Broken8
A/N: Thank you to those who bothered to read this and extra thanks for those who reviewed like RosefaerietaleRed, M4r1-ch4n, and coldsunshin. Three reviewers. That's it? Kinda sad people.
I realize I said that the last chapter was going be all the girls but I got too excited and I'm just gonna work them in later. Deal with it.
This chapter has a lot of Schwartz in it. I don't know which spelling of Farfarello/Farello is correct. I might go back and forth throughout the chapter.
3. Love Octagon
When Ran woke up he found himself on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket. He remembered the couch but not the blanket. Sitting up he let the warmth slid off him and looked around. His glittering eyes fell upon a snoring bundle in the chair. He picked up the blanket that was crumpled beside him and laid it over the brunette. He was caution not to smile. He was afterall just insuring that all members of the team didn't catch cold or anything before their mission. Manx said she'd stop by in a couple days to give them more information so she'd know if anyone wasn't fighting fit.
Ran thought back to the night before. Manx had been acting strange. Not her normal I'll-kill-you-all self. She had seemed pained and guarded. Ran wiped away his curiousity and went back to his room to sleep for another couple hours before he had to get ready for his shift.
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"So the plan of action then is to simply interfere with Weiss' mission and cause them to fail in the murder of our client." Brad Crawford informed his team while seated at his desk, staring down Schuldich who was leaning against a wall.
The redhead knew he was being stared at but paid Brad no mind. Schu had gently looked into his lovers mind and found that he didn't know what had happened but knew that something had. Schu smiled. "Simple," he said through smirking lips. "I'm geussing that once you know more about their plans you'll tell us where to be to intercept them and who we'll be intercepting?"
"That is correct." Brad stated informitively decpite the fact that Schuldich's question was overdramatic in the least.
"So we're done here then." Schuldich said flately as he left the room in a dramatic flash of firey hair.
Brad grit his teeth and the other two left moments later. After Nagi closed the door Brad's head fell to his hands. That damned telepath. He'd done something. Something not good. Possibly something involving a Weiss member. The premonition he'd recieved yesterday morning after Schu had left the house wasn't much of one. It hadn't involved a vision so much as a feeling. He knew that the feeling involved Schu and that it was a feeling of anger and frustration and ...not treason but ...something different. He couldn't put a finger on what it was or what this all meant but Schu had been in a pissy mood the rest of the day.
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Nagi had watched all that had passed between Crawford and Schuldich in Brad's office. He knew that they'd been sleeping together. He knew a lot more then anyone realized. He knew that Underneath the bland and heartlessness that Crawford exuded he cared a lot for Schu. He knew that the dark man had commitment problems and pulled away more then he wanted too. He was a scared little boy on the inside.
Schu was the same in ways no one would've geussed. He too can't commit easily. Neither of them open up to anyone. Nagi believed that Schu wished he could open up to someone. Not Brad, but he wanted someone to be an honest friend. Brad on the other hand (not knowing it himself) wanted to be completely open to Schuldich. Sometimes Nagi thought that maybe Schuldich wanted him to be his friend. The teen wasn't sure he wanted a friend. He'd always been the loner type and liked it that way. Friends were weird and foreign. He knew that Schuldich hadn't had friends as a child either but that he'd wanted them. Nagi never really had.
He sat down on his bed when he entered his room. He looked around his room. It was plain and well maintained. He spent his days locked up in his room. Mostly he worked on missions and other work related things once he was finished all of his days school work. Being the prodigy he is he had finished all the required high school work a few years ago. He was already working for Schwartz by then so all of the home schooling work was provided to him by some higher power that wanted him to have a good education so that he could do all of the computer work necessary and understanding everything that went on down to a T. If he were in University he'd almost be going for his masters already. Someone came in to tutor him once a week but he didn't even need them most of the time.
He let out a sigh. Yesterday and today had been weird. Schu and Brad had been on a good streak where they actually spent some time together. He'd seen Crawford smile the other day. But yesterday they'd been distant and today they'd been mean to each other. Nagi was very curious to know what had happened. Farfarello had been acting different too. He'd been more spacey. Usually he's robotic but at least he moves through the day and has a routine he does and that's it. The last couple days he hadn't done his routine. He'd been daydreaming. If he even dreamed at all Nagi wasn't certain but he'd definately been not himself.
Nagi himself had felt different too. Maybe it was all the abnormalities in the goings on but he didn't feel right. For some reason he'd been happy to hear that they had a mission coming up. Usually he almost dreaded them but he'd been hoping for one and then he'd been happy. He didn't know why but he wanted to find out. Standing he rushed over to his computer to start writing up his daily analyzes of his team members and himself.
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Youji rolled over in his bed. 10:43 his clock glared. Shift started at noon so he could sleep for another hour or get up now and just lazily watch Ken work.
Youji pulled the covers off and shrugged on a robe. He trudged downstairs just like that. Hair unbrushed and all. No one was in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house. Exactly what he expected since Ran and Ken were working and Omi was in school. He poured himself a cup of coffee and went down into the shop smiling. His robe wasn't tied so his naked chest and pj pants were exposed. He knew who they'd both react he just loved watching it. He opened the door and breathed in deep the smell of soil. "Mornin'!" He beamed. He looked at Ran and grinned wide before glancing at Ken with his best Want-me-I'm-sexy smirk and wink combination.
Ken smiled at him and laughed before shaking his head and putting down the pots he'd been carrying in from the storage room.
"Good mornin'"
"Youji," Ran growled. "Get dressed before you come down here!" Youji smiled. Exactly what he'd expected from both of them.
"Why Ranny babe? Don't like it when I get you all hot and bothered in the shop?" He ran his hands down his chest as he purred the words 'hot and bothered'. Ken laughed from the other side of the shop. Youji looked over to him to wink again but his back was turned. He stared at the back of Ken's head for a minute before turning his attention back to Ran who was glaring him down and gripping his broom tightly.
"I'll get dressed if you get undressed," Youji teased as he sat down in a chair as if to watch Ran strip. Ken laughed again. This time Ken turned around holding a flower arrangement to put in the fridge.
"Youji come on," Ken said naggingly. "No one wants to see that." The brunette headed back to the table he'd been working at as he smiled jokingly at Ran. (Ran heart skipped a beat and Youji's smile drooped.)
Youji turned in his seat to face Ken. "You know you're right Kenken. What was a thinking! Now if YOU undressed, we'd be beating back a crowd with sticks." Youji had decided that today nothing would deter him from seriously hitting on Ken. No Ran interference and no looks between Ran and Ken. If Ran wanted Ken at all he'd have to fight for him. No that he thought Ran wanted Ken, but sometimes he thought that maybe Ken wanted Ran. Those were crazy thoughts though because Ken could get anyone he wanted so if he really wanted Ran they'd be boning already.
Youji could only see Ken's back again but the brunette dropped soemthing and stared coughing. He was blushing and his smile was gone when he turned around. "You-Youji!" Ken stammered. Youji was smirking like crazy and giving Ken his You're-hot-I-want-you look. "I'm not attractive!"
"Yes you are." Youji said like Ken was an idiot or something. "Of course you are Ken. You're the most attractive person I know." Ken blushed again and look away form Youji's eyes. Youji's smiled had dropped after Ken had said what he had but was back in place now. "Other then myself of course." Ken glared at Youji a bit but smiled again.
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Ran was beating himself up inside. He let Youji get to him, he got a smile from Ken but it was quickly stolen when Youji turned his comments onto Ken, and he'd almost told Ken that he was too attractive. He was also mad that Youji had beat him to it. Youji wanted Ken. Ran could read it easily. Ken seemed to be having more problems getting it. Either that or he enjoyed all of Youji's comments and was just playing the fool. He was so torn. Should he stand by and watch Youji seduce Ken or should he try and prevent it? If he prevented it should he try and seduce Ken? No, he couldn't do that. Ken didn't like him and wasn't about to put himself out there just to get shot down. Besides, he couldn't 'seduce' anyone if he tried.
"Get dressed Youji. Don't make me tell you again." Ran didn't look up from where he was sweeping. What he missed was Youji rolling his eyes and Ken smiling wider.
"Yes, master," Youji said all dramatically with a deep bow. This pulled a small laugh from Ken's lips drawing Youji's eyes back to the brunette. Youji through Ken a wink as he dashed out of the shop to get ready for his shift.
This was an opportunity for Ran to try and wedge himself between the two of them. Would he take it or not. Ran closed his eyes and jumped into the open.
"You know Ken, I agree with Youji," He started. No turning back now. Ken looked at him with a momentary frown. "You are attractive." There it was. He called Ken attractive and now Ken would say soemthing clever that he wouldn't be able to respond to fast enough. Then Youji would come back and steal Ken back for himself again.
Ken blushed but a smile danced on his lips. "Thanks," he said quietly as he smiled wider and went back to his work.
What the hell did that mean! Great. No he'd spend the rest of the day comparing the differences in responces that Ken gave. He'd go back and forth about which was better and what they both could possibly mean for the rest of the day. Any thinking he had planned for today was gone to hell now.
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3 O'clock and school's out. Omi grabbed the books he needed from his locker and headed home. Trudged was more like it. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night so today had been hard. It had been impossible to concentrate. What made it even harder was that he'd been worrying lately that he had developed a crush on his best friend. He didn't like this idea at all. Ken was his friend, not soembody to fool around with. Maybe he just wanted someone to be with like that and Ken is just the closest friend he has so he's miss interpreting this freidnship as more then that. Whatever was going on was really interfering with his school work. There had been a pop quiz today on what he'd learnt yesterday that he'd failed badly. Since all of this was very recent he was hoping it would leave as quickly as it had come on. He kicked a rock then yawned loudly as he made his way home.
As he walked towards the front door of the shop he saw it was already filling with girls and Ken was cornered by a perticulary flirty and pushy blonde. Omi took a deep breath put on a smile and walked in. Now that Omi was home Ran was done work for the day so he left the shop to start dinner.
The afternoon went smooth enough. There was one incident where Ken slipped in a puddle but lucky for him Youji caught him before they both fell to the ground. Ken had burst out laughing, Youji did too shortly after Ken. There were some perverted comments from Youji afterwards. Something about them being wet and tangled together on the floor. Anyways, other then that there wasn't anything interesting. Omi had noticed that Youji's glances at Ken had been more then normal. He also noticed that he felt jealous when Ken talked to Youji or smiled at him or alughed with him or when Youji made him blush. He had to get over htis crush before it ruined his friendship with Ken completely.
When 6 o'clock rolled around and he started to close up shop Youji was helping Ken finish off his last arrangement. Omi couldn't help staring at them from time to time. Youji was staring too but at Ken. Ken seemed to notice becuase he never looked at Youji but blushed a lot. He seemed uncomfortable at times but that he might've actually liked the attention. The teen wondered if Ken had noticed all the glances and smiles that Youji had given him all day. Omi froze, mid sweep as a thought entered his mind. Did Ken like Youji back? It was obvious that Youji wanted Ken but... did Ken want Youji? No, he couldn't. Omi had never thought of Ken liking guys. Hell he'd never thought of himself liking guys until now. He continued to sweep and clean up until he was done and the other two had already gone upstairs.
Omi, finally done, dragged himself upstairs for supper. He came in to see that Youji had managed to get the seat beside Ken and Ran was sitting across from him. He got himself some food and plunked down in the empty chair.
"Omitchi? Are you alright?" Ken asked. Omi looked into Ken's concerned face for a second before pulling his gaze away and looking to Ran who was staring hard at his food, then Youji who was looking back and forth between himself and Ken.
He looked down to his plate. "I'm fine. I'm just tired."
"Not sleeping well or something?" Ken questioned. The true concern in his voice made Omi so weak. Ken really cared for him. If only it wasn't merely friendship.
"Yea. Something like that." It wasn't a lie. He hadn't been sleeping well.
"Whenever I can't sleep I just pick up one of Ran's books that are laying around. Man those things'll put you to sleep," Ken said, smiling at Ran then back to Omi. "But I geuss you'd like those books too." He shrugged then turned back to his food.
Ran was looking at Ken now. "I watch Tv," he siad, not looking away from Ken until the brunette blushed.
Omi looked from Ran to Ken and back a few times before he turned to Youji who was glaring into his dinner. This was starting to get uncomfortable so he took a couple big bites of food to get through it faster.
Dinner continued to remain quiet until Ken broke the silence by getting up and saying he'd do the dishes tonight. Youji got up right after Ken and carried his plate over to where Ken was rinsing his off. Ran stood then and declared that he'd help Ken. Youji looked slightly taken back and glared a bit before saying he was going to take a nap. Omi finished quickly but watched the other two the whole time. Their backs were to him and they were silent. He walked between them when he went to give them his plate and thank Ran for dinner. He looked back at them from the doorway before going upstairs. They were still quietly working together. He went to room thinking about if Ran liked Ken. And then in turn if Ken liked Ran. There was one serious love triangle brewing if they all did like each other.
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They worked together silently for a while. Ran kept stealing glances at Ken who looked kind of uncomfortable and nervous. He was about to speak when Ken broke the silence first.
"So that was you then who put the blanket on me last night?" Ken asked, blushing.
Ran looked to Ken. "Yes," he said. "I was repaying the favor." Ken blushed a deeper shade of red.
"So you couldn't sleep either then?" Ken asked, trying to keep a conversation going. Ran held back the smile that was threatening to creep out.
"No. I just love late night TV," he mocked with a flat tone, no smile peeking through until he saw how shocked Ken was. He smirked a bit. Ken smiled back then laughed a bit.
"I actually believed you for a minute." Ken chuckled. "Scared the crap out of me." He smiled up at Ran who still had a trace of a smile on his lips.
They finished the dishes with more silence but this time it was comfortable. Ran was jumping inside that he'd taken the chance to spend time just him and Ken before Youji could jump at it. He'd make sure that they didn't end up together if it took everything he had. He watched as Ken left the kitchen telling him that he'd be back down in a few minutes. He realized after a few seconds that he'd been watching Ken's ass go up the stairs and kicked himself for staring at the brunette so openly like that and not realizing it sooner. He went into the living room and turned on the TV. He was joined shortly by Omi who watched for a few minutes before going to the basement to work on his homework and then the mission. Ken came down a little later with Youji right behind him. They'd been arguing about what they were going to watch tonight. Youji let Ken win after a little while and they all watched the soccer game that was on.
When Ken sat down on the couch beside Ran and smiled at him it pulled Youji away from his normal spot in the armchair to the couch on the other side of Ken. He smiled seductively at Ken before stretching his arms out along the back of the couch. Ran growled on the inside and clenched his jaw. He couldn't think of anyway to counter to so he just sulked the rest of the night.
Ken was the first to go to bed but Youji was right on his tail. Ran followed shortly as well. Tomorrow was another day of interference and he needed to get his rest tonight.
TBC
A/N: Ok so I got a lot of Schwartz in here. I'm sorry if that was all boring but that's how I see them so I went off rambling about it. I'm hoping the next chapter will have more people attack Ken. We'll have to wait and see though.
Ok! Now it's time to review!
