Title: Trading Pleasure for Pain
Disclaimer: Sadly we don't own Weiss..or...Schwarz....well, only in my dreams. ^^
Rating: PG-13, rating may change
Summary: Leading a life filled with corruption and blood lust; the men of Schwartz each hold their own secrets about their history, but most mysterious of all is our dear German redhead, Schuldig..how is that the 'guilty' one came to be? Dare you read and find out?
Otsune & Ari Says: Hm...not too pleased with this chapter, but.....the next will explain more and things will actually begin to take on a PLOT! Woo!
NOTE: This was also once called, 'Commemoration of The Past', but this is the spiffier, updated version. ^-^
*
It had sounded like a good plan at the time, really it had. Sex, partying and booze; where could it have gone wrong? Apparently right in-between the sex and the inhuman amounts of booze I had consumed. I suppose I should have learned my lesson last night about trying to drink before sleeping, but somehow I decided to give this a second try. As I had stumbled into my room and threw myself onto my bed, I had been expecting a blissful unconsciousness to take over in no time. Well, it did so to speak and I was soon fast asleep, however my plan didn't go quite as it should have. I was to fall into a very dreamless state of drunken stupor, not a deep web of nightmares and pain. So, currently I had put myself into a situation where I had it twice as bad as before: I had gone from sober and having horrific nightmares to completely plastered and having horrific nightmares. Not exactly what I had been going for.
Not to mention that only an hour into my petrifying state of slumber my dinner and all the booze I had consumed during the night decided to come up and greet me. Fucking wonderful, just mother fucking splendid.....
"Scheiße{Shit}." I groaned, screwing my eyes shut tightly.
I sat slumped beside the toilet with my head lying on the porcelain seat heavily. I wouldn't be sitting here like this hadn't I felt so tired and weak; my limbs felt like lead making it near impossible for me to move. Opening my eyes, blinking at the dim light of the bathroom I let out a deep breath.
"I'm exhausted." I murmured to myself lifting my head only to have it smack right back down on to the seat.
"Well, that usually happens when you vomit up the contents, and then some, of your stomach after a lonf night of liquor and sex." drawled a small voice from above me.
Letting out a groan, I squeezed his eyes shut tightly once more. A girly giggle sounded overhead and I grit my teeth at the sound. Raising my head slightly I let it fall back onto the toilet seat with a 'thunk' once more.
"Not you again, just go away.." I hissed.
"Don't be silly." the girl scolded. "Oh, and don't clunk your head like that. It'll make a dent and you don't want to be known as 'dent man' for the rest of your pathetic, fucked up life, do you?"
Using as much energy as I could muster I sat up and leaned back against the bathtub behind me, my stiff muscles screaming at me for having stayed slumped over for so long. My eyes slid open again and I looked up to the source of the voice perched gingerly upon the counter top staring at me unblinkingly.
"You're too young to be cursing, stop." I think I mumbled letting my head fall to the side to lay against the wall.
"It's your own fault I look this way. Could it have possibly killed you to make me more tall and desirable?" she scoffed eyes narrowing. "This is the only way you see me in your mind....you chose this for me."
'What the in Hell's name was that supposed to me?' was my angered mental reply to this news. The only way I see her; this was the only way she could be, wasn't it? Tilting her head to the side the girl shook her head slightly, her gaze becoming almost piteous towards me. As I shifted again she watched every inch of movement eerily and smirked delightedly as my eyes came to meet hers. I tried to narrow my eyes in a sort of glare, but the girl simply found it amusing and giggled her high pitched giggle again.
"You are so stupid sometimes, Niko."
I glared the best I could at the girl and she rolled her eyes skyward at my attempt to intimidate. Letting my head fall back, I let out a sigh and closed my eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"You're a hallucination. Therefore, I can make you go away. So.....go away." I said trying not to make my head feel as if it were exploding as I concentrated.
I could feel her coming closer to me like I could the night before. It always seemed that whenever I was with her my senses were heightened and my abilities had no end. I could feel the power radiating between us, but was it my power or hers? When I felt her come to a stop I reopened my eyes and met her up-close, her face hovering only centimeters from mine. She looked at me seriously, a frown adorning her porcelain like features.
"I'm not a hallucination and I can't go until I tell you what I came to tell you. You must listen, I-"
A sudden knock on the door startled both of us and the girl before me let out another curse under her breath. She stood up quickly, making me notice for the first time her childish sundress attire, and stared over at the door blankly. There was a softer knock and the girl looked back over at me urgently.
"Schuldig?" came Nagi's monotonous voice through the door. "Are you still in there?"
I stared at her for a moment, watching as she backed up towards the door, waving to me with an odd sort of smile on her face. Her form slowly faded and the doorknob shook, the door slowly coming open. As Nagi's head popped in, the girl was gone and I was alone again. The Japanese boy slid inside and shut the door behind him, giving me a sort of once over. Trying to sit up better, I grunted. One annoyance after another.
"What do you want, chibi?" I mumbled just barely loud enough.
Nagi semi-glared and kneeled down, cleaning up the mess I had made in the bathroom around me. It was always Nagi stuck with clean up, I mused watching the boy work uncomplainingly.
'And it's always me making the messes.' I thought bitterly.
"I heard you speaking..."Nagi began softly, keeping his eyes on the task at hand. "Like you were......talking to somebody else."
I'm sure I visibly stiffened at the boy's comment and turned my gaze from him wearily. Well, it was official; Nagi thought I was crazy, as I'm sure Crawford did. However, no sooner had I thought this, the Japanese boy looked up at me, the smallest look of confusion laced into his boyish features.
"What's going on, Schuldig?" he asked, eyes almost softening. "You've been acting so.......off lately. You won't talk to Crawford about; is it really that horrible?"
"Bradley is just getting his panties in a bunch, it's nothing. I'm just tired lately-"
"Cut the bullshit, Schuldig." Nagi said in a rather authoritative tone, his eyes narrowing.
So the kind{2} did know what cursing was, I thought, slightly taken back by his words. I was almost worried for the boy honestly; 16, nearly 17-yrs- old, and not one girlfriend (save his passing flame for that Tot girl) or had I ever heard him mutter an obscenity before. Despite the situation, I smirked and fought back a snicker. Nagi, however, did not look amused. I shook my head in a deliberately slow manner before speaking again.
"He couldn't possibly understand, -you- couldn't possibly understand."
"Oh? Really now? Try me, you may find I'm more understanding than you thought." he said challengingly before adding in a more gentle tone, "We all have problems Schuldig, it doesn't do any one any good to keep them to ourselves. Let me try and understand, help me understand."
Did this kid honestly have any idea what he was getting himself into? Did he know exactly what he was asking me to do? To trust him and spill my deepest, darkest secrets to him. Half of which I had only just remembered myself. I snorted at the thought and shifted slightly with a wince.
"You don't want to hear about my problems, chibi. They're my own, you have your own to solve."
"They may be our own problems, but everyone needs help sometimes." he said quietly, standing and going to the door.
I watched him go; wishing I could get up as well, but my body simply wouldn't allow it at this point. I let out a sigh and chucked the last of my pride down the drain as I called out to the younger assassin.
"Give me a hand, chibi and I'll tell you.......everything......." I whispered.
Giving a smirk of triumph he turned back to me and kneeled finishing the cleaning he had started earlier. I let out a sigh and relaxed against the cool bathtub behind me as I watched him work. Being the person I was I had to admit to myself; perhaps having someone else know and understand.....just maybe this would make things that much easier for me. Just maybe.....
*
The members of Schwarz were gathered and despite usual congregations in the living room this atmosphere was much more serious. Farfarello was in a straight jacket this time, sitting in a recliner beside Nagi, obviously sedated by the bizarre look cast over his wildly attractive features. The young telekinetic was sitting slouched over the laptop in his lap, typing away like a madman as Crawford gazed over his shoulder studying the screen with a small frown. As the German entered, Farfarello's singular eye lazily moved to gaze at him and he smirked a bit. Schuldig crinkled his face at the madman's smirk and looked to Crawford and Nagi.
"What have you been doing for the past half hour? We've called you several times now." Nagi said in monotone, eyes never leaving the screen, acting as if absolutely nothing ahd changed between the two of them.
Appreciating the normality Nagi addressed him with after his long, drawn out confessions the night before Schuldig smirked and opened his mouth to make a witty retort.
"That's not important now," Crawford interjected before Schuldig could reply with his witty remarks. "We have a new client, our first mission is tonight, Schuldig, and you will for no reason go on to the roof."
Schuldig gave his leader an 'is-that-so?' sort of look and mocked him by nodding, trying to keep straight face. The American's eyes narrowed dangerously and Schuldig could swear he heard him send a growl his way.
"Schuldig-"
"Oh I heard you, Braddy, don't get your knickers in a twist, eh? Stay away from the roof or face some odd twist of doom, I read you like a book, Braddy-kins."
"You can read?" Nagi asked, looking at him with raised eyebrows, his face still serious.
Giving the teen an impolite finger gesture, Schuldig flopped down in a seat across form Farfarello. The psychopath watched him move and narrowed his eyes slightly as the German raised an eyebrow.
"So, how's my favorite anti-Christ this lovely gray skied morning?" Schuldig asked as he reclined in his chair.
"Crawford took my blender." the analgesic {1} member of Schwarz said solemnly, face becoming serious as he turned to leer at their leader.
Schuldig chuckled aloud and shook his head lightly. "Why'd he do that now, Farf?"
"Because I shredded his ugly expensive new tie." the Irishman stated, still shooting daggers at Crawford.
"Ah, the world is a better place without that hideous tie."
After that statement he could have swore he saw Farfarello's eye twitch, but shrugged it off. Soon Crawford stood up at his full respectfull hieight and looked at the other two Schwartz members seriously, but not before shooting Farfarello a withering look.
Schuldig smirked, "Sorry to hear about your tie, Braddy-kins, but I'm sure you'll find one much more hideous to replace it, ja{yes}?"
"I gathered you both here to inform you of our new client, Deguchi Joruri. She's the daughter of Deguchi Seta, the man who owns the Deguchi Technology Enterprise here in Tokyo. Apparently a few do-gooders have found out about the company being a cover-up scheme for drug smuggling and have been targeting Ms. Deguchi."
"Why his daughter, why not him?"
"Ms. Deguchi has been running the company since her father untimely death some years ago. Therefore she's the corporate head leader now."
"Deguchi....." Schudlig murmured. "Isn't that the girl who pushed her father out of a hundred story building to claim the family business? One seriously fucked up bitch if you want my opinion." he snorted.
"Actually yes," Nagi said, shutting his laptop with a small click. "However she was found not guilty and framed her elder brother for the crime. He's been in jail since then. Just last year her mother died of a heroine overdose, but apparently it hadn't been injected by needle, but by dart. Another unexplained family death. She's all that's left now."
Crawford gave Nagi a look and Schuldig fake shivered at the information.
"Such a loving family. Doesn't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?" he said sarcastically. "So what about this mission? We playing baby-sitters like we did for Takatori or detectives?"
"After further analysis of said weapons used against Deguchi-san and what has been found at the scene, I've deducted that it may just be Weiss who has it in for her." Nagi said, getting to his feet slowly.
A wicked smile broke out on both Farfarello and Schuldig's faces. Schuldig chuckled and Farfarello licked his lips in a sadistic sort of manner.
"So we may get to play a few games with our kittens then? Fabulous." Schuldig drawled, stretching out as he stood.
"Hunting the shepherds of His lambs hurts God."
"Shepherds, eh? Clever, Farf, clever." Schuldig chortled.
The madman made no reply, but gracefully, despite lack of limb use, got to his feet. Crawford watched his team wearily and crossed his arms stiffly over his chest.
"This is serious, don't mess anything up." he warned, stalking towards his office, but before he could enter he paused. "Oh and Schuldig-"
"Ja?" the German yawned.
"Stay away from the roof."
"Will do, Brad-Brad."Schuldig said, throwing a mock salute.
'And don't call me Brad-Brad.' he said mentally to the telepath.
The redhead smirked broadly and cupped his hand over the side of his mouth. "I love you too, Brady-kins!"
Nagi sighed and headed towards his room, toting his little laptop with him. Schuldig watched him go and was caught slightly off guard as a pair of keys smacked him right in the forehead.
'Lock Farfarello up.' Nagi ordered.
Massaging his forehead, Schuldig stooped to get the keys and grumbled an affirmative. He beckoned for Farfarello to follow him and headed for his teammate's cell. As he unlocked the door, opening it for the Irishman to enter, Schuldig ran slender digits through his fiery hair. Farfarello paused in front of the German and the redhead undid the buckles of his jacket.
"Alright, in you go Farfie and don't worry; I'll go get your blender and something for you to blend, alright?"
"Why do you call me such idiotic things?" was the madman's reply as he sat down in a corner.
"What? You don't like my pet names for you, Farfamallow?" he asked, feigning hurt.
The other assassin made no move to reply and simply watched the German silently. Finally tired of the staring contest, Schuldig shut the door and headed to the kitchen, not bothering to lock up after himself. Upon entering the kitchen he located another key on the ring and stood on tiptoe to reach the high up cabinet that contained Farfarello's things. Sliding the key into the hole it clicked open. As the cabinet came open a blade fell out, giving Schuldig just enough time to pull away so it only caught his cheek.
"Shit." he swore as he felt a thin line of liquid course from the wound.
Picking up the knife, he set it on the counter and reached further to extract Farfarello's blender. Once he got it out he looked around for something for the madman to shred. He picked up an orange and a few bananas from the basket on the table and dug around the fridge, finally pulling out strawberries and headed to Farfarello's cell. Upon entering he saw the Irishman sitting cross-legged in the corner tracing the tip of one of his many blades over his wrist just barely, not even enough to break the skin. Shutting the door and locking it behind him, Schuldig entered and went over to the other redhead{2}.
He didn't move as Schuldig entered and sat down beside him, setting down the man's blender overflowing with fruit. Schuldig didn't mind the lack of response, what was he supposed to say anyway? 'Thanks Schuldig for rescuing my blender! Your so great!', puh, yeah and bats were going to fly out of the redhead's ass too. Finally becoming bored of Farfarello's little figure eight designs on his pale skin, Schuldig cleared his throat, sending him a bored sort of look.
"What do you want?"
"Companionship from somebody who's not psycho, about 18 years younger than me, mono-toned or has a stick shoved up their ass. What do you want?" Schuldig inquired, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette.
"Do you really care what I want?" the Irishman countered, his eye moving over to his companion.
"Come to think of it, not really. Unless, of course, you care to share..I'm all ears." Schuldig said, blowing smoke up into the air.
Farfarello watched the smoke rise until it disappeared, allowing his eyes to linger on Schuldig's lips as he brought the cigarette to his lips again. Schuldig studied Farfarello from behind his half-lowered lashes interestedly as the rusty haired redhead looked at him.
"See something you like?" he drawled, a lazy smirked coming to his lips.
"Don't smoke in here." He said simply, turning his attention now to his blender. "It smells."
The German blinked at him for a moment before chuckling to himself. He took one last huff from his cigarette and put it out on the cell floor. He watched as Farfarello began to peel the banana slowly and shook his head.
"You're a real piece of work, you know that Farf?" he asked, picking up a strawberry and twisting the green off the top.
"No more then you are." was the nonchalant response Schuldig received.
Raising an eyebrow at the Irishman's reply, Schuldig waited until the blender and its great noise were stopped to ask a question that he'd been wondering for some time.
"So it was you hanging around outside the bathroom last night, wasn't it?"
Farfarello paused in his blending and stared down at the fruits for a moment before simply picking up another and beginning his process again. Shaking her head Schuldig let out a small snort of amusement. The loud sound of the processing blender echoed through the cell again and Schuldig waited once more for its end. When it did, he looked over at his fellow redhead blankly.
"So, you think I'm crazy now?" he asked monotonously.
This comment seemed to affect the assassin more then that of the previous accusation of lurking and his activity ceased completely. He stopped right before hitting the liquefy button, his finger lingering over it. Finally he raised his gaze from his work over to the German beside him, his face set and eyes blank. Schuldig wondered vaguely if the man was going to kill him or some worse fate.
"The question is not whether I think you are crazy," the man said certainly. "It is a question of whether you believe you are crazy or not. Do you think you're crazy, Schuldig?"
Schuldig rolled his eyes, "I'm hallucinating about a girl I haven't seen since I was 13, I'm having nonstop nightmares, I haven't been laid in a month and I'm hearing voices-Yeah, I'd say I'm officially crazy."
There was an awkward sort of pause that Schuldig had never experienced while in Farfarello's presence and chanced a look over at him. Farfarello's singular eye was fixed on Schuldig unblinkingly and he looked like he was caught slightly off guard by the man's answer. It was definitely a look Schuldig had never seen the Irishman wear before. Finally the younger man averted his gaze back to his blender. Daringly Schuldig decided to ask a question he hoped he wouldn't get killed for asking.
"Do you think you're crazy, Farfarello?" he asked, breaking the silence.
There was paused and Farfarello didn't look at the man as he answered.
"I don't think so." He said, his voice hardly even a whisper.
He looked over at Schuldig, his single reddish colored eye locking with Schuldig's jade orbs. He studied the man for a moment, as if waiting for him to laugh or make a witty remark about this, but Schuldig sat silently, returning the studying stare.
"Do you think I'm crazy?" the Irishman asked, again very softly.
Schudlig smirked, "It doesn't matter what I think remember? Eh, but.just for the record.." He paused for a moment before closing his eyes. "I don't think you're crazy."
Apparently satisfied with this answer, Farfarello leaned back against the cell wall and fiddled with the buttons on his blender. Schuldig sighed and put his hands behind his head wearily; his jade green eyes fixed on the ceiling above them. The blender came on and then off again after a while, as it did Farfarello removed the lid looking at his concoction.
"I don't think you're crazy, either." He said solemnly, picking up another strawberry. "You can see and hear things others can't and still be sane, just as long as you know what you're seeing isn't real."
Farfarello started his blending process over again and the cell was silent except for the contraption liquefying the fruits. The process went a few more times until during a lull of silence Schuldig looked at over his fellow redhead with a small smile.
"Thanks, Farf."
The Irishman looked over at Schuldig, another odd, slightly surprised look upon his pale face. His mouth went from it's slight 'o' shape to a wry sort of smirk. Schuldig returned the smirk with a grin and let his eyes fall shut to the oddly relaxing sound of Farfarello's blender.
*
{1} Analgesic; a medical condition which enables you to feel pain! Sounds like Farf, neh? ^^
{2} I like Manga Farfarello better, there for he has rusty red hair.
Oki so...this chapter wasn't much better than the first, but.....we've been really busy lately so they've been rushed. Next chapter will get better.......we hope.....X_x - Otsu and Ari
Disclaimer: Sadly we don't own Weiss..or...Schwarz....well, only in my dreams. ^^
Rating: PG-13, rating may change
Summary: Leading a life filled with corruption and blood lust; the men of Schwartz each hold their own secrets about their history, but most mysterious of all is our dear German redhead, Schuldig..how is that the 'guilty' one came to be? Dare you read and find out?
Otsune & Ari Says: Hm...not too pleased with this chapter, but.....the next will explain more and things will actually begin to take on a PLOT! Woo!
NOTE: This was also once called, 'Commemoration of The Past', but this is the spiffier, updated version. ^-^
*
It had sounded like a good plan at the time, really it had. Sex, partying and booze; where could it have gone wrong? Apparently right in-between the sex and the inhuman amounts of booze I had consumed. I suppose I should have learned my lesson last night about trying to drink before sleeping, but somehow I decided to give this a second try. As I had stumbled into my room and threw myself onto my bed, I had been expecting a blissful unconsciousness to take over in no time. Well, it did so to speak and I was soon fast asleep, however my plan didn't go quite as it should have. I was to fall into a very dreamless state of drunken stupor, not a deep web of nightmares and pain. So, currently I had put myself into a situation where I had it twice as bad as before: I had gone from sober and having horrific nightmares to completely plastered and having horrific nightmares. Not exactly what I had been going for.
Not to mention that only an hour into my petrifying state of slumber my dinner and all the booze I had consumed during the night decided to come up and greet me. Fucking wonderful, just mother fucking splendid.....
"Scheiße{Shit}." I groaned, screwing my eyes shut tightly.
I sat slumped beside the toilet with my head lying on the porcelain seat heavily. I wouldn't be sitting here like this hadn't I felt so tired and weak; my limbs felt like lead making it near impossible for me to move. Opening my eyes, blinking at the dim light of the bathroom I let out a deep breath.
"I'm exhausted." I murmured to myself lifting my head only to have it smack right back down on to the seat.
"Well, that usually happens when you vomit up the contents, and then some, of your stomach after a lonf night of liquor and sex." drawled a small voice from above me.
Letting out a groan, I squeezed his eyes shut tightly once more. A girly giggle sounded overhead and I grit my teeth at the sound. Raising my head slightly I let it fall back onto the toilet seat with a 'thunk' once more.
"Not you again, just go away.." I hissed.
"Don't be silly." the girl scolded. "Oh, and don't clunk your head like that. It'll make a dent and you don't want to be known as 'dent man' for the rest of your pathetic, fucked up life, do you?"
Using as much energy as I could muster I sat up and leaned back against the bathtub behind me, my stiff muscles screaming at me for having stayed slumped over for so long. My eyes slid open again and I looked up to the source of the voice perched gingerly upon the counter top staring at me unblinkingly.
"You're too young to be cursing, stop." I think I mumbled letting my head fall to the side to lay against the wall.
"It's your own fault I look this way. Could it have possibly killed you to make me more tall and desirable?" she scoffed eyes narrowing. "This is the only way you see me in your mind....you chose this for me."
'What the in Hell's name was that supposed to me?' was my angered mental reply to this news. The only way I see her; this was the only way she could be, wasn't it? Tilting her head to the side the girl shook her head slightly, her gaze becoming almost piteous towards me. As I shifted again she watched every inch of movement eerily and smirked delightedly as my eyes came to meet hers. I tried to narrow my eyes in a sort of glare, but the girl simply found it amusing and giggled her high pitched giggle again.
"You are so stupid sometimes, Niko."
I glared the best I could at the girl and she rolled her eyes skyward at my attempt to intimidate. Letting my head fall back, I let out a sigh and closed my eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"You're a hallucination. Therefore, I can make you go away. So.....go away." I said trying not to make my head feel as if it were exploding as I concentrated.
I could feel her coming closer to me like I could the night before. It always seemed that whenever I was with her my senses were heightened and my abilities had no end. I could feel the power radiating between us, but was it my power or hers? When I felt her come to a stop I reopened my eyes and met her up-close, her face hovering only centimeters from mine. She looked at me seriously, a frown adorning her porcelain like features.
"I'm not a hallucination and I can't go until I tell you what I came to tell you. You must listen, I-"
A sudden knock on the door startled both of us and the girl before me let out another curse under her breath. She stood up quickly, making me notice for the first time her childish sundress attire, and stared over at the door blankly. There was a softer knock and the girl looked back over at me urgently.
"Schuldig?" came Nagi's monotonous voice through the door. "Are you still in there?"
I stared at her for a moment, watching as she backed up towards the door, waving to me with an odd sort of smile on her face. Her form slowly faded and the doorknob shook, the door slowly coming open. As Nagi's head popped in, the girl was gone and I was alone again. The Japanese boy slid inside and shut the door behind him, giving me a sort of once over. Trying to sit up better, I grunted. One annoyance after another.
"What do you want, chibi?" I mumbled just barely loud enough.
Nagi semi-glared and kneeled down, cleaning up the mess I had made in the bathroom around me. It was always Nagi stuck with clean up, I mused watching the boy work uncomplainingly.
'And it's always me making the messes.' I thought bitterly.
"I heard you speaking..."Nagi began softly, keeping his eyes on the task at hand. "Like you were......talking to somebody else."
I'm sure I visibly stiffened at the boy's comment and turned my gaze from him wearily. Well, it was official; Nagi thought I was crazy, as I'm sure Crawford did. However, no sooner had I thought this, the Japanese boy looked up at me, the smallest look of confusion laced into his boyish features.
"What's going on, Schuldig?" he asked, eyes almost softening. "You've been acting so.......off lately. You won't talk to Crawford about; is it really that horrible?"
"Bradley is just getting his panties in a bunch, it's nothing. I'm just tired lately-"
"Cut the bullshit, Schuldig." Nagi said in a rather authoritative tone, his eyes narrowing.
So the kind{2} did know what cursing was, I thought, slightly taken back by his words. I was almost worried for the boy honestly; 16, nearly 17-yrs- old, and not one girlfriend (save his passing flame for that Tot girl) or had I ever heard him mutter an obscenity before. Despite the situation, I smirked and fought back a snicker. Nagi, however, did not look amused. I shook my head in a deliberately slow manner before speaking again.
"He couldn't possibly understand, -you- couldn't possibly understand."
"Oh? Really now? Try me, you may find I'm more understanding than you thought." he said challengingly before adding in a more gentle tone, "We all have problems Schuldig, it doesn't do any one any good to keep them to ourselves. Let me try and understand, help me understand."
Did this kid honestly have any idea what he was getting himself into? Did he know exactly what he was asking me to do? To trust him and spill my deepest, darkest secrets to him. Half of which I had only just remembered myself. I snorted at the thought and shifted slightly with a wince.
"You don't want to hear about my problems, chibi. They're my own, you have your own to solve."
"They may be our own problems, but everyone needs help sometimes." he said quietly, standing and going to the door.
I watched him go; wishing I could get up as well, but my body simply wouldn't allow it at this point. I let out a sigh and chucked the last of my pride down the drain as I called out to the younger assassin.
"Give me a hand, chibi and I'll tell you.......everything......." I whispered.
Giving a smirk of triumph he turned back to me and kneeled finishing the cleaning he had started earlier. I let out a sigh and relaxed against the cool bathtub behind me as I watched him work. Being the person I was I had to admit to myself; perhaps having someone else know and understand.....just maybe this would make things that much easier for me. Just maybe.....
*
The members of Schwarz were gathered and despite usual congregations in the living room this atmosphere was much more serious. Farfarello was in a straight jacket this time, sitting in a recliner beside Nagi, obviously sedated by the bizarre look cast over his wildly attractive features. The young telekinetic was sitting slouched over the laptop in his lap, typing away like a madman as Crawford gazed over his shoulder studying the screen with a small frown. As the German entered, Farfarello's singular eye lazily moved to gaze at him and he smirked a bit. Schuldig crinkled his face at the madman's smirk and looked to Crawford and Nagi.
"What have you been doing for the past half hour? We've called you several times now." Nagi said in monotone, eyes never leaving the screen, acting as if absolutely nothing ahd changed between the two of them.
Appreciating the normality Nagi addressed him with after his long, drawn out confessions the night before Schuldig smirked and opened his mouth to make a witty retort.
"That's not important now," Crawford interjected before Schuldig could reply with his witty remarks. "We have a new client, our first mission is tonight, Schuldig, and you will for no reason go on to the roof."
Schuldig gave his leader an 'is-that-so?' sort of look and mocked him by nodding, trying to keep straight face. The American's eyes narrowed dangerously and Schuldig could swear he heard him send a growl his way.
"Schuldig-"
"Oh I heard you, Braddy, don't get your knickers in a twist, eh? Stay away from the roof or face some odd twist of doom, I read you like a book, Braddy-kins."
"You can read?" Nagi asked, looking at him with raised eyebrows, his face still serious.
Giving the teen an impolite finger gesture, Schuldig flopped down in a seat across form Farfarello. The psychopath watched him move and narrowed his eyes slightly as the German raised an eyebrow.
"So, how's my favorite anti-Christ this lovely gray skied morning?" Schuldig asked as he reclined in his chair.
"Crawford took my blender." the analgesic {1} member of Schwarz said solemnly, face becoming serious as he turned to leer at their leader.
Schuldig chuckled aloud and shook his head lightly. "Why'd he do that now, Farf?"
"Because I shredded his ugly expensive new tie." the Irishman stated, still shooting daggers at Crawford.
"Ah, the world is a better place without that hideous tie."
After that statement he could have swore he saw Farfarello's eye twitch, but shrugged it off. Soon Crawford stood up at his full respectfull hieight and looked at the other two Schwartz members seriously, but not before shooting Farfarello a withering look.
Schuldig smirked, "Sorry to hear about your tie, Braddy-kins, but I'm sure you'll find one much more hideous to replace it, ja{yes}?"
"I gathered you both here to inform you of our new client, Deguchi Joruri. She's the daughter of Deguchi Seta, the man who owns the Deguchi Technology Enterprise here in Tokyo. Apparently a few do-gooders have found out about the company being a cover-up scheme for drug smuggling and have been targeting Ms. Deguchi."
"Why his daughter, why not him?"
"Ms. Deguchi has been running the company since her father untimely death some years ago. Therefore she's the corporate head leader now."
"Deguchi....." Schudlig murmured. "Isn't that the girl who pushed her father out of a hundred story building to claim the family business? One seriously fucked up bitch if you want my opinion." he snorted.
"Actually yes," Nagi said, shutting his laptop with a small click. "However she was found not guilty and framed her elder brother for the crime. He's been in jail since then. Just last year her mother died of a heroine overdose, but apparently it hadn't been injected by needle, but by dart. Another unexplained family death. She's all that's left now."
Crawford gave Nagi a look and Schuldig fake shivered at the information.
"Such a loving family. Doesn't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?" he said sarcastically. "So what about this mission? We playing baby-sitters like we did for Takatori or detectives?"
"After further analysis of said weapons used against Deguchi-san and what has been found at the scene, I've deducted that it may just be Weiss who has it in for her." Nagi said, getting to his feet slowly.
A wicked smile broke out on both Farfarello and Schuldig's faces. Schuldig chuckled and Farfarello licked his lips in a sadistic sort of manner.
"So we may get to play a few games with our kittens then? Fabulous." Schuldig drawled, stretching out as he stood.
"Hunting the shepherds of His lambs hurts God."
"Shepherds, eh? Clever, Farf, clever." Schuldig chortled.
The madman made no reply, but gracefully, despite lack of limb use, got to his feet. Crawford watched his team wearily and crossed his arms stiffly over his chest.
"This is serious, don't mess anything up." he warned, stalking towards his office, but before he could enter he paused. "Oh and Schuldig-"
"Ja?" the German yawned.
"Stay away from the roof."
"Will do, Brad-Brad."Schuldig said, throwing a mock salute.
'And don't call me Brad-Brad.' he said mentally to the telepath.
The redhead smirked broadly and cupped his hand over the side of his mouth. "I love you too, Brady-kins!"
Nagi sighed and headed towards his room, toting his little laptop with him. Schuldig watched him go and was caught slightly off guard as a pair of keys smacked him right in the forehead.
'Lock Farfarello up.' Nagi ordered.
Massaging his forehead, Schuldig stooped to get the keys and grumbled an affirmative. He beckoned for Farfarello to follow him and headed for his teammate's cell. As he unlocked the door, opening it for the Irishman to enter, Schuldig ran slender digits through his fiery hair. Farfarello paused in front of the German and the redhead undid the buckles of his jacket.
"Alright, in you go Farfie and don't worry; I'll go get your blender and something for you to blend, alright?"
"Why do you call me such idiotic things?" was the madman's reply as he sat down in a corner.
"What? You don't like my pet names for you, Farfamallow?" he asked, feigning hurt.
The other assassin made no move to reply and simply watched the German silently. Finally tired of the staring contest, Schuldig shut the door and headed to the kitchen, not bothering to lock up after himself. Upon entering the kitchen he located another key on the ring and stood on tiptoe to reach the high up cabinet that contained Farfarello's things. Sliding the key into the hole it clicked open. As the cabinet came open a blade fell out, giving Schuldig just enough time to pull away so it only caught his cheek.
"Shit." he swore as he felt a thin line of liquid course from the wound.
Picking up the knife, he set it on the counter and reached further to extract Farfarello's blender. Once he got it out he looked around for something for the madman to shred. He picked up an orange and a few bananas from the basket on the table and dug around the fridge, finally pulling out strawberries and headed to Farfarello's cell. Upon entering he saw the Irishman sitting cross-legged in the corner tracing the tip of one of his many blades over his wrist just barely, not even enough to break the skin. Shutting the door and locking it behind him, Schuldig entered and went over to the other redhead{2}.
He didn't move as Schuldig entered and sat down beside him, setting down the man's blender overflowing with fruit. Schuldig didn't mind the lack of response, what was he supposed to say anyway? 'Thanks Schuldig for rescuing my blender! Your so great!', puh, yeah and bats were going to fly out of the redhead's ass too. Finally becoming bored of Farfarello's little figure eight designs on his pale skin, Schuldig cleared his throat, sending him a bored sort of look.
"What do you want?"
"Companionship from somebody who's not psycho, about 18 years younger than me, mono-toned or has a stick shoved up their ass. What do you want?" Schuldig inquired, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette.
"Do you really care what I want?" the Irishman countered, his eye moving over to his companion.
"Come to think of it, not really. Unless, of course, you care to share..I'm all ears." Schuldig said, blowing smoke up into the air.
Farfarello watched the smoke rise until it disappeared, allowing his eyes to linger on Schuldig's lips as he brought the cigarette to his lips again. Schuldig studied Farfarello from behind his half-lowered lashes interestedly as the rusty haired redhead looked at him.
"See something you like?" he drawled, a lazy smirked coming to his lips.
"Don't smoke in here." He said simply, turning his attention now to his blender. "It smells."
The German blinked at him for a moment before chuckling to himself. He took one last huff from his cigarette and put it out on the cell floor. He watched as Farfarello began to peel the banana slowly and shook his head.
"You're a real piece of work, you know that Farf?" he asked, picking up a strawberry and twisting the green off the top.
"No more then you are." was the nonchalant response Schuldig received.
Raising an eyebrow at the Irishman's reply, Schuldig waited until the blender and its great noise were stopped to ask a question that he'd been wondering for some time.
"So it was you hanging around outside the bathroom last night, wasn't it?"
Farfarello paused in his blending and stared down at the fruits for a moment before simply picking up another and beginning his process again. Shaking her head Schuldig let out a small snort of amusement. The loud sound of the processing blender echoed through the cell again and Schuldig waited once more for its end. When it did, he looked over at his fellow redhead blankly.
"So, you think I'm crazy now?" he asked monotonously.
This comment seemed to affect the assassin more then that of the previous accusation of lurking and his activity ceased completely. He stopped right before hitting the liquefy button, his finger lingering over it. Finally he raised his gaze from his work over to the German beside him, his face set and eyes blank. Schuldig wondered vaguely if the man was going to kill him or some worse fate.
"The question is not whether I think you are crazy," the man said certainly. "It is a question of whether you believe you are crazy or not. Do you think you're crazy, Schuldig?"
Schuldig rolled his eyes, "I'm hallucinating about a girl I haven't seen since I was 13, I'm having nonstop nightmares, I haven't been laid in a month and I'm hearing voices-Yeah, I'd say I'm officially crazy."
There was an awkward sort of pause that Schuldig had never experienced while in Farfarello's presence and chanced a look over at him. Farfarello's singular eye was fixed on Schuldig unblinkingly and he looked like he was caught slightly off guard by the man's answer. It was definitely a look Schuldig had never seen the Irishman wear before. Finally the younger man averted his gaze back to his blender. Daringly Schuldig decided to ask a question he hoped he wouldn't get killed for asking.
"Do you think you're crazy, Farfarello?" he asked, breaking the silence.
There was paused and Farfarello didn't look at the man as he answered.
"I don't think so." He said, his voice hardly even a whisper.
He looked over at Schuldig, his single reddish colored eye locking with Schuldig's jade orbs. He studied the man for a moment, as if waiting for him to laugh or make a witty remark about this, but Schuldig sat silently, returning the studying stare.
"Do you think I'm crazy?" the Irishman asked, again very softly.
Schudlig smirked, "It doesn't matter what I think remember? Eh, but.just for the record.." He paused for a moment before closing his eyes. "I don't think you're crazy."
Apparently satisfied with this answer, Farfarello leaned back against the cell wall and fiddled with the buttons on his blender. Schuldig sighed and put his hands behind his head wearily; his jade green eyes fixed on the ceiling above them. The blender came on and then off again after a while, as it did Farfarello removed the lid looking at his concoction.
"I don't think you're crazy, either." He said solemnly, picking up another strawberry. "You can see and hear things others can't and still be sane, just as long as you know what you're seeing isn't real."
Farfarello started his blending process over again and the cell was silent except for the contraption liquefying the fruits. The process went a few more times until during a lull of silence Schuldig looked at over his fellow redhead with a small smile.
"Thanks, Farf."
The Irishman looked over at Schuldig, another odd, slightly surprised look upon his pale face. His mouth went from it's slight 'o' shape to a wry sort of smirk. Schuldig returned the smirk with a grin and let his eyes fall shut to the oddly relaxing sound of Farfarello's blender.
*
{1} Analgesic; a medical condition which enables you to feel pain! Sounds like Farf, neh? ^^
{2} I like Manga Farfarello better, there for he has rusty red hair.
Oki so...this chapter wasn't much better than the first, but.....we've been really busy lately so they've been rushed. Next chapter will get better.......we hope.....X_x - Otsu and Ari