Chapter 30

Werewolf of Fire: Yeap. Nothing but whingers. And yes. Weird. :p

Cat in the web: Glad to know you're happy. And I like Bryan the way he is too.

DranzerGirl: Seriously? Your boyfriend makes you leave a note? Well, I guess if you ever went missing they'd know where to look first.

Lullaby Lily: Busy day all right, and the day hasn't ended yet. And fluff is best out of angst. After all, 'out of the darkness into the light'. :D ;) :p And screams for a sequel, hm? Well, you have a point. However, no trilogy. Na-ah. ((cough))Fighting Shadows((cough))two parter((cough)).

HimekoSukie: They were raised as brothers. The arguing comes natural to them.

Padfootlet: Thankies. I like them too.

KuronekoHikage: Not suspended, on probation. Apparently if you sign up for a free account they make you wait two weeks before letting you download. Not fair, really. Knowing my luck by the time I can download the clip will be gone. ((sigh))

Chaco and Lily: Bryan is the king of jerks, really. :p

Jay Kamiya: Kick Ian's arse? Tempting, but no. Hang around for Ketsuron though. Poor Ian won't know what hit him... literally.

Ashla: Thanks. So glad that you like.

Bloody Mary: I let them change places, it's just that Bryan is bigger and besides, Tala wanted him to do that this time. Did you know that the guy that 'bottoms' actually has more control? Shocked me when I learnt that, but it kinda doesn't surprise me. I'll have Tala top in another... fic... ((snigger))

GemGemJoo: Many smiles. You like lots. :D :D :D

lilmatchgirl007: They're born competitors. Of course they have to battle, no matter what the playing field.

Time to round out a little side story I've been working on through this fic that I'm sure a few of you picked up on. Remember that poll I had going in Out of the Darkness? Well…

Disclaimer: See first page

"Hey Spence."

Spencer glanced back as he pulled on his jacket. "Yeah?"

"Do you reckon we should be glad that the walls are thick?"

Spencer chuckled. "It's no wonder that they call you perverted, Ian."

"What?" Ian pushed himself up on his elbows, smirking. "I'm just asking if you reckon they finally went all the way last night. I mean, they disappeared into the room of theirs and never came out again."

"They had a lot of catching up to do."

"I'll bet."

Spencer shot him a warning look as Ian slid from his bed and pulled on his boots. "Leave them be, Ian. A lot has happened since Bryan vanished, and those two have a lot of issues to work out. Things were rough, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember. I remember how grumpy Bryan was, and the glares Tala kept shooting him. I'm surprised Moscow didn't thaw out." Ian looked up toward him, smirking. "So how'd you sleep last night?"

"Better." Spencer dropped into the seat by the desk, watching him. "Though your moaning made it hard."

Ian blinked, face paling ever so slightly. "Moaning?"

"Mm-hm." Spencer raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Sounded to me like you were having a rather pleasant dream."

Ian's face flushed as he averted his eyes. "Eh… not really."

"Want to talk about it?"

"No."

Spencer chuckled. "Not even-"

"Drop it, Spence." Ian hopped up to perch himself on the edge of the desk, looking toward the elder. "Think they'll ever find Boris?"

"Drastic subject change." Spencer ignored Ian's warning glare as the elder shrugged. "Then again, maybe they're related…"

"Spencer!" Ian reached out and smacked him over the back of the head. "That is just sick, man."

"It's possible."

"I don't like you at the moment."

Spencer smiled at him, leaning back in the chair. "Who knows if they'll ever find Boris. Got a feeling it's not the last we've heard of him. He'll show up again."

"Not what I wanted to hear." Ian bit his lip, staring down toward his boots. "I just feel a little uneasy knowing he's still out there somewhere. I know all the boys are free now and that the BBA is tracking down our parents, but won't Boris know where they are too? Not to mention I've got a feeling he won't let this whole 'Ultimate Project' thing go too easy."

"Don't worry yourself over it." Spencer reached out, setting a hand gently on the others shoulder. "At the moment we're safe. We should be enjoying the peace while it lasts."

"You have a point." Ian met his eye, setting his jaw. "But come on, Spence, aren't you a little worried?"

"A little, but I ignore it." Spencer smirked. "So who was in the dream?"

Ian groaned, rolling his eyes. "Now you're changing the subject."

"I might be."

"What if I don't want to tell?"

"Then I hurt you til you do."

"I can take the pain."

"Care to put money on that?"

"I hate it when you say that."

Spencer shrugged, prodding him in the shoulder. "So, who?"

"Not telling." Ian smirked. "Until you tell me who was in your dream two nights ago."

"Just me and my hand."

Ian pulled a face. "Ew. Spence."

"I'm not telling you." Spencer shrugged, chuckling. "The look on your face is priceless."

"Well that was sick." Ian glared at him. "Not the kind of imagery I wanted."

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "You imagined it?"

"What did you expect me to do? I have a very graphic mind, which you, Bryan and Tala know about quite well." Ian sniggered. "Though I admit that time Bryan described what Boris would look like in a dress…"

Spencer snorted. "Did he really?"

"Sure did. Too bad Boris heard."

"He was probably aiming for Boris to hear."

"Wouldn't put it passed him." Ian looked up. "So, who?"

"You answer first."

"No."

"Then I won't answer."

Ian sat for a while, pondering the situation before his eyes brightened. "We'll say it together."

"Won't work." Spencer shot him a sceptical look, eyes narrowed. "I know you. I'll answer and you won't."

"Works both ways that." Ian crossed his arms over his chest. "On three."

"So on three, or just after three?"

"On three. One, two, and then we say it."

"Right."

They met each other's eye, a sense of unease playing through them before Ian nodded. "One. Two."

"It's you."

They both blinked, Ian chuckling as what they had both said simultaneously sunk in. "Well, that rhymes."

Spencer nodded, leaning back in his seat. "Mean that?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Mm-hm." Spencer frowned. "Nothing we can do about it though."

"Yeah, I know. The whole age thing." Ian crossed his arms over his chest, frowning. "Seven years is a lot."

"Not when we're both in our 20s." Spencer raised an eyebrow. "At the moment, though, they'd call me a paedophile."

"Yeah." Ian looked up. "We could keep it secret."

"Someone would always find out. Most likely Kai."

"Yeah. That guy's psychic." Ian sighed. "Then there's the size thing. We're like David and Goliath."

"You'll grow."

"Hopefully." Ian looked up toward him, curiosity sparkling in his crimson eyes. "Hey Spence, would you…"

"What?"

"Wait for me?"

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "By then you might have moved on."

"I know, but if I don't… and if you don't… would you?"

Spencer smiled faintly, nodding. "I would."

"Cool."

A silence hung in the air, both staring down toward the ground. Outside a faint breeze blew, tugging at the branches of the evergreens, a bird twittering softly in the distance. They could hear each other breathing, Ian biting his lip before he growled.

"Oh screw it."

He leant toward Spencer, capturing his lips with his. Spencer's eyes widened before they closed, the elder plucking the smaller up and setting him on his lap, returning the kiss as Ian clutched at Spencer's vest. The kiss deepened, Spencer trailing his fingers through Ian's long hair, letting their troubles float away with that breeze to leave only themselves.

Done. Side story completed. :D