Lust
By Tien Riu
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Disclaimer:
Weiss Kreuz and all characters do not belong to me. Plot (what little there is of it ^_^) and depiction of characters are mine.
C&C, R&R and any other derivation there of including flames will be appreciated.
"Lust" is the first of three Weiss Kreuz stories that are determinedly yaoi (that means homosexual relationships for the initiated) and (unfortunately, since I was aiming for a PWP at the start and failed miserable) plot-driven. For those who are interested, "Do you believe in sin?" is a short background story to this series - however, you don't need to read it to understand anything that happens.
Extra note: As previously mentioned, this started out as a PWP story and (unfortunately) turned out plot driven. I'd appreciate some feedback on what readers think of the plot if possible.
Also, this is a semi-AU storyline (I'm afraid I forgot to put that up when I first published the prologue - that has since been fixed). Original characters will be shot (no really! ^_^) and out of characterisation will be kept to a minimum.
Character-angst and torture does not count as out-of-characterisation right?
Additionally, the story summary listed does still have relevance to the over all storyline.
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Between antiseptic, psychological disorders and nightmares
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Youji
I wake to a splitting headache that sends piercing light shooting through my eyes and the sound of a steady beep.
It takes me several seconds to realise that the light is sunlight reflected to blinding proportions off the white walls.
Hospital room.
It seems, regardless of the eye-cringing shades the human race is capable of making and wearing - lime green being the latest - hospital décor remains stuck in a white rut.
I hate hospitals. Nothing good has ever happened to me when a hospital was in a picture. If white didn't look so damn good on me, I'd hate it too - because it reminds me of hospitals.
The place smells of antiseptic and fear.
The headache has decided to take up residence somewhere behind my right temple. Nauseous, and listing, I sit up - and realise in that moment that I'm lying on a bed, and there's an IV linked to my arm.
That in itself is not unusual. Missions go wrong - it's practically a catch phrase. A mission that does not involve at least one of us hiding bandages from the Koneko customers is unusual.
But this has to be the first time that I've woken up with an IV lead and no idea how or why I ended up here.
The beeping continues and I realise - with such a slow clarification of thought that I know that I have drugs in my system - I am hooked up to machines.
What happened that they're worried enough to monitor my heart beat and - I stare at the second machine, discretely tucked away against the wall - Brain waves?
My last memory is - The mansion. Aya standing at the door ringing the bell. I flinch. And acting like an idiot.
Oh yeah - leave it to me to pick the wrong memories to remember.
So much for not pressing yourself on people who aren't interest, Youji.
But the past is unchangeable - and we can only keep going forward. Clichéd, but true none the less.
Cinnamon. He smelled like cinnamon.
It takes dint of will, but I turn my thoughts away from Aya - and whatever shampoo he used that made him smell like. . .
Damn.
Right, it takes dint of will but I turn my thoughts away from Aya and back to the more important issues - and not, for instant, my frustrated libido.
What happened - why am I here?
It wasn't because Aya had decided to try and kill me for invading his personal space.
Okay, mostly sure it wasn't because of that.
Probably sure - and you wouldn't blame him if he had. Remember what Thane taught you? Flirt with the straight ones at your own risk. And Aya is so straight he's practically asexual.
So why are you here?
There didn't seem to be anything wrong with me other than a splitting headache. Despite the IV drip and the machines hooked up to me, I feel - normal. Or at least mostly normal.
If this was a conventional movie, I would have woken up to some person in a chair next to my bed who would conveniently answer all my questions.
A redheaded person. . .
Damn.
There's nobody in the room except for me. And the machines.
There is however, a tiny button - of the variety that normally summons pretty nurses in most movies.
Omi
"Have a good day!" Omi called as the door jangled shut.
He sighed in relief, slumping against the counter. I hate having to do the busy shifts.
His usual smile turned slightly ironic as he heard his own thoughts. Wouldn't they be shocked if they heard me say that?
He knew the others looked on him to be ever cheerful. It was part of his personality: cheerfulness, enthusiasm. And the ever-present ability to forget during daylight hours that he was who he was - an assassin. All of those traits, all tied up to create the youngest member of Weiss.
And nobody will ever know that half the time - it's a lie. He wasn't always cheerful. He wasn't always enthusiastic. And he couldn't ever forget who he was. But by acting - by pretending. . .
I wonder how they can believe I can be this way all the time - if I met anybody who was like that, I'd assume they had some sort of psychological disorder.
Either that or living what amounted to a double life.
"Omi?"
Omi jerked in shock - Ken had been in the back room, finishing off the last of tomorrow's arrangements.
"Ken -! I - I didn't hear the door." Omi said, and paused, frowning, "What's wrong?"
Ken was limping, one hand pressed to his side, and panting, "Out - out of shape." He managed, "Running up three flights of stairs to get the phone - takes a bit more out of me than I expected." He managed as he straightened.
"Oh -" between the noise in the store and handling the last few customers, Omi hadn't heard the phone ringing. He cast a guilty glance at the door that led up to the apartments - left open for specifically that reason, "Didn't Aya hear it?" he asked.
"If he did - he didn't do anything about it." Ken said, "It was Manx. We need to close up early." He said; Omi nodded and moved to flip the 'open' sign on the door to 'close'.
"Is it - is it Youji?" Omi asked quietly, "Is he - worse?"
They had been waiting for the bad news for two weeks. Mysterious comas with strange brain chemistry readings rarely turned into wondrous recoveries. Despite what soap operas promised.
Ken shook his head, "Manx didn't say - just that she wants us to meet her at the Magic Bus Hospital." He said.
"Did you - tell Aya?"
Ken grimaced, testing weight on his ankle, "Yes."
Omi's eyes widened, "He didn't - did he?"
"Tripped on the way down the stairs." Ken said shortly, "Bastard couldn't wait to slam the door in my face though."
Since the attack at the safe house two weeks ago, Aya had become -
Well, he had always been silent and withdrawn, but at least it had been possible to coax a less-than-death-glare out of him.
Aya had been awake by the time Kritiker's forces, led by Manx, had arrived at the safe house. In the debrief, Manx had said he had been trying to wake Youji up.
Like the doctors, Aya had failed - Omi suspected that the older man's black mood was due to the fact that, for unknown reasons, he blamed himself.
Either that or he blames all of us. Omi added wryly. It was always hard to tell anything with Aya.
Aya
There was something wrong with the lights. It wavered as if some master controller played with a dial. Except - there were no source of the light. It merely - wavered. As if the sun itself was playing. As if God himself was playing.
There was a man - standing over him. He had red hair - fiery, it seemed to dance in the air. Flames.
"Who - who are you?" his voice - no. Not his voice - it sounded too flat, too - empty.
The man stared at him. Green. His eyes are green.
"Yes. They are." The man said, and then smirked - a flash of white. He kneeled, dizzyingly closer now.
"Take care of the kitten, A~ya." He whispered softly, "I'll come back and claim him when I have some free time."
"Aya! Aya!"
Aya Fujiyima startled, nearly falling from the armchair he had been sitting in. He caught himself on the edge of the bedside table and stared balefully at the door.
"What is it?" he growled.
"We're leaving in five minutes." Ken's voice came through the door clearly - the unhappiness and anger clear in its syllable.
Leaving. Hospital - Youji.
Aya felt tension flow back into his muscles.
The dreams had repeated endlessly since he had woken up in the mansion. Half the time, he wasn't sure if they were truly memories or merely nightmare imaginings.
How can anybody scream like that - and not have more than a pinprick on his body?
How could anybody scream in such agony - and still be alive?
He remembered being kicked - and the crack of his ribs giving under the force.
He remembered something being injected into his arm - and struggling to get away only to fall, dizzy for breath.
And he remembered people speaking over him and laughter.
But when he had woken up - his ribs had not been broken. Not even bruised.
So it must have been dreams. Nightmares.
Except - Youji wouldn't wake up.
He was lying in the marble entrance of the mansion. A glance at his watch revealing five hours had passed - and no sign of their attackers: the mysterious 'Fluffy' and his partner.
He had risen shakily to his knees, rubbing his chest - it should have been bruised at least. He had a memory of pain.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he had seen the hand, palm facing up.
Youji was lying several feet away, sprawled, calm. His chest rising and falling.
He had crawled over, shaking him - but Youji hadn't woken up. Hadn't even flinched.
Remind you of anybody?
A timid knock on his door jerked Aya out of his thoughts; he turned in time to see Omi poking his head around the corner.
"Aya?"
"What is it?"
"We're ready to leave. Did you want to drive?"