Well, welcome to my Christmas present hamper, containing three gifts to three of my best friend on this site! A bit early, I know, but I don't know whether I'll be allowed on the computer until after Christmas. And better to come early to a deadline than be chasing it afterwards.
These are set in a Christmas party, which takes place soon after the third Worlds. Whether it's the right time of year, I don't care, nor do I care how certain couples got together. It's a fic. Roll with it. (rolls while giggling)
-.- Yup, I'm hyper. -.-
I hope everyone who reads these enjoys them, because I actually had quite a bit of fun writing them!
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Merry Christmas to … zekesbabe! (hands gift-wrapped fic and hugs)
My MSN muse, lmao!!
Mystel/Max, such a strange request!! (grins) The idea for this was actually inspired by something that happened at my drama group - a boy fainted while we were all standing in lines. So, thanks, Harry!
It was quite fun to write, especially the last bit! No, you have to read to find out! Shoo! Read!
Enjoy!
Mystel groaned inwardly and hoped that his boredom wasn't showing as clearly on his face as it was on Tyson's. Standing up for two hours listening to Mr Dickenson ramble on about the way the BBA was planning to change made even the light-hearted Egyptian irritable.
He hadn't even realised it was possible to be this bored. Kai and Ray, judging by the way that they had soundlessly moved to the back, had found something to take their minds off the pain of cramped muscles and mental pain of sheer blind tedium, but alas, he had no such distraction. The golden mask helped, it hid the fact that he had spent the last hour with his eyes shut. Although, some people weren't quite that considerate … He rolled his eyes at Brooklyn and Garland, who were both standing with their eyes shut, apparently careless of the hurt looks being shot at them every now and again by the BBA chairman.
Yes, they were the strongest beybladers worldwide; did that really mean they had to be subjected to this? Was it some kind of twisted endurance training or something? Did any of them actually need to know this? Even Kenny had stopped paying attention fifteen minutes ago. The temperature was hovering at a vaguely uncomfortable level too, and if an Egyptian-born thought it was a bit too warm, it was hot to those used to cooler climates. For heaven's sake, it was mid-December! Central heating was fine, an excellent invention in fact. Central boiling however, not at all fine!
Suddenly, Max, who was standing in front and a little to the right of him, toppled backwards, making no effort to stop himself. Mystel, jolted out of his stupor too late to catch him, looked down at the boy now leaning back on his hands and briefly wondered if he was just playing around. Tyson and Kenny peered anxiously down at their friend.
"You ok, Max?" Tyson crouched down and grabbed one of Max's arms, swiftly followed by Kenny. Yanked unceremoniously upright, Max looked even less "ok" than he had on the floor. His face, normally pale thanks to his Western blood looked almost yellow, a strange, sickly-looking colour, and he was unsteady on his feet, eyes dazed.
The stir caused when he had first fallen grew as slowly everyone realised he wasn't just playing around.
"Max, go and sit down." Mr Dickenson called. Nodding, Max walked slowly up to the edge of the assembled bladers then paused, swaying, apparently unsure of what to do next. Judy and Romero hurried up and escorted him gently down the steps, the former pale with worry for her son.
Mystel, along with Tyson and Kenny, watched as Max went from sitting, to having his head between his legs, to lying on the floor with his legs above his head.
"All right, please try to concentrate everyone! Mystel, Tyson and Kenny, that includes you!" Guiltily, the three boys returned what little attention they still had back to the elderly chairman.
"He's done this before." Tyson whispered. Mystel raised his eyebrows.
"Really?"
"Yeah, in a press conference a year ago. And he's always keeling over after his Championship battles, although he never looked quite this bad." Mystel nodded, remembering Max's prone figure as their match ended.
"Any idea why?" Tyson shrugged and Kenny shook his head.
"None. Judy doesn't know either, it drives her up the wall."
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The "briefing", which certainly hadn't been brief, had finally finished. Mystel noted with some amusement how everyone apart from Moses, himself, and the ever-stubborn Kai had headed for the nearest breath of fresh air. Wait, no, that was Ray's hair just swinging out the door … Kai would surely follow …
Predictably, Kai trailed after Ray. Well, he had waited a decent length of time and the walk was purposeful enough to convince the casual observer that Kai and Ray weren't attached to each other by the hip, no, of course not, but Mystel was a dedicated watcher of people and knew the signs of a carefully planned exit.
That was those two unavailable for the remainder of the night, then.
Curious now, Mystel went in search of Max. He was concerned about him, and also … well … maybe something else … Shaking his head with a quick, rueful grin, he set off. Enough of that, now.
Dodging untidily hung Christmas decorations - they should never have let Kevin and Daichi hang up the tinsel - he made his way down the corridors. He had a pretty good idea of where they had taken Max. After all, he didn't spend half his time exploring with no result.
"Max? You in here?" he called, peering through a thick tangle of scarlet and gold tinsel. He knew this was the lounge … he just couldn't see it …
"Yeah!" Max replied. "Come in! I'm bored out my skull!" Mystel looked apprehensively at the prickly, sparkly mass blocking his way.
"I'll try." Stretching out both hands, he shoved his way through with only a slight delay to detach the dangling stuff from his hair and top. Getting to the other side, he grinned at Max, who was sitting in a comfortable-looking armchair, and rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. Max grinned back, the expression a little less cheerful than normal
"Never let Daichi near anything sparkly. The guy's like a magpie." he commented. Mystel laughed.
"Too true. He was wearing some as a belt, if I remember correctly." Sauntering over, he looked around for another chair and spotted one, a plain wooden affair with the padding of a few cushions. Max looked awkward.
"It's ok, you don't need to sit in that crap one!" Mystel regarded him with amusement.
"And where else would I sit?" Max started to get up from his chair. "No, you stay where you are! You're the one who just passed out!" Max groaned theatrically.
"Don't remind me." he grumbled. Mystel regarded him critically for a few minutes. Blue eyes met red jewels steadily for a full minute, but then Max's nerve broke and he looked away, colouring slightly. Mystel chuckled softly. He liked his mask.
"What happened there, anyway?" Max shrugged and looked at the floor uncomfortably.
"It happens." he said at last.
"Any idea why?" Max shook his head.
"No clue. Mom's dragged me to doctor after doctor, and no one knows anything. I eat everything I should, there's nothing wrong with my heart or anything, it just .. happens!" Mystel looked sympathetically at Max, who was glaring fiercely at the carpet.
"Must be a pain in the arse when it comes to relationships." he said at last, cautiously, throwing the bait and waiting for a bite. Max brought his head up sharply and his eyes glittered with sudden interest.
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Bait taken, Mystel thought, sitting back slightly. Good, he needed something to relieve his boredom.
"You bet it is. Course, most of my "relationships" have only been after one thing." Mystel took a mental step backwards.
"You're not out for a casual fling, then?" he asked, wondering why he didn't feel more disappointed. Max shook his head.
"Tried them, not for me. Ha, Mom would murder me if she realised I lost it two years ago." A wide grin spread across Max's face as he watched Mystel's mouth drop open.
"And I thought you were the innocent one!" Mystel exclaimed, only half-joking. Max laughed. "Your mom doesn't mind your preferences, then?" A certain glint in Max's eyes prompted him to add, "Or do you hide it?"
"I'm bi, it's easily hidden." Max replied lightly. "You?"
"If I told you that I thought you were hot, would that clear things up?"
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They were toying with each other now, flirting shamelessly, and Mystel was having more fun than he remembered having for a long while.
"No, you could still be bi."
"Well, I'm not."
"Now, that cleared things up."
"Oh, I'm so glad."
"Take your mask off." With the air of someone humouring a small child, Mystel reached up and removed his golden mask and dangled it idly from his hand.
"Like what you see?" he asked playfully. Max started laughing again, avoiding the question, and going a shade of red that answered it for him anyway.
"We should probably stop this." Max said at last.
"Why?" Max stood up. Wobbling slightly, he took the few steps over to Mystel's chair and stared down at him, from a distance that made Mystel catch his breath.
"No casual flings." Max whispered huskily. Mystel got to his feet.
There was less than two inches between them, and Mystel was surprisingly glad of his slight height advantage. More of a view, he told himself, suppressing the urge to grin. Max had to be one of the only male beybladers who didn't use gel. Much softer to touch. Hm, maybe he should test that out …
All Max did as a hand landed on his head was look Mystel straight in the eye, with a look that made awkward things begin to happen in Mystel's lower regions.
"How about we try a casual kiss, and you tell me when you want to stop?" he asked breathlessly. Max nodded wordlessly.
If anyone had fought their way through the tinsel, they would have found two boys who most definitely did not want to stop.
Well? Opinions? zekesbabe, was it ok? Everyone else, was it ok? I've never written that pairing before.
Anyway, please review! (throws tinsel in the air, just because she can) Luv you all!
(rolls away)