Title: Teatime
Rating: Something from K+ to T, I suppose.
Pairing: Kai x Ray
Warning: boy x boy -relationship.
A/N: If you have read the Beyblade manga and like the way it portraits Kai's and Ray's childhood/parents, you might not like this fic.
Ray had never understood humanity's fascination with alcohol. People said it made them loosen up. Relax. Feel good about themselves. But the way Ray saw it, so did a nice cup of tea.
Grantedly, not just any tea. But Ray had some mad skills when it came to hot beverages, and his tea was famous among his friends and acquaintances. Kai drank it probably enough to be called an addict.
He felt a bit guilty as he placed two porcelain cups on a tray. It wasn't in Ray's nature to take advantage of the special effects his tea had on people, but Ray was an inquisitive person, and he had been pondering something for quite a while. He needed to know, and without the tea, Kai might never tell.
"Teatime!"
It always gave Ray a fright when Kai seemingly materialized out of nowhere. As usual, the older teen said nothing, just kissed Ray on the cheek and took his cup.
Silence continued as they slowly sipped their drinks. Ray decided to do a test.
"I'm thinking about inviting Mystel and Brooklyn over some weekend."
"Hn."
Kai needed more tea.
Ray waited five minutes.
"I think it could be fun."
"You do remember that I hate the ginger one?"
Ah-ha! Kai was giving direct and honest answers. It was now or never.
... but first things first.
"You should at least try to get along. I happen to like Mystel a lot. So, you are bound to see Brooklyn now and then."
Kai grimaced. Ray decided to go ahead with the question.
"Kai. We've been together a pretty long time now..."
"A year, seven months and..." Kai took a quick look at the calender, "about 16 days, yes."
Ray did marvellous job of not being slightly creeped out.
"Err, right, and I know that you don't like talking about your past and I respect that..."
"... but?" Kai asked, one eyebrow raised.
"But I'd like you to remember that you can tell me anything, including any possible information about your parents. So far I've only heard about your grandpa. But I respect your privacy if you don't wish to tell. And by respect, I mean that I'll wait 'till you go on a business trip and then go through all your stuff in hopes of finding something interesting."
Kai gave him a long stare, and then suddenly chuckled.
"Bad kitty."
Ray pouted. He knew Kai would give in if he looked cute enough.
"Oh, fine then. If you must know, my parents are presumably dead."
And just like that, it all stopped being funny in Ray's head. It was the answer he had expected, but he had still hoped for something else.
"I'm sorry to hear that. ... but presumably? How come?"
"They haven't been around ever since I was five. One day, Grandfather just told me they wouldn't be coming back. I've tried asking what he did to them, but he never told me. Most likely they are dead, but a small part of me keeps wishing that they are just somewhere far away from here."
"Have you tried looking for them?"
"It's a big world, Ray. My detectives advise me not to let my hopes up. Even if they were alive, I might never find them."
Ray shifted uneasily.
"I shouldn't have brought this up. I apologize."
Kai smiled a bit too warmly to be completely sincere.
"I suppose it was time for you to know. It's your turn now."
Ray hadn't expected that.
"I'm not the only mysterious one. You never told about your parents either."
"I don't know much about them. The village raised me. My father died some hours before I was even born, and my mother abandoned me. She wasn't locals, she left the village, and me, as soon as she was able to. Couldn't handle losing my father, I was told."
There was a short, understanding silence. Kai got up on his feet, disappeared, and then reappeared with a photo album. He opened it and showed Ray a family portrait. There was a handsome-looking couple with a small, maybe three-year-old child. It took Ray a while to realize who it was.
"Aww, a heartbreaker already at such an young age. You look a lot like your dad, nowadays."
"I've got my mother's eyes though. Or so they tell me."
Ray kept staring at the photo.
"Dreadlocks, though?"
"Dad wanted to look better than me, and I was too young to defend myself."
Ray looked at Kai's parents. Names Pietr and Yakaterina were written neatly next to the photo, as well as Kai's name. It seemed like they could have been nice people.
"I don't have any pictures of my parents. Villagers told me I look a lot like my dad, too, but I have my mother's hair. Which explains a lot."
They shared a quiet laugh.
"You know... I could find out who your mother is."
"I don't think I really even want to know, anymore. I don't need a person entering my life, calling herself my parent. The villagers raised me, and my friends are all the family I need."
Ray took Kai's hand.
"I've got you, and I'm perfectly happy with that."
Kai tugged Ray's hand forward and kissed it.
"I know what you mean."
They were silent once again. But it was a happy silence, one where there just wasn't any need for words.
"... this is getting pretty sappy. Your reputation might suffer."
"Oh my. You'd better make some more tea in order to repay me."
"Aye aye, captain Kai."
"Stop mimicking annoying people and use your lips for something useful, kitty cat."
"Well, I can bite, if you keep on being all sunshine on me. Frankly my dear, it just doesn't suit you."
"Uh-huh?"
The second cup was eventually consumed in bed.
Reviews and comments much appreciated.
Next: Brooklyn, Mystel and soap bubbles.