A/N: This chapter is for Schu (thanks for your reviews) and Black Kitten¡¯s Dream (keep writing your great fics) and also for all those who haven¡¯t reviewed. ^_^
Pairings: Schuldig/Aya, Schuldig/Youji, Aya/Youji
// ... // = Telepathy
Chapter eighteenBy now it was the evening of the fourth day and Schuldig was developing an extra severe case of cabin fever. He had actually gotten dressed and had full intentions of going out to one of the local clubs. But just as he was stepping out of his bedroom door..
¡°And where do you think you are going?¡±
¡°Out.. you know.. socializing, a little drinking, unwinding.. oh I forgot, you never unwind." He smirked over at the other redhead.
Aya had his back to Schuldig, leaning against the railing of the walkway that connected the rooms on the third floor. He took a drag from his cigarette and held it for a few moments before exhaling the smoke up to the clear night sky and the stars that flickered there. "You're in no condition."
"I think I know my own condition, Ran." Schuldig smirked and leant against the railing beside him. "Why don't you come with me?" He took the smoke from Aya's hand, took a drag from it.
"You know I hate places like that." The swordsman scowled taking his cigarette back.
"Hai, hai.. just checking. Well.." he stood up straight again, "I'll see you later."
"You're not going anywhere, Schuldig." Aya said flicking his cigarette over the railing and grabbed the telepath's arm.
"Like hell I'm not." Schuldig sneered, narrowing his eyes. "You don't own me, Ran."
"No I don't, but Weiß has a mission tonight and.."
"And what?" The telepath asked, trying to snatch the thought from Aya's mind. Tch, never could read anything from him. He thought bitterly, waiting for his lover to continue.
Aya let go of Schuldig's arm and turned around again, looking down at the street. "And I think Manx wants to talk with you about this one."
"With me?" Schuldig blinked; of all the possible thing for Aya to say, that was defiantly the least expected.
"Hai, she'll be here in about twenty minutes." Aya turned around again and lifted an eyebrow slightly. "Would you just at least pretend to be civil and hear what she has to say?"
"Hm, I could come along.. for a laugh at least." He smirked and slipped his arms around Aya's waist and pulled him close. "But for now, since we have some time to kill.."
A faint smirk twitched at the corner of Aya's mouth and he placed a light kiss on the telepath's lips. "I have to help close up shop." With that said, he slipped out of Schuldig's arms and headed back downstairs, leaving a blinking German behind him.
* * * *
A short time later, Schuldig was sitting on the couch in the Weiß mission room, idly stroking Youji's hair as the blonde had rested his head in Schuldig's lap, curled up on the couch beside him. Never thought I'd be sitting down here. Schuldig mused and glanced over at the youngest kitten as Omi came down the stairs. "Something you wanna tell me, chibi?"
Omi rolled his eyes at that and handed Schuldig a printout from his computer. "Here, Nagi wrote you an email."
"Thanks, kitten." The German smirked and unfolded the piece of paper, reading it silently as Omi sat at the computer in the corner.
"Anything interesting?" Youji asked, yawning slightly.
"It's nothing important." Not yet anyway. He added mentally as he folded up the piece of paper and slipped it into his back pocket.
Ken soon came downstairs, followed by Aya and Manx. Taking the single seat, Ken flicked a glare over to Schuldig as Aya leant against the wall beside the staircase and Manx walked around to the front of the group and glanced around at them slowly, before her gaze settled on Schuldig.
Turning slightly, Manx handed the videotape to Omi who slipped it into the video player. Looking back to Schuldig she gestured for him to follow her back upstairs.
Schuldig lifted an eyebrow and grinned, placing a kiss to Youji's cheek, then one on Aya's lips as he past the redhead; following the other redhead up the stairs.
"So what is it you didn't want the kittens to hear?" He smirked, leaning against the doorway to the kitchen.
"How perceptive of you." Manx said as she sat down, placing a folder on the table infront of her and gestured for Schuldig to sit as well.
"I'm not just a pretty face." He smirked, brushing light mental fingers over her mind.
"You're not even that." She smirked faintly then frowned, narrowing her eyes slightly. "And stop trying to read my mind, Mastermind."
"Tch, fine I'll behave." Schuldig rolled his eyes and leant back in his chair.
"Good, now I have an offer that might interesting you." She paused, opening the folder and pulling out a sheet over paper, handing it to him.
Schuldig lifted an eyebrow slightly and took the sheet of paper, looking it over slowly. "You can't be serious." He grinned.
"Very serious, Schuldig. Taking into account your relationship with Abyssinian and Balinese and the more recent actions of your Oracle. I'd say it was a fair offer."
Schuldig sat forward, leaning on the table as he looked at her thoughtfully before speaking again. "So I take Kritiker's offer and become a member of Weiß. Then what?"
"You'll have the full protection of the company and benefits. Plus," she paused, frowning slightly, "we won't have the messy business of having to eliminate two of our finest agents for having illicit relations with the enemy."
"So basically.. you're trying to blackmail me." Schuldig grinned. "But of course, that is how Kritiker works. Find something to hold over their agents and use it to keep them in line." He shook his head with a light chuckle. "Not that different from Esset really, they just aren't so subtle about it." He grinned as Manx bristled at that comment. "Give me some time to think about it, ok?"
She nodded slightly after a moment of thought. "I'll give you a couple of days, but I want you to know this offer isn't open for very long, Mastermind."
Schuldig nodded silently, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair again as he closed his eyes. "I'll give it some serious thought, you can count on that."
"See that you do. Now if you'll excuse me." She said, gathering her papers and standing. "I have mission to deliver to the team." Manx turned and left the kitchen silently, leaving Schuldig behind in deep contemplation.
~ tbc
