They passed each other in the halls, and saw each other frequently throughout the
days. Each time, Crawford would flush slightly and Schuldich would become
uncomfortable. Nagi’s quick eyes picked out the disturbance, but he couldn’t figure out
what was going on.
Since it was February, it was no surprise when snow fell and blanketed the city.
The cold only made Crawford ache more, since his injuries were still mending. The
bruises had healed, but his broken joints were still on the mend. He moved slowly and
stiffly around the apartment complex, unable to go back to work protecting Takatori.
Crawford pulled on his jacket. It was Saturday, and there was nothing to do. He
grabbed his scarf. He thought he’d go for a walk in town, to have something to do. He sat
down and began to put on his boots.
“Hey, Crawford!” Crawford turned as he reached for the door. Schuldich stood on
the landing and smiled. He stood there, jauntily-like with his hands in his pockets. “Going
out?”
Crawford looked away nervously. “Y- yeah.”
Schuldich sat down and began to pull on his own boots. “Wait for me then. I’ll
come with you.”
Schuldich’s mind raced. Lately, he had been going crazy. He wanted to be near
Crawford so much. His body practically cried out when Crawford would walk away. His
mind, his body, his heart, hurt when Crawford glared at him. He wanted so badly to see
Crawford smile, a genuine smile. He just wanted to be with that man.
He smiled to himself as he put his jacket on. Weird. He had just naturally
accepted these feelings. It wasn’t a big deal anymore. For some odd reason, he was
attracted to Crawford. So what. Now it was no big deal. He had accepted it. He smiled at
Crawford as they exited the building. Now if only Crawford would accept his own
feelings...
They walked down the street together. Schuldich walked close, their shoulders
frequently bumping. He noticed that Crawford wouldn’t look at him as they walked, too
embarrassed to even be seen with the red head.
“So where ya going?” Schuldich asked. His mind cried out for conversation. He
wanted to hear Crawford’s voice. His voice played upon Schuldich like he was an
instrument. He quivered in anticipation as he waited for Crawford to speak.
“Just... out,” Crawford said shortly.
Schuldich frowned. Tentatively, he tried pushing his mind again Crawford’s.
Crawford whipped his gaze to Schuldich and glared at him. “Stay out of my mind!” he
ordered.
Schuldich smiled at him apologetically. Then his eyes widened and his smiled
grew bigger as he thought of an idea. “I know! Come with me! If you’re not going
anywhere, just come with me! I need some help anyway.”
Crawford frowned darkly. “And where are you going?”
“I need to get a present. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day after all.”
Crawford’s eyes widened. A tiny pang of pain was sent through his body.
Schuldich was getting a gift for someone? His beloved? Crawford bit his lip as he racked
his brains. He hadn’t seen Schuldich with a woman for a long time. Who could he be
buying a present for? And why... Why did his heart hurt like this? It’s not like he cared
who Schuldich bought presents for.
He tossed his head to the side. “Oh, I suppose I could accompany you. Just as long
as you’re going shopping for something decent.” They both remembered how last year
Schuldich had tried to drag Crawford into a lingerie store.
Schuldich laughed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “No! Just a jewelry
store.”
Crawford sighed and put a hand to his forehead. “I suppose I could handle that.”
For some reason, right now, he didn’t want to leave Schuldich. Even if it meant shopping
for a girl that Schuldich liked, or being in this uncomfortable atmosphere the whole time,
he just didn’t want to leave the red head’s side.
Schuldich grinned triumphantly and it made Crawford blush. “All right, let’s go!”
He quickened his pace and soon they were trotting along together.
They entered a jewelry store together. Schuldich made a scan of the store and then
went to the necklaces and chains. The attendant came over to them.
“Need any help?”
Schuldich smiled. “I’m looking for something for... Ahh... You know.” He
became flustered and he flinched at his own stumblings.
The girl smiled. “Yes. What type of necklaces are you looking for?”
Schuldich frowned and peered into the cases. Crawford stood behind him,
uncomfortable, with his hands shoved deeply into his pockets. “I’m not sure. I’m not sure
what would suit... her.”
“What does she look like?”
Schuldich put a hand to his chin as he thought. Crawford’s ears burned. He
wanted to hear who this girl was. He was hungry for the information. Who was she? Why
hadn’t he heard of her? Suddenly it infuriated him. How dare Schuldich sneak around
with a girl like that. Hadn’t he just tried to kiss him less than a week ago? Hadn’t he
made all those jokes about kisses and indirect kisses during the week? He frowned darkly
as he listened to Schuldich describe her.
“Well... She’s tall. Short, dark hair. Very becoming. Serious blue eyes. And
glasses. Very cute on the whole,” Schuldich said. He winked at Crawford. “Very lovely
girl.”
Crawford’s frown became even more pronounced. How dare he wink at me like
that! he thought. Acting like I shared his view. Oh yes, he thought, she’s very pretty! He
ground his teeth together. That... that bastard! Playing him like that! Getting him all
worked up. He had wasted a week trying to avoid Schuldich just so that they wouldn’t
have to share those uncomfortable moments together. And here he was, talking about
some damn girl that he liked!
The sales girl reached in and took out a fine silver chain. “How about something
like this? You could put a pendant on it. Or perhaps a ring, with your names engraved on
it.”
Schuldich nodded thoughtfully. “That would be nice. Why kind of pendants do
you have?”
Crawford dug his nails into his palms so that he wouldn’t yell out in anger. He
couldn’t even describe how mad he was. He turned his back on Schuldich and walked to
the other part of the store. He should leave, but he couldn’t. Something still held him
back.
Schuldich considered the pendants that he was shown. He didn’t know what to
get. None of them seemed to suit ‘her’ very well. He glanced often at Crawford. He
smiled to himself apologetically. He knew Crawford was mad. The dark haired man
thought that Schuldich was secretly dating a girl. He almost laughed. It was cute,
watching how jealous Crawford got.
He smiled as he saw a tiny cross. It was silver with a small dark blue sapphire
dropped into the middle of it. He looked over at Crawford. Yes. That was it. Ironic,
almost. WeiB liked to use the symbol of the cross, and here he was, ready to give
Crawford one to symbolize his love.
He leaned closer to the sales girl. “Can I get the back of this engraved?”
The girl nodded and pulled out pad of paper. “Of course, sir. What shall I put on
there?”
Schuldich thought for a moment. It’d be kinda silly if he put their initials on there.
How corny. He almost started to laugh. It was like something he’d see in the movies. And
here he was, with only one initial to put down. He shrugged. It all depended on how
Crawford took it later.
“S and B.C.”
“Just S?”
“...Yeah.”
Crawford wouldn’t talk to him on the way back to the apartments. Schuldich kept
trying to engage him, but the dark hair man ignored him.
“Goddamnit, Crawford! Talk to me at least. Say something!”
Crawford turned his face away from Schuldich. As he did so, something tiny, cold
and wet fell on his cheek. He stopped and opened his eyes in surprise. Schuldich also
stopped beside him.
“It’s snowing,” Crawford said softly.
“Yeah,” Schuldich breathed. They both titled their heads up and watched as the
snow spiraled down around them.
Taking a chance, Schuldich reached over and took Crawford’s warm hand in his
cold one. Crawford turned to regard him with surprise and began to pull his hand away.
Schuldich smiled and gently tightened his grip on Crawford’s warm hand. “My
hand’s cold,” was all he said.
Opening his mouth to say something, Crawford realized that he had nothing to
say. Lowering his gaze, he continued to walk back to the apartments. They walked hand
in hand for several blocks. Crawford was terribly embarrassed by it, but Schuldich
couldn’t get enough. Reflexively, he clasped Crawford’s hand tightly. He loved the feel
of how their hands perfectly melded together.
The next day dawned. Crawford yawned and stretched as he woke up. He sat up in
bed and took his glasses off his night stand. He frowned darkly as he realized what day it
was. Valentine’s Day. He got up and looked at himself in the mirror, combing his hair
with his hands.
He scowled darkly at his reflection. Schuldich, he thought. That bastard was going
to give some girl a present today, and croon his love to her. Fake love. He hated it. He
was still hurt at how Schuldich had played him like he had. Pretending to want to kiss
him. Holding his hand yesterday, Crawford had almost given in to him there.
A gentle knock came at his door. Crawford slid his glasses onto his nose and
walked briskly to the door. It was Sunday. Why was someone knocking at his door so
early?
He opened the door. Silhouetted by snowfall stood Schuldich. He was grinning
broadly. In his arms he held a dozen red roses.
“Happy Valentine’s Day!” he cried. He walked past Crawford and shut the door
with his foot. He handed the roses to Crawford to hold while he took off his coat and
shoes.
Crawford frowned as the roses were shoved at him. They were probably for her.
“What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly.
Schuldich stood again and faced Crawford. God, how cute he looked in his
pajamas. They were white with dark blue stripes. Stripes that matched his eyes, Schuldich
thought.
He smiled. “Roses for you. Anonymous. I found them outside the apartment and
thought I’d bring them in.”
Crawford’s eyes widened. “Roses... for me? From who?”
Schuldich laughed and tapped Crawford’s cheek. “Doesn’t say. I told you that.”
Crawford walked in wonderment to his small living room and set the roses on the
table. He looked in confusion at them. “But who... do you think they could be from?”
Schuldich smiled. “There was a small box with them too.” He reached into his
pocket and pulled out a tiny white box wrapped with silver thread. He handed it to a
speechless Crawford.
Wordlessly, Crawford took the box and pulled at the thread. He sat down on his
couch, and Schuldich sat right next to him. The red head watched with a mysterious smile
on his face as Crawford opened the present.
Inside was a delicate silver chain. The links were tiny and fragile looking. He
pulled out the chain. Dangling on the end of the chain was a tiny cross. In the center was a
small dollop of a sapphire. He turned it over in surprise. “S and B.C. 2-14-XX.” He
looked up in confusion. “Who is... S?”
Schuldich stretched and put his hands behind his head. “No clue,” he said
innocently.
Crawford saw through his act. He grabbed the front of Schuldich’s shirt with one
hand. “Tell me who it is! Tell me now!” he threatened.
Schuldich laughed and took the chain from Crawford. “I think you should figure it
out.” He reached around Crawford and fastened the necklace. He centered the small
charm on his chest. “It’s someone who loves you very much.”
Crawford’s eyes darkened as he thought. S. It could be anyone. In fact, it could
even be Schuldich.
His eyes widened in realization. He looked up to meet Schuldich’s green-eyed
gaze. He hadn’t been paying much attention, but this was what he had bought yesterday,
wasn’t it? All that about a girlfriend, tall dark and blue eyed. He was talking... about me!
he thought in surprise.
Schuldich gently cupped Crawford’s face. “Do you know now?”
“I know...” Crawford replied in a whisper.
Schuldich’s eyes became a bit uneasy. He bit his lip. “And...?”
“And...?”
Schuldich sighed in frustration. “H- how do you... feel? About it, I mean?”
Crawford’s eyes darkened even more. He was secretly pleased as he watched
Schuldich become so nervous. He lowered his eyes from Schuldich’s, and he watched as
Schuldich’s expression became one of disappointment.
Crawford couldn’t stand it anymore. He laughed out loud and threw his arms
around Schuldich. “Oh! I- I don’t know what to say. But... Thank you!”
Schuldich caught Crawford in pleasant surprise. “Craw... Brad?”
Crawford pulled back and looked at Schuldich. “I... was so mad at you yesterday. I
thought you really did have a girl on the side.”
Schuldich shook his head. “I wouldn’t play with your feelings like that.”
Crawford smiled. Tears were brimming in the corners of his eyes. Schuldich
reached up and gently pulled his glasses off his face. Folding them up carefully, he put
them on a table nearby. He replaced his hands around Crawford’s body.
“Do you... accept me?” Schuldich asked nervously.
Crawford smiled up at him. “You left me hanging, waiting, longing for that kiss
you didn’t finish a week ago,” he said playfully.
Schuldich smiled happily. He tightened his arms around Crawford. “Bradley,” he
said softly, gently cupping the pale face between his hands. “I’m not going to ever let you
go again.”
Crawford smiled. A tear spilled forth onto his cheek. “I don’t want you to.” He
closed his eyes and tilted his face up. “I think... No, I know.” He reached up and touched
Schuldich’s face gently. “I love you.”
Schuldich gasped in surprise. He leaned down quickly, eager to kiss him now. “I
love you too, Bradley,” he whispered before he kissed the lips that were offered to him.
The kiss was more than either of them expected. Complete love and passion
passed between them as they shared one kiss. Gentle lips caressed the other’s all the
while that gentle feeling passed between them. The kiss was for the past. They parted
briefly and looked at each other. They kissed once more. Stronger feeling flowed between
them. Something they had both wanted, they now had. The second kiss they shared,
gentle and loving, was for the future. It was for a promising, happy future that they could
spend together. All the coming kisses they would ever share were for it.
Awww... Well, I liked it. ^_^
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