Chapter 49

This should be good.

Disclaimer: Please see first page


It was like a bomb ticking down. The numbers would appear systematically, always in their formulaic order, but the inevitable was always there. The explosives were in place, and someone had already pressed detonate.

Tala tried to keep from fidgeting, rare nerves tugging gently at his stomach. He had already given his speech, and Kai had given his. Now they were into the more general questions of the tournament and the goings on during the Finals. The questions were no different to what he had already heard, just as this conference was almost identical to every other conference he had attended. Almost.

He wearily eyed the journalist at the front to the right. The man kept fidgeting and had remained silent for almost the entire session, scribbling notes to go with his tape recording. But Tala had seen those sharp eyes rise from the pad to glance at Tala's carefully concealed hand. Tala knew what he was waiting for: free question time.

And like a bomb exploding, free question time was inevitable.

Bryan must have sensed his unease, occasionally shooting him a concerned yet supportive glance, which was all he could do in the current situation. Tala knew if he could Bryan would reach out and either squeeze Tala's hand or pat his knee, but they had learnt to keep that to when they were out of the public eye, which was rarely. Perhaps it would be better to bring it out in the open. Perhaps not. There was really only one way to truly know.

He let out a long breath as the free questions began, again many of them routine. Most were directed toward Kai and Bryan about what would happen in terms of deciding Russia's number one, but it wasn't long until the questions became more personal. Out the top of his eye Tala kept his gaze on that journalist, drawing a steady breath when the man was pointed to and given the floor.

"Tala, I have a question regarding an observation made by myself and a couple of my colleagues. We couldn't help but notice previous to the final battle that the light caught on something on your left hand, and when our cameraman zoomed in we saw that it was a wedding ring. When did this happen?"

Tala fought to keep from rolling his eyes. As always the paparazzi jumped to the wrong conclusions, the others furiously scribbling down notes. "Firstly, it's not a wedding ring. And secondly, I received it a few nights ago."

The man frowned. "If it is not a wedding ring, then what sort of ring is it?"

"An engagement ring."

That started them buzzing. A woman flagged attention toward the back, earning the floor. "Tala, I'm sure readers of our magazine would love to hear about the lovely lady, so can you tell us anything about her?"

Tala bit back his laugh. Again, jumping to conclusions. "I'm afraid I can't tell you anything, because it's not a lady."

That one really stirred them up. Out the corner of his eye he spotted Bryan suppressing his smile, obviously finding this as amusing as he was. The original man looked up sharply, frowning hard.

"So are you telling us that it is a man?"

Tala nodded. "I am."

"So you're gay?"

"Well I'd have to be, wouldn't I."

Now they were in a frenzy, all trying to fire questions at once. Tala glanced toward the Blade Breakers, spotting their grins and laughter. Tyson gave him a wink and a thumbs up, a small nod coming from Kai and Ray while Max gave him the peace sign. Looking over his own team Tala noted all were trying not to smile. Yes, this was about as he expected it would be.

"Tala." He looked up as a young journalist he recognised from a sports magazine won the floor. "Exactly how long have you been gay? Has it always been this way or is it only recent?"

"Depends what you consider recent." He shrugged. "My fiancé is my first and only boyfriend, and I began dating him over two years ago. Previous to that I dated women, though I must admit it never really felt right."

"So Tala," a woman called. "Exactly how long have you known your fiancé? Did you just meet one day and it clicked or have you known each other longer?"

"Longer. I've known him for 20 years, which is my entire life."

"So is it one of the boys from the Abbey?"

"He is, yes."

"So were you friends?"

"We were more like brothers. We always looked out for each other. Just that one day I realised I was in love with him."

"And how did you react to that?"

"I went with my first impulse."

"Which was?"

Tala smirked. "Let me put it this way. There's a river in Egypt called De-Nile."

That caused a few laughs, lightening the mood though the electric tension still clung to the air. Tala let out a long breath. He knew it was coming, the final confession. It was only a matter of time and he had already committed himself. There was no turning back from here.

"So what made you stop denying it?"

Tala smiled faintly. "Well, things got really uncomfortable around him to the point I avoided him and him me. One day he approached me and confessed his love for me, which made me snap out of my denial and I just walked up, flung him against the closest wall and kissed him for all he was worth."

"And you've been together since then?"

"Yes."

"And the relationship must be working if you're planning on getting married."

"It is, yes." He shrugged. "We've had our rough patches and lovers tiffs, but I just can't imagine not being with him, so when he asked me to marry him the only answer was yes."

"And when is the wedding?"

"The dates not set yet, but it'll probably be a small private ceremony." He smirked, eyeing them. "Otherwords, you guys aren't invited."

"Does your fiancé know you're making your relationship public?"

"He does, yes. It was a mutual agreement. We knew that by my wearing the engagement ring it would eventually be spotted, so we discussed it and agreed this was the best option."

"Are you afraid of public ridicule?"

"Afraid, no. Expecting it, yes." Tala shrugged. "A lot of fan girls are going to be ticked off, but that's expected. They had better leave my fiancé alone or they'll find themselves in more trouble than they can imagine. Nobody touches my property and gets away with it."

Bryan sniggered.

A journalist for a tabloid won the floor. "Tala, are you planning to make a public appearance with your fiancé anytime soon?"

Here we go… "I already do."

A stunned silence, the original man blinking. "Is he here now?"

"Yes." Tala jerked a thumb toward Bryan, biting back his grin. "He's sitting right there."

"You just couldn't resist playing with them, could you?"

Tala bit back a smile as he sipped his drink, sighing as genuine remorsefulness slid onto his handsome features. "I'm afraid I've probably started a head hunt, Kai. They're going to be studying all the footage and photographs of this Championship looking for any other relationships. It's only going to be a matter of time until they find out about Ray."

"We know." Kai shrugged, reaching out and slapping Tala on the shoulder. "But what can you do. Some things just happen." He leant closer. "And I had better be invited to this private ceremony."

"Two weeks, Wednesday, I'll give you directions to the location." Tala looked up, eyes scanning the group as he sighed. "We've all come a long way over these last couple of years. We're older, cuter, and in some cases a hell of a lot taller."

"You forget stupider."

Tala shot him a wry look. "That had better not have been directed at me."

"Don't worry cous, for once it wasn't." Kai looked up, scowling. "Now if you'll excuse me, it looks as if Tyson has managed to find himself a glass of champagne that I need to confiscate."

Tala chuckled as he watched Kai stalk away, the younger sighing and closing his eyes. It felt like a large weight was off his chest, though he knew that more problems no doubt lay on the horizon. He thanked Voltaire for the money he would need to pay the lawyers, as Tala could already see disgusted parents trying to sue him just because their child had seen him blade and wanted to grow up 'to be a great Beyblader like him'.

"Daydreaming again?"

Tala shook his head, looking up and meeting Bryan's eye. "I thought you'd still be talking with Ki."

"No, he and Yin needed to have some private time." Bryan shrugged, handing him a cake that Tala was quite partial too. Bryan absently stroked his goatee as he eyed the group. "We should have invited Panas. That way he and McGregor could have some 'private time'."

"Mm." He looked up. "So I take it Ki and Yin made for a closet?"

"They wanted to have a long chat regarding coming out." Bryan sipped his drink. "Now that they're married they feel that there is little the government can do outside of exile. Not to mention that because they're neko-jin, if the government does exile them, they can accuse them of racism."

"They'd need financial backing if they want to pull that one off."

"They know that, and already have it."

Tala's azure eyes narrowed as he looked up at his fiancé wearily. "Bryan."

"What?" Bryan smirked. "I've got money. I'm allowed to help my friends."

"Ki's a friend?"

"He is. Why? Jealous?"

"Yeah right." Tala prodded him. "I'm going to marry you. And personally, I think the media is wrong in saying Ki and I are too close to call. I'm hotter than he'll ever be."

"Don't count him out yet. Kid's still got a few more years to finish filling out, losing the puppy fat and kitteness."

"You have a point." Tala gazed toward the Blade Breakers. "Oh look, it would seem Tyson and Kai are going to have an all out brawl."

"Again?" Bryan searched his pockets. "I know I have my camera here somewhere…"

Tala laughed, sliding an arm around him. "You left it sitting beside your plate, my love, and I picked it up. You got distracted with chasing Ian with the butterknife. Though I must admit that I agree with your argument that a blunt object would do more damage than a sharp one. It is possible to cut yourself with a sharp edge and not bleed, yet a blunt object bleeds, bruises, infects…"

"Exactly." Bryan nodded toward the other table. "Looks like Minx has finally given up on McGregor. She doesn't seem to be hitting on him today."

"Yes, I noticed that. I was meant to tell you earlier but I forgot. She hasn't tried anything for a couple of days." Tala looked up at him. "And should you really be standing up for this long? And I'm positive the nurse at the hospital said no alcohol."

"For 12 hours, and it's been over that. Stop worrying." Bryan's eyes sparkled with faint amusement, only to vanish in a scowl at the sound of a cry. "There it goes again. All that damned kid ever wants is food and attention."

"That's what kids do, Bryan, especially at Honesty's age. Though it is true we weren't like that, but that's because if we cried, we got kicked."

"Mm." Bryan frowned thoughtfully, looking down at him. "It's a lot different out here, isn't it."

"Yeah." Tala smiled. "A lot different. No one making choices for us, no needing to watch our backs, people who accept us for who we are… As for the whole surveillance thing, it certainly prepared us for the media."

"How about fan clubs?" Ray chuckled as he joined them, grinning. "I heard that the head of the official Tala Ivanov Fan Club has formed a connected group called the 'Society of Fans Against Tala Marrying'."

Bryan snorted. "You're shitting me."

"Dead serious. Saw it on the news before we came."

Tala rolled his eyes and side, rubbing his eyes. "Damned fan girls."

"Oh, did I forget to mention." Bryan prodded him. "I've got one death threat already. No hate mail yet though."

"There should be a law against fan girls. All they do is cause misery and try to pair me up with everyone in fan fics, art and fanlistings, yet when it really happens they throw wobblies and form societies." Tala growled, taking a long drink from his glass. "Why can't they go bother somebody else."

"What's the fun in that?"

"Shut up, Bryan."

Ray smiled, eyes drifting around the room before he groaned. "Great. Tyson and Kai are fighting again. They promised me they would form a truce."

"It's after the Finals, Kitten. Every man for himself."

"I guess." Ray shook his head. "I'd better go help Max and Kenny stop them from killing each other. Catch you guys later."

Tala waited until Ray was out of hearing range before he turned toward his fiancé. "Kitten?"

"What he is." Bryan finished his drink, noting Tala's look and sighing, sliding an arm around his loves shoulders. "As soon as we're married, we're going on a long vacation where there are no neko-jin to make your corrupted little mind wander, okay?"

"My mind wander?"

"You're the one who makes him and Kai imagine me naked, Tal."

Tala blinked. "I don't… do I?"

"Want the list of times." Bryan pulled him closer, kissing his temple. "Now stop worrying and feed your fiancé."

"Get it yourself."

"And you say I'm charming."

"Screw you, Bryan."

"That's what you do, yes."

"Prick."


Gee, it's almost like this fic is rounding down, isn't it? Oh, and for a bit of trivia, the second scene I cut went right after this one. It was also a sex scene, and featured Kevin/Lee (the first one being Ray/Bryan). Neither scene was needed and slowed down the pace too much, so they went. I've still got them though. They're in my 'junk' folder.