A/N: Sorry for the delays :(. I was very busy, but now I should have more time to write. Here's a weird, short chapter from Schuldig's POV.
Schuldig's hot breath tickled his groin, and Crawford threw back his head, dug his fingers into Schuldig's fiery red mane. Their sex was sweet and steamy, full of wet kisses and gentle touches. It was everything they were not and never would be, but since Crawford was asleep he missed the irony and only thought of orgasm.
It was satisfying and funny to a degree, but Schuldig was on a schedule, so he made his presence a little more obvious.
Wakey, wakey, Crawford.
There was a flicker in the dreamscape and then it went black: Crawford was awake and conscious. I believe I made it very clear that I don't appreciate being forced to dream about sexual intercourse with you.
All in good fun, Schuldig said. Besides, it took him years to find out Crawford's mind was penetrable at all: he had to make up for lost time. By the way, you might want to roll over onto your stomach; the baby-Weiss is keeping watch and your erection is scaring him.
Schuldig felt a wisp of amusement from Crawford, but the surge of relief from Omi told him Crawford had chosen to do the polite thing.
How'd you find me? Crawford wanted to know.
Weiss paid us a visit during the Moriyama job and it was made immediately obvious to me. Weiss is about as subtle with their thoughts as flashing neon signs.
Crawford's amusement was more apparent and Schuldig wished he could hear the man's laugh in person. Idiots. I told them you could read minds, yet they still gave their minds to you.
It was funny, Schuldig agreed, One little kitten in particular couldn't stop thinking of you; poor, tortured soul. He was acutely aware I could read the perversion in his mind, but he couldn't help himself. It was very distracting for the pitiful thing.
A tendril of curiosity slunk out of Crawford's mind and brushed up against his own. Schuldig smiled; it was a delicious feeling. He waited patiently for the question.
One of Weiss is gay?
Schuldig rolled his eyes. Typical Crawfordian arrogance. You're hot, Crawford, but not every gay man in the world has a crush on you. I don't.
Crawford's teasing smirk was clear in his mind. But you still want to sleep with me.
Schuldig sighed, but didn't bother denying it. I believe you were begging me for confidential information on Weiss? Carry on.
Please reveal which Weiss-ling is madly in love with me.
Schuldig laughed. He love-love-loved that Crawford could be so clueless when it came to such things. The man spent so much time flaunting his knowledge of the future, it only served him right. You can't possibly expect me to spoil the fun, can you?
Oh, "fun," of course: I knew I forgot to pack something for this "vacation." Crawford thought drily.
Schuldig snorted aloud, causing a passerby to stare. They thought he was crazy; what else was new? What can I say? You're hopeless without me.
Have you come to rescue me, then?
Unhappy with the array of white knights currently at your service, Princess Crawford?
They lack a certain sense of chivalry, Crawford conceded, sending Schuldig a memory of Ken elbowing him in the face.
Schuldig held back a laugh and sighed dramatically. So it's true, then: chivalry is dead. What's wrong with the world?
Well, we're in it, for starters.
It had only been three days, but Schuldig missed this. He lingered on the good feeling for a moment longer. Time to break the bad news.
Rosenkruez wants to give Nagi the proper indoctrination. They avoided it this long, though Schuldig still wasn't sure how.
Crawford felt blank; Schuldig knew he was absorbed in emotion he didn't want to share. He had an odd relationship with Nagi, in that it sat uneasily in an awkward place between fatherly affection and the cool detachment of a boss. If Crawford loved anybody in this world, it was probably Nagi.
I don't like that, Crawford thought aloud finally, though the thought was followed closely by a feeling of regret for admitting so.
We've waived his training, but he's got to meet them in person sometime. They incapacitated you because they thought you'd come up with an excuse again or disrupt the process.
Crawford's words were singed with bitterness from being outsmarted: Our mission this week weakened him too much. They'll set him back months in training.
Schuldig let out a breath of air, and looked up at the clear blue sky. Time to play hardball. Look, they think you're hindering them. You're lucky; they typically kill disobedient, meddling snots like you. Consider this your punishment, though.
Crawford was silent, but he felt like cool sand on a beach at night. He was trying to calm himself, Schuldig knew, though he couldn't quite feel the dark ocean of anger Crawford was trying to hide from him. You're going to protect him. You're going to keep him safe.
You know that I will. That wasn't an easy promise to make, but if Schuldig loved anybody in this world, it was probably Crawford.
Crawford only ever said 'Thank You' ironically, so Schuldig wasn't expecting any sentimentality. His next words tasted like coffee, though, warm and familiar, which was the closest Crawford came to conveying kindness. Tell me the plan.
We have explicit orders not to release you from Weiss's captivity. The three of us are flying into Austria later this week. I ask that you do not escape until we have been accounted for in Europe; otherwise we may be held responsible. Farfarello will be placed in the psychiatric ward, I am meant to help train the underlings, and Nagi will spend his days with The Board. I will look after him. They want at least a month with him. I do not recommend you come to Rosenkruez before then.
At least tell me where I am.
I am not at liberty to say.
Crawford's emotions tasted to Schuldig like black coffee, dark, dark chocolate, and crisp mint. He was back to his regular self, if a bit more bitter than usual. It was much, much more preferable to the sticky honey thoughts of the bees buzzing around him in the park, or the slimy putrid thoughts of the men they worked for. Crawford was comfortable and familiar. Schuldig hadn't been apart from him this long since before they met in Rosenkruez, and he had never missed anyone like he found himself missing Crawford. This was going to be a weird month.
They said a brief goodbye, but it wasn't until Schuldig was halfway home and their connection was long since severed that he thought what had been in the back of his mind the entire time.
Good luck, Crawford.