Part Five

Michael awkwardly pulled at his collar as a servant dressed him in one of his master's old suits. Robert hadn't been able to wear it since his growth spurt in his late teens, but it fit his shorter lover almost perfectly.

The party had been called so suddenly, there wasn't time to summon his personal tailor to make something new, but they had sent an apprentice to alter the old suit for Michael's smaller shoulders.

And right now, he was looking positively dashing, as another servant brushed his hair back, and tied it in a short ponytail. It was too tight, but he knew how important it was to Robert that he look his best.

As he stared at the mirror, being fussed over like he was incapable of doing anything himself, he started to feel that terrible inadequacy again. He wasn't royalty... and he never would be, no matter how much they dressed him up.

He didn't want to go, but he wanted to understand Robert's life. It was so different to his own, and every new experience brought him closer to the man he loved. He knew how much Robert struggled when he visited America. Surely, attending a posh party was the equivalent of making his noble boyfriend eat cheap take-away with him on a park bench.

Just the thought of Robert's horrified expression brought a guilty smile to his face - a smile that blossomed into something truly captivating when his beloved entered the room. The curve of those lips, and those sparkling blue eyes had secured millions in sponsorships, and won the adoration of fans alike; even Robert himself felt his heart skip.

"You are..." He began, lost for words as he took his lover in his arms, and kissed him. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

He was getting bolder. His kiss was still restrained and gentle, but he had initiated the show of affection - in front of his staff, and where any of the other three Majestics could have walked past.

As Robert drew back, it was his turn to feel inadequate. He was awkward with expressing his feelings, but it still surprised and humbled him every day to know he called this incredible boy his lover. And seeing Michael begin to blush under his gaze, he hoped that he understood what he could never say in words.

He reached over, hooking a rogue strand of hair behind the All Star's ear.
"There." He smiled. "Perfect."

The longest part of the drive to the palace was the winding road out of Robert's estate; down a mountain, and through a forest. Made all the longer by constantly having to swat Michael's amorous hands away.

"I shall have to remember to bring some restraints up from the dungeon." He commented as he wrestled with his lover.
"You'd handcuff me? And it's not even my birthday." Michael was straddling him, whilst both his wrists were held tightly at his shoulders.
"They are iron shackles; they are definitely not sexy."
"That's because you haven't been using them the right way." He leaned forward, as far as the other's grip would let him. "Have mercy on me, Sir Robert! I'll do anything you want!"

There was an entire universe beyond what Robert thought he knew and understood. He learned something new about the depths of depravity every time his experienced boyfriend opened his mouth, it seemed. A week with him every few months was not nearly long enough to catch up on what he was lacking.

Michael gave a soft moan as he imagined himself as a helpless prisoner to Robert's ruthless executioner.
"Shit... I'm getting hard just thinking about it."
"Stop it! I do not want you parading that around the party."

"Help me out, then?" Whilst he knew Robert wouldn't appreciate the joke, it was worth trying.

"I should have brought someone else with me instead." The nobleman sighed, ignoring the offer.
"Like who?"
"Anyone." Robert kept his hold tight on the offending wrists, even though his palms were sweating. "Someone who would not sit on me, and wrinkle my suit."
"Then, maybe you should take it off?"
"You will behave yourself."

It was a bad idea. Perhaps he should have had Gustav turn the car around - for multiple reasons.

At the palace, Michael was introduced with varying responses. A lot of Robert's older relatives and close family friends were desperate to scrutinise him. Whilst many of the younger women could not contain their interest over the handsome American who had stolen his heart - distant cousins who had grown up with the knight and still called him Bobby, despite his furious insistence not to.

It wasn't unlike the fundraising gatherings the All Star had been dragged to by Judy. He was very much aware he was the main focus of the event; his every move being watched and judged. But back home, he was encouraged to be his loud, arrogant self - it's what the investors wanted. Here, he didn't know how he was supposed to act, or if he was even making a good impression.

He kept his arm linked with Robert's, like a child scared of getting lost. The girls that accosted them treated him like a sideshow curiosity, with a strange mix of awe and disgust; wanting to see him up close and ask how he met their seemingly untouchable cousin.

Half their conversation was in English, but there was another half that only Robert could take part in, and by the way he snapped at one of the girls' comments, they weren't being as nice as they seemed. A real conversation for the nobility, and a fake one for the hoi polloi... If Michael had ever felt like an outsider in Robert's world before, it paled into insignificance compared to what he felt right now.

He felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder, and he knew before he even turned around that it was Duke Jurgens.

"Excuse us, Robert. I wish to speak with your friend alone."

This was the moment the Majestic had been dreading. His wide, fierce eyes challenged his uncle's authority, but he said nothing as Michael nodded and let go of his arm for the first time that evening.

"Walk with me, Mr Parker."

It was strange - Michael had never felt ashamed of his promiscuity or sexuality in the presence of the media, but Robert's family put him on edge, and turned him into a shy little boy with a million dirty secrets.

Their walk was made in uncomfortable silence, and when they were some distance away from the rest of the gathering, the Duke cleared his throat and began to speak.

"What was Robert thinking - bringing you as his date? The boy has no sense of propriety."
Michael frowned. He might have been able to argue back, if he knew what propriety meant. Finally, a conversation in English, and he was still struggling with it.

"Do you have any idea what he is destined for? What you are ruining with your indiscretion?"
Was he using big words on purpose? Whilst he wasn't uneducated, Michael's strengths were athletic, not academic.

"I'm not ruining anything; I love him." It wasn't a carefully constructed reply, but it got his point across. He had never let anyone tell him what to do before; he wasn't about to start just because it was royalty standing before him this time.

"Love has nothing to do with his duties as a knight of this family. Although, we are pleased the common slut he has decided to have this fling of his with is not going to saddle him with a bastard child."
"Excuse me? This isn't some fling, and I'm not a common slut!"
Sure, it had started out that way - on both accounts - but now, they were in a committed relationship.

He hated that those words hurt him as much as they did. The Duke, however, seemed oblivious to his company's distress, and continued his attack.

"Look at him over there. Do you not think he looks happy in the company of ladies of his own stature?" Duke Jurgens nodded back to the terrace, where Robert was still talking to the girls. If it was possible, they looked even more posh from a distance. "The pretty blonde would make a fine wife for him."

Michael closed his eyes and bowed his head. Yes, she probably would be a lovely bride... but she would never love Robert like he did. No one could love Robert like he did.

"How much is it going to take to make you disappear?"
Michael started. The question was sudden and strange. "I'm sorry; what?"
"You are after money, are you not?"
"You can't just buy me out!" He nearly shouted it, horrified.

He wasn't royalty, but he certainly wasn't poverty-stricken. Even with their budget cuts, he was still part of the highest funded Beyblade team in the world, and outside of the training facility, his skill, his looks, and his bad boy reputation had advertisers clambering to have their brands seen with him.

And most importantly - he loved Robert. He loved him so much that the sheer thought of being bribed to stop made his eyes glassy with angry tears.

"A pity." The Duke sighed audibly. "You are an embarrassment to us, Mr Parker. You do not belong here."
"I..." Michael began, but his company had already turned away, content to ignore him, having ended his own part of the conversation.

I...

I know.

Michael clenched his fists and his teeth. It was all he could do to stop the tears stinging his eyes. He would never be known as a gracious loser, but he was not going to give these people the satisfaction of knowing they had broken him. He would not let them see him cry.

So, for the first time, he fought to keep his emotions in check. For the sake of his pride, he walked away quickly and quietly. He wanted to punch something... He wanted to throw himself on the ground and scream...

Around a darkened corner, he grit his teeth and let out a low growl, and swung his fist into the first solid surface he found - an unforgiving stone balustrade. Anger gave way to pain, and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself before looking at the damage he had done.

His knuckles were raw, and his fingers tingled with confused messages of numbness and agony. It had done the trick; it had taken his mind off Robert, but now he had another concern. What if he had broken his hand? Judy would kill him!

"And then, no one will want me..." He murmured, wincing as he held his wounded hand. He was bleeding; the blood trickled down his wrist, staining the cuff of Robert's expensive shirt. He was making everything even worse!