Chapter Thirteen: The Long Flight to a New Home
The next morning the two young men were awakened by Julia opening the door and the light flooding in.
"We've reached Warsaw, you two. Our flight leaves in two hours. Be ready." she said.
"Does that require getting up?" Schuldig groaned.
That was the closest thing to a practical joke he had ever seen out of Brad. Some people had sick senses of humor.
"You can laze for about thirty minutes, but I wouldn't push it further than that." She called, backing out of the room.
Schuldig nodded, closing his eyes.
Brad made no move to get up either. His head was still sore from his vision escapade.
/You okay?/
/Yes of course./ Brad replied.
/You gonna get up?/
/This year? No./
Schuldig chuckled. /The fearless leader is being lazy?/
/It's allowed. Tell anyone, and you'll get hit with a golf club./
/Why a golf club?/
/Trust me. I have good resources./
/You picked the strangest thing though..../ he chuckled.
/You have no idea.../
/Do you know something I don't?/
/That's a stupid question./
/Hey!/
/Why should I know something that you don't?/ Brad added with a grin.
/Because you always seem to be a step ahead of everyone else./
/That's what makes me special, ne?/
/Ja./
/We're headed for the ends of the earth, you know./
/I'm following./
/I think I feel bad for leading./
/Why?/
/Because I don't want you to be hurt./
/Me? I can take care of myself. Don't worry about that./
Brad shot him random images of the last two days. /Oh, really. I won't./
Schuldig glared. /I'll be able to take anything life throws at me./
/I know it. You'd make a good redhead, you know./
/Maybe I'll dye my hair later on./
/I can't figure out how you were born with green hair in the first place. Not that you don't carry it well./
Schuldig laughed. /Dunno./
/Did you have any siblings?/
/No./
/Do you wish you had?/
/No. They might have died too./
/They could have been older./
/Maybe./
/I sometimes wish I'd have had a sibling./
/Maybe you could be kind of an older brother, ne?/
/You and Nagi my chibi brothers, hm?/
/Sure. Why not?/
/Yeah. Why not./ Brad smiled.
"Boys?" Julia called. "Today, please?"
/I don't suppose asking for five more minutes would work?/ Brad sighed.
/Nein./
The American sat up slowly. He brushed the bandage across his abdomen with his fingers. He would have to change that before getting on the plane.
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay. Better than yesterday. You?"
"A lot better than yesterday."
"Sugoi."
"BOYS!"
"We're up all ready!" Brad shouted. He stood. "Time for Japan, ne?"
"Sounds fun."
Half an hour later, the three boys and Julia were disembarking the train, headed for the Warsaw airport. Nagi didn't look thrilled at the prospect of going to Tokyo.
"You'll live, chibi," Schuldig said as he ruffled the young boy's hair. He grinned. Nagi glared up at him.
"Adrian will pick us up. It's a fairly long flight, but we should be okay. Would one of you get a taxi?" Julia said, digging through her purse.
Several minutes later, the four of them were sitting in a cab on their way to the airport. "How long is the flight?" Nagi asked.
"About eight hours." Julia said. She'd be glad to get home and back to Adrian.
Schuldig looked out the window. "What are we going to do once we get there? You said he didn't want all of us."
"You'll go with Adrian to our apartment and wait there. I'm going to have a little conference with Mr. Takatori."
"What do you think the outcome will be?"
Julia grinned slyly. "Whatever I want it to be."
The young German looked to his clairvoyant friend for an agreement or disagreement.
Brad arched an eyebrow, but nodded. "She doesn't lie either, mien friend."
Schuldig nodded. /Good to know./
"I have the gift of mental persuasion, as well as empathy." Julia said.
"That's the nice way of putting it," Schuldig said with a grin.
"I thought so."
"A touch of telepath in you?"
"My mother's side, I think."
Schuldig nodded.
The taxi pulled up to the curb of the airport and told Julia how much it would cost.
She paid and they walked in. They walked down the way toward the chairs set aside to wait in. A large crowd, just having come into the airport, came toward them and they tried to weave their way through. Schuldig felt light headed as the voices began to slip in.
"Not again," Brad muttered. He grabbed Schuldig's arm. "Focus."
"I'm trying to."
"Ignore them. Just listen to my voice." Brad demanded.
"Easier said than done."
/What? My melodious tone isn't charming enough?/
Schuldig closed his eyes a moment and the American thought he was going to pass out. He opened them again. "Let's get out of here. I've got stronger shields for a moment."
"Don't go far, boys. We can't miss the flight." Julia said.
The crowds disappeared behind them and Schuldig looked relieved. "I HATE that..."
"I'm beginning to hate it too." Brad said.
"I've got a headache," the telepath complained as they walked on.
"Maybe caffeine would help. You want a drink?"
"How old do you have to be in this country to get something with alcohol?" he asked with a grin.
Brad laughed under his breath. "Drinking already? You're going to ruin your liver."
"Oh well."
"I'll buy it for you. What do you want?"
Schuldig laughed. "Something to dull a headache. Anything."
Brad ordered two coolers and handed one to him. "If you start acting weird, don't blame me for what happens."
Schuldig laughed and took a sip. "I've had alcohol before, Brad. I can tolerate it pretty well."
"I'm hoping the 'I don't lie, Brad' is still working."
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Alcohol does funny things to people."
"I've had stuff that does worse than alcohol, so don't worry."
"The more you tell me not to worry about you, the more I'm inclined to do so." Brad grinned.
"I use to take stuff for my headaches," Schuldig explained.
"Did it work?"
"Made me forget."
"Ah." They kept walking. "You want a postcard?" Brad asked as they passed a gift shop.
Schuldig shrugged. "Don't care."
Brad picked one up that said 'With love, From Germany.' "And in Poland, too." He murmured.
Schuldig chuckled. "And where are we again?" he laughed.
"Warsaw." Brad said, shaking his head.
Schuldig finished his drink and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. "We don't have all that long till our flight."
Brad put the postcard back. "Let's head that way, then."
Schuldig nodded and they started down the hallway.
"I hate long flights." Brad said as they neared the gate.
"Me too. Boring, ne?"
"It just makes me uneasy. I can see ahead eight hours, but I'm always concerned something will change."
"We'll be fine," the young German reassured him.
"Yeah." Nagi waved to them from the seats that he and Julia were sitting at. He held a hot dog in the other hand.
Schuldig plopped down next to him and slouched down in the chair. "How ya doin', chibi?" he asked with a grin.
Nagi glared at him. "I'm fine. You?"
Schuldig looked oddly at him. "What are you glaring for?"
"I don't like being small."
Schuldig laughed. "You're smarter than any kid your age, so don't worry about it."
"And stronger." Nagi reminded him.
"Yeah... noticed that one...."
"We can pre-board now, guys." Julia said, shoving her book in her purse. Brad threw the rest of his drink away.
"Can you handle the alcohol?" Schuldig teased the older boy.
"I think I can manage." Brad said, swaying just a little for effect.
Schuldig laughed and walked on with Julia and Nagi.
Brad was behind them, but cast one last look over his shoulder. He was paranoid. He shrugged and went down the walkway.
/You shouldn't worry so much,/ Schuldig's voice rang in his head.
/You're right./
/But will you listen?/
/The fearless leader should listen to his followers, yes./
/Ja./
The plane was a fairly good-sized one, Brad remembered seeing 747 on his ticket. It wasn't especially crowed, for which he was thankful.
Schuldig slipped into the seat by the window. "Ah, the only source of entertainment."
"Not counting yourself, I see."
"Entertain myself? My own thoughts aren't' entertaining and most people's on a plane aren't' either. So I guess I'll watch the world go by."
"I met the most interesting girl on a plane once," Brad said, sitting next to him in the aisle seat. "Beatiful, intelligent, legs like you wouldn't believe."
Schuldig chuckled. "But I bet there was nothing interesting going through her mind."
"Oh, she told me what was on *her* mind..."
"And that was...?"
"I'm not going to repeat it in a public place."
"Ah."
"It was an interesting flight, though."
"I'll take your word for it," Schuldig said as he read his friend's thoughts about what the girl had said.
Brad grinned and flashed him some rather heated memory images.
Schuldig turned bright read and cut the mental link.
Brad laughed. "That's what you get, poking about in my brain."
Schuldig was still red. "Sorry..."
Brad settled back in his seat and shut his eyes. Long flights were good for sleeping. Julia and Nagi were on the opposite side of the aisle from them. The plane was headed down the runway.
/You going to bore me by sleeping?/
/Absolutely. I'm not boxed entertainment myself, unless you'd like more of the last long flight I had./
/No./
The passengers were leaned back as the plane took off. It leveled off soon and the attendants came around, offering headphones, pillows, and drinks.
The flight was long and uneventful. Schuldig couldn't suppress a grin when they landed.
Brad felt himself being shook away by the excited German. "What?" he asked.
"We're here."
"All ready? That was fast..." Nagi slouched in his seat. "No kidding."
"Try being awake the entire time," Schuldig mumbled. "Let's go!"
Julia grinned as she pushed Nagi out of his seat. "Come on, kiddo, it won't be that bad. You'll like my partner."
The four of them exited into the airport. Julia grinned as she saw her friend.
The Asian man was a complete contradiction to Julia's fair features. His black hair was cut short, and his black eyes lit up as he saw her. "Julia!" he called.
Schuldig watched her. "I wonder if she's going to be able to do what she wants with this Takatori guy."
Adrian hugged Julia and looked over the three recruits. "Three, eh, Julia? Only you can convince him of that..."
"I know." She looked at Schuldig. "Trust me. You'll be fine."
He cocked an eyebrow. "I trust you."
"Then let's get this over with, ne? Adrian, be a doll, take them back to the apartment. I'll meet you there after I talk with Takatori."
Schuldig hesitated for a moment, then followed after Crawford. /It'll work out, right?/
He nodded ever so slightly. /Ja. It'll work out./
/I believe you more than I believe her./
/She's not going to betray us. She'll work it out./ He smiled at his friend. /You worry to much./
/I know./
/Listen to the fearless leader, ne?/
/Ja./
The next morning the two young men were awakened by Julia opening the door and the light flooding in.
"We've reached Warsaw, you two. Our flight leaves in two hours. Be ready." she said.
"Does that require getting up?" Schuldig groaned.
That was the closest thing to a practical joke he had ever seen out of Brad. Some people had sick senses of humor.
"You can laze for about thirty minutes, but I wouldn't push it further than that." She called, backing out of the room.
Schuldig nodded, closing his eyes.
Brad made no move to get up either. His head was still sore from his vision escapade.
/You okay?/
/Yes of course./ Brad replied.
/You gonna get up?/
/This year? No./
Schuldig chuckled. /The fearless leader is being lazy?/
/It's allowed. Tell anyone, and you'll get hit with a golf club./
/Why a golf club?/
/Trust me. I have good resources./
/You picked the strangest thing though..../ he chuckled.
/You have no idea.../
/Do you know something I don't?/
/That's a stupid question./
/Hey!/
/Why should I know something that you don't?/ Brad added with a grin.
/Because you always seem to be a step ahead of everyone else./
/That's what makes me special, ne?/
/Ja./
/We're headed for the ends of the earth, you know./
/I'm following./
/I think I feel bad for leading./
/Why?/
/Because I don't want you to be hurt./
/Me? I can take care of myself. Don't worry about that./
Brad shot him random images of the last two days. /Oh, really. I won't./
Schuldig glared. /I'll be able to take anything life throws at me./
/I know it. You'd make a good redhead, you know./
/Maybe I'll dye my hair later on./
/I can't figure out how you were born with green hair in the first place. Not that you don't carry it well./
Schuldig laughed. /Dunno./
/Did you have any siblings?/
/No./
/Do you wish you had?/
/No. They might have died too./
/They could have been older./
/Maybe./
/I sometimes wish I'd have had a sibling./
/Maybe you could be kind of an older brother, ne?/
/You and Nagi my chibi brothers, hm?/
/Sure. Why not?/
/Yeah. Why not./ Brad smiled.
"Boys?" Julia called. "Today, please?"
/I don't suppose asking for five more minutes would work?/ Brad sighed.
/Nein./
The American sat up slowly. He brushed the bandage across his abdomen with his fingers. He would have to change that before getting on the plane.
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay. Better than yesterday. You?"
"A lot better than yesterday."
"Sugoi."
"BOYS!"
"We're up all ready!" Brad shouted. He stood. "Time for Japan, ne?"
"Sounds fun."
Half an hour later, the three boys and Julia were disembarking the train, headed for the Warsaw airport. Nagi didn't look thrilled at the prospect of going to Tokyo.
"You'll live, chibi," Schuldig said as he ruffled the young boy's hair. He grinned. Nagi glared up at him.
"Adrian will pick us up. It's a fairly long flight, but we should be okay. Would one of you get a taxi?" Julia said, digging through her purse.
Several minutes later, the four of them were sitting in a cab on their way to the airport. "How long is the flight?" Nagi asked.
"About eight hours." Julia said. She'd be glad to get home and back to Adrian.
Schuldig looked out the window. "What are we going to do once we get there? You said he didn't want all of us."
"You'll go with Adrian to our apartment and wait there. I'm going to have a little conference with Mr. Takatori."
"What do you think the outcome will be?"
Julia grinned slyly. "Whatever I want it to be."
The young German looked to his clairvoyant friend for an agreement or disagreement.
Brad arched an eyebrow, but nodded. "She doesn't lie either, mien friend."
Schuldig nodded. /Good to know./
"I have the gift of mental persuasion, as well as empathy." Julia said.
"That's the nice way of putting it," Schuldig said with a grin.
"I thought so."
"A touch of telepath in you?"
"My mother's side, I think."
Schuldig nodded.
The taxi pulled up to the curb of the airport and told Julia how much it would cost.
She paid and they walked in. They walked down the way toward the chairs set aside to wait in. A large crowd, just having come into the airport, came toward them and they tried to weave their way through. Schuldig felt light headed as the voices began to slip in.
"Not again," Brad muttered. He grabbed Schuldig's arm. "Focus."
"I'm trying to."
"Ignore them. Just listen to my voice." Brad demanded.
"Easier said than done."
/What? My melodious tone isn't charming enough?/
Schuldig closed his eyes a moment and the American thought he was going to pass out. He opened them again. "Let's get out of here. I've got stronger shields for a moment."
"Don't go far, boys. We can't miss the flight." Julia said.
The crowds disappeared behind them and Schuldig looked relieved. "I HATE that..."
"I'm beginning to hate it too." Brad said.
"I've got a headache," the telepath complained as they walked on.
"Maybe caffeine would help. You want a drink?"
"How old do you have to be in this country to get something with alcohol?" he asked with a grin.
Brad laughed under his breath. "Drinking already? You're going to ruin your liver."
"Oh well."
"I'll buy it for you. What do you want?"
Schuldig laughed. "Something to dull a headache. Anything."
Brad ordered two coolers and handed one to him. "If you start acting weird, don't blame me for what happens."
Schuldig laughed and took a sip. "I've had alcohol before, Brad. I can tolerate it pretty well."
"I'm hoping the 'I don't lie, Brad' is still working."
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Alcohol does funny things to people."
"I've had stuff that does worse than alcohol, so don't worry."
"The more you tell me not to worry about you, the more I'm inclined to do so." Brad grinned.
"I use to take stuff for my headaches," Schuldig explained.
"Did it work?"
"Made me forget."
"Ah." They kept walking. "You want a postcard?" Brad asked as they passed a gift shop.
Schuldig shrugged. "Don't care."
Brad picked one up that said 'With love, From Germany.' "And in Poland, too." He murmured.
Schuldig chuckled. "And where are we again?" he laughed.
"Warsaw." Brad said, shaking his head.
Schuldig finished his drink and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. "We don't have all that long till our flight."
Brad put the postcard back. "Let's head that way, then."
Schuldig nodded and they started down the hallway.
"I hate long flights." Brad said as they neared the gate.
"Me too. Boring, ne?"
"It just makes me uneasy. I can see ahead eight hours, but I'm always concerned something will change."
"We'll be fine," the young German reassured him.
"Yeah." Nagi waved to them from the seats that he and Julia were sitting at. He held a hot dog in the other hand.
Schuldig plopped down next to him and slouched down in the chair. "How ya doin', chibi?" he asked with a grin.
Nagi glared at him. "I'm fine. You?"
Schuldig looked oddly at him. "What are you glaring for?"
"I don't like being small."
Schuldig laughed. "You're smarter than any kid your age, so don't worry about it."
"And stronger." Nagi reminded him.
"Yeah... noticed that one...."
"We can pre-board now, guys." Julia said, shoving her book in her purse. Brad threw the rest of his drink away.
"Can you handle the alcohol?" Schuldig teased the older boy.
"I think I can manage." Brad said, swaying just a little for effect.
Schuldig laughed and walked on with Julia and Nagi.
Brad was behind them, but cast one last look over his shoulder. He was paranoid. He shrugged and went down the walkway.
/You shouldn't worry so much,/ Schuldig's voice rang in his head.
/You're right./
/But will you listen?/
/The fearless leader should listen to his followers, yes./
/Ja./
The plane was a fairly good-sized one, Brad remembered seeing 747 on his ticket. It wasn't especially crowed, for which he was thankful.
Schuldig slipped into the seat by the window. "Ah, the only source of entertainment."
"Not counting yourself, I see."
"Entertain myself? My own thoughts aren't' entertaining and most people's on a plane aren't' either. So I guess I'll watch the world go by."
"I met the most interesting girl on a plane once," Brad said, sitting next to him in the aisle seat. "Beatiful, intelligent, legs like you wouldn't believe."
Schuldig chuckled. "But I bet there was nothing interesting going through her mind."
"Oh, she told me what was on *her* mind..."
"And that was...?"
"I'm not going to repeat it in a public place."
"Ah."
"It was an interesting flight, though."
"I'll take your word for it," Schuldig said as he read his friend's thoughts about what the girl had said.
Brad grinned and flashed him some rather heated memory images.
Schuldig turned bright read and cut the mental link.
Brad laughed. "That's what you get, poking about in my brain."
Schuldig was still red. "Sorry..."
Brad settled back in his seat and shut his eyes. Long flights were good for sleeping. Julia and Nagi were on the opposite side of the aisle from them. The plane was headed down the runway.
/You going to bore me by sleeping?/
/Absolutely. I'm not boxed entertainment myself, unless you'd like more of the last long flight I had./
/No./
The passengers were leaned back as the plane took off. It leveled off soon and the attendants came around, offering headphones, pillows, and drinks.
The flight was long and uneventful. Schuldig couldn't suppress a grin when they landed.
Brad felt himself being shook away by the excited German. "What?" he asked.
"We're here."
"All ready? That was fast..." Nagi slouched in his seat. "No kidding."
"Try being awake the entire time," Schuldig mumbled. "Let's go!"
Julia grinned as she pushed Nagi out of his seat. "Come on, kiddo, it won't be that bad. You'll like my partner."
The four of them exited into the airport. Julia grinned as she saw her friend.
The Asian man was a complete contradiction to Julia's fair features. His black hair was cut short, and his black eyes lit up as he saw her. "Julia!" he called.
Schuldig watched her. "I wonder if she's going to be able to do what she wants with this Takatori guy."
Adrian hugged Julia and looked over the three recruits. "Three, eh, Julia? Only you can convince him of that..."
"I know." She looked at Schuldig. "Trust me. You'll be fine."
He cocked an eyebrow. "I trust you."
"Then let's get this over with, ne? Adrian, be a doll, take them back to the apartment. I'll meet you there after I talk with Takatori."
Schuldig hesitated for a moment, then followed after Crawford. /It'll work out, right?/
He nodded ever so slightly. /Ja. It'll work out./
/I believe you more than I believe her./
/She's not going to betray us. She'll work it out./ He smiled at his friend. /You worry to much./
/I know./
/Listen to the fearless leader, ne?/
/Ja./