A/N: I'd just like to request that before you kill me, you take into account that I wrote you all an extra long chapter to make up for my absence. :coughs: It's no consolation, I know. And I won't give you any excuses. All I have left to say is that the chapter is finally finished, and I hope you all enjoy it. :)
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
…
Max shouldered his way through the crowds of people on the sidewalks. Apparently work was getting out. With a sigh he proceeded to cross the road to a quieter part of the city. Shady…but quiet.
As the noises of New York's people faded to a dull roar in the background, Max slowed his walk, and let his legs carry him to the Dragon's Den Comics. He only prayed that Tyson was home.
He hadn't been thinking properly when he'd told Tala that he would spend the night at his boyfriend's house. Not only did the thought seem a little frightening, not having been with a guy seriously before, but Tyson might not be home at all, and Max would find himself on the streets. He had given Tala his house key after all.
With a painful sigh, the blonde teen kept moving down the sidewalks and across the streets staring at the ground all the while. He watched the gravel slide past him, beneath his shoes, and found himself swallowing down a painful lump that tightened up his throat.
It made sense. He knew it did. He shouldn't be a part of Rei's problem. Or Tala's, or Kai's, because it was very likely that he could be used against them, or perhaps he would put them all in danger… But the urge to help his friends, especially Rei, was just too great. And to be denied that ability—the choice to be involved—left him feeling inadequate, and useless.
His steps slowed as he turned one last street corner. Looking up, Max's blue eyes glistened at the sight of the large green, rectangular sign positioned above the door of a familiar shoppe. In long, flowing white script, Dragon's Den Comics shone warmly back at him. Smiling slightly, he walked to the glass door and opened it, hearing a small bell tinkle above him as he entered. He stood there in the doorway for quite some time, searching the nearly empty store for his lover.
"Max?"
Turning slightly, the blonde smiled as Tyson appeared from a back room, holding a rather large box in his arms, that looked entirely too heavy for him to be carrying. The blunette offered him a strained smile before dropping the box with a loud 'crash', behind the counter. Max winced, quirking a half smile as the Japanese teen made his way over brightly.
"New releases," he explained briefly before kissing the blonde on the cheek. "How are you?" he asked pleasantly.
"Actually Tyson, can I…talk to you for a bit? If you're not busy, or…well, I could come back later, if you're still working. I should have called first," he laughed stupidly, feeling more than awkward.
Tyson frowned slightly, watching Max's agitated, jumpy movements and nodded. "Yeah sure…hey Daichi?" he called out into the small store.
"Yeah, what d'ya want Tyson? I'm with a customer!"
Max looked over his boyfriends shoulder to see a very small, very angry looking red-head. He was glaring at Tyson with his hands on his hips, as if this sort of thing happened all of the time.
The blunette remained unperturbed. "Watch the store for me will you? I'll be back in half an hour or so."
"Where're ya goin'?" he asked loudly, his frown deepening.
"Something's come up," he replied evasively, a hint of annoyance setting into his voice. Max was sure he saw one of those deep navy eyes twitch.
"Yeah, alright," Daichi gave in finally. "But I'll be looking for you in half an hour!"
Tyson groaned and led Max through the back of the store and up the stairs to his studio apartment above the comic shop. When they reached the entrance hall, Max turned to Tyson again.
"Who…was that?" he asked a bit harshly, though not unkindly. In fact, he had a smile on his face at the thought of the tiny redhead talking so rudely to Tyson.
"That, is my worst nightmare. Daichi Sumeragi. He's new here, but I swear he acts like he runs the place. If I didn't need help he'd be so fired by now."
Max laughed, "I was wondering about that..."
"Yeah, he's a good kid, he's just…unbearable. I don't know what I would do if I had to spend more than a few hours at a time with him."
Reaching for his key, Tyson let them both in and gestured for Max to make himself comfortable. When they were seated, the blonde teen felt the miniscule amount of cheerfulness that he had found in the presence of his koi escape him once again. A cold, dark feeling seeped back into his chest and flooded his throat. He couldn't speak.
"So," Tyson began, leaning back into his chair. "What's up?"
Max looked at the floor. At his jeans. At his folded hands. He couldn't bring himself to look up into Tyson's face. Now that he was here, his resolve, and his voice had escaped him.
"Max?" Frowning, the blunette leaned forward slightly, trying to get a better view of his boyfriends face. Worry passed over his eyes as he took in the ruffled, almost desperate look Maxie had adopted. "Maxie, what's wrong?"
"Can I spend the night at your place?" he answered, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course," Tyson answered instantly, reaching out to take Max's hands. "Did something happen?"
Max nodded, and with a deep breath he finally took his eyes off of the floor.
"Rei…needs his space." He tried explaining further, but the words caught in his throat and his eyes welled up. He didn't dare blink, even though from Tyson's increasingly anxious look, he knew that the blunette could already see his tears.
"Hey…shh," Tyson comforted softly, squeezing Max's hands. "Relax, I need to go back downstairs, but I want you to lie down and try to rest okay?"
Numbly, Max let himself be pulled to his feet, and led into Tyson's room. It was a complete disaster, but neither of them took notice of it while the blunette laid his lover down on the thick red comforter. Once Max was comfortable, Tyson left the room and came back moments later with a glass of water.
"Here," he said, setting the glass down on the bedside table. "Take it easy. If you need me I'll be downstairs. The store closes at seven so, I'm afraid I'll be a while…when I come back, you can tell me everything, and we'll work it out. Everything will be fine, I promise."
Gently, he leaned down and kissed his koi's pale forehead. "Okay?"
Max nodded again, and did his best to offer a reassuring smile. "Thank you."
"Anytime," Tyson told him sincerely as he stood up.
For a long moment after the door had closed, the American teen remained lying on his back, staring at the door. Eventually, he turned his head, feeling strangely detached from reality. Just then, he caught a glimpse of the time.
From across the room, the red numbers of the alarm clock flickered as a minute passed. 1:02 pm.
With a quiet choke, the blonde teen turned on his side, away from the clock, and burying his face in Tyson's pillow, he curled up, and cried.
…
Kai drove them to his hotel room, pushing the speed limit even though it was practically down the road from Rei's apartment. He didn't feel comfortable being out in the open anymore. Rei was sitting next to him, anxiously trying to get a hold of Max. He had suggested that his lover come stay with him and Tala for the night, as he wasn't comfortable with Rei being alone at night either; but their blonde friend wasn't answering his phone, and Rei didn't want him to come back home to find everyone gone without an explanation.
Finally the neko snapped his phone shut. "I give up," he muttered in frustration sliding his cell phone back into his pocket. Kai snorted softly. Give up? Rei would start trying to call Max again when they got to the hotel.
Tala however, was quiet as a mouse; something unusual for his normally loud, sarcastic, friend. The redhead was staring out the window of the backseat, his eyes blank, as if lost deep in thought.
Kai's ruby gaze flitted between the road ahead of him, and Tala, as they continued towards the hotel. His demeanor had been unnerving ever since he had walked through the door without Max.
As they pulled up to the hotel, Tala swallowed hard in his seemingly calm state. His mind was a blur of anxiety and hopelessness. Surely Kai knew about the photos…he had to know. It wouldn't make sense if he didn't. And there had to have been a good reason Kai never mentioned them. Yeah, Tala thought bitterly as he let himself out of the car. No one was ever supposed to know about them. That's why. Biting his lip until it was sore, he let his feet carry him to the hotel room behind Kai and Rei.
What would Kai do when he found out that Bryan had seen them? Would he allow them to be used in the case? Those pictures were exactly the kind of evidence that they needed, but given the situation, if Tala were in Kai's place, he didn't think he would be very keen on letting anyone—even his best friend—see them. Ever.
Tala shuddered, not being able to stop himself from being curious. His mind was conjuring gruesome images, and although his heart rejected them, he remained utterly riveted.
Feeling sick, he looked up just in time to follow Rei and Kai through the door to the hotel. Letting it close behind him, he jogged up the stairs without a word, shut the door to his room, and ripped his cell phone from his pocket. The redhead furiously punched the familiar number into the key pad, becoming increasingly frustrated with each passing second. Putting the phone to his ear, he paced back and forth across the room, listening to the ring tone in the receiver.
…
"Kai? What is it?"
The blunette blinked, turning to face Rei from where he had been standing, staring into oblivion at the top of the stairs where Tala had disappeared without a word. With a frown, he took one last glance before leading the neko into his kitchen.
"Does Tala…seem…?" Kai started without knowing how to finish. He looked at the floor tiles for help as he crossed the room to make some coffee; tea for Rei.
"Agitated?" Rei offered, standing alongside his lover to help. Kai's frown deepened as he reached for three mugs.
"It's more than that…" he muttered. "He won't even look at me."
The Chinese teen seemed to think about this for a moment. "Maybe he's just distracted," he finally answered in a reassuring voice, setting the water to boil for tea. "A lot has happened today."
Kai nodded, but even looking out of the corner of his eye Rei knew his koi wasn't convinced. With a small sigh, the neko placed his hand comfortingly between Kai's shoulder blades, rubbing small circles on his back.
"Why don't you go talk to him?" he smiled. "I'll take care of this, and you can come and get it when you're ready."
Finished with the coffee pot, Kai leaned heavily into the counter, letting Rei rub his back gently for a long time. So long in fact, that his lover began to wonder if he had actually heard him. Eventually however, Kai did straighten.
"Yeah, I'll go and check on him…" he answered distantly. "Thanks Rei."
With another smile and a kiss on the cheek, the raven-haired teen nudged him off.
…
"I can't…I can't do it…"
Tala was muttering to himself from where he stood in front of his computer. The LCD screen seemed to mock him, reminding him of all of the failures they had suffered trying to find some spark of evidence to give their case tangible proof. And now, a gem lands in their laps…and no one wants to touch it.
Turning away with a sneer, he glared at his discarded cell phone, willing it to ring. His frown deepened when it remained as still and quiet as ever. Where the hell was Bryan? He growled to himself angrily. Normally the stoic teen was extremely diligent about having his phone on him at all times.
"Figures…" Tala sighed, relaxing his stance slightly to rub wearily at his eyes.
In that moment his frustration and anxiety dissipated into exhaustion. Helplessness sank into his skin and pulled him towards his bed. With nothing else left to do, he complied reluctantly, and buried his face in his pillows.
A knock on the door made him jump slightly, barely managing to roll over against the pounding of his heart in his chest.
"Come in," he answered as normally as he could muster without turning to face the door. Tala remained on his side, the hand tucked comfortably beneath his pillows clutching their soft fabrics in suspense.
Kai entered softly, shutting the door behind him.
"What happened today Tala?" he asked abruptly. The redhead didn't move, and for a moment, he didn't dare breathe. Finally he managed to get a hold of himself.
"I nearly spilled coffee all over myself and Max at the café this morning," he answered innocently, a hint of a laugh in his tone. "Rather embarrassing actually."
Kai frowned and sat down on the bed, not at all amused with Tala's evasive answer. Gently he reached over and pushed the redhead onto his back so that he could look at him face to face. Having never been put in that situation, the slender Russian was acutely aware of how vulnerable he felt, lying on his back in the way that Kai had forced him too. He didn't like it, but the blunette pushed him back down, keeping a firm hand on his shoulder when he tried to sit up. Swallowing, Tala fidgeted slightly.
"Kai…?"
"You've done so much for me Tala," he replied in a hurt tone. "You've risked your own life for mine countless times and you continue to do so even now, being here with me."
"And that will never change," he interjected confidently. "I will always be there for you."
"Then why is it so difficult for you to tell me the truth?"
Tala was thunderstruck by these words. "I've never lied to you Kai."
"But you aren't telling me the truth either. Not this time. You knew what I meant when I asked you what happened today Tala." The redhead narrowed his eyes, anger slowly building up in his chest, threatening to spill out of his throat.
"All I've ever done for you was in your best interest. You should keep that in mind," he answered scathingly.
"And you should keep in mind that I'm not a child anymore!" Kai snapped back. "What are you saying Tala, that I can't handle the truth?"
Grabbing Kai's wrist, he took the opportunity to throw the blunette's weight back and finally sit up.
"These things aren't always about you Kai!" he shouted, his blue eyes flashing dangerously.
"What is that supposed to mean?" the other growled, snatching his wrist away. "Are you saying I'm arrogant enough to—"
"Maybe I'm the one who can't handle the truth!" Tala interrupted suddenly, his voice shaking.
"Truth about WHAT?" Kai finally yelled back.
"About the things that YOU haven't told ME!"
"Like what!" He nearly screamed, hurt and confused.
"I find it hard to believe that you knew nothing about the folder of pictures Boris kept as documentation of every single fucked up thing that happened in that basement when you were with him Kai! This case could have been over in a heartbeat with that kind of information. OVER. But you sat on your hands and watched us work our asses off trying to figure something out when you knew it was all for SHIT!" He spat, hardly noticing the horrified look on his best friends face, his own screwed up in a sort of snarl. "You knew it was Boris and Voltaire's one way ticket to permanent residence in solitary confinement, so I guess I'm a little confused as to what the fuck you were playing at when you decided not to mention it?"
Without a warning, Kai grabbed Tala by the front of his shirt and slammed him hard into the headboard of his bed. Surprised, the redhead cried out when his head cracked against the wood.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Kai hissed. "Have you even seen them?"
Still slightly stunned, the redhead swallowed, but couldn't answer. Kai narrowed his eyes threateningly.
"I didn't think so. And if you know what's good for you, you'll never think twice about seeing them again. You don't have a fucking clue Tala, so don't assume you've got it all figured out."
"Who's fault is that?" he shot back. "And you have the nerve to stand on your soapbox and lecture me about telling half truths and trusting people with my problems?"
"This is much more than just a problem, we're talking about my own private dimension of Hell Tala, spread out on a lab table for the entire world to see," he whispered menacingly, his grip on the other Russian's shirt tightening. "Do you have any idea of what the consequences are for bringing that file out into the public?"
"It's the only way to win this case Kai!"
"It isn't! What we need to win this case is not the events that took place, but the reasons why it all took place!"
"You know as well as I do that that makes no fucking sense. What the court wants to know is the facts Kai."
"I am aware of how a court of law functions."
"Then prove it, those pictures answer all of the questions that—"
Forcefully letting Tala go, Kai stood up and turned his back on him, heading for the door. "They hardly scratch the surface."
"What are you saying now, that there is more to this that you haven't explained?"
Whipping his head over his shoulder, Kai paused on his way out. His blood red eyes were narrowed in an awful display of rage that stopped Tala dead in his tracks.
"Maybe," he glowered. "I figured you couldn't handle the truth."
Without another word, the stoic Russian slammed the door shut behind him hurtling the room into darkness. And Tala sat alone in the silence, his face contorted under the weight of disbelief, anger and loss. His cell phone rang, lighting up with a shrill noise at the other end of his bed, but the slender teen remained where he was—staring into the darkness ahead of him where Kai once stood.
…
A/N: None of you will ever have any idea of how incredibly difficult that last sequence was for me to write. That passage is the reason I have been unable to post this chapter for so long. I had to write it in a way that didn't explain as much as it should have, while still answering some of the questions that needed to be addressed, so I had a rough time with it.
So we've hit a crucial point in the story, where the characters are starting to come apart at the seams. Tensions are high, and a lot is at stake. What else could possibly go wrong?
:blinks innocently:
