Beautiful Stranger
Author's notes:
1. I first want to say "Thank you" to my dear dear reviewers, for reviewing and for telling me happy-birthday. It's so much fun to receive this kind of thing in the midst of the mess in my life.
2. #Major-Super Sized-Sweat drop# I truly deeply am very sorry for not updating that quickly. I'll try updating faster in the next chapters… (Although I'm not sure about the what's going to happen after this chapter… o.o;;;)
3. LADIES AND OTHER FANS! THIS IS THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THIS IS THE MOMENT I EVEN STARTED THIS FIC FOR – THE REASON WHY WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY! And with no further notes and delays – the curtain rises, and here's the sixth chapter.
WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!
#cough#… I had to do that…
N-a-g-i-
He was running. He was running away. Away from everything. He had to. He just had to escape. Even if just for a short while. He had to get away. Away from Schuldich's taunting remarks; away from Crawford's cold gaze; away from Farfarello's madness. He just had to run. He just had to break free and disappear to wherever his legs would take him.
He was running so fast his legs were hurting, but he didn't care; he took the pain and continued to get further and further away. He was running so intently, his eyes clenched closed, that he didn't even feel how walls and streets and roads flew by him.
He was running…
O-m-i-
He was running. He was running away. Away from everything. He had to. He just had to escape. Even if just for a short while. He had to get away. Away from Youji's teasing remarks; away from Aya's cold gaze; away from Ken's clumsiness. He just had to run. He just had to break free and disappear to wherever his legs would take him.
He was running so fast his legs were hurting, but he didn't care; he took the pain and continued to get further and further away. He was running so intently, his eyes clenched closed, that he didn't even feel how walls and streets and roads flew by him.
He was running…
!-!-!-!-!-!
BANG!
Two boys collided together in a frontal collision. Had you been there to watch, and even if you weren't a physicist, you would've seen that the formulas about how speed and mass effect force were right, seeing as both boys collided so hard from their running that it made each fall backwards and crash on the sidewalk.
"Ugh…" a groan came from the smaller boy as he tried to get up. He was about to yell at the other guy to watch where he was going next time, however, couldn't utter even one letter when he saw just who was the guy. Maybe it was just him, but he could feel his choker suddenly really choking. He tried to say something again and yet the shock still had his tongue. Well, that and the flow of words that came from the blond boy.
"Oh gosh. Oh god. I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking and I was running so fast and, oh god, I'm so sorry." He quickly got up to his knees and was now half-towering over the smaller boy, who seemed now even more nervous. He reached out his hand for help while scanning the boy before him for any injuries. "I'm so sorry. I hope you're okay. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I…"
It was obvious that the Weiss-assassin didn't recognize him. He wasn't sure whether to be happy about it, or sad.
"I'm okay."
The blond sighed in relief and sat back on his hills. "Good. I was so afraid. I don't usually run into people like that. I'm so sorry."
"It's-It's okay."
Silence.
The blond boy's expression was tinted with worry again. "Are you sure you're okay? Did you get hit hard in the head?... Ah, sorry, I didn't mean it like 'are you an idiot?' I just want to make sure you didn't get-"
"It's okay. Really, I'm alright." Nagi had to calm the boy down and cut the ever-continuing flow of words. He watched from his sprawled position how the other boy guiltily smiled at him, running his hands up and down his thighs.
The feeling was rather awkward. This wasn't what Nagi planned as his next meeting with Bombay. He wondered why the blond was still sitting there. Yes, indeed; awkward was the feeling of this 'meeting'.
"Well…" He started while he was trying to get up from his spread position to a standing pose. "Let's get go- AH!"
Nagi suddenly cried out as he felt a strange pain in his leg. He immediately reached for the source of pain, where his ankle hurt, and felt the place. There was no wound on the surface and the pain felt more internal than external. It definitely hurt.
"Oh shit!"
"What! What happened? Are you okay? Where does it hurt?" Omi immediately jumped. It's amazing how he could get so panicked over someone who was a complete stranger to him. However, this was different. This was a very beautiful stranger from what he could see through the dark of the street; it was night and the part of street where they had crashed wasn't much lighted. So you could say his panic was understandable.
"My foot hurts. Dammit!" Nagi said, enraged.
"Let me check it." Omi said, reaching with his hands to the boy's leg.
"NO!" Nagi suddenly jumped. The thought of the blond boy touching his leg at these circumstances was rather disturbing. This was seriously not what he had in mind for their first contact. He pulled his leg back, out of the older boy's reach. "I'm fine!"
Omi was puzzled.
Nagi quickly got up, wincing as his foot showed resentment from having any pressure on it. He tried to walk but it hurt and he ended up walking only to the pole near by. He cursed again, "What am I gonna do? I'll never make it home like this, in time. They'll surely find out I'm gone and then I'm doomed…"
"You're limping!" Omi exclaimed worriedly. "Let me check how bad it is? You must attend it."
"But, how?" Nagi asked, looking at Bombay with a desperate expression.
"Well… umm… I know it sounds suspicious but I live not far from here. I can check you there and attend your wound." Omi suggested, pointing at a random direction behind Nagi.
"…" Nagi didn't know what to say, or more like – how to say. He couldn't go to Bombay's place. Not only had his long-awaited meeting gone terribly wrong, but he would also be seen by the rest of Weiss in their residence, and they would surely recognize him and would come to kill him. He swallowed.
"I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."
Nagi ironically laughed inside himself. Omi's promise did seem promising, though.
"But… I… wouldn't I disturb the others?" Nagi hesitantly asked, knowing very well to whom he referred and hoping the other wouldn't figure out that he actually knew about his dark bloody life.
"Others?", Omi asked quizzically, "Oh no, Nobody lives there but me."
Nagi was relieved, but only half-way. Now all he worried about was that at the stronger light of Bombay's apartment, the blond would see him better and recognize him, and that would lead to a battle scene – a dead end.
"Here, let me help you." Omi said again as he approached slowly, reaching his hand out for help. However, seeing as the other boy got more and more nervous with every step he took, he simply smiled and told him to follow him.
!-!
After a short walk, the blond boy motioned for them to walk in into an old apartment building. Nagi was silent the whole time of the walk, constantly watching his object of affection. When they stood together in the small space before his door, it seemed his watching was getting very unnerving for the older boy, seeing as he nervously fumbled with his keys. He glanced at Nagi with a sheepish smile and focused back on the keys.
"You'd have to excuse me," He started as he finally clicked the door open, "I haven't been here for a long time, so it's kinda dusty. Now where are the light-switches…" Omi trailed off as he entered and started feeling the walls around them.
Nagi entered hesitantly. It was dark and a bit scary but he wanted it to stay that way. The deeper he went into the apartment, the tighter the feeling in his chest was. He was tense and it was getting harder to breathe. He was afraid that the moment the lights would go on, the dream would end.
…
"There it is!" Omi exclaimed, switching the lights on. He turned to look at his stranger, freezing still the moment his eyes fell on the slender form in the edge of the room.
Nagi became more tensed upon the look he received from the other boy. It was time to flee. However, his mind didn't register that order. He was struck with awe over his beloved's tender beauty, there right in front of him.
The two boys stood still, staring at each other, taking in the heavenly sight revealed before them. Omi's mouth slightly opened in awe as he took in the image before him. A slim ivory statue was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black shirt, covered by ragged blue jacket. It was topped by an innocent child's face, framed by short bangs of hair in the color of milk-chocolate. But Omi could hardly see those things, for his eyes were locked with the most fascinating eyes he had ever seen. Those were eyes of the highest ranked angel. Big eyes of misty azure that caught the light of the room like a pair of diamonds.
Nagi wasn't sure whether he was dreaming or living in the moment. Before him stood Bombay, looking directly at him, like he always fantasized, looking like he had on the picture Nagi used to have. Bombay was right there, only few feet from him, for real. He was a bit taller than what he had imagined. He was wearing baggy black pants and a baggy grey T-shirt. His tanned skin shone in the yellow lights of the apartment like golden sand on a dreamy beach. The golden bangs of hair only failed to draw attention, because of the deep ocean-blue eyes that pulled his soul into them. The beauty of these blue eyes was empowered by the red tint that came to the boy's cheeks. Wait, was the blond blushing?
They both averted their gaze quickly.
"Umm…. Sit over there." He heard the boy saying through a curtain of blonde hair. He sat on one of the couches that were furnishing the living room. Omi followed him and sat in front of him on the floor.
"Do you want to drink something?"
Nagi almost blushed. "No thanks."
Omi gave him a small smile. "Now let's see…" He took off the stranger's foot wear, sensing the boy slightly jumping. When the ivory foot was bare before him, he had to take a moment to snap back to reality. It was so delicate, with each thin toe standing up straight in its right place, like someone combed them. He took a breath and started to check the area.
Nagi jumped at the touch of the other boy. His hands were so warm against his skin. His jump startled the other boy.
"I'm sorry, did that hurt badly?"
"N-No… it didn't hurt."
He let the boy continue to examine the injured foot. He answered honestly when the blond inquired if the position he flexed the foot hurt, quietly enjoying the feel of the blonde's warm hands on his skin. Nagi secretly reached for his choker, grasping at the two metal discs. He watched as the boy examined him professionally, with such dedication and care. However, the boy didn't look at him, only randomly glancing at him from time to time. Maybe he was still hiding a blush under his hair. How he wanted to touch that blonde hair, feel his silky hair run under his fingers and between them, like water slipping through his fingers… He was disappointed when the examination was over and Bombay sat back on his heels drawing his hand back.
"Well, I got good news – It's a sprained ankle."
"That's good news?"
"At least you didn't break anything," Omi smiled.
Nagi softened.
"So… what do I do now? How do I get home now with a sprained ankle?" Nagi asked the boy. He looked down at his bare foot. The ankle started to stray of its original size. "It's swollen," He said to himself," great. Now they'll surely notice, and add my limping to that – I'm definitely doomed."
"Who are you so afraid of?"
Nagi looked up at Omi, who seemed to have asked the question honestly. He deserved an honest answer, "My… roommates… They boss me around like a big step dad, and if I do anything that is not to their spirit, I… get punished…" Bad memories invaded his mind; memories of Schuldich abusing him, mention of the 'brain-scan' that tried to erase his memory of the biggest light in his dark life. He shook his head. He shouldn't think of those things now, when he is with the boy he loved.
The Weiss-assassin seemed understanding. Nagi wondered what was going through his mind.
"Well," the blond eventually said, "We first have to get this nice foot back to its original size, ne?"
'Nice' foot? What the…?
Bombay went to the kitchen and came back with a wet towel.
"I hope you don't have problem with ice." He said as he draped the towel around the swollen ankle. He saw the young boy biting his lip and re-propping himself in the couch. "I'm sorry. Cold towels and ice-baths prevent further swelling. If you want your foot to go unnoticed, you should do it from time to time." He tied the towel and got up. "And to splint your foot, so it will heal faster, you'll need an athletic wrap. I have one here somewhere, so hold this towel to your ankle while I look for the wrap."
Nagi nodded silently in agreement.
!-!
"What is wrong with me?" Omi asked himself in the back room. He went through his old stuff, searching intently for the bandage he knew was supposed to be there. "Why am I so cheerful all of a sudden? I've been down and pissed all the time for the past few weeks and suddenly I get all perked up by some stranger!" Omi stopped for a moment.
"Okay, so he's a really good-looking stranger…" He agreed with himself, continuing his search. He didn't know how to explain it, but there was something about that boy that really caught him. He felt like he had seen him before, like he knew him from somewhere, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't relate the face to anything.
"This is weird…" He said dropping everything he was holding in the box he was digging in. He then spotted the bandage he was looking for in a near by aid kit. He quickly grabbed it and left the room.
!-!
Nagi looked around him, exploring the small place that was Bombay's apartment. The living room, where he was sitting, was joined with the kitchen. The kitchen was open and had a table that resembled a bar-stool, accompanied by two high chairs, while one of them was covered with old papers. You must have been all alone in here, Nagi thought. He returned his gaze back to the living room. The old couches that furnished the room were a dark olive color. Although they were old and ugly looking, they were still worthy, because they were so comfortable. The one Nagi was sitting in, felt like it was pulling him deeper into its hug.
The place seemed so nice and cozy. It had a nice homey vibe.
Nagi's eyes widened suddenly. The vibe of this place, he could feel it. He read it with such ease. How could he forget it? He looked in the direction where Bombay had gone. If he could read the vibe of the apartment, he could probably read the boy's vibe. He shivered involuntarily. He would be able to feel the boy's motions, feel the texture of his hair and skin. He would be able to track him anytime.
Bombay came back with a bandage in his hand, and now Nagi was even more nervous.
!-!
Omi knelt before the small bishounen, and gently took the towel off the ankle. He smiled at the boy and wondered still where he had seen this face before.
"By the way, what is your name?" He asked, while taking the rag off.
Nagi stared at the blond, not sure what to answer. He then let go of his nervousness and replied, "Nagi. Naoe Nagi."
Omi smiled up at Nagi. He put down the bandage and reached his hand up for a shake. "I'm Omi. Tsukiyono Omi."
Nagi stared at Omi's hand for a second, before shaking it with a small smile. In his heart, he was jumping and screaming. Finally he learned his name. Omi… what a beautiful name it was…
Omi turned to attend to Nagi's ankle. He bound it carefully in slow accurate circling moves that seemed to fascinate the other boy. He felt it was a real shame he had to wrap that marble sculpted foot in a ragged yellowish bandage. He looked up at the owner of that delightful foot, and found himself looking directly into those misty azure eyes. Nagi was watching him closely, it seemed. He quickly brought his gaze down.
Nagi stared at Omi, watching his moves. His fluent moves made the light play over his muscled arms like the strong winds of the desert over the stretching miles of sand. It looked like a sort of dance. It fascinated him, the play of light and shadows over those golden ridges that were his arms. He wanted to be the winds upon those deserts, to rush over the golden sands and ruffle the oasis that was Omi's hair. As he was lost in his fantasies, his hand rose on its own accord toward Omi's head to touch that shining hair, only to stop the action in mid air caught in the act. Nagi gathered his thoughts and focused on the boy before him, isolating his vibe to know precisely what it is like. But he should have known the vibe already for it was the beating of his heart. Omi had a vibe that matched Nagi's heartbeat.
Omi noticed a shimmering crystal falling from the stranger's face to his lap. He looked up at the tear marked doll's face. "Why are you crying, Nagi-san?"
Nagi shook his head lightly and beamed a smile. "Nothing. I'm just happy to meet you."
Omi stared at him for a second, and then smiled. "Me too."
!-!
He put a pin to hold the elastic bandage tightly in place and leaned back. "All done. You're free to go now," he said as he got up and sat on the edge of some couch behind him. The truth was that he didn't really want the azure-eyed boy to leave, but the memory of the boy's stress earlier to get back home made it clear that he had to leave. So, he had no choice but to let the stranger go.
Nagi was a bit disappointed by that last sentence. What if he didn't want to go home any more? What if he didn't care about getting back early any more? He didn't even care if he would be beaten after he got home. He wanted to stay here…
"Good. Thanks for your help, Omi."
Omi smiled, but it was a fake smile. No one could tell the difference. He wanted to hang around a little more with this charming stranger before he would be come a total stranger; and then they would probably never meet again. As the other boy got up resentfully to leave, Omi sprang out of his seat and immediately said, "I'll walk you out… to make sure everything is okay…"
Nagi was now even more down. Maybe Omi didn't mean it to sound like it, but it sounded like he was dying to get rid of him. Thoughts went through Nagi's mind that maybe Omi didn't like as he got the impression or maybe Omi didn't like boys or even maybe Nagi should just not think of it right now.
!-!
They walked out together and Omi was checking him for limps or hurting places in Nagi and reminded him how to treat the hurt ankle. Nagi didn't really listen, and the truth was that even Omi didn't really listen to what he was saying. They both gazed, transfixed, at each other, gulping the last few moments they have left together. There was a sudden silence between them. Nagi looked down. Omi looked away.
"So... good-bye." Nagi said barely audibly.
"Yeah... good-bye." Omi answered just as low .Nagi turned to leave and slowly began to walk away, having to take a small breath before his first step. Omi stood still, watching as the pretty boy retreated to his home, to his own life, to Omi's oblivion.
…
Nagi was already a fare distance from Omi. He could feel him standing there, staring at him. He could feel the rest of those blue eyes he adored on him. He stopped his walk. He had to go back. But this time, he would make them meet again. This time he would tell him the truth. He closed his eyes and turned back to face his object of affection. Reopening them, he saw the boy standing there with a quite sad face.
"You still don't recognize me, do you?" Nagi inquired.
"Eh?" Omi was taken by surprise, looking as if someone had just awakened him from a daydream.
"Of course…" He whispered, though still heard, "You don't get to see much of your enemy's face when all you're trying to do is kill the person."
"Enemy?" Shock and confusion filled the heart-shaped face. "Can't be... Schwarz!"
Nagi could see the transformation before his eyes, going from the Omi persona to the Bombay persona. His pose was now harsher, stronger, and ready to take a blow.
"Who are you?" Bombay demanded in a low but strong voice.
"I already told you my name," Nagi replied, swallowing the pain of seeing the other boy suddenly so deadly, and so much unlike the person he had been just moments ago. He reached for his necklace and tore it off of his neck. "Here," He started as he threw the metal discs from his necklace to Omi's grasp. "This will help you."
Omi watched carefully as two coins flew at him, in what seemed like a slow-motion film. As soon as he caught them, he knew them. These were the buttons of his mission-jacket. "What… how?"
"Ask your pretty redhead about these. She will tell you all about it." Nagi replied to the unasked question.
Omi looked downat the small buttons in his hand with shock. He could feel the anger building up inside him, directed to a certain redhead.But he wouldn't get anyanswers out of her, so he turned to the only person that could tell him the truth now."Wait! Tell me…" Omi called, looking up to where Nagi was standing, only to trail off when he couldn't find him there any more.
His hand fell to his side, and his body couldn't move from the standing position it was stuck in, a little hunched, inclining forward to ask one more thing. His eyes were standing as mirrors to his mind, reflecting confusion, terror, shock and the promise of punishment to those whom deserved it.
The wind blew at his back, as if pushing him to come after the azure eyed boy, but he couldn't move .He continued standing there, alone, for many hours more, still processing the events of the evening. His eyes were wandering far off at the distance, to the direction the boy must have gone.
…
People passed him by randomly. Whether they stared at him or ignored him, he wasn't able to see, nor did he care.
One of the people that passed him by played an old song in their CD-player. The lyrics floated around him.
"I looked into your face…
my heart was dancing all over the place…"
(Maddona – Beautiful stranger)
TBC
!-!-!-!
WAAAAAAAHHH! I finally finished it. Wow. This took me too long to write... too long… my apologies for taking so long. Thanks for the reviews, minna. I'd like to hear what you have to say now! (btw- your reviews will effect the story line, so write whatever you want in your reviews).
Oh and give some applauses to Katie (HeavenGoddess on ff.n) for Beta-ing my fic.
Ta ta