Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade. Corcoran is mine.
A/N: There will be two more chapters after this one. Enjoy.
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Robert set his book down and looked at his lover. They were sprawled on a couch, his feet and legs in Bryan's lap. One of his partner's hands was curled around his foot, thumb stroking the arch. The ring on Bryan's finger caught the firelight and Robert lowered his book to the floor and sat up, drawing his legs free.
Bryan closed his book with a finger marking his place. "Robert?"
Not quite ready to speak Robert lifted Bryan's right hand and kissed the thick scar that was bared by his lover's lack of a watch. For long moments he stayed like that, forehead pressed against Bryan's hand.
"We have to tell my mother."
Frowning Bryan combed fingers through dark hair, hoping it would ease the faint stiffness he could feel in the way Robert was curled next to him. "Okay."
Not relinquishing his hold on Bryan's hand Robert sat up and tucked his feet under Bryan's thigh. "You're giving in much easier than I had expected falke. Do you have some ulterior motive I should know about for trying to butter me up?"
Toeing off his boots Bryan swung his legs up on the couch and pulled the afghan on the back over their laps, leaving his hand with Robert's under the blanket. "No. I've been expecting this since the beginning, though I'm kind of surprised it took this long. I figured you would have told her earlier."
Robert scowled and tried to tug his hand free but Bryan twined their fingers together, aware of the fact that he had insulted Robert with his words.
The dark haired teen stopped trying to free his hand though he didn't react when Bryan squeezed. "For once I make a decision solely based on what I want and suddenly everyone is surprised I haven't spoken with my mother."
"Two years. Anyone else would assume you've been hiding me like you aren't sure whether or not I'm acceptable to introduce to mom. I know I'm not really fit to meet a hooker let alone a member of the nobility."
It took Robert a moment to decipher his lover's words and he jerked his hand free and leaned away from Bryan, his back stiff, eyes flat with haughtiness, withdrawn as he hadn't been since they had relaxed together, before they had become lovers.
"And my reluctance to inform my mother of our relationship isn't because of my want for some time with my lover before she started in on my duty towards the family and tried to make me question everything I feel for you."
Robert tossed the blanket that had been covering him over Bryan and stood, reinforcing the walls between them. "As for your other erroneous statements, I am in no way ashamed of you Bryan Kuznetsov. I would have no problems introducing you to any member of the nobility and even royalty. Would you like that? To be acknowledged as my partner in front of a royal family? My family is still on rather good terms with the Danish Monarchy. I'm sure I could arrange some kind of meeting with them, if it would help this ridiculous notion of yours that I am ashamed to have anyone know what is between us."
Feeling angry at his lover's words and himself for making Robert think he was feeling ashamed Bryan stood, the blanket slithering to pool on the floor. He moved to stand in front of his lover, not quite touching, but close enough that Robert had to look up to counter act the nearly four inch difference in height between them.
Bryan's voice was low and even, his accent thick. "No. Because if you asked it of me I would remain in the dark, as your friend or accountant, live with never being publicly announced as your lover, if that's what you truly wanted. Not because I think you're ashamed of me, but because I love you."
Robert's eyes widened and he took a half step back. "I-". Feeling tongue tied he licked his lips, unable to look away from his lover. Two and a half years since he had admitted his own feelings to his partner and he knew that Bryan returned them, even if the words had never been said.
Through the tattoo on his hip, all the touches and the words Robert had sensed Bryan's feelings, to the core of his soul. He would have been happy even if the words had never been said.
"You said it."
Bryan shifted his weight from foot to foot, hands jammed in his pockets. "It's always been true."
Robert stepped forward, eliminating any space between them, one hand coming up to rest on his lover's shoulder, the other touching Bryan's hip before sliding under his shirt to feel warm skin. "I know."
Bryan's hands slid from his pockets, one spread on Robert's lower back, the fingers of his free hand trailing up his lover's spine, sliding into dark hair, palm following the curve of his skull.
Breath leaving his lungs Robert bowed his head to the gentle pressure of Bryan's hand, forehead resting against the soft cotton and the sharp ridge of his lover's collarbone. He felt Bryan's lips on his temple, the warm breath on sensitive skin sending a shudder down his spine.
Nothing else was said. There was nothing else that could be said.
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"What is the worst she can do?"
Robert relaxed his grip on the steering wheel as he turned to look at his partner. The other teen was sprawled as much as he could in his seat, arms folded across his chest, eyes hooded and cool but he knew it was simply a front. While he wasn't radiating nervous energy it was obvious to anyone who knew him that he was slightly anxious about finally meeting the Dowager Baroness Jurgen. "She could disown me, but I am leaning towards her simply killing me and using my body to fertilize her roses."
Opening the car door Bryan slid out. "We really need to work on your timing when it comes to showing you have a sense of humour. Now let's get this done so we can get back to the castle before Cor does something I haven't managed yet and drives Gustav insane."
"I'm not sure what it says about you Bryan, that you without trying seemed to impress upon Corcoran the need to irritate my butler. I found another one of his shoes at the foot of the bed this morning riddled with chew marks." Removing the keys from the ignition Robert exited the car and pocketed the keys, feeling better when the Russian rounded the car to stand by him, knowing he would stay by his side no matter what happened inside.
They were parked across the street from his mother's townhouse where she had moved as soon as he had turned eighteen, leaving him the castle as was customary. She had occasionally visited the castle but for the most part had left him alone and it had gotten to the point that the only time they actually saw each other was when they had some kind soiree to attend.
A hand settled on his neck, rubbing and he relaxed into the touch, pushing away the urge to simply get back in the car and drive away. Maybe go on an extended personal vacation and call his mother from there to tell her about Bryan. "And I thought telling my father I didn't want to go to his private school had been nerve wracking."
Not thinking Bryan kissed his lover on the cheek. "Not that I can really speak from experience, but I have heard mothers are terrifying to deal with compared to fathers. And she does have lovely roses."
Ignoring the exasperation in dark eyes Bryan nudged gently with a light kick to the back of Robert's shoe. "Get moving before I haul your ass in there over my shoulder. I'm sure that would be fun to explain to her."
Knowing his partner rarely made idle threats he started across the street, aware of Bryan at his back and the hand on his neck. His mother's housekeeper let them in and nodded her head towards the parlour before disappearing into the back of the house. Not wanting to prolong the inevitable any longer he stepped into the parlour doorway. "Mother."
Tanja looked up from the letter she had been writing, a soft smile on her face. "Robert, dearest, what an unexpected and pleasant surprise." Setting aside her pen she got to her feet, sparing a brief glance for the intense young man hovering in the doorway before looking back to her son.
There was an odd tension in his body she wasn't familiar with, his perfect posture gone and it almost seemed like he wanted to lean back, to get closer to his friend. Eyes narrowed as she noted the closeness between them Tanja gestured to the cream and green striped couch. "Please sit down. I'm glad you are here Robert. There is a rather pressing matter I would like to talk to you about."
She settled into a wingback chair and watched as Robert took a seat on the couch, leaning back even as his companion moved to stand behind him, hands on the back, framing her son's shoulders. "I received a most interesting call from Lord Kilchberg yesterday morning. It seems the marriage he was arranging with Lord Zimmerman for his daughter has fallen through, as Helga admitted to being in love with you. He wanted to know if I was amenable to joining our families bloodlines."
Feeling confused she watched as Robert tensed so fast she was afraid he might pull something. More telling however, was his aborted reach backwards, fingers curling towards his palm inches from a large hand. "Don't worry Robert, no decisions have been made. I told Harold I would have to speak to you first."
Robert took a deep breath, hand falling back to his thigh. He had wanted to ease into telling his mother, but with the new development in Helga's plot to marry him there was no time for trying to work towards it slowly. There was a steady pressure against his back and he managed to relax slightly, unreasonably glad Bryan was with him.
"Actually mother, my intimate life is why Bryan and I are here. Lord Kilchberg is going to have to find someone else to marry Helga."
Bryan's low laugh sent a shudder down his spine. "I think you shouldn't assume she'll give up."
"I am not assuming anything falke, simply hoping if it comes from her father she will realize nothing is going to happen." He leaned forward slightly, seeing the confusion in his mother's dark eyes. "In addition, I would be grateful mother if you would kindly decline any other marriage offers, without giving them any details."
Tired of listening to her son talk in circles, something he had rarely done before Tanja glared at him. "Robert Ehren Jurgen, kindly stop talking in circles and say what you've been hinting at. Really, I haven't seen you this obtuse since you broke my grandmother's vase all those years ago."
The steady pressure against his back increased and he took the opening his mother had provided. "Mother, Bryan and I are in an intimate relationship."
As soon as he said the words he leaned back, relaxing as Bryan's hands curved over his shoulders, thumbs stroking up and down his neck. He could tell him mother was still confused, trying to piece together everything but he wasn't going to say anything else. It was up to his mother to figure it out.
Tanja looked between them, noting all the little things that seemed to support her son's words. The way Robert was completely comfortable with the hands on his shoulders and the easy movement of thumbs. Leaning forward she looked at the heavy platinum ring on Bryan's finger, etched with a gryphon in front of a flail, her son's personal coat of arms.
Pale hair was shorter than she remembered and he had grown but she knew exactly who he was. "You are the Russian bastard who attacked that beautiful Chinese boy aren't you."
Thumbs never ceasing their movement Bryan nodded. "Yes ma'am."
He didn't say anything else, knowing his part had been played. It was up to mother and son to figure everything out, to see what would happen.
The Baroness looked at her son, one eyebrow raised. "Robert, I hope you have seriously considered what this means for you and the family. While we may be living in a more enlightened age, that doesn't mean it is going to be easy for you if someone finds out about your relationship. There is of course also the matter of continuing the Jurgen family line and not to mention who is going to accompany you on social visits where a date is expected? I can hardly see the two of you going together."
Resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose Robert settled for shaking his head. "Yes mother, I am well aware of the ramifications of being in a same-sex relationship towards my own public image and that of the family. In addition, the matter of an heir can be dealt with a surrogate but that is years from now. And when it comes to social events there is no reason I can think of that you and I cannot continue to attend such events together. Our family has always provided a united front and I see no reason for that to change."
Turning the wedding band on her finger she looked at the dulled gold. All of Robert's arguments had been sound and it wasn't hard to see the affection between them. "Robert, you know your father and I never agreed on much, beside the fact we both loved you and wanted you to be happy."
She looked up and met Bryan's gaze, unsurprised to see the challenge in the pale eyes. "If being with him makes you happy then you have my blessing and I will tell Harold he will simply have to look elsewhere to find a husband for Helga."
Standing she gestured for Robert to stand aside as he had risen with her, wanting to see Bryan. "And I swear to whatever gods might be listening, that if you do anything to hurt my son, I will have you strung up and your head on my doorstep. Understood?"
There was a flash of surprise in pale eyes but it was gone as quick as it came, replaced by a smirk. "Understood Your Excellency."
Done with the Russian she stepped forward, cupping her son's face as she kissed him on the cheek. "As long as you are happy. Now out so I can call Harold and tell him that there will be no wedding. And do remember dearest, that we have the Zimmerman function to attend next week."
Bryan fastened his seatbelt before resting his hand on Robert's thigh. "Was that what you expected?"
Checking for any traffic Robert eased out of the parking spot. "No, not in particular. I am not entirely certain what I foresaw her doing, but calm acceptance was not something I had imagined. I would have settled for her trying to hit me with one of those little bird statues she has around the house."
Squeezing his partner's leg Bryan settled deeper into his seat for the almost two hour drive back to the castle. "At least the roses weren't mentioned."