Authors speech: Well, what to say? The last three months have been just hell for me, thus the more than late update. I ended up having a complete breakdown, followed by one of my computer.^_^; The whole mess got just fixed last week and well, here's the new chapter!
Notes: I´d like to dedicate this chapter as well as a great thank-you hug to Rose, Ryuke-Naoe, Rei and Bea-chan. You're great! I don't know what I've done without your great aid, you're the best!^__^ Also, I finally gave up on the rating and made this a R story. I don't really know why yet, but I'm sure you'll find a reason if you just keep looking. ^_~
Disclaimer: not mine, not mine, not mine…!*starts weeping*
What he certainly hadn't plannedChapter 19
"Can't make it too easy for you, ne?"
The words, accompanied with a challenging smirk replayed themselves over and over in Aya´s head for the rest of the night. What had that been? Had it been an invitation to come and try to get him or-? ´Hell! If I'd just- !´ Had he been serious now or had it been just another one of his mind games. ´He certainly seems to like to mess around with me.´ The thought did not come without a small amount of bitterness. Twisting up his face, Aya continued staring at the ceiling.
It was already 6:34 AM.
Brad had still not returned to the room.
´Argh! To hell with it!´
Standing up, Aya swiftly threw over some covers and left to look for the missing Oracle. (Despite all, there was no way he would let the others go around and see him roaming the houses corridors with nothing else on than his boxers. Well…except Brad maybe.) Flinching, Aya cursed himself. There he was again. Out of some reason all of his thoughts seemed always to center on one subject: Brad Crawford.
´Slowly this is getting to be a problem.´
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He didn't have to search for long.
Sure enough, the precognitive in question sat/lay curled up on the living rooms couch, having fallen asleep there. Looking down at the gently breathing form, Aya didn't know whether to scowl or to smile at such unlikely behaviour.
´You're the leader of one of the world's most dangerous assassination groups; can't you be a little more responsible?´ He grinned faintly at that thought, knowing just too well how unfitting it was. Still, Brad Crawford, sleeping on their living room couch and looking like he couldn't care less about what was going to happen in the future for all he was worth was a sight worth remembering.
For a moment the redhead wholeheartedly mourned that he hadn't brought a camera before his practical part kicked back in. ´That position can't be comfortable.´ Rounding the couch so that he was now standing in front of it, Aya sighed silently to himself. What now? If he left him like this, the American was probably going to have a knot in his neck when he woke up. The Weiß´s leaders first instinct told him to lift the sleeping boy from the couch and carry him to the bed…
On the other side, who guaranteed him that the rejuvenated leader of Schwarz wasn't going to wake up? He imagined what he was going to say if that possibility happened. ´Uh, good morning…? I just thought that you'd probably get a real sore neck if you kept sleeping like that-´ He imagined the Oracle's reaction to that.
Not very likely. Fighting down the faint blush that had starting to colour his cheek at the thought of the other being ´sore´ -and scolding himself for his sudden perverted nature- Aya frowned at the sleeping form. ´That's all your fault.´
What did the guy have to go ahead and deceive his employers when they were performing that weird ritual? Why did he have to get himself turned fifteen again? Why did he have to lose his consciousness in an alley where they were bound to find him when they returned from a mission? And why, oh why, did he have fall in love with him?! Aya had no answer.
´Somebody up there really must either love or hate me.´ He shook his head lightly. ´Brad Crawford. Why the hell did it have to be Brad Crawford? Out of all people, he's the least likely person one would fall for.´ He sighed. ´But on the other hand…´
…it really was no wonder that he was attracted. Sharp yet youthful features, raven-coloured black hair with bangs that was continuously being tousled, a pair of ever-so-slight almond-shaped eyes - Aya guessed that there were some Asian influences back in his family - dominated by eyes of a colour that'd do a tiger honour. Not to mention his confident behaviour that could evoke trust in his ability and fear just the same…along with an all in all gorgeous body…
Aya had to quickly shake his head to clear it of these thoughts. Shit! What was he doing! While watching the other, the picture of the Brad Crawford he'd been fighting and the younger one he'd with living with had been beginning to blur, making it very hard for him to regain self-control. Despite all, he'd managed to avoid getting completely shotacon over that matter until now, though more of his thoughts –especially some of the pictures- belied the truth of that. It was becoming a very hard trial indeed. Somehow he couldn't imagine Crawford getting all too happy about that image.
Wait- He'd just called him Crawford, right? Crawford, not Brad… that was it! If he managed to continue thinking about the other like that he'd probably make it to carry him over to their room and keep a straight face in case the other should wake. ´All right. Here we go…´
Pushing his hand under the sleeping form he gently scooped him up. Standing there, he was for a moment surprised at the other's lack of weight. Aya carefully shifted until his position until he was sure to have him in a save hold.
For someone who would later become such well-developed martial artist –Aya had neither forgotten the time the American had caught his katana with his bare hands nor the fact that his boxing moves were ´stunning´ to say the least (more in the knock-out with a single hit area) as he'd learned from experience. – he was surprisingly light at this age. Well, he was surprisingly small with his approximately five feet something as well. To imagine that he would later grow to nearly seven feet…
It really was amazing. Nothing to ponder on about right now, though. Clearing his head, Aya focussed rather on the task at hand and started -a lot more careful than before- his way back to his room.
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He felt his infamous smirk crawl over his lips as he watched the scene from afar. ´Aww, how cuute! Aya-chan´s scared to wake Bradley-boy up if he touches him!´ Schuldig barely kept from snickering. If they'd known they were having an audience, his life would be at peril in an instant.
The smirk widened even more as he caught some less than innocent thoughts starring his leader from the other redhead. ´Whoa. Didn't think that he had that in him.´ An especially graphic picture found its way into his head, and the German's bluish-green eyes went wide. ´…I don't think that position's possible without breaking at least several bones- including the back...´ Why did people always think that he was the perverted one anyway? One look at what some of the Weiß kitties had in their heads… Guess it was simply the appearance.
Who'd ever thought that Fujimya would've been able to imagine such things… Ne, he'd even been thinking about doing them! And with Crawford of all people… Schuldig howled inwardly with laughter. Imagining these two together in bed was just too much for him. ´God! We'll always have to make sure they won't bring their weapons with them when they're at it…´ An image of those two threatening each other with their weapons about who was going to be on top while sitting in bed came up in his mind. Schuldig barely kept himself from giggling like a gleeful little child. ´Ooo, that's going to be _so_ good…!´
Now he just had to make sure that Fujumiya wasn't going to spoil it. Watching the Japanese's awkward struggling, Schuldig leaned carelessly against the doorframe. ´Seine guten Absichten in Ehren, aber er benimmt sich echt wie der erst Mensch.[1]´ The thought brought an amused sneer on his face. ´You're lucky that I'm here to help you.´
Ah! Obviously Abyssinian had finally decided to take action. It didn't take him long to spot Schuldig. ´And there we already had an ideal chance to improve our lives a lot…´
He smirked.
[1] His intention's doing him honour, but he's really behaving like the first human being.
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Aya frowned suspiciously at the smirking German. He was looking all too pleased for his personal taste.
"What are you doing here?"
Schuldig grinned broadly.
"Why, Aya-chan, so distrustful? I was just enjoying the sweet view of you two."
Violet eyes narrowed. Aya didn't like the suddenly cute way the other was speaking. The telepath's eyes glittered roguishly.
"Aw, come on, there's no need to be that unfriendly. After all the bad times we've given each other…"
"As much as I can remember, it was rather one-sided."
Aya´s voice had dropped several inches below the freezing point. He was sure now. He didn't like that obnoxiously importunate guy. He didn't like the way he was drawling the words he thought were specially amusing, he didn't like the way his eyes were glittering as he was watching them, and he most definitely didn't like the way he kept staring at Brad!
Schuldig backed away from the furious amethyst eyes, raising his hand in a mock protectively gesture. "Hey, hey, hey, Aya, no need to get all that riled up. I don't want a thing from Braddy here."
Aya´s eyes narrowed. "Braddy?" He instinctively clutched the sleeping Oracle closer to his chest.
Schuldig sweatdropped. ´Uh-oh. There's a jealous one.´ The thought of the Weiß leader thinking that he and stiff Crawford could have a thing going between them almost made him laugh. Knowing what was better for his health, he kept it to himself, though.
Trying to look as serious as possible he gave the suspicious redhead in front of him a (what he hoped) stern look. "Umm…, I don't think he likes that." He pointed at Crawford's sleeping form, which had begun to stir. Following the telepath's indication, Aya noticed it too. An almost panicked expression appeared in his eyes. Schuldig once again found himself hard-pressed not to laugh.
"Just hold still."
Aya immediately froze. For a minute nothing happened. Then Crawford squirmed a bit more and, cuddling his head up against Aya´s warm chest, fell asleep again with a gentle moan.
Both redheads had frozen with anticipation when the black-haired youth first had started moving. Schuldig allowed himself to relax with a little sigh, noting the faint blush that had found its way on the other redhead's face. And started snickering.
´…´ Aya didn't know what to think. Was this now hell or was it heaven? Somewhere he could feel the heat creep up his face and silently cursed his pale complexion, which showed any ever-so-slight trace of a blush immediately. Still, that feeling of Brad curled up to him that closely was really, really nice. A faint snicker tore him back reality.
Aya scowled at the broadly grinning telepath. Schuldig smirked back. "Should I bring you some cold water?" Burning violet-coloured ice stared back at him.
"Thank you. But I'm not that needy yet." The words came out rather clipped. ´But I _will_ be soon if he keeps doing such things.´
That thought turned out to be too much for poor Schu. Making a strangled noise in the back of his throat, he stumbled back until he could lean against the wall. "Please… Stop…You two…" He started howling with laughter again, though he made sure that it wasn't too loud to wake Crawford in the aftermath.
When he looked up, Aya was clearly glaring at him. "What do you want anyway? Except laughing at us." Schuldig smirked back.
"Actually I was just laughing at _you_. At Braddy, nur am Rande.[2]" He drawled. That brought him a risen eyebrow. Schuldig sighted. ´I really shouldn't use that much German around them. Wasted efforts.´ After all they didn't even get the point he was playing at.
"Crawford's not involved with what I want to talk to you about. Much." That earned him another suspicious look. So he wanted to _talk_ to him? Aya decided not to let his guard down. Schuldig wriggled an orange-red eyebrow at him. "So are you gonna hear me out or not?" Aya stared a moment at him and then heaved a silent sigh.
"Do I have much of a choice?"
The German redhead grinned. "Nope."
"Thought so."
[2] just in passing.
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"So, basically you're offering to help me get in a relationship with Brad?"
Schuldig nodded, his usual gleeful smirk plastered on his face. "Exactly. A bit of a long-winded explanation on my part, but that's the idea." He put an arm around the other redhead's shoulders. "So? What do you say?" Aya watched him with a cold, unreadable look before speaking.
"…Do you want to keep that arm of yours?" Schuldig furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Then take it off before I do it for you."
Schuldig wrenched his arm away as if burned. "Würd´ ich dir zutrauen.[3]" He gave Aya a sour look. Aya raised merely an eyebrow. Sighing inwardly, the German decided it would be better to watch his actions around the other. Didn't need his gorgeous plan failing just because of an overly distrustful Japanese, did he? Abyssinian's eyes got even colder, if possible. He definitely didn't trust the mind-reader, that was for sure.
Rubbing his arm, Schuldig´s smirk reappeared on his face. "My, aren't we snappish?" That earned him another bad look. He sighed. "Look, I'm seriously trying here to help you. That you want something from Crawford is pretty obvious. I just thought that you might want a bit of help since he's a really hard nut to crack."
He watched Aya´s reactions to this carefully. The redhead had leaned against the basement room's wall, his head lowered, seemingly considering his words. ´Come on…Say yes. I know you want him…´ Schuldig was more anxious to get his suspicious accomplice-to-be to agree than he liked to admit. But hell, if he wanted to push that through he needed Aya cooperating!
"So?" He couldn't help pushing a bit further as the silence stretched a bit too long for his likening.
Aya finally directed his gaze back at the other redhead. "Why?" "Huh?" ´Why what?´ Now it was the Weiß leader's turn to give him an impatient look. "Why would you help me?" ´And why would he know that he's a ´hard nut to crack´?´
Schuldig sighed. "You really should do something against that rabid jealousy of yours, mate." Of course he'd heard that last question.
"I'm not your mate."
Schuldig just shrugged. "However, let's just say that I'm promising myself my own reward for doing this." Aya´s eyes narrowed. "That would be?" Seeing Crawford's face when he hears that I've been involved in this. As well as plenty of chances to get him into awkward positions. Schuldig could barely keep himself from snickering out loud as an image of one of those aforementioned 'awkward positions' came into his mind. Featuring the stiff American, along with Aya and a sudden lack of clothes. And then him with a camera popping in just in the right moment…Blackmailing material for more than nine lives!
Noticing the more than suspicious look that this outburst had earned him, he quickly answered. "Nothing that concerns you." And, seeing that the other wasn't quite convinced yet, he added. "Soooo…, how much do you have in your purse?"
Aya´s violet eyes widened in surprise. "You're…proposing to sell him to me?!" Schuldig smirked. "Well, as far as I can see… yes."
Aya stared at him incredulously. Too amazed by the offer, he couldn't do anything than gape silently at the other redhead. Gods, he knew from Brad that they weren't as close as the members of Weiß were, but that…! Simply unbelievable! Remembering himself, he quickly let his stare change fluently into a distrustful glare.
"Hey, it's not as if you're intending to harm him, right? There's no exchange for damaged goods."
The glare got thoughtful. Inwardly, Schuldig smirked. Just a wee little bit more… He knew that the kitty had the hots for their leader… Hook, line, sinker and… Aya started to go through the interior of his wallet, counting up the bills. Caught! Schuldig allowed himself to grin widely as the cash was handed over. Stuffing it carelessly into a pocket, he gave the silent Weiß leader a reassuring grin and telepathically added /Perfect. Just keep acting like always and leave the rest to me!/
With that he turned around and left the basement room, leaving a still very puzzled Aya in his wake. Blinking a few times, Aya felt a cold shudder running down his back.
´Somehow I have a bad feeling about this…´
[3] Wouldn't put it past you.
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"Crawford!! He's doing it again!"
Sighing in resignation, Crawford put the book he had been reading away and followed Nagi´s desperate shout. So much for spending a day without team-member influenced insanity…
Despite the fact that Omi and Nagi were working together now (heaven knew when that had happened), there was still some information left that had to be hacked before they could set out for a counter strike. Crawford assumed that they also wouldn't be done until the next day, so he'd planned on taking a good day's rest before the action started. It wouldn't do anyone any good if he'd fall asleep in the middle of a fight just because he'd been fooling around with Aya, right? Sorrowfully the American precog had (like so often) forgotten to include his crazy team-members into his plans… (Blame it on the fact that he didn't get that much sleep last night, ok?)
Asking the gods for the umpteenth time why, just why, it had had to be him to be struck with the other three mental cases of Schwarz, he followed the shout.
Of course, nobody answered.
Reaching the top of the stairs, the black-haired teen could immediately make out the source of the telekinetic´s distress. Well, actually, he could hear it immediately. Schuldig was at it again.
Sigh. ´How often did we go over this again?´ He winced as the German intoned an especially loud part of the song. Strangely enough, one could even recognize the words. It didn't diminish any of the suspicions of the American's as he heard his team's telepath sing: "Under the bitch, I give my life away-!" He figured that he didn't even want to know. Sighing again, he carefully edged closer to the source of noise.
´Well, at least you can make out what he's singing. I'm going to count that as an improvement.´ Fearing for his poor, tormented ears, Crawford already stopped after a few steps. For everyone who hadn't guessed by now, Schuldig was singing in the shower. Yes, singing in the shower. The other three members of Schwarz had by now come to call it the ´psycho-terror-Schuldig-special´ and learned to fear it. (Yep, even Farfarello. It was a powerful weapon indeed.) It wasn't as if the German had such a bad singing voice, actually… Crawford just wished that for once, he'd find _one_ language and tune he wanted to sing in and keep at it. But sorrowfully… no such luck.
By now Nagi was wishing for Schu to have gone mute, no wait, then he'd probably continue singing telepathically…! He was wishing for him to drop dead (darn Crawford for forbidding him to help it along), Farfarello with his sensible ears was wishing to go deaf, and Crawford was wishing that Schuldig would finally learn proper English, for that was the language Crawford assumed he was trying to sing in.
Except that particular part of the refrain, he hadn't been able to understand anything… Crawford was beginning to wonder if they were taking turns in annoying him. ´First Farfarello, now Schuldig… Nagi will have to make a real effort to top that.´
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"Schuldig! You may kill me, but spare my language, for heaven's sake!"
Aya was just halfway up the staircase when he heard the shout. The shop had been running unusually well – for once, most of the annoying, swooning girls were actually paying something - when the infernal noise had started.
Quickly ´excusing´ himself (as much as you can expect an excuse from Aya -.-;) that somebody must have left on the stereo, Aya had made his way to where Schwarz were supposedly to stay _without_ attracting further attention. So much for staying unobtrusive.
Aya growled lowly at the back of his throat. He'd rather not think about how to explain to an enraged Manx or Birman just exactly _why_ they were currently housing their worst enemies. Well, Brad had already proven to be no great problem about that issue, but the rest…. On the other side, it usually wasn't Brad to make such a ruckus. That was when he heard the shout, followed by a muffled answer that (Thank god!) signalled the end of the singing. Obviously Brad had already taken measures of his own…
The redhead stopped at his heels as he suddenly heard an unbidden voice in his head. That itself wasn't such an unusual thing as his consciousness also tended to come like that, but it honestly would be the first time that his consciousness had chosen to talk in that special familiar, slightly-accented voice. /You called, Aya-chan?/ Aya involuntary flinched at the sudden invasion. Seconds later he frowned.
/I didn't call you. And don't call me that./
/What, Aya-chan? You know, you and Oracle are really going to make a great couple, Käztzchen./ Aya´s frown deepened.
/Since when are you the sarcastic one?/ A chuckle.
/Oh, every once in a while… A man has to get his little pleasures from somewhere, right?/ Aya barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes at that answer. /By the way, would you mind staying like this for a few moments?/
Aya didn't have time to react to that overly innocent question, since the following happenings seemed to have decided to go all in super-speed.
Brad had just rounded the corner and was now on his way down the same stairs Aya was still standing on, when they heard the faint click of a door opening. Seconds later a red-haired, smirking German was suddenly standing right behind the precog, giving him a not-so-unintentional shove that was sending him falling down the stairs…Right into Aya´s surprised arms.
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´Goddamn- what is that unlucky fellow now up to again?!´
The vision came just too late for Crawford to react in time. Seeing the shadowy blur behind him, he tried to turn in time- and got shoved down the staircase!
"Oops. Sorry Crawford!"
Letting out a low yelp, Crawford felt himself falling, flailing desperately for something to hold on… And suddenly found himself hanging in midair, being stuck with his feet balancing on the very edge of a stair and his arms tightly wound around Aya´s chest and shoulders. – Giving him a dead-glomp while we're at it. Letting out a low growl that turned rather muffled since his head was buried against the crook of the redhead's neck Brad suddenly knew very well what Schuldig had been up to.
All right, so he was here, dangling rather unceremoniously in mid-air with only one surprised Fujimiya Aya between him and the remaining way down, the situation turned to be a bit desperate. That Schuldig was on top of the stairs laughing like crazy at them wasn't exactly helping either. Well, what to do in such a situation? Feeling a faint blush creeping up, Crawford carefully disentangled first one, then the other foot from the stair. Of course, that ended up leaving him flopping against the stoic Weiß leader.
Still being held in that tight embrace, Aya could feel his cheeks tinting as well. Brad still had his face buried against him and was currently silently cursing in several different languages. Schuldig was still laughing like crazy.
"First comes kissing, then…"
An special loud growl was could be heard.
"…and then… Uh-oh." And on went the merry hunt! On that day, they learned that a younger Brad Crawford wasn't only a bit easier to read, but also easier to anger – and to react to before said emotion.
Despite Schuldig´s higher speed, it became a very close match since the clairvoyant always already knew in advance where the telepath was going to dodge and thus could easily aim at exactly that place. They were just in the process of completing their seventeenth round of the apartment when Schuldig decided for an alternate course. He quickly dove past Aya down the stairs, a furious Crawford still hot on his heels. Now we all know the inevitable result of trying to run downstairs (especially, when also enraged)…
"-come here you crazy, demented…! I´m gonna – Fuck!!" Another fall. Another glomp. This time both were turning a rather curious crimson shade of red.
From below, Schuldig snickered. "Braddy, can't you restrain it for when you two are alone?"
Letting out an especially imaginative curse, Crawford simply leaped over rail of the staircase, crossing most of the distance between him and the stunned German. Schuldig was astonished at seeing his usually calm leader performing a stunt that suited him more. Luckily (for him), his shock didn't last for long, or the precog probably would have gotten him.
So, they only continued their merry chase for about the next few hours or so.
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"Oi, Yohji, you must see this! That's freakin-Oi! Watch it!"
The blonde in question frowned at Ken's call. ´Why the- What are they doing over there?´ What seemed like fifteen hours ago, Aya had gone to stop the infernal noise that their ´house guests´ had been making, and ever since then the commotion had only gotten worse. Five minutes ago then Ken had volunteered to go looking and to back Aya up, if necessary. The noise hadn't lost any of its intensity since then.
Putting his usual charming lazy smile on, he turned to their customers. By now, he was the only one who was still in the shop and taking care of them. Not that he minded that much, since they were all female and rather nice, but sorrowfully… about all of them were still under age and so off limits. Also, this was slowly turning into real work. "I'm terribly sorry my dears, put I fear I'll have to leave you all for a moment." He just couldn't go without adding, as if on an afterthought. "They need my help by switching off the television." That earned him many giggles.
Sighing inwardly, he trudged to where Ken's head had disappeared seconds ago and carefully peeked through it. "Guys? Whoa!" He had to hastily get out of the way as an absolutely insane German redhead dashed past, an Oracle who was seemingly beside himself with fury hot at his heels.
"Ne, isn't that a sight?"
Yohji stared at Ken who had taken a obviously more-or-less safe post near the door. Next to him stood an amazingly unfazed looking Farfarello. From upstairs, he could see Omi and Nagi duck into the safety of their room as the wild chase went past them. Aya was standing at the stairs, carefully watching not to stand in the way of the two crazy psychics. Yohji gaped.
"W-What happened?"
Ken chuckled. "Seems like Schuldig there tried to shove Br-uh, Crawford down the stairs, and Crawford got mad at him."
Yohji´s green eyes widened. "Mad? Are you calling that mad?" Ken just shrugged and gave him a sheepish look.
"He glomped Aya."
Both Weiß members turned surprised to the pale albino next to them. "He…what?!?" One single, amber eye gave them a nonchalant look. "He glomped Aya when he fell down the stairs." Seeing their astonished faces, Farfarello couldn't help himself from smirking. "I think he tried to stop the fall…" he continued in his ghost-like, hoarse voice.
Amusedly watching, the Irishman noted the slight blush that was creeping on the brunette's face at that statement, as well as the light shudder of Balinese. If you asked him, Schuldig and Crawford were slightly overdoing it.
Schuldig had started letting out short yelps (the stranger and sillier, the better) every once in a while, and Crawford wasn't exactly helping. Of course the lunatic knew that they weren't really fighting anymore. They'd stopped being serious quite a while ago, before Siberian had come to look after them. Just sparring, just like he had been the day before with Crawford. He watched Crawford promptly stumble as Schuldig decided to give an imitation of a police siren to his best in an overly nasal tone. It sounded so silly that Farfarello started chuckling. Farther up, Nagi had bit his lip to keep from laughing at his older team-mates antics.
Even Aya was looking amused by now.
The hunt just ended as some time later, Schuldig tried to cross over the couch in a flying jump and got one of his legs caught at the backrest. It looked rather impressing, with the orange-reddish redhead first leaping gracefully over the obstacle just to suddenly vanish completely with a strangled cry. Even Crawford couldn't hold up his angry image anymore after that.
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When Aya returned from his shift in the shop later that day, his good mood about the silly chase had ebbed off long ago. What stayed behind were worries. Oh, the chase had been fun, really, the part when Schuldig suddenly had decided to take shelter behind ´Yohji´s strong shoulders´ (direct quotation)…Poor Yohji. The surprised blonde had looked like he hadn't known what hit him until it was too late. And Aya had been so sure that the playboy liked to be in the center of attention…
But the good mood had quickly worn off when the redhead had remembered just exactly _why_ the clairvoyant had gotten that angry. Sure, being pushed down the stairs face first might have had some affect in it, but the precog had lost his temper just _after_ Schuldig had hinted at something going on between the two of them.
As euphoric as the thought of Brad touching him that closely (and fully intentionally too!) made him, the fear that it had been just that which had upset the raven-haired teen that much. The thought scared Aya more than he cared to admit. It was unsettling to say the least. It was all the silly German's fault! ´If only I'd never listened to that god-damn id-´ /My, your lack in faith disappoints me./
A frown stole its way into Aya´s features. He'd gone to the kitchen, as his team-mates normally tended to cluster around the living room during that time of the day. Either the kitchen or his room, that is, but he didn't want to risk running into Brad there. Now it turned out that all of his precautions to be alone had been in vain.
When he entered, Schuldig was lurching on one of the kitchen chairs while Farfarello was playing with the blender – probably preparing something new to shock Ken and Yohji. (Brad had had the decency to warn Aya of the white-haired man's strange antics.) A white towel was fanning the seemingly still-exhausted German fresh air on its own accord (courtesy of Nagi), and said telekinetic was discussing some computer-related topic at the back of the table. They could also be discussing the newest politics on Mars for all the redhead knew.
"Cat got your tongue? And it's not nice to talk about people like that when they can hear you." Schuldig smirked at him. Aya´s frown turned into a scowl.
"I have to talk to you." Schuldig rose an eyebrow, faking surprise. "Really? And about what?" Aya silently clenched his fists. "You _know_ about what." It came out as a low hiss. "Do I?" The German's grin was reaching from one of his ears to the other. It was met with a Fujimiya glare of death. Aya wasn't in the mood for such stupid games at all. "You do. Now. Immediately. Alone." The last bit was added after a short look at the two teens who had stopped their conversation and were now watching them with interest. Had he turned, he also would have noticed that Farfarello was listening carefully as well, though far less obviously.
Schuldig stretched with a huff in his chair, crossing his arms behind the back of his head in a lazy manner. /Can't we also do it like this? I'm too lazy to move./ Aya rolled his eyes, but agreed silently. Fetching himself something to drink, he thought sourly /It's your fault if Brad never wants to see me again. After that stunt you pulled I can't even blame him for it./
/Whoa, wait a sec! Who ever said that he never wants to see you again?/
/You did get his reaction after you made him hug me, didn't you?/
/You can say ´glomp me´, ya know. ´Cause that's what he did, for certain. Latched onto you like dear life itself./ A snicker accompanied that comment. Violet eyes scowled at him over the brim of a cup. Schuldig smirked lazily. /Also, it wasn't just because I made him throw himself at you./ A fine deep-red eyebrow rose at that statement.
/…? What did you say to him?/ The German's smirked turned satisfied. Abyssinian was quick to understand and process to new circumstances, like it seemed. A definite plus point in his little scheme. /Oh, just this and that. You know, nothing important… Just that he wants you to shag him into oblivion and so./
/You what?!/
/Well, something along that line anyway./ Aya resisted the urge to strangle the other redhead right there and then, a temptation which had suddenly increased to gigantic proportions.
Seeing that particular nerve twitch near the Weiß leader's eye, Schuldig hurriedly added. /And it really looks good for us./ He actually looked somewhat sheepish at it.
/Oh yeah?/ Aya´s mind voice sounded more than suspicious. The smirk immediately returned. /Yeah./
Studying the Japanese with a beam, he said. /I think he likes you./
For a moment, Aya looked actually surprised. /You think?/
/I'm pretty much sure of it. 99.8%. I've pulled that joke on him every time we meet somebody new, and 'til now he never reacted to it. You were the first to trigger a reaction./ and with a smirk he added /and such a strong one, too. You're definitely his favourite Weiß./ Aya didn't know how to react to that. Hope and fear were battling a fierce fight behind his sleeves while he blankly stared at the mind-reader, obviously lost in thoughts.
/You can always just go and ask him yourself, you know./ That comment sounded slightly irked. Obviously Schuldig didn't like being ignored.
´His favourite Weiß…´
Aya decided just to do that.
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"… Brad?"
The black-haired leading member of Schwarz turned from his place on the couch to give Aya a mildly curious look. He'd somehow gotten his glasses from somewhere and was now busy trying to adjust them to fit his fifteen-year old self. They still kept slipping to the tip of his nose.
Aya couldn't quite keep himself from smiling as he watched the great Oracle crossing his amber-brown eyes to glare at the stubborn device which had slid down once again. That gesture seemed far too innocent and naïve for somebody like him –or himself. Before that wistful thought could fight it's way on the surface he quickly stepped forward.
"May I?"
Brad gave him a surprised look, but handed him the glasses none the less. Avoiding making eye-contact, he spend the next few minutes with carefully bending the ear pieces of Brad's glasses until he felt that they should fit.
"Try it again now."
Silently, the glasses were taken from his offering hand and slipped up in a practised manner. They fit snugly. Not sparing Aya a look, the precog stood up and walked over to the window. Looking outwards, he tilted his head circumspectly first in one, then in another direction. Seemingly satisfied he turned with a sudden jerk, making eye contact with the redhead for the first time since he'd entered. The glasses still sat exactly on their position.
Making sure that the other would notice, Brad slowly moved his head in a grateful nod. Not much, but the precog knew that the other understood what he meant. Both men were equally stoic when it came to displaying emotions, so that they could easily read each other's little gestures and signs.
Aya easily caught the light movement that caused his heart to make a leap upwards. After all Brad hadn't only accepted his –his enemy's- help, but also recognized and even thanked him for it. That was a whole lot more than one could expect from the one you had been fighting so ardently, just such a short time ago. The redhead also noted the light amused sparkle in Brad's eyes and the even more minimal curve of his lips that signalised that he knew that Aya had understood him right. And that his reaction to it hadn't passed by unnoticed. Suddenly Aya was grateful that he already sat. Almost unwanted, Schuldig´s words repeated themselves in his head again.
When he turned Crawford noted with a hint of amusement that Aya was sitting right on the spot he'd occupied just short moment before. He wondered if it was intentional or coincidence. Being able to see the future made him very suspicious to coincidences of all sorts. He'd long ago learned that there was always more to them than met the eye. A way of thinking that had ensured his survival better than anything else.
But he also knew that he could trust Aya.
The Oracle shuddered involuntary at the thought. Trust him. How could he allow himself to trust anybody? Trusting the Weiß leader meant becoming vulnerable to him. Crawford couldn't do that. Couldn't let that happen. Still…he didn't hate Aya anymore. No, not at all. Another problem that had to be resolved. The American suppressed the sudden urge to sigh.
Sauntering seemingly carelessly over to where Aya was sitting, he studied his reactions closely.
"…Why are you doing this?"
"…Doing what?"
"Being so damn irritating."
An amused smirk hushed over the Brad's dark features. "I don't know. It's my curse, I guess." Aya made a disbelieving sound that caused Brad to look amused again. "Well, knowing what's going to happen makes you react differently." Aya raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
"Mm-hmm." Brad sat lightly on the corner of the couch next to Aya. Aya noted that the pre-cog kept a safe distance, though. The redhead wondered what had changed. It was Brad who broke the silence that had ensued first. "About what happened … …Sorry that I pounced you." Aya´s head snapped up at that, violet eyes wide with surprise. Brad Crawford was apologizing? The world's going to end. The clairvoyant was casually avoiding to look at him. After a long moment of staring, Aya shrugged his shoulders. "It's not as if you had much of a choice." That earned him an almost grateful look. Almost. Brad Crawford didn't go around looking as if he'd need anybody else's approval. Neither did Aya/Ran Fujimiya.
Despite better knowledge Aya couldn't keep himself from saying. "I'm just surprised that you didn't simply dodge." ´Please say that you didn't want to…´ Brad shrugged, wearing a non-descript look in his caramel-brown eyes. "I knew what was going to happen." He made a sour face. "Just a second too late." Aya chuckled at that.
When he stopped he noticed that Bras was watching him with a surprised look. "And you say that I'm irritating." Aya smirked at him. Brad returned it smoothly.
They sat there, on the couch in middle of the apartment of Weiß, studying each other with an equally smug expression. Not looking down, but facing the other as an equal. It created a strange, almost unreal atmosphere.
"The almighty Oracle isn't as perfect as everybody else thinks?" The question was asked in an almost amused voice. No, forget that. It was definitely amused.
The precognitive teen snorted.
"There's no such thing as perfection. Being perfect is a flaw in itself."
There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Aya cocked his head slightly. "So you admit that even you can get surprised." The mischievousness turned into predatory. "Of course. But not by any normal mortal, and never more than once." A fine red eyebrow was risen. "Oh? And what Schuldig did today?" Brad gave him a serious look.
"Do you really want to call him normal?"
The corner of Aya´s mouth twitched. "Touché." Silence ensued again. "Hey, want to try it out?" The redheaded leader of Weiß frowned. "Try what…?" Brad looked a bit too smooth for him, sitting there and looking like he'd been planning this all the time. He might have a serious crush on the rejuvenated precognitive. That didn't mean that he'd gotten all blue-eyed about his temperament though. Schwarz stayed Schwarz, no matter how young and innocent looking. Not that Brad looked currently innocent in any way. More like a cat that had just eaten the canary. Brad blinked at him.
"Why, trying to surprise me of course. Let's see who's the better assassin between us two."
Aya gave him a confused look, seemingly surprised the he'd suggest something like that. "What does _that_ have to do with being an assassin?"
Brad shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. "Fine. Then how about a be-?!?" The pre-cog promptly eeped as he was suddenly grabbed and flung through the air. Suddenly finding himself seated squarely in Aya´s lap, he wasn't sure whether to curse him for not paying attention or for doing something as utterly embarrassing and uncharacteristic as to eep.
Aya himself didn't know what to do. That right now had been sort of a rash panic action, prompted by his own insecurity and having Brad acting like that. Brad was sitting/leaning on his lap, with one arm resting on Aya´s shoulder to stabilize himself. One of Aya´s hands had found its way around the sleek boy's waist while the other was wrapped around his upper back, gently holding him in place. Shocked, beautiful amber-brown eyes stared at him in utter amazement.
"I win." Aya smiled at him. Reaching forward, he softly pulled Crawford´s glasses off and set them aside. At this rate, Crawford didn't know anymore what shocked him more. The fact that Aya was smiling at him or his own reaction to it.
"That… wasn't particularly fair."
That earned him another smile. Crawford didn't need his glasses to see that it was genuine and truly heartfelt. Nor did he need them to realize that that usually cool eyes had suddenly turned vibrant with unspoken emotion. It made Aya looking hauntingly beautiful.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he leaned a bit closer, never breaking eye contact. Barely he registered that his eyes had lid half-closed. "…but when's life ever anyway?" With that he completed the movement, kissing Fujimiya Aya, unofficial leader of Weiß, tenderly on his lips.
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End Chapter 19
A cruel place to end the chapter, ne?´`´`
Huggles to Rei Eien (Well, what .did. you expect from me?^_^), Ryuke-Naoe(thanks for being such a good friend and beta^o^-even though I keep messing around with your finished work), Kyra (I hope I managed to answer all of your questions), Dje (thanks for reviewing!^^), stray cat (^___^), Yami no Tenshi (hope it's snugly enough^.^ also thanks for telling me about that mistakes. There you see the outcome of rewriting an already beta-ed chapter^_^;), Rei (my great translator *glomp* ^_____^), Blue6-Blood6J6 (thanks for being there!^o^), Aysen (thanks very much for your review!^_~) and last but not least Bea-chan for making me write again.^-^
Well, that´s it for now. Hope tat you had as much of a good time reading as I had writing!^_^
Omake (by me and Ryuke):
Schuldig: *leaps over the couch and trips*
Crawford: *leans over the back of the couch* O.O "Are you all right?"
Schuldig: *lies in a heap on the floor* *curses and asks what he _thinks_ he is*
Crawford : ^ ^;
Aya: *glaring at Schuldig*
Schuldig: *smirks back*
Please leave a little review so that I know to continue this, ´kay?^_~