Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.

A/N: Finally things are getting moving. Enjoy, and as always feedback is greatly appreciated.

Setting his pencil aside Bryan leaned back in his chair; eyes closed as he flexed his hand, trying to relive the cramping. The cast had been removed the day before, for which he was eternally grateful. Even three weeks had been too long in his opinion, if only because he hadn't been able to do much in the way of work the first week. Though he had finally managed to finish reading War and Peace.

"Slacking off again?"

Not bothering to look at the older teen he shook his head. "Hand's cramping up."

Silence reigned for a second before Robert broke it. "Probably time for a break, since you've been down here since seven this morning. Care to go riding with me?"

Of all the things he had ever expected Robert to say to him, asking him to go riding had never been one of them. He knew it hadn't been meant in a bad way, Robert was above making any comment that might be taken as dirty, but he was a teenager and according to the BBA psychologists, very nearly insane, and he didn't even try to keep from laughing.

Robert rolled his eyes as he slapped his gloves against his thigh, waiting for the pale haired teen to finish laughing. He had grown up with private tutors to allow for his traveling but he was by no means an innocent. Johnny was extremely fond of dirty jokes if only because he knew it made him roll his eyes and always seemed to laugh when someone said anything that could be taken as even remotely dirty. "Are you quite done?"

Bryan nodded as he pulled his glasses off to rub at his eyes. "Sorry." He placed the glasses back in their case before getting to his feet. Arching his back to realign everything he shut the ledger before setting the glasses case on top. "I'll go, but I can guarantee it probably isn't going to be pretty."

The German shrugged, eyes running over the pale haired teen as he stepped around the desk. "Your apparel will suffice. Unlike what they show in the movies, horseback riding isn't difficult and all the animals are well trained so it shouldn't prove too hard for you to pick up the basics."

"Thank you for talking to me like I'm a child. I really appreciate it."

Rather then answering he left the office, knowing Bryan was trying to get a rise out of him. In the four months since the teen had come to live with him he'd realized it was simply part of his nature to try and provoke a reaction from whoever happened to be near. "It seemed to me the only way to make you listen."

They had come to a somewhat silent agreement that Robert didn't have to always be the perfect gentleman he had been raised to be and if he slipped Bryan wasn't going to say anything. In return Bryan wouldn't be offended by anything the noble might comment on.

In the stable Bryan watched as Robert quickly and expertly saddled two horses. He still didn't think going riding was a good idea, but he was tired of being cooped up in the castle, needed to move and get out.

Giving a final tug on saddle girth Robert pulled the reins over the animals head and handed them to Bryan. "This is Chesterfield. She's old, fairly placid and reacts to the slightest rein movement. I can't imagine you'll have too many problems with her."

Robert pulled his gloves on and freed his own mount from its stall and led the animal out, the dull clop of hooves on concrete echoing through the long building. Once in the courtyard he mounted and turned to watch Bryan. He was tall enough to get into the saddle with little problem but the movement lacked any kind of grace.

"Fuck. Tala would be laughing himself sick if he could see me right now." He picked up the reins and nudged his horse. Tala had an odd penchant for Westerns and had forced Bryan to watch them with him, so he had some basic idea of what he was doing.

Reining his horse in to keep pace with Bryan Robert picked a low spot in the ditch leading to the edge of his land. "That is what friends are for but you have to admit, it is better to have them laughing at you then a complete stranger."

"I'll grant you that, but not when it comes to Tala. He is one of those people who continues to laugh even when it isn't funny anymore. And then he'll start laughing about it three days later." He relaxed slightly, easing the knot forming at the base of his neck though he kept an iron grip on the reins. It didn't matter what Robert said about the horse being placid. He wasn't going to trust anything that outweighed him nearly a thousand pounds.

It was a beautiful day with just the faintest hint of a breeze keeping the weather from being to unbearable. Grass reaching its summer vibrant color covered the hillsides, intersected by miles of low stone wall that had once broken the Jurgen land into farming plots.

Neither of them was paying much attention to their surroundings as they were arguing about whether or not the clouds developing the mountains were going to develop into a thunderstorm or not. A telltale twitch of the grass was the only warning before a rabbit leapt from its burrow and between the legs of Bryan's mount.

Chesterfield took offense the small furry bundle between her feet and jerked to the left before rearing, dropping Bryan to the ground like a bag of flour before bolting. His head hit the ground with a nearly audible thump and all the tension seemed to drain from his body. Reining in his mount who was nervously sidestepping Robert slid from the animal's back and peeled one glove off.

Kneeling next to the fallen teen he slid his fingers into the pale hair, searching for any signs of injury. He lightly brushed his fingers over a rapidly swelling bump on the back of Bryan's head. It didn't seem serious but it would probably still have to be looked at.

With a low hiss of pain Bryan rolled onto his side facing the other teen, pain lines at the corner of his mouth and eyes. "You didn't warn me about the homicidal rabbits."

Robert couldn't help but smile at the disgruntled words, fingers continuing their movement through the soft strands before trailing down the Russian's neck. "I wasn't aware of the fact rabbits on my land were bloodthirsty. I can assure you, if I had I would have told you. And I promise I won't let anyone know you were felled by a rabbit."

Eyes slit again the drumming pain in his head Bryan glared at him. "Fuck you." The fingers rubbing the back of his neck felt amazing and he focused on the sensation, using it to ignore the nausea and lightheadedness.

Robert traced a whorl of pale hair with his thumb. "Are you going to be able to ride?"

"Not unless you want to see me fall. Though you might like that. Think I have a concussion."

Fingers slipping back into pale hair to ease some of the stiffness Robert looked to where his horse was grazing a few feet away. Riding double wasn't going to be particularly comfortable but there weren't really any other options. Bryan needed to get back to the castle and have his head looked at. "We'll simply have to ride double." At the disbelieving look in the visible pale eye the noble shrugged. "The only way you are going to stay in the saddle is if you have someone to hold on to and I don't hate you so it would benefit the safety of your health to do so."

Without waiting for his answer Robert stood and caught his mount's reins. Pulling the animal closer he offered his free hand to his companion. Eyes hooded he accepted the older teen's hand, having to fight down a wave of nausea caused by the shift in orientation. Robert dropped the reins, hand going to Bryan's hip as the taller teen swayed slightly. "Are you okay?"

"No. I feel like someone dropped Seaborg on my head and the world won't stop spinning." Bryan didn't open his eyes, knowing the sunlight would make the pain in his head worse. "I thought I was done with concussions."

Robert mounted and rested a hand on Bryan's shoulder to let him know where he was. "I'll take the blame for this one." He tried not to stiffen when Bryan slid onto the saddle behind him, far to close. With every breath he took he could feel every spot where they were touching and the feeling was setting him on edge. The urge to jump was nearly overwhelming.

When an arm slid around his waist he jerked and tugged the reins, causing his horse to jerk. The arm tightened and Bryan's voice sounded in his ear. "No sudden movements unless you want to have to take a shower when we get back."

"Duly noted." He nudged the animal and kept the pace at a steady walk, trying not to avoid the rougher terrain. Luckily they were only a little under an hour from the castle, and the good weather looked to be holding so they weren't in any danger of returning wet.

Bryan slowly relaxed into the movement of the horse, the slight swaying working to counteract the dizziness. He leaned against the German, resting his cheek on the older teen's shoulder, nose brushing the pale throat. Brushing across the arch of Robert's hip he settled his hand on the older teen's thigh, fingers spread in a possessive gesture, thumb stroking along the inside seam of his pants.

Biting the inside of his cheek Robert tried to ignore the hand on his leg and the way Bryan was pressed against his back. He could blame it on the fact the younger teen was wounded and probably not thinking straight. And the warm, odd feeling coiled in the pit of his stomach was worry and had nothing to do with the how close they were.

Bryan groaned as movement ceased and he tightened his grip on Robert, face pressed against his neck. "Are we back?"

"Yes. You fell asleep for a little." Before he could offer to help the Russian he had slipped from the saddle and was leaning against the horse, forehead resting against the animal's hindquarters. "You shouldn't have moved so quickly."

The pale teen glared at Robert, brows drawn together in pain. "Would you stop fucking lecturing me for ten minutes and help me get inside? I promise once I'm halfway comfortable you can yell at me all you want."

Calling for the stable master the noble swung down and slid an arm around Bryan's waist, faint tremors running through the younger teen. He handed the reins to the man, disregarding the look the man gave him when Bryan draped an arm across his shoulders. "If I didn't know better I'd think you were fine."

"I become more of a bastard when I don't feel good. Always made training at the Abbey fun. Probably lucky Tala never tried to kill me." He paused just inside the doors, and swallowed convulsively, fighting off a wave of nausea. "No stairs."

Robert nodded and headed for a guest room on the first floor of the west wing. Despite the fact many of the rooms in the castle weren't actually used being as he was without a family for the most part, everything was kept clean. "I'm going to call Herr Schultzer." He returned the Russian's glare, arms folded across his chest. "I know you are an expert on concussions, but I would like to have a medical opinion."

"Fine." Bryan leaned back against the pillows, not caring about the fact his boots were on the bedspread. "Don't think you won just because I'm giving in. Head hurts too much to argue."

The noble smiled and Bryan couldn't help but notice it was the most real smile he had ever seen from him. "I wouldn't dream of it falke. Rest. It's going to be at least an hour before he makes it out here. Might as well take advantage of it."

Draping his arm over his eyes Bryan relaxed into the bed. "'M not going to argue with that logic."

An indeterminate amount of time later he woke to the sound of people arguing, namely Robert and the doctor. He cracked an eye open, trying to figure out what was going on. They were standing just inside the room, practically toe to toe, the doctor smirking as he poked Robert in the chest. The teen was glowering at the man, eyes hard though Bryan was intrigued to note there seemed to be a faint blush spread across his cheeks. "You two are making my head hurt even more."

Robert jerked at the sound of the Russian's voice, the blush on his cheeks deepening. "My apologies. Herr Schultzer and I were having a difference of opinion."

"Yeah, I figured that one out by myself." He grinned as Robert rolled his eyes. "Shouldn't leave yourself open like that."

The noble took the chair in one corner of the room. "So I've noticed. I'll have to take extra care about what I say around you. Now be quiet and let him work."

Glaring at the older teen Bryan allowed the doctor to poke and prod him with little complaint, though he couldn't help but flinch when the man moved to check his eyes. "Tell him to make it quick or I can't promise this will end well."

At a sharp word from Robert the doctor nodded and after flashing a light in Bryan's eyes to check the reactivity of his pupils before stepping back. Jerking his head towards the door he grabbed his bag. The noble sighed and got to his feet. "Excuse me while I see what he has to say and escort him out."

Bryan nodded and took a deep breath, trying to get rid of the tension knotting his shoulders and back. Doctors, no matter how harmless looking, were not to be trusted. Slowly it drained away, allowing for the headache and nausea to come back to the point that even the tapestry hanging on the wall across from the bed was enough to make him sick.

Cool fingers brushed across his forehead and with a groan he slit his eyes open of find Robert again next to the bed, a glass of water in one hand and aspirin in the other. "Playing maid again?"

"I wouldn't have to if you hadn't decided to terrify the members of my staff." Robert's gaze was serious but there was humor in his voice. He handed the aspirin to the younger teen and then the water. "Herr Schultzer doesn't think you're in any danger. His only suggestion was rest and painkillers as needed."

Rolling his eyes Bryan sat up long enough to kick his boots off and drop his watch on the table next to the bed. "Just as I figured." Punching a pillow he settled back into the bed with a hiss of pain, eyes closed. "Are you going to hover or let me sleep?"

The faint click of the glass being set down reached his ears and he wasn't surprised when a light blanket was draped over him. "I'll take that to mean you're going to hover."

"No. I'm going to sit in the corner and do work while you rest. Technically it does not count as hovering." Picking a file up from the pile on the table Robert sat in the chair and put his feet up on the table, ignoring the little voice telling him not to do it.

Quiet descended on the room, broken only by the faint sound of Bryan's breathing and the birds outside. Flipping to the little flag at the back of the file Robert scribbled his name on the line before setting it aside and picking up the next one. It seemed like all the quarterly inventories and reports for the various Jurgen holdings seemed to all come in at once, leaving him knee deep in paperwork.

Five files later he was ready to throw everything in the fire and say it had somehow accidentally gotten shredded. Setting aside a report from Denmark he leaned back in the chair, eyes wandering to the bed. Bryan appeared to have finally fallen asleep, his breathing deep and easy. The pain lines at the corners of his mouth and eyes had eased, for which he was glad. He couldn't help but feel partly responsible for his concussion, even if he hadn't been able to prevent it from happening.

Bryan looked, not necessarily younger, but more relaxed and at peace. The tension that seemed to haunt him was washed away in sleep. There were days he thought the younger teen was going to snap from the psychological and emotional stress he kept himself under. His gaze drifted along the strong line of Bryan's jaw and lower, down his neck and across the faint outline of sharp collarbones under his shirt.

Eyes moving along broad shoulders, down strong arms, gaze lingering on the hard curve of Bryan's bicep and he leaned forward slightly, chin cradled in his fingers. He could recall the feel of latent strength under his hand and the odd rush of emotion that had come with it.

His hands were big, with long fingers heavily calloused from years of Beyblading and training without any kind of protection. A thick band of scar tissue marred the pale skin on the back of his right wrist, hidden by his watch and Robert couldn't help but wonder what had caused it, though he was sure Biovolt was behind it.

Taking a deep breath the noble leaned back in his chair, eyes falling shut. Part of him was wondering what the younger teen would have been like had he not been raised by Biovolt. A larger part however, was growing attached to the rough, stoic Russian. His unfettered cynicism was refreshing after growing up in a world where every insult was cleverly hidden behind a veneer of civility.

"What time is it?"

Robert jumped at the low voice, the folder slipping from his lap. His gaze darted to the bed to find Bryan staring at him, eyes hooded. "Nearly 2:30."

"You were going to sleep in the chair weren't you?" Shifting to the right he raised the blanket, gaze never leaving him. "No reason we both need to be in pain tomorrow."

The German closed the file and put it on top of the finished pile. "Nonsense. One night sleeping upright isn't going to affect me adversely. And you are injur-"

"Would you just shut up and get in the fucking bed. It's big enough we could get three other people in here and still be comfortable. You being in the bed isn't going to interrupt my rest any."

Knowing that even sick Bryan could be more stubborn than he was Robert didn't even try to continue the argument. He peeled his boots and vest off and padded to the bed, painfully aware of Bryan's eyes on him, watching his every move. Turning off the bed side lamp he slid into the bed, finding it easier to move in the darkness. Even with the distance between them he could feel the heat radiating off the other teen. Slowly, he found himself drifting to sleep, soothed by his companion's warmth.