Author's Note: Did you all know I did quite a bit of research for this fic? It makes me laugh just thinking about how late I stayed up trying to gather all the information I needed the first night!
As usual, reader reviews are loved! I thank those who decide to review in advance for taking the time to consider the aspects of this fic.
Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1.
Pairings: SchuKen here.
Warnings: All in first chapter.
Fic Note: Well, welcome to the second chapter! Since this is a break fic from my other current project, I'm not 100 percent sure about where it's going, but I'm still working on it to make sure it has enough quality and doesn't come off too dry! In fact, the coming off too dry is the main thing I'm worried about. Let me know!
Rosefairietalered- Thank you for being the first reviewer for this fic! It really helped me in making this chapter…since I picked up the review while on a writer's downlow on this thing, haha. I remember you from somewhere, but I can't remember where. Have you read something else of mine? Hahaha. Please refresh my memory!
Katzchen- Yeah, I tend to do mean things to the characters I like most. I have no clue why, that's just what usually ends up happening!
Chahiya- Thank you so much, I really appreciate hearing that, no matter how little or how many times I've been told. I personally was really skeptical about the beginning of this fic, so that encouraged me to continue. I personally like this chapter far better than the first, which I personally think was slightly dryer than my usually vivid beginnings…but that's just a personal opinion. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter and the chapters to come!
Samantha-Maeve- Haha, well, this is going in that direction. And maybe you'll like Yoji a bit more after this fic, who knows. Oh, and hopefully this was a fast enough update for you!
M4r1-ch4n- What language do you normally write in? And I hope your curiosity of Schu is a bit more satisfied in this chapter. Thank you for your comment on my style…I'm still trying my best to improve it. And also once again, I hope this was a quick enough update for your liking!
Late Night Addiction
The first thing Ken noticed upon entering what appeared to be just another abandoned building was the poor quality of the space. Half the building looked like it had been blown away by something quite strong, Ken guessed it was probably due to a wrecking ball or something. The second thing he noticed was the strange smell coming from the entranceway where Schuldich was waiting, slightly impatiently, for him. He quickly followed, not once thinking about turning back or getting in too deep.
Inside was a completely different atmosphere. It was as if he stepped out of his world of beauty into the land of the wild and corrupted. What was left of the bottom five floors of the ten-story building was dedicated to some kind of shady bar and hotel setting. From what he could tell as they climbed up to the third floor, the bottom two floors had the walls knocked down, only the support beams remained to keep the upper floors from crashing down below, leaving the place dedicated to those that wanted to dance. There were several tables scattered around and a small bar at the end of one of the dance floors where a group of shady looking men were gathered. Ken was led to that area.
Immediately he felt uneasy when he felt hungry stares fall on his inviting body. He felt Schuldich's arm sling across his shoulders and bring him inward. "Relax…" whispered the seductive voice in his ear, "Let's enjoy the night, okay?"
Ken blinked. So shocked by everything that was happening, he had nearly forgotten why he had followed Schuldich here in the first place. "I thought you were getting me a drink?" he hissed.
The German gave a sly smile. "Oh yes, the drink."
One of the greasy men raised a hand in greeting to Schuldich. "Hey Schu! Who's the kitty?"
Ken felt his heart beat quickly. He wanted to get out of this place. Before he could turn and make a run for it, however, Schuldich brought him close and pushed his face in the crook of Ken's neck, causing the younger boy to shiver with slight pleasure. Schuldich grinned at the man, "He's just with me, that's all."
"With you? He doesn't have a name?"
Schuldich must have sensed his slight discomfort, but wouldn't let Ken escape, not since they got this far. "No, not today. This one'll be nameless."
"Hah! That'll be the first then!"
"Hey, are we really just getting a drink?" Ken asked.
"Hn…you talk too much, kitten," Schuldich purred. He ordered two tequilas for them to drink.
Ken frowned and pushed the tequila away. "No thanks…I don't drink those…"
Schuldich's grip on his shoulder seemed to tighten slightly as he brought the brunette closer to him. With his other hand he raised it to Ken's lips. "C'mon…just take one sip. I promise you that you will feel amazing."
Ken's breathing hitched and he flustered from the closeness of the other man. He grimaced and politely turned his head. "No…I don't drink," he said firmly.
Schuldich's hand slid conveniently down from Ken's shoulder and rested at the brunette's hip. He grinned and raised the glass towards him once again before putting it to his lips to take down. "Well then, suit yourself."
Ken slowly followed with his own hand and rested it on Schuldich's. The German looked at the brunette, who now appeared contemplative, appreciatively from the corner of his eye. Ken, on the other hand, was frustrated. He had commanded his body to pry Schuldich's hand off immediately and run for his bike, but instead one of his hands was gripping Schuldich's lightly. He was slightly afraid and frozen to the spot. He wondered if perhaps the alcoholic beverage would have made him feel any better, as Schuldich said.
"What's the matter, kitten?" Schuldich's seductive whisper graced his ears once again. Ken shivered. Without warning, Schuldich's mouth was already on his own, the scene they made earning appreciative and hungry glances.
Ken only half-heartedly wanted to pull away from the sudden advance. There was something alluring about the kiss, electrifying him to the spot. Different from flutters of casual kisses from previous lovers. He felt a thrill from the situation as well, the fact that it was so bold and daring to be kissing so openly in public like this, when he was used to performing this kind of act in a more private setting. For the first time he was not in control, but a power exchange was occurring, with Schuldich handling the lead.
He frowned when he felt Schuldich pull away, shiver, and then mumble something under his breath. "What?" he asked.
"…oo…ld…"
Ken gently lifted Schuldich's face so he could see the other man. He was shocked with what he saw. Somewhere during their brief make out session, Schuldich's expression had changed completely from calm and collected to that of a hungry beast. Schuldich continued to shiver and grabbed Ken roughly by the shoulders, leaning forward to have another taste of the brunette's lips. Once again he pulled away from Ken before the other could protest against his advances. He appeared exhausted. Schuldich rested his unusually warm cheek to meet Ken's and brought the other man in for an embrace, still shivering.
Finally, Ken could catch the crazy mutters through the clacking of teeth. "I don't understand…so cold…why can't you warm me? Freezing…" came the heavily accented English, the phrases laced with several words Ken couldn't understand the meaning of and assumed they were from the German's native language. Most likely cursing.
He brought his hand to the redhead's forehead and frowned. He pried Schuldich away from him and shook the man gently. "Hey, you got a fever. We'd better get out of here, okay?"
Schuldich never had a chance to consent or protest. Ken had him on his feet immediately and started to lead the man out of the club-like setting. "Hey, you with the dying man!" came a vile voice.
Ken turned and raised a disapproving eyebrow at a perverted middle-aged man groping at a woman on his lap. He grinned at Ken and tilted his head in the direction of Schuldich. "He's going to need to take a hit soon. He looks pretty pathetic."
Confused at the man's meaning, Ken ignored the man and the woman's laughter as he pushed his way out of the club with Schuldich. Once outside, he put Schuldich down against a wall and squatted down beside the man, head lowered and huffing, trying to organize his thoughts and pull himself together from all the commotion. He put his hand against Schuldich's forehead again but found that his fever was only getting worse.
Ken shook the German gently. "Hey…hey…stay with me, all right? You got your car keys?"
Schuldich didn't respond. His eyes were rolling back and he kept on shivering and chattering his teeth. Ken sighed and scanned the area for Schuldich's car and couldn't recognize it in the darkness. He cursed inwardly, deciding that he didn't have time to go car hunting.
Ken turned back to look at Schuldich. "Hey…I'm going to take you to my bike…and you'd better hold on damn tight, all right man?"
"Nn…" was the only response the German uttered. In Ken's opinion, it was permission enough to go through with his risky plan.
Without further hesitation, Ken turned around and hoisted Schuldich on his back and staggered over to his bike. Somehow he managed to get Schuldich to position behind him. He took his single helmet and fixed it on the German's head and then let out a loud sigh. He felt a bit more relaxed when he felt the German's grip tighten on his shirt. Ken moved the hands so that they clasped in front of him. He revved up his engine.
"All right, you'd better not let go, hear me?" Ken shouted over the engine. Hands tightened slightly at Ken's waist in response.
Ken wasn't much of a religious person, but he prayed with all his might the entire way home that his man wouldn't fall off his ride. Amazingly, the redhead somehow managed to hang on.
Schuldich stirred when he felt the damp towel cool his forehead. He blinked and groaned immediately when his eyes made contact with the sunlight. His vision was blurred and he felt sick from trying to adjust to the new scenery. He could barely hear a voice speaking to him and a massive headache seared through his brain. Almost an instant reaction, he quickly leaned over the bed and began to heave. Something was pushed in his direction and Schuldich spewed into the bin and felt someone patting him on the back while he relieved himself. Not too long afterwards, Schuldich rolled back into the bed and blacked out.
When he woke up again, it was night. Schuldich's heart was pounding and he still had a dull throb in his temple. He cautiously took in a sweep of the room. He felt a slight twist in his stomach when he realized he was no longer at the club and he wasn't at his own house. Schuldich wondered if he had followed someone home; he began to run through his mind a list of what could have happened since he had gone to the club. He could have found someone and gotten laid, which would explain why he was lying in a foreign bedroom, or he could have been the one who had enjoyed the sexual partner. He quickly ruled all possibility of sex, however, when his eyes landed on Ken. The brunette was fast asleep on the floor beside him.
If they had done anything, there were no signs of it anywhere in the room. As Schuldich became more aware of himself, he was almost sure that nothing had happened between them, since Schuldich didn't feel any different physically, besides the fact that he was slowly recovering. He relaxed and put his head back down on the pillow, looking at Ken and contemplating within himself. He wondered why Ken had brought him to what appeared to be Ken's apartment. His mind soon began to wander in the realm of the impure. Schuldich's hand lingered close to Ken's face and he licked his lips, slowly remembering Ken's taste when suddenly he felt a grip at his heart.
Frantic, he shook a peacefully sleeping Ken furiously. "Wha---what? What!" Ken jolted upright, slowly reorienting himself with the real world.
Ken's eyes soon locked with Schuldich's and he held a hand over his heart, startled. He closed his eyes and gulped once before looking at the German again. "Geez…you scared me…you all right?" he whispered.
Schuldich half-smiled apologetically, under normal circumstances he would never have woken up someone sleeping so contentedly. "Sorry…where is my jacket?"
Ken groaned softly and rubbed his eyes. He flopped back onto his pillow and let the question sink in a moment. "I put it in the closet with my clothing, why? You want it…?"
Schuldich nodded appreciatively. "I would like that very much," he croaked.
"Mm…" Ken reluctantly got up from the comforts of his makeshift bed and stumbled across the room. "Cover your eyes…"
Schuldich did as he was told and felt his eyeballs adjust to the light behind his lids. He was amused when he heard Ken groan once again; the boy had obviously not taken his own advice.
He only opened his eyes again when he felt his jacket fall into his lap, and when the weight on the bed shifted as Ken climbed onto it. He flinched upon feeling a cool hand on his forehead. "Your fever's finally down…"
Schuldich looked up at Ken just then, flashing him an indescribable look. Ken shifted uneasily and withdrew his hand. "What…? What now?" he said, slightly irritated. Schuldich had put him through a lot recently.
Schuldich half-smiled, "Did we…do anything last night?"
Ken frowned, "Are you kidding me? After the condition you were in? There's no way we would have done anything. And besides…I never would have done anything with a complete stranger anyway." Ken blushed.
Schuldich chuckled. "Whatever you say, kitten…" he said half-heartedly.
Ken watched with a tinge of regret as Schuldich slipped on his jacket. "You…leaving?"
Schuldich got up and stretched. "Yeah, I've got to get back to my car…wherever the hell it is now."
"It should still be at that…place."
Schuldich tilted his neck to the side and let it crack. "Excellent. Then I'll be going now," he turned to leave.
Without thinking, Ken grabbed the German by the arm. "Wait."
Schuldich looked confused. "Hm…? Did I forget something?"
Ken got up and brushed past him. "Just hold on…let me get my jacket."
The redhead watched him, amused. "Why? You coming with me?"
Ken snorted, "Hah! Not like I want to, anyway…but there's no way I can just let you walk all the way there…"
"Why not? I've done it before. Probably from a further distance too."
"Well…I'll just take you anyway!" Ken stated stubbornly.
Schuldich half-smiled, "I appreciate the gesture but---"
"Come on, we're going." Ken grabbed Schuldich by the arm and led him outside the door. Schuldich, surprised at the forceful gesture, just dumbly followed.
"You're still not in perfect condition. I'd feel damn guilty if I just let you roam free on the streets, vulnerable," Ken explained, face slightly flushed. It had been a while since he had given little more than a thought to anyone other than himself or the kids he taught.
The normally detached German found himself allowing a small smile. He found Ken's sudden bold nature rather adorable. That was why he allowed Ken to give him a ride to his car at the club, where the party was probably still raging.
Ken watched as Schuldich lit a cigarette, leaning against his car. His nose crinkled in distaste. Schuldich noticed and grinned. "I know what you're thinking. Cancer sticks or something, right?"
"Heh."
Schuldich exhaled, some smoke coming out through his nostrils. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at Ken out of the corner of his eye. "So…why are you still here, anyway?"
Ken flustered, he had nothing to say to that. "Well…I uh…"
Schuldich smirked. "I have the perfect idea. Why don't you just come over to my place?"
Ken looked up at him, surprised. Schuldich smiled, "Yeah, I don't see the harm in it. In fact…we could have quite a lot of fun, hm?"
Ken blushed, not wanting to know and wanting to know at the same time what Schuldich may have been implying. Although the offer was tempting, better judgment was finally kicking in and telling Ken that he had gone through enough excitement to last him quite a while, and that he should really turn back and go home.
So he did.
Schuldich blinked, watching the trail of dust Ken's bike had left behind. At first he was shocked that Ken had up and left so quickly without another word, but then he found himself becoming more intrigued with the brunette. He put out his cigarette and hopped into his car. "We will meet again…" he assured himself as he started up the car and headed for home.
Ken arrived at his house early in the morning; he hadn't gone home right away. In fact, he had wasted a good deal of gas money roaming around aimlessly on the roads, trying to vent out his frustration. The whole ordeal had ended for him too soon. There was much left to be yearned for, but fate had cut him off before his curiosity could be fulfilled.
When he arrived home, he hadn't bothered to take a shower. He headed straight for his bed, deciding that he'd clean up the mess on the floor later. Right when he was about to hit the pillow, he spotted something unfamiliar on his mattress. His fingers brushed over a small packet that had been left on his bed by Schuldich. Upon closer inspection, Ken noticed that it was a white powder. Not entirely sure what it was, Ken threw the packet into his nightstand drawer absently and then flopped onto his bed. He would return the packet to Schuldich at a later date, whenever they would meet again. Ken assumed he would see the redhead at Monday's practice.
Almost a whole month passed by. At first, Ken almost went crazy at night, trying to get the thought of Schuldich off of his mind. As days passed, however, Ken found it easier to slowly forget the German and the crazy nights he had experienced since. Soon, he was once again a laid-back teacher whose daily thoughts only consisted of sports and dreams of a beach vacation. Sometimes it would randomly bother him that he never saw the German around on the playing field anymore, not even for a single visit. Sometimes it would more than bother him, but in the end, he always ended up tucking the thought further and further back into his mind.
Every day became a monotonous routine. He would wake up, take a morning jog, fit in brunch, teach the children, come home to take a shower, then he would do a few cool-down exercises before going straight to bed for a good night's sleep. He only ate dinner every other night, and when he did, it was a light meal.
Then one day he ran across Schuldich on purely coincidental circumstances. He had been crossing the street from practice with the kids when he spotted Schuldich turning the corner on the other side. He sprinted across the crosswalk and quickly tried to follow him. Schuldich ended up indirectly leading him to a more run-down side of town. Ken kept his distance, hiding quickly whenever Schuldich turned around, as if expecting some sort of presence.
He stopped and watched Schuldich go into a dimly lit alleyway and speak to a shady looking man there. Ken's eyes widened slightly when he slowly pieced together what he was seeing. Schuldich was exchanging money with the man to obtain the strange white powder that Ken had found on his bed weeks before. From watching plenty of movies, Ken was able to deduct that this was some sort of drug business deal. Ken felt his heart drop in disappointment, even though he wasn't entirely shocked, this was still a bit unexpected.
A slick voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Looking for a good time, beautiful?" said the unfamiliar voice.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Saikenyuu- Wonder what you're all thinking right now…? That chapter was a crazy and a long one to write. No clue if the other chapters are going to be longer or shorter or just about the same…
Regardless, hopefully everyone enjoyed! Hope to see you again soon for next chapter! From now on, I'm planning for there to be a lot more character interactions now that the two information chapters have been set out! We'll see!