Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Give It A Chance ❯ Part 5 ( Chapter 5 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: LilyMoonsAlias 
Anime/Manga: Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Shounen | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 11.25.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 541 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Shounen | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 11.25.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 541 | Status: Work In Progress
Aya felt particularly haunted after their latest mission. For once, luck and planning were with them and the hit had gone down without incident. Omi had hacked the security system, Ken had dispatched the few hired thugs and Aya had taken the target with a single swing of his katana. The man’s blood had arced across the desk and dripped like grisly paint on a couple of framed photographs there. One of the frames held a picture of a little girl. Aya had blanched when he had seen it and nearly vomited on the corpse. He had killed a man with a family. An evil man, true, but still one who thought enough of his daughter to put her picture on his desk.
The three had wasted no time vacating the building and eliminating any traces they had been there. Aya had kept the revelation of the target’s family to himself and brooded in silence all the way back to the rental house. Yohji had met them at the door with relief in his eyes that they had made it back safely and ushered them into the warmth of the kitchen. Omi and Ken disappeared to clean themselves up and put away their equipment. Aya stayed leaning against a wall giving the toes of his boots an intense study.
"All right, Aya. Spill it," Yohji said in a low voice. "What’s eating at you?"
"Yohji, he had….a daughter. Her picture was framed on his desk," Aya whispered.
Yohji sighed heavily and reached into the refrigerator for a beer. He contemplated his teammate who stood with his head down and his hands limp at his sides.
"It happens, Aya. Not everyone we go after is a faceless, soulless loner. Some of them have wives and children. It doesn’t change what they are doing when they aren’t with their families. The job is done. Try not to dwell on it," Yohji said.
Aya accepted Yohji’s words in silence. He heard them but they didn’t make him feel any better. He couldn’t explain to Yohji why tonight had bothered him so much, and he had a sudden urge to talk to Schuldig. Surely the telepath could see what was hurting him without him struggling to put it into words. Immediately on the heels of that thought Aya felt a rush of uneasiness. Was it wrong that he was starting to feel more comfortable with Schuldig than with his own team? He had certainly spoke more to Schuldig in just a few days than he had with them in months.
"I’m leaving, Yohji. Tell Omi that if I can think of anything else he might need to add to his report to Krittiker I’ll let him know." Aya hesitated. "I…I need a few days off, Yohji." He looked at his feet again. "I’ll work if I am needed, but I really need some time to myself."
Yohji looked speculative for a minute then put a reassuring hand on Aya’s shoulder. Perhaps he did understand a little.
"Go home, Aya. I’ll tell Omi that your injury got aggravated and you need some rest. I think he’ll buy that without feeling the need to drag you to the Magic Bus for treatment."
"Thank you," Aya said gratefully.
He put his hand briefly on Yohji’s and turned to leave.
"You need to take care of yourself, too, Yohji."
"Saaa," Yohji waved a cigarette in a lazy salute. "I’ll be fine. I’ll catch up on my beauty sleep and be cutting a swathe through the ladies again in no time. Maybe we can go together and hook you up."
Aya was glad he glad he was already outside and the darkness concealed the dark flush caused by Yohji’s teasing offer. He mumbled something resembling a goodbye and got in his car.
Aya let himself into his apartment and was mildly disappointed not to find a grinning telepath waiting for him. He shook his head in amusement. What did it say about himself that he was disappointed a former enemy had not broken in to his home again? Whatever. It seemed too quiet and cold without the other man’s flamboyant personality filling the space.
Aya crossed to his kitchen and noticed that Schuldig had left the portable CD player there the day before. Out of curiosity Aya flipped it on and sound poured into the room. Aya fixed himself a cup of tea and sat down to listen. Schuldig must have made the CD himself as it was an eclectic mix of different bands in several different languages. Aya listened closely to each song to see if any of the lyrics could give him some insight into the man he was starting to think about quite a lot. And that was another thing. Aya had to admit to himself that he had enjoyed their kiss and that he was attracted to the other man.
Taking a sip, Aya looked ruefully into his cup. Now that was a revelation. Aya had never thought of himself as gay or straight, had really never had the opportunity to think about it, but he was honest enough to realize he was indeed attracted to the blue eyed telepath. He thought Schuldig’s features were quite pleasing when he smiled instead of giving that damnable smirk. He even liked the fact Schuldig was just a little bit taller than he was. It made some needy part of himself want to lean into the taller man’s body and feel sheltered for a while. Aya liked the gentle way Schuldig touched his face as if he were something special to behold. Then there was the kiss. Oh yes, the kiss. Aya felt his body respond again at just the memory of that first, hot and exciting kiss. His lips tingled and his leather pants were feeling a bit too tight.
Aya rolled his head on the back of the couch and groaned to himself. Now he was fantasizing about the man. He wanted more of Schuldig’s touch. He wanted to bare his throat to hot lips and the graze of sharp teeth. He wanted to be able to touch and run his hands over the toned arms and back and abdomen that he knew was under the man’s clothing. He wanted to lose himself in heady kisses that made his body yearn for more. Aya wanted to just feel, for once, and not have to think about anything. He wanted to be able to forget, just for a little while, that he was just an assassin with no future.
Aya rubbed himself through the leather of his pants and hissed at the sensation. The music of the CD filled his ears and provided a sensual counterpoint to his strokes. He unfastened the leathers and snaked one hand through the opening to touch his sensitive skin. Aya moaned as a pearly drop moistened his fingers and he rolled them around the head, pinching lightly. A longer, firmer stroke had his toes curling in his boots and had him tossing his head.
Aya was considering going upstairs to his shower when a knock sounded on the door. He glanced down at his state of advanced arousal and thought about ignoring the door and hoping whoever it was would go away.
/Do you really want me to go away, kitten?/ Schuldig’s mental voice caressed his mind.
Aya jumped off the couch and wrestled with the locks, cursing when he couldn’t get them open fast enough. He threw open the door to see Schuldig standing there in tight blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt left unbuttoned over a formfitting tee. Schuldig was treated to the sight of a mussed redhead, flushed and panting before him, his arousal straining against the front of his pants.
"Been thinking of me, kitten?" he drawled, amused and flattered.
"Yes," Aya breathed and grabbed his collar to jerk him into the room.
Aya slammed the door and tripped the locks then threw himself bodily at Schuldig. The taller man caught him easily and used their momentum to spin them around to land on the futon couch. Aya was wild, fisting his hands in loose orange hair, opening his mouth to Schuldig’s kiss and grinding his body frantically against the other man. His breaths were just short of gasping sobs as he struggled for more contact, desperate for touch and the relief of release. Schuldig tried to slow things down and pinned him. Aya growled deep in his throat and arched his body upwards, tangling their legs together.
"Slow down, kitten. We have plenty of time," Schuldig soothed. "What’s got you so worked up tonight?"
Aya writhed under him. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to lose himself in the other’s touch.
"Please, please," Aya pleaded.
"Talk to me, baby," Schuldig coaxed and held himself just out of reach.
Aya bucked and snapped his teeth in frustration. His eyes blazed incandescent purple with need and he strained against Schuldig’s hold. When he finally realized the telepath wouldn’t budge he stared deep into his eyes.
"It’s this," Aya snapped and opened the floodgates of his mind, allowing the telepath to see his memories of the events of the night and how he had felt. He also let Schuldig see his growing despair and bitterness towards his job, his crushing loneliness and attraction and desire for the telepath. When he had spilled it all he lay limp on the couch, his arms lax in Schuldig’s hold and his face wet with both sweat and angry tears.
Schuldig released him to brush damp bangs off his forehead and touch his lips in a light kiss to the fevered skin. Aya shivered and closed his eyes in shame.
"No shame, Aya," Schuldig murmured. "You can’t keep bottling your feelings and your hurt up like that or it’s going to eat you alive."
Aya turned his face into Schuldig’s neck like he had wanted to before and mumbled against his skin. "Make me forget, just for a little while."
Schuldig’s body shuddered with desire. He had his kitten warm and pliant and pleading underneath him. If he had been the same man he was months ago, he would have had no problem taking advantage of the tempting offer. As it was, he wanted Aya to want him for more than just as a means of escape. For the first time in his life the telepath wanted to nurture and develop a relationship that was both reciprocal and equal. He didn’t want just the fleeting satisfaction of a quick tumble. Schuldig wanted the warmth of affection and maybe even the possibility of love.
He had thought about Aya all day and how just getting the man to relax in his company enough to talk and smile had filled him with a warm rush of feeling. It had even been worth listening to Crawford’s pithy and sarcastic comments. The Oracle hadn’t struck him again, but he had made his disapproval painfully obvious. Crawford had done the dirty trick of telling Nagi and the Japanese teenager had looked at Schuldig with a combination of shock and hurt. Inwardly cursing Crawford, Schuldig had taken the time to explain to Nagi what he was doing and why. It had taken hours but Nagi had finally said he understood with a wistful expression on his face. It reminded Schuldig that Nagi, too, was lacking in the affection department. He resolved to do something about that later. Because of their talk he had been hours late arriving at Aya’s apartment.
Although he hadn’t touched Aya’s mind all day, he somehow knew that the White Assassin would need him. Schuldig looked down into the face that was now pale with strain and with its eyes tightly closed. It appeared as if Aya was taking Schuldig’s restraint as a rejection. Well, it was time to set him straight.
"Open your eyes, Aya," Schuldig demanded lightly.
Slightly swollen lids parted to reveal darkened purple eyes still swimming in clear fluid. Schuldig kissed each eye, swiping away the drops of saltiness.
"I want you, Aya, never doubt that, but I don’t want just sex from you," Schuldig explained while rubbing soothing hands down Aya’s face and neck. "You have so much more to offer than just your body, and I want it all."
Aya shivered a little. Schuldig sounded so serious and was looking at him so intently. Aya licked his lips nervously.
"I think I want that, too."
Schuldig smiled. "So, we agree to slow down?"
"Okay." Aya tentatively curled his arms around Schuldig’s shoulders and lay quietly in his embrace.
After a few pleasantly peaceful minutes Schuldig suggested a bath.
"Are you serious?" Aya pulled away to blink incredulously at the other man.
"Sure I am. I thought the Japanese were big on communal bathing," Schuldig said.
Aya couldn’t stop that annoying blush from coloring his face again. Damn his fair skin! Sure, he had taken communal baths before but never with someone he was attracted to. It could be both embarrassing and frustrating at the same time. Schuldig chuckled and kissed the tip of his nose before he bounced up and headed for the spiral staircase.
"I’m going to run the water, kitten. Care to join me?"
The telepath disappeared from view and Aya could hear the splash of water starting to fill the deep tub. He hesitated then decided to throw caution and inhibitions to the wind and picked up the CD player before going upstairs. Schuldig was waiting for him, already submerged to his necking in steaming, bubbly water. Uh oh, another of Aya’s secrets was out. He had a penchant for sandalwood scented bubble bath. It filled the tiled room with fragrant steam. Schuldig patted the water, a rosy glow on his skin.
"Come on in, kitten. The water’s just about ready for cooking lobsters so it should be just the right temperature."
Aya smiled a little and self consciously started shedding his clothing. Schuldig tactfully kept his attention on the mounds of bubbles he was playing with to keep from peeking at the white skin being bared. Although marred by many old scars and the current wounds, Aya’s skin was lovely and smooth with a soft sheen to it. Right now it was softly tinted pink all over. How cute, Schuldig thought, he blushes with his whole body.
Aya eased down into the hot water with a groan of pleasure and seated himself across from Schuldig. He met the other’s gaze steadily across the expanse of the large tub and let the heat ease the soreness from his tense body. Aya rolled his head and neck, trying to ease the stiffness there.
"Come over here," Schuldig said huskily.
With wide eyes, Aya moved through the water until he was kneeling between Schuldig’s legs. Schuldig raised his hands from the water to turn Aya to facing away from him and settled him on his lap. Aya gasped at the intimacy of the position.
"Easy, kitten," Schuldig said. "Just going to make you feel better."
Schuldig massaged Aya’s neck and shoulders until the redhead was making little purring noises of pleasure and was lying full relaxed against his chest. Then he took up a loofa and switched his attentions to corded arms and a firm chest, moving lower to scrub abdomen and thighs. Aya basked in it all, reveling in the attention and enjoying the feeling of being cared for. He let go of the last of his self consciousness and just melted into the warm body cradling him. It wasn’t long before his eyes were drooping sleepily.
Sensing the change, Schuldig pulled the plug and assisted Aya from the water, wrapping his bright pink body in a light robe. Aya swayed on his feet with tiredness and watched from half lidded eyes as Schuldig dried himself off and started to reach for his clothes. That spurred Aya to action.
"Will you…stay? Just to sleep, I mean."
Schuldig looked at him in pleased surprise. "Do you want me to?"
Aya shuffled his feet and hunched his shoulders forward. "Yes, I think I do. I’ve never shared my bed with anyone before, but it’s very late," he explained lamely.
"I’ll stay," Schuldig assured him and added to himself despite the hell Crawford was surely going to give him for it.
Aya exchanged his robe for a pair of loose cotton pants and tossed a second pair to Schuldig. Then he pulled back the covers and crawled into the middle of his bed, a little tense and wary. Schuldig scooted under the covers and turned off the bedside light. He drew the redhead down to lay down beside him and spooned to his back, wrapping a proprietary arm around Aya’s waist.
"Okay?" Schuldig asked.
"Hmmm," Aya murmured and snuggled in closer. He ignored any niggling little memories of their past history that tried to worm their way into his mind because this was nice. Aya could get used to this. He felt warm and cozy and safe. Aya wondered if this felt anything like being loved.
"I wouldn’t know, kitten. No one has ever loved me, so I can’t tell you, "Schuldig said against his hair. "Stop analyzing and go to sleep, Aya."
Beneath one breath and the next Aya fell asleep. Schuldig smiled down at his bedmate. Things were progressing nicely. Maybe Aya was willing to give it a chance after all. It certainly seemed like he had finally gotten himself a niche in man’s thoughts. Scooting even closer and ignoring the telepathic demands from Crawford for his appearance, Schuldig snuggled and fell asleep as well.
The three had wasted no time vacating the building and eliminating any traces they had been there. Aya had kept the revelation of the target’s family to himself and brooded in silence all the way back to the rental house. Yohji had met them at the door with relief in his eyes that they had made it back safely and ushered them into the warmth of the kitchen. Omi and Ken disappeared to clean themselves up and put away their equipment. Aya stayed leaning against a wall giving the toes of his boots an intense study.
"All right, Aya. Spill it," Yohji said in a low voice. "What’s eating at you?"
"Yohji, he had….a daughter. Her picture was framed on his desk," Aya whispered.
Yohji sighed heavily and reached into the refrigerator for a beer. He contemplated his teammate who stood with his head down and his hands limp at his sides.
"It happens, Aya. Not everyone we go after is a faceless, soulless loner. Some of them have wives and children. It doesn’t change what they are doing when they aren’t with their families. The job is done. Try not to dwell on it," Yohji said.
Aya accepted Yohji’s words in silence. He heard them but they didn’t make him feel any better. He couldn’t explain to Yohji why tonight had bothered him so much, and he had a sudden urge to talk to Schuldig. Surely the telepath could see what was hurting him without him struggling to put it into words. Immediately on the heels of that thought Aya felt a rush of uneasiness. Was it wrong that he was starting to feel more comfortable with Schuldig than with his own team? He had certainly spoke more to Schuldig in just a few days than he had with them in months.
"I’m leaving, Yohji. Tell Omi that if I can think of anything else he might need to add to his report to Krittiker I’ll let him know." Aya hesitated. "I…I need a few days off, Yohji." He looked at his feet again. "I’ll work if I am needed, but I really need some time to myself."
Yohji looked speculative for a minute then put a reassuring hand on Aya’s shoulder. Perhaps he did understand a little.
"Go home, Aya. I’ll tell Omi that your injury got aggravated and you need some rest. I think he’ll buy that without feeling the need to drag you to the Magic Bus for treatment."
"Thank you," Aya said gratefully.
He put his hand briefly on Yohji’s and turned to leave.
"You need to take care of yourself, too, Yohji."
"Saaa," Yohji waved a cigarette in a lazy salute. "I’ll be fine. I’ll catch up on my beauty sleep and be cutting a swathe through the ladies again in no time. Maybe we can go together and hook you up."
Aya was glad he glad he was already outside and the darkness concealed the dark flush caused by Yohji’s teasing offer. He mumbled something resembling a goodbye and got in his car.
Aya let himself into his apartment and was mildly disappointed not to find a grinning telepath waiting for him. He shook his head in amusement. What did it say about himself that he was disappointed a former enemy had not broken in to his home again? Whatever. It seemed too quiet and cold without the other man’s flamboyant personality filling the space.
Aya crossed to his kitchen and noticed that Schuldig had left the portable CD player there the day before. Out of curiosity Aya flipped it on and sound poured into the room. Aya fixed himself a cup of tea and sat down to listen. Schuldig must have made the CD himself as it was an eclectic mix of different bands in several different languages. Aya listened closely to each song to see if any of the lyrics could give him some insight into the man he was starting to think about quite a lot. And that was another thing. Aya had to admit to himself that he had enjoyed their kiss and that he was attracted to the other man.
Taking a sip, Aya looked ruefully into his cup. Now that was a revelation. Aya had never thought of himself as gay or straight, had really never had the opportunity to think about it, but he was honest enough to realize he was indeed attracted to the blue eyed telepath. He thought Schuldig’s features were quite pleasing when he smiled instead of giving that damnable smirk. He even liked the fact Schuldig was just a little bit taller than he was. It made some needy part of himself want to lean into the taller man’s body and feel sheltered for a while. Aya liked the gentle way Schuldig touched his face as if he were something special to behold. Then there was the kiss. Oh yes, the kiss. Aya felt his body respond again at just the memory of that first, hot and exciting kiss. His lips tingled and his leather pants were feeling a bit too tight.
Aya rolled his head on the back of the couch and groaned to himself. Now he was fantasizing about the man. He wanted more of Schuldig’s touch. He wanted to bare his throat to hot lips and the graze of sharp teeth. He wanted to be able to touch and run his hands over the toned arms and back and abdomen that he knew was under the man’s clothing. He wanted to lose himself in heady kisses that made his body yearn for more. Aya wanted to just feel, for once, and not have to think about anything. He wanted to be able to forget, just for a little while, that he was just an assassin with no future.
Aya rubbed himself through the leather of his pants and hissed at the sensation. The music of the CD filled his ears and provided a sensual counterpoint to his strokes. He unfastened the leathers and snaked one hand through the opening to touch his sensitive skin. Aya moaned as a pearly drop moistened his fingers and he rolled them around the head, pinching lightly. A longer, firmer stroke had his toes curling in his boots and had him tossing his head.
Aya was considering going upstairs to his shower when a knock sounded on the door. He glanced down at his state of advanced arousal and thought about ignoring the door and hoping whoever it was would go away.
/Do you really want me to go away, kitten?/ Schuldig’s mental voice caressed his mind.
Aya jumped off the couch and wrestled with the locks, cursing when he couldn’t get them open fast enough. He threw open the door to see Schuldig standing there in tight blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt left unbuttoned over a formfitting tee. Schuldig was treated to the sight of a mussed redhead, flushed and panting before him, his arousal straining against the front of his pants.
"Been thinking of me, kitten?" he drawled, amused and flattered.
"Yes," Aya breathed and grabbed his collar to jerk him into the room.
Aya slammed the door and tripped the locks then threw himself bodily at Schuldig. The taller man caught him easily and used their momentum to spin them around to land on the futon couch. Aya was wild, fisting his hands in loose orange hair, opening his mouth to Schuldig’s kiss and grinding his body frantically against the other man. His breaths were just short of gasping sobs as he struggled for more contact, desperate for touch and the relief of release. Schuldig tried to slow things down and pinned him. Aya growled deep in his throat and arched his body upwards, tangling their legs together.
"Slow down, kitten. We have plenty of time," Schuldig soothed. "What’s got you so worked up tonight?"
Aya writhed under him. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to lose himself in the other’s touch.
"Please, please," Aya pleaded.
"Talk to me, baby," Schuldig coaxed and held himself just out of reach.
Aya bucked and snapped his teeth in frustration. His eyes blazed incandescent purple with need and he strained against Schuldig’s hold. When he finally realized the telepath wouldn’t budge he stared deep into his eyes.
"It’s this," Aya snapped and opened the floodgates of his mind, allowing the telepath to see his memories of the events of the night and how he had felt. He also let Schuldig see his growing despair and bitterness towards his job, his crushing loneliness and attraction and desire for the telepath. When he had spilled it all he lay limp on the couch, his arms lax in Schuldig’s hold and his face wet with both sweat and angry tears.
Schuldig released him to brush damp bangs off his forehead and touch his lips in a light kiss to the fevered skin. Aya shivered and closed his eyes in shame.
"No shame, Aya," Schuldig murmured. "You can’t keep bottling your feelings and your hurt up like that or it’s going to eat you alive."
Aya turned his face into Schuldig’s neck like he had wanted to before and mumbled against his skin. "Make me forget, just for a little while."
Schuldig’s body shuddered with desire. He had his kitten warm and pliant and pleading underneath him. If he had been the same man he was months ago, he would have had no problem taking advantage of the tempting offer. As it was, he wanted Aya to want him for more than just as a means of escape. For the first time in his life the telepath wanted to nurture and develop a relationship that was both reciprocal and equal. He didn’t want just the fleeting satisfaction of a quick tumble. Schuldig wanted the warmth of affection and maybe even the possibility of love.
He had thought about Aya all day and how just getting the man to relax in his company enough to talk and smile had filled him with a warm rush of feeling. It had even been worth listening to Crawford’s pithy and sarcastic comments. The Oracle hadn’t struck him again, but he had made his disapproval painfully obvious. Crawford had done the dirty trick of telling Nagi and the Japanese teenager had looked at Schuldig with a combination of shock and hurt. Inwardly cursing Crawford, Schuldig had taken the time to explain to Nagi what he was doing and why. It had taken hours but Nagi had finally said he understood with a wistful expression on his face. It reminded Schuldig that Nagi, too, was lacking in the affection department. He resolved to do something about that later. Because of their talk he had been hours late arriving at Aya’s apartment.
Although he hadn’t touched Aya’s mind all day, he somehow knew that the White Assassin would need him. Schuldig looked down into the face that was now pale with strain and with its eyes tightly closed. It appeared as if Aya was taking Schuldig’s restraint as a rejection. Well, it was time to set him straight.
"Open your eyes, Aya," Schuldig demanded lightly.
Slightly swollen lids parted to reveal darkened purple eyes still swimming in clear fluid. Schuldig kissed each eye, swiping away the drops of saltiness.
"I want you, Aya, never doubt that, but I don’t want just sex from you," Schuldig explained while rubbing soothing hands down Aya’s face and neck. "You have so much more to offer than just your body, and I want it all."
Aya shivered a little. Schuldig sounded so serious and was looking at him so intently. Aya licked his lips nervously.
"I think I want that, too."
Schuldig smiled. "So, we agree to slow down?"
"Okay." Aya tentatively curled his arms around Schuldig’s shoulders and lay quietly in his embrace.
After a few pleasantly peaceful minutes Schuldig suggested a bath.
"Are you serious?" Aya pulled away to blink incredulously at the other man.
"Sure I am. I thought the Japanese were big on communal bathing," Schuldig said.
Aya couldn’t stop that annoying blush from coloring his face again. Damn his fair skin! Sure, he had taken communal baths before but never with someone he was attracted to. It could be both embarrassing and frustrating at the same time. Schuldig chuckled and kissed the tip of his nose before he bounced up and headed for the spiral staircase.
"I’m going to run the water, kitten. Care to join me?"
The telepath disappeared from view and Aya could hear the splash of water starting to fill the deep tub. He hesitated then decided to throw caution and inhibitions to the wind and picked up the CD player before going upstairs. Schuldig was waiting for him, already submerged to his necking in steaming, bubbly water. Uh oh, another of Aya’s secrets was out. He had a penchant for sandalwood scented bubble bath. It filled the tiled room with fragrant steam. Schuldig patted the water, a rosy glow on his skin.
"Come on in, kitten. The water’s just about ready for cooking lobsters so it should be just the right temperature."
Aya smiled a little and self consciously started shedding his clothing. Schuldig tactfully kept his attention on the mounds of bubbles he was playing with to keep from peeking at the white skin being bared. Although marred by many old scars and the current wounds, Aya’s skin was lovely and smooth with a soft sheen to it. Right now it was softly tinted pink all over. How cute, Schuldig thought, he blushes with his whole body.
Aya eased down into the hot water with a groan of pleasure and seated himself across from Schuldig. He met the other’s gaze steadily across the expanse of the large tub and let the heat ease the soreness from his tense body. Aya rolled his head and neck, trying to ease the stiffness there.
"Come over here," Schuldig said huskily.
With wide eyes, Aya moved through the water until he was kneeling between Schuldig’s legs. Schuldig raised his hands from the water to turn Aya to facing away from him and settled him on his lap. Aya gasped at the intimacy of the position.
"Easy, kitten," Schuldig said. "Just going to make you feel better."
Schuldig massaged Aya’s neck and shoulders until the redhead was making little purring noises of pleasure and was lying full relaxed against his chest. Then he took up a loofa and switched his attentions to corded arms and a firm chest, moving lower to scrub abdomen and thighs. Aya basked in it all, reveling in the attention and enjoying the feeling of being cared for. He let go of the last of his self consciousness and just melted into the warm body cradling him. It wasn’t long before his eyes were drooping sleepily.
Sensing the change, Schuldig pulled the plug and assisted Aya from the water, wrapping his bright pink body in a light robe. Aya swayed on his feet with tiredness and watched from half lidded eyes as Schuldig dried himself off and started to reach for his clothes. That spurred Aya to action.
"Will you…stay? Just to sleep, I mean."
Schuldig looked at him in pleased surprise. "Do you want me to?"
Aya shuffled his feet and hunched his shoulders forward. "Yes, I think I do. I’ve never shared my bed with anyone before, but it’s very late," he explained lamely.
"I’ll stay," Schuldig assured him and added to himself despite the hell Crawford was surely going to give him for it.
Aya exchanged his robe for a pair of loose cotton pants and tossed a second pair to Schuldig. Then he pulled back the covers and crawled into the middle of his bed, a little tense and wary. Schuldig scooted under the covers and turned off the bedside light. He drew the redhead down to lay down beside him and spooned to his back, wrapping a proprietary arm around Aya’s waist.
"Okay?" Schuldig asked.
"Hmmm," Aya murmured and snuggled in closer. He ignored any niggling little memories of their past history that tried to worm their way into his mind because this was nice. Aya could get used to this. He felt warm and cozy and safe. Aya wondered if this felt anything like being loved.
"I wouldn’t know, kitten. No one has ever loved me, so I can’t tell you, "Schuldig said against his hair. "Stop analyzing and go to sleep, Aya."
Beneath one breath and the next Aya fell asleep. Schuldig smiled down at his bedmate. Things were progressing nicely. Maybe Aya was willing to give it a chance after all. It certainly seemed like he had finally gotten himself a niche in man’s thoughts. Scooting even closer and ignoring the telepathic demands from Crawford for his appearance, Schuldig snuggled and fell asleep as well.