Author: Malebranche
Date: 02/29/04
Contact: xxxdre4merxxx@hotmail.com
Genre: Slash/Yaoi, AU, romance, angst, supernatural, series.
Comments: PG-13. If you can't handle slash, go away. BxS. Lime. Mangled personalities. This story has not been beta-ed, barely even proofread. I'm deeply sorry for any mistakes.
Disclaimer: Weiss Kreuz and all its characters are properties of their respective authors.
Autumn to Ashes: Divine Intervention
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Schuldich was nowhere in sight. All Brad could see were pieces of the broken door lying askew on the floor.
/It would be really stupid to walk into the door. The trespassers can see me coming in, because of the light from the hallway, and I can't see them, since it's so damn pitch black in there.../ Brad rationalized.
"...ngh..."
/Schuldich?!/
Brad snapped into action. Grabbing a piece of wood that had broken off from the door, knowing it was absolutely useless, since whoever tore the whole damn door down couldn't care less about a splinter or two, Brad ran into the room, expecting an attack at any given moment.
/I'm so damn stupid!!!/
Swiveling his head, he turned and saw two figures standing in front of an open window, silhouettes against the faint light outside. One of the figures looked like it was struggling against the other, limbs thrashing against the unwanted grip. All seemed to be in vain, however, as the latter figure did not even budge at the former's movements.
"Who are you?" a slithery snake-like sounding someone said.
/This just gets better and better! First, I meet a hot guy I can't date. Second, I'm stalking hot-guy-I-can't-date. Third, I find out he's been abducted and coming to his rescu- oh. On that note, I suppose this isn't the time for a mental monologue./
"Let Schuldich go!" said Brad, his voice sounding incredibly small to his own ears.
"...B...ad?" a muffled voice from the window said.
It was the figure that was unstable, and now that Brad's eyes had adjusted he could clearly see that it was Schuldich. He had his mouth gagged and his arms were held behind his back by the other figure, who was still too dark to make out.
Schuldich's eyes were glistening too brightly, a tell-tale sign of oncoming tears.
"What the hell do you want with him?!" Brad shouted, panic seizing him as he noticed yet another person to his left, who he only spotted because it had moved.
"Hmm..." the one in the corner murmured. "We were not expecting company tonight, were we, Rubeus?"
"We'll make do. Hell, perhaps we could use him too." Rubeus grinned, the stark whiteness visible even in the dark.
"In that case, tonight is not the best night. We're not ready for two." the other commented.
"But I don't want to let this one go, Noir!" Rubeus whined.
"It's alright, we can find them both later." Noir stated calmly. "Come on."
Brad growled. He hated the feeling of helplessness that submerged him at the moment.
/The two of them are talking about us if we aren't even here!/
"Leave us the hell alone."
"Not likely, m'dear." Rubeus said, shoving Schuldich to Brad and swiftly climbing out the window. His face now illuminated by the moonlight, Brad could see that he was grinning madly, hair the color of dried blood flooding his vision. Streaks of a brighter shade were there too, swirling into a hypnotic way that made Brad's head ache. Rubeus was fine boned, extremely handsome, with pale, pale white skin and abnormally red lips. The canines that protruded from between his lips were twice as long as a normal tooth.
His partner stepped out the window, silver-white hair blowing softly in the wind, the tips swallowed up in the darkness of the room, a testament to it's length, as Noir himself stepped gracefully onto the ledge. A streak of black hair outlined his face, highlighting his perfect features. His nose was slightly upturned, and his long dark eyelashes dusted his cheeks in the pale moonlight. Noir was a photo taken in black and white; sophisticated and beautiful, the shadows accenting his already unnatural luminescence.
The most striking similarity between the two, however, were the red eyes that stared at Brad, almost mockingly. Both he and Noir wore identical leather dusters, the black surface absorbing all the light that shone on it. Beneath the duster was more black clothing, skin peeking through the obscurity in areas.
Noir smiled softly, to reveal the same long teeth.
/Overgrown teeth? Or.../ thought Brad, this breath catching in his throat for a split second.
"Overgrown? How distasteful. We're vampires, not beasts." Rubeus stated playfully, if not slightly offended.
"Time's a-ticking, Rubeus. Save the taunting for next time." Noir said, taking Rubeus's hand and falling backwards over the window ledge. Rubeus was pulled alongside him, crazed smile still plastered on his face. Noir's long silver-white hair trailed after the pair like a lingering phantom, before it too disappeared from sight.
There was no sound of any collision, not a single reverberation that showed that anything had fallen. It was as if the duo were never there at all, the only proof being the frantic beating of Brad's and Schuldich's hearts.
The moonlight shone through the open window, now fully illuminating the room, as if without the vampires' presence, she could come and attempt to reclaim her lost territory.
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Brad took a long, quivering breath, eyes glued to the window. He gripped Schuldich's seemingly fragile body to his own, watching carefully for any sign of danger. When none became obvious, he looked down to Schuldich.
"Schuldich? Are you okay? Did they do anything?" he said as he unbound Schuldich's mouth.
"N-no...That guy was really damn powerful." Schuldich said, voice unsteady with the last remnants of fear. He swallowed, the adrenaline making it difficult to string together a thought. "Brad? W-what were they? Am I going insane?"
"...No. They were here, that's for certain. I...I think they said they were vampires, but that's impossible, since they don't exist, right?" Brad said, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than Schuldich.
"I think...I think they exist. They were here just now, they were real. That...kind of strength isn't possible for someone human." said Schuldich softly, expecting Brad to yell and push him away.
Instead, Brad only held him tighter. "If you say they exist, then I'll believe you; I don't care. I'm just incredibly glad I made it in time."
Schuldich smiled faintly and looked towards the window. The curtains were billowing wildly as the winds picked up. He shivered as the goose bumps from fear faded, only to have goose bumps from the cold take their place.
"I'm going to take us to where I'm staying." said Brad, helping Schuldich to his feet "This place isn't safe. Although, why you would stay in this place is another thing altogether."
"But.." Schuldich started
"Enough. We'll talk about this back at my hotel." said Brad, a flash of annoyance racing through him. /Living in a dump like this, it's a miracle he hasn't been attacked before this./
"...Sorry." said Schuldich, after a long pause.
Brad's eyes softened. He took Schuldich by the arm and led him out the door, through the hall and down the stairs. They passed through the lobby without incident, before Schuldich spoke up.
"Thanks for coming after me. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't appeared." he said.
Brad looked at the ground directly beneath the window the vampires had fallen from, but there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. The bizarre feeling he had before entering the apartment was gone too.
"It's nothing. Don't make me out to be any sort of hero; I didn't do a thing." said Brad, his breath condensing in the frigid night air, turning into puffs of vapor.
Schuldich let out a weak laugh. "Yea, of course, you only stopped them by being there, 'course that doesn't count." his eyes narrowed. "Stop being so modest."
Brad didn't answer. He tried to remember the way back to his car, scratching his head with a puzzled look on his face.
Cocking an eyebrow, an amused grin slowly spread over Schuldich's face, the horror from before temporarily forgotten. "So, why did you follow me, anyways?"
Brad sputtered, turned bright red, and yanked Schuldich towards his car.
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Schuldich sat down on the sofa, sinking into the soft black leather. Brad sat across from him, running his hand through his hair with a relieved sigh. They were both extremely tense until they made it inside Brad's hotel, where they were guaranteed a measure of safety from whatever dangers there were outside.
"Why were you living in that sorry excuse of an apartment anyways?" Brad said.
/Non-existent security system, no desk clerk, in need of major repair and remodeling.../ thought Brad.
"It's all I can afford for now." replied Schuldich.
"Are they not paying you enough at the company?" Brad said, alarmed. /Not enough to even rent a decent apartment?/
"No, I'm being paid well. It's just, I've been paying off the debts that my parents left me with when my parents...died." said Schuldich, staring at his feet.
"Ah. I see."
Neither of them said a word for what seemed like hours, although in reality it was probably no more than five minutes.
"Would you like to use the shower first, or shall I?" Brad said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had formed.
Startled, Schuldich jumped slightly but managed to look impervious seconds later. "Nah, you can go ahead. I think I need to calm down a little more."
With a nod, Brad got up and walked over to the sliding closet, pulling its mirrored doors open. He picked out a few articles of clothing and tossed them unceremoniously on the bed.
Schuldich was dozing, his mind tired from the activities of the day. A slight noise brought him out of his stupor, and he turned around, only to find himself with an eyeful of male masculinity.
/!/, Schuldich inhaled sharply.
Brad was facing the closet, and had taken off his shirt and tie, muscles rippling slightly under tanned skin as he reached down to pull off his socks. The task done, he reach down and quickly unbuttoned his slacks. They fell to the floor in an untidy heap, and he kicked them away. Brad stood in his full glory, not a lot left to the imagination, black silk boxers barely concealing the last bit of skin.
Hearing what sounded like a choked whimper, Brad turned. Schuldich was watching him, red in the face.
"Uh, sorry. I'm really used to just...well, you see..." Brad said, quickly grabbing a thick, white towel and wrapping it around his waist. "I'm usually alone."
He grabbed the clothes from the bed and walked to the restroom, achingly aware of Schuldich's eyes, which were still lingering on his back.
/Hmm. I see...there's hope after all./ Brad thought, a predatory grin spreading across his face.
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Author commentary: Child With a Knife
1. Next chapter will be released around March 14th. I hate school.