A/N: Wow guys…this chapter came out of NOWHERE. Normally, it takes me longer to set up a situation and get all of the facts straight than this, but this chapter just fell right off my fingertips. In less than an hour and a half nonetheless…
So part of me is worried that it isn't up to my usual standards, and part of me knows it's some of the best work I've done so far. Hopefully you'll love it as much as I do. ;D
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
…
Tala walked seemingly casual down the road towards Rei's office building. His slender hands were pocketed. Approaching the building within a few minutes, he quickly surveyed the area. That must be it…
His eyes barely strayed from the invisible spot on the ground he'd located for himself, and when the right moment came, he turned gracefully down a back alley. Not a single person saw him.
Not even Max, who had been watching from a distance.
Pleased with himself, the red head removed his hands from his jean pockets and glanced around. It was your average alley, but it wound around the building, just as he predicted. Quickly jogging through the dark area, he found what he was looking for: a fire escape.
So that's how you did it? He growled softly to himself as he got closer. Son of a bitch…
He didn't want to startle anyone who could possibly be working, so he refrained from pulling the ladder down. But it was clear that this was the obvious way into the building. Whoever had broken in that night had been looking for Rei…and more than likely had followed them home— Tala swore violently at the obvious truth.
"How could I have been so stupid!" he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, and paced back and forth.
Whoever it was had broken in and walked out the front, seemingly a late employee on their way home, giving them the false security that whoever they were had actually left; when in reality they had probably waited in their car for them to come out. Tala had led them right to Rei's place, and Rei had given them the entrance by, no doubt, using the fire escape to get into his apartment. Fuck.
They'd been so caught up in the whole night, he hadn't even thought of the possibilities of being followed. But now, everything made sense.
And he planned to do something about it.
Just as the slender Russian turned to head out of the secluded area, his cell phone went off. His ice blue eyes widened as he fumbled for it, half surprised, and half ecstatic. Finally getting the damn thing open, he lifted it to his ear.
"Bryan!"
…
Rei watched curiously as his koi rested against his shoulder. There was an extreme change in his lover when he slept…the weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders, his face relaxed and calm. Sadly, the neko-jinn wished he could see that expression on his face when he was awake.
Brushing his wild bangs from his forehead, he smiled when the teen in his arms leaned slightly into the touch. And then the smile faded into the silence as he turned his head to look out the window.
"I want to help you Kai," he whispered, still facing the window. "But I'm so afraid to put you and Tala in danger… Look at what I've done already."
"The danger will always be there Rei."
The voice startled him badly. "Were you awake this whole time?" he asked incredulously.
"No," Kai answered with a sigh, as if he regretted waking up. "I'm a light sleeper," he added quickly when the Chinese teen quirked an eyebrow.
"Ah…can you see through walls as well?" he joked. It was lost on Kai as he sat up, rubbing his eyes wearily.
"…see through walls…?"
"I was barely speaking out loud," the neko clarified. "And I wasn't even facing you."
Kai stiffened for a minute before coolly covering it up. Rei furrowed his brows in confusion.
"I was already waking up," he replied offhandedly. The younger teen shook his head, but he didn't say anything else. He knew it'd be pointless.
"You still look tired," he told him, golden eyes softening. "If you want to rest, you can go lay down in my room. I'll let you know when Tala and Maxie get back."
The crimson-eyed teen looked up, surprised. "I'm fine…"
"Oh?"
With a sigh, the blunette rubbed his eyes again. "I don't sleep well Rei."
The neko watched him closely before scooting closer. "Did you think I would hold it against you?" he asked softly, earning himself another surprised look. Rei kissed him then, gently cupping his tattooed cheek. When he pulled back, he smiled, pressing their foreheads together.
"Go lay down, I'm right here," he promised.
The normally stoic Russian let out a short breath, relieved. Smiling back, he kissed his koi one more time before standing. Silently he made his way to Rei's room, closing the door behind him when he had entered.
Kai hadn't turned back to thank his lover, for fear that he would notice the steady streams of tears trailing down his cheeks.
…
"Bryan!"
The pale-eyed teen closed his eyes, relishing in the sound of Tala's voice. "Who else?" he answered smartly, trying not to think of what he had to do.
"I don't know, these American boys are something else…" he replied, with feigned innocence. Bryan growled, the comment sufficiently distracting him from the original intent of his call.
"They wouldn't have your phone number."
"Why not?" the redhead continued playfully. "It's a secured line."
"I've missed you," he told the teen on the other line sincerely. Tala paused at his soft tone, as if startled by the sudden show of affection. He was.
"I've missed you too Bryan…"
Suddenly the world seemed so grey.
Swallowing hard, the lilac-haired teen lowered his head. The abuse had been normal for them. But this? This seemed so impossible. After nothing was said for a few minutes, the redhead piped up from the other end of the line.
"What is it?" he asked seriously, sensing conflict.
Glancing out of the corner of his eye, the pale teen stared at the manila folder on the table across from him for a few seconds.
Visual Progression. He felt the bile rise in his throat again.
Refusing to worry his lover any more than he was about to, the stocky teen took a deep breath, and buried his nausea.
"Tala…I found something in Boris's room today."
"What?" the surprise was warranted. They had all thought Voltaire would have been the one to hide the information.
"Yeah," he breathed, leaning back into his chair. "A file drawer, filled with shit."
"Jesus…"
"Look, there's a folder, that…that I think you'll need."
"What did you find, Bryan?" he asked, quietly, as if afraid of the answer. His lover sounded so frail. It was unnerving him.
"Pictures."
…
Tala's throat tightened painfully. "Pictures?" he gasped slightly, trying hard to stop his hands from shaking.
"Yeah," Bryan sighed, sounding close to losing it. "Fucking bastard."
He didn't know how to react. A knot had formed in his stomach, and he hadn't even seen them yet. He could only imagine…
"Of Kai?" he whispered mournfully, feeling his emotions slip back out of his control.
"Of Kai," his koi confirmed, voice shaking with anger. "Of Kai and…and everything."
Tala felt a fear rise in him that he'd never known before. His breath shuddered as an uncomfortable shiver ran up his spine, making his shoulders twitch painfully.
"Everything?" he forced himself to ask.
"Everything they did to him!" the older teen yelled, making the redhead jump. He listened as Bryan slammed his fist into something solid. "Well," he paused; the sound of papers shifting took his place for the moment. "Forgive me," he snarled sarcastically. "This is only for the last month. Was there a certain date you wanted me to look up? Because I'm sure I can find it!"
Tala flinched at the words. "Bryan please…"
In an instant the line was quiet.
"Do you think he knew?" the pale-eyed Russian asked after a short pause, changing the subject for his koi.
"I don't know," Tala responded with difficulty. "But you'd think it would be something he'd remember."
"He probably does…"
The redhead silently agreed. If it were him, he wouldn't have mentioned them either. They both listened to the static between them on the line, unsure of how to continue, waiting for the other one make the next move.
"I love you Tala, promise me you'll be careful."
"I will Bryan. I love you too."
Snapping the phone shut, the slender teen shoved it back into his pocket and glared at the filthy ground beneath his shoes. For a long time he couldn't move. While his shoulders were shaking with a barely controlled anger, his knees felt weak.
What could Bryan have possibly seen that would shake him to his very core?
Shutting his eyes Tala decided that, if given the choice, he never wanted to know. His icy eyes burned as he fought to hold back his tears. Pictures…
Letting out a pained breath, he wiped them away, turning to look up at the fire escape once more.
"I will make sure you pay for everything," he promised fiercely, simultaneously referring to Voltaire and Boris.
Chewing his lower lip, the redhead slipped out of the alley as easily as he'd entered it, heading briskly back up the street towards the park where Max was waiting for him.
He smiled when he reached the bright-eyed teen, despite the confusion and hatred that was boiling up in his throat. Maxie smiled back, but it was evident that he'd been anxious for him to return.
"Everything okay?" he asked, pretending not to be worried.
"Everything's fine." Oh how he had wished it were true.
With a relieved sigh, the blonde tugged on his companion's hand. "How about a cup of coffee then? My treat," he offered.
Tala was suddenly thankful, for people like Max in the world.
…
A/N: Upon request, I added more of the "Kai sleeping" scene, and let him explain a little more about himself. It worked out extremely well actually. Of course he was ashamed of his nightmare…and Rei had to let him know there was nothing wrong with it. Although, you'll notice he doesn't actually ever directly ask Kai about the situation. He's still wary of the fragile bridge between them. He's not yet ready to cross it. And yes Kai was crying. But they were tears of relief and joy. I couldn't possibly convey how much that moment meant to him.
And of course I couldn't characterize Max as a goof-ball consuming way too much sugar and bouncing around like a moron. :sweatdrops: He's an intelligent character, and very kind and gentle.
Hmm. Tala and Bryan. That was a tricky one. So much foreshadowing…so little time. The stage is set ladies and gentleman.
As always, thank you all so much for your support!
