Disclaimer - If you recoginize anything, then I don't own it.
Thank you to kai's kitty, FlamesOfFury, kurayami monogatori, Dark Angel of Fire Ice, frosticdranzergal, Sonseray & aries1391 for reviewing.
A/N - All of you are lucky this week & get two chapters instead of one.
Chapter 8 - Bitter Sweet Reunions
"Hiro," Brooklyn whispered again as the man before him smiled, "is it really you?" "Yes, it is me, Brookie," he replied with a bigger grin, "I told you that I would never leave you. I love you too much to do that." Hiro was wearing the same outfit as he had the night he had saved him from his intended attacker. The only difference was the faceplate which had been removed.
"That is his boyfriend," he heard Julia whisper, "he is gorgeous." Brooklyn stood there as still as a statue as he gawked at the man before him. He didn't know what to say or do even though he had thought about this moment many times before. The room was silent as Boris studied the two intently. If Brooklyn didn't trust him, he definitely would trust his new coach.
"Why are you here?" Brooklyn finally managed to ask as he licked his dry lips, "with him?" "I was offered a job as coach," he informed with a scowl, "since your brother made certain that I was fired from my other job. We do what we must to survive." Brooklyn couldn't control his feelings anymore as the tears started to leak from his eyes. "Hiro," he cried as he ran forward and tackled the taller man. His arms wrapped around his waist as he buried his face in his chest as he cried.
"Brook, it's all right," Hiro comforted as he wrapped his arms around the sobbing boy, "don't worry, tenshi, I am here for you. I will always be here for you." "I think they need to be alone," Rick remarked to the others as they walked to the door. Both Yamato and Boris looked surprised by this turn of events as they tried to stop them from leaving. "Aren't you going to join Bega?" Yamato ask as Boris glared. He didn't want to think what would happen if the five refused because of what Brooklyn had said about the chairman.
"We will discuss it after they are through with their reunion," Rick added as he jerked a thumb in Hiro and Brooklyn's direction, "we need to discuss a few things before we make a decision and Brooklyn holds a lot of influence in our choice." The oldest of the group left the room as his team followed. "If I lose such incredible talent, Yamato," Boris whispered to his scout, "you will not only lose your job but what you hold dear as well. Follow them and take them on a tour of our facilities." Yamato gulped as he looked at the couple that mainly consisted of Hiro comforting Brooklyn as he cried. He went out into the hall, hoping to talk the other teens into joining Bega; no matter what happened with their friend.
Boris glared toward Hiro as his newest employee understood the simple gesture and nodded. Hopefully, both Yamato and Hiro would have some good news for him when they met in his office later. He knew that he wasn't of any use at the moment since Brooklyn would not listen to him. It was up to Hiro to convince the prodigy to join the organization. If they recruited Brooklyn, he was certain that he would get the other five teens as well.
Finally, the training room was empty except for the two lovers. Hiro stood there supporting Brooklyn, who cried into his chest and got his shirt wet from all of the tears. He had wanted to approach him earlier but he had ran away from home and it had taken him several days to find him in the city. It was a coincedence that he had visited the underground league on that particular night in which he fought or he might not have found him at all. It had been good that one of the bey gangs had took him in or he would have never survived the streets on his own.
"Hiro," his voice whispered as he looked down at the boy in his arms and couldn't help but smile and plant a loving kiss on his forehead. "Yes, tenshi," he replied in the same low tone as he hugged his boyfriend tighter. "I am so sorry," he apologized as Hiro's brow furrowed. Brooklyn had nothing to apologize for. None of this had been his fault; that had been exclusively his fault since he had fell in love and seduced a minor. Brooklyn was a piece of fruit that he knew was forbidden but it was just like the younger to think the whole affair had happened because of him.
The poor boy was so insecure and naive; so innocent but tainted by darkness at the same time. Unlike his siblings, Hiro knew what had happened in Russia when Kai had went to take him from their grandfather. Boris had told him exactly what had happened and he couldn't blame the boy in his arms since he had been so young and gulliable. Then Kai had been quite demanding on his little brother upon their return to Japan that he had begun to act like the very man that they hated after the bullying had started at school. Kai had begun to demand perfection just like Voltaire and both of the elder Hiwataris siblings had contributed to Brooklyn's current state of insecurity.
Hiro had seen through all of that facade and he saw only a little boy, who desired unconditional affection and love more than anything. Something that Kai could not give after his own experiences that had made him cold and distant. Mariam had not helped the situation either with her overprotectiveness that had nearly smothered him to death. Out of all of them, Tala had been the one who at least had tried to reach out to him but still he had some of Kai's attributes especially the coldness and distantness. He remembered telling his father and Mr. Dickenson about that.
The adults should have done something more than what they had after returning from Russia. Brooklyn had suffocated in that household with his siblings. He had needed a real family to love him and his family could have provided that but Kai had been too stubborn and didn't want any help. It was beneath a Hiwatari to ask for help from anyone and his siblings had respected his decision as the eldest. They were responsible for the sobbing and pitiful mass that was in his arms. They needed to pay for what they had done to him and he was going to make sure that they learned a lesson about hurting his angel and salvation.
"I have missed you so much," Brooklyn cried as the sobs started to cease, "I didn't think that I would see you so soon." He sniffled as he looked up at him with his red tear-stained eyes that held so much pain and neglect. "I have missed you more than you ever will realize," Hiro added with a thoughtful smile and kissed him on the cheek, "I thought I was going to die without you in my life." "So did I," Brooklyn agreed, looking younger and more vulnerable than his fifteen years, "I felt so alone. Even Zeus couldn't offer me any comfort from the loneliness."
Hiro tried to comfort Brooklyn more but he pulled away suddenly. "Why did you have to join him?" Brooklyn snapped, his attitude changing quickly as his eyes burned with fury, "Boris is evil. He's intent on taking over the world." "He has reformed," Hiro shrugged, "and is running a legitimate business that will one day prove to be very profitable. Every blader on the planet will be wanting to join Bega in the coming weeks. It will soon surpass the BBA in popularity and when it does, the BBA will be no more."
"Yeah, right," Brooklyn laughed, "Kai and the others will not join any venture that involves Balkov especially Tala. Boris molested his boyfriend." "I don't know what he did in the past," Hiro admitted as his arms crossed, "and he says that he has reformed after what happened in the Abbey. I can not hold the sins of his past against him when I didn't know him then. He has changed, Brooklyn and for the better."
"When pigs fly," Brooklyn snorted, getting angry that his boyfriend had joined the enemy, "I don't believe it." "Well maybe you should talk to some of the other trainees," Hiro suggested, "before you make up your mind. I can introduce you to a few that might be of interest." "I doubt I would be interested in anything they say," Brooklyn demanded as Hiro looked up to the balcony and made a motion with his hand, "they probably have been brainwashed by Balkov."
At that moment, two figures jumped over the balcony, landed gracefully on their feet as Brooklyn quit his ranting and looked at the two in shock. His mouth had fallen open as he gawked at the two wearing Bega uniforms. "Are you that surprised to see us?" Garland smirked, "and here I thought we were your closest friends?" "Garland," Brooklyn whispered as his eyes then turned to the blond with him, "Mystel. What are you doing here?"
"We are members of Bega," Garland informed as Brooklyn darted forward to hug his best friend, "Hiro recruited us." The taller teen didn't mind the embrace since Brooklyn was prone to such displays of affection with he and Mystel. "I am so sorry that I left you," Brooklyn apologized, "I didn't mean to leave without saying good-bye but I had to get out of that house. Kai was about to drive me insane." "Tell us about it," Mystel added with a smile, "we came by to visit during the week you were secluded in your room but he wouldn't allow us to see you. He had a fit when he found out that we knew about you and Hiro."
"He threw us out of the house," Garland added as Brooklyn pulled away, "and told us to never come back. We weren't welcome anymore for aiding and abetting a criminal." "He didn't?" Brooklyn questioned as Mystel nodded in agreement with Garland, "that was not necessary. It was my fault since I forced you to keep the secret." "Kai is too stubborn to listen to anyone," Garland continued, "but we've been here for three weeks and this place is great. Balkov has treated us very well and you should join."
"But you don't understand what he did!" Brooklyn protested, "he was evil and molested young boys and teens when he ran a training facility before. He hasn't changed any." "Did he molest you?" Garland ask as an eyebrow rose but Brooklyn shook his head vehemently no. Boris had never laid a hand on him but he hadn't stayed at the Abbey like the others. He had just visited a few times with his grandfather, who had considered enrolling him but after the Black Dranzer incident had to change his plans since he had returned home with his older brother.
"Brook," Hiro added, turning his attention away from his two friends, "I promise that nothing will happen to either you or any of your other friends while they are here." Brooklyn was torn between two very difficult choices. He really wanted to believe what Balkov had said about changing his ways. Could he really have changed? His boyfriend and two best friends were all ready members of Bega so all it left was he and his other new friends.
"Others," Brooklyn murmured, his eyes darting around the room, "oh shit. I forgot about them." He turned around to see the room empty except for the four of them. "Where are they?" he ask, his glare focused on Hiro, "where did my friends go?" "They left to give us some privacy," Hiro added as the door opened to admit Yamato, "I will take you to them." "Friends?" Garland questioned with surprise, "you have other friends besides the two of us?"
"They saved and took me in when I ran away," Brooklyn explained, "and I care for them. We have been through a lot together and I must talk to them before I make my decision. Please understand that I am not tossing you aside in favor of them but they understand what I am going through." "That is great, Brook," Garland stated with a smile, "I'm glad that you have found other friends and if they haven't hurt you, I don't have a problem with them." "We just want you to be happy," Mystel offered with a smile of his own, "we'll welcome them with open arms."
The smile that followed on Brooklyn's face nearly lit up the entire room as he darted forward happily and glomped his two friends. They didn't have a problem with sharing the ginger hair since the other teens had helped take care of him. They knew this from Hiro, who had told him about what Brooklyn was doing after he had found him. Instead of jumping to conclusions like his siblings, they had held back and reserved their judgement. Sure, they had been worried but they did trust Brooklyn's decisions and knew this was something that only he could work out on his own. They didn't have a right to interfere unless they wanted him to hate the two of them like he did his siblings.
Hiro wrapped an arm around his shoulders as Brooklyn smiled and leaned into his embrace. Hiro led him out of the room and through the mazelike hallways to a conference room where the other five were waiting. "I have missed this so much," Brooklyn mumbled, enjoying the warmth and closeness of the older as Hiro drew him closer. "If you try to get any closer," Hiro mused with a laugh, "I am going to have to carry you, tenshi." "I would like that," Brooklyn replied with a slight smirk on his lips, "along with certain other things."
Hiro took Brooklyn's brief moment of thought to suddenly kiss the younger on the lips. Brooklyn only responded by kissing him back with just as much force as he wrapped his arms tightly around his neck. Hiro couldn't help his thoughts or actions since he wanted to ravage him on the spot but knew that wasn't possible at the moment. He had his job to do first and it was unfortunately more important than making out with the love of his life. Brooklyn was more forgiving than Balkov ever would be.
For a few brief moments, the rest of the world was forgotten as their tongues battled for dominance; neither gaining an advantage over the other until Hiro ran his hands through Brooklyn's soft locks making him moan and taking advantage of the opening. He delved his tongue into that moist and familiar cavern that he had missed so much for the past few weeks. They kissed like that until the need for oxygen outweighed their desires and they pulled apart, gasping for breath. "I have definitely missed that," Hiro mused as Brooklyn grinned in reply. Their foreheads lovingly resting against their partner's as they stood there and looked each other in the eye.
"You are so beautiful, Brook," Hiro added, softly, "that is why I call you my tenshi." Brooklyn blushed from the comment since he didn't find himself at all attractive as he pulled away suddenly when he remembered where they were going and why. "Which room is it?" Brooklyn ask as he looked down the hall. Hiro sighed since the moment had been ruined but decided to let it go instead of dwell on it. "Second door on the left," he informed as Brooklyn went in the door. He decided to stay outside since he didn't know the other teens and this was something that Brooklyn had to do on his own.
"Brooklyn!" nearly everyone had shouted when he entered. The two girls had been sitting in a chair together with Akane in Julia's lap and gently kissing. Daichi was swinging from the light fixture overhead from sheer boredom as Raul tried to get the younger teen down. Rick was standing and looking out the window at the skyline of the city with his arms crossed. All of their attention then turned to him as the room went silent.
"Did you get everything settled?" Rick ask as he turned around, "with your boyfriend?" "Yes, I did," Brooklyn admitted with a blush, "but we need to talk." "How do you know Balkov?" Raul ask as he brought up the subject that he had been dreading, "and why did you refuse when he ask you to join?" "I knew him from the past," Brooklyn admitted, not wanting to go into detail about what had happened, "he trained my brother's beyblade team for a while. I met him on a trip to Russia with my grandfather."
They were friends but he didn't want to tell them about his past especially the Abbey and Black Dranzer. His thoughts were in conflict and he was about to give Boris the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he had changed from the man he had been before. Anything was possible, right? Hiro trusted him after all and he had promised that nothing would happen to them while he was here. He did trust Hiro so for now his heart won out over his head.
"So why did you refuse to join him?" Julia ask, "is there something we need to know?" "I don't want to talk about it," Brooklyn snapped, his eyes glowing for a brief moment, "what happened in the Abbey needs to stay there and it wasn't something that Boris did. It was something that I unleashed and will have to deal with the consequences for the rest of my life." Brooklyn felt his skin crawl as Rick gave him soul searching look that made him feel naked and exposed. When he shivered, Rick's eyes turned away from him as he sighed with relief.
"Yamato gave us a brief tour of the building," Akane added, "and this place is wonderful. We would never want for anything again but if you don't trust Balkov-" She wasn't able to finish her sentence before Brooklyn broke in. "I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," Brooklyn admitted, "and give him a second chance. I trust Hiro with my life and my teammates, Garland and Mystel, are here as well. If they trust Boris, then so do I."
"Tell them to come in," Rick smirked as he nodded toward the doorway, "so we can tell them our decision." Brooklyn opened the door to admit Hiro and Yamato, who were waiting patiently for their answer. Hiro was calm while Yamato was nervous because of Boris' earlier threat. "So have you made your decision?" Hiro ask since his companion was unable to speak. "Yes, we have," Rick stated, speaking for every teen in the room since they trusted him the most, "we have decided to accept your offer. We will join Bega."
Hiro nodded and smiled slightly at the oldest teen as Yamato sighed very loudly. "I am so glad," they heard him murmur, "I'll show you to your dorms." Rick, Akane, Julia, Raul and Daichi went with Yamato as Brooklyn was going to follow but Hiro pulled him back. They did not seem surprised by the move as Akane smiled before the door shut behind them. "Let's continue where we left off," Hiro smirked as he locked the door and pulled Brooklyn into his arms. "Gladly," Brooklyn replied as their lips locked again but with more time to spend with each other.
R & R
Astera Snape