Go, Or Go Ahead

Chapter 2

By Stefi

       

Aya sat back and relaxed into the comfortable (if only a little gaudy looking) couch in the hospital's lounge. Her feet were killing her from walking around all afternoon with Nurse Itou- no, Asuka.

"Are you feeling alright?" The older woman asked.

"I'm fine." Aya said, smiling. "I'm just not used to being on my feet so much."

"You get used to it," Asuka assured her. "So. That was the hospital. What did you think?"

"It's bigger than most hospitals I've seen. I've been in a few since I woke up, and I think this one's the biggest one so far."

"Since you woke up?" Asuka asked, getting her coat, as well as Aya's.

"Oh!" Aya exclaimed. "I forget to tell you… I was in a coma for a while."

Asuka winced. She felt pretty stupid now. "I had no idea. I'm sorry I asked."

"It doesn't bother me at all. Really." Aya assured her.

Asuka shook her head. "No, I really feel terrible now... I know! Let me make you dinner to make it up to you. How's that?"

Aya pretended to think about it. It was no secret that she loved food. "Well, I am pretty hungry, now that you mention it."

"Good. I wasn't going to take no for an answer anyway." Asuka said with a laugh. "Let's get out of here and I can take you to my house. You can even meet my husband!"

       

"Look," Nagi began, licking his dry lips. "I know I'm not supposed to be here, but-"

"But nothing." The gun dug a little bit into his back. Nagi could feel the cool metal through the thin hospital scrubs. "Turn around." The telekinetic did as he was told and slowly turned around to face his assailant. An annoyingly familiar German and his American partner smirked back at him. Schuldig even wiggled his fingers in greeting. "Hey there, kiddo."

Nagi almost wished it really were someone from Kritiker. He thought he was through associating with Schwarz. "What. The FUCK. Are you two doing here?" Nagi asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache coming on.

"That's a hell of a way to kiss us hello." Schuldig remarked, holstering his gun.

"We're about to leave for Italy. I wanted to make sure Schuldig has had all of his shots." Crawford said dryly as he pulled some red hairs from his suit. The German flipped him off. "What about you, Nagi?"

"I was actually just about to leave." He said.

"Are you still working for Kritiker?" Crawford asked.

Nagi nodded. "I'm in the middle of following someone right now, actually."

"Dressed in your jammies?" Schuldig asked. Crawford elbowed him in the stomach. The American even made physical comedy look All Business.

"I'm undercover." Nagi said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Not according to this, you're not." Crawford said, handing Nagi a folder with some documents in it.

Nagi read over the papers in shock. Persia had hired Crawford and Schuldig to 'make sure he followed my orders; if he hasn't, feel free to dispose of him', as the contract he was currently holding stated. He couldn't believe it. "Persia hired you two to KILL me!?"

"He's a mean little bitch, that one." Schuldig said.

"You're… not gonna do it, are you?" Nagi asked, eyeing the two assassins.

Crawford snorted. "We would have done it by now if we were going to."

"Christ, we're not THAT ruthless." Schuldig said. "So why does Persia wanna kill you anyway? Piss him off?"

"He's been acting weird lately." Nagi said. "Ever since I was assigned to monitor Aya Fujimiya, he's been getting really-"

"-Fucking crazy?" Schuldig supplied.

"Pretty much. And it's not just me. He's like this with all the agents. He'll be fine one minute, and then the next; he's like a totally different person. Nothing at all like the Mamoru Takatori I knew. Or even the Omi Tsukiyono of Weiss. And I can't explain why, exactly, but I feel like he has plans for something. Something terrible. And it somehow involves Aya. I want to get to the bottom of it, but I can't do it by myself- especially if I'm worried about Aya." Nagi looked at his former comrades hopefully. "So will you follow her for me? I can't shake the feeling that Persia is up to something."

Schuldig glanced at Crawford, wondering how the older man felt about this. Crawford nodded.

"We'll do it." Schuldig said with a smirk. "I think it's pretty cute that you're all bat-shit over a girl that isn't half-retarded this time."

Nagi resisted the urge to strangle Schuldig.

"For a discount." Crawford added.

"Yeah, no freebies." Schuldig agreed, folding his arms.

Nagi slouched. He should have known better than to think Crawford and Schuldig would help him out without expecting any sort of monetary gain. It was oddly comforting, though, knowing some things would never change. "Fine. We can discuss a price once Aya is safe."

"Deal." Schuldig agreed, slipping an arm around Nagi's shoulders. "Christ, ya got big, kiddo. Brad, feel his arms. They're like fucking tree trunks."

"I'd rather not." Crawford said. "We should get started on the job, Schuldig."

The German rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah..." He petted Nagi on top of his head and headed down the corridor with his precognitive partner. "We'll be in touch, Nagi."

Nagi nodded and couldn't help but feel more at ease with Crawford and Schuldig on top of things.

-to be continued-

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