Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
A/N: Another chapter. I promise things will eventually start picking up, but this isn't exactly a pairing that I can toss together. A little mixing is required. Enjoy, and as always, feedback is greatly appreciated.
--
Three weeks later, when he entered the study that had become his by default a slim silver phone was sitting on top of the ledger he had been working on. Pocketing the phone he started back to work, knowing Robert would be making an appearance soon. One of the maids had cleaned up the study, disrupting his carefully organized workspace. He'd walked in just as she was emptying the garbage and done the only thing he could think of, knowing strangling her wasn't an option. It was surprising how quickly people had shown up at the sounds of Russian mixed with some creative English insults thrown in, given the size of the castle.
Gustav had been the first to arrive, looking like he had been stung several times by bees. Seconds later Robert had shown up, followed by the two other maids, the cook and the chauffer. Rather then looking upset about the fact one of his maids was in tears Robert actually seemed to be amused by the entire thing. At a gesture from the noble the cook and chauffer rescued the maid from the room, both of them looking at the Russian with trepidation.
Once the maid had been cleared out of the line of fire Robert waved a hand at Gustav and shut the door in the butler's face, ignoring the dirty look from the old man. Not trying to hide his smile he had kindly asked Bryan to not harass his employees before walking out. Now all three of the maids refused to clean the study and would only enter his room if he was gone.
An hour later Robert made his appearance with a stack of files under one arm and a mug of tea in hand. Since the incident with the maid he had started doing his own work in the study with Bryan, taking up the other half of the massive desk. The German had claimed it was to keep him from attacking any other employees but Bryan had the feeling it was because the noble was actually glad to have someone his own age around who wasn't from a noble background. Someone he didn't have to pretend with.
He waited until the noble had set his mug down before saying what he had wanted to since he had seen the phone. "You know, if you keep giving me expensive things I'm going to start thinking you're trying to woo me."
When he heard the files slip to the floor he finally looked up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Robert was staring at him ruby eyes wide with shock. "Hmm. I seem to have hit a sensitive topic for the Lord Jurgen."
Shooting a scathing look at the Russian the knight bent down to pick up his paperwork. "Homosexuality is hardly a sensitive topic for me. I was simply unaware of the fact that getting glasses and a phone for someone was a sign of courtship." He managed to organize all the files and sat in one of the chairs, matching Bryan's stare.
Bryan pulled his glasses off and cleaned them on the edge of his shirt before putting them back on, his smirk sharp. "Robert, how many employees have you bought glasses and obviously expensive phones for? Usually such expensive items are reserved for people you're romantically attached to or very close friends. And seeing as we're hardly friends it must be something else."
The German set the files on the desk and folded his hands, eyes serious. "You've done a great service to me and my family by agreeing to resolve this problem. I was simply repaying you for your services. And as for the wooing part, I am the Lord Jurgen and it is my duty to beget an heir on a woman of suitable breeding, something you are ill-fitted for, even if I was inclined to find men attractive."
"I'm attracted to men." Bryan leaned forward, his voice pitched low. "Is that a problem Lord Jurgen?"
Robert folded his arms across his chest. "It is the twenty first century Bryan, not the Middle Ages. And two of my closest friends are together and have been for the past two years. It is not seen as the deplorable act it once was, but it is not a lifestyle I bear an uncouthly grudge against."
Pale eyes narrowed and Bryan picked his pen up before bending his head and going back to work. "Johnny and Oliver. The first of the old guard bladers to come out. The BBA office in London was taking bets on who would be the first to announce it."
Robert laughed and took a drink of his tea before opening the first file on his stack. "Enrique and I actually had our own wager going, though I fear I had an unfair advantage. Johnny came to me not long after the Worlds and asked if I approved of his intentions towards Oliver."
"So Lord Jurgen isn't above a friendly wager. I'll have to keep that in mind for later." Bryan went back to his work, content to let silence fall between them. It should have been awkward, to be working on the finances of someone who had hated him for nearly two years. Oddly enough it was more like working with Tala or Kai, a comfortable silence that didn't need to be broken.
--
Bryan glanced up briefly from War and Peace when Robert came into the library, a glass of amber liquid in hand. He took pulled his own book from a shelf and took up a chair across from the Russian.
"Why a falcon?"
Rolling his neck to ease some of the tension Bryan slid a finger between the pages to mark his spot. He removed his glasses and set them on the small table. "Because I didn't see myself as a whale or snake. And Tala has the monopoly on wolf grins."
He didn't even try to hide his smirk at the exasperated look in the noble's eyes. "Wouldn't have been fun if I had given you a straight answer to begin with." His gaze drifted to the fire. It was easier to talk about the Abbey with the knight when he didn't have to meet the penetrating garnet gaze. "Because falcons are strong, independent, intelligent." When he spoke again his voice was low and rough. "Free. Everything I thought I was and wanted to be."
The snapping crack of the fire was the only sound in the room for long minutes before Robert spoke. "I am sorry for asking such a question Bryan. I did not mean to rouse any uncomfortable thoughts or feelings."
The Russian shrugged. "The Abbey is part of who I am and will be until the day I die. If such a simple question angered me I wouldn't have ever been allowed to leave the BBA. What about you. Do you get off on looking so stuck up all day?"
At the noble's confused look the lavender haired teen waved his hand. "It's almost ten thirty and you still look like you're ready to face the world."
There was no exaggeration in the Russian's words. Robert looked as perfectly pressed as he had been at five that morning, from his shirt buttoned as high as it would go down to his polished shoes.
"I promise I won't tell your mom or friends if you aren't the perfect child they think you are." The Russian leaned forward, one arm outstretched. With a quick flick of his fingers he undid the top two buttons on the noble's shirt, revealing a thin strip of pale skin. He stood pale eyes serious. "There's no reason to wear a mask around me. I won't judge." His lips twisted in a self deprecating smile. "After all, I attacked a helpless boy who had done nothing."
He left the room, leaving Robert stunned for the second time in less then a month and reconsidering everything he knew about the Russian.
--
3:10. Fuck, I need to get some sleep. Bryan thumped his head against the stone wall behind him and turned his gaze to the stars above his head. After the rather odd encounter in the library earlier he'd had every intention of going to bed and doing his best to forget the night. He hadn't told Rei half of what had come to light in the little over a month he'd been in the castle, and he was closer to the neko-jin than he was to Robert.
There was something about the noble that compelled him to reveal more of the horrors he had been through then he had to the psychiatrists at the BBA. Maybe it was simply because he didn't have to try to impress the knight. Robert already thought he was scum so hearing what had happened at the Abbey wasn't going to change his impressions any.
Standing he made his way back down the spiral stairs of the tower and to his room, hoping he would be able to sleep. He'd never been prone to nightmares before but in the past six months or so they had started with a vengeance, all the horrible things he'd seen done in the bowels of the Abbey.
A fire was already burning in the fireplace of his room and his bed had been turned down, ready for him to slip between the sheets. Forgoing his usual nightly shower he simply stripped down and slid into the bed.
--
A blank envelope slid into his field of view and without looking up he grabbed it. "It's a wonder I ever get anything done with the way things keep getting thrown in my face." When he didn't get an answer he raised his head to find Robert dressed in a charcoal grey suit and looking decidedly upset, though he could tell the emotion wasn't aimed at him. "Business trip?"
"Unfortunately. It seems one of the docks my family owns in Spain is having problems with management and drug running so I've decided to oversee the police investigation and find out exactly what is going on." The noble sank into one of the chairs and nodded to the envelope. "You can open it. Nothing is going to jump out and bite you."
Bryan rolled his eyes as he opened the envelope. Inside was a personal check, made out to him and signed by Robert. He arched an eyebrow as he pulled the check free. "So I've already paid off my theoretical stealing of the candlesticks?"
The faintest hint of a smile tugged at the knight's mouth and he waved a hand. "You had that paid off your third day of work here. I've simply been lax in getting your earnings to you."
"As usual, you pick the worst times to prove you have a sense of humor." Intrigued by the weight of the envelope he moved the check aside to reveal a plane ticket to Moscow, scheduled to depart at seven that evening. "Finally gotten tired of having me around?"
Robert stood. "Actually, I find your presence a refreshing change from spending time with my friends." He canted his head to the side as he looked at the Russian, garnet eyes hooded. "Johnny's sarcasm and spirit is no match for yours."
Dipping one shoulder in a half shrug Bryan waved the envelope. "I try. Now why the plane ticket?"
"For the last week and a half you've been anxious and jumpy. I am extremely surprised you haven't snapped yet." The German's voice was low, as if he was expecting Bryan to fly off the handle at the merest mention of how he'd been acting.
So much for Biovolt's training. There used to be a time when no one could read me and now even Robert can tell I'm off center. "It's the walls. They remind me of the Abbey. Too much stone and not enough freedom." He closed the ledger and got to his feet, wincing as his back popped. "I take it you want me to get my shit together since it is hours to the nearest airport." Meeting the older teen's gaze he tapped the ledger. "Do you mind if I take this with me? I'd really rather not lose track of my work."
"Of course. Although it does seem odd that I trust you with my family's finances."
Bryan took his glasses off and put them back in their case before picking the book up. "Shouldn't be odd. Once I give my word I never go back on it."