Chapter 13

phoenix the 1st: If they were real life I would be dating one. Well, at least trying to seduce them, anyway. ^_~

russle: Bryan only fights when he has too... otherwords, when he has to vent some frustration. :p

Bloody Mary: They were trained to be fighters. I never could understand why anyone could write them as being defenceless when it's obvious that they aren't.

eyriess: O_O Leave your poor defenceless computer alone you bully. :p

Jay Kamiya: It most certainly would. ^_~

Matty KakaSaku rulz: *Grabs fan and starts waving over Matty's face*

umi naoe kudoku hart: I know nothing about it. What is it?

Ashla: Careful they don't kill you. :p

Castles in the Sky: I forgive anyone with computer issues, don't worry. ^_^

Sorry about no update. FF.N was down last night. Ooo. Nice long one this one.

Disclaimer: See first page

Ian and Spencer had spent the afternoon receiving slaps on the backs from the other boys once word had spread that Tala and Bryan were free from the dungeon and both still alive. They thanked everyone for their help, the boys all taking part of their meal and stashing it aside, and in no time there was a bag filled with bread, fruit, cakes, and other such things for the two fugitives.

Panas took great pleasure in handing it to Spencer. "Watch your back on the way down. The rest of us are on early curfew tonight due to the brawl, so we cannot accompany you down. Give my our greetings to them though."

When they had been dismissed for the night, the two Demolition Boys had taken the bag and disappeared into the corridors, making their way easily into the boiler room. Moving down the passage, they stepped into the room, Ian letting out a yip of happiness and diving across the room, throwing his arms around Tala's neck.

Tala set his cards face down, patting Ian on the back and laughing. "You'd think you were glad to see me."

"I am, captain." Ian stepped back, grinning from ear to ear. "When I first saw you, I thought you were dead."

"Not the case." Tala raised an eyebrow. "I hope you've been training, because-"

Ian groaned. "Oh come on. I've been too busy saving your skin, Tala."

Bryan sniggered, setting down his own cards, crossing his arms over his chest.

Spencer stepped forward, clapping a hand on Tala's shoulder. "Good to see you up, Tal."

"You too, Spence." Tala gestured for them to take a seat. "Bryan told me everything he knew but it was only the bare essentials, so fill us in."

Spencer and Ian exchanged a look, Spencer setting the food on the table before they sat down, telling of everyone's worry, of the quest to find the key, of the planning, of Boris's suspicious behaviour. As they spoke, Bryan prodded at the bag and peered inside, plucking out a cake and biting into it, Tala shooting him a glare before snatching the bag away and finding one for himself, Ian biting back a laugh as Spencer smiled.

The story came to a halt as they finally cracked and burst out laughing when Tala kicked Bryan under the table, Bryan kicking him back and causing Tala to give a sharp bite of pain, the younger scooping up an apple and hurling it at Bryan's head. Bryan caught it easily, smirking as he bit into it, Tala growling.

"You can't tell you two were raised together," Ian laughed.

Tala's glare broke into a smile. "We've never been apart."

Bryan shook his head, swallowing. "When you had Kai on the team, I was still here, you were at the stadium."

"A couple of days, that's it."

Spencer leant forward, seriousness returning to his expression. "When Boris returns, he's going to go down to the dungeon and find you gone."

"We know." Bryan rested his elbows on the table, knitting his fingers together and resting his chin on them. "He will expect to find us dead, and when he sees us gone, he will search the Abbey from top to bottom."

Tala nodded his agreement. "The first people he will question will be you two."

Ian shuddered, sinking down in his seat. "I never thought about that. All I wanted was to get you two out of there."

"And we thank you for that." Tala looked at Bryan, who was frowning down at a spot on the table. "We'll have to work something out. At the moment though, I still don't feel too good. I feel half drained."

"You haven't eaten for days," Spencer said, gesturing to the food. "Eat more, and you'll regain your strength. The others will bring food down when we cannot. In fact, we had better be going soon."

"The others have early curfew," Ian explained. "Because of the fight. We'd better get back to our rooms early too."

Spencer pushed himself to his feet, gesturing for Ian to do the same before he looked down at the two younger teens. "You get some rest. Tomorrow we'll discuss the problem with Boris's return, but until then you regain your strength."

Tala raised his eyebrows, biting back an amused smile. "Yes mummy."

Spencer smirked, patted him on the shoulder as he passed him, Tala and Bryan scooping up their cards again and snagging another bit of food as the other two boys left the room and made their way back to the hell that was Balkov Abbey.

~~~~*~~~~

"Spencer's right you know."

Bryan looked up at Tala. "About what?"

Tala looked down at where Bryan lay with his head in Tala's lap, Tala playing absently with the elder teen's hair. "About Boris when he comes back."

"We've still got days, Tal." Bryan closed his eyes and sighed. "Just you try and recover. Boris took a lot out of you, and I can see you're still tired."

Tala nodded, shoulders drooping. "I actually thought I was going to die. The pain was so overwhelming…"

"That was the point of the exercise."

"How can you take it so well?"

"You get used to it, I guess. Or at least build up some resistance." Bryan frowned. "The first few times, after he let me go, I'd lock myself in my room and cry. Eventually that stopped… and I stopped caring."

"You should have never been subjected to that."

"Who's to stop him? My parents?" Bryan scowled. "Headstones don't talk, Tala. They can't criticise, they can't protest, they can't' sympathise, and they can't offer comfort. I learnt that years ago."

"Your parents would be turning in their grave if they knew what he was doing to you." Tala smoothed Bryan's hair, biting back a smile as it sprung back into its natural disarray. "I wonder why he never did what he did to you to me. I've been around almost as long as you have, and he said he wanted me in 'that way', and yet he never tried it."

"He saw no need." Bryan shrugged. "He did it to punish me, and I gave him plenty of reasons to do so. You were always a goody-two-shoes. You did as he said, when he said, the way he said. He had no reason to find fault until now."

Tala frowned, Bryan's words sinking in. "I was a square, wasn't I? I strove to achieve perfection, but I conformed to his rules and limits."

"Exactly. I conform to no one and make my own rules. It didn't matter if I were the best, only that I selectively chose when to listen to him, or should I say, when to ignore him."

"He hates that."

"I know."

Tala sighed. "We're almost like complete opposites you know."

Bryan opened his eyes. "You and Kai are complete opposites. I'm the balanced one. I'm hot and cold, I'm rebellious and submissive, and I'm proud and modest, all at the same time. I'm a little bit of you both."

Tala shook his head. "No. Kai and I make up the two halves that are you. You were too complex, so they balanced it out."

"Look at it any way you like, Wolf. To be honest, I no longer care. I just want out."

Tala blinked. "Out."

Bryan looked up at him, a knowing glint in his eye. "You're getting an idea."

"You said you want out."

"Yeah, so?"

"When Boris comes back, he'll come looking for us and Ian and Spencer. But how can he find us if we're not here?"

Bryan narrowed his eyes. "You're saying we ditch the Abbey?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Tala gestured toward the second doorway of the passage. "Panas says that that passage leads out into the grounds near the fence. All we have to do is get over the fence, get to Moscow, and get to the BBA office. Biovolt can't touch us there."

"The fence has been tried before. They didn't make it."

"That's because they ran from the back door all the way to the fence, and they were caught on the parameter cameras. If Panas is correct, the passage comes out outside of the sensor and camera range, and right near the fence, which will give us an advantage."

"There is still the matter of the fence itself. I'm injured, Tal, and Ian will also be disadvantaged."

"Spencer will be able to help both you and Ian. And me probably, depending on whether or not I have the strength." Tala frowned thoughtfully. "The matter lies, Bryan. When Boris comes back, we do not want to be anywhere near the Abbey. None of us. The Demolition Boys are at great risk."

For a moment Bryan didn't speak. "You're right. Our only option is to leave. We'll run the idea by Ian and Spencer tomorrow, get their input. With luck, tomorrow Panas will come as well. He can offer any further insight into the layout of the passage."

Tala nodded. For a long while they were silent, Tala's ice eyes narrowing as they glided down Bryan's body to take in the place he had seen the dagger sear through and become wedged in flesh. "Did you really stitch the wound closed, or was Ian just bullshitting?"

"He was guessin', but yeah, I stitched it closed. Seems to have slowed the bleeding, too."

Tala's frown deepened. "How could you do it to yourself?"

"I gritted my teeth really hard."

Tala had to chuckle. "Did you do a good job?"

"Not hospital standard, but it'll make do." Bryan raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to see it or something?"

Tala blinked. "Eh… maybe some other time."

Bryan shot him a genuine grin, eyes sparkling. A rarity. "Is that hope I hear in your voice? Along with a slight hint of discomfort? And perhaps a little longing?"

Tala glared at him. "Shut up, Kuznetsov."

Bryan chuckled, pushing himself up from Tala's lap and turning, facing the other. "I'm just having a go, Ivanov. No need to get so defensive."

"You can be a real jerk sometimes."

"So you've told me."

Tala stretched out on the bed, sighing as he stared at the roof. "What do you think it's like? Being free I mean?"

Bryan frowned, tugging at the bandage on his broken arm, smoothing out where it had started to gather. "I have no idea. It would be strange."

"Yeah." Tala's frown deepened. "Bry?"

"Hm?"

Tala looked at him. "Why are you always trying to protect us?"

Bryan's eyebrows rose as he paused, thinking. "I have no idea. I just feel… that I have too."

"But you don't have too."

"Yes I do. Don't ask me to explain it, because I cannot." Bryan looked down at him. "Maybe its just part of my talent for getting under Boris's skin."

Tala's lips cracked a smile. "Maybe." He reached out, tugging at Bryan's shirt and urging him to come closer. "Or you're just naturally over-protective. Like a big brother."

Bryan slid toward him, Tala wrapping an arm around his waist. "You'd rather me as a brother?"

Tala shook his head. "You've been a brother and a friend for as long as I can remember. I want more. I've wanted more for a while."

"You don't ask for much." Bryan leant down, kissing him gently.

Bryan made to pull back but Tala slid his arms around his neck, recapturing his lips. Bryan smiled against his mouth, retuning the kiss with equal intensity, savouring it. It didn't seem like long before they could hold on no more, releasing each other gasping, gazing into each other's eyes.

Bryan swallowed, trying to regain his breath. "For a while, eh?"

"Mmm-hm." Tala ran a hand through Bryan's hair, pushing himself up, kissing him again. "For a while."

"How longs a while?"

"A year. Maybe more."

Bryan nodded, allowing yet another kiss before he pushed himself up into a sitting position. "And yet you accused me of taking advantage of you."

Tala blinked. "I never accused you, I simply asked if you would."

"Sounded like an accusation to me."

Tala opened his mouth to reply, only to have realisation flicker through his mind, causing him to narrow his eyes. "Bryan Kuznetsov, are you playing hard to get?"

Bryan smirked. "Would I do that?"

Tala laughed, sitting up and throwing himself at the other, pushing him back down onto the bed and trapping Bryan underneath him. "You really are a jerk."

Bryan raised an eyebrow, mischief playing through his features. "I'm entitled to my fun."

"You? Have fun?" Tala kissed him. "The cold-hearted, cruel and calculating Falcon of the Demolition Boys have fun?"

"You make it sound like a crime."

Tala stared down at him, smiling. "Much of what you do are crimes."

Tala kissed him again, Bryan pulling back, meeting his gaze as he smirked. "How do I know you're not trying to take advantage of me?"

Tala winked at him "You don't."

Lips locked again in yet another battle, Tala being careful not to place too much pressure on Bryan's leg as he set his own leg between Bryan's, effectively pinning the other down so he wouldn't move again. Nevertheless, Bryan broke the kiss, breathing heavily.

"We really need to sleep you know, Tal."

Tala nodded, reaching up and hitting the switch above the bed, killing the lights. Even as the room plunged into complete darkness, Tala kissed Bryan again, then pulled back, trailing his lips down the others neck, Bryan closing his eyes, focusing on the gentle caresses.

After a while, Bryan growled softly in the back of his throat, a smile tugging at his lips. "As much as I want this to continue, we do need to heal."

Tala chuckled, running his tongue over Bryan's ear. "I know."

He didn't stop, causing Bryan to chuckle. "Tala Yuri Ivanov, it's late, and I know what you're like first thing in the morning if you don't get your beauty sleep."

Tala blinked into the darkness, then scowled. "You're being the brother again."

"Brother, no. Mature, yes."

"Yeah right." Tala kissed him gently on the mouth, shifting and wrapping his arms around Bryan, settling his head on Bryan's shoulder and stifling a yawn. "You're still a jerk."

"Thank you." Bryan threaded his arms around him.

Tala tapped his fingers against Bryan's chest. "Is there any reason why you want to sleep rather than make out? Or are you just a party pooper?"

Bryan reached up and entwined his fingers through Tala's. "I didn't want you to get the wrong message if I fell asleep, which I'm about to do."

Tala laughed, snuggling further against Bryan. "Fair enough. I forgive you."

"Nice to know." Bryan pressed his face into Tala's hair, closing his eyes. "We'll sort everything out in the morning, then shoo everyone away."

"Works for me." Tala closed his own eyes, sighing heavily. "I love you, Bryan."

Bryan didn't answer, instead lying awake until he heard Tala's breathes even out as sleep took hold of the younger teen. Only then did Bryan allow the exhaustion to claim him.

Bryan never said 'I love you' back. Interesting…