"I have to do WHAT?!"
Aya had suddenly found himself wishing he were anywhere but standing on the street corner with his "teammates". Crawford had decided on a course of action to retrieve their stolen goods and the redhead was far from pleased with it.
"All you have to do is lure that klutz away from Schuldig and Schöen. He's the one who's carrying everything. You shouldn't have a hard time getting our stuff off him. Hell, he'll probably willingly hand it over!"
Neu arched an eyebrow. "You must have a lot of faith in his abilities if you're letting him have such an important task."
"No, not really. The simpering idiot is so infatuated that he won't even realize what's happening until Aya's long gone."
". Good point."
Brad grinned, the sight making Aya cringe and back away from the American. He kept backing away until he felt cool stone against his back. //Oh shit. A corner. I backed myself into a corner. I don't want to do this! I CAN'T do this! He wants me to act all seductive toward my own teammate! I can't DO that! Wait. that's what I did earlier.// His thoughts cut off as he felt a sharp tug on his toga followed by cool air against his previously covered shoulder.
"What the hell are you DOING?! HENTAI!"
"Knock off, boy. If you're going to ACT sexy, you've got to LOOK sexy."
He was at a total loss. Crawford was saying this?! //The guy's about as sexy as roadkill! But then again. with his glasses pushed up on his forehead like that, and wearing just a sheet. NO! What are you SAYING?! This is BRAD! He's NOT SEXY! ... Well. maybe just a little. Ok. so right now he's fucking gorgeous. but it won't last. This is Brad we're talking about. Bradley 'I've-got-a-stick-so-far-up-my-ass-it'll-never-see-the-light- of-day' Crawford. I do NOT like Brad. ... So why is my heart racing? I don't like him. do I?//
The precog glanced up, arching an eyebrow at the stunned expression on the redhead's face. "Something wrong, Abyssinian?"
"N-no. Nothing. Not a thing." Aya bit his lip. //He has blue eyes. I never noticed that before.//
"Ri~ght. That's why your face is about as red as your hair and your eyes are dilated."
"Great. I'm stuck with a sadistic American and a horny redhead."
Two voices sounded as one, "WHAT?!"
"I am NOT SADISTIC!"
"I'm NOT HORNY!"
Neu rolled her eyes and made a 'brush off' gesture. "Whatever. That's why Crawford is hell-bent on revenge and you look like you want to screw him senseless."
Dark blue eyes widened. "What?"
"Oh, just look at him! He's practically hyperventilating and. Aya. I think there is a law about indecent exposure."
Abyssinian looked down at himself and moaned. His sheet had been twisted, tucked and tied to the point where it was leaving very little to the imagination. "I look like a cheap whore!"
"Be glad you've got your boxers. Speaking of which."
"SHUT UP! I happen to LIKE teddy bears!"
"Yup, he's definitely gay." Brad muttered under his breath, averting his eyes. //As embarrassing and hard for him that this may be, I think I'M gonna have a hard time trying to keep myself from wanting to drag him off and fuck him into oblivion.// He looked back up. "Get that look off your face. You're supposed to be sexy, not scowling."
"Sexy?! Try scandalous! If anyone sees this I *mmph* .!" Violet eyes widened in shock and terror as Crawford kissed him.
"Showtime," he whispered, breaking away from him and disappearing with Neu into the shadows, leaving a sleazy Abyssinian to stand on the street corner.
//I feel like a prostitute.//
"AYA?!"
//Here goes nothing.//
~
//Is that? No. can't be. it's just not possible . Aya?!//
As he got closer, Ken realized that, sure enough, it WAS the stoic Weiß leader standing on the street corner.
"AYA?! Aya, what happened? Where's your group? Are you alright?" //You've practically got "Fuck me" written all over you!//
"I'm fine. They left me, so now I'm stuck trying to do all this on my own."
Ken paused, taking in his friend's current state of dress. "So why are you dressed like that?"
Aya rolled his eyes and sighed. "Long story and I don't feel like telling it."
"Aya, you know you can tell me. I won't say a word to anyone else. I promise."
In his mind, the redhead flashed back to an event just a few days ago - Aya vs. the sewing machine. Technically Ken hadn't told anyone, but he hadn't kept too quiet about it. //Can I really trust him?//
"Aya."
Again he made no attempt to speak.
"Ran. onegai?"
*sigh* "Fine, but it's long."
"I don't mind."
He paused momentarily before drawing a breath and launching into his explanation, talking at a pace Ken never would've believed possible for him. ". . . Okay . So first we were doing alright and finding everything then Brad said 'We need Freude' and Neu and I were like 'They don't make it anymore!' and Brad was like 'Find some!' and I remembered Yuriko and I was like 'Ken was dating this girl.' and Brad was like 'Quick! To Ken's!' and Neu was like 'Oh god, not again!' and I was like 'YAY!' and we ran all the way to the apartments and Brad and Schuldig were like ' It's mine!' and we were like 'Oh my god' and then I was like 'Please?' and you were like 'Okay' and I was like 'Thanks!' and then Neu was like 'We lost stuff' and Brad said 'What?!' and Neu was like 'Credit card, pocky, and picture of a cop' and Brad got mad and did this to me and they left me here and now I have to get everything on my own but I don't know where I'm gonna find the credit card, pocky and officer unless I mug someone and I don't wanna go to jail.'
Eventually, the redhead was forced to breathe or pass out again from a lack of oxygen.
Ken stared. Aya had just said more in that one sentence than he'd ever said in all the months they'd known each other. //He must really be worked up over this. Schöen and Schu gave me our stuff for safekeeping, but if I give it away, they'll be really mad. On the other hand, I can't let Aya do this all by himself. Decisions decisions. do I make my group mad or do I help the one I love?//
Aya was getting antsy. His sheet was slipping from Crawford's intricate knots and twists, but he was afraid that if he tried to fix it, he'd only make it worse and end up flashing Ken. //Stupid Brad and his lame ideas. as if he'll actually fall for it.//
He was stunned into complete silence when the brunette held something out to him. A box, a thin plastic card, and a photograph - the items that had been taken from them. Violet eyes widened.
//I'd rather catch hell than leave him like this.// Ken's mind was made up.
"Aya, are you going to be alright here? I mean. like that?"
"I. I guess so."
The sheet decided at that moment to get its revenge on Aya for the fiasco with the sewing machine, not to mention what he'd let Brad do. The knot holding his handiwork together loosened and let go. Swaths of violet silk slipped down pale skin. Both boys were wide eyed, but not for the same reason. Ken saw it as a dream come true. Aya, on the other hand, turned as red as his hair and wanted to crawl under a rock and die.
He was still blushing furiously when Ken started giggling.
"Sorry! It's just that. from before. you must really like teddy bears."
He watched as Aya's deep violet eyes brimmed with tears.
"Aya, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. but."
Like a dam bursting from too much rainwater, the tears spilled down pale cheeks. Ken froze.
"Oh god. Aya. I'm so sorry!"
He closed the distance between them and held the sobbing redhead close. //Great Ken, now you've made him cry. I didn't think it would embarrass him so much. Then again, what's with him all of a sudden? He NEVER cried before. at least, I've never seen him cry.//
Aya was in hysterics. His voice was choked and he was having a hard time getting the words out between sobs. "W-Why's *sob* everything *sniffle* h- hafta hap-pen *sob* t' me?!"
Ken sighed and held the distraught redhead closer. His hands slid along ivory skin, his voice cooing soothingly, in an attempt to calm the other boy.
~
"Where did he run off to?" Schöen muttered as she and Schuldig wandered in search of their missing group member.
Schu was livid. "He had all our stuff, too! When I get my hands on him. I trusted him! And what does he do? He takes off with everything!"
Schöen paled and walked faster, trying to keep out of the telepath's way.
"Why don't you try and find him telepathically?"
"..." /Where are you, little kitty?/ . . . "DAMMIT!"
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
"He's with that Fujimiya brat!"
"But he's not in our group. oh no."
Schu tossed his head and moaned. "He gave everything to his boy-toy."
"WHAT?!"
Schuldig ran down the street intent on wringing Ken's neck, Schöen trailing him.
~
"Omi, did we manage to find ANYTHING?"
"Since Tot hasn't come back again, just the license plate."
"I was afraid of that. We have to play the rest of their games. Hey! Isn't that Ken? Who's that with hi. . Aya?"
The two boys made their way to where Ken stood, still trying to comfort a sobbing Abyssinian.
Nagi glanced at Omi, pointed to a few things lying forgotten on the ground, and whispered, "Our ticket out of this madness."
The blonde nodded and silently retrieved the items. Glancing at his watch, he smiled and bounded back to where Nagi was hiding. "Fifteen more minutes and we get to go in!"
"Should we tell them?" The telekinetic gestured toward the two oblivious boys.
"Nah. Let them figure it out on their own."
Omi and Nagi set out to find Tot and make their way back to the Koneko.
~
"For the millionth time, Yoji, I don't want it back!"
"You're sure?"
"YES!"
"Okay. just so we're clear on this."
Hell wanted to hit her head off a tree. "Crystal." She'd been listening to Farfarello's rantings and Yoji's questions for nearly forty minutes, and was beginning to question her own sanity.
"Ooh! Look! We got fifteen more minutes to hurt God! Come, kitty-who's- clothes-hurt-God!"
Yoji blinked. "Kitty-who's-clothes-hurt-God?"
"I think he means your Tarzan gear."
"Shut up! I'll have you know that this was all I could find!"
"Uh huh, sure, riight."
"It was either this or one of the sheets off my bed."
She nearly gagged. It was common knowledge that the playboy of Weiß was an all-around slut. Hell didn't want to think of what might or might not be embedded in his sheets. Sighing, she looked to Farfarello who had started skipping while singing the Oscar Meyer Weiner song at the top of his lungs in an off-key falsetto. "Since we don't have much time left, can we head back to the Koneko?"
The singing stopped. "Will you try my dessert?"
"Sure, why not. As long as we head back NOW."
"Okay!"
The trio walked down the block, crossed the road and went inside, all the while listening to Farf's singing. They had never gotten very far in the first place.
Aya had suddenly found himself wishing he were anywhere but standing on the street corner with his "teammates". Crawford had decided on a course of action to retrieve their stolen goods and the redhead was far from pleased with it.
"All you have to do is lure that klutz away from Schuldig and Schöen. He's the one who's carrying everything. You shouldn't have a hard time getting our stuff off him. Hell, he'll probably willingly hand it over!"
Neu arched an eyebrow. "You must have a lot of faith in his abilities if you're letting him have such an important task."
"No, not really. The simpering idiot is so infatuated that he won't even realize what's happening until Aya's long gone."
". Good point."
Brad grinned, the sight making Aya cringe and back away from the American. He kept backing away until he felt cool stone against his back. //Oh shit. A corner. I backed myself into a corner. I don't want to do this! I CAN'T do this! He wants me to act all seductive toward my own teammate! I can't DO that! Wait. that's what I did earlier.// His thoughts cut off as he felt a sharp tug on his toga followed by cool air against his previously covered shoulder.
"What the hell are you DOING?! HENTAI!"
"Knock off, boy. If you're going to ACT sexy, you've got to LOOK sexy."
He was at a total loss. Crawford was saying this?! //The guy's about as sexy as roadkill! But then again. with his glasses pushed up on his forehead like that, and wearing just a sheet. NO! What are you SAYING?! This is BRAD! He's NOT SEXY! ... Well. maybe just a little. Ok. so right now he's fucking gorgeous. but it won't last. This is Brad we're talking about. Bradley 'I've-got-a-stick-so-far-up-my-ass-it'll-never-see-the-light- of-day' Crawford. I do NOT like Brad. ... So why is my heart racing? I don't like him. do I?//
The precog glanced up, arching an eyebrow at the stunned expression on the redhead's face. "Something wrong, Abyssinian?"
"N-no. Nothing. Not a thing." Aya bit his lip. //He has blue eyes. I never noticed that before.//
"Ri~ght. That's why your face is about as red as your hair and your eyes are dilated."
"Great. I'm stuck with a sadistic American and a horny redhead."
Two voices sounded as one, "WHAT?!"
"I am NOT SADISTIC!"
"I'm NOT HORNY!"
Neu rolled her eyes and made a 'brush off' gesture. "Whatever. That's why Crawford is hell-bent on revenge and you look like you want to screw him senseless."
Dark blue eyes widened. "What?"
"Oh, just look at him! He's practically hyperventilating and. Aya. I think there is a law about indecent exposure."
Abyssinian looked down at himself and moaned. His sheet had been twisted, tucked and tied to the point where it was leaving very little to the imagination. "I look like a cheap whore!"
"Be glad you've got your boxers. Speaking of which."
"SHUT UP! I happen to LIKE teddy bears!"
"Yup, he's definitely gay." Brad muttered under his breath, averting his eyes. //As embarrassing and hard for him that this may be, I think I'M gonna have a hard time trying to keep myself from wanting to drag him off and fuck him into oblivion.// He looked back up. "Get that look off your face. You're supposed to be sexy, not scowling."
"Sexy?! Try scandalous! If anyone sees this I *mmph* .!" Violet eyes widened in shock and terror as Crawford kissed him.
"Showtime," he whispered, breaking away from him and disappearing with Neu into the shadows, leaving a sleazy Abyssinian to stand on the street corner.
//I feel like a prostitute.//
"AYA?!"
//Here goes nothing.//
~
//Is that? No. can't be. it's just not possible . Aya?!//
As he got closer, Ken realized that, sure enough, it WAS the stoic Weiß leader standing on the street corner.
"AYA?! Aya, what happened? Where's your group? Are you alright?" //You've practically got "Fuck me" written all over you!//
"I'm fine. They left me, so now I'm stuck trying to do all this on my own."
Ken paused, taking in his friend's current state of dress. "So why are you dressed like that?"
Aya rolled his eyes and sighed. "Long story and I don't feel like telling it."
"Aya, you know you can tell me. I won't say a word to anyone else. I promise."
In his mind, the redhead flashed back to an event just a few days ago - Aya vs. the sewing machine. Technically Ken hadn't told anyone, but he hadn't kept too quiet about it. //Can I really trust him?//
"Aya."
Again he made no attempt to speak.
"Ran. onegai?"
*sigh* "Fine, but it's long."
"I don't mind."
He paused momentarily before drawing a breath and launching into his explanation, talking at a pace Ken never would've believed possible for him. ". . . Okay . So first we were doing alright and finding everything then Brad said 'We need Freude' and Neu and I were like 'They don't make it anymore!' and Brad was like 'Find some!' and I remembered Yuriko and I was like 'Ken was dating this girl.' and Brad was like 'Quick! To Ken's!' and Neu was like 'Oh god, not again!' and I was like 'YAY!' and we ran all the way to the apartments and Brad and Schuldig were like ' It's mine!' and we were like 'Oh my god' and then I was like 'Please?' and you were like 'Okay' and I was like 'Thanks!' and then Neu was like 'We lost stuff' and Brad said 'What?!' and Neu was like 'Credit card, pocky, and picture of a cop' and Brad got mad and did this to me and they left me here and now I have to get everything on my own but I don't know where I'm gonna find the credit card, pocky and officer unless I mug someone and I don't wanna go to jail.'
Eventually, the redhead was forced to breathe or pass out again from a lack of oxygen.
Ken stared. Aya had just said more in that one sentence than he'd ever said in all the months they'd known each other. //He must really be worked up over this. Schöen and Schu gave me our stuff for safekeeping, but if I give it away, they'll be really mad. On the other hand, I can't let Aya do this all by himself. Decisions decisions. do I make my group mad or do I help the one I love?//
Aya was getting antsy. His sheet was slipping from Crawford's intricate knots and twists, but he was afraid that if he tried to fix it, he'd only make it worse and end up flashing Ken. //Stupid Brad and his lame ideas. as if he'll actually fall for it.//
He was stunned into complete silence when the brunette held something out to him. A box, a thin plastic card, and a photograph - the items that had been taken from them. Violet eyes widened.
//I'd rather catch hell than leave him like this.// Ken's mind was made up.
"Aya, are you going to be alright here? I mean. like that?"
"I. I guess so."
The sheet decided at that moment to get its revenge on Aya for the fiasco with the sewing machine, not to mention what he'd let Brad do. The knot holding his handiwork together loosened and let go. Swaths of violet silk slipped down pale skin. Both boys were wide eyed, but not for the same reason. Ken saw it as a dream come true. Aya, on the other hand, turned as red as his hair and wanted to crawl under a rock and die.
He was still blushing furiously when Ken started giggling.
"Sorry! It's just that. from before. you must really like teddy bears."
He watched as Aya's deep violet eyes brimmed with tears.
"Aya, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. but."
Like a dam bursting from too much rainwater, the tears spilled down pale cheeks. Ken froze.
"Oh god. Aya. I'm so sorry!"
He closed the distance between them and held the sobbing redhead close. //Great Ken, now you've made him cry. I didn't think it would embarrass him so much. Then again, what's with him all of a sudden? He NEVER cried before. at least, I've never seen him cry.//
Aya was in hysterics. His voice was choked and he was having a hard time getting the words out between sobs. "W-Why's *sob* everything *sniffle* h- hafta hap-pen *sob* t' me?!"
Ken sighed and held the distraught redhead closer. His hands slid along ivory skin, his voice cooing soothingly, in an attempt to calm the other boy.
~
"Where did he run off to?" Schöen muttered as she and Schuldig wandered in search of their missing group member.
Schu was livid. "He had all our stuff, too! When I get my hands on him. I trusted him! And what does he do? He takes off with everything!"
Schöen paled and walked faster, trying to keep out of the telepath's way.
"Why don't you try and find him telepathically?"
"..." /Where are you, little kitty?/ . . . "DAMMIT!"
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
"He's with that Fujimiya brat!"
"But he's not in our group. oh no."
Schu tossed his head and moaned. "He gave everything to his boy-toy."
"WHAT?!"
Schuldig ran down the street intent on wringing Ken's neck, Schöen trailing him.
~
"Omi, did we manage to find ANYTHING?"
"Since Tot hasn't come back again, just the license plate."
"I was afraid of that. We have to play the rest of their games. Hey! Isn't that Ken? Who's that with hi. . Aya?"
The two boys made their way to where Ken stood, still trying to comfort a sobbing Abyssinian.
Nagi glanced at Omi, pointed to a few things lying forgotten on the ground, and whispered, "Our ticket out of this madness."
The blonde nodded and silently retrieved the items. Glancing at his watch, he smiled and bounded back to where Nagi was hiding. "Fifteen more minutes and we get to go in!"
"Should we tell them?" The telekinetic gestured toward the two oblivious boys.
"Nah. Let them figure it out on their own."
Omi and Nagi set out to find Tot and make their way back to the Koneko.
~
"For the millionth time, Yoji, I don't want it back!"
"You're sure?"
"YES!"
"Okay. just so we're clear on this."
Hell wanted to hit her head off a tree. "Crystal." She'd been listening to Farfarello's rantings and Yoji's questions for nearly forty minutes, and was beginning to question her own sanity.
"Ooh! Look! We got fifteen more minutes to hurt God! Come, kitty-who's- clothes-hurt-God!"
Yoji blinked. "Kitty-who's-clothes-hurt-God?"
"I think he means your Tarzan gear."
"Shut up! I'll have you know that this was all I could find!"
"Uh huh, sure, riight."
"It was either this or one of the sheets off my bed."
She nearly gagged. It was common knowledge that the playboy of Weiß was an all-around slut. Hell didn't want to think of what might or might not be embedded in his sheets. Sighing, she looked to Farfarello who had started skipping while singing the Oscar Meyer Weiner song at the top of his lungs in an off-key falsetto. "Since we don't have much time left, can we head back to the Koneko?"
The singing stopped. "Will you try my dessert?"
"Sure, why not. As long as we head back NOW."
"Okay!"
The trio walked down the block, crossed the road and went inside, all the while listening to Farf's singing. They had never gotten very far in the first place.