Manu manum lavat 1
TITLE: Manu manum lavat
AUTHOR: green7silver
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything as anybody should know
NOTES: Thanks to my betareader inversedwaltz
SUMMARY: When SZ takes Schwarz as prisoners, only Weiss can Schuldig help to get his team back
PAIRING: Schuldig/Yohji
Manu manum lavat
It should have been a simple mission… in the beginning it had been. The targets were dead before they even realized what was happening. But then Weiss had found the cells in the basement and discovered the hell that had been hidden there. The smell of blood, excrements, and vomit swept over them. Most of the inhabitants were dead and those few who were left alive looked as though they envied the dead.
"Oh my god," Omi looked sick, "now what?"
"We make an anonymous call to the police," Aya decided, "they can take care of this."
"Wait…" The murmur was quiet and strained, but still they recognized the slightly nasal voice and shocking red hair of the occupant locked in one of the end cells.
"Mastermind?" Yohji questioned, peering through the darkness. The last time Weiss had seen the telepath was when he'd kidnapped Aya-chan from Schreient. How in hell had he landed in one of the SZ torture chambers? It was Schuldig, no doubt, that they found as they moved into the last cell - or rather, what was left of him. He was skeleton thin, reeked of filth, and too weak to stand on his own feet. It seemed difficult for him to maintain his trademark smirk as he continued, "I realize, I'm hardly anyone you would want to rescue, but nevertheless I think you should take me with you before you call the police. Perhaps, in exchange for some information about SZ and the little sister?"
"What do you know about Aya-chan" the leader of Weiss demanded, grabbing the injured man's shoulders and shaking him.
"A lot…" whispered the redhead before passing out. Aya cried out in frustration.
"If you want answers, it looks like we'll have to take him with us," Ken sighed, "he may be Schwarz, but this I wouldn't wish even on my worst enemy."
"Alright, but we will kill him afterwards if he causes any problems." Aya said icily.
"Maybe we should blindfold him before heading back," Ken added.
"Do you really think that's necessary?" Omi asked. "He looks so ill."
"Do you remember how many times he has fooled us before?" Ken countered pointedly.
While the others discussed the matter amongst themselves, Yohji knelt down beside the German, who lay motionless on the floor like a broken doll. All the horrible things - Ouka, Aya-chan - whatever Schuldig had done to them in the past he hadn't earned this. Carefully he lifted the redhead from the floor. He was light - much too light for his tall frame. Whatever the reason, Yohji was glad, that they weren't just going to leave the telepath here. "We should get going," he interrupted grimly.
Aya nodded a typical silent answer from the redhead. Their retreat went without incident and they quickly reached the Koneko unharmed. Schuldig's tired blue eyes opened, as Yohji set him down in the kitchen.
"Hello… decide to join us again, Mastermind?" Aya asked mockingly, "Where is she?"
"Could I get some water? Please?" Schuldig replied barely retaining consciousness. Aya and Ken continued to glare at him, but Omi sympathetically went into the kitchen and got a glass of water. In order for Schuldig to drink, Yohji had to help support his head while Omi held the glass to the telepath's chapped lips.
"You've had your drink, now it's time for some answers," Aya growled as soon as Omi had lowered the glass, "or shall I beat them out of you?"
Schuldig began to laugh hysterically, which soon turned into a coughing fit that left him breathless and exhausted. "Do you really think that you can force me to tell you anything, after all that I have been through at the fabric?" he asked, as soon he could speak again. "I'm not so thick, that I would immediately tell you the only information, that is keeping me alive," Schuldig replied quietly.
"We should discuss this later," Omi reasoned, "he belongs in a bed."
"We are not a charity." Aya argued.
"You won't get your answers now," Yohji told him, "he has a fever… and god knows what else."
"And he needs a bath," Ken added wrinkling his nose.
"Fine, if you want to volunteer," Aya told him annoyed, "but if you guys insist on keeping him here one of you will have to give up your bed as well. We don't have anywhere else to put him." The other members of Weiss exchanged unhappy glances. In the end Yohji sighed: "I guess he can use my bed, since no one else is volunteering."
"Fine, it's settled then," Aya said, turning around briskly and exiting the room. Together Yohji and Ken managed to get the patient upstairs and into the bathtub. "Well, enjoy yourself," Yohji said grinning at Ken.
"No chance that I could persuade you to do this?" Ken asked hopefully.
"No! I sacrificed my bed for him and that's enough." Yohji retorted.
For Ken it was embarrassing to bathe another fully-grown man, but it was clear that Schuldig was too weak to do it himself. As he cleansed the half-conscious telepath he noticed numerous scars scattered across the other man's body. Some were obviously older wounds, which had long since healed, while others were fresh and needed medical attention as soon as possible. As he observed the injuries all along Schuldig's body he couldn't help but to feel sorry for the man.
Schuldig was much too exhausted to feel ashamed about being nude, but was still very uncomfortable about the situation he found himself in. Normally it was Brad, who took care of him when he was ill or injured. He missed him so much that it was like a physical pain. He felt like he was betraying his team while he allowed the care of Weiss. But he had to admit that it was nice to soak in the warm water and allow his broken body to be washed. He couldn't help but relax a little when Ken began to wash his hair, combing through the strands and rubbing the shampoo into his scalp. After he had been dried and his injuries had been dressed, he found himself in a comfortable bed.
"I made some Miso soup," Omi said, as he came in carrying a little bowl. "Could you hold his head, Ken?" While Ken was supporting Schuldig's head Omi fed him the soup and gave him some antibiotics for the fever. He had to be careful not to overdo it because of the severe malnutrition the older man had endured. Schuldig closed his eyes, thankful for the soft bed and the comfortable warmth in his belly. He fell asleep quickly. But his sleep was restless and it wasn't long before he awoke again with another coughing fit, "Water?" he croaked.
Yohji, who had been lounging in a nearby armchair, was immediately at his side. "Hey, it's all right," he reassured the other man, fetching a glass of water and letting him slowly take a drink.
"I'm hot." Schuldig mumbled.
"That's the fever," Yohji replied, gently pressing a damp cloth against the other man's burning forehead. Schuldig groaned thankfully and closed his eyes again. Yohji found himself staying nearby the entire night, wiping Schuldig's forehead, giving him water, and speaking patiently to him as the telepath drifted in and out of a feverish slumber. In the morning, Yohji was exhausted, but Schuldig's fever was nearly gone and the patient was finally dozing peacefully.
TBC