9
it won't give up it wants me dead
goddamn this voice inside my head
"Well, we're four for five. Isn't that great." I pressed my thumb and forefinger against the bridge of my nose. The headache that had become my near-constant companion since the beach had decided to pulsate, fading in and out with no regard for my feelings on the matter. And it made me bitchy, to say the least.
In the driver's seat, Brad frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Four hideouts in five days. That has to be some kind of record, even in their line of business." Not that one could call that last place a hideout. The apartment was far too small for one person, let alone for all of us. Not to mention, it was a toss-up whether the place or its owner smelled worse. "I just hope number four is an improvement, or we may as well go back to the hut on the beach and take our chances there."
"Will you shut up for once?" Farfarello growled in a low monotone, the soft lilt once again missing from his voice. "Or don't you understand what's happened?"
"Oh, please enlighten me," I snapped, temper frayed to the splitting point by stress and pain and no little amount of fear.
Farf turned his head to focus his single eye on my face. He took a slow and deep breath, then said, "His visions are keeping us alive, and I think he's called in nearly all the favors he had stashed away in this country. And you're just scared that you'll go crazy like me before Nagi ever wakes up."
I bit back the sarcastic comment that had nearly leapt from my mouth. As usual, Farf's insight made me think, though at the moment I didn't really appreciate it. I was afraid, that much was true. I was scared and sleep deprived and hurting, and I couldn't just stop and rest and work it through.
Clearly expecting no reply, Farfarello turned his attention back to the window, though whether he was taking in the scenery or contemplating his reflection I couldn't begin to guess. The smoky windows made sight-seeing a little difficult.
I sighed again, trying to diffuse the frustration and pain. What's that meditation shit about your breath being the fire of your existence or something? I tried to concentrate on breathing, and not ponder the deeper Zen of it all.
"We're here."
A/N:
it won't give up it wants me dead
goddamn this voice inside my head
"The Becoming" from Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral. Listen to the whole album, if you have it. This is kind of what a telepathic meltdown in progress might feel like... Schu is in a bad way, and it's starting to show. Fortunately for everyone around him, he's also getting more distractible than usual, hence the very short chapter nine.
Review Response:
Thank you all for your reviews! I'm glad that so many people are enjoying this story.
Lestat197 – yep, know all about Rosenhell – not even a nice place to visit, IMHO. For accuracy points, I'm not using the manga; decided to go with the TV series only for continuity's sake.
May – buckle your seat belts, the excitement has yet to reach full speed. There will be occasional Weiss moments, most notoriously some YXS, and some unlooked-for help in later chapters, so stay tuned!
Yanagi-sen – I'm going, I'm going!
Chibi-Nezumi – Thank you for your comments on the plot, it's been rattling around in my head getting thicker and thicker lately. Brad does have a human side, but it takes sadistic authors like me to peel away his armor and show it to people. As for the Farf and Nagi angle, there is definitely some kind of interest there…
Until next time!
GuiltyRed