Chapter 23

Bloody Mary: Give Ian a teddy? A fluffy one? Pink maybe? :p

russle: Ian's just a prick, of course his excuses were lame. That doesn't mean I don't like him of course.

phoenix of order: Both Tala and Bryan broke their arms, actually. Or at least fractured them. They used their forearms to block the blows from Boris when he used the rod.

Disengage: Addicted to the story? Gee. Sounds like I need to send you to rehab. :p

eyriess: Patience... Patience...

phoenix the 1st: Maybe he's jealous cause Bryan's getting laid and he isn't.

Ashla: Oh c'mon. Tala was comfy. It was cruel of Bryan to move. :p

Jay Kamiya: One of my fave lines that.

Curtis Zidane Ziraa: A conflict with Boris? Why? I'm having fun here. :p

KuronekoHikage: Mmm. Yummy hentai thoughts there. ##

LingXiaoyu: Ian's not really a homophob. He just doesn't like the fact Bryan is with Tala.

umi n secylia: Uh... what?

Tala is not going to be happy with Bryan about now.

Disclaimer: See first page

As soon as they were gone, Tala turned toward Bryan, glaring at him. Bryan paid him no mind, picking up the bag of food and opening it, beginning to sort it into two piles so they could be stored in the backpacks.

Tala's glare narrowed. "I don't know if I should kiss you or kill you."

"You could always do both."

"Bryan." Tala drummed his fingers on the table, watching the other work. "It was all a test?"

"If you continued to chase me, you really wanted me."

"I do want you."

"Which I now know." Bryan glanced up. "Don't look at me like that, Wolf. I have my reasons."

"Oh really? Like what?"

"And don't use that tone of voice with me." Bryan slid from his seat, retrieving his pack and bringing it to the table. "Sometimes the best way to avoid pain is to make sure you don't place yourself in a position of getting hurt."

Tala blinked, then let out a disbelieving laugh. "And you say you don't have feelings. You're protecting your heart."

"The most vital organ in the body." Bryan shuffled his things around, sliding the food in amongst them, glancing up. "Are you going to sit there and tell me off, or are you going to help?"

"I'm not telling you off, Bry… you've just taken me by surprise." Tala regarded him as moved to get his own pack. "And here I thought you didn't care."

"I don't."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you." Tala set his pack on the table, picking up an item from the second pile. He looked up, watching how the hair fell around the others face, the faint furrow in his brow. "So, am I worth risking getting hurt for?"

Bryan glanced up quickly. "You are, yes."

Tala smiled, keeping his silence as they filled the bags, making sure to leave enough room for the remainder still coming. As they closed their packs and set them down beside their teammates, Bryan turned only to find himself pushed back against the wall, lips firmly pressed against his.

They fought for dominance, neither gaining the upper hand as it became more heated, Tala's hands slowly beginning to wander. As they slid toward Bryan's waistline, Bryan reached down, catching them and breaking the kiss.

"Ah-ah, Wolf. Not yet."

Tala growled as he fought to regain his breath. "You playing hard to get again, Falcon?"

Bryan shook his head, then shrugged. "You're not ready to go that far. Once you start, you can't stop."

"I want you."

"Maybe, but not yet." He gestured toward the door leading out into the grounds. "Besides, you're gonna need to save your strength for tonight."

Tala watched him for a moment, then nodded. "You're right."

"However," Bryan stepped away from the wall, snaking an arm around Tala and reaching up with the other, trailing fingertips down Tala's cheek. "That does not mean we cannot continue this."

Tala closed his eyes as lips met once more, no longer desperate, but rather gentle and meaningful, making him feel as if he were going to melt. He leant into it, grip tightening around the elder as the kisses became deeper, longer, harder. He moaned softly, making a mental note to tell Panas that Bryan was indeed still a good kisser.

The need to breath was the only thing that drew them apart, foreheads resting against one another as they stared into each others eyes, lavender and blue mixing, searching for what remained unsaid.

The sound of fast approaching footsteps caused them to look up, Bryan stepping away from Tala as the door burst open. "Panas?"

"We have a problem," Panas gasped, eyes wide.

Tala felt his stomach knot. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Panas swallowed hard, eyes darting from one to the other. "Boris is back."

Oo;;