A/N: I'm beginning to think that the Beyblade fandom has died a little? Where did everybody go? Thanks to all my reviewers... by all, I mean all three. I will just point out that yes, mistletoe will be involved at some point, and take note that the rating is M, so yes, I do intend there to be smut. It may or may not be Christmas day. Stay tuned?
III
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: THE SHOPPING
III
"Tala!" Rei's excited shout over the loud din of people gave him pause. Turning ever so slightly despite the hardship of it, he leant up onto the tips of his feet to scan over the heads of the persons rushing past. His wrist pulled taut, linked through Kai's arm as he strained to find the Neko-jin, and he pressed up tight against Kai's side to avoid the almost violent frenzy of festive shoppers.
Finally, he caught sight of long raven hair and flashing golden eyes, and behind him? Tala felt his shoulders hunch effectively blocking his snicker of amusement from view as he tried not to snort out loud at a certain Russian's predicament. He felt inquiring eyes upon him, Kai slanting his gaze down to study the pale hand hiding Tala's smile and, curious, he turned, stopping them point blank in the flow of human traffic much to the annoyance of those who tried to squeeze around them. He could hear their disdainful noises as they shuffled past, tutting and mumbling their discontent but he didn't care. When Kai finally caught sight of Rei, he was certainly less gracious than Tala had been.
Just the sight of the Chinese boy, waving merrily from the shelter of a vacant shop doorway, face split in a wide smile while Bryan stood at his back, eyes narrowed venomously, hands raised in preparation to strangle was side-splitting in its hilarity. The added bonus of Bryan's stone cold expression clashing horribly with the baby pink Santa hat perched atop lavender locks made the picture material for comedy.
Kai doubled over, arm clenching tightly around Tala's hand almost dragging the redhead down with him as he smothered the loud laughter that threatened to bowl him over. Tala turned in time to watch Rei reach back, not even having to look to locate Bryan's arm before it was in his hand effectively halting the session of throttling about to ensue, plunging them both into the sea of people, near wading through to cross the left side of the mall and reach their companions.
Tala noted with no small amount of satisfaction that Bryan's scowling face complete with fluffy pink hat looked even more hilarious up close. The waves of the crowd only seemed to annoy him further as small children ran under his feet to keep up with the drag of their mothers and single shoppers bumped him left and right with no apology. British shopping was such a rude endeavour. Tala felt something akin to relief that they would be leaving shortly, few small bags hanging from their tired fingers.
Rei didn't seem bothered by the bustle of shoppers at all, weaving around them with feline ease until finally, with a triumphant smile he presented his rather ruffled, angry looking boyfriend to the duo. Bryan's fists were tensed as Rei dropped his arm, his arms straining as he held himself rigid, preparing for the worst, and looking for retribution at the first thing to set him off. The pink hat was not just a pink hat. Aside from the horrific clash of the feminine colour with the Russian's lilac tinted hair and eyes, washing out his pale skin, the array of sparkling plastic rhinestones dancing across the rim in the motto 'Santa's Little Helper' did little to highlight the seriousness of Bryan's expression.
In fact, as soon as Kai had seen it, he barked out a sharp laugh before turning tail and disappearing into the crowd as Bryan turned from stoic and pale to murderous, his features flushing in rage as he barrelled after the bluenette, "I'm going to kick your ass, Hiwatari!"
Tala watched after them until he couldn't detect a hint of either through the waves of people, daring to let a small smile slip over his lips, despite the ill-mood surrounding him from the hordes of men and women brushing past him. The redhead turned to acknowledge the grand orchestrator of this chaos as Rei moved to his side with a satisfied smile. Golden eyes sparkled in mischief and though Tala felt less kinship to the Neko than Bryan, he felt content to see the previously stony character unwind more in the Chinese boy's presence. Rei was good for the eldest boy. He brought out emotion in one who had up until now treasured apathy above all traits.
"I told him he looked sexy in that hat," Rei had to raise his voice to be heard over the crushing crowds, smile widening into a grin, "Said I would do anything if he left it on."
"Bitch," Tala laughed, almost choking as he tried to draw breath and with a nod of his head in the direction of the door, and fistfuls of each other's clothing in hand they pushed their way to freedom.
Kai and Bryan had appeared about five or so minutes after they broke through the scorching heat of the press inside the mall into the crisp night air, looking a little bit worse for wear. Kai's jacket had a none too subtle rip from the left hand pocket that he merely shrugged at and a reddened cheek that he waved hands away from as soon as the redhead reached for it. His hair, usually organised chaos stood up in ways not even Tala had seen before, which was a feat considering how much he liked to bury his hands in it when they tangled between sheets. Bryan favoured his left shoulder though he tried not to show it. Tala however had spent too long with them both to not see that they had done each other a little damage.
Boys will be boys.
And it was worth it to see the raven-haired Neko press soothing kisses to Bryan's injured shoulder as they made their way to the car. It was worth it to see Bryan let him.
