VIII.  Cast Iron Frame

Ran followed Crawford in the latter's room as that seemed to be expected of him. None of the Schwartz tried to talk to him much since he had gone on board the helicopter. They didn't seem to know what to do with him, traitor that he was. The prodigal member blackmailed into coming back. Besides he had not made it easy, answering Nagi's tentative queries with grunts.

If they didn't want me back, they shouldn't have gone through all that trouble…What you see is what you get, and I'm not pretending otherwise…I don't even have the baby to take care of. They made certain of that. But you have to agree that they kept their word on that part of the deal…

***

Ran contemplated the scene below with a sinking heart. He was too far away to see how much damage the shot had done but he could see that at least one of the Weiß was down.

"Nagi, let the baby out of the 'copter." Crawford said.

"Crawford, you bastard!" Ran shouted before fully comprehending what the precog intended.

I came with you to save the baby, not to get him killed…

"It was an exchange, remember? He will be much safer with Kritiker, do you agree? Nagi lower the brat to the surviving Weiß. Don't worry, your admirer wasn't hit. Damned Balinese, ruined my shot…" Crawford was definitely snappish about something though he didn't raise his tone about his normal. Tightness about Oracle's mouth told Ran that the man had his teeth clenched.

Why? Does he feel he owns me, his little toy? He did say something to that effect when he brought me back to the flower shop that one time…

The baby was lowered slowly on a wave of Nagi's telekinetic power as Ran watched helpless to prevent it, not sure if he wanted to prevent it... Then the building faded into the distance as they flew off into the star-studded night sky.

***

"Ran, this is also your room from now on." Crawford said surprising Ran jarring him from his memories. It was the first time the precog had used his first name. Oracle usually used his code name to refer to him, his only concession when they had sex was to call Ran by his last name.

"Huh." Ran was too startled to grunt his usual answer. Things were getting stranger and stranger, first the kisses then this.

What is he up to? Was he trying to soften me up so that I'd stay? Why am I so important that he's going to fuss over me for it? What's his game?

"Your things have been moved here in the spare cabinets, the bath's prepared, you go first, Ran. I have to attend to something." Crawford ignored the questions in Ran's eyes.

"Hn."

It was too late to worry about anything at this juncture anyway…I can't escape anymore than I can leave Schwartz now. Not without endangering the baby, Crawford's implied threat was clear on that…
 
 

***

"Don't even think of escaping back to Weiß, we have the resources of Estet now at our control. It would be truly a pity to see the baby and them all killed now would it." Crawford has said as they had landed on the heliport close to this safe house. It was clear in his expression that it wasn't an idle threat, his eyes had a manic gleam that he wore when he let Farfarello have his way with a prisoner or an enemy.

***

Ran sighed as he stepped out of the shower. He dreaded another night of impersonal sex.

I'd rather die… That's what you always say but you've never really tried it, have you? You coward, you can't even die… You keep living on when everyone you cared for died… It's time to end these deaths, you're bad luck, you know…everyone would be better off without you, Ken, the baby…everyone… Better dead than Crawford's tame Empath-whore, how long will it take for him to bend me to his will. Soon I won't be able to fight it, I… why him? Why do I feel weak and ready to do whatever he wants, whatever he wants? I want to feel his arms around me, kiss me insensible, and order me about in his usual high-handed on missions, to trust him with everything…

Ran opened the cabinet where Crawford said his things were. Everything was neatly hanged and folded into the drawers. He noticed his katana propped up on one side. It was his old one, the one he hadn't been able to take with him when he had tried to escape to Weiß.

Coward…

***

"Ran don't do that…" Crawford had barged in the door, taking the sword from his hand as he was about to cut himself.

"Hn, why should you care?" Ran said, his eyes were dry. His despair was clearly beyond tears. The numbness of the events was replaced with it -- a despondency that transcended sadness. It was hopelessness of the dead.

Crawford only smiled enigmatically and kissed him. Once again he tasted the sweet darkness that overwhelmed his senses. It was the dimness of deep sleep, of unconsciousness. It was addictive and repulsive at the same time. It was claiming him for some purpose, marking him as Crawford's.

Ran willed his body not to flinch as Crawford drew him into bed to cuddle him.

What does he want…? Why…?

Then abruptly he found himself drowning in emotion.

He Felt the Other's possessiveness was glowing an ugly green. And there at its core was an obsession that was close to love except it was also cold as well as warm, needing to own, to possess wanting not only to have Ran but to have him wholly without reservation. Oh there was tenderness too, warming and almost clean, glowing a sunshiny-yellow. But that too was tainted with the other the sooty warm-cold red. Finally there was a trust, a warming pure white flame.

Incredibly, he realized that that had been Crawford who had opened up to him for the first time.

Trust…so much trust…the katana in the cabinet for one…but why me? Me? I who had run away from Schwartz… I, who could have betrayed you to Weiß, why me? Not that I've had but I could have…

The answer came in thought so emotion-laced that even Ran managed to catch it.

Because I do…

Not obsession then, love of a sort, a selfish love, an obsessed love that could not tolerate rivals for the loved one's affection.

Ran shivered under the onslaught of the revelations almost forced into him by his Gift. A tentative hope revived within him.

I mean something to him, it wasn't a meaningless cruel game. He cares…of a sort… But…but this is not what I wanted…this is not normal…but having psychic powers is? It's so twisted, but this is all I have…and there's no indication that I can have anything else. It must be enough… It's not something you want but…maybe, maybe it will become something you need with time… You can't deny that you do feel something for him do you?

There it was out now…

You do care for him of a fashion…worrying and wondering if he missed you, couldn't do without you, daydreaming about his eyes…but it's not healthy… So? Stop fighting the inevitable, you're a practical person live with it…

"You're too tired for anything right now, go to sleep Ran. Call me Brad, leastwise when we're alone." Crawford --no, Brad-- said as Ran surrendered at last into exhausted sleep.

This isn't normal…ah, but we don't need to sort this out tonight…

***

"Are you sure it had been wise?" Schuldich asked Crawford as he sauntered in for what it seemed to the precognitive the hundredth time since the episode with Weiß on top of the building.

"Are you questioning my decision or my authority to make that decision?" Crawford said glaring at his ever-present laptop.

"No…but…"

"Then what is it that you needed to talk to me about?"

Schuldich hesitated.

"So what is it?" Crawford said, wishing that Schuldich would either get on with it or leave. He didn't want the German around. The latter was much too perceptive and too cat-curious.

Pick, pick, pick is what he does. Doesn't he know that that's irritating…? Hopefully he wouldn't press this matter. I don't need him to annoying the heck out of me…these calculations for the next missions are crucial…

***

"Hell, let me retract that. I am questioning your decision concerning Fujimiya and his brat." Schuldich said without the usual languidness in his voice.

You're going to own to it now if I have to force it down with my telepathy. Your intransigence, oh-so-mighty leader, is affecting the integrity of the team in general…

"So what's there to question?" Crawford said letting his tone freeze over the words. How dare you question my choices for the team, I am the precog and therefore know what was best for the team! His tone added.

"Why did you let the brat go to the Weiß? If we had him we wouldn't have to watch for his papa to make a break for it every time we turned around."

Are you trying to break Sensitive's spirit? We don't need something like that, we're assassins, we need more guts than someone broken, damn it…and don't you know that a carrot gets attention more than the stick?

"Ran wouldn't make a break for it, not after two months have passed. Possibly now, he's still a bit skittish."

"But still…"

"The brat as you name him would have dragged down the team. Better for him to go to Weiß. Schwartz does not need such a liability."

Schuldich just snorted.

"And how much is it just selfishness on your part?" Schuldich said after an uncomfortable silence. Infuriated as he was at the lack of response, he tried to push with his telepathy but ended up being blocked by the same wall as always.

Damned his shields…they're so damned perfect…

This must have startled Crawford for he raised his head up to stare at Schuldich.

Deny it all you want but a reckoning would probably come when you least expect it and bite you in the ass for your stubbornness…

"I don't know what you mean. Besides I've done what you said I should, we have come to an understanding." Crawford said evenly.

"In your own overbearing way." Schuldich shook his head as he left the American to his office, doubting that the Empath would be very happy with them after what Crawford said.

Stupid American, what does he think he is, infallible…our set-up could end up crashing down on us for this…an unwilling teammate isn't the most reliable sort to trust at one's back and there more enemies out there than just Weiß…

Schuldich turned out to be only half-right, the reckoning would come but not for years and years and it would not touch Schwartz all that much. Life had a way of being unfair that way… But that is another story for another time…

***

Ran stood in attention as their current client, a respectable-looking politician with gray hair and a fatherly public demeanor, circulated amongst his wealthy constituents and cronies. The man was actually involved in several illegal drug operations as well as child-prostitution dens. Schwartz was hired to protect him from recent threats to his life. He let his mind wander a bit; knowing that hardly anybody was going to be foolish enough to attack in this crowd. Change…

It's astonishing what sixteen years could do… It has been that many years already…? Time can surely move.

After Ran had stopped trying to resist Brad's advances, his life had gone smoothly. He had everything he could wish. Brad was an indulgent lover; he showed every consideration to Ran's well being and happiness. The days passed in contentment and joy that Ran never thought was possible for such "evil" people as they. Schwartz prospered on their client base. They were considering retiring in a decade or so… Sometimes though Ran still feel a twinge of guilt or two for not knowing the fate of his son or Weiß but then it was better this way. He was Schwartz; he had work and the affection of teammates.

Suddenly the lights went out and Ran was shaken from his musings.

Here? They must be foolish or strong… Now which is it…

Ran drew his blade as Schuldich drew his gun. Several other bodyguards did likewise. Crawford wasn't at this party and, to be honest, didn't go out at missions much anymore trusting Ran as his second-in-command to do the onsite work. Ran was grateful for his lover's practicality, the precog was past forty and his reflexes were starting to slowdown.

Assassinating and body-guarding duty is for the young…

A spotlight went on to focus on their client and three figures came up on different sides of the compass rose around them.

"Erizawa Gombei, you are a dark beast who prey on the innocents. We are the White Hunters who hunt your kind. Prepare to meet your end."

White Hunters…Weiß Kreuz…could it be… Ie, the old team must have been disbanded by now…

Both Ran and Schuldich raised their weapons, the named target was their current employer. Two of the masked figures rushed onto Schuldich on wielding a bugnuk, the other a whip. The swordsman went in to engage Ran with a clash of blades…

Weiß weapons…but different technique…they must be a new team…

The swordsman's reflexes were quick and Ran judged that he was the advantage of the stamina.

Ah, the advantage of youth…but then I have the advantage of experience…

Ran faked a step to the right then rushed in. He "tagged" the other swordsman catching a corner of the cloth that covered the latter's face, ripping it off. Identical purple eyes peered into the gloom to meet each other in an identical startled look. Red hair waved free of the constraining cloth.

Time stood still as they froze at an instant of time.

So it comes to this…

~TBC~

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