I'm getting the feeling I'm recycling the same plot as last time. Anyway.
Review because I'm such a hardworking little girl!
Chapter Eight
Affectation
X
Boris puled. This just wasn't his night. First of all he'd woken up in a dirty, dingy little street corner smelling of something only whores would know. To top that he'd had this murdering, belligerent headache which was so severe he had to throw up to relieve some of the pain. Then he had to puke again, this time his body figured it was just for the hell of it. He would have said he'd had worse mornings, but not only would that be a lie but also did he have a hard time remembering the previous ones, so what did he know?
Then the day had been mostly a blur. One beer turned into two beers and eventually he was drinking everything he could get his hands on. Now this wasn't quite as fun as you might think. Boris was actually quite mad at himself, since nothing was going according to plan. Many, many months ago when Rei left, Boris realized how empty his life was. It wasn't something he'd pondered before, but suddenly he was forced to.
He didn't understand before what a great part of his miserable little life had been made up of Rei. He didn't fathom how incredibly pointless it all was when there was no one to wake up beside him. It was very grimly, and very reluctantly, that Boris realized what a sissy he'd become. So he tried for weeks and weeks to live like he'd always done; fast, dangerous and for himself only.
But it just didn't feel the same anymore. It was as in some way Rei had walked in, and like he always did with Boris' life, ruined everything. And the realization hit Boris, that he just couldn't go on like that anymore. Thus, there was the AA and the visits to the hospital and taking his medicine like a good boy. Now and then he'd flip out and want to rebel against this new life, he'd want to scream and stomp around like the idiot and callous bastard he was raised to be.
But every rampage always left him back at square one. It irritated him how hard giving up the bottle could actually be. He'd never seen himself as an addict. He could have just dropped the damn habit whenever he wanted, the thing was he just didn't want it. But destroying yourself seems like such a stupid thing when you've got something worth suffering for. And when Rei became that something, there just wasn't any room for the addiction in his life anymore. But as usual, the addiction wanted to have a say in it.
Back and forth, on and on, what all these bravados had led him to, was this. A screaming, furious landlord telling him to fuck off, throwing him out of the building, with his belongings raining out the window. Boris guessed it was just a matter of time. Still, it drove him so utterly insane with fury that he still, after everything he'd done and after all his efforts, had failed.
After that point on, the next thing he knew was that he was lying face-first on wet asphalt, with someone very familiar and very soothing talking nonsense in his ear. This someone had turned out to be Rei, who was now busy trying to drag the Russian home. This wasn't the easiest task, Boris knew how heavy he was and had his brain been something other than mush, he'd have found it funny.
Rei on the other hand was not amused, in fact he was rather pissed off. It wasn't easy trying to practically carry a big, drunk Russian home when he wasn't even sure where he was. What added to his great discomfort, was the looming threat of the paparazzi. And to think, there'd been a time when he'd found those people exciting.
''He's gotta whuuuuule wuuuurld, in 'is haaands! He's gotta whuuuulee wide wuurld, na na naaa!'' Boris suddenly burst out in not so flattering song.
''Oh, for God's sake'' Rei growled with slight effort. ''Shut up!''
''Sing with me, kitty!'' Boris arm snaked itself around Rei's shoulders, leading the unsuspecting victim into a wobbly dance. ''He's gotta whuuuule… somethin' somethin', innis' feeeeet! Or… hands…''
''Boris! Keep quiet!''
Rei couldn't keep his eyes from darting around with suspicion. With his fear already tickling him, his stomach was doing flip after bold flip. But the Russian wouldn't listen to him, instead he just swayed from one side of the street to another, more stumbling than actually dancing.
''Yooou are the dancing queeeeeeeen! Youuung and sweet – ''
Rei had to stare at him now. It didn't matter how nervous or wary he was, he just couldn't believe what was actually coming out of the Russian's mouth.
'' – only seventeeeen! Tambourineeee oh yeaaaaaah! I can daaance! – ''
''Boris, shut up! People are staring!''
''So letum stare, they're just jealous 'cause – I can jiiiiiiiiive!''
''For crying out loud…''
''Come on Rei! Haaaaving the tiiiime o' your liiife!''
Boris hoped the staring people wouldn't mind them too much. He hoped people only reckoned they were just two drunks on their way home, and in fact not two famous sportsmen dragging themselves through the night.
''Hey, Rei!''
Rei growled, obviously his irritation went the Russian by unnoticed.
''What?''
''See that guuuurl! Watch tha' sceeene! Diggin' – ''
Rei glared straight ahead of him, hoping that Boris just silenced because of some miracle but knowing it was stupid to hope. Which was proven once the man nudged him in his side.
''Come on Rei! You know the next part! DIGGIIIIIIIIN – ''
The Chinese sighed.
''Will you shut up if I sing it?''
The Russian nodded enthusiastically, chortling like a big, dumb child. Rei glanced at him, sighed. Knowing what he had to do, he drew in a breath of air.
''Digging the dancing queeeeeeeeen!''
Boris cheered and hollered, finally satisfied. Feeling like he'd done something very special today, he put a hand on Rei's chin and turned him straight towards a kiss. Rei was too taken aback by this sudden, clumsy, wet experience and the only thing he could do once Boris was done was stare. The Russian looked at him with wide eyes that with the lack of anger only looked insane, his large grin only adding to that impression.
''Kitty?''
''Yes, Boris?''
''Am I gonna regret this inne' mornin'?''
Rei grimaced.
''Yeah, Boris. You are.''
X
Things hadn't been going any better from there on. Boris' had started singing after a few minutes again, going through the entire Abba discography, singing songs Rei thought no man was ever supposed to know, butchering the lyrics with the brutality only the Russian himself was capable of. At least one of them were happy, Rei mused as he continued dragging them through the night.
After a while he thought the streets started to seem familiar, and hope was starting to glow in his mind. That was, naturally, when everything went straight to hell.
With only a few minutes left to the apartment, the flashes started to come. Out of nowhere, an ambush of cameras and questions attacked them. Boris wasn't quite sure what was going on but he noticed it made Rei freak out, and it was messing with his groove. It didn't take long for the singing Slavic to go from cheerful to murderous.
So not only had Rei to keep him from assaulting the photographers, he had to throw every thought of saving face out the window without remorse. He didn't know how many pictures they actually took of them, but there was bound to be at least a hundred of Boris going mad. It was official then that this just wasn't their night.
When Rei had managed to pry Boris' claws off his possible prey, there was little left to do but run for it. And running isn't really as easy as it might seem, especially not with great deals of alcohol running through your blood. But Boris understood that it was important for them to run. He didn't quite get why, but it was good enough for him to try to wobble away from there. As soon as Rei caught sight of a taxi, he stopped it with blunt disregard of traffic safety. Running blindly out in front of the car as it sped towards them seemed a hell of a lot better than the horde of flashes following their trail. Once the taxi had stopped, and the driver had yelled at them until a vein burst, they spared no time and darted into the vehicle.
Rei told him he'd double the money if the driver just got them out of there and lost the paparazzi while doing so. The driver was, despite his previous indignation, happy to oblige.
The entire ride back was filled with Boris muttering death threats to people who weren't even there, and Rei going through every curse and swearword he knew of. He didn't know how long the ride took, but it was one long swirling journey of u-turns and breaking traffic laws. Rei finally started to calm down once he could see his street coming up in the distance. But like all peace, that one didn't last for long.
Conjured out of the darkness, five photographers threw themselves at the car the moment it slowed down.
''What the hell?!'' Rei's voice was higher than his adrenaline, flash after flash blinding him.
Boris tried to get out of the cab, his eyes bloodshot with anger and drunkenness, his teeth bared like the carnivore he was growling like. Rei held him back, panic circling round and round in his head until he wasn't sure which way was up anymore.
''Go!'' he yelled at the driver. ''Go! Go! GO!''
Pedal to the metal the car sped out of there, not caring if the photographers fell so hard they were sure to have cracked some bone. Rei's heart was jumping frantically, his breath so firmly lodged in his throat he didn't even dare breathe in case he'd choke on it.
''What the hell is the matter with those people?!'' the driver glanced at the rear-view mirror, eventually getting eye-contact with Rei. ''Are you celebrities or something?''
Rei glanced at Boris, who was still pressed to the windshield growling in blood-thirst and anger.
''Yeah, I guess you could say that'' Rei sighed, covering his face with his hands. ''Fuck!''
''Don't worry'' the driver turned his eyes back to the road. ''I drove the entire Spice Girls ensemble around, I know how to handle the paparazzi.''
Rei didn't even bother to answer him.
X
Kai and Yuriy looked up the moment the door was slammed open. They couldn't say they were all that surprised at what they saw, still Yuriy couldn't help raising his eyebrows at them. In through the door came a clearly irritated and frightened Rei, carrying the drunken Boris who was half growling and half snoring.
''Where have you been?'' Yuriy eyed them suspiciously, wondering why they looked like they'd just run a marathon.
''Paparazzi'' Rei panted, dragging Boris' towards the bedroom.
''Paparazzi?'' Kai frowned. ''Did they follow you here?''
''I think we lost them.''
''Think?''
Rei kicked the door open, stopping for a moment to catch his breath.
''Try running from the paparazzi with the fucking Dancing Queen on your shoulder!''
The other two Russians wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but didn't get the chance to ask as Rei disappeared into the other room. Kai got off the couch and followed them, standing in the doorway he watched as Rei dumped Boris on the bed. The Falcon made a cheering noise as he hit the soft mattress, torn between laughing and breaking something he let the mood swing as it chose to.
Rei sighed, wiping some sweat of his forehead he started taking off the Russian's shoes.
''Where did you find him?'' Kai said, looking quite casual despite the situation.
Rei on the other hand, did not feel in the least casual.
''I don't know! Some street corner, drunk – obviously'' he threw the shoes in random direction, starting on the socks. ''He's been evicted''
Kai's frown deepened.
''Evicted?''
''Apparently he's missed paying some rents.''
''How many?''
''He wouldn't say. He started singing instead.''
Kai sighed, shaking his head. Silently he watched as Rei helped Boris off with his jacket, and went on to unbuckle his pants. Boris started laughing then, a loud and disturbed sound, making Rei's face take on one bothered expression after another.
''Oh, kitty!''
''Boris, I know what's under there. Don't get any ideas.''
''If you say sooo!''
The pants were ripped off with a bit more force than intended, drawing a small 'ouch' out of the Russian. Still muttering Rei threw the pants on the floor, tearing out the quilt from underneath the man's body. The Russian didn't roll over or move at all, he just kept still like that bed was the comfiest thing he'd ever laid on.
Bending over the bed to tuck the drunk man in, a sneaky arm pulled him down. Rei let out a yelp as he hit the mattress, noticing he was being held by an iron grip, unable to move away from the Russian. Boris just snuggled into him, letting out a content sigh as he closed his eyes, muttering.
''Kitty, kitty… sleep…''
Rei glanced at Kai.
''A little help, here?''
Kai just shook his head, and Rei could have sworn he saw a slight grin tug at his lips.
''We can talk about things in the morning. Good night, Rei'' Kai turned around, starting to close the door behind him. He looked over his shoulder at Boris. ''Goodnight, Boris'' he added, before he turned out the lights and left.
''Nnniight...'' Boris mumbled, not sure of who he was talking to but feeling like it didn't matter.
All that really mattered to him was that he was warm, comfortable and hugging someone very nice-smelling. Rei guessed there was no point in fighting, and he had to admit it was quite nice actually. He'd missed sleeping next to Boris, and now when he had an excuse to, he guessed he better get some sleep.
''Night, Boris''
X
When Boris opened his eyes he instantly regretted it. His head was pounding so hard he couldn't remember the last time he had such a hangover. Maybe because he'd been drunk so many days in a row he hadn't had the time to. He guessed it was only a matter of time until it caught up with him. But why it had to catch up so fiercely, he didn't know. The best thing to do seemed to be to lie there until he knew he wasn't going to vomit.
Once Boris' eyes adjusted though, he was in for a little surprise. Not only was he tightly clutching something, the something was a body. And the face of the body was familiar, very familiar. Breathing calmly, still asleep, Rei was lying warm and close and right next to him. Boris had to think long and hard to figure out if the past months had just been a dream, if he was back in the past again.
Hearing Yuriy's and Kai's voices outside only fuelled that thought. But that seemed a bit absurd, didn't it? His days had been too real to be dreams, then again he'd had dreams that were too real to be dreams. One could never be too sure.
Distantly he heard the front door close, wondering what was really going on. Looking around the room, Boris' eyes adjusting more and more to the darkness, he started to make out shapes and furniture he'd never seen before. The bed was placed next to the wall, his had been placed in the middle. He didn't remember having such a girly ceiling lamp, and he definitely couldn't remember having curtains.
Perhaps it wasn't a dream after all.
He didn't have much time to think of it though, because now he couldn't hold yesterday's consumptions back anymore. Flying out of bed, he wasted no time as he ran to what he thought was the bathroom. Lucky for him, it was, but it was with slight alarm he realized he might not have the time to open the toilet lid. Instead he ran to the sink, throwing up like it was all he knew how to do.
After the sour, acid taste of vomit had crawled out of him, he leaned against the cold mirror, breathing heavily. So, this wasn't a dream. It definitively had to be reality if he had such a bad hangover. Boris sighed. The face looking back at him looked all too familiar as well. His skin being so pale now he could see some of the veins underneath it, like brittle paper that would burst if he stretched his skin too much. Running a hand through he hair he figured it was also time for a haircut.
What caught his eyes though, was the second figure that had suddenly appeared in the mirror. He met the eyes of mirror-Kai, standing in the mirror-doorway. Did he ever stand anywhere else? Always behind people, as if to catch their vulnerability. Never having his back turned to them. Boris snorted, turning to glare at the real Kai.
''What?''
Kai didn't make a face. He never made a face, and it always irritated Boris because it seemed so stuck-up. Like he didn't have to let his emotions show, he was so high and mighty he could live life indifferently, stoically as easy as he breathed. Hatred habitually bubbled up inside of the Falcon, who leaned against the sink with his arms crossed, mimicking the other in a sort of mockery.
''Stop staring at me, you prick!''
Kai shook his head.
''Yuriy went to get your things.''
''My things?''
Boris frowned, not sure of why his things needed getting. Unless…
''Oh, right'' the bathroom light glowed like the bulb that usually lit over people's heads. ''The eviction thing.''
''Yes, the 'eviction thing'''
''You want to talk about this, don't you?''
Boris gave him a wicked glare, playfully. It wouldn't surprise Kai if he withheld the information just to spite him.
''No'' instead it was Kai who spited Boris. ''Rei probably want an explanation first.''
Boris growled.
''Oh, shut up, Kai!''
The Phoenix just shrugged, before he strode out of the bathroom. He always managed to do just that. Depart when you wanted to scream at him the most. With a loud snarl Boris shot his fist into the mirror, his anger flushing bright red when he heard the crack of the glass. Glaring at his distorted image, several grey eyes glaring back at him, he wondered if he'd ever hated any of his friends that much.
Boris spent another half hour in the bathroom, while Kai made a pot of coffee, preparing for the interrogation that would undoubtedly take place once Rei awakened and Yuriy got back. Which he figured wouldn't take too long since it wasn't that far with the bus, and Yuriy was used to dodging reporters. It just came with the life they had. Getting a picture of the redhead was almost like finding a unicorn, he was that good.
It didn't take that long before Rei came yawning in to the kitchen, either. His hair slightly tousled as some strands had fled the braid, yesterday's clothes still on and a very worn look upon his face. Rei yawned again, stretching to get the stiffness out of his limbs. Scratching his head, he gave the pot of coffee an appreciative look.
''Mornin' Kai''
''Good morning, Rei''
Kai turned the page in the morning paper, only paying half attention. Rei soon sat down with a cup of coffee, the two of them enjoying the silence. Rei had been a bit surprised, waking up in a lonely bed that held the warmth of two people, but once he heard the vomiting sounds from the bathroom everything fell back into place again. Last night was still too fresh in his memory, and he did not want to see what the media would conjure up with all the pictures of them.
''Have you watched the news?''
Kai shook his head.
''No. The paper doesn't say anything, either.''
Rei scoffed.
''It'll probably come tomorrow''
Kai glanced at him, turning the page.
''Have you thought of who might have tipped them off?''
''They didn't exactly need any tipping off, seeing how Boris was one walking CD-collection last night.''
Kai shook his head.
''No, I meant from the start.''
Rei looked at him quietly, biting his lip as he rummaged through his head. Solemnly, he shook his head, sighing tiredly.
''No, I still have no clue. It's not like it matters, though''
''It matters if you want to kick their ass'' Yuriy's voice reached them, and the two turned their heads to look at the redhead who was holding a plastic bag. ''I managed to salvage some of his stuff, the rest was either stolen or vandalized.''
''Is that it?'' Rei raised an incredulous brow.
''No, this is just some things I bought on the way. Croissant, anyone?''
Rei smiled, but it wasn't enough to seem genuine. Pouring a cup to himself, Yuriy started preparing some breakfast for himself. Rei couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty, having Yuriy running all these errands just because he couldn't go outside. Having them both flown over, dropping their life to deal with his own. It wasn't that he wasn't grateful, he was just so tired of not taking care of his own problems.
''Yuriy, Kai…''
''Whatever it is, Kon, spare me'' Yuriy sighed, sitting down next to Kai, snatching the paper from him with the slickness only he seemed to possess. ''It's no problem''
''But it is a problem! I can't just ask of you to do all these things, to just drop your life to…''
Yuriy silenced him with a glare.
''One thing you seem to forget Kon, is that Boris is my friend too''
Rei wanted to say something, but closed his mouth as he couldn't really argue with that. Boris was their friend, and he had been since they were little children. But it still felt like it was too much to ask, there was only so much friends were required to do.
''He's my friend, and Kai's friend. And, you're Kai's friend. The point being; we help you out because you're the only people in our lives that matter. Wolves take care of their own, otherwise the pack would fall apart.''
''You would do the same, wouldn't you?'' Kai said, seeing the doubt in Rei's eyes.
''Of course I would! I wish there was some way I could repay you, I just… I don't want to waste your time.''
''You're not, okay?''
''But…''
''Look'' Yuriy snapped. ''It doesn't matter what you say, we're not leaving.'' Seeing how Rei was going to protest again, he stuffed his croissant into Rei's mouth. ''Shut up and eat some breakfast.''
Rei looked incredulously at him, not sure of what just happened. Biting into the bread to keep it from falling, he turned one last look at Kai, hoping he'd side with him at least a little bit. But Kai just shook his head.
''If you feel like making it up to us, stop worrying.''
Growling, Rei realized there was no point to do anything other than to eat the strange little piece of bread and be quiet. After all, when had he ever succeeded in arguing with Kai in the past? As much as it was infuriating, he guessed they had a point.
Besides, better that his life was a mess than theirs.