Asylum
By: Darker Evolutions
Rating: R
Warnings: The rating should be warning enough.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters.
A/N: I decided I owed all my readers for giving the such a short chapter last time.. So I'm posting another (hopefully longer) chapter. In the end I might just replace chapter nine with a longer version, as I'm not too happy with it right now, but please, please review! And read my other fics…please? And I just realized in my last chapter I spelled Ray as Rei. Xx I might've done it before, too. So sorry. Also.. Started school and it's taking up a lot of my time. However it's my senior year-- wish me luck!
Summary: Kai, Tala, Ray, and Bryan are members of the Saint Carolin's High School soccer team with a new student placed as their manager. They're also mutants in which the underground organization Biovolt are after. Will they get at each other's throats before they get a chance to find asylum?
Chapter Ten - Home Sweet Home
It was close to the end of the week, the weekend fast approaching for the four teens residing in the guest bedroom of the Tate' household. The week had gone well, and though Kai, Ray, and Tala were in fine shape and ready to go back to school Judy insisted that they stay with Declan as he continued to recover. They were all a bit sore still, yet sleeping so long with nothing to do was making them restless--homework had already been done upon the first day all four were actually awake for several hours during the warm light of day so that left little to nothing for them to do.
Ray had become bored enough to do the dishes and even cook breakfast, lunch, and even helped with dinner for the Tate family in thanks for allowing them to intrude so long in their home, though Kai insisted he help the Chinese-youth despite the protests about how he could handle things in the kitchen just fine on his own. Tala sent himself out to buy groceries for the Tate household, his irritation rising with the playful bickering his brother and Ray were going on about in the kitchen--this left Declan contently comfortable by himself to wander down into the basement and start sorting, washing, drying, and folding clothes seeing as the four of them dirtied quite a bit of clothing in the last week.
The whole day boiled down to dinner--Max and Tyson had gone over to Salima's to have dinner and look at pictures together--where everyone was sitting outside at a picnic table and eating quietly. Mr. Tate had grilled vegetables and chicken for dinner after finding his pantry had been restocked, having thanked Tala before going about setting things up out in the fenced in backyard. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal, everyone except Declan that was seeing he was pushing his food about his plate with his plastic fork.
"Are you going to eat that," questioned Tala in an annoyed manner after having watched the teen for ten minutes just push about his food, "or are you going to keep pushing your food around the plate to make us think you're actually eating?" He wasn't angry, simply agitated by the fact Declan wasn't eating anything when he needed the energy to finish healing. All he was rewarded with in response was a shrug and some more pushing around of the food.
"Alright," proclaimed Kai with sigh after having seen the exchange, reaching his arm out and snatching both Declan's fork and plate of food so he no longer had something to concentrate on. "There is clearly something you want to say, do…whatever, but sitting there isn't going to be doing you any good at this point. Speak up and speak out--we can't read minds."
"I just want to go home," murmured Declan as he looked up through his bangs at Kai only to turn his attention upon Judy. "To go back to school to stop people from assuming things. The people there hate me enough as it is--I don't need to go giving them more reasons to add to the list."
"You're quite well enough to go home," responded Mrs. Tate with a gentle and warm smile. "But you need to take things easy, start working on getting control of your power even if it is a slow process, and you'll need someone to stay with you at your large home.. It's too dangerous for you to stay there by yourself with what has happened with Biovolt. We need to be ready to protect one another, and you've done very well to prove you can be helpful and trusted. I'm very proud of you, all of us are."
"Proud is an under statement," chimed Ray with a mild grin. "And don't worry about having to find someone to stay with you--I will. This way I can help you clean up and fix up that house of yours." Rising from his seat Ray came over behind Declan and draped his arms over his shoulders in a friendly manner, hugging him tightly. "I'm a senior anyways, and unlike my brother I plan on moving out of the house; why not now? This way you won't starve to death with forgetting to go grocery shopping," chuckled the male.
"I can shop for myself, thanks," defended Declan with a low frown before he muttered softly under his breath, "I just forget to go.. That and I need to get a job anyways since I don't even have money to shop with. The damn government can pay for the house and such all they want, but they seem to lack knowledge that I need to actually eat."
There was a snort from Tala as he sat back to look at Ray and Declan with his icy blue eyes. "The government has issues, and for all they care they would rather have all us mutants shipped off and starved to death in a work camp. They're afraid of us, and we all know it." The red-head gave a shrug of his shoulders before smirking as laughter filtered through the backyard of the Tate's house, seeing as everyone gathered at the table found this comment highly true yet as well highly amusing. He was rewarded though with a punch in the shoulder from Ray as he passed by to take up his seat again.
"That may be true enough," commented the Chinese-male with another chuckle. "But lets hope it never comes down to that. Anyways, but to the subject at hand.. I don't see why we can't head over and let you stay in your own room tonight, and I think it best we head back to school Monday anyways--all of us. Best to settle back down so that everything is semi-normal. Also Mrs. Tate.. Kai and I have something we wish to speak with you about concerning Declan."
As Kai set his plate back in front of him Declan snatched his fork back with a playful withering look before actually eating his food now and staying quiet to listen to the conversation seeing that it was going to be about him. Clearly he'd been asleep during the conversation the others had.. That or he just didn't remember it at the moment. Whatever the deal he shrugged and kept eating, ears open to the words being said.
"We were wondering, Coach, if you'd possibly consider taking the freshman Rayve Michaels and putting him on the warm up bench so we could add another player to the team. I know normally you'd put a new player on the bench for awhile, and I know Michaels is good, but I would like you to make an exception in this case.." started Kai as he fixated his mahogany eyes upon Judy across the table.
"I'm listening, Kai. Go on," the soccer coach stated in a slow, interested tone. Kai was the team captain of the team, therefore had a very important opinion on everything.. but if two other seniors with him on the team were agreeing with him it must be something important. Pushing her plate away from her Judy crossed her arms upon the table, waiting for the team captain to continue.
"The three of us--Ray, Tala, and I-- believe that Declan should be put on the team to replace Michaels. Now I know he has something to say in the matter, but I want everyone to just hear me out. It would give him something productive to do with his time other than sitting around bored out of his mind while we all practice. Also we'd be bettering the team greatly. I'm sure you remember Lee Kon? Declan can hold his own against him, from what I hear from Ray, and he did very well playing with the three of us one day for some extra practice over the weekend before all this happened. It would be better for both sides-- Declan would be able to show that he isn't the horrible person everyone thinks he is and it would force the team to respect him, and the team would become better as a whole with someone with his skill added to the field," argued Kai, as if anyone was actually going to put up an argument against him. Declan was currently staring at him though, fork halfway in his mouth and his face obscured by his bangs.
Judy looked thoughtful, thinking all this over and letting it sink in slowly. She wouldn't make a decision now, and she knew Kai knew this as well; it would all wait until Monday practice. A small smile was given, an approving one, as she nodded her head slowly. "You've made some good points, and I'll think about what you've said. Of course I'd like you to think about it as well Declan. None of us are going to force you to do anything you don't want to. I'll tell you all my decision on Monday, but until then lets just enjoy the rest of dinner before you all call home to inform your parents you'll all be heading over to Declan's."
"Wait wait wait… Let me get this all sorted out," stated Declan as he set his fork down and touched his temple gently. "Okay, so I'm allowed to go back home, but you're having all them stay in that dirty house with me… I'm allowed to go back to school, but you all want me to join the soccer team and I'm supposed to somehow get control of my power--"
"We're here to help you with that," said Kai with a faint smile. "You don't have to worry about having to do everything by yourself anymore--you have friends. Of course we understand you also need time to yourself, seeing as we all need it, some more than others. Anyways, Tala and I will be moving in as well to help fill up that house and give more hands in helping with cleaning it. Our mom needs to move into an apartment as so to help her with the bills since keeping the two of us around in such a big house all by herself isn't very easy."
"You're an ass, Kai. Since when do you speak for us both? I'm quite happy staying with mom, thank you very much. I doubt he wants me staying with him anyways--we don't get along. It's bad enough you're going to more than likely be putting us on the same soccer team already," complained Tala only to have a mushy grilled vegetable land on his face and slide down to land on his plate. Icy blue eyes shifted to look at the culprit; Declan who was currently rolling his eyes and putting his fork down.
"All you do is complain. Can't you just shut up and just realize that Kai knows what's good for you and your family?" grumbled Declan exasperatedly. "I honestly don't care if you all stay at my place. It's too much room for me alone anyways, though I don't want the place to be looking any worse than what it already does. I'd like to live there as long as the government will let me, thank you very much. Just stay out of my room."
"It's settled then," nodded Ray with mirth filled smile as Tala went about wiping the food off his face. "The four of us will move in together and we'll all help out one another and make that place livable. Mrs. Tate has gotten someone to help us out anyways, so we shouldn't have to worry about much money seeing as Judy as found someone to help you out, Declan. We'll have no problem fixing that place up to be a real home, and if the government has something to say about it than they can step out, because we can handle things here."
"Look," started Declan with a sigh, pushing his chair out from the table as he stood slowly, his ribs aching slightly due to their tenderness. "You all don't have to help me so much.. I'm not the only mutant out there having troubles in life, and I know you all go by the 'we mutants need to stick together' motto, but still.. I could never repay you all back--it's just not physically possible."
"Who said anything about paying anyone back?" questioned Kai as he watched Declan move. "We look out for you, you look out for us. That's good enough, and anyways you're our friend. We help friends out, mutants or not. Though yes there are some rather.. unfriendly people around here, we still have each other. Just be yourself and let everyone act as they will--you only have this year of school left, so it's not like thy are going to ruin your life. Anyways, I won't let them… Nor this bone-head of a brother."
"I resent that remark, Kai." Shoving his adoptive brother lightly Tala narrowed his eyes at the duel-haired male. "I'm not an ass all the time.. Just a majority of it." And then with a smirk he jabbed his fork in the air in Declan's direction. "Look, I'll try to be more civil around you, but there are reasons I act as I do just as there are reasons why you act as you do. Don't go pushing buttons and I won't go pushing buttons back, deal?"
"It's not as if I intentionally 'push your buttons.' I don't know you, who you are, your personality quirks, anything about you really--I have no choice but to go off by feel, which has clearly gotten me no where at all," stated Declan with a pointed look. "I don't read minds, I'm not an empath; this thing called friendship is two sided, so I can't just be left here in the dark without unintentionally pushing buttons I didn't even know existed to begin with."
"He has a point," chuckled Ray as he listened o this go on. "Your cold-hearted bastard attitude and exterior really isn't going to help anyone in not pushing your buttons, Tala. Think of it as walking through a maze blindfolded--you'd be walking into walls all over the place. Now if you didn't have the blind fold on, meaning you gave him more info about yourself and chill out some, there would be no wall bashing."
"Fine, point taken, just stop ganging up on me already like I'm the bad guy here. Look, are we all done here yet? I'm tired, and I would rather sleep where I'm not imposing upon someone else's house for once." When several nods greeted Tala he rose from his seat, grabbing his plate, napkin, and dirty plastic silverware and taking it with him as he headed back inside. "I'm going to go ahead and call Mom, Kai. We can talk to her tomorrow, however, about all this."
"Best course of action, seeing as I should follow the same path. I'll just call my parents after you and help clean up until the phone is free," yawned Ray as he rose once more from his seat and followed after Tala into the house. He knew his parents wouldn't mind him moving out, and Lee would be nothing but supportive of him--he always was--especially if it concerned Declan, seeing his older brother had taken a liking to the teen.
Clearing his throat Declan pushed back his bangs, tucking them behind his ears so his face could be seen by those still outside. "I want to.. Thank you all for helping me so much. Things haven't been easy, and I've never really had anyone to support me so much like all of you have. You didn't have to do this for me, Judy… And Kai, you didn't have to move in with me and help to clean up that filthy home.. But I'm glad you did anyways. It means a lot to me, it really does."
"That's what friends are for, and I will always be here to support you, Declan. I may not be your mother, and I know your past makes it hard to think on it, but I'll still treat you like a son anyways," smiled Judy as she pushed back her chair and stood up. "I'm here if you need someone to talk to, or merely someone to listen without being judging. I'm sure your friends will help you with your school work, and your intelligent enough as it is, but my home is always open to you if you need anything. Just ask."
"You two ready to go?" questioned Tala from the sliding glass door, his body leaning against the frame in a tired and almost bored manner, as if he was trying to act indifferent to the whole matter. "I'm ready to hit the sack, and Ray is falling asleep standing on his own two feet. Everything is in the SUV, and thank you again Mr. and Mrs. Tate for allowing us to stay in your home during the course of the week--lets hope it doesn't come down to anything like this again."
"Even I can agree with that," spoke up Declan with a gentle shrug of his shoulders, grabbing his plate and such as he started moving towards the open glass door. Tala moved for him as he passed by and behind him Kai bid farewell to the two adults before following behind Declan with Tala trailing at his heels. They all threw their trash away, washed their plates, and made sure things were back in order around the house before heading out the door and piling into the SUV. They pulled out of the driveway just before Max and Tyson came back.
The ride to Declan's place was uneventful. There were three stops on the way, one to Ray's home to pick up some of his things and a sleeping bag, another to Kai's and Tala's home to get their sleeping bags as well along with some other cloths and some other belongings, and then the third stop being the store as so to pick up food and the such so there were things that weren't going bad to actually eat in the morning. There was no doubt that the fruit left in the kitchen was already rotting in the bowl on the counter.
Peeking over the side of the passenger's seat Ray blinked his tired amber orbs at the sleeping Declan behind him, and then with a yawn he turned to Kai as he pulled into the driveway. "I don't think we should wake him.. For tonight we all should crash on his bedroom floor until we get the chance to clean things up more--I doubt he'll mind anyways. Just as long as we don't trash his room, anyways."
"Good idea; Tala take Declan up to his room while Ray and I get everything out from the car and into the house. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm beat and in need of a good night's sleep." With that Kai turned the SUV off, pulling out the keys and tucking them away in his pocket as he went forth to first search the still unlocked house before actually letting everyone else in after him. As Judy had said there were new locks and everything put in and all the keys and alarm codes sat on the kitchen counter next to the rotting fruit.
Not too long after Tala had Declan tucked away in bed, shoes sitting at his bedrooms door outside so the carpet was unharmed, the red-head found his way into the kitchen where the other two were unpacking what they had bought from the store. Running his arms he shivered lightly, eyeing the cloud his breath made in the air. "Damn it… Why is it so cold in this house?"
"I don't think he's gotten around to checking the heater yet, Tala. All he wanted was warm, clean water the first week here, so it's going to be cold until we actually get the heater fixed and working properly. We'd better double up sleeping bangs, just so we don't freeze our asses off in the middle of the night. Of course I'm sure we can all fit on Declan's bed comfortable enough, and therefore keep each other warm in the process."
"You don't think he might bite our heads off after waking to find every single one of us in his bed?" snorted Tala only to get a side-long look from Kai. With a sigh he threw his hands up in the air in defeat. "Fine, we'll all fit in the bed, seeing as I don't want to freeze to death during the night either. Just don't blame me when he wakes up in a bad mood," said the teen with a rolled of his eyes as he was followed by the others back to Declan's room.
After moving Declan over to take up less of the bed and unzipping the sleeping bags so they were like blankets the three crawled into the warm bed after shutting the light off. They constant shifting to try to get comfortable amazingly didn't wake up Declan, who was completely oblivious to the fact three other guys were in his bed. Kai and Ray found themselves comfortable curled up against one another, sharing body heat as the Chinese youth rested his head upon Kai's chest with a low hum. Both were asleep while Tala was still trying to get enough room to himself to get comfortable.
"Damn them all and their stupid ideas… Enough room for all four of us; not even." Tala found himself uncomfortable and unable to get to sleep, shifting almost constantly in his search to get comfortable in a bed that wasn't supposed to the used by four bodies at the same time. He soon found himself being elbowed in the side through by a grumbling Declan who was muttering something about being still while he rolled over and unconsciously wrapped himself around Tala like he was a warm teddy bear. The Russian ground his teeth together, uncomfortable at first before shifting faintly and finally shutting his eyes--he'd have to yell at the teen in the morning for clinging to him in his sleep, but he was too tired and too warm to do so right now. Sleep soon over came him and the night drifted on.