I

"So...You've kept it!" The voice came slightly mocking as a pale finger trailed the outlines of the ink pattern carved into his shoulder. He could hear that the other male smiled. That made him not want to look. He knew how that smile looked. Knew how it made those sensuous lips curve and reveal strong, white teeth. His eyes would be hooded. Just a glimpse of something purple, glittering violet gems under heavy lids. Long lashes covering them, silken to the touch. Silken on his skin. Butterfly kisses of pure velvet...

A shiver coiled down his spine. He prayed that the other would not see. Not notice the tremble in his hand when he lifted the drink from the table. The small waves on the drink's surface. Purple drink. Purple tide. He'd bought it because. Because...just because it was...-not purple...but good... He lifted it to his lips. Needed it now, more than ever. Now that the radiating heat from the other's body shrouded his back. Curled around him like a cloak. So close, so warm...and the finger on his shoulder that hadn't moved. A touching point, sending cascades of small lightning into his body. Fear? Yes, that could very well be it. Cold fear that that stretched itself from the pit of his stomach like a lazy cat, not being forced to use its limbs for a decade or so...not counting those nights...those nights of purple darkness. Passionate madness. Those days when his whole existence had been covered in purple madness and blood...In a sudden flash, he remembered moonbeams from the dirty window, like pale fingers, tracing his body. Coloring his purple-eyed God in a hazy shade of blue. The feel of the katana against his skin. Cool as the moonbeams, cutting through the surface, playing in his flesh. Creating a pattern, writing a name in crimson red. Carving his mark into the white canvas of his body.

"Can I sit down?" The warmth disappeared and the face he didn't want to see appeared in front of him in the dim lit club. Sat down in the red chair opposite his own. Unbidden. Uninvited. -Aya had never asked for permission for anything... And he honestly didn't think his yes or no would make any difference, not really. Aya would do as he pleased.

He tried to look away, but the purple gaze locked on him and held him in place. Forced him to trail the other's features with his eyes: The full, red lips, those high cheekbones, hair as red as blood against the pale, flawless skin… He was captured. Amazed by the sight. So very much alike, yet so different from the one he had kept in his mind the last couple of years. The picture of Aya; his own fallen pride and agony. His violator, the one that took. Because...because...he wasn't worthy the avenging angel's regard. To Aya, he was nothing. Nothing more than what could be taken...Useless piece of crap. A doll to play with, but that was ok... because... maybe he was right. What was he anyway, except for that. A minor wave on the face of the world. A red-haired devil consuming purple drinks and musing about the past...

"It's been a long time… Schuldich." The past in front of him spoke and smiled that unnerving, knowing smile. The smile that said "I know what you keep in your pants Schuldich, and I can get to it as easy as *that*." Schuldich's own lips curved in to a smile as well. Mirroring the one in front of him. The rim of the glass came up to his lips again. A cool, smooth distraction. He'd never know that purple held such fire. That amethyst had such a cutting edge. Ripping his mind apart.

"What do you want...Aya?" The name came out as a lazy whisper, he couldn't help but batting his lashes. Make a play of it...all in the unbidden guest's honor.

"Why? Can't you tell...read my mind like a book?" Aya teased back, mirth-laden steel playing in the dark pools of his eyes. He knew very well that Schuldich would never touch his head again. And why..."Are you afraid it'll backfire?" The redhead leaned over the table and spoke in a low voice. Just to rub it in, Schuldich thought and silently gritted his teeth. Suddenly he felt tired. So very, very tired.

"Just don't think it's worth the effort," he threw out. "There're no more surprises for me in there...You've revealed them all." He smiled slightly and narrowed his eyes questioningly. Daring the other to tell him differently.

"Yes..." Aya just smiled. "I guess you're right..."

Disappointment. Disappointment, pure and raw with those words. A surging anger. Frustration. Emptiness. Of course, it was all on the inside. Not a trace on his marble features. As a quick test he threw his mind in the other's direction. A probing tendril slipped inside Aya's head. Looking around for...something. Of course he found nothing. Not a trace. Nothing of that he was looking for.

"You feel very confident, Aya? Why is that?" He regretted the words the instant they were spoken. He had meant it as a token of his superiority. To show that he was still the mastermind... but - yes, even that would backfire. He knew it the moment he heard the words out loud. Of course Aya felt confident. Why shouldn't he...he sat there with him, Schuldich...the one he had beaten so effortlessly. The man that hadn't been a challenge at all. "Forget it," he mumbled and gave the waiter a sign.

Aya's grin told him clearly that the other had followed his thoughts. Like a big, sated cat, Schuldich thought. Aya's glittering eyes teased him without mercy. He should just get up and leave but...but then again, the sight of the other held him captured, as it never failed to do... So yes, he would sit there and be humiliated. Get his nose rubbed in it. Take the trash Aya would throw in his direction. Because...there was no pride left in this... In him. And quite frankly there wasn't really much else to do, but sit there...Get the picture laid out for him, the mirror pushed in front of his face...To sit there and look at what he'd become. A failure. A joke. All of it showing clearly in those purple eyes. Those knowing eyes. Eyes that knew and would never forget... So he would stay, caught by the other's presence. Sit there, and ignore the burning warmth in his chest. Battle down the memories of silken skin and firm muscles. A velvet tongue tasting his lips, pushing into his mouth with a small sigh of relief...He would forget all that and just... sit.

"Two more of those," Aya ordered when the waiter finally arrived, casually pointing to the near empty glass in Schuldich hand. "This one is on me," he smiled and cocked his head. Met Schuldich’s eyes without hesitation...or shame.

"What do you want, Aya?" He could hear it himself, how some of the fear and feeling of exhaustion slipped into his voice. But wasn't really sure if he cared. He leaned himself back in the chair. Tried to look casual. Didn't know if he failed.

Aya's gaze never faltered.

"I saw you sitting here and...I just wanted to talk," he said. His elbows resting on the table. His head in one of his hands. He seemed, utterly relaxed and comfortable, Schuldich thought and sent the other an angry thought.

"Talk?” he said sourly. "And what is there to talk about? How come I've been found worthy of gracing your presence on this lovely night?" he continued and arched his eyebrows at the former Weiss member. "Shouldn't you be home taking care of your sister?" he went on. His gaze resting on Aya's hands. Not daring to move it further up. As long as he avoided looking at the eyes he would be fine. The memories wouldn't be so troublesome.

"Aya-chan is fine on her own," the other said with his calm smile in place. "And as for the talking, " he continued. "I thought that, maybe...you wanted to catch up..." The waiter arrived with their drinks. Purple, sweet liquid in tall ice-rimmed glasses. Aya pulled out a couple of bills and gave them to the young man serving them. Schuldich caught himself watching him, making sure that his eyes didn't follow the youth as he left, didn't linger longer than necessary on the hand that received the bills.... Ah! He was a sad case, he sighed inwardly and gave a quick smirk. Meeting Aya tonight...a disaster if the tower hadn't already fallen. The fight hadn't already been lost...

"You don't catch up with your enemies," he said in a sudden, unexpected outburst of anger. Hurt pride flaring to life making him bend over the table. His eyes hard slices of jade glistening under his lashes. "I could still kill you, you know. I am still the serpent..." Schuldich slowly redrew across the table, his eyes challenging Aya, determined not to yield...no matter how hot...piercing...that purple gaze was. How much it hurt to look into those eyes.

"And I..." Aya said calmly, "could kill *you*."

Schuldich felt a cold shiver run down his spine as the memory of a sharp blade pressed against the sensitive skin of his inner thigh suddenly sprang back to life, disturbingly vivid and clear.

"Is that what you wanted to talk about?" Schuldich smiled a lazy smile. Lifted his glass of toxic violet to his mouth. So sweet... and so bitter. "About killing me?" At least that would be familiar ground, he thought, and swallowed down the alcohol.

"No," Aya said with a smile. "That has never proven to be... necessary..." A teasing expression spread on his lovely features. Gave him an almost boyish charm.

"Sometimes I wish that you had," Schuldich sighed and let his gaze fall to the table separating them. "Instead of..." He sighed lightly, blamed the alcohol for saying more than he'd planned.

"Nooo..." Aya's laughter was almost a giggle. Made Schuldich realize that the other man had had his share of drinks tonight as well. Just great, a slightly drunk Aya... just what he needed...

"Was I that bad?" Aya continued. His eyes shining and his face flushed from laughter. “It couldn't be worse than death!" He grinned. Still having that young, almost innocent look on his face. So different from the stern expression, the bitter, hardness that used to radiate from him in the past. Always brooding, always so cold...except for on those nights...-You have no idea, Schuldich thought bitterly, death would have been merciful - compared to what you did to me...

"I thought you liked it." Aya winked at him across the table. Forced the bitter smile back on his lips. Aya knew, just as well as he did, exactly what had happened back then. Speaking of it like they had just shared a night of passion was nothing but mockery. A way of proving his superiority. Schuldich started to believe he could see the outlines of a motive behind those purple eyes. A reason for this sudden friendliness: A drunken attempt at having fun, all at Schuldich's expense. Yes, he was really going to have his nose rubbed in it this time. If Aya kept this up all he had left of dignity would be lost by the end of the night. Still he just gave an ironic smirk and emptied his glass. Hoped that the strong drink would reach his mind. Shroud it in alcohol, drape it in purple. Not dreams this time but harsh, cold reality... Reality smiling questioningly at him from over the drink.

"Why don't you just leave?" Aya suddenly asked. "If I bother you...why don't you just leave? Is it because you were here first?" The other man's good mood was unnerving. The teasing smile a constant insult. Still, the question remained...and how to answer it...?

"And spoil your fun?" he tried. "I have such a soft heart...wouldn't ruin your night, Fujimiya..." He trailed off. How could he explain, even to himself, that despite the living humiliation that Aya way, he already dreaded the moment when Aya decided he’d had his fun and left Left him broken. Even more so than before.
He lifted his hands and to brush his heavy, red hair away from his shoulders. Instantly and unexpectedly, a thought pierced through the air and caught in his mind. Aya's voice, loud and clear:

*I should be doing that for you*

An image flashed through his head; showing Aya's pale fingers tangled in his own, long, wavy locks. Gently lifting it away, the fingers brushing his neck as they moved. Aya's face so close. His breath on his skin, a soft draft of air - then it was gone.

"Stop it!" Schuldich's voice was strangled. He covered his eyes with his hands. "No more of that..." he said. He wanted to scream. Demand an answer...why? -But then again his former deeds involving the man made the question useless. There were so many reasons, so many answers. Aya could just pick and choose and justify every second of torment he unleashed on him.

"Want to see if you still can? Is that it?" he asked at last. "Will it make you feel good to know that you can?" Schuldich rubbed his eyes slightly before removing his hands. His green gaze met Aya's glittering one.
"Well, you can." Schuldich said at last. "You can still do it. Are you happy?"


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