Author's Note: I'm shocked that I've gotten so far in this story in just little over a month. Comparing this and my other story, 'Dropping the Pounds', (which believe it or not, seeing as I can't,) was finished after at least 8 months of writing.... This story is now longer, has more reviews even though it has a 7th of the hits/visitors. Excuse my French...but...

I'm damn well thrilled.

=) Couldn't have done it without the lovely reviewers, nor without watching the Story Traffic increase for each chapter. Thank you readers, reviewers and... Well you're either one or both - but anyway: again thanking you! XD

Chapter Twenty One

Bryan grumbled a few curses before sitting on the bed next to Robert who appeared to be somewhat reluctant to let his injured hand go anywhere near an angry Demolition Boy. "You should have let me smashed his face in." He muttered as he picked Robert's hand up to inspect it. His knuckles were not used to hitting anything so to suddenly come into contact with cartilage and bone - his hand looked as bloody as Raphael's nose. (Then again it could always be the blond's blood which was covering his hand...)

With the dull ache running throughout his hand, Robert decided that if anyone did need to be struck again he would allow Bryan to do so. It wouldn't look well for him anyway, if he simply started having a brawl with anyone he didn't see eye to eye to. "It's not my fault I haven't struck anyone since I was a mere seven-year old." There was a pause in conversation as Bryan stood up and disappeared into the other room. He came back with what looked like first aid box and flung it over to Robert. "What are you smirking about?" Robert had noticed the somewhat small smile which Bryan couldn't seem to giving him.

"The upstanding citizen, Robert Jurgen just burst some kid's nose." The purple-haired blader scoffed, he certainly wouldn't have done it if he knew Bryan was going to tease him about it. The boy had taken a step too far and Robert felt as if he needed to teach the spoilt brat a lesson. He just hoped his parents wouldn't find out about it.

"Well it wouldn't have happened if he had kept his mouth closed." This made Bryan remember what he had heard: from what he could comprehend, Raphael had at least mucked around with this Martin boy, but then again the blond could always be lying. Still it seemed that Robert gladly accepted it as fact - did he know, for certain? Was the parting of Robert and Martin that bad?

It didn't take Robert that long to quickly wipe off the drying blood, and after placing a quick (and rather messy) bandage around his hand. Robert decided this was certainly an interesting day and so pondered on whether or not he would be able to get to sleep with ease tonight. He highly doubted it.

However he was not allowed to rest as Bryan sat down next to him again, looking at him with stern eyes. "What did Martin do?" Robert sighed, he knew eventually he would utter a word about what happened. The only part of this he didn't see coming was the fact it was Bryan of all people he was telling this to. Not even his parents knew what exactly happened - they only knew that it had been the Martin boy's fault that their son was heart-broken.

"If I tell you," Robert decided that he wouldn't look at Bryan while he was speaking. He didn't like knowing that every word from now on was probably being processed and analysed by Bryan. It made him more than nervous about speaking. "You won't get drunk and blurt it to everyone...And you won't ask any questions or even-" Now he was stalling, a part of him wanted to keep it quiet: it was degrading - yet another wanted Bryan to understand him more.

"You don't trust me, do you?" Bryan frowned, once again he was avoiding the question, telling him not to say a word. Surely if he was trusted Robert wouldn't need to demand to keep it to himself, then again had he not got over the fact that Bryan had told Tala about his uncle? Was he still angry with him over that?

Robert almost began to panic when he heard such a thing: he wouldn't have taken Bryan to France, nor would he have not kicked up a fuss about them sharing rooms together if he didn't trust him. "I do trust you," Bryan narrowed his eyes for a moment as if he believed that Robert was joking or bluffing. "I just... I've never told anyone about what occurred before." Bryan nodded his head slowly as if he understood what Robert felt like to discuss a topic which he had never actually spoke of.

Of course Bryan knew what it felt like to keep the secrets from his past quiet. Perhaps it was with that thought that Bryan suddenly felt reluctant to hear what Robert had to say, if Robert was opening up would he have to explain what happened to him so many years ago? The thought of anyone, other than the Demolition Boys - and Hiwatari knowing about the Abbey and Boris, made Bryan feel a little self-conscious. He didn't want people to blame any fault of his on his up-bringing or try to say that he was pitiful because he wasn't sure on emotions.

It was odd - Robert was so used to public speaking, having a casual chat with people who represented a multi-billion corporation... Yet he couldn't even think of the words to speak. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't appear: was he really that nervous about letting another human know what happened? "Two years ago I ended up meeting Martin randomly at a bar." Bryan frowned slightly, if he was the one explaining the Abbey to Robert...

He certainly wouldn't enjoy being stared at and so Bryan lay done on the bed, hopefully it would make Robert a little more relaxed and say what happened. Bryan was too curious now. On the other hand, Robert was thinking about what details he should say about Martin or himself when it had occurred. The thought of telling him every detail was a little off and so he decided to give the quickest version of it and get this over and done with.

"He was a thrill-seeker...whatever was going on, he'd probably have done it. Anyway, short story wise..." A hand ran through his hair again, Bryan had decided that it was an alright sign: he wouldn't be nervous or annoyed if he wasn't going to say anything. "My uncle gave me a few credit cards to use, and I ran away from home." Perhaps this was the stage of rebellion in Robert's life - it wouldn't be surprising if it happened a few years later than it was meant to not with those controlling parents anyway.

"I stayed with Martin until he used all of my money for his partying ways," What Bryan was pondering over now was how on earth Martin, some wild party animal managed to bump into the upstanding, prudish Robert. They belonged to very different worlds, much like Bryan did. "That was only about three weeks." Robert scoffed and once again the nervous habit started. He couldn't help but hate the way his heart rate had increased, his throat was feeling constricted. He didn't want to remember this, he didn't want to say.

But he had to, he had started this story and he would finish it. It would be unfair to leave Bryan out after saying he would explain what had happened so many years ago. "We both argued about him using my money, turned out that if I loved him then I would find money on my own and I wouldn't be angry at him."Bryan frowned and looked up at the ceiling, he didn't like where this was going. There was some similarities between both Robert's unrequited love, Martin and Tala. Both used their feelings against them.

There was a quick pause in what Robert was saying, he began to fidget with the bandage on his hand. "On the last party of the third week: Martin apologised by handing me shot after shot, said money didn't matter anymore." Bryan really didn't enjoy hearing about alcohol, after all he was still craving it. His mind wandered to what would be available downstairs in the bar. His mind was pulled back to what Robert was saying as soon as he had heard the boy begin to tell his story again.

"But, after said party was over, Martin gave me an ultimatum." It was then that Bryan couldn't just sit back and watch the back of Robert - he wanted to see what kind of expression he was wearing, he wanted to know what had been running through his mind as he went through these events. Bryan wanted to see just how hurt the boy was with what Martin had done.

When Bryan sat back up again, seemingly staring again and alert, Robert could barely utter another word. If he stopped now, then Bryan could merely guess what happened. He didn't want to explain what had occurred back then. He didn't want to think about the sheer humiliation which Martin had placed him in, the sheer disgrace which he had caused his parents (unknowing to them still). "I was to either pick that I loved him or admit I didn't really love him and go back home." Bryan didn't need to guess which one he had picked, although what happened because of picking such an option.

"Seeing as I apparently loved him, he said I should do whatever he asked without question." Robert spat the words, disgust was obviously running through his system. Whatever Martin did, Bryan already hated him for it. "We didn't have any money to our names at this point," There was no point trying to convey that it been forced upon him, through drunken logic and the chance to show Martin how much he liked him it was like a golden opportunity for him. Of course the morning after, with a headache and the realisation of what he had done did make him open his eyes to the fact that Martin would never feel the same way. Robert sighed, he may as well get this over and done with - just tell Bryan straight up what happened, with no major details.

"I ended up sleeping with a friend of Martin's, who in turn paid me." Bryan opened his mouth to speak but for the first time in his life he had been unable to even comprehend the words. Oh, he knew what Robert just said, but he did not think it were possible for Robert to go so far for this Martin kid. Who the hell was Martin? Now that Bryan thought about it - it was probably why he was embarrassed about anything related to sex and also why he had somewhat one of the largest egos. He probably had thought that if he didn't do one tiny thing wrong, then such an event wouldn't happen again. Some defense mechanism.

With no response from Bryan, Robert became a little nervous and started to ramble, "I made my way to Oliver's home: and broke down as soon as I arrived back at the manor." He knew that if he told his parents one of two things would happen, one: he would be exiled, or two: they would rub it in, telling him they were right all along. Robert didn't want to hear it from either of them.

"Can I ask..." Bryan trailed off seeing if Robert would react however, he didn't and so Bryan took that as a green light and asked him what had been troubling him for a while. "Did Martin sleep with Raphael and the brunette?" He couldn't really remember what the blond had called his friend, but it wasn't that important. Bryan was sure Robert would know who he meant.

For another few moments Robert kept still, his head looking at the floor. "You heard that?" He muttered a little embarrassed. If he had heard such a thing then he would have heard the other mocking comments which Raphael had made. "He slept with anything which had a pulse...other than me obviously." The way in which Robert's voice lowered almost made Bryan begin to yell, why was he sad some piece of shit didn't sleep with him? Suddenly a bang of resentment came over him: he had wanted Tala that badly, why was he becoming so angry over Robert being so loyal to another?

What annoyed Bryan so much was the idea of having Robert following this boy around who would probably be a player to everyone else. Why on earth did he keep him around? Bryan's frown deepened he remembered that Robert had said that he had once been loved for his money - was that it? What a pathetic reason to cause so much turmoil in another person's life. Martin was no better than Boris.

Robert had a sullen expression on his face, Bryan hated to see that. It meant he was still thinking about the blond. Robert had missed out a few details, which had no real relevance to the story... However Robert would always be told by Martin that he only slept with people he found 'hot', which of course made his own self-esteem drop. If he had been a younger teenager when it had happened the he was sure that the betrayal would have broken him. Luckily it had just hut a lot.

There was only one way which Bryan knew how to comfort someone and so he leaned closer, "Stop looking so sad." Robert blinked as Bryan's hand was suddenly felt at the back of his head. Robert sighed through his nose as Bryan planted another kiss - it was certainly an enjoyable way to ignore the more depressing thoughts. Before the aristocrat had time to reject the idea, both of them ended up lying on the bed and Robert slung an arm around Bryan's neck. The kisses had started off slow and sensual, now once again, the two male were craving for more. Bryan's hand once again went up Robert's shirt - "How far did you two get?"

Was Bryan competing with Martin? Or trying to? The purple-haired blader laughed at the serious tone and gaze he was receiving. Who would have thought that Bryan would even concern himself with what happened in the past. "We didn't play chess, if that answers your question." Bryan smirked: that was alright then. He chuckled at the analogy, knowing that he'd certain have to use such a phrase in a public place just to make Robert become uncomfortable.

"Bryan," Robert knocked on the bathroom door, he could hear the shower on and so decided to shout through to the Demolition Boy and hoped that the thoughts of Bryan being in the shower would hopefully disappear from his head. "I'll have to leave early tomorrow - Mother has decided to appear and make sure Primrose is taking her own medication." On the other hand, Bryan rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning the shower off. "So I will need to arrive at the airport to greet her." Robert continued, although when he heard Bryan's reply he couldn't help but smirk.

"I smell bullshit." After all, it had been just as he had thought. 'Primrose and Mother hate one another, Mother certainly isn't coming here for grandmothers benefit.' Robert frowned when he heard Bryan begin to move in the bathroom. Sounded like he was coming towards the door - still Bryan wanted to tease the Majestic before he left for yet another party, which Bryan had demanded he be left out of. He wouldn't admit it, but Robert was rather reluctant to go himself just in case Raphael was there again.

"She's probably here to criticise you, and disown me," Bryan opened the door to reveal that he did only had a towel on - with a somewhat still moist torso and soaking hair. Robert was sure the Demolition Boy was just doing this to tease him, Bryan leaned against the doorway and smirked at the rather nervous looking Robert. He was going to a party, he shouldn't be wanting to stay in the room...

"Just pretend we're only sharing a room and we don't have a bag full of interesting toys," Robert glared at him, not knowing how else to convey his disapproval. Why did he have to bring that up? He had forgotten about its existence seeing as the only person who actually came into his room had found out. "I was just beginning to forget about that." Grumbling Robert shook his head and fixed his collar: nervous at the fact that his mind was almost screaming at him to get closer to Bryan.

"Like I really would want you too." A grin appeared on Bryan's face for behind, he grabbed something that was on the bathroom counter and threw it at Robert. "Still, you should wear them. It would be interesting." Robert bristled as the red underwear appeared again. He really should bin that stupid garment.

"Bryan." Robert tried his best to sound imposing or at least serious while a rather half-naked and wet Bryan grinned at him. He was sure that image would not remove itself from his mind for a while. "I will never wear those. Ever." Robert threw them back, hoping that Bryan would stop teasing him and put some clothes on.

"So..." Bryan frowned as he caught them, so it was never going to happen. Pity, it would have been a rather large turn on, seeing as Robert would probably be just as red in the face as the colour of the panties. "You're saying the day you wear these is the day I let you top me." He grunted and was even more annoyed as Bryan came out of the bathroom and started hovering the underwear in his face.

"What?" Robert's ears had apparently pricked up when they heard such a bizarre comparison, did Bryan really mean that? Bryan tilted his head as Robert seemed to be in a thoughtful mood. Sighing, Robert batted the hand which had the red underwear away from his face. "Yes - now, put them away!" He just hoped that his mother wouldn't find that bag or those. That would be too mortifying.

Author's Note: I guess I will take this time to say that I have been updating slower than normal due to the fact that where I live has suddenly turned into a furnace. I'm the type of person who gets very easily agitated when I'm just slightly too warm or cold - so the sudden heat wave is, well, it's killing any sort of motivation to do anything at the minute. (A heads up, I recounted my events due to the fact that I added a whole load into my little notepad: this fiction will probably reach 40 chapters... I think of things quicker than what I can type them...I'm not sure if that's good or bad yet). Once again I've re-organised the events to make it flow a bit better into each other. Alright, well off I go. Hope you enjoyed it, review if you think I deserve one. =P