Chapter 21: The Prodigal Son Returns

Life's a voyage that's homeward bound.
Herman Melville (1819 - 1891)

Schuldig compared Nagi's note with the address on the building. 4-2-3. This was it. He opened the car door and got out. A familiar black BMW was parked beside his car. Sometimes you had to leave to know where home was, Schuldig thought, as he walked up the steps.

He didn't bother knocking. Crawford would know he was coming. He gripped the doorknob. It turned, opening the door. An unlocked door was as good as an invitation from a pre-cog. "Tadaima," he called. A squeak of a chair moving across linoleum told him where to find Crawford.

Crawford was sitting in the kitchen, the morning paper in hand. A cup of coffee sent tendrils of stream into the air. It looked so domestic. Schuldig smirked at that. Appearances really could be deceiving. Especially around Crawford. Schuldig sat in the only other chair, which had been set back to the table, ready for Schuldig to sit astride it, as he usually did with these kind of chairs. Another invitation. "You know how to make a man feel welcome, Crawford," he said as he sat down.

Crawford looked at him briefly and gave him that all-purpose, noncommittal-yet-knowing smile of his that told Schuldig nothing. It was Crawford's default face. Schuldig made an exasperated sound and drummed his fingers on the table. "What? No lecture?"

Crawford turned back to his paper and began folding it up. That was his answer. He didn't waste words if they weren't needed. They rarely were between Schwarz.

Schuldig's fingers drummed again, then stopped. "How 'bout a cup of coffee, then?"

"Sorry. Last one." Crawford stood to drop his paper in the trash. He contemplated his cup for a moment, then picked it up and came around the table. He put the half-full cup in front of Schuldig. Before he could withdraw his arm and move away, Schuldig reached up and wrapped his arm around Crawford's. He leaned his head against the sleeve and drew in the well-known scent.

Picking up the cup with his free hand, Schuldig peered up at Crawford. His eyes sparkled with the mischief that Crawford remembered so well. "You know, drinking after someone is an indirect kiss." Never taking his eyes off of Crawford's, he brought the cup up to his lips. He lightly licked the rim like a cat, then closed his eyes and drank deeply.

Crawford watched, entranced. Schuldig took the simple act and turned it into something beautiful and sensual. He was especially drawn to the way the strong line of Schuldig's throat worked as he swallowed.

Crawford took the cup away and set it back on the table, then tilted Schuldig's face up for a kiss. He tasted his coffee, a taste so familiar yet now tinted with the unfamiliar flavor of Schuldig's mouth. He savored the intermingling of familiar and unfamiliar, committing them to memory. When he drew away, Schuldig sighed and leaned his head against Crawford's still restrained arm. Crawford lightly twined a lock of fiery hair around his finger.

"Welcome home, Schuldig."

A/N: Sorry for taking so long to put this up—I've been working on the next installment and forgot that I hadn't finished this one. Oops. Well, here we are. Last of Opening Doors. All that's left is the epilogue. But the fat lady isn't singing yet, folks. There's still an good bit left in this opera. Thanks as always (and from the bottom of my heart):

Lonecayt: Yay, indeed! BradxSchu makes me so happy. And no way would they abandon Nagi. They'll be around.

TrenchcoatMan: Found out a little bit more about the Sally angle, and I agree with you. They could have come up with something better.

Yanagi-sen: Short chapters seems to be one of my flaws. Glad you thought it was cute, though.

FungiFungusRayne: It's Crawford we're talking about, so I'd say a bear trap. With a handful of tranquilizer darts.

Hisoka: OxN will probably have a few chapters in the upcoming fic, but they're still side characters. After this, I'll try my hand at a pure OxN fic. The idea makes me a bit nervous, though. I don't feel like I have all that good a grasp on their personalities.

Sweet666: I hope that you view this as a happy ending for Schu and Brad. I'm a sap. I want a happy ending for them, too.

The First Light: I'll have to check out .hackSIGN. I've heard of it, but was leery about picking up a new anime. I already got sooo muuuch on my plate, with Inu Yasha and One Piece (will they ever END?!), Fruits Basket, Wolf's Rain, and others. You've got me intrigued, though. . .

Nony: Sorry about leaving off the 'Hamlet' attribution. I had it in my rough draft, but it somehow got lost in one of the revisions. No pro, but might have an epi. Get off after the next station to board the new train. I hope you like it.