Chapter 3 is finally up!

As always, here's a reminder:

Italics means someone's inner thoughts

-- means a change in POV.

Chapter 3- Nightmares

"Colonel Guile. Why are you here?" Honda asked.

"I must speak with Ryu. Ryu, Ken's gone missing. We're sure it's the work of the crime organization Shadowloo."

"Captured? What do you mean captured? Ken's too strong to be captured, Colonel Guile."

"Even so, it's as I said, Ryu. Ken's been captured by Shadowloo. They're probably looking for you too… Damn. Looks like they're already here."

A chopper crested the edge of the mesa in front of the three men, blowing dust all over them and their surroundings. It landed not far from them and the door opened, revealing a cloaked figure. Fierce eyes pierced through the darkness of the hood, and as the person stepped down from the helicopter, Ryu caught flashes of red clothing and blond hair. A gust of wind blew the hood up and off, revealing who it was.

"Ken!" Ryu was about to run towards his friend, but a strong hand on his arm stopped him. Glancing back, he saw Guile look at him gravely.

"That's not Ken. At least not in mind. He's most likely been brainwashed by Bison himself."

"You would be correct."

An imposing figure appeared from the gloom of the chopper's cabin. White, iris-less eyes looked over the area from a strong, intimidating face. The crimson military uniform and silver shoulder, wrist and shin guards caught not a speck of dust as he began to descend the steps. His large, tough boots clomped as he stepped down, his cape billowing behind him. He grinned menacingly at the men before him from under his cap, the skull adorning it seeming to join him in taunting them. His grin growing, he walked over to stand behind Ken, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Ryu growled at Bison.

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Him!" He shouted as he struggled with Guile. Bison chuckled.

"No. I rather like Ken as my obedient killing machine, don't you?" Bison tauntingly pinched Ken's cheek, getting no reaction from him. Ryu's reaction, however, made up for both of them.

"GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF HIM!" Ryu bellowed, breaking free of Guile's grasp and charging Bison. He didn't get far though, for a red flash intercepted him, throwing him back with a kick to the stomach. Stumbling back, Ryu clutched his middle as he slumped down from the strong surprise attack. But it wasn't the kick that sent him to his knees. It was the realization of who threw the kick.

Ken drew back his leg and settled into a fighting stance, his eyes glaring at Ryu. Bison leaned over and spoke into his ear.

"Go. Attack, and if he gives no fight, kill him." At that, Ken roared and charged.

"KEN! NO!" Ryu sat up straight, jolted awake. Breathing heavily, he quickly took in his surroundings. When he returned fully to the present, he slumped forward weakly, his head in his hands.

Well, I guess that's my answer. When Ken attacked, I had felt hurt and betrayed, that goes without saying. But what I didn't expect was the feeling of loss and loneliness that also welled up. The physical pain was easy enough to bear, but it was the knowledge that it was Ken that was going to destroy me that took my feet out from under me. When he snapped out of it, I was overcome with joy. He came back to me. So that's my answer. I love him, simple as that. Turning his attention to Ken, Ryu's brow furrowed.

Ken was tossing and turning in obvious distress. Ryu quickly slid back next to Ken and held him protectively. Ken's distressed look vanished as he scooted closer to the presence behind him. Blushing slightly, especially now that he knew how he felt, Ryu considered his options.

I know I love him and he loves me, but I want him to tell me himself. I want him to be his normal, confident, strong self and tell me. So, I'll wait for him to get the courage to tell me before I tell him. Of course, I'll help him along. I just hope he gets the hint.

Nodding at that, Ryu closed his eyes and settled in for sleep.

--

Ken slowly began to stir a couple hours later. His sleep had been plagued by horrible nightmares, but those had passed suddenly. When he shifted, he could tell why. Ryu was sleeping soundly next to him, his body curled around Ken's.

He felt simultaneously relieved and ashamed at Ryu's actions towards him. He was relieved that Ryu was being so comforting and protective of him instead of shunning him, but he was ashamed that Ryu had to do that in the first place. All the time they had known each other, they never showed weakness on this scale before. Shaking his head, Ken sighed. No point in worrying about it now… What's done is done. All we can do now is try and move on and forget any of this ever happened. Ken nodded and twisted slightly to look at Ryu. He just lay there, looking at Ryu's face lovingly.The peace didn't last long though. His happy thoughts soon turned stormy and gray as his depressed and still confused mind made a snap decision. He looks so peaceful. I can't muck up his life for my own desires. I can't ever tell him how I feel. I'll protect him from everything I can, even myself. Nodding again, Ken shoved all his worries into the back of his mind and poked Ryu in the stomach.

"Ryu, wake up. We can fit in one good spar before nightfall." Ryu simply moaned softly at the disturbance to his sleep and buried his face in Ken's chest.

"Five more minutes." He mumbled, hugging Ken slightly.

Blushed deeply, Ken pushed him away softly. "No, now!" He was internally grateful he'd kept the stammer out of his voice.

Ryu let out a soft groan and pushed away slightly, stretching his whole body with a loud sigh. He blinked a couple of times and looked at Ken sleepily with a soft smile on his face, not quite awake yet.

Blushing even deeper, Ken turned around quickly and said, "Let's have a small snack, then we can train." Getting up, he hurried over to their packs and took out some provisions. As he rummaged through them, he mentally ranted.

Gods he's already making it hard not to say anything to him. Does he have any idea how cute he is just after he wakes up? Ryu's smile popped into his head with that thought. Shaking his head to rid himself of that mental image, he turned and handed Ryu some of their supplies to eat.

--

Ryu nodded his thanks and took the food. As he began to eat, he glanced sidelong at Ken. Something was up. Ken's behavior had suddenly changed. It's as though nothing happened. I don't think it's that he's moved on. He's probably just putting on a face to try to comfort and reassure me. Whatever the case, I don't like it. Giving himself a soft shake to come back to the present, Ryu began eating more aggressively. Finishing before Ken, Ryu stretched and looked over at him.

"When you are done, we'll start getting ready to spar." Ken nodded and smiled at him, causing Ryu to frown slightly. Something is definitely wrong. No one bounces back that fast. Ryu silently turned and headed outside, closing the door behind him with a soft clack.

--

When the door closed, Ken visibly slumped. Fisting his hands, he nearly doubled over from his pent-up emotions. It's so hard to deceive him like this. Maybe I should- NO! KEN! You can't! Think about the possible outcome! Ken had a moment of mental vertigo as he again saw Ryu's disgusted face as he turned and walked away, vanishing in the distance. He slumped further, his shoulders sagging in defeat. No. It's all right. This is for the best, for both of us. For the best. For both of us. Nodding weakly to himself, he swiped his face to clear away the unshed tears and attacked what was left of his meal. Cleaning up, he glanced over at a broken mirror and schooled his face into what he hoped was that of a carefree and happy individual. Turning, he opened the door and disappeared into the descending darkness.

--

Ryu's frown grew when he saw Ken exit the cabin. He didn't like what he saw. Ken was wearing a mask. Not in the literal sense, but he had a false smile and was trying to act normally. Unfortunately for him, he was having little success. What is he trying to pull? As Ken began to stretch, Ryu found he couldn't keep quiet about his behavior.

"Ken, what are you doing?" Ken blinked for a second, then smiled that false smile again.

"What do you mean? I'm warming up." Ken tried shrugging it off. His mask slipped slightly when Ryu shook his head.

"No Ken. You know what I mean. You blew your top and get depressed, and suddenly you bounce back? No one can do that. What's going on?" Ken's mask slipped a little more.

"Nothing, let's spar." He said hastily.

"No. Answer this question. Why did you go into that fit of rage? I've never seen you like that. Tell me, Ken."

--

Shit! What do I say! Ken panicked. He frantically searched for a response, and said the first thing that came to mind. "I was thinking about Bison and how he used me." Ken thought he had given a good answer, but began to panic more when he saw Ryu's expression darken.

"Bullshit. I know you know he's gone, and you had already let out your anger over his using you a long time ago." He looked at Ken, his face clear of any hurt at Ken's lying to him. His eyes alone showed his pain. Opening his mouth, he continued. "But, I'll accept that for now, until you find me trustworthy enough to hear the truth."

Damn. Wrong answer. Now what? Ken got his answer when Ryu got into his ready stance. He'd seen that stance hundreds, no, thousands of times before, but he'd never seen Ryu look at him with those eyes before. It seemed as if Ryu didn't even know how to react to Ken's lies. The pure hurt and confusion in those eyes hit him hard and his knees gave out. The mask shattered as it fell from his face and he began to weep, his face bowed slightly.

There was a moment of silence, then Ken heard Ryu approach him. Ken shrunk back unconsciously as he saw Ryu's feet come into view, and his eyes widened as he felt Ryu caress his cheek softly before kneeling down and gathering Ken into his arms. Ken closed his eyes, relishing Ryu's comforting presence before snapping back to reality. Pulling back, he looked at Ryu, slight shock on his face.

"R-Ryu, what are you doing?" Ryu looked down at him and smiled.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm comforting a friend in need." Ryu's smile grew slightly before he pulled Ken back into his embrace.

Ken's eyes began to tear up and he buried his face in Ryu's chest. He just wept quietly for a while, Ryu rubbing his back comfortingly, not saying a word. After a while Ken calmed down and just lay there, not wanting to move. All he focused on was Ryu's body close to him and his hands on his back. He sighed as all his muscles relaxed, the tension in them melting away. A wonderful warmth, soft and soothing washed over him as he closed his eyes and fell a calm, deep sleep, a small smile on his face.

--

Ryu smiled softly down at Ken as he felt him drop off to sleep. I guess he needed that. Standing, he lifted Ken and began walking back to the cabin. Carefully opening the door, he carried Ken to the futon and set him down. Resuming his position next to Ken, Ryu smiled again as Ken hugged him in his sleep.

Looks like I'm his teddy bear. Oh well, I don't mind. I do want his confession when he wakes up though… Ryu nodded slightly as he let himself slowly but surely join Ken in his sleep, his arm draped protectively over Ken's body like before.

End Chapter 3

Please R&R. I hope you enjoyed it! Chapter 4 is coming soon!