Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.

Sporran

"I don't know what to say."

Robert adjusts the hang of his sporran before turning to look at his lover. Bryan is watching him with a speculative gleam in his eyes. "You don't like it?"

Bryan comes into the room. "It's not that I don't like it, it just isn't what I was expecting."

"I couldn't very well be Johnny's best man in a suit." Robert tugs at the cuffs of his jacket.

Leaning down for a kiss Bryan smiles. "I'll stick with the suit, thanks."

Robert steps back. "The kilt takes a while to get used to but I've had twenty-five years."

With a smirk, knowing it will get him in trouble, Bryan drops his hand to brush over the fur of his lover's sporran. "Got anything good in there?"

Robert bats Bryan's hand aside with a good natured grin. "I refuse to be a statistic that has sex at a friend's wedding."

Johnny appears in the doorway, pale with his sporran askew. "This is a bad idea Robert. I can't get married."

Bryan laughs as Robert moves to Johnny. "Looks like it's time you started doing the best man thing."

With a look Robert jerks his head towards the room's bar. "Brandy falke. And kindly keep your mouth shut."

Bryan smirks.

Basket

Stretching Bryan plucks the apple and puts it in his basket. It's the last of the crop and might be one of the only things they have left when winter ends.

The sound of a horse coming through the small orchard catches his attention and Bryan turns. A familiar bay horse breaks through the trees.

Robert drops from the saddle and crosses to Bryan. He picks up one of the apples before setting it back down. "I really wish you would let me help."

Bryan sets the basket down. "I know, but I have no way to hide your involvement and I won't have you risk your place at the castle."

Stripping off his gloves Robert tucks them under his belt. "I'm still going to find a way to help you. I won't spend another winter worrying about whether or not you and the other make it."

Bryan sighs. His lover is stubborn to a fault and he doesn't want Robert to risk his position as the Jurgen heir in a misguided attempt to save them but there's no point in arguing. "Leave it near the hollow log. And make sure no one sees you."

Robert sighs. "I know. I do have some tact. Do we have time?"

Bryan smiles. "I always have time for you."

Dislocated

His dislocated shoulder aches and Bryan shifts, hissing as the movement jostles his arm despite the sling.

"I thought the doctor told you to avoid moving."

Bryan rolls his head to look at Robert. "Which is hard to avoid when my ass is numb from sitting in one place so long."

Setting aside his book Robert moves to join his partner on the couch. "Do you want more aspirin?"

"No. After the number of times I've had this happen you'd think I'd be used to the pain."

Robert touches Bryan's cheek. "It's been awhile. Your body has probably gotten over its response to pain."

With a groan Bryan shifts again. "Inconvenient time for it to do so. I think I'm sleeping in a chair tonight. The thought of lying down is unpleasant."

Fingers stroking the nape of Bryan's neck Robert laughs. "I love you, but I'll sleep in our bed tonight."

"I don't expect you to suffer with me and one of us might as well be comfortable."

Robert smiles. "I long for the night you return to our bed."

Bryan groans. "I would elbow you but I don't want to jostle my shoulder."

Mourn

Buttoning up his shirt Bryan watches his lover in the mirror. Robert is slowly picking through his collection of cufflinks. He knows his lover has already picked out the cufflinks he wants but his lover is in a state. His mother's death had been sudden and Robert hasn't taken the time to mourn.

Bryan picks up his tie and drapes it around his neck before moving to stand behind the older man. He rests his hands on Robert's shoulders, rubbing at the knotted muscle under fine fabric. "No one is going to judge you for mourning."

Robert sighs, head falling forward. "I know, but I feel my anguish should be private. We have an image to maintain."

Dipping his head Bryan kisses the nape of Robert's neck. "I'm sorry. I'll miss her."

Robert moves, forcing Bryan back and then steps into his lover. "That is the most sincere condolence I've heard from anyone."

Bryan kisses his lover. "Your mother was terrifying and amazing and I wish I'd gotten to know her better."

With a wan smile Robert reaches up to work on typing his lover's tie. "She was fond of you even though she only met you twice."

Bryan touches Robert's cheek. "Promise me you'll mourn after the service."

Jambalaya

The kitchen is warm, a bastion against the bitterly cold winter wind. Bryan enters the room, grinning at the way Robert is hunched at the island. "I don't understand how you can still be cold."

Robert looks up from the mug between his hands. "Because this house is never warm."

Bryan moves to stand behind his lover, hands on Robert's shoulders. "Do I smell Gretchen's jambalaya?"

Leaning back into Bryan's warmth Robert closes his eyes. "It is and she made biscuits too. She may have even mentioned dessert of some kind."

Bryan grins. "That woman is a saint."

"She must be, with the way she puts up with you raiding her kitchen at all hours." Robert can feel his lover's laugh through where they touch and it makes him smile. "The jambalaya should almost be done, as well as the biscuits. She planned well."

Bryan squeezes Robert's shoulders. "Stay. I'll get dinner." He prefers the quiet nights like this when it's just the two of them, the quiet and peace soothing.

Taking the lid off the pot Bryan fills two bowls.

Bijou

Robert rubs his thumb over the delicate filigree on the bijou. It's been in his family for generations, a gift from Jurgen heirs to their brides, to be worn on their wedding day.

He and Bryan will probably never have a wedding day but he would like to give the bijou to Bryan, continuing the tradition.

Smiling Robert turns in into the light, the diamond dazzling under the increased brightness. It's feminine and beautiful, something Bryan would never wear in public but the thought is what counts.

"Hey."

Robert looks up to find Bryan leaning in the doorway, a grin on his lips. "Hello."

Bryan comes into the room. "What's got you so spacy?"

Smiling Robert holds up the bijou so his lover can see it better. "A family trinket. Something of a wedding gift, from each Jurgen heir to their spouse."

He can see the exact moment Bryan realizes what that means and there's a quick, shocked flicker across pale, sharp features.

Bryan's smile is real, one rarely seen and he accepts the bijou with a gentle touch. "I refuse to wear the dress."

Robert laughs and smiles. "Thank you for sparing us all that."

Alcoholism

Robert turns his glass of wine on the table. "Irreconcilable differences was the public reason for my parents' divorce but the real reason was my father's alcoholism. He was never abusive but it caused other problems."

Bryan nods. "Johnny hinted at it rather heavily, but I wasn't going to pry. I knew you would tell me in your own time."

Smiling Robert reaches across the table to touch Bryan's wrist. "I appreciate your candor. I know there are people who would pry."

Bryan smirks and taps the back of his partner's hand. "I figure I have plenty of secrets that I would prefer no one else know. You're entitled to your own."

Robert sighs. "I wish everyone had your discretion. I can't tell you the number of people who asked why my parents were getting a divorce despite the fact it wasn't any concern of theirs."

"People like that are assholes of the highest order. Secrets are meant to be, and people who can't resist those secrets have no place in polite society."

Robert flushes, grateful for his partner's words. His father's alcoholism had been a trial growing up and he's grateful Bryan understands the hardships involved even though he doesn't know the exact details.