Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
A/N: The long and the short of it is that work sucks and is seriously cutting into my writing time. Anyway, this is the chapter where things finally come to a head. I hope you all enjoy.
The moment the car stopped moving Oliver threw the door open and stepped out, arching his back to relieve the tension knotting his shoulders. "I still think we should have told Robert we were coming. He always gives us a warning, even if it is only a couple of hours."
Johnny handed the car keys to the chauffer who had come out to move the car. "That's because Robert has manners. And we've never give him much advanced warning before and he didn't seem to care."
Taking his lover's hand Oliver frowned. "As you pointed out earlier, the only reason he doesn't make a deal about it is because you he has manners. I still think we should have given him warning. He could have board members over or maybe even be entertaining a woman."
The Scot sighed and kissed the smaller teen on the forehead. Oliver was forever optimistic and while it occasionally irked him it was also one of the things he loved about his partner. "I know you're worried about him, we all are, but that bitch ruined part of him and I can't say whether or not he's ever going to be willing to trust anyone enough to be intimate with anyone again."
"Master McGregor, Master Bollinger I have never been so happy to see you Stratholm. I was about to go behind Lord Jurgen's back and call you here. I fear he is in some kind of trouble and he won't listen to anything I say about it." Gustav stepped out of the castle, hands folded behind his back.
Johnny and Oliver exchanged surprised looks, not sure what to make of the butler's statement. Gustav had always been unyielding in his support of the Jurgen family, so for him to be willing to go behind Robert's back meant it was something serious. Johnny took a half step forward, eyes hard. "What happened?"
The butler stepped further into the courtyard. "He employed a criminal several months ago. Said criminal is working as his accountant and I fear he has managed to sink his talons into Lord Jurgen and nothing good can come of it."
Oliver felt his lover's fingers tighten on his and he rolled his eyes, knowing an explosion was imminent. Johnny was an ass at the best of times but he was fiercely protective of his friends and jumped to their defense at a moment's notice.
"They are in the parlour if you wish to speak to Lord Jurgen. And I suggest you hurry." Gustav couldn't help but smile as Johnny dragged Oliver into the castle, practically breathing fire. If his master wouldn't listen to him about the dangers of keeping an insane person around, perhaps his friends could do it.
Johnny paused just outside the partially open doors, a frown tugging at the corner of his mouth as he eavesdropped. The other person sounded familiar, though not one he could give a name too.
"After spending the last two years under BBA guardianship I can honestly say I don't like the way they changed things. They're only allowing computer generated bit beasts that they can control. They've taken the chance out of it all."
"I've been meaning to ask, since the Championships if you were bitter about the BBA and Herr Dickenson banning your team from further competitions?"
Oliver shrugged at the questioning look in his lover's eyes. He too recognized the voice but wasn't any closer to having a face to go with it.
"Honestly no. We were too dangerous to compete the first time around and the only reason the BBA allowed it was because Voltaire paid them three times the team fee required. And even if we could still compete we probably wouldn't. The new teams are scared and the old teams are smart enough to not go against us even in exhibition matches. Not to mention that Rei's fan club would still prefer to see me lynched."
Hot anger flashing through his veins Johnny threw the doors of the parlour open and strode into the room. "What the fuck!" Ignoring Bryan he glared at his friend, feeling betrayed by the German's faint smile. "What the hell is going on? Gustav said you had a criminal working here but I refuse to believe you'd be stupid enough to hire him."
"Oliver, Johnny, a pleasant surprise as always. As for Gustav, I would ask that you ignore anything he might say in regards to Bryan and his work here. He and Bryan have been at odds with each other since he joined the household."
Bryan laughed and got to his feet. "And I blame it all on him. I've been a paragon of innocence since I've been here and since I don't feel like listening to your friend call me a murderous vile bastard I'll be in the office doing some work."
The Scot sneered at the pale haired teen. "Running scared? I should have known trash like you wouldn't be able to handle the truth."
Growling in anger Bryan yanked Johnny close, hands fisted in his shirt. "Listen to me you sad little lizard. The Abbey dragged us through Hell and back again. I've seen things that would make you wet yourself. I've spent the night in a cell with rats all too willing to nibble on live human flesh."
"I watched them beat one of my closest friends bloody because he failed an exercise once. My body is a patchwork of scars and I'm so fucked up in the head I have a hard time recognizing when people are trying to help. You don't, and will never have the right to judge me." He pushed the Scot back and turned away, not wanting the pity he knew he would see.
The blow from behind wasn't unexpected. He had insulted Johnny on purpose, knowing the redhead would seek physical retribution. Lightning quick he spun around, striking him hard across the cheek. Johnny staggered back, one hand coming up to his bleeding nose. "Touch me again and I can't guarantee something won't get broken."
Johnny sneered as he wiped the blood away. "Awful big words from someone who got beaten by a boy half their size."
"You barely have room to talk McGregor. I heard how you were defeated by Kai. He's easy once you figure him out." A sharp, feral grin curled his lips and the three Majestics couldn't help but recall the World Championships and what had happened there. "But then, you aren't the smart one are you?"
With a snarl Johnny threw himself at the bigger teen, an angry flush staining his cheeks. The suddenness of his attack caught Bryan off guard and his fist slammed into the Russian's cheek, the force of the blow forcing him back a step. "Fucking bastard!"
Licking the blood from his split lip Bryan grinned at his assailant. "Good shot but you hit like a girl."
Robert rolled his eyes at the Russian's words even as Johnny turned an even more vibrant shade of red at the insult. Part of him was thinking of just leaving the two in the parlour to work out their problems alone but Oliver was starting to look worried and he didn't feel like spending the night listening to Johnny complain about his wounds.
He stepped in just as Johnny was taking another swing at Bryan. It was easy to avoid the wild swing and he pushed the Scot back with a sharp shove to the chest. With an easy movement he twisted and hooked an ankle behind Bryan's knee, dropping the Russian to the floor. Ignoring the dirty look from the younger teen he rounded back on Johnny, fixing him with a stern look. "Jonathon Calen McGregor I am appalled by your behaviour."
Oliver couldn't help but giggle, ignoring the upset look his lover gave him. There were only three people in the world who could get away with calling the fiery Scot by his full name and live to tell the tale. Lord and Lady McGregor and Robert.
"Why the fuck are you taking his side? He's the one who started it and some how I'm the one that gets in trouble. Some friend you're being right now." Johnny's gaze was locked on Robert, hurt evident in the line of his shoulders.
Robert pinched the bridge of his nose, idly wishing his friends had not chosen to visit. The part of him raised to believe in unwavering loyalty knew he should be supporting Johnny fully but it was hard when the Scot had started anything. He heard Bryan get up and leave the room and he didn't move, knowing he had to deal with Johnny. "I am hardly taking sides Johnny, but you are the one who needs to be admonished. As a member of the nobility you should always be on your best behaviour, and here you are acting like a spoiled child. He was more than willing to simply walk away but you started it."
"Clean him up. I'm going to go check on Bryan." He ignored the rude gesture Johnny gave him as he left the room.
--
Bryan leaned over the sink and splashed cold water on the back of his neck. He wasn't particularly upset with what had happened. A split lip and sore hand were nothing compared to what had happened at the Abbey but his hand was starting to stiffen up, which was going to make the rest of the night difficult. Cupping his hands he took a drink of the water, swishing it around in his mouth to get rid of the iron taste hanging heavy in his mouth.
"Are you okay?"
He spat out the pink tinted water and grinned at Robert. "I'm fine. Tal and I are the only ones that could take Spencer on in a fight and he hits a hell of a lot harder than Johnny. Lizard has a fucking hard head though. Hand is a little swollen but it shouldn't interfere much."
Stepping into the bathroom Robert opened the medicine cabinet and withdrew a rolled bandage. "Just reinforcing my belief that Johnny only remembers what he deems important. Let me wrap your hand. Perhaps it will keep it from being to uncomfortable to use."
Bryan held out his hand and watched as Robert wrapped his hand with quick, efficient movements making sure the bandage was tight enough to stay on without cutting off blood flow. "I don't think I've seen even doctors wrap a hand so quickly."
"In addition to my Beyblading I have also trained in several different martial arts. I found it was easier to learn how to wrap my hands myself rather then relying on someone else to do it for me." With a last tug of the bandage he clipped it in place. This close he could see faint, hair thin scars crisscrossing the pale skin. He traced one that ended in the crook of Bryan's elbow, noting the shiver as his fingers brushed over the fragile skin. "What are these from?"
Rolling his shoulders Bryan glanced down, barely noticing the scars, focused on the warmth of Robert. He was tempted to pull the knight close and kiss him, to shatter what was between them and start over, based on the six months and nothing before then. "Falborg. I had to earn the right to be his partner, so I do know what I put Rei through."
Shifting against the sink he brought his free hand to brush teasingly across Robert's side smiling at the faint blush staining his cheeks. "I'm going to lie down. Didn't sleep so well last night."
Robert, as if all of a sudden realizing how close he was stepped back, fingers sliding off pale skin. "Of course. I suppose I should go make sure nothing besides Johnny's ego has been seriously injured."
--
"How's the lizard?"
Robert kicked the door to the tower partially closed, smiling at the Russian's words. The younger teen was lying on his back on the walkway, hands folded over his stomach. "His pride is the only part of him that is hurt. He'll get over it in time."
He gently kicked Bryan in the foot. "Sit up. I have the vodka as a reward for not maiming Johnny."
Grinning Bryan sat up, careful of his hand. "Yeah well, I figured if I maimed him you would kick me out and I've become rather fond of this castle and its master." The line sounded cheesy even to him and he shook his head as he took a shot glass from Robert. "Ignore how bad that sounded and hand me the bottle."
Once Robert was next to him he splashed liquor in both glasses before holding is up to the sky, watching the distortion of the sky through the liquid. "Aren't shots a little plebian for Lord Jurgen?"
"Lord Jurgen is nineteen years old and barely gets a chance to act his age. Shots aren't plebian at nineteen."
Companionable silence descended between them, broken only by the sound of their breathing and the slosh of liquid as they refilled their glasses. They were so close their arms touched with every breath and Bryan didn't move away like he would have, had it been anyone else. In fact, he found himself leaning against the older teen, unconsciously trying to recapture the warmth and intimacy from the morning. In the three weeks since they had agreed to put it all behind them he had found himself wanting Robert, needing to touch him.
An indeterminate time later, after the bottle was three quarters empty a hand settled on his thigh and squeezed once before disappearing. "I believe I will retire for the evening as I have business to attend to tomorrow morning." His words were less clipped and he was relaxed, leaning against Bryan as if he didn't actually want to leave.
Rather then saying good night he set his glass aside and moved so he was kneeling over Robert, bandaged hand resting on one shoulder for balance, fingers stroking fine fabric. His free hand ghosted across nose, cheekbone and jaw line, not quite touching, watching to see Robert's reaction to his proximity. There was no condemnation in the dark eyes, no anger, just wariness and something akin to need. He hadn't meant to make a move, but with the way Robert had defended and bandaged him without making him feel like an inferior had sparked something. It wasn't planned, but with the alcohol he had consumed and want he wouldn't deny, it was going to happen.
He knew it wasn't about love, though they had developed an odd affection for each other. Robert offered him what he'd been seeking in his two years at the BBA, warmth and a place to stay where he wasn't judged.
"This is going to change everything."
Robert nodded as if giving a verbal response was beyond his abilities. His hands fluttered for a moment as if confused before settling on Bryan's hips, fingers scratching over denim.