Centrepiece
Return & Suspicion
Chapter
10
For
those who asked I\'m afraid I can\'t email when I update. The reason for this is
that I don\'t have the time. The easiest way to remember a fic is to add the link
onto Notepad and save the file. That way you can go through the list and check
the updates easily. It works, trust me. :)
The
last chapter ended with a kiss.
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Ray
moaned softly, one hand letting go of the shirt to run through Bryan’s hair,
Ray trying to keep himself on his feet as his knees threatened to buckle. God,
it’s almost as if he’s sweeping me off my feet!
Ray
reached up with his other hand, Bryan sliding his arm fully around Ray’s waist
as they battled, breaths catching in their throats, neither gaining the upper
hand. They drank each other in, Bryan still leaning against the counter as Ray
stepped closer and-
They
pulleck qck quickly at the sound of the flat door opening, Ray crossing to the
cupboard as Bryan made for the fridge, the two formulating the same plan without
saying a word. They glanced up as the two entered, Ray forcing a grin onto his
face.
“Hey
guys. Thirsty?”
Kai
grunted, Tala’s blue eyes falling on Kaiark ark expression before looking
toward Ray. “We could go one, thanks.”
just missed dinner,” Ray told them as Bryan handed him the bottle before
moving to lean against the wall. “But I could make something-”
“We’vlrealready eaten,” Tala assured him. “They fed us well at the meeting. In
between all the crap of course, not to mention calling us old fashioned and out
of date.”
Bryan
looked up sharply. “They called us what?”
“You
heard.” Tala dropped into a chair, pointing over his shoulder. “Kai gave
them a bucket load, but I’m not sure how much penetrated their thick
scientific skulls. Kai wasn’t the only one either. Parker really
went to town once he got going.”
“Doesn’t
surprise me. Michael was always one to jump at the opportunity to abuse
someone.” Ray handed Tala a drink before moving to give one to Kai. “So what
made them call you old fashioned?”
“A
lot of things. Mainly our blades, though. Seems they think we’re a few models
behind. The new teams have some high-tech thingy.”
“XP
models, no doubt.”
Tala
blinked, gaze shooting toward his teammate. “Wait… you know
about them?”
“Mm.
I’ve done my research, Captain.” Bryan shrugged it off. “The things have
their flaws. They can’t handle the power of a bit beast for one, the other
being they crack under pressure. Literally.”
Ray
looked at him. “So you’re saying our blades are more durable?”
“Indeed.”
Lavender eyes met blue as the two Russians connected. “Old fashioned though we
may be, we still have the edge. That, and we have the experience. They can call
us old fashioned if they want, but when it comes down to the tie-breaker,
we’ll come out on top.”
Tala
smirked. “Exactly what Kai said. And come next Championship, we’ll prove
it.”
“Knowing
our luck, they’re probably ban bit beasts.” Ray scowled, carefully sipping
his drink. “Any word on when the next Championship is?”
“None.”
Tala’s ice eyes narrowed. “We asked, of course, but they were unable to give
us a date. Lee reminded them that it’s been a while since the last
Championship, but they just shrugged it off and went back to calling us old
fashioned. I think it might have something to do with all the trouble in the
past.”
Kai
chuckled softly, smirking.
“So.”
Tala set his glass down, eyes flicking from Ray, to Bryan, and back again.
“What have you two been up too while we’ve been away?”
Ray
grinned, stepping over to the fridge and throwing open the door with a flourish.
“I am proud to announce we no longer have a fungus plantation within this
kitchen.”
“You
cleaned out the fridge?” Kai stepped across the room, bending to gaze inside.
“Not bad at all. Did you do the freezer?”
“Tis
part of the fridge, is it not.” Bryan’s gaze moved from Kai to the redhead
standing just behind. “And Tal, next time you spill something in there, clean
it up so that it doesn’t take a chainsaw to open the god damned thing.”
“I
only spilt a little bit ofer, er, that’s all.” Tala stretched, scratching
the back of his neck. “I don’t know about you, Kai, but all that scientific
mumbo jumbo has really drained me. I used to think Boris came out with a lot of
crap, but these guys are worse.”
Bryan
looked up. “That bad, huh?”
“Mm.”
Moving toward the door Tala scooped up his pack. “I’m heading for my room,
then I’m going to bed, okay?”
“I
won’t be long behind you.” Kai watched him go, crimson gaze sweeping back
toward his other flatmates and narrowing slightly. “Cleaned out the fridge,
hm? What else?”
“That
took a long time to do, Kai, and we did the cupboards as well.” Ray shrugged.
“I find myd my book, cleaned my room up a bit, as well as a few other small
chores that take up a lot of time.”
Kai’s
eyes flicked to the other. “What about you?”
\"Apart
art
from the cleaning?” Bryan looked up, an almost disinterested look to his eye.
“Same as always.”
“Being
antisocial,” Ray said with a chuckle. “He locked himself in his room and
only came out for meals save for the point where we cleaned.”
“Right.”
Kai turned and moved away. “See you in the morning.”
As
they listened to his footsteps retreat, Bryan cast his eyes toward the neko-jin.
“I think your boyfriends are suspicious.”
Ray
narrowed his eyes, not saying a word as his mind raced. I’ll
say.
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And
this chapter ends with suspicion. Review anyone? Comes with cake.