Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Playing the Part ❯ Part Four ( Chapter 4 )

Part Four

"I don't give shit-all what anyone thinks of me," Schuldich was saying. "If you have a problem with me then tough fucking luck. It's that simple Ken. I'm not gonna change myself or act like something I'm not just to impress people. I've always been that way and that's the way I'm staying. Society can suck my dick."

Schuldich had taken Ken to a posh French restaurant situated in Tokyo's foreign section. Surprisingly, Ken had genuinely enjoyed the fancy, exotic food and now they were lingering over coffee and dessert. At Ken's insistence, Schuldich was talking about his relationship with Bradley Crawford.

Ken snorted. "Literally or figuratively?"

"Bit of both, kiddo." The redhead grinned and took another sip of his coffee. "Brad's not like me. He's got this self-image carved into his mind and nothing short of amnesia can dislodge it. I know 'cause I've tried enough times. He's a control freak. Everything has to be done his way and that way's the only way. There's no room for argument because he's stubborn as shit. But then again, as far as I know I'm the only one who ever really argues with him. I can't see any of his business associates or clients arguing with him. He's really rigid and gives off this air of danger. He's not someone you'd wanna mess with. Pretty much, he's got zero conscience. You fuck with him, you're dead. It's that simple. He doesn't let anyone stand in his way."

"Charming." Ken moodily poked at his rich raspberry chocolate praline dessert. He was getting more discouraged by the moment. This Brad Crawford guy reminded him of some sort of corrupt mob businessman. The thought of posing as Schuldich's special friend was seriously creeping him out. Between going back home and trying to forget Yohji and getting tangled up with the likes of Crawford...well it didn't take a quantum physicist to know that the grand prize was hiding behind Door #1.

"Well he's not so bad with me," Schuldich amended, either ignoring Ken's thoughts or too busy talking to pay attention to them. "He actually likes me. It's pretty flattering when you think about it since it's not like he likes a whole lot of people. I don't kiss up to him and I'm not afraid of him. Mostly I amuse him."

"And you're okay with that?" Ken wrinkled his nose. The idea of being someone's amusement was abhorrent to him. "Sounds pretty sad, if you ask me."

Schuldich shrugged. "It's better than apathy. Or annoyance. Brad's a total workaholic. He hates when I come into his study and bother him. In his mind he gets all annoyed with me and thinks I'm like a kid or something."

"Why're you with him then?" He paused to finish the rest of his coffee. "He sounds like a first-class jerk."

"Same reason you stayed with that Ran character."

Ken sucked in a sharp breath at the mention of his icy, cynical ex-boyfriend. He remembered all too clearly how it had been. "You love Brad."

"Yeah, can't help who you love huh?" Schuldich winked as he took another spoonful of his frosted marble cheesecake. "The best guys always fall for the biggest assholes."

Ken shook his head, smiling ruefully. "Can't argue with that."

"It wasn't like I planned it," the German went on. "It just happened. There's something about Brad...he's got a compelling personality. If I can get through to him, we'd be great. He's good for me, like I am for him."

"Have you told him how you feel?"

"Brad's really image conscious and he doesn't do anything that isn't expected of him or that will ruin the name he's made from himself." A slight bitterness tinged Schuldich's voice. "Naturally that would include forming a long-time relationship with his gay lover. With the exception of Nagi, our relationship is a complete secret. Everyone thinks I'm some sort of personal writer to him or something. Lately he's been hanging around a lot with Emilia, the supermodel daughter of one of his Italian investors. Everyone seems to be thrilled with that alliance, except for me but in the grand scheme of things, what do I matter?"

"That's awful." Ken fiddled with his spoon, feeling acutely sorry for Schuldich. There was no doubting it now, Crawford was a complete ass.

"If he truly loved her then that'd be one thing but he doesn't. He's only holding up his image. So that's why I need to do something. I'm not going to lose him. Brad and I are good together. I know his mind, hell I can fucking read it, and I'm better for him than anyone else can ever be. That's why I need you; to help him realize it."

"Yeah but...I understand all that but me?" Ken made a face. "I don't know anything. I'm kinda clumsy and sorta nervous, I have a lot of phobias and I seriously doubt that someone like Brad will be jealous of someone like me. I mean you can do way better, trust me."

"All he needs to see is how much fun we have together and how much I like you." Schuldich smiled over the rim of his coffee cup. "I like you a lot Ken and I know you like me. We can make this work. I won't let anything happen to you."

"But..." Ken sighed. "This is all so unconventional."

Schuldich shrugged. "I'm a gay foreigner in Tokyo. What else d'you expect?"

Ken had to laugh. "Crossdressing?"

"Hey, that can be arranged."

"Yeah, how 'bout no."

~*~*~*~*~

As they made their way through the streets, packed with the afternoon crowds, Schuldich glanced over at his companion. "You didn't tell me about Brad's phone call."

Ken had forgotten about that delightful episode. "He scared the shit outta me," the younger boy confessed candidly. "Gods, even his voice is scary."

The redhead was amused. "I love your honestly, Ken. Seriously, you're great."

Ken, never one able to accept compliments, flushed faintly and ignored it. "I'm not joking, the guy creeps me out! He asked where you were and I said you were gone someplace 'cause I kinda froze and then he asked who I was and I said nobody, just a friend and then there was this really long silence and he sounded all pissed off when he told me to tell you he called. I never wanna go through anything like that again!"

"You probably surprised the hell outta him," Schuldich replied laughing. "I knew this was gonna work!"

"If you make me talk to him again, the deal's off," Ken threatened. "He might hire his mob buddies to off me or something."

"He doesn't have any mob buddies." The German tapped his finger against Ken's temple. "Your imagination is getting the better of you, kiddo."

Ken wasn't convinced. "How do you know?"

"I have this little quirk where I can read mind." Schuldich skirted a lady laden with shopping bags and a stroller. "Sound familiar?"

"Oh yeah." Color crept onto smooth cheeks. Why did he keep forgetting that? "Does Brad know that you can read minds?"

"I told him when we first met but he thought I was drunk." The German shrugged. "He doesn't believe in any 'occult voodoo shit' as he likes to call it."

"I didn't believe you at first either. That kinda stuff comes right outta X-Men comics." Ken brushed choppy bangs from his forehead. "But then you knew all that stuff about my past and what I was thinking."

"Yeah, well Brad's got his suspicions, like when I say something he was going to or suggest things that he's thinking. But admitting I'm telepathic would mean that he's wrong and he doesn't like to be wrong."

Ken rolled his eyes. "No offense or anything but I dunno why you love this guy. He sounds like such a jackass."

"In life, sometimes you're the pigeon and sometimes you're the statue," Schuldich quoted philosophically. "I guess with Brad I'm the statue."

Ken thought about that as they waited at a crammed intersection for the light to change. "You don't deserve that," he offered finally and a little shyly.

Schuldich was pleased.

~*~*~*~*~

"Are you sure about this?" Ken shuffled his feet nervously and kept his gaze trained firmly upon the marble flooring. "I really, really, really don't like elevators Schuldich."

"Yes I'm sure and yes I know. You don't have to keep repeating yourself, I heard you the first fifty-seven times."

Ken glared at the floor, imagining that Schuldich's face was down there so he could stomp on it. "Well it's easy for you to say! You're getting me into trouble, I hope you know that!"

Schuldich rolled his eyes. "You're a real wuss, you know that?"

"Well I'm sorry that my life is important to me!"

Schuldich's latest scheme was taking Ken on a trip to Brad's office. Apparently he thought it to be the height of intelligence for Brad's coworkers, employees and garrulous, gossipy secretary to see him with a clearly out of place, unknown boy. Already they had run into a number of people who'd observed them with interest since Schuldich insisted they stand extremely close together. And as if that hadn't bad enough, Brad's office was located in a glassed skyscraper on the thirty-eighth floor. Not only was Ken scared of heights, he had an acute phobia of elevators.

Shit squared, as Yohji used to say.

"Just relax," Schuldich advised. "Nothing's going to happen to you."

"Easy for you to say." Ken's stomach dipped and curled again. "What floor are we on anyways?"

The redhead looked and saw they were heading towards the ninth floor. "Uh, we're coming along." He shifted closer to the younger boy and put his arm around his shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to you. I still need you in one piece. After this week...well that's a different story."

Ken buried his ashen face into Schuldich's shoulder. "Your concern is overwhelming."

To Ken, a lifetime seemed to pass before the elevator finally reached floor thirty-eight.

"Finally," he muttered, stumbling out and still grasping onto Schuldich.

"Halfway done," Schuldich remarked and tousled coffee-colored hair. He led Ken down the ornate hallway.

The Japanese boy was too busy cursing Schuldich and making sure that the contents of his stomach remained there, to notice their surroundings. They approached a lavish secretarial area which stood before two gigantic, intricately carved, Mahogany doors. Brad's secretary Reiko was a tiny, attractive lady with short black hair and thin glasses. Her eyes were quick to notice the young, casually-dressed boy who was clinging tightly to Schuldich. Hugging, one might say, if one were to be bold.

"What a surprise, Schuldich-san!"

At the sound of the high-pitched, irritably cute voice, Ken hastily jerked apart from the redhead, an action that did not escape Reiko's keen vision.

"Mr. Crawford's sent me to fetch some files and things from his office," Schuldich lied easily. "We'll only be a few moments, if you don't mind Reiko."

Reiko's eyes darted between Ken and Schuldich. "And he is...?"

"Oh just an...ahh...an acquaintance. A close friend really."

Ken didn't know whether to be disgusted or amused at Schuldich's deliberate and suspicious ambiguity.

"I see." Reiko looked like she couldn't wait to jump on the phone and announce to the world that it seemed Mr. Crawford's personal writer was gay and had a boyfriend!

Schuldich breezed past her, walking much too close to Ken yet again, and unlocked those huge doors.

"After you," he said in a voice loud enough for Reiko to catch on to.

"Talking about hamming it up," Ken muttered as he stepped into the office.

Ken had expected that Brad's office would be lavish and he wasn't mistaken. The room was enormous and decorated with dark, paneled wood, thick, carpeted floors, sculptures, rare paintings and exotic plants. There was a sitting area to the left with brocade sofas, wing chairs and a bar. Brad's desk was gigantic and filled with gleaming, black technological equipment. The wall behind the desk was simply a window, affording the room with a spectacular view of Tokyo.

"Shits, this is some office," Ken commented, still looking around with wide eyes.

Schuldich snapped the door shut behind him and grinned. "Reiko's a sucker for gossip. She's gonna be blabbing about this for weeks to come."

"Well I'm glad you're enjoying this." Ken scowled. "Brad's not gonna kill you."

"Quit worrying." The German gently chucked him under the chin before heading towards the large bookshelf dominating the western wall. He pulling books out at random. "This is all part of my plan."

Ken was still nervous. "Aren't there like security cameras and stuff in here? What if Brad sees this?"

"That's the point Kenny boy." Setting down his stack of books, Schuldich began pulling out files of paper from Brad's desk.

"Don't call me that." Ken watched with growing apprehension. "I'm not sure this is such a good idea. I mean, are you allowed to touch his desk and stuff?"

Schuldich looked up and gave him an annoyed look. "Two words Ken, shut up. I know what I'm doing. Just trust me okay?"

Ken fumed but remained silent. Naturally it was alright for Schuldich to talk, no one was gonna hurt him. Ken didn't like the sound of Brad at all and he wouldn't put it past the American to get severely pissed off and take action.

Eventually Schuldich had gathered everything he wanted to take announced that there work was done. He shoved half the book pile into Ken's arms.

"What d'you need so many books for?"

"Silence peasant!" Schuldich rolled his eyes. "You complain a lot, you know that?"

"And you're mentally challenged, do you know that?"

"You're also pretty cute, for a whiner." He held open the door for Ken. "Let's get going, we've still got a ton of places to visit."

Ken groaned. The guy was seriously deranged.

~I heard that~

Oh yeah, Schuldich could read minds. How come he couldn't remember that?

"I think you're the one who needs help kiddo."

Ken put forth his soccer skills and kicked the German. "I don't appreciate your verbal abuse."

Schuldich winced. As they walked past Reiko's desk, he said loudly, "But you do appreciate my physical abuse."

Ken wanted to die.