an odd look. What language was that? English? Should have paid more attention in that class...
Brad sighed and shook his bangs out of his eyes and switched his question into German. "What's the matter with you?"
"Nothing... Just a migraine," the younger boy muttered. /Blasted shields won't go up.../
He jumped at the comment that rang through his head. /He's a telepath,/ Brad growled to himself mentally, then immediately felt stupid for *thinking* it. "See the school nurse. They have one, ne?" he said coolly.
Schuldig smirked slightly. "Yes, I am telepathic. And the nurse stopped giving me anything for these a long time ago."
A dark eyebrow lifted. "Why?"
"Said they can't do anything about it, and that I was taking too many of stuff that was way too strong," the green haired boy said with a small smile.
The bell rang, signaling first classes. Impulsively, Brad offered the younger boy a hand to help him up.
"Aren't you the new kid in my first class? Sit next row to the front, right?"
Brad pulled him to his feet, without thinking anything. "Yes, I am." he said.
"Tell 'em I had one of my headaches and I'll get my notes later, okay? That teacher likes me. He'll understand."
He nodded, not sure why. He didn't usually do things, even small things, for other people, much less nasal sounding German kids that ran into him. "I'll tell him."
"Thanks," Schuldig whispered as he stood again. His head swam and he leaned against the wall.
The warning bell rang, and Brad looked back at the boy before disappearing into the first class. He suddenly wished he would get a vision of what was going to happen to him and his headache. He hadn't even gotten his name. The class began.
The teacher looked over the class. Where was Schuldig? Late? Not for his class. Something was wrong...
Crawford stepped up to the man. "There's a student who asked me to tell you he'd get his notes later. He had a headache."
"Schuldig?"
Crawford shrugged indifferently as he took his seat. "I didn't get his name."
"Has to be him. Where did you see him?"
"In the hall."
The teacher's eyes darkened with worry. "Show me. These headaches of his have been getting worse and worse the past couple of weeks."
Brad put his bag down under his desk and went back out into the hall, the teacher on his heels. /His name is Schuldig./ Brad catalogued. "He was over there," he told the man.
The older man looked to see a still form resting against the wall a ways down. "Schu..."
/The guilty one./ The American translated. He followed the teacher over to where the young boy was sitting.
His face was paler than usual, his breathing heavy. Two golden eyes slid open and focused. "Herr Connor," he whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to class..."
Herr Connor smiled and scooped him up. "I'm sure the others will be grateful that I'm late for the class," he said with a smile.
"Why won't they give him anything if he hurts that bad?" Brad asked, unsure if he should follow them or not.
"Because his barriers have been knocked down and voices come flooding in. Medicine can't help that. He was taking stuff that was far to strong for him."
"They put me out of it at least," the young German muttered.
"What can help him?" the oracle asked.
"Rest and allowing him to rebuild his barriers. Are you returning to class now or would you like to help?"
"I can't help him." Crawford said slowly. He didn't know if he could or not, or even if he wanted to.
By now the young German had slumped into Herr Connor's arms. "I'm sure you could be of some assistance."
"If he wishes it."
/I don't care,/ the quiet thought entered his mind.
Brad nearly jumped again. This boy made him edgy. "I'll come with you, then." This *telepath* made him impulsive.
The young boy groaned. This was not how he wanted to start the day....
Images of a tall man dressed in mostly black except for a red shirt, no, red tie...beating...something, no, someone..., no...Brad shook his head and mumbled something in Japanese. This whole place was putting him on edge.
"You all right?" Herr Connor asked.
Crawford looked up, startled. "Me?"
"You're precog aren't you? What did you see?"
He eyed the man, uncertain of what to say. No one ever cared about what he saw, unless it had to do with him or her and his or her happiness. "Just...nothing really. Flashes of a man." Brad shrugged.
"Tell me later."
Herr Connor entered a small room with Brad close behind him. He lay the small German down on the bed and grabbed the ever-present aspirin from the stand.
The nurse entered the room almost immediately. "That is not going to do anything." She said. Her voice was cold and harsh, and not very nurse like. "Herr Geheim said that boy was a nuisance." she added, distastefully.
The ill boy looked away, ignoring the comment. He didn't care.
/Geheim? Doesn't that mean dark?/ Crawford wondered.
The nurse pushed past him and got in Herr Conner's face. "You can't shelter the boy. He needs to build his own defenses."
"There's something the matter. Schuldig is very talented in his gift. This isn't just happening," the tall man responded.
The nurse sneered down at the boy. "He's probably doing it to himself."
"That isn't true." Crawford protested softly.
All eyes in the room turned to him. "What do you mean?" Herr Connor asked gently.
Brad paled. He wasn't sure, he just knew...The man in the images..."No one would bring that kind of pain on themselves. And no one can fake pain that well," he offered.
Herr Connor smiled. He liked the boy. It was time that someone had a kinder spirit there at Rosenkruez. The nurse scoffed.
"He could, and the brat would. I'll leave you to your own devices, but I warned you. Herr Geheim will have that boy disciplined." she stressed the last word before vanishing out of sight.
Schuldig looked up at the two others. "In other words he'll beat the crap out of me," he muttered.
"Does he wear black and red?" Brad asked off handedly.
"Yeah, why?" the German responded.
/Shimatta./ Brad shrugged. "Just wondering."
Schuldig relaxed as his barriers went into place. He took his chance to poke into the older boy's mind, trying to quench his curiosity over the question.
Brad glared at him. "I'll only give you another headache." he warned.
He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry... Curious, that's all."
"Curiosity killed the cat, ne?" Brad retorted.
"Satisfaction brought it back."
Brad blinked at him. "You have to be kidding..."
"You've never heard that?"
"Apparently they don't make the same jokes where I come from."
The German smirked. "You could just answer the question and it would be a lot easier. Herr Connor said you were precog. Precogs have a reason for random questions as far as I've seen."
"I prefer the term clairvoyant, and if I wanted you to know I'd tell you. You don't even know what my name is." Brad said sharply.
"Bradley Crawford."
This was getting too much for the usually loner Brad. "Stay out of my head." he growled. "I'll be in class."
Schuldig smiled weakly. Herr Connor frowned. "Don't toy with the new student's heads."
Brad stalked down the hall back towards the classroom. Who did that idiot think he was? Prying into his mind as if he had all the invitation in the world. He would have to work on his own barriers.
By lunch time Schuldig had found the strength to get to his afternoon classes. He was lost in thoughts of earlier that morning and bumped into someone. "Crawford! What a surprise bumping into you!"
The taller boy glared at him, and moved passed him to his locker. "I hope your head has improved.," he said flatly.
"Yup. No more headaches for quite a while hopefully."
Crawford said and thought nothing as he pulled the required books out for his next subject. He looked up when all the other students in the hall stiffened and stood straight.
Herr Geheim walked down the hall and stopped before them. "Hello there, Schuldig. I see you're feeling well enough to talk to a friend," he growled.
Brad fought the impulse to run. This man was tall...and had an aura of total power around him. He looked at Schuldig.
"I had another headache," the smaller boy answered. "Excuse me, but my next class starts soon." As the German started to turn away, Herr Geheim grabbed him by his shirt collar and pulled him up roughly.
As soon as Herr Geheim touched Schuldig, Brad sucked in his breath and his mind was taken over by a vision. He was being restrained by someone...no, something and in front of him, Herr Geheim was beating on a boy...no..no it couldn't be..it was Schuldig..and he was beating him mentally too. Herr Geheim was telepathic as well, and who knows what else.
Brad lashed out, striking the man in the upper arm. "Let him go! I started the conversation." he said quickly.
Herr Geheim backhanded the young man, using telekinetic powers, sending him flying. He then turned his attention back to the teenage German, keeping a small part of his mind on the American as well.
Crawford let go of the books he was holding on impact and leaned against the wall in shock. As soon as he regained some of his senses, an intense hatred swelled inside him against the man. He growled something and headed back towards him.
Schuldig felt the pain from earlier return, much stronger this time. The pain spread to his entire body as he collided with the ground with a hard force. His golden eyes looked up.
Herr Geheim sneered over him. "You think I'd believe anything you say, *Schuldig*?" He grabbed the boy up by the collar again. "You know what I'm going to do with you?" Crawford charged at him from behind.
A physical barrier was put up between the clairvoyant and the teacher. What was this man? /You don't want to make an enemy of him, Braddy,/ Schuldig told him silently. /It could cost you your life./
The blue eyes darted from German to teacher, trying to find a weakness in the barrier. He severely disliked not being in control, and this man provoked a sense of evil. Brad found the weak spot.
/Don't call me that,/ he added.
/Don't call you wha-/ The thought was cut off as Schuldig found the teacher's boot in his ribcage. Apparently he'd been talking and disliked being ignored.
Brad pushed through the weak spot and landed a swift roundhouse kick to Herr Geheim's neck. It didn't even faze the man, and Brad found himself being lifted by an invisible force, and began choking.
/Brad!/ Schuldig yelped mentally. "He didn't do anything!" the boy yelled. "Leave him alone!"
A smile curved over Crawford's lips even as he choked. /You're a telepath, too, aren't you, Herr Geheim? Am I too much for you? A boy such as I? Go ahead. Choke me to death. I dare you./ Brad thought.
/YOU IDIOT!! DON'T DARE HIM! HE'S GOT THE AUTHORITY TO-/ Crawford didn't hear him finish the thought as the German was thrown in to the wall and silenced.
Crawford cringed as Schuldig hit the wall, but soon found himself thrown to the floor, choke hold released. He looked up at the older man. /Coward./ He sneered.
Herr Geheim smiled coldly. "Your time will come. Take care of him, Mr. Crawford, you'll need him later."
Crawford looked over to the younger boy her was slumped against the wall, head against his chest and greenish-blond bangs falling over the restraining headband. A small bit of blood found its way down his face.
As the power hungry man walked away, Crawford picked himself over and knelt by Schuldig. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently tipped the boy's head up to wipe the blood away. "Hey, you. Wake up. Daijoubu?" he murmured.
Schuldig winced and his golden orbs fluttered open. He seemed to focus on something behind the young American. Crawford turned to see Herr Connor standing there. "What happened?"
"Schuldig was kind enough to introduce me to Herr Geheim." Crawford replied, still wiping blood from a cut on the German's forehead.
Herr Connor's shoulders slumped and he sighed. He knelt down next to the two boys and looked at Schuldig. "How bad are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," the boy answered with a reassuring smile.
Brad stood, leaving the cloth in Schuldig's hand. He turned a pointed gaze on Herr Conner. "Would he actually kill one of the students?"
"Of course. Obviously you haven't heard the horror stories of Rosenkruez."
"I come from America. They sugarcoat everything there. Apparently I've made his 'students to kill' list, ne? What horror stories?"
"The ones about the kids that aren't good enough to make it out," the German responded. He struggled to his feet and then gasped as he held his ribs, muttering some colorful metaphors in German.
"You lied," Connor said. "You told me you were okay."
"I didn't particularly lie... I got off pretty well..."
Connor sighed. "Crawford, go to the nurse's room and ask for Amy. Tell her to go to Jack Connor's room, ne? She'll actually help, unlike the rest of them."
"As you wish." Crawford said. He took the German's arm and led him down the hall. Schuldig tried to push the edges of his mind a bit, and was instantly blocked. "Why aren't you thinking anything?" he pouted.
"I am. I'm just doing it where you can't hear." Brad replied shortly. "Just because I stood up for you, don't expect a free look into my head."
On a different floor of the building,
Herr Geheim sat down and straitened his tie. "I'm sorry for the delay, Ms. Takashima. Why are you here?"
The young woman smiled delicately. "Mr. Takatori would like me to spend some time here developing my leadership skills by being a teacher."
The telepath pouted slightly. "You're such a spoilsport, Braddy," he responded light heartedly.
"Didn't I tell you *not* to call me that?" Brad growled. They finally made it to the nurse's office. "He said to ask for Amy." Brad reminded him.
"Ja. So ask for her," Schuldig said as he leaned on the wall next to the door, apparently not planning to enter.
"Unh-uh. You're going in. I'm going back to class." Brad said firmly. "This is my second week here. I don't know how I managed to escape you before."
"I'm not going in there!" the young German stated. "You think I want an other beating?"
"He said Amy was nicer than the others. You have to get that cut looked at. If you don't, it's going to get infected." the oracle snapped.
"So go get her and bring her out here. They hate me in there."
/Am I going to have to everything for him?/ Crawford wondered. "Fine." He disappeared inside the office.
Schuldig slumped against the wall. It wasn't his head that was the problem; for once it was his ribs. He'd forgotten how powerful the man was....
Crawford sighed when he saw that there was no one in the office. He rang the bell and hoped somebody showed up soon. A young woman came around the cubicle.
"Hello there," she said sweetly. "May I help you?"
Crawford pointed to the hall. "His name is Schuldig. He needs medical attention." he said simply.
"Schu?" the woman asked worriedly. She started for the hallway.
/This guy's like Monopoly. They either love him or hate him./ Brad thought dryly. "I have to go back to class." he said absently.
The young woman -Amy- nodded. "Does Jack know?" She paused. "Herr Connor," she corrected.
"Yes. He sent him here." Brad told her.
"Okay, if you could, please tell him on your way back that I'll tend to Schu," she said as she exited. She saw the young boy slumped against the wall. "Hey, there Schu. Get in trouble again?"
He looked up and his dulled eyes brightened slightly. "Ja. Just a little."
Brad gave the green-brown haired boy one last look before taking off down the hall. He could still catch two classes today, if he was lucky and didn't run into Herr Geheim again.
"I'd say it was a lot more than a little trouble, my young friend," Amy responded. "What'd he do to you?"
"I think he cracked a rib," he whispered truthfully.
She sighed. "As soon as Jack gets here, I'm going to have him move you to his room Geheim can't hurt you if you're there."
The young American slipped into his advanced English class just as the warning bell stopped ringing. He was the last student there, but at least he made it. A young woman was leaning against the desk. "Now that we're all here, I'll introduce myself. My name is Julia Takashima. You may call me Frauline or Julia or both. I'll be your English teacher for the rest of this year."
The muffled voices of the students could be heard as they discussed their new teacher. She smiled at them, but Crawford saw it was a cold smile, hidden behind a friendly mask.
Her eyes met with Brad's and her smile became genuine for an instant. As soon as she looked back it returned to the careful mask. "If you'll open your books to the third chapter, we'll begin."
Schuldig felt himself being laid upon the bed carefully by his teacher and friend. A cold sweat had broken across his face and he felt a cloth wipe it away. Perhaps he had been hurt worse than he imagined in the first place...
As his last class dismissed for the day, Brad let out a weary sigh. Schuldig hadn't been at the last class, and he should have been. He headed for his dorm room, and Julia Takashima fell in step beside him. "You're concerned about someone, ne?" she said.
He looked up at her. "Eh?"
She laughed gently. "I'm an empath." she explained. "They've moved your friend, if you want to see him." she added.
Jack Connor stepped outside of his room. Amy was tending to the young German, and he knew he shouldn't worry. He ran a gloved hand through his hair and sighed.
"Herr Conner. It's good to see you again." Julia said as she and Brad approached. Brad wasn't sure why he followed her. He was fairly sure that being around the German boy in there was a dangerous thing.
"Hello Frauline," he responded distantly. For some odd reason other empaths made him uneasy, this one in particular.
"Brad here would like to see Schuldig, if that's all right." Julia said calmly. She watched her former teacher carefully. She knew he felt uneasy and she mentally shook her head.
Jack Connor nodded and motioned for the boy to enter. Crawford did so to find Schuldig looking much worse than before. His face was ashen and his breathing came with difficulty. Amy glanced his way and smiled sadly.
"What's wrong with him? He didn't look that bad earlier." Crawford said.
Out in the hall, Julia smiled coolly at Herr Conner. "Do you know why I came back?"
The young man shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't."
"He had several cracked ribs and other injuries that have caused a high fever," the nurse responded. "Was that Julia out there?"
Julia pushed silver bangs out of her face. "I'm here to recruit the first boy for Takatori's bodyguard team. Adrian and I aren't good enough anymore."
Brad nodded. "Frauline Takashima, yes."
A small cough was heard from the bed and the two telepaths outside stuck their heads in.
Amy bent over the small German. "How are you feeling, Schu?"
"Like crap," he answered.
Julia's green eyes flickered from Brad to Schuldig. /One of them, maybe./ She thought.
"Your shields again?" Brad asked.
"No... I think my head's the only thing that doesn't hurt at the moment..."
"You can have free pass from my classes tomorrow, if you need them." Julia said.
/Thank you,/ Schuldig's voice rang in her head. He suddenly felt so tired...
Brad was going to say something, but was sucked into a vision before he could get it out. It was the same as he had earlier. He was being tied down by something and he was watching Herr Geheim beating someone...
Julia jumped slightly at the voice in her head. "You're telepathic," she responded with a smile, still slightly startled.
She was distracted from Schuldig when she felt Brad seize up inside. He had a blank look on his face, as if he was far away.
Schuldig looked over to his new friend. /Brad?/
He was frozen, watching the scene play out in front of him. Inside he was screaming, and fighting for control. His visions weren't supposed to get out of control like this.
Schuldig looked at him. Something was wrong. He closed his eyes, concentrating and wondered into the clairvoyant's mind. /Brad? C'mon, what's going on?/
As soon as Brad's mind recognized that Schuldig was inside his head, the vision ended and Brad inhaled sharply. /Nothing./ he responded immediately.
/You were spacey there for a minute.../
/Sorry. Headache./
/Liar./
/Isn't that your job?/
/Lying? I don't lie. I thought I'd made that clear./
/Your name would imply otherwise./
A block went up and Schuldig was gone from his mind. When Brad opened his eyes, the young German was glaring at him harshly.
"It's amazing. If I didn't know he was telepathic, I'd assume they just enjoyed staring at each other. Or glaring." Julia murmured. Brad simply gazed at the younger boy. He had won.
"Get out," the boy growled.
Brad placed a smirk on his lips. "As you wish."
"I'll walk you back to your room." Julia said. There was a dark feeling pushing on the back or her mind. It was either a storm, or Herr Geheim. The latter was more likely.
Schuldig threw himself back onto the pillows in frustration. He had to bring it up... Herr Connor smiled and Amy embraced him. They knew what had happened, but the difference was, they knew the story behind it.
Julia walked Crawford down the hall, taking the longer route to his room to avoid Herr Geheim. "What did you say that made him so angry?" she asked.
"I told him his name made him guilty." Brad replied.
Julia looked at him oddly. "I believe there was a story behind that, but Herr Connor never told it. He knows though."
Brad shrugged. Julia focused for a moment. "You're disappointed he sent you away, aren't you?"
"No," Brad instantly replied.
"He'd make a good friend for you. Why don't you have many friends?" she asked. She looked over her shoulder. Something didn't feel right from the room they had been in.
"He didn't know what he was saying," Connor stated. "He couldn't have."
"I don't care," Schuldig responded. "He shouldn't have said anything."
Brad snorted. "Because nobody ever cared, and I don't want them to now. My parents sent me to boarding school because they didn't want me, then sent me here so no one in their circle would find out their son was a freak. He's just like anybody else. I don't need them."
Schuldig pouted slightly and looked away. He suddenly turned to the door with a slight gasp. He muttered a curse in German.
"Have you ever considered that they..he..might need you?" Julia asked gently.
"No." Brad said.
"He might. Are you strong enough for him to need you, or you to need each other?" Brad stared at her. She stopped and looked at him. "Don't cut him and leave him bleeding, Brad."
"I'm not apologizing." he replied.
"Maybe not." She looked back towards Herr Conner's room and frowned.
"What?" the raven-haired boy asked. A vision suddenly hit him and he understood what her worry was about.
She felt the boy tense up and fear come over him. Julia muttered a curse in Japanese and broke into a run towards Conner's run.
The door swung open and Schuldig scrambled back in the bed. His mind raced. He thought he was safe here...
Crawford stood there, frozen in place as he watched Frauline Takashima dash down the corridor. Herr Geheim was a ruthless man. Could he make an exception and care about someone else just once? Brad decided he could and ran after her.
Schuldig felt his body hit the wall with a strong force. He looked over to see Herr Connor and Amy struggling against the invisible restraints. He coughed as his eyes focused on the large man looming over him.
"Thought you could get away from me, did you? Thought you could have your little precog friend save you? You were highly mistaken, Schuldig. I have plans for you." Herr Geheim spat. He temporarily released his hold, sending Schuldig crashing to the floor.
The boy shuddered involuntarily. /What did I ever do to him?/ he thought angrily.
"Nothing. That's the beauty of it." Herr Geheim leered. He picked the boy up by his collar and slapped him.
Julia threw the door open. "What are you doing to him?" she snarled.
Schuldig felt himself fall to the ground in a heap, his strength sapped from him. His golden eyes opened sluggishly and his green-blond hair fell in his face over the headband as he watched Geheim.
Geheim didn't even look at the young woman. "Disciplining him." he said with a smirk. Brad appeared behind Julia and looked with horror at Schuldig. That got Geheim's interest.
"I heard you were quite the loner, Mr. Crawford. What about this boy has sparked your interest?"
/Get out of here, dolt, before he decides to take out his anger on you!/ Schuldig's voice rang in the clairvoyant's head,
"What about him has sparked yours?" he retorted quickly.
/I'll leave when I want./ he told Schuldig.
Geheim faced him. "Maybe the same thing that has sparked my interest in you, boy."
/You idiot! I knew you were stupid when I met you, but this crosses the lines of stupidity into insanity!/ Maybe that would make him leave....
The blue eyes sparkled behind the wire frames for a moment. /No one ever said I was sane./ "Oh really? And what is that, exactly?" Brad asked Geheim.
Schuldig felt himself being lifted off the ground telepathically, then hurled across the room. His tattered body offered no resistance. Apparently Geheim didn't want to him to think he was forgotten.
"Defiance. I'm going to break you of it." Geheim said. He lifted Brad off the ground telepathically as he had done with Schuldig, but did not throw him. "Do you know what a psychosomatic wound is, Mr. Crawford?" he asked pleasantly.
Julia gasped. "No, you can't do that!"
The young man shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"It's when you think you've been mortally wounded and your body responds as such. You can bleed to death without a scratch on you. You can have sever convulsions and there's nothing really wrong, but your body doesn't know that until your dead."
"He hasn't done anything! Just let him go!" Schuldig pleaded as he struggled to stand.
Brad looked at the man as if he'd lost his mind. "You can't have that much mental control." he said.
Julia found herself restrained like Amy and Conner. "You can't do that," she hissed. Brad suddenly had the image of a gun in his mind, and it was pointed at him.
"Quit it!" Schuldig yelled. /STOP! //
/I hope this counts as an apology./ Brad thought. The gun went off and his whole body seized up. Geheim dropped him to the floor. "Watch him die. And let it be a lesson." Brad lay on the ground, gasping.
Schuldig stumbled over to the older boy. "Brad?" he asked, frightened. He placed a hand on his shoulder. /Brad?/
The German was almost thrown back by the serge of pain that Brad's mind was. The oracle's mind was completely absorbed in the fact that he had been shot, and was severely bleeding.
Schuldig focused everything he had left to entering the blue-eyed American's mind. /Brad, listen to me, you're fine. Do you hear me?/
He didn't respond at all. Julia slumped to the floor. "You can't reach him. It's over." she said softly.
Schuldig shook his head. He knew he was one of the strongest telepaths at the school. Raw talent, yes, but the facts remained. He KNEW he could save this boy. /BRADDY!/