In Black and White
By: Libitina
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters depicted here. I
am just borrowing them to have a little fun with my imagination.
Warnings: Shonen-ai content (in later chapters). This chapter contains some mild cursing.
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The pain wasn't as bad as it had been before, so he could ignore it as he lay staring at the ceiling. He had been lying, lost in his thoughts, for hours. Ken had long ago fallen asleep. His light breathing was almost soothing. Aya turned his head, staring in the darkness of the room at the outline of Ken's form. They had always had an uneasy sort of relationship. He wasn't sure where they stood now. Not friends, surely, they weren't close enough for that. Acquaintances didn't suit them well either. Teammates seemed to be the only word to describe their relationship.
When he'd first met the honorable, impulsive soccer buff, Aya had hated him. Ken was everything he could never be. That wasn't a bad thing, since Ken was everything he never wanted to be. It hadn't been until he witnessed Ken's grief after Kase's death and betrayal that his hatred had faded. Since that time Ken Hidaka had become much like an addiction to him.
If he didn't get a daily dose, he grew tense and irritable. He didn't understand it, but he hadn't spent much time thinking about it since he didn't -want- to understand it. He was afraid of what he would learn about himself if he allowed himself to really 'think' about his feelings for Ken.
He closed his eyes, laying his hand over his stomach. The nights when he and Ken shared a room were always long. Having Ken so close that they often brushed each other's skin in sleep was agonizing. He had discovered really quick that Ken excited him. The scent, the feel, the look of him. Everything about him sent Aya's hormones into a tail spin. It took a great amount of self control not to roll over and just do something. Anything to alleviate the attraction that he felt.
It was only the knowledge that Ken was as straight as they came that stopped him from doing what he often wanted to do. If he somehow did feel tempted enough to make a move, he knew his advances would be quickly shot down. Ken would probably try to kill him if he knew what Aya was thinking. He knew the feeling. He'd wanted to kill himself when he'd first found himself reaching for Ken.
It was foolish, and he just hoped with time it would go away.
With a sigh he sat up and ran a hand through his hair. He winced as that only caused the pain in his head to increase. He'd been suffering from headaches for the last few weeks. Some days were worse than others. He had a feeling today was going to be a bad day. He glanced at Ken's sleeping form. A really bad day.
Chapter Three -Introductions-
"Hi Nagi." Omi waved at the boy as Nagi and Yohji finally came out of the camper. When Nagi arrived earlier that morning Yohji had immediately taken him into the camper and sat him down to explain how their shop on wheels worked. And then he'd insisted Nagi change out of his grey uniform into something more casual. Omi was the closest to Nagi's size, so Yohji had 'borrowed' a pair of Omi's jeans and a light-blue turtleneck that made Nagi's eyes seem a lot lighter than they really were.
After tying an apron around Nagi's too slim waist, Yohji made Nagi eat and then finally had dragged Nagi outside. Nagi felt very strange. He stood awkwardly at Yohji's side and waved at Omi. The sweater was too long in the arms, so when his hands were down the ends dropped to his fingertips. The pants were also too big, so he'd rolled the bottoms up. They hung on his hips, but he hadn't been able to make himself ask Yohji for a belt. Thankfully the apron acted like a belt, he was just worried about what would happen when the apron came off.
"This," Yohji waved an arm dramatically, indicting the stands and flowers that had been set up, "is Kitten in the House. Our own little piece of home on the road."
"Oh." Nagi murmured, since he wasn't sure what he was expected to say.
"Don't worry. We won't ask you to make any arrangements. You have three months and it usually takes a good two years to learn how to make a good arrangement."
"Two years if you're slow like Yohji." Omi said with a grin and wink in Nagi's direction.
Nagi stared at the young man, hands clenching into tight fists. "Omi, is really a woman in a man's body, which would explain why all this is easy for him." Yohji responded, "I, on the other hand, am all male. That is why I am not allowed to make arrangements."
Omi stuck out his tongue at Yohji and turned, flashing a brilliant smile at a young lady who had snuck up behind him. "Good morning! How can I help you?"
Nagi turned his gaze from Omi to Yohji. "Your job, will be to water the plants. Simple enough task." Yohji said as he ducked under one of the stands. He bounced back up; a watering can in his hand. "Here." He held the can out to Nagi.
Nagi reluctantly took it. Water the plants? He glanced at the flowers and plants on the stands. Some were on the ground. "It's not hard," Yohji noticed Nagi's look and patted the boy's arm, "The hose is there, use that to fill the can up when it's empty. Then you stick your finger in the soil, like so," He demonstrated as he spoke, "And if it's dry, pour water in."
Nagi glanced down at the can, it had water in it already. He cautiously reached out and stuck his finger into the soil of a nearby flower. It wasn't dry, but it wasn't wet either. It was kind of in between. He glanced at Yohji questioningly. "Here, let me see," Yohji, once again, seemed to know what Nagi was thinking without the boy actually opening his mouth to speak. He checked the plant Nagi still had his finger in, "This one only needs a bit of water. Be careful not to give them too much."
Nagi nodded and lifted the can.
The rest of his morning was spent watering flowers and plants. Half of them he'd never seen before. Some were beautiful, and fragrant. Others were just odd to look at and strange to smell. He paid little attention to the customers who came to the outdoor shop. Some of them noticed him, especially the young ladies, but he ignored them as he did what he'd been told to do. On occasion he would look up and watch as Omi or Yohji dealt with a customer, but he never looked at them very long. He didn't want to be caught staring.
He felt like he was in a dream. A weird, twisted dream. When he finished watering the plants, he put the watering can where he'd seen Yohji get it from, and then he stood back and waited.
It was ten minutes before Yohji noticed Nagi standing there quietly. "Hey, little one, you done?"
Nagi stiffened at the nickname. He nodded slowly. "Well, then, I guess it's time to teach you how to handle the till. Come here."
Nagi walked over reluctantly. Yohji was a bit too friendly. He acted as if Nagi had always been around, and there was nothing the least bit odd about teaching him how to handle customer bills, and receipts. It made Nagi uncomfortable. He didn't like it at all. He would have preferred suspicion, wariness. He didn't know how to deal with this kindness.
He sat down and watched as Yohji and Omi moved around the kitchen area. It was a small, enclosed space, and yet somehow they moved around each other without inhibiting each other. Together they were making dinner. They chatted easily as they worked. About the day, about some girl Omi was dating. They acted as if everything was normal.
But it wasn't. Nagi clasped his hands in his lap, staring down at his feet. The pant leg on the right had unrolled and covered his toes. The conversation in the room faded away until all he could hear were his own thoughts. He hated being here. He was scared. 'He' hadn't shown up yet, but he didn't want 'him' to. He didn't want to deal with having to face Siberian . . . Ken Hidaka . . . 'Him'. He shuddered, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist and leaning forward.
The door opened and he looked up with fear. He knew who was coming, and wasn't at all surprised when Aya Fujimiya and Ken Hidaka stepped into the camper. They were wet. It had started raining early in the evening. It had been raining off and on for the last week. Ken's brown hair hung in his eyes, but even wet he looked good.
'No!' Nagi quickly ripped his eyes away and shook his head. Ken didn't look good. He couldn't look good. People like him weren't allowed to look good. It wasn't right.
He dimly heard Omi calling out greetings to the newcomers, and he 'felt' them move toward him, but he didn't look up. He couldn't make himself do so. He'd rather sit where he was, curled up upon himself and shivering with fear. He'd rather look weak and pathetic then look up and have to face the one he'd been trying to avoid all along.
Aya dropped his wet jacket on a seat by the table and moved into the living area. He moved past Nagi, then dropped into the chair across from the boy. It was the chair he always sat in. It was in the room and yet separate from everything and everyone else. Ken, much to Nagi's dismay, copied Aya's movements, all except for where he sat. Unlike Aya, who stayed away from Nagi, Ken sat on the couch beside Nagi. Only a small amount of space separating them.
Nagi felt as if he would die if he didn't breathe. He couldn't breathe so long as 'he' was beside him though. He waited anxiously. He wasn't sure what for. An attack? A movement? Anything, something, he didn't know what he just knew it wouldn't be good. "So, how was your first day?" Ken's voice was quiet, almost kind.
That was 'not' what he'd been expecting. Nagi turned his head and stared openly at Ken, shocked beyond all reason. 'How was your first day?' A question from 'him'. A question that could be considered . . . kind? It didn't make sense. It couldn't be right. He must have imagined it. He looked away quickly, pushing himself to the very corner of the couch, putting as much distance between himself and Ken as he could without actually standing and running from the camper.
"Nagi?"
He realized that eyes were on him. Everyone had heard Ken's question, and they were waiting for his answer. Aya was staring openly at him, and Omi was as well. Yohji was the only one not paying attention. The man continued to prepare dinner as if nothing odd was happening.
"Are you okay, Nagi?" Omi asked, laying his hands on the table and staring at Nagi with concern.
Nagi looked at him, aware that he had to answer, but try as he might he couldn't make his lips work. He felt suddenly as if the weight of the world had dropped upon him. He felt dizzy, and heavy in the head. Everything seemed to be moving abnormally slow. He was hot, and yet shivering with cold. He was so scared he wanted to lie down and sob. Why did 'he' have to be here? Why?
He closed his eyes tightly, aware that his breaths were coming in little gasps but unable to do anything about it. He brought his knees up to his chest, and hid his face between them. Part of him knew what was happening. He was having a mild anxiety attack, but logic had nothing to do with his emotions at the moment. So as much as he could reason about what was happening he had no way of stopping it.
He felt a hand touch his shoulder, and he could hear voices. He thought one was calling his name but the noises didn't make sense anymore. All that did make sense were the fears running around his head. Yelling at him, screaming at him, clawing at him, ripping him apart from the inside out. When the hand moved from his shoulder to his back he let out a harsh cry and bolted to his feet. It was hard to move in pants that were too big and too long, harder yet to run. But somehow he managed to scramble down the hall and shut himself in the bathroom.
Somehow the little bit of privacy this gave him helped him to calm down.
"I had no idea he was so scared." Omi whispered, sitting down where Nagi had been moments earlier.
Ken was staring at the bathroom door, his brow furrowed and a troubled expression on his face. "Come and eat." Yohji, who had been leaning against the wall during Nagi's panic attack, was now seated at the table and eating the rice and ramen he and Omi had cooked.
Aya stood and walked to the table. He moved into the seat near the window. There was room at the table for four. Two with their backs to the window, one at either end. Ken moved to sit beside Aya by the window, but Omi moved to the bathroom. He knocked lightly, "Nagi? When you're ready, the food is done and you can come and eat." He called out softly.
He waited, but there was no response so he stepped away. He sat across from Yohji, looking very troubled. He made no move to eat as he stared at his teammates. "I feel like an ogre." He said suddenly, "Making him so scared."
"You're not the one who's scaring him, sweetheart." Yohji murmured, piling his fork full of the white rice and noodles.
"No. I am. We all are." Omi protested.
"Starving yourself won't ease his fears." Aya commented, shifting uncomfortably in his seat and accidentally bumping his knee against Ken's.
He didn't bother to apologize. He simply acted as if it hadn't happened and continued eating.
"It must be horrible." Omi rested his chin on his knuckles and turned his head to stare at the bathroom door, "In the lair of the enemy, with no way to protect yourself. It must be just terrible for him."
"I'll give him some self-defense lessons tomorrow, now eat." Yohji was almost done his own plate of food.
"What can we do to make things better for him?"
"Omi." Aya said sharply. He was growing irritated. There was no point whining over Nagi's current situation. Wondering and talking about it wouldn't make things better, especially with Nagi just down the hall. Close enough to hear if he was trying to. "There is nothing you can do. He -has- to deal with this himself."
Omi ducked his head, turning quite pink as he stared at his food. Ken suddenly pushed his food away and crawled over Omi's chair. The chair was right against the couch so he landed feet first on the couch. He hopped to the floor and walked to the door, grabbing his jacket from the peg on the wall where Yohji had hung it up. "Ken-kun? Where are you going?" Omi asked anxiously.
"For a walk. You want to come?" Ken hesitated at the door.
Omi glanced at Yohji and Aya, then he nodded and got to his feet, "Sure."
He sat on the toilet, hands clasped between his knees, staring numbly at his fingers. He felt like an idiot and he didn't want to come out. He was ashamed of his behavior earlier. Having a panic attack in front of all of Weiss? Things couldn't get much worse than that. Except, that is, unless they realized Schwarz's true plan. That would be a lot worse than having a panic attack.
He ran his fingers through his hair, sighing softly. Finally he gathered enough courage to get to his feet and open the door. He hesitantly stepped out of the bathroom, feeling his heart beat increase the moment he did. The camper was quiet. Yohji and Aya were sitting at the table, cards laid out before them. Nagi guessed they were playing some sort of card game, but he had no idea what game it was since he never played cards.
He stared at them, waiting for them to look up and notice him. They didn't. They just continued silently playing their game. He sucked in his breath and walked toward them. It was only when he stood directly beside Yohji that he was noticed. Yohji looked up, smiling when he saw Nagi standing beside him. "Hey, little one. Why don't you sit down and join us?"
Nagi hesitated, hardly noticing the nickname Yohji had pinned him with. He nodded, slowly sliding into the seat beside Yohji. He watched quietly as they played, "I don't know how to play." He said when it seemed they were done and Yohji was dealing a new hand.
"That's all right. I'll show you how. Move closer." Yohji continued dealing, laying thirteen cards in front of himself, Aya and Nagi. He laid the rest of the card's face down in the center of the table. Then he picked up his cards and spread them out in his hand so he could see them, but Aya could not. He turned his cards so Nagi could see them though. "Here, pick up your cards."
Nagi did as he was told. He was surprised at how hard it was to hold all the cards in his hand as Yohji was doing. "You have small hands," Yohji commented, sounding amused.
He began to explain the game to Nagi. Nagi listened carefully, feeling more and more confused as the game progressed. The only sound in the camper as they played was Yohji's voice when he would lean over and explain some point of game play to Nagi. Nagi found the quiet somehow calming. By the time the first hand was done he was feeling almost comfortable.
Almost normal.
"How old are you?" Half way through the second hand Aya finally spoke.
His question startled Nagi. "Fif . . . sixteen." He answered, frowning slightly. He had forgotten that his birthday had passed as Schwarz recovered.
Schuldich had given him a night out on the town for his birthday. He remembered how bitterly Schuldich had complained that Nagi wasn't easy to get gifts for. In fact, Nagi owned few material things because they held little interest for him. So instead Schuldich had dragged Nagi along with him to a few bars. It had been fun, up until the point that he got so smashed he jumped on a table and started to do a strip tease. That had been humiliating.
Farfarello had been gone and Jei had still been in transition so he hadn't gotten anything from the pale Irishman. Crawford had given Nagi a soft; Happy birthday, and that was all.
He smiled a little as he thought of Crawford's anger when he and Schuldich returned from their night on the town. The eldest member of Schwarz had been pissed. Nagi never found out why, but Schuldich knew and laughed so hard he nearly choked himself.
"You don't have much of a poker face, little one." Yohji said teasingly.
The smile disappeared from Nagi's face and he turned his body and his hand slightly so Yohji couldn't see his cards. Yohji laughed, "Your play."
Nagi waited tensely for more questions, none came. He started to relax and enjoy himself when Aya spoke again. "How old were you when you joined Schwarz?"
Nagi looked up, studying Aya's face. The other man was looking at his cards and didn't seem to notice Nagi staring at him. He licked his lips, glancing at Yohji who just smiled at him. "I... the collective claimed me when I was eight." He didn't like thinking about that time. The time before Schwarz. Before Crawford, Farfarello and Schuldich. During that time he had no one. "Schwarz . . . formed a few years after that."
"Claimed you?" Yohji asked, his voice soft and his green eyes impossibly kind. "How do you mean?"
"I... they heard about me and got me." Nagi shifted uneasily, not liking these questions. He could hardly refuse to answer, that wouldn't make Weiss trust him. He had to answer. He wished he had Schuldich's ability to lie, but even if he did he was quite sure they would know he was lying. They seemed able to peer into his very soul, much like Schuldich, only they weren't telepathic, so far as he knew.
"You were using your powers then?"
Nagi nodded, staring at the cards in his hand. They blurred and he had a hard time focusing on them. "Yes."
There were no more questions, and he was glad for it. They finished playing after the third hand and Yohji leaned back in his seat, stretching his long legs out and bumping Nagi's legs as he did. "Ah . . . " He rested his hands behind his head, a lazy smile curving his lips, "So, little one, you got a girlfriend?"
Aya snorted and stood, moving away from the table. Nagi watched him walk into the living area and drop on the couch, then turned his startled gaze onto Yohji. "N-no."
"Tsk, tsk." Yohji shook his head, "We'll have to work on remedying that. Nothing better than love to keep one occupied between missions."
"How . . . " Nagi swallowed to get the lump out of his throat, "How much time is there between missions . . . usually?"
"It varies. Sometimes a few hours, sometimes a few months." Yohji shrugged, "Just depends on how active the underworld is being."
Nagi shifted his legs back so they weren't resting against Yohji's any longer. He debated getting up, but then decided to stay seated where he was until Yohji moved first. "Tomorrow, I'm going to teach you self defense" Yohji said with a yawn, "You know anything about hand to hand combat?"
Nagi shook his head. All he knew he'd learnt from Farfarello and that couldn't be considered hand to hand combat. Farfarello had only taught him how to kill. But what Farfarello taught him could only be used if his target was unsuspecting. "Well, I'll teach you some stuff. I'll toughen you up a bit." He winked.
"All right." He could hardly say no. That was what he was here for, after all. For training and evaluation.
"You want one?" Nagi glanced up at Yohji's question and he was surprised to see a cigarette being held out to him. He shook his head quickly, then watched as Yohji placed the cigarette between his lips and lit it with a match.
"Something's bugging you." Omi said softly, looking at his friend with concern.
Ken shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets and sighing deeply. "I guess." He muttered, knowing that it was useless to try and pretend with Omi. Omi knew him better than he knew himself.
"What is it? Is it Nagi?"
Trust Omi to hit the nail on the head, first try. Ken groaned, laughing shakily, "God, Omi. Why do you think?"
"This is more than just being bothered with Kritiker's orders, isn't it?" Omi asked with his usual sharp intelligence, "Ken-kun?"
"He scares me." Ken whispered, trying to hold back everything he was feeling but unable to do so. He had to talk to someone, and Omi seemed the best bet. Omi would understand, and Omi wouldn't judge him.
"Scares you? Ken-kun, I don't think he could harm a fly right now." Omi said with a little smile.
"No. It's not . . . it's not what he could that scares me. It's . . . it's what he makes me feel. Omi . . . "
"He seems especially scared by you, Ken-kun." Omi was putting the pieces together, as Ken knew he would, "And you have been really jumping since he showed up at the door. Ken-kun . . . what haven't you told us?"
Ken swallowed, licking his dry lips and trying not to burst into tears like an idiot. This was all such a damned mess. "I ki . . . I . . . I kissed him." He stuttered, all the blood rushing to his head when he realized that he had just said those words out loud. For all the world to hear . . . well, really, just Omi since Omi was the only one near enough to hear.
"What?!" Omi squeaked, grabbing Ken's arm and forcing the older man to turn and face him, "You what?! When? How!?"
"... it. It was during a mission. I guess . . . I guess he got hurt. He was bleeding, from the forehead and . . . he was really weak. I don't think he could use his power anymore. I kind of stumbled over him while trying to get the hell out of Schwarz's path. The mission was over and we were running, like we always seemed to do when Schwarz was involved." He hadn't told anyone, and as he spoke he felt as if a weight was slowly easing from his shoulders, "Anyway . . . he . . . I thought for sure he was going to slam me into a wall or something, but . . . he didn't move. He just stared up at me, his gaze unfocused. We stared at each other like idiots for . . . a while. I don't know how long really. It felt like forever. Then I realized that . . . that the reason he 'hadn't' kicked my ass was because he couldn't.
"I was an idiot . . . but he was so . . . so beautiful. Before I knew what I was doing I was on my knees in front of him. He flinched away, but didn't make a sound as I cupped his cheeks in my hands." He closed his eyes and could immediately see Nagi the way he'd been that night. A scared, beaten, and incredibly alluring child. "I don't know why I did it . . . but I . . . kissed him." He sighed heavily, opening his eyes and trying to push the memory aside, "He tasted like blood, and heaven. A dark angel . . . " and every bit as tempting.
"You kissed Nagi Naoe?" Omi gasped. He was gaping openly at Ken, unashamed of his own obvious shock. "You kissed Nagi Naoe when he couldn't fight back?!"
"He didn't fight back!" Ken responded, "He didn't yell or even tell me to stop! He just sat there, staring at me with those big doe eyes!"
"Why? Ken? Why?" Omi asked, voice lowered slightly as he tried to control himself.
"I don't know." Ken shook his head, wrapping his arms around himself, "God, I don't know Omi. I think I've always been attracted to him and . . . and he was there and I . . . I guess I was a little out of mind because of the mission and he looked . . . so beautiful and tempting."
"You've got a crush on him." Omi laughed nervously, reaching up to run a hand through his hair.
Ken rolled his eyes, then nodded miserably. Yeah. He did. He felt as if he always had.
"You don't know anything about him!" Omi snorted, "Crush isn't the right word. You're in 'lust' with him is what I should have said. Grief, Ken-kun, how could you? How would you feel if . . . if Schuldich kissed me while I was wounded during a mission?"
"You would have fought! You wouldn't have just sat there staring."
"He probably thought you were going to kill him!"
"He didn't cry out!"
"You shouldn't have kissed him! He was -Schwarz- for pities sake!"
"Pity has nothing to do with this!"
They stared at each other; Omi's jaw set and his eyes burning with confusion, Ken's eyes grim and his hands clenched into tight fists.
"What a mess." Omi whispered softly, letting out a huge sigh and slumping his shoulders.
"I know."
"You have to apologize to him, Ken-kun." Omi said, startling Ken.
"Wh-what?" He stared at Omi, eyes huge with surprise and a bit of fear.
"You have to apologize. It's obvious he's uncomfortable around you, and that might not change, but you need to apologize so he knows that you won't do it again."
"Kiss him?" He wanted to kiss Nagi again, which was part of the reason he was so scared to be around the boy.
"Yes. That is . . . " Omi paused, a sly smile tilting his lips, "Kiss him without his consent."
Ken flushed, looking away, "I . . . Omi, I . . . "
"You have to, Ken." As always when Omi was being serious the kun slipped off the end of Ken's name. The older Omi got, the more his old habits died, "It's the only way Nagi 'might' be able to start feeling comfortable with us."
Ken nodded slowly, "All right. Okay, fine. I'll . . . apologize."
Nagi lay perfectly still, shoulder pressed against the wall. Beside him Yohji was already sleeping. He didn't understand how the other man could sleep so easily. He had been lying awake for a while now, just listening to Yohji's light breathing. He wasn't comfortable. He felt awkward, and scared. He didn't really think Yohji would roll over and molest him, but he didn't trust Yohji 'not' to do that either.
He missed Jei.
He missed sleeping wrapped in an embrace that didn't threaten him. Although, if he went to sleep in Jei's arms and woke in Farfarello's he probably wouldn't feel the same way, but that had never happened so he was still very comfortable sleeping with Jei. Sure it was warm here, and there was food to spare, but he would take the cold cabin Schwarz was currently living in over this. Of course, his family wasn't sleeping in that cabin anymore. Right now they were safely tucked into a fancy hotel where they would be spending the next three months.
Schuldich was probably in heaven. Crawford too, if only because he would have some privacy. Some time away from Schuldich. Nagi wasn't sure what Jei would be feeling. Probably mild disorientation. He always felt disorientated for a while whenever Farfarello slept. It was hard for him to take over where Farfarello left off. Nagi wished he could be there with them.
But he was doing this for them.
To get them back into the collective.
He turned his head, staring at Yohji. This was all for his family. He had to remember that. Especially when Ken was around and he felt like running. He had to stay strong. He had to do this. He had to complete his mission. He closed his eyes tightly. If only he had his gift. He wouldn't feel so scared if he did.
He licked his lips nervously and began to gently pry. Feeling around his burned out brain. It hurt, but he touched upon the area where his gift lay. He whimpered, eyes snapping open. He could smell ash. Sulfur. He rolled onto his side, pressing his hands to his chest. Gone. His gift was still gone.
He wasn't sure it would ever come back, and he didn't know what he would do if it didn't.
He resisted the urge to sigh as the smaller boy rolled over onto him. Small arms wrapped around his waist and Omi pressed his face into his chest. He lay still for a moment, uncertain if Omi was asleep or awake. When he decided Omi was asleep he hesitantly wrapped an arm around Omi's waist.
The only problem with sleeping with Omi, was that the boy was a hopeless cuddler. It didn't bother Omi in the least that they were both naked. He 'still' rolled over in his sleep and glomped Aya. Aya shook his head, a small smile tilting his lips. He remembered how much it had startled him the first time he found himself with a naked and sleepy Omi attached to his side. He had been horrified and nervous that he would get 'excited'. But he hadn't, and it had actually been kind of nice to have a human teddy bear. Teddy bear probably wasn't the right term for Omi. Teddy puppy was probably more appropriate.
A pink teddy puppy.
Aya bit his lower lip hard to stop himself from snickering at the mental image that thought brought up. He stroked Omi's side absently as he focused his attention on the roof. The pain was pounding so hard behind his eyes that he couldn't sleep. He hadn't been sleeping much recently though, so it wasn't a great loss to him.
It had been a strange day. Between Nagi's panic attack, and Ken and Omi's odd behavior upon returning from their walk. Not to mention his morning, which had been . . . odd. To say the least. He liked things this way though. Mixed up and confused. It was when things got quiet that he started to think about himself and what he was going to do with his future. As long as things were busy and keeping his mind occupied he was safe from self-reflection.
Ken and Omi.
Now there was an enigma. Ken had been noticeably nervous and jittery upon returning from the two and a half hour walk he took with Omi. And Omi . . . Omi had just been odd. Staring at Nagi, then Ken, then Nagi again. His eyes darting back and forth and odd expressions crossing his face. A sly smile, a worried frown, a puzzled flinch. It was all very suspicious. Yohji would know more about it, but he wouldn't have a chance to ask Yohji until later.
He was pleased with the way Nagi seemed to hover near and trust Yohji. That was definitely a good thing. It just made things easier in the end if Nagi trusted the one who was working with him. It was always good that Nagi was staying near Yohji, that just meant he wouldn't get into any trouble.
Despite popular opinion Yohji was the most mature and level-headed out of his fellow teammates. He would be less likely to slack off on a mission than Omi or Ken. Although, if a pretty woman was involved then all bets were off. Yohji was nothing if not a horny animal.
"Hmmm . . . " Omi sighed in his sleep and slung his leg over Aya's legs.
Aya stiffened instinctively, then relaxed and continued stroking the boy's side.
Another sleepless night loomed ahead of him, especially if Omi's hand continued laying where it was laying. He shifted uncomfortably and just succeeded in making the hand fall lower. He let out a soft hiss, laying perfectly still.
'Great . . . '
'Just great . . . '
-End of Chapter Three-
TBC
Notes: Version one of Chapter Two. It may or may not be revised in the future. Depending on how many mistakes I find upon going over it later. Aya might seem a bit OOC in this chapter ... really they might all seem OOC but please remember this is set about a year after Weiss and some time before Gluhen. In fact, let's just say it's AU and Gluhen isn't going to happen since the events in this story are pretty much going to contradict anything in Gluhen. Thanks for reading.
Thanks to: SilverWolfe, Yanagi-sen (You're much too kind Yanagi-sen), Misura, Kaze, Shy (Ah, sorry about that. I just figured Omi's always gay. Why not make him straight once?). Also, thanks to anyone who may review this chapter in the future.