A/N: One review guys? Is that all I'm worth? Special shout out to Lyson who was kind enough to give me some feedback... everyone else? -Pout- Be kind to me?
III
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: THE LIGHTS
III
This was such a waste of time.
Being supportive? Tala was aware of the concept of team work. So he hadn't exactly been raised a team player, none of them had and it was strange to suddenly consider it that way. Strength in numbers? A foreign concept considering the Abbey frowned upon anyone weak enough to require assistance. Thoughts of years past flitted from his mind without banishment. He wouldn't think about that place again for a while he hoped, but sometimes, an errant thought would get through the net and he would wince briefly at the rush of memories.
A gloved hand curled around his shoulder through his thick jacket and the slight movement brought his attention back to the task at hand. The large raised dais in the middle of the little backwards town just outside of London put them in direct contact with the chilling wind while the crowd below were clustered together like a large warm people blanket. Tala preferred to be just out of arms reach. There was only one person he wanted to be a cluster with and that person stood against his back, partially blocking the winter breeze like a knight in shining armour. The gesture was sweet but not required.
Robert was still droning on about how Christmas was the time of year for giving and such. The man could be such a pariah sometimes. Johnny stood just a little ways off holding a large red button surrounded by tinsel; face the epitome of self-superiority. Oliver and Enrique were not yet in the country, having only left for England an hour ago but they would be here soon enough. That visitation was best left for another time.
Glancing left, Tala caught sight of Bryan, a thin black scarf draped around his neck, clad only in dark red trousers, boots and a thick jumper. His manly exclamation that needing a coat in England's balmy winter held true as the stoic lavender eyed man beat off the cold through sheer determination. He was staring off into some point in the distance obviously as bored as the redhead was only he was not as obvious at showing it. His boredom came off as detachment, and many people misconstrued him as an asshole because of it. Not true of course, Bryan was caring in his own way.
His own way was maybe only understood by wild predators that had cornered prey or pensioners that sneered maliciously at crying children but- Tala stifled his laugh of amusement. He did care. Well, enough to join both Kai and himself on the outskirts of London to assist Robert instead of shadowing Rei inside the city with Takao and Max to start the celebrations for the country's capital.
"I would like you all to welcome the International Russian team who have decided to visit us this year, and have agreed to begin the festivities with the traditional switching on of the lights." Tala blinked himself out of his stupor at the small round of applause, barely able to see the faces of the crowd below them in the dark. Robert turned to look at them his own hands raised politely in a quiet clap as Johnny marching self-assuredly over the wooden platform to shove the button towards the redhead. Tala looked up into the narrowed amethyst eyes, expression stony. He didn't like the Scotsman, smug and arrogant as he was.
He already had someone smug and arrogant in his life, and he liked Kai enough that that didn't actually bother him, but just the way Johnny looked at him, like a target, made him feel both angry and unsure of what to expect. Tala curled his hand slowly around the big red button, the smooth plastic barely felt through the thick grey gloves he wore and without even looking away from the Scotsman, he waved the button up, not missing a heartbeat as Kai accepted it from his hand, the soft brush of a kiss sliding over his temple as he smirked up at Johnny.
The other boy twitched ever so slightly, lips twisting into a scowl before he moved away, the stark rise of his deep wine-tinted hair was still visible from across the platform despite the darkness. The crowd hushed, waiting with baited breath for the pressing of the button as Kai, former leader of the International Japanese team stepped forward, holding it aloft with an intense look.
A slight incline of his head and the shift of fingers was all it took for the darks streets to burst into life. Bright dancing colours glittered from rooftops and lamp posts. Strings of blue green red and gold twirled in organised chaos up the impressive tree, glinting off of porcelain angels and glass baubles, the bright fluorescence of a golden star shone like the sun from the top.
The applause came louder now, the excited shrieks of children and laughter from parents. Cuddling, holding hands, exchanging kisses, Tala watched all of it, and despite his dislike of the holiday, he felt a warmth unfolding in his chest as he looked over the crowd of embracing families and up to the bluenette at his side, yearning for the same display of affection.
Kai looked glorious in the floods of different coloured lights. They threw his features into sharp relief, lit up the pale slate strands of his hair and his eyes burned like fire as they turned to gaze down at him in response. Tala smiled, he could feel it steal over his lips unbidden and he tugged his left hand free of thick gloves, lacing his fingers with Kai's surprisingly bare ones, not seeing him remove his own gloves as he tilted his face up in request.
The elder smirked at him, ignoring the shrill wolf-whistles and cat calls as he bent his head, pressing his lips against those soft tempting ones offered him, parting them with the ease of practice and mapping the redhead's mouth. Tala clung to him like a lifeline, pressed up as much as their winter clothing would allow, the world melting away behind them.
This was most certainly not the waste of time he had thought it was.