First off I'd like to apologise for how long this update has taken. My well of motivation to write has been running dry lately and nothing is really helping to bring it back.
ANYWAY, some things I forgot to mention at the end of the last chapter. As I'm sure some of you have noticed, I'm starting to mix features from the mange with the anime versions of characters, hence the colour of Bryan and Spencer's eyes.
Also, I couldn't remember when the first CG Alvin and the chipmunks movie came out and I wanted to include their version of Witch Doctor so I had to improvise a little.
Now without further ado, here's chapter four.
Four
A couple of days passed and Max was thoroughly enjoying his stay with Spencer and co. He got to see sides to the once manipulated young men nobody ever saw. Ian, while being a mischievous twit enjoyed drawing in his spare time and Max had to admit, the red eyed midget was pretty good at it. Bryan mostly kept to himself but displayed a passion for body building. Tala of course relished whatever silence he could get to read and didn't really mind company when doing so. And Spencer. Where could Max even begin? The scary looking giant obviously loved cooking but also had a bit of a green thumb. Various plants were scattered about the house on tables or in the corners of rooms. On top of that Spencer was a patient teacher where cooking was concerned and cherished every second he spent with the sisters. Max felt privileged to see this side to the Russian team, wondering what Kai was really like. He couldn't imagine the former captain having any hobbies. The Draciel master also wasn't blind to Spencer and Tala's relationship. They tried so hard to hide it the duo made it blaringly obvious!
It was Max's first weekend at the Blitzkrieg Boys house and everyone was taking the day to relax. Well, everyone but Bryan. He'd taken it upon himself to go out and get supplies for the little ones. A vicious snow storm pulled in while Bryan was out. It had taken a lot of convincing to stop Spencer taking the car to fetch his lavender haired brother. Tala assured him Bryan would be smart and find somewhere to wait it out, Ian betting the opposite. Bryan wasn't known for his brains after all. Just before midday their missing brother came tumbling through the door, a sport bag over his shoulder. Alkanet was in a bouncy chair, allowing Spencer to dash forwards and catch Bryan before he could hit the floor, relieving him of a wet coat, scarf and hat. Ian took the bag while Tala hurried into the kitchen. Max followed after Spencer when ordered to, ready to help out if needed. Arriving in the bathroom Bryan was stripped to his shorts, the bath filled with warm water. Bryan's blue eyes were glazed over, almost as if he was drunk, his cheeks marred with a dash of red.
Spencer struggled to keep Bryan standing as the falcon master was feverish and borderline delusional. Max moved closer to help only to have his face scratched by a manic Bryan. Tala burst into the room not long after being called, sitting Max down to clean his wounds. The blue eyed blonde would flinch if the scratches were so much as brushed over. Dabbing gently at the fierce looking gashes, Tala glanced over his shoulder, finding Spencer had gotten Bryan into the bath but was having trouble getting him to lean back.
"How is he Spence?"
"Not good. Bryan's running one hell of a fever. On top of that he's gone bloody mental." Returning his full attention to Bryan Spencer tried again to calm him before he triggered himself into a panic attack. "Bry? Bry look at me! You're safe!"
Blue eyes darted around in a panic, not pausing to look at anything for more than a split second. Tala moved to restrain Bryan's legs once Max's cheek had been sorted out, concern etched onto his face. If Max didn't know any better he'd say Bryan couldn't recognise anyone or anything in his current state, hence why he'd lashed out so violently. Add to that the apparent return of bad memories. With Tala's assistance, Spencer was able to get Bryan lying down in the bath all while continuing to soothe him.
From where he stood at the back of the room, Max could hear frantic mumblings of "Don't let them get me" and various other things that hinted towards a traumatic past. Hauling Bryan out of the bath, Spencer took the time to embrace him until he passed out from exhaustion. Turning around, he flashed Max an apologetic look before hurrying to tuck his brother into bed. Tala had a similar expression on his face. Max knew Bryan hadn't meant to hurt him, chasing after Spencer intent on helping. By the time Max got to Bryan's room, the lilac haired blader was in bed with a cold compress on his forehead to bring the fever down. Downstairs one of the babies could be heard crying. Spencer wasn't aware of Max being in the room until he spoke.
"Go see to the girls, Spencer. I'll watch over Bryan."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." Max confirmed with a nod.
Time passed by slowly as Max sat watching Bryan sleep. Spencer came to check on them every hour to deliver drinks or fresh compresses. After supper Max was back beside Bryan, a book in hand. Alkanet and Yasha hardly made any noise which was odd. Max wouldn't be surprised if the girls knew Bryan was unwell with him being absent from the living room. Grumbling distracted Max from his book, gazing down to see Bryan had started to come around. By all accounts he still looked terrible. Max gently restrained the taller male when he tried to sit up.
"Take it easy Bryan." He soothed, relieved that Bryan didn't fight back. "You're at home in bed. You've got a nasty fever from walking out in a snow storm."
Blue eyes depicted understanding of the words spoken, focussing on the white pad upon Max's cheek. "Max? Why are you here?"
"Looking after you, stupid."
Max flinched when shaky fingers grazed over the bandaging on his face, taking hold of Bryan's hand to stop him from wasting precious energy.
"I'm sorry…about your cheek."
Rather than be sarcastic, Max rubbed the back of Bryan's hand, a warm smile on his face. "Don't worry about it. The fever made you delusional and I should've known better than to go near you in that condition. Hush now, get some sleep. I'll be here if you need anything."
For the first time Max saw Bryan smile. A real smile, not like the snide grin he used to give people. Max checked Bryan's temperature to find the fever hadn't broken yet. Despite that, Bryan seemed sound in the head compared to earlier when he'd been a crazed beast. Placing a fresh cold compress on the falcon master's head, Max returned to his seat on the double bed, surprised by Bryan firmly grasping his hand.
"Don't worry Bryan. I'm not going anywhere. I won't let them get you, I promise."
Max assumed Bryan had been referring to the staff at the Abbey during his earlier tirade, realising he didn't really know much about what its victims had gone through. Weary blue eyes were slowly drifting shut but Max could see Bryan was trying to fight against going to sleep.
"Maxie?"
"Yes Bryan? What is it?"
"There's something…I need to tell you."
"It can wait until you're better. Now hush."
"No, it really can't." With what little strength he had, Bryan pulled himself up, forcing Max to support his weight.
The duo sat in a rather awkward looking embrace for what seemed like forever until Max felt something wet on his neck. Ragged breathing told him the position was starting to put strain on Bryan's chest and tried to get the feverish blader lying down properly. At least, that's what Max thought was the cause. Bryan had firm grip on Max's neck as the blonde partially hung over him, reluctant to let go. Max managed to get away, a hand immediately moving to the side of his throat finding a chunk of it was moist.
Bryan reached out again, his body plagued by shivering. There were no other blankets in the room so Max had no choice but to wrap his strong arms around Bryan's seemingly frail frame. Slowly the shivering died down and Bryan finally looked comfortable, his head resting on Max's broad shoulder. Something hairy nudging his jaw made Max flinch, looking down to see Bryan trying again for his attention. He went to say something but the lilac haired male cut him off in the most unexpected way.
Rapid blinking did little to thwart the shocking reality facing Max. Bryan was kissing him! Or at least…trying to. For once in his life, Max didn't really know what to do. While he did like Bryan it was more as a friend than anything else. On top of that, Bryan wasn't himself right now due to the fever. A whine escaped from an aching throat, blue eyes pleading not to be pushed away.
"Don't leave me Maxie. Please don't go. I need you."
Bryan's plea sounded incredibly genuine, his face buried in Max's shirt. He seemed terrified of being left alone.
"I'll stay on one condition, Bry."
"Y-You will?"
Dealing with Bryan in his current state was like being with a wounded child. The puppy dog eyes directed at Max certainly weren't helping.
"I will stay if you promise not do that again. Do we have a deal?"
"D-Do what?"
"You know what I'm talking about buster. No more kissing me on the chops."
Bryan nodded sheepishly, seemingly shrinking in size at being scolded. Max released the breath he'd been holding once his former rival had gone to sleep. He couldn't help but find Bryan cute as he slumbered.
Thankfully Bryan's fever broke by the following morning and a day later he was back on his feet, albeit a little weak still. Max had put some distance between him and Bryan after what happened, trying to make sense of the resulting stirrings in his breast. Sure he could chalk it up to the falcon master being out of touch with reality but the kiss had felt sincere. Spencer could tell something was amiss, cornering Max about in the kitchen while Tala and Ian weren't home. Learning that Bryan had kissed the shorter blonde was surprising enough without the fever added on top. Spencer had never know his brother to be the type to openly display affection. He was much like Kai in that respect.
Spencer couldn't deny the possibility of Bryan fancying Max given how he'd constantly stared at Draciel's master during Kai's wedding. For now though the out of character affection was linked to Bryan being feverish. Said young adult could tell Max was avoiding him and in truth it hurt a little. Bryan had no conscious memory of kissing Max yet there was an alien emotion stirring in his breast whenever he looked at the shorter blonde or thought about him for the briefest moment. Max's time at the house was running short so he spent any moment he could get with the sisters. Out of everyone, he'd miss them the most.
That Friday Spencer told the shorter blonde that he was welcome to come back any time but to warn them first and Max couldn't be happier. Having permission to one day return made the thought of leaving more bearable. His last day was made special by Spencer cooking his favourite meal and just hanging out with everyone in the living room, the girls on his lap. In the dark of night, Max's thoughts drifted back to when he had been looking after Bryan. That time spent nursing the falcon master back to health had served to strengthen Max's feelings for him. A part of Max wanted to know where he stood with the taller male while the other wanted to brush what happened under the rug, find a girl and settle down. Little that Max knew, Bryan was also kept awake trying to make sense of what he'd been feeling lately. For the first time in years he was scared of what would happen because he wasn't trained to feel anything other than hate. Bryan knew he was being foolish, that his past wasn't going to come back to bite him but he couldn't help it.
Sunday morning all was quiet. That was until Ian threw a cup of water on Max's face to wake him up. The bluenette midget was long gone before his victim could figure out what had happened. A shriek of surprised pain followed Ian's hasty departure, telling that one of the others had caught and clobbered him. Max made his way to the bathroom, deaf to the sound of the shower running.
Bryan was likewise oblivious to the bathroom door opening as he washed his hair…until he saw a blurred figure behind the curtain. All at once Bryan found himself launched into one of those old horror movies, heart pounding hard in his chest. Max somehow didn't notice the dark silhouette in the shower, leaving the bathroom after washing his hands. Bryan didn't realise he'd been holding his breath until Max had gone.
Spencer was found in the kitchen cooking breakfast, Alkanet and Yasha in their high chairs being fed by Tala. Ian was at the table nursing a lump on his forehead. Max's arrival didn't go unnoticed, greeted by nods and tired grumbles. He still couldn't get over the Blitzkrieg Boys not being morning people until coffee had been administered. Bryan walking in caused Max to instinctively freeze. He relaxed once the lilac haired blader was at the side making drinks.
Breakfast of sour cream pancakes with honey and blueberries soon filled the kitchen with a heavenly aroma. Not a single crumb was left behind. Afterward Max sat painfully waiting to leave, his bags packed by the front door. At 9am Spencer came out of the kitchen, keys in hand. He would've grabbed his coat if Bryan didn't intervene.
"I'll take him, Spence."
Said giant stood blinking; thinking he'd misheard but the look in Bryan's eyes told him he hadn't.
"Are you sure? It's a long trip and patience isn't your strong suit."
"And saying goodbye isn't yours. Now sit your muscular ass down I'll take Max to the airport."
Spencer didn't question the decision again, turning to Max with a worried expression. Rather than shake the shorter blonde's hand, Spencer pulled him into a fierce embrace.
"Keep in touch, you hear? Don't pull a Kai on us." Max hugged back, promising to call often.
Max had never been so tense in his life as he sat in the front passenger seat of Bryan's car. The radio was on low but it did little to ease the tension. After about an hour of travelling, Bryan stopped the car. Looking outside all Max could see was bright, unchanging white. Why had Bryan taken him to the middle of nowhere?
"Get into the back blondie. We need to talk."
Max didn't dare to argue, clambering between the two front seats to sit in the back, Bryan following suit once he was comfortable.
"Calm down short stuff you're not in trouble and I left all my guns at home."
Hearing Bryan wasn't armed did little to soothe Max's fear. But what could they possibly need to discuss that required being in the middle of nowhere? Looking at the normally stoic blader, Max saw he was just as nervous as him. And a nervous Bryan could be a possibly dangerous Bryan.
"Look…" Bryan's voice seemed to waver, as if he wasn't sure how to proceed. "I know why you've been avoiding me. Spencer explained everything last night and he told me I should apologise. It was wrong of me to put you in that position, delirious or not. So…I'm sorry. For everything that happened last week."
Max doubted that was all Bryan had to say but he felt oddly better hearing the apology, cautiously taking Bryan's shaking hand and giving it a supportive squeeze.
"That's not all, is it Bryan? You still have more to say don't you?"
A nod was one of the responses given, the other a nervous kiss on the lips. Words were no longer needed, the kiss heating up as Max gave in to the blossomed feelings inside him, hooking his strong arms around Bryan's neck. One minute Max was leaning closer to Bryan, the next he was on his back.
At 11am Max stepped into the airport, cheeks flushed red. Bryan wasn't far behind, wanting to make sure Max got on the plane safely. Planting a chaste but loving kiss on the shorter blonde, Bryan reluctantly let him go. Once the airplane bound for New York sailed out of sight, Bryan returned to his car and made the long drive home. Saying goodbye had been harder than he first thought, but at least he'd made his feelings known. Spencer knew something was wrong when Bryan went straight upstairs upon returning home but decided against bothering him for now. Luckily Ian was too busy painting a portrait of Yasha and Tala napping on the sofa to notice his brother had come home.
Several weeks passed after Bryan made it clear where Max stood with him. The first few days were torture but establishing a connection over the internet had made things easier. Kai and Mariam returned from their honeymoon a day or two after Max left. They'd apparently been sent to the Lake District in the UK and loved every minute of it. Mariam had bought something for her brothers in law and the girls. Spencer received a book on British recipes to experiment with, Tala some sort of novel, Ian was gifted with new art supplies and pads of different paper types while Bryan got some clothes and a guide for more effective exercising. The girls got new outfits and toys.
Alkanet now had all her top milk teeth while Yasha had her lower molars and upper frontal chompers. Bryan found out the hard way not to walk around barefoot after Alkanet nipped his toes much to the amusement of Spencer and Ian caught it on camera. Yasha had mellowed into an angel in comparison to her devilish sibling. If she wasn't posing for the camera, Yasha would be napping on Tala's lap. Kai paid a surprise visit in the middle of June, offering Tala a job at the enterprise and the opportunity was pounced on.
The Russian branch of the BBA extended a position to Bryan where he'd train the next generation of beybladers in the art of self defence. Needless to say Bryan took the job without hesitation. Now Ian was the only one left to find employment but he honestly didn't know what he wanted to do despite studying media and business at college. There would likely be a job for him at Hiwatari Enterprise; Kai would make sure a position stayed open for the youngest Blitzkrieg Boy.
Spencer assured Ian there was plenty of time to figure out what he wanted to do for a living, that he needn't feel pressured into a job that he wouldn't be happy with. Ian had a seemingly natural talent for taking pictures not just drawing/painting them so becoming a photographer was an option. No matter what the red eyed midget chose, his brothers would be behind him 100% so long as it was legal. Mariam voiced her support too, willing for Ian to succeed in his chosen profession.
And that's the last random pairing for this story out of my hair. Unlike most of my other stories, I'm trying to keep this one clean of any serious intimacy. It does exist between the pairings, I just won't be writing anything further than kissing (aside from the one instance of Spencer and Tala being caught in the kitchen but I purposefully left out the action, merely hinting at what they were up to.)
Focus will be shifting back to the girls and them torturing the boys and don't worry, Kai will make appearances. This fic just isn't about him for a change. Don't get me wrong, he's still my #1 favourite character but I need a break from him being the MC.
Will try to update again soon but I can't make any promises. Depression is eating at my motivation to do anything at the moment.
Until next time folks, take care and have a nice day/night/evening.