Beyblade Fic: "Centrepiece" ~ Chapter Twelve
Title: Centrepiece
Chapter: Twelve
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
A/N: This chapter jumps through time a lot, simply because there wasn’t much happening.
| Introduction | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Epilogue |
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Ray’s eyes blinked open as he awoke, straightening and wincing as he heard limbs crack in protest. His arms and legs were almost asleep, his neck stiff. Despite it all he refused to go, to leave, to return to his home. He simply could not leave his side.
It had taken some convincing but Ray had managed to get the hospital staff to allow him to remain after visiting hours, several thinking that it would be a good idea for him to remain in order to keep a constant eye on the patient should he awaken.
Ray sighed, reaching out and smoothing Bryan’s hair, tears welling in his eyes as he took in the bruising and swelling he could see in the faint light. It would not be clear if Bryan had suffered any brain damage until he awoke, but the likelihood that he had was apparently considerably high.
Ray shuddered as he remembered how the doctors had explained to him the full extent of the injuries, from faint bruising through to internal bleeding. As he recovered Bryan would end up needing follow up procedures done to make sure he was healing correctly, particularly in terms of his leg and face.
Ray smiled faintly, knowing Bryan was going to hate having to come back to the hospital as he had always had a hatred for the place. Ray believed this came from his time in the Abbey, as the difference between the hospital and some of the laboratories in the Abbey was next to nothing.
Leaning forward Ray gently kissed Bryan’s forehead. This was all his fault. If Ray hadn’t allowed Bryan to get involved… no, Bryan had always been involved. Tala had had his paws on Bryan before he had even considered coming after Ray. But still, if Ray hadn’t come in and sat on Bryan’s lap…
Ray curled up in his chair, hugging his knees to his chest as he shivered, crying softly. This was never meant to happen. None of this was ever meant to happen. He was never meant to get involved with Tala and Kai. He was never meant to allow himself to be used so easily. He was never meant to make Bryan get hurt. He was never meant to fall in love…
No. No, it wasn’t love. He had sworn to himself when he had first left the flat that he would never allow himself to fall in love, and that was a vow that he intended to keep. He was emotionally weak and vulnerable due to the stress of the last few months, so anything that he thought he felt was not really there, but a fabrication.
No, he was not in love. He would never be in love. And nothing would ever change that.
Nothing.
************
“…the authorities are still continuing their search for Beyblading celebrities Tala Ivanov and Kai Hiwatari following the shocking assault and attempted murder last week of Ivanov’s teammate, Bryan Kuznetsov. Earlier this week the authorities stormed their flat only to find it completely cleared out of their possessions, and are now calling for the public to aide in their search. Both men are to be considered dangerous, and if you have any information you are urged to contact your local police station. Also today-”
Ray switched off the TV, sighing as he leant back in his seat. “I wish they had found them. I would feel so much better if they did.”
“Can’t have everything, Kitten.”
Ray sighed, reaching out to rest his hand on Bryan’s arm. “How are you feeling, by the way? Need anything? I could get-”
“Ray, please.” Bryan sighed, raising an eyebrow almost lost beneath the bruising and bandages. “Stop fussing over me. It’s irritating.”
“I know, it’s just…” Ray averted his eyes. “I can’t help feeling like this is all my fault. If I hadn’t sat in your lap-”
“Ray, we’ve been over this. It makes no difference if you had or hadn’t sat in my lap at the meeting. My guess is they had it planned anyhow.”
Ray blinked. “Why do you think that?”
“I left right after Kai and Tala. I drove from the meeting straight back home, getting a clear run with traffic lights and traffic. And yet when I walked into that house they were already inside, which means they had gone straight to there from the meeting as well.” Bryan frowned. “They wouldn’t have even had time to discuss it, let alone get the weapon. Which means they must have discussed it beforehand.”
“You have a point.” Ray sighed, shaking his head. “But… I still don’t understand why.”
“I do. Despite what you might think I was the easier target.”
“The…” Ray looked down at him, shaking his head. “No. I would have been easier. I would have-”
“You have been trained in martial arts, I haven’t. You’re always surrounded by friends, I’m not. They would have never gotten the opportunity to attack you like they did me.” Bryan averted his eyes. “I always told myself that though they might hurt me they would never try and kill me. Growing up we were the closest of friends. We were brothers. I always expected to be attacked, but not by them.”
Ray leant forward. “What changed? What happened?”
“Everything.” He shook his head. “Black Dranzer happened. Kai’s desire for power… it was the one thing he could never resist. When the Abbey collapsed I was caught in the rubble, trapped. One of our closest friends died beside me, and Tala and Kai never forgave me for not helping him. Not that there was anything I could have done.
“I was traumatised by the experience, and Boris used that to his advantage. It was also around that time that he started experimenting on some of the others, including Tala. Following Black Dranzer we became completely different people, and somewhere in there Tala decided he desired me. You could say things went downhill from there.”
Ray stared at the ground in front of him. “That’s… sad.” He blinked, glancing up. “What was done to you… could it ever be undone?”
“I’ve been trying to undo it, Kitten, but I gave up over a year ago.” An eyebrow raised ever so slightly as a faint smile tugged on his lips. “However, I have found I can relearn some things, rediscover them. And some things were never removed by the programming, but rather they were buried so deep that it has taken this long to recover them.”
“Things like what?”
“Having fun and feeling enjoyment. Loss. Serenity. Getting choked up over stupid movies such as Pay it Forward.”
“That’s understandable. That movies a real tearjerker. I cried forever when I saw that.” Ray bit his lip. “Bryan?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you… feel love?”
Bryan looked up at him sharply, setting his jaw as his mind tried to work out how to answer that question. The sound of the door opening brought their heads around as a Policeman stepped into the room. As he started making more inquiries Ray’s question and Bryan’s answer were forgotten.
************
“Home sweet home.”
“Hey.” Ian looked up, eyes wide. “You just said something without sounding sarcastic!”
“Oh really.” Bryan levelled his gaze on the younger, causing him to squirm. “Maybe I meant it.”
“Bry’s been stuck in that hospital for too long,” Spencer reminded Ian as he set Bryan’s bag down. “He’s happy to be out of there.”
“Exactly.” Readjusting his grip on his crutches Bryan made his way into the kitchen and tugged open the freezer, grinning as he pulled out the container and set it on the table before finding a spoon. Yanking off the lid he scooped out a large spoonful and proceeded to eat it, sighing contently. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”
“Obviously sick of the health food, too.” Ian shook his head, resting his hands on his hips. “That ice cream cannot be good for you.”
“The whole point.”
“Whatever.” Ian turned toward Spencer, nodding toward the kitchen. “I don’t know about you, but I preferred it when he was bedridden in hospital.”
Spencer chuckled as the coaster bounced off the back of Ian’s head before turning his attention to his lavender haired teammate. “I could make a temporary bedroom on this level, meaning you won’t have to use the stairs-”
“I’m fine, Spence.” He shovelled in another mouthful. “Won’t be the first time I’ve gone up stairs with crutches and a broken leg.”
“The stairs at the Abbey were a little wider,” Ian reminded him.
“Not the ones Boris made me use.”
“Right.” Ian looked up toward the blond. “Would you mind if I had him sent back to the hospital?”
Another coaster ricochet off Ian’s skull.
“Damn it, Bryan!” Ian rubbed the back of his head, glaring at his teammate. “Would you stop doing that already!”
Spencer cleared his throat, looking down at the younger. “You still want to go with it?”
“I’m tempted to say no, but yeah, I’m still all for it.”
Bryan looked up, lavender eyes flicking from one to the other. “What are you two on about?”
Ian looked up. “You know how Tala’s in shit with the law and all that now?”
“Yeah, so?”
“So in order to be allowed to blade in the next Championship you’re not allowed to have a criminal record.”
“I see.” Bryan frowned, narrowing his eyes as he leant back in his seat. “We have no team captain.”
“Yes.” Spencer looked down at Ian. “We’ve been talking about it for a few days now, trying to work out what to do.”
Bryan raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“Damn, why do I have to say this.” Ian looked up, jaw set. “We’ve decided out of all of us you would be the most ideal choice to replace him.”
“That hurt you, I can see it.” Bryan let out a long breath, staring at the spot in the table in front of him. “How long do I have to think about it?”
“Til the morning. That’s when we’ve got to register.”
“Then I’ll tell you in the morning.”
Ian frowned. “Waaait. You mean you’re not going to say ‘yes’ just like that?”
“No,” Bryan glanced up toward him. “Lot of responsibility in being captain. I’ve always been the black sheep, the one who disagreed with everything Boris said unless I had no other choice but to agree. Being captain would mean I’d have to clean up my act.”
“Hey, I never considered that.” Ian smirked. “The idea is starting to grow on me.”
“So will daisies if you don’t shut up.” It was Bryan’s turn to smirk. “It’ll mean I’m fully authorised to push you around.”
“Dammit! I forgot about that!” Ian shuffled from foot to foot, glancing quickly at his watch before turning to the blond. “I’ve gotta go, Spence. I promised Emily I would pick her up soon, and the last thing I need is to be late.”
Spencer nodded and let him out, closing the door behind him and turning the knob on the new lock. Making his way back to the kitchen he had to chuckle as he spotted Bryan eagerly digging into the ice cream. If anything had always fascinated Spencer, it had been Bryan’s ability to consume large amounts of sugar without going hyper. Which was a good thing, considering Bryan tended to have a rather sweet tooth.
The younger man glanced up as he spotted that his friend had returned. “I take it this thing with geek girl is working out.”
“It is. Talk she’s thinking of moving in with him.”
“Poor misguided girl.” Bryan ate another mouthful. “She realises that Ian hardly ever washes his socks?”
“I think she’s already told him off about that. I caught him washing them all.” Spencer found a spoon and joined Bryan at the table, digging into the container. “Lee tells me Tyson and Max thinking of asking Ray to be captain.”
“Really?” Bryan looked up. “Always figured Granger would jump at the chance to take the position for himself.”
“He don’t want it. He thinks he’d fall asleep at the meetings.” Spencer shrugged, reaching for another spoonful. “Ray has more experience as a captain. He used to be the captain of the White Tigers.”
“True, he did.” Bryan frowned, shaking his head. “Any particular reason you want me?”
“Many. Ian’s too reckless, I’m too slow. You’re better with tactics, more eloquently spoken, have a fast mind and reflexes, and you’re a lot smarter than we are.” He looked down into the tub. “You may not have realised it, but Tala valued your opinion. You always knew if something was gonna work or not.”
“It’s just logic.” Bryan shook his head. “You guys are putting yourselves down way too much.”
“It’s true.” Spencer met his eye. “You were always the best blader on the team. You’ve always looked out for us. You don’t crumble beneath pressure and you take challenges head on. You have always been a leader, Bryan. Even back at the Abbey the younger boys always looked up to you.”
“I realised that, which is why I openly rebelled against Boris. To prove you don’t have to do everything he said.” Bryan stabbed the spoon into the ice cream. “But still, is it wise placing me in charge of the team? Some will see it as a strike against Tal. Not to mention I’m not exactly what you’d call mentally stable.”
Spencer nodded. “All points Ian argued, but as you said before: it’s only logic.”
Bryan sighed, running a hand through his hair, fingers brushing against some of the remaining stitches and bandages. “Why do I think I won’t sleep well tonight.”
Spencer chuckled. “You might be surprised.”
| Introduction | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Epilogue |