Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ You're Joking, Right? ❯ Chapter 12

Joking Chapter 12

 

Yoji was fucking exhausted. What had possessed Omi to give Aya a whole Saturday off, anyway? Probably just hadn't wanted to deal with him. Aya seemed to be making a bit of an effort lately, but he clearly didn't really want to talk to any of them, and on a bad day, his sulking could suck all the air out of a room.

 

Yoji was trying not to display any more curiosity about Aya than he used to, but he needed to know. Of course, given the kind of day they'd had, it would probably seem strange if he didn't ask. Just as soon as he got a few seconds to himself. He looked at the clock -- almost six, thank God. Almost over. It was like Ken always said -- time flies when you're beating off squealing teenage girls with cheap roses.

 

“Five minutes!” Ken called loudly. Yoji put down the bucket of flowers he'd hauled out to restock the cooler and headed for the biggest clot of young ladies, flirting ludicrously and driving them toward the exit like some kind of oversexed sheep dog. Omi was manning the door, not letting anyone else in, ushering the cooperative out smoothly, and sweetly coaxing the ones who would linger. Although it was a good effort all around, this was the one situation where Aya's social skills were missed.

 

When it was finally over, Yoji leaned against a wall and closed his eyes. He was worn out. On the other hand, he hadn't obsessed about Aya for hours, so there was in fact a silver lining. He was thoroughly fucking sick of obsessing about Aya.

 

Yoji forced his eyes open and pushed away from the comfy, supportive wall. “I'll sweep and finish restocking the coolers,” he announced, heading into the back for more flowers.

 

“OK,” Omi called affably. “When we finish, maybe we can order some food, huh? I don't think anybody got to have lunch.”

 

“Sounds good, Omi,” Yoji said. “So, why the hell was Aya off today, anyway? We usually have all hands on deck for the weekends.”

 

Omi sighed. “I'm sorry. I scheduled it that way. I know I shouldn't have, but... It sounded so nice to have him gone for the day. You know? I thought it would kind of be like old times.”

 

Ken nodded, although less vigorously than he might have earlier in the day. “It was worth it. He's gotten weirder lately.” Ken fixed Yoji with a penetrating look. “I keep thinking he's going to lose it some day and kill everyone in the place. On the news, all the neighbors will be saying, `They seemed like nice boys. But then that red-haired demon came to live there, and nothing was ever the same.'” He looked at Yoji again. “What's up with him, Yoji? You know, don't you?”

 

Yoji was a hell of a poker player. He cocked his head and looked Ken in the eye, lifting an eyebrow just so. “What do you mean, Ken?”

 

“I mean you're spending a lot of time with him lately. I've seen you coming out of his room. I figured you were, you know, trying to take care of the situation. Imagine my surprise when I realized you were, you know, taking care of the situation.”

 

Yoji'd known he'd have to talk to them about this eventually, but he'd sort of hoped he might get killed first. He still hadn't figured out the best way to play it -- but then again, he probably wasn't going to. “Say what you mean, Ken. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I don't feel like playing games.”

 

“Bullshit.” Ken's tone remained neutral, but there was a predatory gleam in his eye that Yoji disliked. Omi hadn't said anything yet, but he was paying attention. Yoji was going to have to talk.

He forced his tone into neutrality as well. “Tell me what you want to know.”

 

“Aya. What the hell, Yoji? You're fucking Aya.”

 

“Yeah. I'm fucking him. What, you want details?”

 

“Are you telling me it's none of my business? You're sleeping with the enemy, man.”

 

“Aya's not the enemy. He's a fucking freak, but he's not the enemy.” I don't think, Yoji added silently. At least, God, I hope not.

 

Ken breathed in through his nose, closed his eyes, and let out the breath noisily. “Try not to be such a jackass, Yoji. What I mean is, he's a wretched human being, and he makes our lives hell, and none of us trusts him. You were complaining about it as loud as anybody until pretty recently. Kind of a spectacular reversal, don't you think?”

 

“It's not exactly a reversal. I still think he's a wretched human being, and he still makes my life hell. I just also think he's really pretty, and he's good in bed.” Yoji shrugged. “You know me.”

 

Ken's eyes narrowed. “I do know you.” His tone was ominous.

 

Yoji turned to Omi. “What about you, Omi? Questions? Concerns?”

 

Omi just looked at him for a good 30 seconds. It was brutal. “You're telling us it's just sex, and you don't have any relationship with him?” He sounded dubious.

 

“That's what I'm telling you.”

 

“I've never known you to, um, fraternize with people you, um... well, know.”

 

“Thanks, Omi. And I don't really know him, do I?” Yoji sighed. “Look, he ticks an awful lot of boxes for me, OK? There isn't a problem -- he isn't going to bring me over to the dark side or something. I can still see that he's a prick.”

 

“It's a pretty major change. Why didn't you tell us?

 

“Because I knew neither one of you would like it one bit, that's why. Looks like I had a point, huh?”

 

“Oh, give me a break,” Ken burst out, clearly exasperated. “Don't pretend this is no big deal, and don't give us this `Why are you being so mean to me?' shit.”

 

“Well, what do you want from me, Ken? I'm not sorry I didn't tell you -- in fact, I wish you'd never figured it out. I'm sleeping with him. That's just the way it is. I'm sorry it makes you uncomfortable, and I won't rub your faces in it. What else is there to say?”

 

Ken stared incredulously. “So you're going to keep seeing him.”

 

“We're not dating, Ken. He annoys me. I annoy him. It's just sex.”

 

Ken continued to stare.

 

“Yeah, I'm going to keep fucking him. Non-negotiable. Don't feel all betrayed and shit -- it doesn't have anything to do with you.”

 

“I do not understand what the hell's going on with you, Yoji. Aya. Aya. What are you thinking?”'

 

“Thinking has nothing to do with it,” Yoji muttered. It was no longer a defensive posture; he really was beginning to feel put out. It wasn't that he didn't understand their dismay -- he did. Boy, did he. If it were Ken and Aya, Yoji would be... A sudden wave of jealousy derailed his train of thought. Would Aya have taken on Ken, if Ken could get him what he wanted? Holy shit, the very thought knocked him on his ass.

 

“Yoji, you are such an idiot.” Ken didn't actually look angry, though. He looked -- sad.

 

Yoji made a show of shrugging. “Can't teach an old dog new tricks,” He said lightly.

 

Ken opened his mouth for a no-doubt withering retort, but was interrupted by Aya bursting into the room. Yoji, Ken and Omi all stood there staring at him, and he stopped and stared back. Aya glanced at his watch, looking surprised that they were still there. He wore his usual expression -- twitchy, grim, determined -- but for just a moment there, Yoji was sure he'd seen something else. Aya had looked -- upset. No, that was too small a word. Shaken -- that was closer. Yoji wanted to go over there and pull Aya into his arms. He was pretty sure Aya would let him.

 

Fuck.

 

Yoji smiled his fakest, most irritating smile. “Almost looks like we were talking about you, doesn't it?”

 

Aya's eyes narrowed into a concentrated look of death. He really was amazingly good at that. Yoji couldn't help being impressed.

 

“Omi and Ken were just asking about, you know -- us. Kind of a joke, huh?”

 

Aya gave Yoji a very brief but very careful look, taking a reading. Then he pointedly looked the other way. He stood up straighter, pulled back his shoulders, and squared his jaw. The changes were subtle, but he looked for all the world as if he were hurt but trying to pretend he wasn't. It was such a virtuoso little performance Yoji almost believed it himself. He would have liked to believe it.

 

After just the right dramatic pause, Aya spoke in a slightly forced tone. “Are you worried about team dynamics? Or just can't believe how bad Yoji's taste really is?”

 

Ken jumped in before Omi could try to calm the waters. Assuming he'd bother. “Both.”

 

Aya nodded. “If anything, it makes me a little more committed to the team. As for Yoji...” He gave Yoji a completely opaque look, then allowed one corner of his mouth to twist. It had to be bullshit, but it was still painful to watch. “I don't think you two have to worry about Yoji.”

 

“Well, you guys did keep it a secret from us,” Omi finally volunteered. “Not that you ever tell us anything anyway, Aya.”

 

Aya's lips looked thin, his mouth a hard, tense line. Nothing like the other night... “It hasn't been long, and Yoji didn't want you to know because... Well, why would he? Would you want anybody to know if you were sleeping with me?” Aya turned abruptly and all but fled the room, working the appearance of injured vanity and even slamming the door a bit behind him.

 

Well, that hadn't been what Yoji had expected, but it was a pretty good call. It just might work. Yoji sighed loudly. “And there you have it.”

 

Ken gave him a calculating look. “You're sure he isn't going to flip out and kill us all?”

 

“Pretty sure,” Yoji answered truthfully. He looked over at Omi. “Look, this is kind of sordid. I didn't want to drag you guys into it. I'm sorry. But I can handle him, OK? You can trust me.”

 

Ken clearly retained reservations, but he smiled reluctantly. “We trust you. It's just... Aya.”

 

Omi nodded in agreement.

 

“Aya's just a jerk. He's not actually the devil.” Yoji took off his apron and strode to the door, work and dinner forgotten. “I'm going up there now to -- smooth things over.” He paused and looked back at his teammates. “Are we OK?”

 

He received grudging nods from both. It would do for now. Yoji nodded and left, taking the stairs two at a time.

 

Throwing open the door of Aya's room, Yoji was vaguely pleased that he was allowed to do so, and that Aya had left it open for him. Aya lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling and smoking one of Yoji's cigarettes. The packet, along with Yoji's lighter, lay on the bed next to him. He was using an empty can of tea as an ashtray.

 

“Nice one,” Yoji said dryly, sitting on the bed and reclaiming his possessions.

 

“You looked like you could use some help.”

 

“Oh, that's what you were doing. `Cause it looked like you were trying to get them to feel sorry for you by making me look like an ass.”

 

Aya exhaled slowly, apparently mesmerized by the smoke. “Works for everyone.” He glanced over at Yoji. “You don't really care, do you? You put a lot of effort into looking like the kind of person who does that sort of thing.”

 

Yoji lit up one of his cigarettes. “It's a useful pose.”

 

“I was wondering when they'd ask you about it.”

 

“Yeah, I was, too. Went pretty well, all in all.”

 

Aya nodded. He dropped his cigarette butt into the can and sat up, watching Yoji. He looked guileless, but Yoji knew that Aya's bag of tricks was tightly packed. “I need to press whatever advantage I can with them -- I can't get kicked off this team. They'll hate me a little less if they feel sorry for me.”

 

What the hell was going on now? “I would have thought you'd like nothing better than to see the last of us.” Yoji dropped his own butt into the can, cringing slightly at the slight hiss. Disgusting. People used ashtrays for a reason. He lay down next to Aya and put his arms around him, ignoring the terrifying thrill he felt when Aya rolled over to face him, leaning his face against Yoji's shoulder.

 

“Yoji, I need to talk to you about something. It's -- important.”

 

Yoji's stomach lurched.

 

“I need help.” He kissed Yoji's jaw tenderly. “You're the only one I can ask.”

 

Oh, this had to be all kinds of bad. “You looked upset when you came in tonight. Does it have anything to do with that?”

 

Aya nodded. “I don't even know how to start. This is so fucked up you aren't going to believe me.” He pulled back so he could look Yoji in the eye. “I'm going to tell you the truth. I swear it's the truth. You're the only one I can trust.”

 

Yoji didn't believe him for a second, but he had to admit it was all pretty stimulating. That was the thing about Aya -- he got a person's blood going. “Just tell me what you want from me. Sounds like we're talking about more than a ride to the airport.”

 

Aya looked unhappy. “I'm asking for a lot. I can't start there, though. I have to explain why, first.” He took a deep, slightly shaky breath. His desire to be convincing was more than palpable -- it was overwhelming. “This is all about my sister.”

 

“Your sister?”

 

“I don't know why you sound so surprised -- lots of people have them.” He looked awfully annoyed, for someone who was making no sense. “A couple of years ago, an organization called Eszett had my parents killed, and my sister wound up in a coma.” He sneered at Yoji's sympathetic expression. “Right, sucks for me. Whatever. The thing is, these people are pure evil. You can't imagine. And they want my sister. I can't let them get her, Yoji. It's the most important thing in the world. Eszett can't have her.”

 

Now, freaking weird as that was, Yoji could tell it was in fact the truth. Either that or Aya was completely insane, because he believed what he was saying. Yoji nodded once, urging Aya to continue.

 

“That's the deal I have with Kritiker. Their main priority is trying to wipe out Eszett, and Kritiker promised me the chance to take them out.”

 

“How come I've never heard of these people, if they're enemy prime?”

 

“We're getting ready for when the time will be right to hit them. Until then, the fewer people who even know the name, the better.”

 

“How do you know? And why would they want your sister?”

 

“My family was Eszett. My sister and I were part of a breeding program -- that's why they want her.”

 

“Why don't they want you, then? And, what the hell -- a breeding program? What?”

 

“They think I'm dead, for the moment. That was something Kritiker was able to do for me. And you don't need to know anything about the program yet. It's dangerous to even tell you this much -- nobody can find out, Yoji. I just... I trust you, and you deserve to know what I'm asking you to do.”

 

“Well, if this is a Kritiker thing, I'm already involved, aren't I?”

 

“Sort of, but not nearly as much as you're about to be. You'd have to fight Eszett directly at some point, but every day you didn't know about them was a blessing. I'm pulling you in way too soon, and I'm sorry. You'd have had months, maybe even a year before you knew about them, if it weren't for me.”

 

“You sound like you're diagnosing a terminal disease,” Yoji said.

 

Aya didn't answer.

 

“What are you talking about, Aya? I'm Kritiker's dog -- if they tell me to do something, I do it.”

 

“Kritiker isn't asking you to do this, Yoji, I am. Kritiker doesn't know about the mission I'm about to ask you to take, and they can't find out.”

 

Yoji raised his eyebrows.

 

“There are elements of Kritiker that would like some of Eszett's power for themselves. I need to eliminate one of those elements. And I need you to help me.” Aya paused to let it sink in.

 

“Holy shit, Aya -- you're planning to kill someone within Kritiker?”

 

Aya nodded.

 

“Where do you get your information? Another faction of Kritiker? And why are they going through you instead of Manx or someone else who's higher up the food chain?”

 

“My information is from an outside source, not from Kritiker. And I don't give a damn about the Kritiker hierarchy. Kritiker and I use each other. That's how it works.”

 

“Does Manx know about this?”

 

“About me and about Eszett, but not about the assassination I'm planning. She can't find out; Ken and Omi can't find out. It's just you and me.”

 

“This puts you in a pretty delicate position, doesn't it? How do you know I won't turn you in?”

 

“You won't.” He smiled bitterly. “You want to save the world, too.”

 

Yoji snorted. “Let's just do a brief recap, shall we? The baddest guys in town are a group called Eszett, but they're so bad it's a big secret only a couple of people are in on, and you're one of them. Kritiker wants to get rid of them, which is why you're here, but Kritiker also wants to cozy up to them. You have super-secret intelligence from some mysterious source identifying, what, some kind of Kritiker/Eszett double agent? And so you're going to take this person out on your own, except you need me too help. Oh, and you have a sister in a coma. But telling me any more about that would be TMI. That about get it?”

 

Aya nodded.

 

“You're out of your fucking mind.”

 

Aya nodded again. “So are you. You'll help me, right?” He kissed Yoji, as sweet a kiss as he could remember. Eventually it ran to desperate, hitting every shade of passion and need along the way. Yoji wondered vaguely if his brain would ever work the same way again. He didn't pull away, though. Aya whispered, breath hot against his ear: “You belong to me. If it comes down to me or Kritiker, you'll pick me. Won't you?”

 

Maybe Yoji had been wrong. Maybe Aya was the devil. A devil, anyway. “Yes,” he whispered, memorizing the feel of Aya's mouth against his jaw and neck.

 

“Do you love me?” Aya asked quietly. He returned to sucking the skin just beneath Yoji's jaw.

 

“Why the hell would I do something like that?” Yoji asked, pulling at Aya's shirt. Aya shifted briefly, allowing it to be pulled over his head.

 

“Doesn't matter why,” he said, licking Yoji's ear. “You're in, right?”

 

Felt so good... “Yeah. I'm in.”