Beyblade Fic: "Centrepiece" ~ Chapter Eight
Title: Centrepiece
Chapter: Eight
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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“Morning sleepyhead.”
Ray rubbed the sleep from his eyes, looking around the kitchen and frowning. “What day is it?”
Kevin looked up at him. “The day after yesterday. Why?”
Tyson smacked him over the back of the head. “He knows that, dickhead. He wants to know if today is the day he left Tala and Kai or not. But Kev’s right, that was yesterday.”
Ray had to smile faintly at their antics, taking the plate Kenny handed him before joining them at the table, looking up toward where Lee was perched on the bench. “Bryan come?”
“Mm.” Lee looked toward him. “He told us not to disturb you.”
Ray nodded, taking a bite out of his breakfast and listening to the conversation around him. As always of late, Kevin and Tyson were arguing over who would win the next round of the Grand Prix, Mariah was talking to Lee about her plans for going shopping that Lee was only half listening too, while Max offered a few suggestions that she either jumped at or ruled out, and Kenny was lost in his own world.
Yep. These were his friends all right.
“Did you sleep well?” Max asked, looking up.
“Mm-hm.” Ray smiled faintly. “Best I have for a long time.”
Max nodded, turning and saying something else to Mariah, leaving Ray to his thoughts.
So Bryan had told them not to disturb him. Ray had expected this, but it still tore at him that Bryan had not asked to see him, just this one last time. Ray knew that he would not be able to see Bryan until the next all teams meeting, and that would be a long time coming. He sighed, knowing that the wait would seem even longer than that.
Ray was going to miss the elder lavender-haired Russian’s company, going to miss hearing his voice, miss those cold yet deep eyes. There was something about Bryan that… intrigued him. Not to mention Bryan just plain smelt good. And Ray had always felt so safe and secure curled up against him, feeling those strong arms wrapped around him protectively…
“Earth to Ray. Anybody home?”
He blinked, looking up. “What?”
Tyson shook his head, pulling a face. “Dude, I’ve only been trying to talk to you for the past five minutes. Thought you were dead or something.”
“Looked to me like he was dreaming,” Max agreed.
Kevin blinked, smirking. “From that look in your eye I would almost say you were in love.”
It was Ray’s turn to blink before he glared at them. “Guys, I just got out of a long and traumatic relationship that I’m not even sure I’m fully out of yet. There is no way that I could be in love with anyone.”
Tyson smirked. “Actually-”
“Shut up, Ty.”
“Woah, go easy, dude.” Tyson raised his hands in defence. “Don’t shoot. I surrender.”
“Just leave him alone, guys.” Lee slitted opened his eyes and looked at them. “Unless you want to clean the bathroom with a toothbrush again.”
Kevin glared up at him. “Make us.”
Lee’s gaze swung toward him, a sparkle in the elder’s eye. “I did last time.”
There was some grumbling, and it wasn’t long before Tyson, Max and Kevin left the table, Kenny not long behind them still lost in thought. Ray left Gary, Lee and Mariah in the kitchen, setting about moving his things up into the bedroom they had given him that he had known they had set aside back before he had moved in with Kai, Tala and Bryan.
As he began setting up his room he had to smile as he realised that Bryan had not forgot a thing, even packing everything in order. He frowned as he found the note sitting on top of his shirts and had to laugh as he read it.
‘Sorry if everything is crumpled. Chung Hu decided to help. Damned cat.’
Ray bit his lip as he pocketed the note. He missed Chung Hu already though more often than not the kitten would creep from his place at the foot of Ray’s bed and onto Bryan’s whenever the door was open.
Bryan…
Why? Why was it that he couldn’t get that sarcastic man out of his head? Why was it that without the other near things just seemed so ‘wrong’, and the prospect of not seeing him for so long…
He had grown dependent on him, that was it. Over the last few weeks he had begun to turn to Bryan for help and emotional support, Bryan shielding and protecting Ray from Tala and Kai. Ray had become so accustomed to it, so dependent on Bryan being there, that the thought of him not being there just felt plain wrong.
Well, Ray thought to himself, setting a picture on the wall. I guess I’ll just have to get un-used to you. And I swear this: I will not allow myself to fall in love with you.
************
He glanced up as he heard the flat’s door open, frowning before returning his attention to his papers. He flicked through the printouts, making highlights and small notes at certain points, shutting out the sounds from outside his bedroom, even when he heard the shout. He picked up another pile of sheets, setting the others aside and raising an eyebrow as he heard someone stomping down the corridor before his door was thrown open.
“WHERE THE HELL IS HE!?”
“You tell me.” Bryan set his pen down, swinging his chair around and meeting the eye of his team captain, nodding toward the kitten curled on his bed. “I got home last night and found Chung Hu locked in my room. Went to put him in Ray’s and found all his stuff gone. Figured you guys told him to get out.”
Kai pushed passed Tala, glaring down toward the eldest in the room. “You know very well we wouldn’t have told him to get out, just as we know you were protecting him.”
“Read anything into these past few days as you like, but that don’t change the fact I have no clue where he is.”
Kai growled. “Just you remember, Kuznetsov, if you’re lying-”
“Shut your hole, Hiwatari. You know threats mean nothin’ to me.” Bryan shrugged, swinging his seat back around and taking up his pen. “You lost him, you find him. Ain’t my problem anymore.”
For a long while there was nothing, then he heard Kai huff before the sound of receding footsteps, the door swinging closed. Bryan shook his head, muttering “morons” under his breath before going back to work. Well, at least they weren’t stupid. They had worked out who was behind Ray leaving straight away. But they had also fallen for his ‘as-if-I-give-a-shit’ routine perfectly, so he couldn’t give them too much credi-
He stiffened as he felt the hands settle on his shoulders, cursing himself as he realised he had heard one set of footsteps moving away from his room, while the other hadn’t moved at all. He hadn’t left, instead slowly moving closer…
“Don’t think I don’t know what you did, Bryan,” he said smoothly. “You’ve been trying to talk Ray into leaving for over a week now. You knew he was emotionally vulnerable and encouraged him to walk out, knowing it would be a strike against me.” He reached up, grabbing a fistful full of hair and jerking Bryan’s head back, pressing his lips to the elders ear as he smiled. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with it. I’ll see to it personally that you pay for what you’ve done.”
Bryan gritted his teeth, growling. “Get out of my room, Tala.”
“Now is that any way to speak to your captain?” Tala chuckled, licking the side of Bryan’s face and smirking. “Still taste as good as you did back then. Back when you were the one whom I had my fun with. You know, after all these years no one ever came close. I have never desired anyone more than I desired you, Iceheart.
“That is until Ray came along. The moment I lay my eyes on him I knew I wanted him, and that someway, somehow, I would claim him. I had it all, Kai and Ray, whenever I wanted them, but now with Ray gone I have only Kai.”
“Then why not got back to Kai. He likes a good fuck just as much as you do.”
“Indeed he does. And he’s quite good at it too.” Tala was calm, face almost tranquil… but Bryan knew that in this mood Tala was at his most dangerous. “But you see, Kai is almost too easy. He is too much like me, I’m afraid. At least with Ray there was some kind of battle to get the ultimate reward.” He ran his fingers through Bryan’s lavender strands, almost studying them. “Just like it was a battle with you. Never submissive… unless I forced the issue.”
Bryan jerked away from his touch, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. His mind buzzed, quickly putting two-and-two together and making him realise just what Tala’s game was. With Ray gone Tala had one less ‘toy’ to play with, and as he blamed Bryan for Ray’s disappearance, Tala was planning on replacing Ray with Bryan.
“Forget it, Ivanov.” Bryan hissed through his teeth. “As I told you years ago, I want no more part in your bedroom games.”
“Then you should have thought about that before you got rid of Ray.” Tala’s eyes sparkled, Bryan’s jaw tightening as he read the almost evil intent written on his captain’s face. “Back then you told me to find someone new, and I did that, only you took them away again. I’m afraid that leaves but one choice…”
“I thought I said get out of my room!?”
Tala shook his head and shrugged before grabbing the back of Bryan’s chair and forcing it around, catching Bryan’s face in his grip and kissing him hard. With a sharp movement Bryan threw him backward, Tala laughing and picking himself up as Bryan snarled.
“Don’t you think this is over, Bryan,” Tala told him, moving toward the bedroom door. “It will never be over.”
Bryan watched him go, growling at the back of his throat. Hearing a soft mew he looked down as Chung Hu leapt up into his lap, Bryan raising a trembling hand to stroke the kitten’s fur before glaring toward the closed door.
“Don’t know about you, Chuny, but I think I’m in trouble.”
************
“Ray, staring at the telephone isn’t going to make it ring.”
Ray sighed, turning away. “I know. It’s just…”
Lee shook his head, moving forward and draping an arm around his old friends shoulders, guiding him back toward his bedroom. “You’ve only been here a couple of days, Ray. Just try to settle in. Bryan will ring when he gets the time.”
Ray blinked, shooting a look to the side. “Who ever said I was waiting for Bryan to ring?”
“Call it a sixth sense.” Lee smirked, casting his gaze over his shoulder before they stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “I know, Ray.”
Ray frowned. “You know what?”
“I know you’ve got a thing for Bryan.”
“Yeah right.” Ray shook his head, turning away. “Don’t forget just who it was that almost killed me in the Finals that year, Lee.”
“I haven’t forgotten. None of us have.” Lee smiled faintly. “But it is possible to forgive, and with forgiveness there is renewal, and often in renewal… love?”
“You’re deluded.” Ray turned his back on Lee to look out the window. “Bryan is a friend, one which helped me when I needed someone. That’s all there is to it.”
“Sure about that?” Lee perched himself on the edge of Ray’s desk, one foot on the seat as he rested his arm across his knee. “Ray, you’ve been in a daze ever since you got here. We’ve all noticed it, even Kev and Tyson. Somethin’s going on, Ray.”
“There is nothing going on.” Ray sighed, shaking his head. “Lee, I just got out of a relationship. I have no desire to get back in one.”
“I’m not sayin’ you need another relationship, old friend. All I’m sayin’ is that you’ve fallen for someone.”
“Not for him.” Ray turned to regard his childhood best friend. “Bryan… how do I know he’s not like them? He grew up with them. He was raised the same way as Tala. Not to mention the guy has no emotions. Next time I fall for someone I want my feelings to be returned.”
“That’s all good, Ray, but-”
“I think I’ve become like them.”
Lee blinked, looking up. “What?”
Ray closed his eyes, turning away again. “I think… I was with them too long. It’s all I know. I’m… what if I’m like them? What if I can’t have a relationship without it dissolving into sex?”
“Ray, you’re not like that.” Lee sighed, running a hand through his spiky hair. “This was your first relationship. Admittedly I saw it was wrong to begin with, but you were always one to try things to learn so I kept my mouth shut. Other than calling you nuts of course.”
Ray smiled faintly. “Nuts wasn’t the only thing you called me if I remember right.”
“Let’s not get too bogged down in the past.” Lee smiled faintly. “The matter lies, Ray. This was your first and so far only relationship. It was long and traumatic, and right now you’re worn thin. Let yourself recover. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Ray nodded, shuddering. “It’s just that…”
“That what?”
“Nothing.” Ray shook his head. “It’s not important. You’re right. I need a rest.”
Lee nodded, eyes narrowing. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”
“Huh?” Ray looked back over his shoulder. “With who?”
“Bryan.”
“That’s really none of your business, Lee.”
“Same thing he said.”
Ray’s eyes widened. “You asked Bryan if he’d slept with me!?”
“No… and yes. Depends how you look at it.” Lee smirked, looking toward the window before pushing himself up. “You should try and get some more rest. Stop trying to think about it all the time. Dwelling on it will only continue to wear you down.”
“Yeah.” Ray sighed, watching him move toward the door. “Lee?”
He paused. “Yeah?”
“Thanks… for getting me out of there.”
“You’re like a brother, Ray. I couldn’t stand to see that happen to you. Besides, it was Kevin’s idea, and Bryan was the one who fixed things so you never had to go back.”
“Mm.” Ray sighed, returning his attention to the window. I never have to go back there. Ever. Bryan, I just wish you would get out of there too.
| Introduction | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Epilogue |