Again didn't feel like proofing. Hope it flows.

Breakdown

Chapter 12: Fujimiya

Ran made himself as immoveable as possible as he glared at the driver of the car that had just pulled up in front of him and Crawford. This was not a Taxi. This was a stylish car driven by yet another of his enemies, Schwartz's Mastermind. Crawford had lied to him.

"Relax Abyssinian," the American told him calmly, trying to urge him forward with a gentle push. Ran bent his legs and stood stiff, refusing to move, a look of intense concentration on his face as he struggled to stay standing. The alcohol working through his system had other plans, however. He toppled forward but Crawford was quick to catch him and hold him around the waist. A strong blush rose in his cheeks as he was pulled back against a muscular chest.

"You're shaking," Crawford said softly in his ear. Ran could almost feel the amused smile, "Are you cold Abyssinian?"

Ran's breath hitched and he clenched his fists, stopping his hands from shaking, even if he couldn't stop his whole body from doing so. Crawford held him a little tighter as he began to sag and Ran grabbed onto his wrists in a sorry attempt to free himself.

"Hey, I'd have brought popcorn if I knew there'd be a show," Schuldig smirked, holding the driver's side door as he stood by the car, watching them intently. There was something in his eyes that made Ran feel his words weren't as playful as his tone suggested they were.

Ran grew even more uncomfortable under his gaze and tried to pull away. Crawford let him go but he still wasn't feeling steady enough on his feet to stand on his own. He held onto the dark-haired man's suit jacket and sleeve, his knees buckling. Ran felt Crawford's warm hands on his hip and under his elbow, supporting him.

A soft growl came from the German redhead. "Aww, looks like the kitty wants to you to pick him up, Oracle," Schuldig teased, but there was suppressed venom in his voice. Ran noticed it, even in his drunken state.

Crawford caught on as well. "Get the in car," the American ordered and Schuldig obeyed, albeit a little reluctantly. Crawford waited until Schuldig was behind the wheel with the door closed before he half carried the drowsy Ran to the backseat.

Ran heard the click as the back door opened and then Crawford helped him lay back on a soft, padded leather seat. Crawford bent Ran's legs and then shut the door. Ran expected him to take the passenger seat after that, and so did Schuldig, but Crawford had other plans. He walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door. He gently lifted Ran's head and sat down, then eased his shoulders back to the seat as he closed the car door.

"Drive," Crawford said to the surprised and livid telepath who was glaring back at him and Ran in the rearview mirror.

Ran stared hazily up at the American, completely lost as to what was going on. Crawford was staring fixedly at Schuldig's reflection so he offered him no guidance.

Ran was far more worried now than he had been throughout the entire evening. Having a drink with the enemy was bad, but getting in the car with two enemies, lying in the lap of one of them was something far worse. What the hell had he gotten himself into? And how had storming away from Yohji Kudou evolve into this?

Ran began to panic as Schuldig finally took the cue from Crawford and started the car. Ran jerked his head up and got instantly dizzy. He dropped his head back down and Crawford grunted and clenched a fist, his crotch not appreciating the sudden hard contact.

"Relax," the precog warned him through clenched teeth, obviously in pain, "Or I will get Mastermind to knock you out."

"Permanently…" the German muttered. Crawford said nothing to his teammate's reply but his look was enough to silence the German. Schuldig would keep his comments to himself if he knew what was good for him.

But even though it appeared that Crawford was on his side, Ran was far from comforted, mainly because he could not fathom why the Oracle was suddenly being nice to him. They were enemies. They had been enemies since the moment they met. They fought every time they came together. So why was this time so different? Because they weren't on a mission? Because the encounter had been so out of the blue? Ran really didn't know. And drunk or not, he wanted answers.

"He's thinking of groping you, mein fuehrer," Shuldig said as he pulled away from the bar. "He wants your gun."

Ran flushed. The German had misread his thoughts.

Shuldig cackled loudly. "Oh no Prinzessin, it's your mind that's in the gutter. I was talking about an actual gun. The one in Oracle's shoulder holster" He shook his head as he glanced back in the rearview, smirking. "Mein Gott, how long has it been since you spread your legs for anyone Kitten? Such a dirty little mind you have. But I guess that can't be helped when your head's resting on the prize."

Ran's face had never felt quite so hot before. The heat from his embarrassment felt like it covered his entire body and he had no way of hiding his fierce blush. This was the single most humiliating moment of his life. He was quite certain of that.

"Leave him alone. And turn left at the next light," Crawford said, thankfully not looking at Ran. The redhead wondered if it was an intended courtesy. "We're dropping Abyssinian off at the park."

"Why?" Schuldig asked. Ran wanted to know the very same thing. Last time he checked, he didn't live in the park.

"Balinese is looking for Weiss' lost kitten," said the Oracle. "I had a vision. He will be driving by there shortly, and so he will find him."

"Why aren't we just killing him, Crawford?" Mastermind asked angrily, not even noticing the fact that he hadn't used his leader's codename.

Ran tensed when he saw the anger on Crawford's face as he answered his subordinate. "My decision. My orders Mastermind. Don't question me. Just do as I say," he growled. "Now pull over."

Schuldig did as he was told and got out of the car to help Crawford drag and lift Ran out of the backseat. They propped him against a tree by the side of the road, under a streetlamp where he would be clearly visible to passing cars, then they left him without another word and got back in their car and drove off.

Ran had expected some parting words form Schwartz's leader but he'd gotten barely a glance. It almost hurt. And it scared Ran to think that he was disappointed by their cold parting. What did he expect from an enemy?

More, was the answer. After the strange evening they had shared, Ran expected more. He didn't know Crawford's true intentions, and he couldn't understand his own response to the man's words and actions. He had barely fought Crawford when he had gotten close and he had pretty much allowed himself to be held. Crawford had talked with him, even somewhat candidly, and he had defended him from his teammate. After that, anyone would expect more than nothing to end the night. Ran thought he deserved at least a 'Goodbye' or 'I'll kill you when next we meet' or 'I hope you enjoyed the free drinks because this changes nothing between us.' Something. Anything.

But no. Ran was literally kicked to the curb and that was it. Saiyonara and all that Jazz.

The redhead sighed and slid down the trunk of the tree. The bark scratched him on the way down but he didn't care. He was still tingling from the drinking he'd done and he was too somnolent to stand.

What he'd just experienced with Schwartz's leader was a complete mystery to him, but Crawford must have a secret agenda. It was the only reasoning that the perpetually suspicious Ran Fujimiya would accept. Crawford was toying with him and Ran just knew that the night would come back to bite him in the ass.

Sooner rather than later.