Hey guys! I'm back with yet another chapie, hop you like!
So here's to those who chain their slaves,
N ever to set them free,
And here's to those who cage their souls,
In the name of personality,
Here's to those who've been broken,
And struggle to rise back up,
For this world is full of mourning,
And all you've given isn't enough…
-Ch. 6: Here's to the Broken-
"Sir, is there anything else you need?" the flight attendant asked, tapping Tala gently on the shoulder.
In response, the wolf shook he head, "No thank you." He said pulling long fingers through his flaming hair.
"Well, if you do need anything," the attendant fluttered her eyes at a speed Tala didn't know was possible "I'll be right here. By the way, I'm Stacey." She added, her hand fluttering over her chest, as if in fear she would faint.
"Err- Thanks." Tala nodded his head firmly, making it quite clear that Stacey had been dismissed.
With a final flutter of eyelashes, the flight attendant was gone, leaving Tala to the battered CD player which sat on his thin lap.
He watched in mild amusement as Stacey had located one of he friends, and was now chittering wildly. The subject of the chatter was painfully obvious.
Tala sat back, enjoying the comfort of the seat behind him. The wolf was used to getting these sorts of awkward little reactions, and, in all honesty, he enjoyed them to no end.
He stared down at the disc player, gently tracing the scratches that laced around the once shiny cover.
It came to Tala as no surprise that it was in this condition; it was Bryan's after all.
Flash Back
Tala sat on the couch, idly flipping through channels. Ever since the 'incident' he had been told, quite firmly, that if he didn't get some rest that Bryan would make him, and he most certainly didn't want that.
The redhead paused his rapid switching of channels for a split second, just in time to hear the following:
"But Bob! I love you!"
"Oh Maryanne! How can you say that when you left me for Jerry?"
The characters on the screen continued to go on like this with Maryanne continuously flinging herself at Bob.
"But Bob…."
"Oh Maryanne…"
Tala wrinkled his nose in disgust and hastily continued the rapid changing of channels.
If love caused all those problems, why bother falling in love in the first place?
Tala didn't understand it. His own parents were once in love. But look what love had done to them.
They had loved each other very much at the beginning, and had married far too early, both still in their teens. Everything was more or less fine….That is until the baby was born.
Their families could no long support them, forcing Peter and Lily Ivanov to fend for themselves. They found themselves slipping, and suddenly it was extremely difficult just to make ends meat.
His father had always been bitter towards him, really only a child himself, he had grown jealous of his young wife's growing affection towards the child.
In Peter's mind it had all been Tala's fault. Tala's fault that he was losing his job, Tala's fault that he had become an alcoholic, Tala's fault that he was losing his wife…And Tala knew his father had hated him.
His mother, maybe… Had she loved him? There must have been a time where you loved me…. Yes, he decided firmly You must have loved me. You held me once, do you remember that?
The painful truth, however, was that Lily had needed something to hold onto, like one might hold onto a stuffed bear or pillow. And despite his attempt to reassure himself, Tala knew this, and it hurt. Sometimes it hurt worse than his father's heavy blows.
Tala could barely remember his mother. All he could remember of her were her eyes, her startlingly blue eyes. They had always held such warmth towards him, and best of all, only for him.
Tala would always remember the vicious fights between his parents. Sometimes the fighting moved beyond verbal abuse, and the small boy, hidden in the corner, was forced to watch as his father beat his mother.
"No, leave Mama alone! Please Papa, please!"
"Get out of my way you little piece of shit!"
"Mama!"
"Tala-"
I wasn't even strong enough to protect my own mother, he thought, self loathing welled up inside his thin and battered chest. God, I really am useless…
Once he remembered, his mother had even told him that she loved him. The four year old had held his mother, her bruised body swelling with continuous sobs. 'I love you too.' He had murmured back to her, finally feeling as if he had been accepted. Had she heard him?
Wasn't love something that was supposed too last forever? Tala wondered Then why aren't you here with me now? Did you not love me? I-I thought you did…but now…Now I'm not sure. Why did you leave?
"Tala? Tala!" The voice ripped through Tala's thoughts, immediately sending him back to reality.
The redhead sat up slightly to see the smallest Demolition Boy running towards him.
"Ian? What's the matter now?" Tala replied, silently thanking the big-nosed teen for breaking the spell of the melancholy thoughts.
"T-Tala…" as Ian got closer Tala could see the tears pouring steadily down Ian's face.
"Ian?" the wolf stepped forward, enveloping the smaller youth in a warm hug.
"Tala y-your taxi's h-here." Ian managed to speak between sobs. "If you promise not to go I-I'll be less annoying I promise!" the little blader sniffled out.
"Oh Ian, that's not it at all, you know that. Mr. Dickenson is just worried about-"
"For all I care Mr. Dickenson can go and-" Ian began, the devious glint returning to the teary eyes.
"Ian!" Tala reprimanded "I promise I'll be back soon, when it's safe." Ian nodded, rubbing the warm tears from his eyes.
"Ian, where's my bag?" Tala asked, he could've sworn he had put it at the door.
"Oh yeah, Bryan has it. He said that you weren't done packing." Ian answered, a slight smile pulling at the thin lips.
That was just like Bryan to do something like that "Why how nice of him, wanting to finish for me." Tala murmured as he began his way to the upper part of the apartment.
Ian snickered "That's our Bryan eh?" All Tala could do was shake his head, he was really going to miss these guys.
Tala pulled himself up the steps, a hand to his injured chest. This was harder than I had anticipated, he thought, his tired lungs heaving.
"Tala! What are you doing? You know what the doctor said, no steps for you."
"But Spencer, Bryan has my-"
"Bag, I know, and he's almost done packing for you." The blond stated, he eyes traveled up and done his captains injured form. Suddenly the normally calm gaze gave way to a devious glint, a sure sign that something interesting was going to happen.
"Spencer, why are you looking at me like tha-?"
The redhead barely had time to let out a startled yelp before burly blond had swung him over his shoulder and began descending the stairs.
"Spencer I really don't need this-" Tala began, a misty red covering his cheeks.
"Yes you do." Spencer replied, as they reached the bottom step. The blond put him down gently, like one might a porcelain doll.
"There see that wasn't so bad, hmm?" Tala rolled his eyes, though he had to give it to the blond, he was a better mother than his own had been.
"No, it wasn't so bad." Tala said, he couldn't help but smile slightly at Spencer's satisfied expression.
HONK!
HONK!
All three bladers jumped simultaneously.
"That'd be my cab." Tala said.
The intense blue gaze flickered to both is companions. Spencer's shoulders sagged slightly, his mighty head bent as if fighting an invisible force. Ian…Oh poor Ian! The smallest Demolition Boy's shoulders were shaking, and barely audible sniffles issued from his lips.
"Guys c'mon, you know this is for the best. It's hard for me too but, I'll be back soon and everything will be the same…I promise." Tala knew that it was a pretty big promise, and that if Boris got his way, he wouldn't be able to keep it.
Spencer raised his head, and Ian's shoulders ceased shaking, they knew Tala had never broken a promise, never.
"Hey, kid! Yeah you! Listen, if you wanna make it to the airport in time then-"
"Yeah, I know, I'm coming!" Tala yelled back to the driver.
"Guess you better be off then-"
"But not with out this!" Bryan, flew down the stairs three at a time.
"Well, took you long enough!" Tala exclaimed, glad to see his denim tucked under the shoulder of his lilac haired friend.
"There's something in here from each of us and a little something extra." Bryan explained, "But don't open the package until you reach Japan." Ian finished for him.
"Why, is it a gun or something?" the wolf questioned, shooting a suspicious glance at Bryan.
"Well, you've gotta have something to protect yourself with." The falcon said, winking at his captain.
"Please tell me you're joking."
HONK!
HONK!
"Alright alright, I'm coming!" Tala yelled to the impatient taxi.
"Now listen I don't want you guys crying your hearts out when I'm gone understood? And try to fit in some practice okay?"
"Aye, aye captain!" came the chorus.
Tala smiled softly at them, and turned to the door. Suddenly he paused, as if forgetting something.
Turning towards his fellow teammates he enveloped them in warm hug.
"I going to miss you guys." He mumbled.
"Well, if you're not careful, you'll miss your flight!" Bryan chided, sniffing slightly.
"Right, well, see you guys soon!" he called, racing towards the waiting taxi.
End Flash Back
(And say goodbye) to the last parade
(And walk away) from the choice you made
(And say goodnight) to the hearts you break
And all the cyanide you drank.
To the last parade
when the parties fade
and the choice you made
To the End.
As the song ended he found himself wishing that Ian had given him a different CD. This one he was shrouded in songs exactly like the previous one, dark and depressing, and, quite frankly, Tala was already unhappy before listening to the CD.
He wondered, briefly, if he had enough time to began reading the book Spencer had given him: Romeo and Juliet by who else other than good ole Will.
"Please prepare for landing. Put away all electronics and-"
Well, I guess that answers my question Tala thought glumly. He removed his ear phones and stuffed them into his denim bag, his fingers brushing the small package.
He gasped slightly, he had forgotten about that. Tala felt his curiosity surge as he began to imagine the various thing the ruddy packaging might contain.
"Sir?" Tala looked up to see…
"Stacey?" the flight attendant giggled at hearing her name. Tala blinked at her, he wasn't exactly planning on seeing her again.
When Stacey recovered, she gently pressed her hand against Tala's shoulder.
"Please store your baggage under the seat in front of you and buckle your safety belt." And, to top off her speech, she gave Tala a quick peck on the cheek.
"Hope you have fun in Japan!" she giggled as she ran down the aisle, giggling wildly.
Tala gently pressed his fingers to his cheek slightly dazed. He sighed, doubting very much that he was going to have as much fun as Stacey had hoped for.
Phew! Well, there you go, six chapters! Hooray for me! Thankyou to all those that reviewed, thought I'd respond to 'em!
CyborgRockStar- No prob, only bein' honest! I'm gald you enjoyed the chapter, and have no fear, all will become clear soon!
storm-of-insanity- He's not, he's just upset at himself for not being to protect Tala against the...erm 'complications'.
sokkazukofan- -backs away slowly- You don't -gulp- really want to eat me, do you? -light bulb flashes above head- Hey! I've got an idea! - grabs Kai- Why don't you eat him instead?
Kai: --slaps authress- You idiot! If you just write another chapter the Sokkazukofan won't have to eat you! Now get crackin'! I don't want to be eaten either!
Me: -whimpers- Alright, alright I'm goin'! See what you've done Sokkazukufan? Now I have to live in fear of being eaten -sob-
Alright folks that's it for now, hope you enjoyed da chappie!
-Wolfchilde-