Okie dokie! One thing before we start;
Krixel: *huggles the Tala and Kai dolls* Thankies! ^.^ Plushies make me happy.
Thank you to everyone for the reviews! ^.^
When Our Eyes Meet - Part 38
Normal POV
Kai remained silent. He knew Tala was awaiting a response, but how could he answer that question. There was no way he could lie to his friend again, not after what the Wolf had done for him. To do any less than tell the truth would be a betrayal of everything he had done.
He looked away, not meeting Tala's gaze. Even in the dark, he could feel the blue eyes on him. Somehow, telling the truth was harder if he had to look his friend in the eyes. If he had to come clean, he would do it his way.
Crimson eyes slid close, and he took a deep breath. "Tala…"
"Wait." Tala told him. Carefully, he slid onto the bed, moving to sit behind Kai. Pulling the boy into his lap, he put his arms around the narrow shoulders and rested his head on his. He wanted to be holding on to Kai when he heard this. After all, he already knew what the boy was going to say, and he knew it wasn't going to be easy. "Go ahead."
Kai took another deep breath. Somehow, all these distractions weren't making things any easier. Suddenly, he just wanted to get it over with. Everything he had been holding inside was suddenly bursting to get out.
"I lied to you." He blurted suddenly. "I'm sorry." He turned his head further away.
Tala tightened his grip. His throat felt dry. He hadn't realized how hard it was going to be to hear it directly from his friend. He swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump that had formed in his throat. "It's ok." he whispered. "Please, go on."
Kai licked his dry lips before continuing. "I let my guard down, and he tricked me. He came up behind me and…." He paused, his voice shaky and uneven. "He caught me off guard and forced me to the ground. He pinned me down and…"
He fell silent, very grateful that his back was to Tala, and his friend couldn't see the tears running down his face. He thought that once he started talking, everything would be easier, but it wasn't. The words wouldn't come out; it was as if a roadblock had been set up. Try as he might, he couldn't continue.
Closing his eyes, Tala hugged Kai harder. Tears of his own were running down his pale cheeks. He could hear the pain in Kai's voice, and suddenly wished he hadn't forced his friend to relive the incident. He knew it would be hard, but he hadn't thought….
"It's ok." He said, stroking the soft silver hair. "It's alright. You can tell me."
"I…I can't."
Beneath his hands, Tala could feel the slender frame trembling. He felt helpless, unable to help calm the distraught boy. What could he possibly say to help make his any easier?
"Kai," he started slowly. This was for the best. Kai had to get this out, and he had to get this out now, before it festered and ate him alive. "Did Boris…rape you?"
"N-no." Kai replied. He stifled a sob. He felt ashamed of acting this way, but he couldn't help it. Trying to find something to distract him from the situation, He looked around the dark room. Crimson eyes drifted over the cluttered desk, the messy floor, and the dark walls.
Tala relaxed about a fraction. Leaning his head on Kai's, he whispered, "It's ok." His eyes flickered towards the door. So far, no one had found them, but there was no guarantee that things would stay like that. "What did he do?"
No answer. Kai had lost the will to speak. Leaning back, he rested his head on Tala's chest.
"Was it…oral?"
Again, Kai gave no answer, but from the way his body tensed, Tala knew he had struck a nerve. He closed his eyes. Obviously, Boris had been telling the truth when he threatened Tala with Kai's safety. Reaching out, he gently grasped Kai's face and forced the boy to look at him.
Scarlet eyes were shimmering with tears, and from the look on Kai's face, he was ashamed of showing such a weakness. He directed his gaze away from Tala's azure eyes. His friend was hurting, and it was all his fault. If he hadn't let his guard down when Boris had been there…nothing would have happened. It was his own fault.
"Tala, I'm sorry." He whispered, burying his face into his friend's chest. "It's my fault. I lied to you, and it's because of me that Boris almost…"
"No." Tala interrupted. He rubbed his friend's back, trying to sooth him. "It isn't your fault. You shouldn't be feeling guilty." He looked down at the silver hair shining in the dark. "I just wish you had told me, maybe I could have helped you."
Kai raised his head just slightly, but other than that, gave no response that he had even heard Tala's words.
"Kai, you mean more to me than you could ever realize. I want you to be safe, and I want you to be happy. Please, just be honest with me, I know I can help you." Leaning down, he planted a light kiss on Kai's ahead and the boy looked up.
He blinked confused, scarlet eyes. "Tala…"
Tala forced a small smile, trying to give some reassurance. "I'm not mad at you, I couldn't be. And I swear," he gently stroked Kai's tear stained cheek. "I will never let Boris lay a single finger on you again. I promise."
A small smile crept across Kai's face. He felt better, hearing Tala vow to protect him like that, but he could shake he feeling of worry that still dwelled in his stomach. What if they found themselves in another situation like the one before? Could he really allow Tala to put himself in danger like that again? No. Not a chance. Kai would kill Boris with his bare hands before that happened.
He sat p, trying to hide the mix of emotions that played on his face. Inside, he could still feel the turmoil, but the last thing he wanted to do was make his friend worry more. Tala had enough on is mind, without having to worry about Kai.
"Thanks Tala." He wiped away the tears that still lingered on his cheeks, embarrassed at his show of emotions. But then, he didn't mind being honest with Tala. Deep down, it really felt all right. But still, he did want to dwell on the topic any more, so he directed his gaze around the dark room. He still didn't recognize his surroundings. At first he had thought that when his head, cleared, he would know where they were, but he still had no clue.
"Tala?" he asked. "Where are we?"
Tala almost burst out laughing. With everything that had happened, he had completely forgotten that Kai probably had no clue where they were. He had been unconscious after all when they first came, and neither of the boys had ever been inside the room before, so it was unrecognizable.
"Sorry Kai." He said, patting the top of the boy's head. "I forgot to tell you. We're in Igor's room."
The scarlet eyes widened almost comically. Of all the places in the abbey, Igor's room had to be the last he would have expected. How had Tala even thought about coming here in the first place? "We're in Igor's room?"
Tala nodded. "Yeah. It would have been to obvious if we went back to one of our rooms, and I couldn't think of any other place." He blinked, wondering. "Is that a problem?"
"No." Kai smiled. "I just wasn't expecting that." He looked around, seeing the room with new eyes. This was the place where their friend had lived before his death. Suddenly, the room looked different, and a little more inviting.
"I would have liked to get out of the abbey all together," Tala explained. "But the time wasn't right."
Kai chuckled and looked at Tala. "The time will never be right." He said. As much as he wanted to get out, he couldn't figure out a way to get past security. Things were just too tight. And even if they got out of the abbey, what could they do then?
"Yes it will." Tala insisted. He truly believed it too. "I just can't promise it'll be in time for your birthday."
Kai shook his head and sighed, relieved that the atmosphere had become a little lighter. "I thought I told you not to get me anything for my birthday."
"Did I say I did?" Tala answered amused. He laughed, and Kai gave him a look.
"You're up to something."
Tala started to reply, when suddenly an idea struck him. It was obvious. Digging into his pocket, he pulled out the folded paper he had found, and handed it to Kai. As the silver haired boy looked it over, Tala explained.
"I found that hidden in a picture frame." He said, and Kai frowned. "I can't figure out what it is. Do you have any idea?"
Kai turned the paper over, trying to look at the lines from different angles. It was certainly odd; he hadn't seen anything like it before. And yet… "I don't know what it is…but somehow it looks familiar."
"Did Igor ever show it to you?"
Kai shook his head and handed it back to Tala, who folded it and put it away.
"No, he didn't. But I think you should hold to it. You never know when it might become important."
Tala nodded, resolving to find a good place to hide it when he finally got back to his room.
Well, this chapter was a little longer than last time. ^.^; I'm actually not really happy with how it turned out, but oh well.
So, Kai doesn't know what the paper is either. Does anybody have any ideas? ^.^ Hehe! I know what it is, but I'm not telling! ^.^
Anyway, please leave me a review, and the next update will come on Wednesday!
Krixel: *huggles the Tala and Kai dolls* Thankies! ^.^ Plushies make me happy.
Thank you to everyone for the reviews! ^.^
When Our Eyes Meet - Part 38
Normal POV
Kai remained silent. He knew Tala was awaiting a response, but how could he answer that question. There was no way he could lie to his friend again, not after what the Wolf had done for him. To do any less than tell the truth would be a betrayal of everything he had done.
He looked away, not meeting Tala's gaze. Even in the dark, he could feel the blue eyes on him. Somehow, telling the truth was harder if he had to look his friend in the eyes. If he had to come clean, he would do it his way.
Crimson eyes slid close, and he took a deep breath. "Tala…"
"Wait." Tala told him. Carefully, he slid onto the bed, moving to sit behind Kai. Pulling the boy into his lap, he put his arms around the narrow shoulders and rested his head on his. He wanted to be holding on to Kai when he heard this. After all, he already knew what the boy was going to say, and he knew it wasn't going to be easy. "Go ahead."
Kai took another deep breath. Somehow, all these distractions weren't making things any easier. Suddenly, he just wanted to get it over with. Everything he had been holding inside was suddenly bursting to get out.
"I lied to you." He blurted suddenly. "I'm sorry." He turned his head further away.
Tala tightened his grip. His throat felt dry. He hadn't realized how hard it was going to be to hear it directly from his friend. He swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump that had formed in his throat. "It's ok." he whispered. "Please, go on."
Kai licked his dry lips before continuing. "I let my guard down, and he tricked me. He came up behind me and…." He paused, his voice shaky and uneven. "He caught me off guard and forced me to the ground. He pinned me down and…"
He fell silent, very grateful that his back was to Tala, and his friend couldn't see the tears running down his face. He thought that once he started talking, everything would be easier, but it wasn't. The words wouldn't come out; it was as if a roadblock had been set up. Try as he might, he couldn't continue.
Closing his eyes, Tala hugged Kai harder. Tears of his own were running down his pale cheeks. He could hear the pain in Kai's voice, and suddenly wished he hadn't forced his friend to relive the incident. He knew it would be hard, but he hadn't thought….
"It's ok." He said, stroking the soft silver hair. "It's alright. You can tell me."
"I…I can't."
Beneath his hands, Tala could feel the slender frame trembling. He felt helpless, unable to help calm the distraught boy. What could he possibly say to help make his any easier?
"Kai," he started slowly. This was for the best. Kai had to get this out, and he had to get this out now, before it festered and ate him alive. "Did Boris…rape you?"
"N-no." Kai replied. He stifled a sob. He felt ashamed of acting this way, but he couldn't help it. Trying to find something to distract him from the situation, He looked around the dark room. Crimson eyes drifted over the cluttered desk, the messy floor, and the dark walls.
Tala relaxed about a fraction. Leaning his head on Kai's, he whispered, "It's ok." His eyes flickered towards the door. So far, no one had found them, but there was no guarantee that things would stay like that. "What did he do?"
No answer. Kai had lost the will to speak. Leaning back, he rested his head on Tala's chest.
"Was it…oral?"
Again, Kai gave no answer, but from the way his body tensed, Tala knew he had struck a nerve. He closed his eyes. Obviously, Boris had been telling the truth when he threatened Tala with Kai's safety. Reaching out, he gently grasped Kai's face and forced the boy to look at him.
Scarlet eyes were shimmering with tears, and from the look on Kai's face, he was ashamed of showing such a weakness. He directed his gaze away from Tala's azure eyes. His friend was hurting, and it was all his fault. If he hadn't let his guard down when Boris had been there…nothing would have happened. It was his own fault.
"Tala, I'm sorry." He whispered, burying his face into his friend's chest. "It's my fault. I lied to you, and it's because of me that Boris almost…"
"No." Tala interrupted. He rubbed his friend's back, trying to sooth him. "It isn't your fault. You shouldn't be feeling guilty." He looked down at the silver hair shining in the dark. "I just wish you had told me, maybe I could have helped you."
Kai raised his head just slightly, but other than that, gave no response that he had even heard Tala's words.
"Kai, you mean more to me than you could ever realize. I want you to be safe, and I want you to be happy. Please, just be honest with me, I know I can help you." Leaning down, he planted a light kiss on Kai's ahead and the boy looked up.
He blinked confused, scarlet eyes. "Tala…"
Tala forced a small smile, trying to give some reassurance. "I'm not mad at you, I couldn't be. And I swear," he gently stroked Kai's tear stained cheek. "I will never let Boris lay a single finger on you again. I promise."
A small smile crept across Kai's face. He felt better, hearing Tala vow to protect him like that, but he could shake he feeling of worry that still dwelled in his stomach. What if they found themselves in another situation like the one before? Could he really allow Tala to put himself in danger like that again? No. Not a chance. Kai would kill Boris with his bare hands before that happened.
He sat p, trying to hide the mix of emotions that played on his face. Inside, he could still feel the turmoil, but the last thing he wanted to do was make his friend worry more. Tala had enough on is mind, without having to worry about Kai.
"Thanks Tala." He wiped away the tears that still lingered on his cheeks, embarrassed at his show of emotions. But then, he didn't mind being honest with Tala. Deep down, it really felt all right. But still, he did want to dwell on the topic any more, so he directed his gaze around the dark room. He still didn't recognize his surroundings. At first he had thought that when his head, cleared, he would know where they were, but he still had no clue.
"Tala?" he asked. "Where are we?"
Tala almost burst out laughing. With everything that had happened, he had completely forgotten that Kai probably had no clue where they were. He had been unconscious after all when they first came, and neither of the boys had ever been inside the room before, so it was unrecognizable.
"Sorry Kai." He said, patting the top of the boy's head. "I forgot to tell you. We're in Igor's room."
The scarlet eyes widened almost comically. Of all the places in the abbey, Igor's room had to be the last he would have expected. How had Tala even thought about coming here in the first place? "We're in Igor's room?"
Tala nodded. "Yeah. It would have been to obvious if we went back to one of our rooms, and I couldn't think of any other place." He blinked, wondering. "Is that a problem?"
"No." Kai smiled. "I just wasn't expecting that." He looked around, seeing the room with new eyes. This was the place where their friend had lived before his death. Suddenly, the room looked different, and a little more inviting.
"I would have liked to get out of the abbey all together," Tala explained. "But the time wasn't right."
Kai chuckled and looked at Tala. "The time will never be right." He said. As much as he wanted to get out, he couldn't figure out a way to get past security. Things were just too tight. And even if they got out of the abbey, what could they do then?
"Yes it will." Tala insisted. He truly believed it too. "I just can't promise it'll be in time for your birthday."
Kai shook his head and sighed, relieved that the atmosphere had become a little lighter. "I thought I told you not to get me anything for my birthday."
"Did I say I did?" Tala answered amused. He laughed, and Kai gave him a look.
"You're up to something."
Tala started to reply, when suddenly an idea struck him. It was obvious. Digging into his pocket, he pulled out the folded paper he had found, and handed it to Kai. As the silver haired boy looked it over, Tala explained.
"I found that hidden in a picture frame." He said, and Kai frowned. "I can't figure out what it is. Do you have any idea?"
Kai turned the paper over, trying to look at the lines from different angles. It was certainly odd; he hadn't seen anything like it before. And yet… "I don't know what it is…but somehow it looks familiar."
"Did Igor ever show it to you?"
Kai shook his head and handed it back to Tala, who folded it and put it away.
"No, he didn't. But I think you should hold to it. You never know when it might become important."
Tala nodded, resolving to find a good place to hide it when he finally got back to his room.
Well, this chapter was a little longer than last time. ^.^; I'm actually not really happy with how it turned out, but oh well.
So, Kai doesn't know what the paper is either. Does anybody have any ideas? ^.^ Hehe! I know what it is, but I'm not telling! ^.^
Anyway, please leave me a review, and the next update will come on Wednesday!