Hellloooooo everyone!
Where the hell has two months gone?! Like my other fics, I swear I updated like last week...
Sorry for the delay. Same excuse as usual. My job is...awful.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I was so happy to read your reactions to the last chapter. Yes, it is wonderful to have our two favorite boys coming back together.
I really hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Warning! There is a lemon at the very end of this chapter. If you don't want to read it, go ahead and keep on scrolling.
A big, special thanks to Luxah for helping me with the scene between the guys and Ben at the start and Aoba and Shou at the very end!
Without further ado, a chapter I think a lot of you have been waiting for and I really hope you like it!
Chapter 19 – Bye Bye, Benny Boy.
A bandaged head jumped as the door flew open.
His amber eyes narrowed fearfully as four familiar faces walked in with an ominous feel.
He didn't appreciate the threatening vibe. Especially once again from the one who had put him in here in the first place.
"What the hell do you guys want?" he snarled as he forced himself to sit up, pushing down the shooting pain in his head.
Ray's top lip spasmed and curled as his slit eyes slit further.
Before he got a word in, Tyson jumped out from behind him with a cocky smile plastered to his face.
"We're here to give you your official notice of dismal!" He about shouted with a childlike glee.
Ben's narrowed and battle-ready eyes blinked.
He choked on a groan. His head hurt too much for this one in particular.
"Oh, I see...the three of you think you're so big now that I'm in a hospital bed..." he growled before letting out a smug smirk, "My apologies, the four of you..." he added, sending glance to the runt of the group hugging his laptop.
Tyson's cocky smirk didn't waver, though his blue brow did raise up to the hem of his baseball cap. "What're you apologizing for?"
Ray held out an arm to stop him from asking more questions, they weren't there to play stupid mind games with him again.
"It doesn't matter what he's sorry for, because it won't matter or fix anything. We expect you stay far, far away from all of us." He narrowed his own eyes down at the one who seemed to be the major cause of his current mess.
Ben forced an eye roll.
"Oh. Here we are again. Somehow I'm the bad guy in all this." He scoffed, "but don't worry your petty little heads. I want nothing more to do with your shit show of a team..."
"Good, then we're in agreement then." Ray said without really batting an eye.
Tyson on the other hand seemed to get riled up at the dig.
"Call it want you want, but you're the one that practically begged to be on this team!"
Ben dared to let out an amused little chuckle, happy someone took the bait.
"Begged? You needed me! Still do. But looks like you're willing to throw everything all way over a silly disagreement that's gone too far..."
"You call putting the moves on Ray silly?!" Max about shrieked in pure shock.
"How dense can you be, or did he hit your head into the ground too hard you forgot what actually happened?"
Ben did a double take at the usually placid blonde.
So Ray did tell them...
"Oh, please! You really think I would have done that if I wasn't given signals the feeling was mutual?" he spat.
"Well clearly they weren't, don't know what signals you were reading there, Benny boy." Tyson seemed to scoff before he turned to Ray and held out a hand for a high-five, actually getting one just for the sake of him putting Ben's skull through the ground.
"I told you no, I said to stop. Unless everyone in the god damn village has corn in their god damn ears." Ray rolled his still slit eyes.
"I hate repeating myself, but since you didn't get it the first time. Stay. Away. Better yet, just go and be gone. Nobody wants you around here to start with, and nobody will care if you just pack up and leave."
Ben grit his teeth.
"I'm not going anywhere. This is my home as much as it is yours." He bit stubbornly. "And you and your pathetic friends, who don't even belong here, don't make up the whole village. Not even close! I think you'll find more people will have my back than you and your princess, again, who isn't even one of us, you've got another thing coming!"
Ray took a threatening step forward, Max and Tyson grabbing hold of his arms as they saw the hand fixing to raise at Ben.
"He's not worth it man."
Ray stepped back some, letting them pull him back as his anger flared.
Another jab at Kai, this boy never seemed to know when to quit.
"And what exactly do you plan on telling them that will get them to be on your side? By telling them how you constantly harassed a pregnant man, how you felt up one of your closest friends? And they might not be like us, but they're my teammates and family and that makes them welcome here!"
Ben sat himself up taller.
"That's your story. Wanna hear mine? An egotistical loser got knocked up and couldn't handle being replaced. Got jealous. Cried about what a bad guy I am, but all I did was try to keep his team going. Not my fault he went off the rails. Must be the hormones, poor thing..." he smirked. "All the while poor Ray has to deal with it all and found his eyes wandering..."
"The only egotistical loser I see is you, if you really think Ray would start looking at you that way. He's been eyeing Kai since this team formed dumbass." Tyson had the urge to stick his tongue out at him, really stick it to him, though kept his appendage inside his mouth.
Ray let out a sigh, a deep one at that, as he pulled himself out of Tyson and Max's hold.
As much as he wanted to keep fighting it, denying it, maybe his eyes had wandered where they didn't need to go.
That, was on him and him alone.
"And still yet, I told you to STOP! I said NO, Ben and you carried on anyways. It doesn't matter if I looked, if I might have seemed like I wanted you. I never once said yes, or wanted you to kiss me or touch me like that! There's a big difference between the two." His voice boomed out, baring his fangs.
Ben only seemed to enjoy it, despite the noise sending a piercing pain in his head.
"You didn't say no until the ball was already rolling...the little noises you made before that screamed nothing but yes..." he smirked harder, "or how about our night at the bar where you couldn't keep your hands off me? Draping yourself on me?" He added before he chuckled again, "I could have fucked you sooooo easily that night, but I was too much of a gentlemen..."
Ray shook his head some, this was what he was wanting to avoid happening.
More mind games.
"Guess you could have, and I would have deserved the shit storm that brought on. Do you want me to say thank you because you're such a 'gentleman' and didn't? What's even the point of bringing that night up? Just to try and shove it back in my face that I trusted the wrong person through this whole thing? That when I hit my lowest, the only thing you could possibly think about getting out of it all was you fucking me?!" His voice rose again.
Ben shrugged.
"Yet again, I'm being made out to be a villain. People fall out of love, Ray. Not your fault you did...you were drawn to me and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a tiny bit curious and interested at the time. You know how it is...hard times do that to a person. All I wanted was to be there for you, like old times. If anyone was taken advantage of, if was me."
"I never fell out of love with Kai, I still love him. Always would, people hit highs and lows in relationships, yet how would you know anything about that? The man you wanted is off and married, happily at that, wouldn't even look at you twice." Ray smirked a little as he began pacing a little where he stood and pretended to be in thought.
"Oh, you were taken advantage of were you? Let's see, whose bright idea was it to just jump right into the captain's chair barely a week into being here? Oh, that's right, you. Who was the one constantly making jabs, making Kai feel worthless through this whole thing? Oh, once again. You. Hn, let's see here. If anything, I'd say you haven't nearly lost as much as you have gained from doing what you have, what we allowed you to do to our team dynamic and me personally. But, let's all shed a tear for poor Ben because he got shut down twice by two men who just... Didn't want him because he's as stale as a piece of week old bread."
Ben's smirk faded in to a furious snarl as he shot himself up. He didn't care about the pain in his head. It was nothing compared to the nerves Ray had jabbed a knife in to.
"You watch your damn mouth..." he let out in a low rumble.
"Now why the hell should I?" Ray asked through a fanged smirk.
As if destiny had a sense of humor, the door slid open.
Another set of amber eyes stepped him and stopped again just as quickly, taking in with surprise the scene before him and processing it.
"...Oh." The voice let out calmly, "looks like I wasn't the only one with an axe to grind..."
Ray's smirk grew as he stepped back from Ben a little, "No, by all means."
Shou gave a thankful nod before letting himself in a little.
He stopped and folded his arms.
"Oouf, you've been in the wars, huh buddy?"
Ben blinked at him a few times, his bandaged head pounding harder with any little movement.
Shou said he had an axe to grind, yet he was standing in front of him instead of the others.
Why?
What had he ever done to Shou?!
"It's just an injury from training, I'll live." He waved off almost arrogantly, he had told Tao that was what happened and he wasn't about to change his story to Shou.
Making eye contact with the others, he wondered why they were still standing there at all.
"A bit of privacy would be nice guys." He bit out.
"What for? So you can grab at Shou?" Ray seemed to mock back at him, his own arms having come around his chest.
Shou shook his head.
"Yeh, we're all friends here, Benny!" He said before his smile turned dark like no one was used to seeing.
"At least I thought so..."
Ben about jumped out of his own skin.
"What're you talking about Shou? Of course we are." He said in a nervous chuckle.
Oh god, did he know?!
Why would he know though?
Wasn't like he and Ray seemed close, after all princess's running off to Aoba to start with, wouldn't make sense that the four of them were the best of chums.
Shou gestured around him, "Well...I won't ruin their fun by explaining their side. But it turns out Kai and Ray isn't the only couple you've tried to come between, is it?"
Ben's eyes widened considerably.
"What're you talking about Shou? Seriously, my head hurts enough as it is, let's not try and play these guessing games." He nervously chuckled again despite his skin being covered in a cold sweat.
Shou shook his head. "All these years I brushed my husband off saying he was being too sensitive. That it was just your personality and you meant no harm..." he growled, "It took you almost destroying another relationship and literally putting a life at risk for it to come out you tried to do the same to me!" he bit, his own fang making a very rare appearance.
Ben's mouth moved yet no sound came out, aside from his stuttering and fumbling over his own words that he couldn't seem to get out of his mouth fast enough.
As handsome as Shou was, as balanced as he usually was, he was also dangerous. He knew that, it's what he admired about him for so long.
Yet, he never wanted to be on the receiving end of his fury.
"You really like to just try and stick your dick in places it shouldn't go, don't ya?" Tyson's cocky voice filled over the stuttering.
Ray shot him a look over his shoulder, now wasn't the time. This was between these two.
"I'm just saying." Tyson shrugged his shoulders, trying not to let the look that almost mirrored Kai's own glare bother him so much.
Who knew that after them being together so long made them almost act like each other?
Somewhere, somehow, Ben found the right words he was looking for.
"Because he is too sensitive! What is it with the men around here who get knocked up? They all just turn and roll over, expecting everyone around them to just bend to their every damn whim."
Or... Maybe those weren't the right words...
Shou's hand twitched as his claws started to come out.
"You told him our wedding wasn't going to happen. Set him up to start stupid fights between us. Told him you'd spread rumors Mei wasn't mine when he got pregnant with her..." he listed off.
The mouths of everyone in the room dropped.
What a piece of shit...
"And exactly why would I do that? You should know me better than that!" Ben defended, the cold sweat on his skin sending an icy chill down his back.
Shou's pupils slit to dots as his clawed hand flew out, gripping his old friend by the throat.
"Don't lie to me!"he roared in a way that made every soul in the room freeze and tremble. "I ignored the silly accusations of you stirring fights. Ignored his warnings that you were a piece of shit who couldn't keep their feelings to themselves. I wish he'd told me the rest back then. I would have shut you down before you had a chance to do it to someone else. My husband could breathe easy once you decided to leave. If you had any sense, you'd do it again..."
Ben felt his eyes begin to sting. Everything finally coming back to bite him in the ass. And even worse, he could feel himself losing Shou. Even the friendship he'd been forced to settle with.
"He never deserved you!" he fired out with a scratchy voice, "You were so much better than him, why would you even pick him?! I was right there in front of you!" Ben yelled through the air that was being stolen from his lungs, his heart racing in his chest so hard it hurt.
His hands wrapped around Shou's wrists, his own claws digging into the other man's skin as he trembled slightly, but didn't try to fight him off.
Shou gripped his throat tighter, feeling his eyes water as well.
Aoba had been right all these years and not once had he listened.
He really had cared for Ben, as a friend. A close one. He thought the crush he'd had on him faded long ago.
But it turned out he'd tormented the man he loved, while being so skillfully two faced in front of him.
He'd had no idea...
"He's more of a man I'll ever be. And it goes without saying he's five times the man you are..." he growled out raspily. "I'm just lucky he's allowing me to spend my life with him, and I'll be making it up to him for this for a long time to come..." he drifted off as he refilled his lungs.
"I want you to listen and listen very well. I love him. I always have. I told you this when you told me how you felt...I never wanted to hurt you, but you told me you understood and I stupidly believed you! So here it is again! I have never felt that way about you. I have never loved you. And you can bet your ass I never will! If you so much as look at him or my family in a way I don't like, I'll kill you..." he roared, "and since you're so in to home-wrecking, know that if that baby comes out anything but a picture of perfect health, I'll kill you after Ray does as well!"
Although Ray was applauding Shou for all he said, all he was doing, he stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder.
As much as the prick deserved everything, killing him right now wouldn't have the same impact as it would if things went wrong with the baby.
"Alright Shou, let him go. The poor sob can't breathe." He said, sounding as neutral as one could, as if he really didn't care if Shou actually choked the life out of Ben right then and there.
Shou's head snapped round wanting to take a bite at whoever was behind him, only to put his fangs away when it sunk in who it was.
His hand loosened and let Ben, face unreadable, fall back on the bed.
Ray popped a hip out, putting his hand on it as Ben rubbed at his neck and choked on the air coming back into his lungs.
"If I were you, I'd listen to the advice I'm about to give you..." he said coldly as he leaned forward.
"Run... Because no one here is going to stop either of us from killing you." He said coolly. "Stay here until you're fit to leave and then go."
Ben lifted his heartbroken eyes to him and tried as hard as he could to fire up something that resembled strength in them.
It was the least he could do, because finally, the white flag was lifted as he stayed quiet.
Ray gave a nod. That was more like it.
He turned on his heel and head to the door. It was all said and done now.
Or so he thought...
As they all began to file out, Tyson hunched his shoulders, fighting the urge to have the last word.
He lost that fight.
"And Ben..."
The remaining members of the BladeBreakers froze.
Ben's already defeated eyes lifted to him irritably.
Tyson threw out a gloved hand and pointed dramatically.
"You know, you think you're all that, but you got nothing on any of us. If you're going to shoot your mouth off, make sure you have the goods to back it all up!" he scolded, "You put our team down, but when you see us taking the gold, you'll realize you missed out! And when you do see us, remember this. There is and always will be only one space on this team for an arrogant, cocky, stubborn, overbearing, overconfident tyrant, and that title belongs to Kai!"
As he finished his speech, he gave a strong, dismissive nod in his direction before looking back at his teammates for praise.
They all tried not to slap their own faces.
"C'mon, T. Let's go." Ray coaxed, not wanting to even look at Ben anymore.
Tyson took the hint, turning and storming out, allowing Ray to close the door.
"I sure told him, huh guys!?" Tyson grinned, wanting praise for his valiant support for his captain.
"That was...yeh, that was beautiful, Tyson..." Max went along.
Ray let out a smirk.
Weirdly, it was.
"It was. Kai's gonna be touched when I tell him."
Tyson's face fell.
"Can't we go see him now?" he asked in a whine.
Ray shook his head.
"He needs to rest, guys." he replied firmly, "I promise we'll arrange for you all to come spend some time with him. It's been a while, huh?"
His own voice trailed off as it hit him and the others.
When was the last time they had spent any time with him?
"Yeh..." Max agreed as his puppy eyes went to the floor. He'd missed him. And yet he hadn't been to see him in forever.
Rei sensed the atmosphere in his cubs dropping and waved his hands.
"It's fine! I'll figure it out with him. Make sure you get to see him plenty from now, okay? But in the meantime, he needs to rest up so the baby gets better, right?"
Max nodded, perking up.
"Did they say when he might get out?"
Rei's own feeling dropped.
That all depended on how the little guy fared.
"No...not yet..."
Max instantly brightened, his blue eyes sparkling like the ocean.
"Well...while we're waiting for him to get well enough for visitors, there must be a bunch of stuff we can do to help! Like...like...get the baby's room ready or start getting the things you need together!"
Tyson gasped, slapping his hands to his face before he shook them like a pageant queen and danced on the tips of his toes.
"Oh my god...guuuuyyyys! BABY SHOWER!"
Max let out a squeal himself, joining hands with his bestie as they both jumped.
"Baby shower! Baby shower!"
Ray shook his head, but couldn't help but crack a wide, fanged smile.
Trust these guys to make everything feel better.
Remind him to look at the positives and remember there was something to really look forward to.
A baby shower would be great. It be a good way to celebrate, make a fuss of Kai and bring everyone together.
"OHHH!" Tyson shrieked excitedly as he stopped jumping, "You guys gonna find out the gender!? Could do like a gender reveal!" he asked hopefully.
He was dying to know if it was a dude or a dudette. Would he need to buy a blue starter beyblade set or a pink one?!
Ray shook his head.
"We don't do that here. We've no way of knowing what it is til it comes out."
"Aoba knows."
They turned their heads, forgetting for a moment Shou was even still there.
His arms were folded with a sly smirk on his face.
Rei's jaw dropped.
"He does?! How?!"
Shou rolled his eyes.
"They just did the fancy scan thing from the outside didn't they?"
Ray finally clicked.
"And he saw!? He knows if we're having a son or a daughter!?"
Shou let out a chuckle at the look on his face.
This was more like it...
"Yep. First thing he told me when I came in. He wouldn't tell me though. He and Tao are sworn to secrecy."
Rei pouted.
Surely they, the parents, should be the ones that knew!
Or at least be asked if they wanted to know!
...Did he want to know!?
Would Kai want to know?
Shou's smirk grew at the look of deep contemplation on his face.
"I think he's checking on Kai one more time before we go home, I was going to go get him now. You coming?"
The three younger teammates turned to pouting too. That wasn't fair. Shou got to poke his head in, but they didn't?
That was some bullshit...
Ray read their minds.
"We're just going to get Aoba and say goodnight. I promise guys, I'll work something out..." he told them in a firm voice that made Shou proud. Because that was a papa's voice.
They still huffed.
"Fine..." Tyson continued to pout, "What about training? Were we going to cancel tomorrow?"
Rei frowned.
"Hell no! We've got a tournament to win! You want to rub it in Ben's face and win gold? Then we'd better step things up!"
They nodded in agreement, pout vanishing and looking more fiery.
Tyson saluted him.
"Understood, daddy-o! See you bright and early then!"
Ray waved them off before it hit him.
He'd promised Kai he'd be back first thing...
Shit.
He was going to let him down again already.
He walked quietly with Shou to the familiar hospital, knocking gently before pushing the door open.
Sure enough, Aoba was sat next to Kai, still awake and tucked in.
He sat up as soon as he clocked him.
"Hey!" he greeted in a surprised but happy voice that made Ray's chest ache in a good way, "I thought you went home."
"I'm about to. Bumped in to Shou and got chatting. Ya know, dad stuff." he lied.
He wasn't about to mention he-who-must-not-be-named. Even if it was kicking him out the village.
He'd leave the gender thing alone for now, too. Way too much for him in one day.
"Yeh! Sorry I kept him so long." Shou backed up.
Kai and Aoba visibly gushed at the notion of the veteran and soon to be papa's talking it out.
"What kind of stuff?" Aoba asked.
Ray and Shou glanced at each other and panicked.
"Um...oh ya know, just a bit of everything. Diapers, dealing with restless nights..." Ray stuttered and made up before Shou took the reigns.
He knew how to win over momma hens.
"Yeh...and how you can never forget the moment your child makes eye contact with you for the first time...life changing, really."
Kai and Aoba's eyes went starry.
Ray cleared his throat.
"So um...Kai? I know I said I'd be back first thing. But I think maybe I should lead training...Would it be all right to come after? Around lunch time? We could even have a little lunch date if you want?" he blurted out, trying to sweeten the blow.
After months of him going off over nothing, he was mentally begging him not to cry.
Kai shifted in his seat, clearly trying not to smile.
"Yeh. Sounds good. Make sure you don't let them slack off, huh?"
Ray opened his mouth before he stopped
Really? He was fine with it?
"Great...well...in that case, I'll message you when I'm done? Around noon?"
"Sure!" Kai nodded back, skin glowing.
Shou smirked again, turning his attention to Aoba.
"You ready to go?"
Aoba was busy wriggling in his seat too.
"Yeh...you boys wait for me outside a second? I'll be right out!"
They nodded, Ray stepping forward to plant a bashful kiss on Kai's forehead.
"Night. See you tomorrow."
"Night..."
The moment the two papa's stepped out the room, Aoba let out a quiet squeal and gently slapped Kai's arm.
THIS was more like it!
He wanted to see this for ages. The two of them stupidly in love and waiting for their baby to come in to the world. No drama, no tears, no arguing.
"You're gonna have a daaaaaaaaaate!" he sang at him as he continued to gently slap and poke at his arm playfully.
Kai's face erupted in a wide, coy grin.
"Shut uuupp..." he protested, blushing madly.
They were close to becoming parents and engaged. Having lunch together wasn't exactly an extraordinary occurrence. And in a hospital was hardly anything romantic.
But something about Ray using the word 'date' had turned them both in to gushing teenage girls.
"I can't wait to hear all about it!" Aoba continued on excitedly as he stood himself up. It really was time they left to go get the kids, "I'll be back in the morning to check on you. Make sure you drink that water I gave you, okay?"
Kai nodded at him, watching him as he made his way to the door.
"I will. Night Aoba...and thank you."
"What for?" he asked as he looked over his shoulder, hand on the handle.
Kai hesitated. For a million things.
For always making sure their baby was all right. For being there for him every single time he ran crying. For letting him stay in his home when he needed escape. For taking his side against Ben when no one else would.
...For forgiving his unforgivable indiscretion.
And still being here yet again, right by his and Ray's side when they needed him.
He really was one hell of a guy. Shou was a lucky man.
And he was a very lucky friend.
Kai let a breath out his nose and shook his head.
"Just...everything."
Aoba let out a soft smile.
"Of course." he answered, taking himself out and gently shutting the door behind him.
It was that wonderful time of night when all was quiet. Mei was fast asleep. Yi was out for the count.
Shou and Aoba lay in bed, the lamps still on while they both read.
Or, one of them at least.
Shou was staring at the pages while his mind wandered over...everything.
He had enough and set the book aside, turning his head to look over his husband.
The guilt was still raw in him for not knowing about the horrible bullying his husband had suffered from someone that he had always considered a good friend.
For not listening to the issues he did bring up.
His husband was never exactly described as the strong type. Not compared to him, broad and more physically muscular. Or like Ray and Lee, fighting tooth and nail in a bey dish.
He was always quieter, caring, softer spoken and gentle. His choice of work, too.
He was the village mama.
He adored babies and children. Adored his work of seeing the women and men in the village's bellies getting bigger and helping them through it all. Being there to see them born and then watching them grow up around him.
He'd seen the devastation in his eyes when they found out there was a chance they wouldn't be able to produce their own. Back before they got married.
Of course Shou would never have held that against him or resented him if that were the cards they'd been dealt. But he knew Aoba had put on a brave face following that talk with Tao.
He could only imagine how hard it would be, to find out the one thing you wanted might not happen. All the while spending every day helping other people living your own broken dream.
Thankfully, fate was kind.
He'd never forget how he looked when they found out he'd caught...
Or the second time they were blessed.
He doted on their two children. As did Shou. But it was Aoba that had been the one with the hardship of carrying and delivering them both.
All that, combined with him handling Ben doing what he did all by himself, never letting him get the better of him just proved it.
He was stronger than anyone he knew.
He was amazing.
Ben was so, so wrong.
If anything, it was he who didn't deserve him. Not the other way around.
Aoba turned his head as he felt eyes on him.
"You all right?" he asked.
Shou shifted closer to him, taking the book gently from Aoba's hands and setting it aside before placing his hand on his thigh.
"I'm...I'm so sorry. For all that happened."
Aoba smiled and waved him off.
They'd been through all this.
"I told you, it's all right."
Shou's eyes bore in to him deeper.
"No, it isn't. A real man fights for his mate. Stands by them."
Aoba's face softened, feeling the guilt coming off him.
It was over now. He didn't need to apologize. Ben was the asshole, not him.
He reached out and touched his face in an attempt to send the message it was really all right.
"You are all man..." he snickered, hoping to lighten the mood.
"I'm your man..." he answered back with a low rumble in his voice, leaning in and pressing their lips together.
Aoba's eyes widened before he relaxed in to it, reciprocating and letting it run its course before they pulled away, allowing himself then to get giddy and bashful.
"Shou...what's with you tonight?" he grinned as Shou moved to nip at his neck.
"We haven't made love in a while..."
Aoba bit his lip, rolling his head back to let him get at his neck more.
"It's not a special occasion...and it's a work night..." he said playfully.
Shou snorted.
"Six years of marriage is all it takes to reach that stage?"
"Six years of marriage and two kids..."
Shou's hand reached to take hold of his chin.
"And I love you for every moment and for giving me those children..."
Pushing his chin, he forced his head to turn and captured his lips again.
Aoba let out a light moan, melting in to it.
What had brought all this on?
Actually, who cared?
With everything that had happened. All the drama, even if it wasn't specifically theirs, the whole saga with Ben reopened some old wounds.
Ben wanted his husband. And despite the threats and the promises to sabotage them, he never genuinely believed he would succeed.
Shou was and would always be his.
He'd known in his gut since they were spotty school boys.
With Aoba's light moan, Shou's own, deeper, one followed suit as he pressed harder into the kiss. Keeping it gentle, he ran his hand down Aoba's arm, guiding him closer to him until their sides were pressed close enough it was like Aoba was already on his lap.
Shou quickly shifted over the top of him, breaking the kiss and cupping his husband's face in both hands. "I love you." He said firmly, holding Aoba's eyes with his.
A flush broke over Aoba's nose as he stared back at him, feeling the warmth the slightly rough skin
of his carpenter's hands on his face. "I love you too..." he answered as a small lump began to form in his throat.
Shou smiled a little at him, the look in his eyes changing as he leaned back down. Going for the neck, Aoba's weakness. Nipping gently, his hands running up and down his husbands arms. Leaving barely there touches as his fingertips ghosted over his skin.
The ghostly touches made him shudder uncontrollably, his skin raising up in goosebumps as his chest immediately started to vibrate softly.
Shou hummed against his neck, holding his own purr back for the moment just to revel in the sounds of Aoba's. Slowly inching his way further down his neck to his collarbone, his fingers finding the hem of his shirt. Only breaking away to slip the shirt over him, letting him get out of it before he attacked again. Every movement still held the gentle, slowness to what he had set. Give him a night to remember. Give him what he deserved.
As the sudden slight chill of the air met his bare skin, Aoba eagerly went and pulled at Shou's in return, wanting to see his man...the one that really was all man.
The moment Shou's shirt was tossed away, his hands grabbed at Aoba's thighs under the sheets. Pulling him down away from the headboard, shifting himself back down to his lower legs, and tossed back the sheets that were tangled around them. Kissing his lips, down his chin and neck, across his heaving chest. Shou planted hot, wet, kisses across every inch of skin he could. Groping and massaging Aoba's thighs, until they slipped up the pant legs of his shorts. Stopping short at the hem of them with his lips, he quickly glanced up to lock eyes with him again. "You're beautiful." His low, deep, voice rolled out of him.
Aoba's head rolled a little on the bed as he began to pant, His braided hair disheveled after being dragged down the bed. He loved nothing more than when he man handled him. Registering what he'd said, he flinched a little and covered his stomach with his hands. He hadn't been quite so strict with the exercise plan to get rid of the post-baby jiggle...
"No." Shou breathed hard, gently removing his hands away. "Don't do that, you're still beautiful. No matter what." He placed another kiss against his stomach, where Aoba had tried to cover himself. Inching lower with his lips, slipping his fingers in the hems of Aoba's shorts and gave one swift tug to them to get them off. "And you're all mine, always will be."
Aoba melted and relaxed, batting away the worry about the stretch marks and pooch. Feeling the clothing being pulled off him, he spread his legs to settle either side of him and arch his back for him. "Then come get what's yours..." he smirked.
"Patience, we have all night." Shou smirked back, showing his fangs. Ducking down, he took him into his mouth. Working him the way Aoba loved, with the bits of teeth grazing against his skin. Gentle and firm strokes with his tongue.
Aoba's mouth gaped as a stuttered, cracked moan shot from him, hands instantly going to the raven hair at the back of his head.
Hell, not if he kept doing it like that, they didn't...
"Oh God...Just like that..." he panted as his thighs tensed.
Obeying, Shou continued to work him until he knew he was dragging too close to the end. Releasing Aoba from the confines of his mouth, he licked his lips and shifted over him for the lube tucked away in the drawer of the bedside table. Coming back he kissed him hard, lasting a mere second, and shuffled back down between his legs. Parting them, getting his fingers coated, and slipped in the first digit.
With his clammy, lightly tanned skin burning flushed with fever, he spread his legs more, reaching down and gently wrapping his fingers lightly around Shou's wrist as he felt his finger push inside him. He ached for him. Needing to feel him claim and mark him again.
As Shou pumped his finger into him, slipping in the second one when he felt he could handle it, he laid out flat against the bed. His head right between Aoba's thighs, kissing the fleshy parts and biting into them with a more hungry aggression than what he had been doing before. Though his fingers continued to work in the slow push and pull he had set, twisting and scissoring him open.
Aoba's eyes rolled as his head lifted off the bed, biting in to his lip as a drawn out moan escaped him. The last thing he needed was to wake one of the kids. Unable to control himself, his hand that been on Shou's wrist moved to his rock hard erection, allowing himself a few long and slow strokes to add to the already high intensity.
With a few, deeper and shallow thrusts of his fingers, having worked a hickey into Aoba's thigh, Shou pulled everything back. Getting himself out of the last of his clothing, coating himself in the lube he had acquired. Taking up Aoba's left leg, he shifted towards his entrance and eased himself in. Giving his husband time to adjust to him, feeling the tight muscles relax around him before he started to move. Keeping his hold on Aoba's leg, supporting himself with his other hand down on the other one beside him. Once more working in slow, deep, thrusts as a grunt escaped his lips.
Aoba's amber eyes widened as they automatically hazed and slit as his husband moved inside him just how he loved. They traveled over his broad, sculpted and sun kissed body. How lucky he was. He wanted him as deep as he could get him. Hearing the grunt, he shuddered again. He wanted to make him feel just as good. He clenched his muscles to make himself tighter, letting out his own wild groan.
"Take me..."
A hiss escaped him as his husband's insides strangled him, his fingers digging into the flesh of his legs harder. Pulling Aoba closer to him, bending over his body and pulling the leg in his hold over his forearm, he got in deeper. Moving harder inside him, trapping Aoba's cock between them and feeling it rub against his own stomach as he thrust harder into him. Panting, his back muscles coiling as his arms flexed, he worked as hard as he could. Pressing their lips back together roughly, his tongue diving straight in.
Aoba's let out a desperate moan in to the kiss, his hands clawed at the back of his head and down his back, his body moving with the harder thrusts. His nose breathing in the thick haze of pheromones polluting the air. Feeling the strokes of Shou's stomach and the spot inside him he was reaching with the changed angle, he broke the kiss and cried out, no longer able to think rationally or care how loud he was being.
Another grunt broke out of Shou's, rising from deep within his gut and rolling out of him. He gripped harder, leaving indents in Aoba's flesh, putting his all into it as his hips worked on their own. Driving not only his husband wild, but himself as well. It had been a long time since they had done this. Latching himself on the exposed neck, he let his fangs sink in a little.
At the sharp, painfully pleasurable sensation of his fangs sinking in, his eyes slit harder as he let out a hiss.
"Shou..." his strangled voice strained out.
He bit down harder, just before he could draw blood, and jerked back. Taking Aoba's lips again in a bruising kiss, shifting both his legs to come around him. Hooking them up into his arms without disturbing the momentum of his thrusting.
As Aoba's body bounced with the wild thrusting, he took his own opportunity. Gripping at the hair on the back of Shou's head, he yanked it roughly to the side, breaking the kiss to expose more skin and get easier access. He licked his swollen lips before striking, biting down his own fangs in to his tanned neck.
A powerful cry, moan, filled the room as Shou forced himself to keep moving against the assault. The side of his neck pulsing, the sensations rippling down the side of his body and arm to the tips of his fingers. He jerked his hips back roughly, pausing for just a second before ramming up into Aoba quickly. Hitting upwards, adding another surge of pleasure to wash through his own body.
Aoba released him from his bite, throwing his hand up to the grip the bed sheets as the storm clouds in his head started to swirl in to a thick mass. The pleasure was starting to reach all new heights. He was almost there, teetering on the edge. Suddenly among the sound of the skin slapping, the moans and the bed creaking, a knock at the door made him snap his head to it.
"Daddy? Papa? Are you playing monsters again? I can't sleep..." Mei's voice complained through the door.
"HOLD ON!" he shouted through, Shou only hammering that much harder and faster. "I'm coming baby! I'm coming!" he cried before he pressed his face in to Shou's shoulder.
"Really..." he panted in a groan, "I'm coming..."
Shou grunted, groaned, and panted back. Hell, he was too. His hands flew to the bed on either side of Aoba's body, hitting up inside him harder and with a broken off moan, his orgasm crashed into him before he could stop it. The moan he had tried to hold back, due to Mei being right outside their door, slipped and drawled out of him as his eyes about rolled into the back of his head. His tired, worn out, body collapsing down onto his husbands and panting to regain the air in his lungs.
Aoba tensed at the weight falling on him, feeling wiped himself. But there was a four year old problem to be tended to. He tapped his shoulders and rolled him off him, diving out of bed with the room spinning some as he threw on his shorts and t-shirt.
As much as he loved his husband right now, their daughter reminded him he wanted to kill him. After the last time, he'd thought it was a great idea to tell her they were playing a 'two-headed monster' game.
It stuck...
In a silent, dark hospital bed, sheets rustled.
After a day of wrestling against sulking and a shattered heart, he'd made up his mind.
Finally the penny had dropped.
He'd lost.
Fighting it any more was futile.
And what was the point anyway? Why stay when the one he cared for could no longer stand the sight of him.
All because of that fucking mother hen he'd married.
And all because of that fucking princess.
His dark, burnt orange eyes glistened in the dark.
Fine. He'd leave.
He'd do like Shou told him. If that's what he really wanted.
But he wasn't going to lay down for long.
One of his dreams was dead. The one where he made Shou see what a waste Aoba was.
But he had others.
It would take more than a blue haired, face painted faggot to kill this one.
He would get to the World Championship.
He would take the title.
And if they didn't want him to take it with them, he'd take it from them.
So sure, he'd lost the battle. But he hadn't lost the war.
They'd regret turning on him...
He walked out the hospital room. He didn't have much in the way of belongings. It wouldn't take long to pack.
He would be gone by dawn.
As he walked down the dark, empty hall, he stopped and turned his head as a familiar scent met his nose.
What the hell was he doing here?
Did he break a finger nail?
He snorted.
Pussy...
It wasn't worth going in there and having Shou and Ray out for his blood.
He'd wait.
He'd destroy him next time he saw him.
In the stadium.
He scowled at the door, having no other option than to send rays of hate through to him and calling it at that.
With a growl, he stomped forward, taking himself further away from the room. Then the hospital. Then his home.
As he'd guessed, by the time the sun rose, the pale yellow water of the White Tiger river was carrying far away from the cesspit he'd been born in.
End of Chapter!
Thank you for reading! I really hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
I will hopefully get the next update up quicker for you this time! As always, I'll do my best!
Would love to know what you all thought about it!
Take care and see you all next time! :)