Fun With Rabbits

Dero showed up alone the next day, late enough that I was fully dressed. I couldn't help but wonder if he had done that on purpose. He seemed perfectly cheerful as he strode across the threshold and into my living room.

"I'm surprised you aren't at the studio today."
"It's a Saturday. We don't work on Saturdays."

"Ah." I nodded, wondering why he had decided to visit this time.

"So how was the date?" Oh. That's why.

"It was good. Thank you for lending your bike to Mathias. I am not ashamed to admit that I've always wanted to ride it."

"You have, have you?"

Smiling, I nodded.

"Yep."

"Would you like to ride it again?"

Giving him a sideways look, I asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's a gorgeous day. Perfect weather for riding around the countryside. I was wondering if you might like to accompany me."

"Wouldn't you rather take Valeria?"

Dero laughed, "Valeria's absolutely terrified of motorcycles."

"I'm sorry to hear that. They really are loads of fun to ride."
"So you'll come?" His voice sounded hopeful.

"Sure. Let me just grab a jacket."
Jacket in hand, I followed Dero outside and locked the door. At the curb, he handed me the same helmet I had used the night before and I strapped it around my chin. Dero mounted his bike gracefully and waited for me to slip on behind him to wrap my arms tightly around his waist. He revved the engine and we zipped away and into the street.

Dero and I were laying on a grassy hill outside Wolfsburg. The sky was a crisp and perfect blue, filled with twisting clouds. The two of us were pointing out shapes in the cottony clouds to each other. We were laying pretty close together and I kept having to remind myself that he was married. Dero's shoulder brushed mine has he pointed out a perfect rabbit directly overhead. I giggled to myself. Dero turned his head to look at me with one eyebrow raised.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh god. Don't make me say."

"Okay. Now you have to explain."

"Beim ersten mal tut's immer weh. The behind the scenes video."

He seemed to have to think about it for a moment, then he laughed too.

"Your memory must be infallible to remember that all these years later."

"Not infallible. But, well…It's Oomph!-related so…"

My voice faded away and it took me a moment to find it again.

"You guys have been my favorite band since Senior year of high school. I've loved your music so long, it's just become ingrained into my identity. Anybody who knows me at all knows that ya'll are my favorite. I mean, just look how long it took for Valeria to find out. Five minutes?"

Dero watched me thoughtfully as I spoke, but he didn't say anything at first.

"I told you that I've read your book multiple times, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did."

Instead of saying more, he just rolled up the left sleeve of his shirt. I looked down at the tattoos that incased his arm and saw one that he'd apparently gotten fairly recently, as I'd never seen it before. My brow scrunched up involuntarily as I realized what it was.

"Dero, that's from my book. It's the family crest of one of my characters." I knew what I saw and I knew what I was saying, but I didn't believe it.

"That's right. Your book had an effect on me too."

"I'm a little bit speechless."

He smiled, "That's how I felt yesterday, when you played the organ for us. Robert really was speechless, you may have noticed."

"All I did was play some music. I mean you…you tattooed yourself in honor of my writing! That's…I don't even know what that is."

Shaking my head slightly, I turned my face back to the heavens and tried to hide the moistness of my eyes. Dero squeezed my hand and I sniffed.

Dero took me home by a long, scenic route. It had been some time since I had just driven around the German countryside, so I decided to enjoy myself. It surprised me a little, just how easily I was getting used to spending time with Dero. In the past, I never would have thought such a thing was possible. The years had promoted to almost legendary status in my head. The first time I went to an Oomph! concert, I'd left feeling drunk and high, even though I hadn't touched even a drop of alcohol that night. I couldn't understand just how easy it was to be friends with him. An extension of his coolness, perhaps?

Dero walked me up to my house and came inside with me. He seemed reluctant to leave for some reason, so I offered him a drink. He turned it down, but still he didn't leave. Instead, he just stood there twirling his baseball cap in his hands.

"Are you alright, Dero?"

"Hmm? Oh, fine. I'm fine. There's just something I want to ask you. And I really don't know how to ask."

I waited patiently for him to continue.

"Kirsten, how would you feel about appearing on the next Oomph! CD?"

My eyes shut and my hands flew up. Did I hear that right? I cleared my throat to prevent my voice from squeaking.

"Appearing?"

"Being featured on a song."

"For what?"

"Organ."

"Organ. Seriously?" And my voice squeaked.

"Seriously. I understand if you don't want to. It's just a request. Your playing really impressed me and the guys. Anyway, just think about. We won't be offended if you say no."

"What's there to think about? Of course, I'd love to be on an Oomph! CD."

Dero's face split into a wide grin. "Really? You really mean that?"

"Of course I mean it. Just tell me the time and place; I will totally be there."

"Ausgezeichnet!" Good lord, his smile's infectious.