„So... Why cattleyas?“
I groan, turn off the water and dry my hands on the towel next to the sink. I finally turn around and scowl at the intruder who is launching against the doorframe.
„You mind?“ I ask and wave my hand in the direction of my room. He just smirks.
„Not at all.“ is his drawled response.
It's not the first time he showed up and surely won't be the last. I'm almost used to him appearing randomly by now, that's why I don't even try to scrounch up the energy to feel ashamed at standing naked in front of him.
Bet he timed his visit.
The widening of his smirk is answer enough. I take a step towards him and he retreats, letting me enter my room, again.
My date, whom I just wanted to start the next round with, is sitting in the middle of my bed with eyes that are glazed over. She's on mental pause, I recognise the signs easily. I sigh and rummage through the heap of clothes right beside the bed to get my shorts and put them on. He's just made himself comfortable in my reading chair and I quirk an eyebrow at him. He shrugs, still smirking, and I sigh again.
„Just send her home.“ I respond at last and trot over to my small kitchenette to get some coffee. I glance at the clock on my bedside table while I make my way to the other end of the room. It's one a.m.. Yes, I definetly need something to help me stay awake.
Schuldig is in a talking mood and when he is, nothing will stop him.
I hear my front door open and close and when I return to my room with a cup of steaming coffee in my hand, my date is gone. Schuldig has removed his sunglasses and his bandana, both of them sitting on the ground next to his chair. I sit down on my bed, propping myself up against the headbord. As I take a sip of my drink, Schuldig ask his question again.
„Why cattleyas?“
I scowl at him for good measure, then sigh, _again_, and shrug.
„I like the scent and the colour. And they're rare. Roses are in almost every arrangement. Cattleyas aren't. They're extraordinary.“ I smirk myself this time.
Schuldig ponders that for some time. Then he stands to get his own cup of coffee.
I don't know why he comes to see me. The first time he showed up I was terrified. I was in a similar clothing state like today, only having my shorts on, and I had just decided to leave my date-of-the-night's appartment when he blurred his way into the room. My watch had been way out of reach and both of us knew it. How stupid of me to take it off. (Not that it would have helped much against him, anyway.) He hadn't made any antagonistic move though, just teasing and taunting with that everlasting smirk of his. And just as that, he had left again, leaving me deeply troubled. I didn't tell my teammates and haven't told them till today and I still don't know why not.
He's never tried to hurt me; he just pops up and asks random questions, attempting to draw them out into a conversation. And he won't leave until he has his answers. One time he even picked me up at a club when I was drunk and drove me home. Every time I ask him why he doesn't just get his answers out of my head with his gift, instead of bothering me, he just shrugs, smirks and says he's off duty.
Lately, he likes to bother me at home, mostly when I have dates here and am in some undressed state.
He catches that last thought and I am presented with a lazy smile. I roll my eyes at him and place my mug on the nightstand next to me. I reach for my pack of cigarettes and heave myself up from my bed and move over to the open window. It's warm out, but not unpleasantly so.
I light myself a cigarette and blow the smoke out the window. Schuldig appears by my side, gazing onto the dimly lit street below. I study his face and how his hair is falling freely down his back (and almost reaches his waist) and he lets me. I don't know what I'm looking for, though. I hesitate, then extend my hand towards him, offering him the cigarette. He studies me, a bit surprised as it seems, then he takes it from my fingers and inhales, deeply. He lets the smoke drift out slowly from between his lips, regarding the glowing end, thoughtfully. Then he gives a small laugh.
„Crawford will be furious.“
I'm a bit taken aback, he's never mentioned anyone from his team so far. He's been visiting me for almost three months now, but never has spoken about anyone else but himself.
He looks at me and sees the question in my face. A small smirk tucks at the corner of his mouth but he doesn't let it surface. He answers my unspoken question, though.
„He doesn't want any of us smoking. He detests it.“
He shrugs and inhales again, facing outside.
„So I'm corrupting you?“
That startles a laugh out of him and I am strangely pleased by that, even if I don't know why.
„I have smoked before... I just stopped when I came to Schwarz.“
We don't say anything else and share the cigarette, handing it back and forth. Then he leaves quietly and I go back to bed.
He's back the next night which surprises me, for he's never done that before and I do not have a date with me. I'm sitting in my reading chair with a book in my lap. He knocks, once, and enters without waiting for a response, dropping off his glasses and bandana on top of my dresser.
I get up and put my book aside. Then we stand there, a bit at a loss for words. At last, I pull my pack of cigarettes out of the back pocket of my jeans and waggle them at him.
„Want one?“
He grins and nods and we move over to the window. I light one, take a drag, then extend my hand to him. He doesn't take it into his own hand, though, but puts his lips over the end and inhales. I don't pull my hand back. My skin starts tingling where his lips connect with my fingers. It is not unpleasant and warning bells go off in my head.
This is Schuldig, my mind tries to remind me, he is Schwarz, he is dangerous.
But he is 'off duty', another part of me speaks up.
I shake my head in order to clear it, but it doesn't really help.
When the cigarette has burned down I exstinguish it on the windowsill and throw it outside. Neither of us moves away, Schuldig just turnes and studies me.
„Should I leave?“ he asks at last.
It takes me a long time to answer.
„No.“ I say quietly.
I do not know what he wants from me. I do not know why he comes here, why he has been approaching and following me for these past weeks. Maybe he does it to annoy me, maybe he's just bored.
The thing I do know is, that when he tangles his hand in my hair and places his lips to mine I don't care anymore and I don't reject him. I answer his silent request with a passion from deep within me I didn't know had been there.
I know that I'm the one who presses against him and pushes him into the direction of the bed.
He doesn't leave afterwards and I wake up the next morning, breathing into soft orange curls. Schuldig is still asleep and I stay still so I don't wake him. My mind wanders aimlessly and focuses only when Schuldig moves. He turns and opens bleary eyes at me. He blinks a couple of times, then his eyes clear.
„Nagi tells me Crawford is pissed.“ he croakes, voice still thick with sleep.
I chuckle and get a few strands out of his face for him.
„I _am_ corrupting you, am I not?“
He grins at me, then closes his eyes again.
„I don't care anymore. He didn't tell me to stay home last night, so he'll have to deal with it.“
I snort and close my eyes, as well.
We drift off to sleep again and I tell my mind not to bother with questions why this is happening. I enjoyed last night, so I decide that nothing else matters.
Everything else can be figured out later.
