Hi! This is the second chapter, which I did not write. NiennaAngel wrote it for me when I was suffering from writer's block. She's a sweety (huggles) So send your praises to her. Oh, and thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter. Thankies!
Johnny sat down beside Ray who was watching his team practice along with Robert. Despite his seemingly complete recovery after their first kiss Ray had relapsed slightly, but was starting to get better. The Scottish gladiator watched his boyfriend through cautious eyes. They had officially become boyfriends the same day as their first kiss, but it still felt odd to the salamander. He had spent a long time watching the graceful tiger from afar that it was hard to believe he could actually hold said tiger. Ray lifted turned his attention from the battle between Max and Kai to smile softly at Johnny. He motioned for the Scot to move in front of him and the redhead happily complied. Ray's arms wound around his salamander's shoulders and pulled him back against his chest. Johnny let his eyes wander as he relaxed in the Chinese tiger's arms. Violet orbs landed on his captain talking to the G Revolution's coach. Smirking he directed his boyfriend's crush to the pair as well. Ray rested his chin on top of Johnny's head and laughed. "I think Kai has his hand in that. He keeps giving the two an excuse to spend time together alone."
"Kai didn't set everything up to get us together did he?" Johnny asked as a horrifying thought crossed his mind.
"What do you mean?" Ray shifted so that he could look into the Scot's face as he furrowed his brow in confusion.
"He didn't set it so that you would get sick did he? He wouldn't go that far would he?" Johnny was clearly worried which Ray found irresistibly adorable. He placed a firm kiss against Johnny's lips and smiled.
"No, he wouldn't do that. The thing you have to remember is that Kai is always thinking. I'm sure when he realized that there was an opportunity to get us together he took it. Kai and I are like brothers. He wouldn't hurt me." Johnny nodded reassured that everything was alright.
"What happened exactly? No one's really said what happened to make you sick in the first place. The others mentioned something about a weird beybattle, but nothing else."
"I've seen that kid before actually. He and I used to compete in the same street competitions in Hong Kong. There was something really weird about his bitbeast that made his opponents sick. It didn't happen all the time, but we all eventually figured out that he was doing it. He has Cerberus for a bitbeast so it's not really surprising that it has that kind of power. I really hate that bitbeast. It's the kind that has fifty heads instead of three. I'm not sure what he was doing here, but he probably just wanted to battle me. I never battled him while I was in Hong Kong and he always hated me for that. I think I insulted him one too many times before I left to join the BBA." Ray kissed Johnny's cheek before nuzzling his neck gently. "Don't worry about it okay? It's fine now. I'm almost completely healed. I just don't have as much energy or as big of an appetite as usual, but I'm sure that will be just fine in a few more days." Johnny nodded and leaned his head back against Ray's chest. Johnny's gaze rested on Robert and Hiro once more and smiled. If those two could get together everything would be fine.
Hiro smiled softly at the noble standing in front of him. He had been enjoying the conversations they had over the past few days and was looking forward to getting the German blader more. "Why don't we go for a walk? I think the others will be fine on their own for a little while." Robert nodded his consent and followed as Hiro started to walk away. "Are you enjoying yourself in Japan? I know it's a bit different from Germany."
Robert chuckled as he nodded. "I think a bit different is an understatement though. The cultures are very different and it's hard to find a good German restaurant anywhere in this city. Actually, I don't think there is one. I'm sure I would have been able to find it by now if it existed."
It was Hiro's turn to laugh. "You're a very surprising individual Robert. I think you've countered every bad thing the press has ever said about you during your stay."
Robert shrugged slightly. "They say what they want to say based on stereotypes of what a noble should be like. Just because my family is stuck in the dark ages when the titles of Lord actually mattered doesn't mean I am. The title is for show these days to say that my family is better than others because we were at one point your rulers and in some cases owners. It's annoying and uncalled for. People are people regardless of how much money or how many titles they have." Robert shook his head in annoyance, but stopped and smiled up at Hiro. "Please, ignore my ramblings. It's a sore topic for me."
"That's alright. I don't mind listening to you ramble. You don't usually say a whole lot because you think over everything you say and then discard most of what you think as possibly offensive and stay silent. When you ramble I get a better idea of who you are and what you think. So, please, feel free to ramble about me without fear of offending me. It's actually very hard to do." Robert blushed lightly as they came to a stop next to the Granger's pond out of sight from where the others were practicing. Hiro raised his hand and gently ran his fingertips along the griffin's cheekbone. "Somehow when you blush you go from elegantly beautiful to elegantly adorable. I didn't think it was possible" he whispered softly as he stepped closer to the younger man. Robert's blush doubled in intensity at the compliment. He opened his mouth to say something and then stopped unsure of how to respond to it. Hiro chuckled. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything." Robert nodded as he raised his hand and placed it gently on the bluenette's chest. Hiro's arms snaked around his waist pulling him closer hoping for a kiss, but Robert bowed his head and rested his forehead against Hiro's chest instead. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. This is just all a little too surreal. I'm pretty sure that I'll wake up any minute now and I don't want to be disappointed when I do." Robert's fingers curled around the fabric of Hiro's shirt tightly. He wanted to kiss the older blader, but was desperately afraid of being let down when he woke up from this wonderful dream.
Hiro slipped his fingers beneath Robert's chin and gently lifted his face. "I assure you Robert. This isn't a dream. It's really happening." Robert stared up at him with burgundy eyes swimming with a complex mixture of emotions. Hiro found it difficult to pin any of them down long enough to identify. He could only hope that one of those emotions was love. Gently he pressed his lips against Robert's and wasn't disappointed when the noble started to respond albeit hesitantly. His hands moved up Robert's back pulling him even closer. One hand stopped between the noble's shoulder blades while the other rose to help support his neck. All hesitation disappeared from the kiss as the hand Robert had been keeping at his side rose and rested gently on the side of Hiro's neck. They pulled apart and smiled at each other.
"I think I'm in heaven." Hiro's response was to press their lips together in another gentle, exploring kiss. Robert's lips parted allowing his partner access to his mouth. Hiro took full advantage and ran his tongue teasingly along every part of the noble's sweet cavern. He smiled to himself when he realized that the iced drink he had seen in Robert's hand earlier had been caramel flavored. They parted when they heard cheering coming from behind them. Robert tried to pull out of Hiro's embrace and turn around, but the elder wasn't going to let him. Sighing he rested his head against Hiro's chest. "They're all watching aren't they?"
"Yes, but Kai is making everyone leave. I never thought he'd be a matchmaker, but ever since he and Max got together he's been getting all of his friends together as well. Johnny and Ray weren't the first and I'm sure we won't be the last." Robert laughed softly as he slipped his hand from the side of Hiro's neck to the back pulling him in for another kiss. It was brief, but was enough for both. They needed just one last taste of each other before rejoining the others.
"Kai and Max are dating?" Robert inquired softly.
"For almost a year now. They don't tell a lot of people and they're careful about public displays of affection so no one has really figured it out. Tyson, Daichi, Kenny and Hilary still haven't figured it out and the only reason Ray and I know is because we walked in on them making out in the kitchen a few months ago. They fessed up once we found out, but they certainly weren't going to tell anyone unless they were caught." Robert shook his head as they joined Ray and Johnny on the porch. The later pair was cuddled on the steps so Robert and Hiro took the porch swing and watched the practice battle that was happening between Tyson and Daichi.
It's pretty clear that NiennaAngel wrote it, huh? After all, it's good. Far better then anything I could think up. Please review and send all your love to Nienna. Thanks again!