Strange Times

“What the hell were you thinking?”



Schuldich allowed himself to be slammed back into the brick wall behind him, allowed Aya his snarling, panting bit of temper. After all, Schuldich could feel every tantalizing tendril of uncertainty and uncomfortable protectiveness that had their insidious roots throughout Aya’s mind.



“I was thinking I would let them know before they muddled their way into finding out.” Schuldich leaned forward a bit, leaning into the arms pinning him back, arms that were shaking with tenuously constrained violence. “I think it went rather well, all things considered.”



Coffee and cinnamon…Schuldich was too close.



Aya drew back, lips curling in reflexive disgust.



Too bad Schuldich didn’t have to rely on body language.



Chuckling, Schuldich pulled a half-smoked cigarette that was only slightly worse for the wear out of his pocket and relit. “We’re both in one piece, they don’t completely hate you, hell, Kudoh is even a bit curious in a way sure to make you blush right before you skewer him.”



“Stay out of their heads.”



‘Like I stay out of yours?’



Schuldich stared at Aya, taking in every shaking muscle, every little twitch towards action. ‘C’mon, add another bruise to the first one. Prove to yourself you are in control of this little situation. You almost convinced your litter mates, lets see if a good pummeling will let you convince yourself.’



“I liked you better unconscious.” Aya gritted out. His jaw was going to hurt tomorrow.



“And I liked having my team around to do all the work for me. It’s a shitter of a situation, aint it?” Schuldich took a long drag from his mostly decimated cigarette, holding the smoke in for a contemplative moment before blowing it in Aya’s general direction. “You could tell me to fuck off.”



“Would you listen?”



“Probably not.” Schuldich’s eyes raked across Aya with an intensity that made Aya feel like he was being memorized, inside and out. Not a very comfortable or comforting experience. And then Schuldich leaned forward, an odd glitter in his eerie blue eyes as he flicked the butt of his cigarette to the side.



Yohji would have seen it coming, would have managed to handle the situation with a sort of panache. Or at least been able to defend himself with a bit of dignity. Aya was caught with a slight frown, which mutated to shock as Schuldich pressed his lips to Aya’s, as Schuldich’s tongue pocked a nicotine-laced path into Aya’s mouth.



It wasn’t an attempt at seduction, it wasn’t a power play, it was more of an almost languid exploration. Schuldich kissed with a lazy sort of sensuality, making sure every inch of Aya’s mouth knew the touch of his tongue, made sure Aya’s lips would be just swollen enough, just tender enough to remind Aya of the contact. A hand snaked around and pulled Aya close enough, daring to touch, to caress…



Schuldich knew the instant shock shifted to indignation and drew back with a bit of his old, infamous speed. “Go finish lunch with the kittens. They are talking about you.”



Schuldich had the audacity to turn his back on a fuming Aya. He waved a lazy goodbye over his shoulder and sauntered off.



Aya stood frozen, his sense of personal space shattered, his world paradigm smudged beyond recognition. He didn’t run after and murder Schuldich….because there were too many witnesses. It was a perfectly plausible excuse.



But it was still an excuse.



Aya waited for Schuldich’s laughter to drift through his mind, braced himself for the inevitable irritation that would follow…and was disappointed as his expectation was met with silence.



Not even a parting shot.



“What the hell are you playing at, Schuldich?”