Disclaimer: Don't own Weiss, never will. I'm doomed to just play with them.

Blue on Blue

Chapter 4

Nagi sighed in relief when the doctor left. The man annoyed him greatly. All he did was poke and push causing him more pain, all the while mumbling to himself. He did hear the doctor telling the nurse that his lungs were strong and that he fared a lot better because he was in good shape. Nagi couldn't help but smile at the assessment. As a child he'd never been athletic. He was teased because he preferred sitting at a computer to playing sports. And when his telekinesis kicked in, life became even easier and he did even less physical activity.

But after an especially bad beating he'd taken from Oracle, he realized he'd never survive another if he didn't become stronger physically. So he began running, taking yoga and training under a local sensei learning Tai Chi. He wasn't the strongest guy around by far, but he could take care of himself well enough if he was denied his powers. At least he could when he wasn't faced with three psychos with powers and no souls.

Nagi was also happy to have some of the bandages off. They were stifling. He wasn't accustomed to having his skin so smothered. He hadn't worn his uniform in years. How would it look to have a twenty-one year old man walking around in an outfit that was a cross between a military uniform and a school uniform? And when he went on missions, his gear was lightweight for increased mobility. So he had managed to completely get rid of the bandages on his shoulder and forehead, and convinced the nurse to only wrap three of the normal five layers around his midsection.

The nurse had offered him a shirt, but he declined. It would just be more material against his skin. Besides, he liked the cold. It was clean, fresh and invigorating. He looked down at the flower in his hand as he twirled it. He had no idea how to act around Omi now. How did friends act?

"Hi there." Nagi's head snapped up and his cheeks colored a little at the sight of a smiling Omi in his doorway. "Would you like some company?"

"Sure."

Omi sat down in the chair next to the bed and the two sat in silence for a few moments. Then Omi noticed the flower in Nagi's hand. "So you like the flowers?"

Nagi silently cursed himself for not getting rid of the blossom before Omi saw it. Gods I must look pathetic. "Yes, I do. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I wasn't sure if you would be mad but I thought this room could use a little cheering up."

"Did you….arrange them?"

"Well, that's a funny story."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Omi proceeded to relay his adventure at a nearby flower shop. He had wanted very specific flowers and didn't like what the florist was doing so he kept interjecting with instructions and reaching over the counter to adjust the blooms. The florist finally became so angry with him that he gave Omi an apron and told him to do it himself.

"And that's exactly what I did. Unfortunately, a few customers saw the arrangement and wanted ones just like it so I stayed and did a few custom orders."

The unassuming sandy blonde shrugged his shoulders with that beaming smile and those bright blue eyes and somehow, it made Nagi feel better.

"So you commandeered a flower shop?"

"Well, I wouldn't say---"

"If I were the owner I'd have thrown you through the front window."

"Thankfully you weren't. And he wasn't too mad when I left, but when I need more flowers, I'm not going back there."

"More?"

"Sure. These flowers aren't going to last you through recovery."

"Oh."

Omi saw the frown on Nagi's face as the brunette looked down at his hands and the blue flower. "Unless you don't want anymore. I won't--"

Nagi looked up, sounding more desperate than he would have liked. "No. I like them a lot."

Omi smiled again and leaned his arms on the bed, "Good."

"I just didn't think I would be here that long."

"Oh. Well I'm no doctor so you shouldn't rely on my estimation."

Omi tried to keep the smile in place, hoping his worry didn't show through.

"Omi…"

Pale blue eyes searched brilliant blue sapphires, trying to tell the man before him how confused he was and how much he wanted his help but would never ask. He wanted to tell him that he was happy to finally have a friend for the first time in his life. He wanted to explain why he was so distant to his newfound friend and promise to try harder. But all he could manage was,

"Thank you."

The two words affected Omi, Nagi could see this. The blue eyes became watery and his cheeks were flush. But why? Can he read my mind? Does he know what I am unable to say to him? Nagi looked away to the other side of the room, trying to concentrate on anything other than the man next to him.

A warm hand reached out and ran trembling fingers over the fresh scar on his shoulder. "What….what happened? Tell me who did this to you."

He didn't look at the sad face he knew was looking at him. He heard the sadness in his voice, which was enough. He started slightly at the touch, but he was happy that Omi hadn't pulled back. His fingers felt much better than the doctor's. They were warm and soothing.

"It was my fault. I didn't prepare enough. Somehow, they managed to hide the fact that they had a Suppressor in their group." Nagi sighed and began to twirl the flower again, staring at it, hoping to keep the flower's image in his head instead of the images from that night. "I had killed one of their group a week prior during an unexpected encounter. The remaining three came after me for revenge and they quickly overwhelmed me once the Suppressor did his job. Without my powers even I have to admit I'm an easy target for the likes of them. I tried to run, but I had already taken a blade to the shoulder and been tossed around a few times. Literally. When they caught up with me….." Nagi shivered and turned away from Omi slightly, lying partly on his side. "I managed to pull what little of my power I could and make it seem like my heart stopped."

"Is that how you managed to escape?"

"Sort of. Even though they thought me dead, they decided to take me back to their superiors for testing. What kind, I don't know. But I've been through enough to----"

Nagi stopped, realizing what he was saying. This wasn't any of Omi's business. He doesn't want to or need to hear about my past. There's nothing good in it anyway. Nagi cleared his throat and continued.

"I managed to lift a blade from the guy carrying me. I created a distraction and when he turned around I threw the knife at the Suppressor. I got him in the shoulder and when everyone was confused, I pushed off and ran. I carried myself to the Takatori building and you know the rest."

"Who were these people?"

"Bougu. They're a lot like Schwarz actually. Hired muscle to protect someone or steal something. I found out they helped the eco-terrorist group responsible for the attack on the United Nations summit last year."

"Why did you go up against them by yourself? Why didn't you contact me?"

"I would have been fine if the Suppressor wasn't there!" Nagi glared at Omi, his pride finally coming through.

"And if you had known?"

"Divide and conquer. It worked on Rosenkreuz and all the others."

"Nagi." Omi reached out again, but Nagi pulled away, turning his back and laying on his side again. When he spoke, his voice was the calm detached voice Omi knew very well.

"It's my job Omi."

"Not anymore."

Nagi froze. This is it. He's going to kill me. I failed him and he's going to kill me. He isn't any different than Esset or Oracle or any of the others. His barrier immediately went up and he heard a small gasp behind him as his body slowly lifted from the bed and began to float in the air.

"You're just like the others aren't you? Well I won't let you kill me! I didn't survive Schwarz and this last beating to die now."

Omi watched in awe as Nagi used his power to get himself out of bed and float in the air. His body may still be suffering from injuries, but his power was back full force. and Omi knew that if he wanted to, Nagi could generate a blast so powerful that it would take out half a block.

"Kill you! Why would I kill you Nagi!" He took a few steps forward, but was quickly repelled by the telekinetic's barrier. "I don't want to ever see you hurt like this again! I couldn't bear having to send you back out to risk your life like that again. Nagi! I want you to stay with me!"

Omi's last statement sent a shockwave through Nagi and he lost his concentration, sending his body crashing to the floor. "Nagi!" Omi was by his side in an instant, cradling the young man as he kneeled on the floor. "Nagi? Are you ok?" He brushed the long bangs from Nagi's face and then began caressing his cheek with a gentle thumb. "Nagi, what am I going to do with you? What else can I possibly do to convince you that I will never, ever hurt you?"

"Omi…I'm….I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Trust me." Omi hugged the wounded man to him. "I don't know what happened to you in your past to make you so withdrawn and mistrusting of people and I probably never will. But I swear to you Nagi," he pulled back to look into the slate blue eyes, his brow furrowed, "I will never betray you. I will never hurt you. And I will do everything in my power to protect you."

"But…..why?"

Omi smiled at the confused man. "Because silly, you're my other half." He bent down and kissed the flushed cheek gently, then hugged Nagi once again. "You should get back into bed. The nurse will have a fit if she sees you lying on the floor." Omi pulled back and helped Nagi to his feet, despite the fact that the man could easily float himself back to bed. He pulled the covers up to Nagi's lap and went to pick a flower from the arrangement. "Here."

Nagi looked at the deep pink lotus in his hand. It had a stem container on it so it would receive enough water to live in the arrangement and Nagi inwardly chuckled. I bet that shop owner wasn't mad at you Omi. I bet he was jealous.

"You are like the lotus Nagi. You are beauty born of the mud." Nagi just stared at the bloom, mesmerized. "Get some rest. I'll be back later and we can have dinner together, ok?" Omi didn't expect an answer and he didn't get one. Nagi stared at the flower as Omi's words echoed in his head, over and over.

You are beauty born of the mud……I want you to stay with me…..Trust me……I will never hurt you….you're my other half…

Nagi felt the tears trail down his cheeks and he cursed the weakness. Tears were for children and women. Could he be right? Is that why I have been drawn to Omi all these years? Why I do not mind being in his company? Is he my other half? We are similar, yet we have some very distinguishing differences. He let his finger trace the curve of the petals.

"Omi….I will try. For you, I will try to be the friend you deserve. I promise."

To be continued…..