Beyblade Fic: "Centrepiece" ~ Chapter Seven
Title: Centrepiece
Chapter: Seven
Author: Jedi Princess Clarrisani
Fandom: Beyblade
Rating: M15+ Seriously people, this fic contains non-con/rape, violence, thoughts of suicide, language
Pairings: Ray/Tala/Kai, Mariah/Kevin, Ray/Bryan, Tala/Bryan, and a surprise other
Summary: Ray finds himself trapped in a relationship he can’t get out of.
Disclaimer: Contrary to what some people believe, I do not own Beyblade
| Introduction | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Epilogue |
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The only way to keep Tala and Kai from his room came in the form of pushing the chest of drawers in front of the doorway and the wardrobe in front of the window. It had been Bryan’s idea, the two testing the weight of both items to make sure Ray could move them and discovering despite his weakened state that he could if he really wanted too.
During the day Ray hovered around the lavender-haired other, finding excuses to be doing so, many of them linking to Chung Hu, or ‘Chuny’ as he had begun to be called. The kitten had quickly learnt his name and ‘adopted’ Ray and Bryan as his parents, and for some reason would hiss and run away from Kai and Tala.
“Chuny is smart,” Bryan told him, glancing toward Ray.
“I think it’s because of what he senses. Animals have a keen sixth sense, telling them when someone is good or bad. They’re more intune to the vibes and auras of people than we are.”
“Vibes and auras, eh?” Bryan frowned. “Then why don’t he run from me? I’m as evil as they come, or so says your fans.”
“You’re not going to let those letters go, are you?” Ray sighed and shook his head. “You aren’t evil, Bryan. Corrupted maybe, but not evil, and Chung Hu can sense it. Both Tala and Kai have a mean streak that must go deeper than we think. I mean, Tala has the appearance of being all innocent and sweet, but we both know what he gets like when mad.”
“Oh yes. Ivanov can be quite nasty when he wants to be.” Bryan cast a glance to the side. “But you haven’t seen me raving mad yet.”
“And I hope I never do.” Ray sighed, casting his gaze toward the mirror of the passenger door of Bryan’s car. “Think they’re still mad?”
“Define ‘mad’.” Bryan smirked. “If you mean insane, yes, and they have been since day one and getting steadily worse. If you mean pissed off, that is also a yes. I can tell by the fact Kai keeps trying to run up my arse.”
“He is?” Ray shifted so he could see the car behind in the mirror, noting how close it was and wincing. “Man, he sure is.”
“If he dints my bumper, I’ll dint his face.” The smirk widened. “Not to mention sue his balls off.”
“Well, technically if he does run up your arse it is his fault.” Ray looked to the side. “So why did you want to take your car?”
“So I have more freedom without having to wait til Kai is ready to leave, as he only lets Tala drive his car other than him.”
“Well, you only let you drive your car.”
“Can’t trust anyone.”
“Do you trust me?”
Bryan glanced to the side. “Ray, what happened to your car?”
“Oh.” The neko-jin winced, cheeks burning faintly as he averted his eyes. “Yeah.”
Bryan chuckled softly, reaching out to pat Ray’s knee as he waited for the traffic lights to change. “I know it wasn’t your fault, Kitten, but keeping your eyes on the road and not daydreaming might have helped.”
“True.”
“As would have not having one of them two - Tala weren’t it? - giving you a blow job at the time”
Ray’s eyes widened. “How the hell did you find out about that!?”
“I’m psychic.”
“Yeah right.” Ray shot a look to the side. “How, Bryan?”
“Those two like to brag.” Bryan shrugged. “Tala might have told me. He likes telling me about your little exploits in the bedroom or otherwise.”
“Why would he do that?” Ray frowned, shooting a look at the reflection of the car behind them as a thought occurred to him. “Bryan… Tala wasn’t trying to make you jealous… was he?”
Bryan set his jaw. “He was just letting me know what I was missing out on.”
“I see. But why?”
Bryan shook his head, keeping his eyes to the road as his face remained impassive, though Ray noted an increasing tightness to the corners of his eyes and a whiteness to his knuckles as Bryan’s grip on the wheel tightened.
“Shouldn’t be much further, right?” Ray looked around them. “What do you think? A couple of blocks?”
“Itching to see your friends again, Kon?” Bryan glanced to the side. “Or are you simply looking forward to some time away from them.” He nodded behind them.
“A bit of both.”
“A couple of blocks it is.” Bryan pointed toward a building ahead of them. “There.”
“Ah.” Ray frowned. “Bryan?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think Kai and Tala were pissed when I decided to get in this car instead of in with them?”
“Without a doubt. Not that they weren’t surprised.” Bryan smirked. “What say we piss them off more.”
“How… oh.” Ray chuckled as Bryan slowed the car down, knowing Kai liked to show up on time and they were running on the border as it was. “You do realise that they’re going to kill you.”
“What’s new.” Bryan sniggered as Kai blasted the horn at him. “Watch him overtake.”
“But it’s a no overtaking zone.”
“Won’t stop him.” Bryan raised an eyebrow. “Here he goes.”
Sure enough there was a rev of an engine and the squeal of tires, the car behind swerving onto the wrong side of the road and blazing passed. It hadn’t gone far when a new sound rose in the air, Bryan and Ray looking up at the flashing lights and bursting out laughing as they spotted the patrol car as it swung out behind Kai.
“Aw man.” Ray shook his as he laughed, watching Kai pull over. “If he wasn’t pissed at you before he will be now.”
Bryan laughed as he and Ray drove passed their peers, both waving as the other two glared at them. Beaming at each other, the two friends exchanged a high five, Bryan smirking.
“And that’s how you do it.”
************
The get together began with a general meeting, updating the teams on what was going on in their sport, a meeting that lasted almost two hours. This was followed by some general entertainment and a little food that didn’t seem to go far. Five hours later they were led to a little lounge and finally given the chance to catch up.
“Hey Kai,” Tyson said, grinning at his captain. “Not like you to be late. What did you do? Sleep in?”
Kai glared at him. “I’ll have you know I was perfectly on time, only I had a little encounter with the police.”
Ray smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Then you shouldn’t have been on the wrong side of the road.”
“I wouldn’t have been, if someone hadn’t decided to slow down and try to make me late.” He glared pointedly toward Bryan, who looked up.
“Your decision to overtake, Hiwatari.” Bryan raised an eyebrow. “And you only made yourself later.”
Ray nodded his agreement. “Bryan and I arrived five minutes early.”
Tala planted his hands on his hips. “I’m surprised you two arrived at all. I figured you’d be too busy sucking face.”
Bryan’s cold gaze swept toward him, impassive. “There’s nothing between us, Tal. I don’t steal other peoples boyfriends.”
“Oh really? Then just what has Ray been doing in your room?”
“Trying to train Chung Hu.”
Ian looked up. “Who?”
“My kitten,” Ray answered. “He seems to have taken a liking to Bryan’s room. You go anywhere else and he runs off and straight back in there.”
Bryan looked toward him. “That cat loves tormenting me.”
Ray smirked.
“It’s all a lot of bullshit if you ask me.” Kai growled, glaring first at Bryan, then at Ray. “Why have you been avoiding us, Ray?”
Ray looked at him. “I already told you.”
“You didn’t mean it-”
“I meant every word of it!” Ray glared at him, meeting those crimson eyes. “Just what is it going to take to make you realise I just don’t love you anymore? I’m not a thing you can screw whenever you feel like it Kai, Tala. I’m a person too, you know.”
Tala’s eyes flashed. “So you had one bad experience. That doesn’t mean it’s over.”
“It is for me.”
A fierce look descended upon Tala’s features, one mirrored by Kai as they looked him, causing all those in the room to shiver. “It doesn’t end just like that, Ray. It’s not over until we say it’s over, understand? Locking yourself away and hiding behind Bryan isn’t going to help you for long.”
Ray took a step back, feeling his resolve begin to crumble. “Leave. Me. Alone.”
“Not going to happen.” Tala smirked, taking a step toward him. “You’re ours, Ray, and it will only be a matter of time before you realise that.”
As he reached up Ray swatted his hand away, taking a step backward. Tala growled, reaching for him again only to find himself flung backwards, collecting Kai on the way down, the two landing with a thump on the floor.
“What part of ‘leave him alone’ don’t you understand?” Bryan growled, planting himself between the two and Ray. “I’ve stood by and watched your little game long enough. It ends right now.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Get out of here, Ray.”
Ray hesitated. “But-”
“Now!”
Ray nodded, backing away before turning and fleeing into the corridors. Once he was gone, Bryan turned to regard the two as they pushed themselves to their feet. Bryan knew they were aware that the other bladers were crowding around - Ian, Spencer, Tyson, Max, Kenny, the All Starz, the White Tigers and the Majestics - and therefore wouldn’t dare try anything. Out the corner of his eye Bryan spotted Lee moving to follow Ray and smirked. Maybe he could talk some sense into him.
“That was a foolish thing to do, Kuznetsov.” Kai’s eyes burned. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with it.”
“Quit blowing hot air.” Bryan levelled his gaze on him, lavender eyes narrowed. “You think I don’t know what’s been going on? I know everything, Hiwatari. What I hadn’t guessed already Ray told me. He’s been dropping hints that he wants out, hints you brushed off or used against him. Take it from me, it’s in your best interest to leave him alone.”
“Fat chance.” Tala drew himself to full height, which was still shy of Bryan’s own. “In case you hadn’t noticed this isn’t any of your business.”
“I’m making it my business.”
Tala growled, then smirked. “Fine then. But you of all people should know that once I have my claws in you, there’s no getting away.”
************
“Ray?”
Ray looked up from where he sat beneath the ferns by the artificial waterfall. “I’m here, Lee.”
The Lion moved toward him, orange-gold eyes reflecting the concern Ray had heard in his voce. Lee moved to sit beside him, fangs glistening faintly in the light. “Ray… what’s going on here, old friend?”
Ray sighed, closing his eyes. “It’s a long story.”
“I ain’t got nothing to do.”
Ray had to smile. “You remember how I got involved with Kai and Tala?”
“And I called you nuts, yeah.”
“Well, you were right.”
Hesitantly at first, he begun to spill out the whole story. Lee listened closely, remaining silent even as they were joined by Tyson, Kevin, Max, Kenny, Mariah and a few of the other bladers one by one. As he continued Ray found himself to be trembling, nausea rolling up from inside of him as he relived those hated moments within his memory and found a way to put it all into words.
As he finished, he let out a long breath. “And then there is what you saw, and that’s the whole thing.”
“Man, you’ve trapped yourself good.” Tyson frowned, shaking his head. “You’re in over your head here, buddy.”
“I can’t believe they would be so… so… cruel.” Mariah clenched her fists, growling. “I hate them.”
“Agreed.” Lee let out a long breath, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “I am lost for words here, old friend. Part of me wants to find them and beat them senseless, but the other part knows that I will be doing nothing but to expand upon the problem.”
“I say we all beat them senseless.” Johnny smirked. “I’d love to take a swing at Kai.”
“That will do little to improve on the situation,” Robert spoke up. “I’m afraid there is nothing that we can do.”
“That’s not entirely true.” Kevin smirked. “Why not move in with us, Ray? We’ve still got that spare room.”
Max beamed. “Hey, that’s a great idea.”
“Whadaya say, buddy.” Tyson leant forward. “We promise not to pick on you too much.”
“They won’t pick on you at all. I’ll see too it.” Lee settled his gaze on Ray, an eyebrow raising slightly. “It is a good idea. It will get you away from Tala and Kai, while keeping you with members of your team.”
Ray swallowed. “I… I can’t…”
“He’s going.” They looked up as Bryan approached, a set look on his face as he gazed down at Ray. “No question about it.”
Ray shot a look up at him. “But Bry…”
“No buts, Ray. You stay in that flat and things ain’t gonna be pretty. And trust me, they’re only gonna get worse.” He looked up toward Lee, meeting the others eye. “Take him back to your place. I’ll bring his things over later tonight.”
Lee nodded. “Sounds good.”
Ray narrowed his eyes. “What happened to Kai and Tala?”
“They decided it would be in their best interest to leave.” Bryan smirked. “Despite acting so tough, those two never could defeat me in a punch up.”
“Not to mention we were willing to back Bryan up.” Michael smiled. “They just hightailed it and got the hell out of there before anything could really happen.”
Johnny snorted. “Like they’d be scared of you.”
“Why don’t you come over here and say that, shrimp.”
“Please, don’t fight.” Ray sighed, closing his eyes, suddenly exhausted. “Fine, I’ll go back with you to your place, if only for now. I think Bryan’s right; now that they know how I feel they will only get worse in trying to prove that they love me and that I love them back when I don’t. It’ll be better for me to go.”
“You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting you to say that, Ray.” Bryan shook his head, smiling faintly. “I’ll take care of Chung Hu, I promise you. And I’ll get all of your things so that you don’t have to go back there.”
As he turned to go, Emily called out after him. “Just curious, but what exactly did Tala mean when he said ‘you should know’?”
Bryan glared at her, before setting his jaw, looking down toward Ray. “Spose I should come clean. Remember how you once asked me if I’ve ever been in a relationship like yours? Trapped with no escape?”
Ray nodded. “You didn’t answer.”
“Didn’t want you to know.” He growled. “The answers yes, I have been in one. With Tala. And I never was able to truly escape. Don’t want to see that happen to you.”
Ray blinked as Bryan turned and walked away, none able to speak as he vanished into the foliage and out of sight.
************
He had silently prayed they wouldn’t be there when he returned, and he got his wish. Even as he rounded up some bags and boxes and began packing them, there was still no sign of the two bastards that had caused this whole thing.
Chung Hu moved about the bed, sticking his nose in everything and tugging things out of the bags. Bryan had to save several items from becoming kitten toys, at one point scooping the kitten up into the crook of his arm and working with one hand. He quickly discovered that this wasn’t an easy task and Chung Hu was left once again to wander the bed.
“Ray won’t be coming back, Chuny,” Bryan told him as he tucked the last of Ray’s shirts into a bag and zipped it up, turning and moving to make sure he had gotten all of the clothing. “The kid finally came to his senses. Though I doubt his boyfriends are going to be too pleased when they find out.”
Moving toward the desk he set about emptying it of its contents, filling the boxes. He didn’t really look at what he was packing, knowing that all of the papers and books he found were Ray’s private property, and that while Ray had given him permission to touch his things, Ray had not given him permission to go through his things.
It had always amazed Bryan just how much stuff you could cram into small spaces, and after some rearranging he soon had the boxes filled. He moved around the room, emptying the shelves and taking down photographs and the odd paper or poster. He checked under the bed, finding more items before he checked the bed itself, retrieving a couple more things.
It didn’t surprise him when he spotted a couple of Kai and Tala’s things sitting in the rubbish bin, and he left these alone. Satisfied that he had it all he began taking it out to his car, making a point of shutting Chung Hu in his room first so that the kitten couldn’t sneak into spots where he wasn’t wanted.
As soon as Bryan had the car loaded he made his way back to Ray’s former room, glancing around and chuckling as he realised he had forgotten one of the more important things. It didn’t take him long to pack up the computer, something Ray had saved up for and purchased himself not long before he had moved in.
Bryan remembered with some amusement how Ray had once stumbled into a chat room that Bryan himself had been in. Bryan had known it was Ray simply by the screenname: Driger_Happy.
Sliding the computer into the backseat, Bryan made sure it wouldn’t move around before returning to Ray’s room and making one last pass, shuddering at how empty the place felt though a small essence of Ray still remained, ever so faint. Shuddering at the almost sense of loss Bryan turned, heading for the garage after checking quickly on Chung Hu to find the kitten curled up asleep on his bed.
The home of the White Tigers and younger members of the Blade Breakers was on the other side of town, almost a 15-minute drive when the traffic was good. The All Starz lived less than a block away, and Bryan knew that not far from them Ian had taken up residence in a small rented out flat above a shop.
Spencer lived a little further away, another five minutes at the most, in a small three-bedroom terrace that he had originally shared with Ian before the younger had been bitten by the bug of independence, but nevertheless all of the bladers lived in one area. The Majestics, of course, still lived in their homes of old but would travel for frequent visits though Bryan never saw them.
He pulled up into the drive of the largish two-story house just as the sky was beginning to darken. He hadn’t even made it out of the car when Lee approached, gazing down the street as if looking for something.
“Don’t fret, I wasn’t followed.” Bryan met his eye. “No sign of ‘em.”
“Can’t be too careful.” Lee nodded upward. “Ray went into the room we made up for him and lay down. He’s been asleep ever since.”
“Don’t surprise me.”
“I could wake him-”
“Leave him.” Bryan shook his head, smiling faintly. “Over the last couple of months I know of only one night where he slept well.”
Lee looked at him as they begun unloading the car. “I’m guessin’ that’s not something I should ask about.”
“You would guess right.”
It didn’t take them long to unload the car once the others came out to help, Kevin laying his eyes on the car and instantly wanting to know everything about it, Tyson pretending not to be listening but hanging off every word. By the time the car had been unloaded the two had worked their way under the hood to get a better look, Bryan warning them with a glance not to touch anything.
As soon as everything had been settled, Lee pulled Bryan aside. “So what’s your story?”
Bryan glared down at him. “What do you mean by ‘my story’?”
“What you said back there. About never being able to escape. Is it because you’re still living with him?”
The glare hardened. “Yes, and that’s all I’m gonna say about it.”
“Fine. Just that maybe Ray isn’t the only one that should be thinking about moving out.”
“Look, just stay out of my business, got it?”
Lee raised his hands defensively. “I’m not trying to get into your business. Just that it sounds to me like this isn’t the first time Tala’s done something like this.”
“It isn’t.”
“Do you know how many?”
“Why not ask him?”
“You’re not making it easy, are you?”
Bryan smirked. “I never do anything the easy way.”
“Figures.” Lee raised an eyebrow. “Judging from what was said back there you’ve been helping Ray for the last couple of weeks. Why?”
“Felt like it. Besides, pisses Tala and Kai off.”
“Right.” Lee narrowed his eyes as Bryan moved toward the door. “I think there’s more too it than that.”
Bryan glanced back over his shoulder. “Like what?”
Lee smirked, folding his arms over his chest. “I reckon you’ve got a thing for Ray.”
Bryan snorted. “You’re imagining things, Lion. Go back to playing with your balls of yarn. Ain’t that what you cats are good at?”
Lee didn’t reply, watching Bryan move toward his car and shoo Kevin and Tyson away before closing the bonnet and getting in. Lee didn’t move as his two young friends stepped passed him talking about blocks, crankshafts and cylinders, Lee interested only in watching Bryan back out of the drive, eyes remaining on the car until it vanished around a far corner.
Smiling knowingly to himself, Lee chuckled softly. “I’m not imagining things, Bryan. I can see that you love him, even if you can’t.”
| Introduction | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Epilogue |