Part Sixteen

He put the telephone down and closed his eyes.

"All right!" Michael cheered as he entered the room, throwing himself onto the couch beside Robert. "Sports channel!"
The other boy didn't acknowledge him... it was if he was already gone. It would save him the heartache of saying goodbye if he thought like that.

"That was awesome! I haven't had so much fun in, like, forever! Enrique's got a lot of talent for the game - I'd be out of a job if Judy got her hands on him. So, what are we watching?"
There was no answer from the knight, forcing Michael to prompt him into speaking.
"Robert?"
"The American Beyblade Tournament." He replied simply. "That is what I am watching."
The All Star raised an eyebrow, smirking stupidly as he asked, "So, who's winning?"

It brought a small smile to Robert's lips. "I am hoping that beautiful redhead will break the tie."
"I'll tell Emily you said that."

After a chuckle over the joke, the pair settled into silence. The seemingly endless torture of the American tournament's highlights kept playing on the screen, and Robert felt Michael tense up as he watched it. Reaching over, the All Star snatched up the remote control and flicked the television off.

"I don't want to see that." He confessed. "I miss the guys and Emily so much... and I'm so out of practise. Look at this!"
Robert turned to see Michael grabbing at a small roll of flab on his stomach through his shirt, the likes of which only a supermodel or an elite sportsperson would be concerned about.

"I like it." Robert soothed his concerns, running his hand across the boy's belly.
His reassuring caress became an embrace; his arm wrapping around Michael's waist, pulling him closer.
Their kiss was as bitter as it was sweet - the lump of sadness in Robert's throat all but choking him.

Michael slid from his grasp, kneeling between Robert's legs. He'd been given new limits... he wanted to explore them as much as he could.

"No... not here!" The knight shook his head defiantly. "What if someone was to walk in on us?"
Michael gave a cheeky grin. "I hope it's Johnny."
"As amusing as that might seem to you, I certainly do not need any more grief from him right now." He grew very serious. "Besides, there are other more important matters to take care of."
"Like what?"

"I spoke with Judy a moment ago... she will be here tomorrow to take you back home." He said sadly, unable to bring himself to look at Michael. "We should ready your things."
"Yeah, I guess so..." The American boy agreed distantly, not knowing whether he was shocked or disappointed at the news. He knew the time would come, he just had not expected it so suddenly. He thought that Judy would be the one to tell him, and perhaps... Robert would have fought to keep him longer. "I'll... go get ready, I guess..."

Michael made his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him. All he had were the clothes on his back. He just needed Trygle... and his heart back, and he was ready to go.

The hallways seemed a lot colder and darker than before. This was it - the last night he would spend in this castle. This time tomorrow, he would be back in his own room at the All Starz' training centre. No more halls lined with creepy suits of armour lit by smoky sconces, everything would be clinically white and bathed in harsh fluorescent light. His huge, four-poster bed in a room decorated with elaborate tapestries of mythological creatures would be replaced by his cramped, single bed surrounded by sports posters and pennants. He had spent so long wanting to go home that he hadn't noticed how much he had come to like Jurgens Castle.

He would never belong here, as much as he might try to fit in; but his loud personality would ensure that he didn't. He knew he grated on Robert's nerves. They were just too opposite to ever be friends, let alone live together. But perhaps, they were perfect to be lovers... even if it was for just one night.

It was a chance Michael was willing to take - if Robert laughed at him, it didn't matter because they would never have to see each other again.

"What are you doing with that?" Johnny asked, catching a glimpse of orange in Robert's hand as the older boy entered one of the many sitting rooms. "Griffolyon not crappy enough for you?"
"Be quiet! Michael is going home tomorrow and I promised I would give it back to him before then."
"He's finally leaving?" The redhead's lazy slouch was replaced with a posture which said he was suddenly very interested in what Robert had to say.
"Yes." He nodded sadly. "Judy and Emily will be here in the morning."
"That's too bad... I was hoping we'd become best friends."

Robert scowled at the cruel sarcasm. And like the obnoxious little brother the nobleman thought of him as, Johnny scowled back at him.
"I do not care what you think of him."
"Well maybe you should start."
"No... not about this. I..." He stammered, wondering if it were a sentence best suited to continue with Oliver. "I love-"
The redhead clapped his hands over his ears. "I'm not hearing this!"
"I knew you would not understand." He muttered as he wandered off again... lost in his own castle.

How could he show Michael how much he loved him with barely twelve hours of his company left? There wasn't time to organise anything extravagant. All he had was himself... his body, and what it longed to do to the boy.

A night of 'farewell sex' - could he indulge in something so fickle? He wanted Michael. He wanted him so badly that it hurt - and now he had the chance, he hesitated?

Want was not the right word for what he felt. After spending several weeks being so close to the boy, he needed him. Needed him not just for one night of empty physical satisfaction; he needed him to be his lover.

"I do not know what to do..." Robert ran his hand through his purple spikes as he looked up at a painting in his private quarters. "I do not know how I could let this happen."
Paint daubs, designed to look like eyes, stared back at him with no answer.
"I have fallen in love with him, Father... Your son is in love with a common, American boy. Are you ashamed of me?"
Silence.
"I want him... I want him like I have never wanted for anything before."

There was a knock at the door, and Enrique invited himself in.
"We're going now, Robert. Oliver's already in the car... you know how much he hates goodbyes."
The knight nodded, too many other things on his mind to have anything left to say to his blonde friend.
"Oh, and would you say bye to Michael for me? He's such a great guy - I can't wait to see another of his games! You should really come with us next time the girls and I go to America."
"Maybe I will." Robert agreed, wearing his constant expression of indifference, despite the turmoil his heart was currently in - and Enrique's praise of the All Star was only making things worse.

"...You know, Oliver thinks you're an idiot for letting him go."
"I am aware of that."
"Well, I agree with him."
"You judge me without knowing the whole story." Robert answered distantly, not intending to elaborate any further.

Enrique gave a loud, over-dramatic sigh. "Have you ever been happy in your entire life, Robert?"
"My happiness is not important. My family name is."
"Whatever floats your boat, big guy. I'll see you later." He slapped his captain on the back as he made to leave the room. "Just don't mess things up, okay?"

Robert snorted. How could he possibly make more of a mess than things currently were? It would be best if he did nothing to encourage any further mistakes. He would take a hot bath, and would then retire to the comfort of his bed to sleep on his thoughts and decisions. There would be so much to take care of in the morning.