"F" as in Falcon

AN. I’m so sorry for the slow update on this fic, RL has a way of getting in the way. That plus the fact that I’ve become obsessed with Prince of Tennis recently is making updates on my Bey Blade and Naruto work slow. But please don’t give up on me since I have no plan on giving up on either of my fics.

A billion thanks to my reviewers!!!!

I still own my soul to Virpi for beta reading this, I luf you Sis!

Warnings and disclaimer are in chap one, but I'll add another warning for Demo OOC... R&R please?

Chapter 11


Ray's POV


Several hours later I was making my way through the Moscow airport. Something caught my eye and I turned.

Tala. No one else has that red hair. They were all there, but they hadn't spotted me yet. Tala was standing behind Kai, holding him close. Ian and Spencer were on their right, holding hands. To their left was my Falcon, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.

Their faces were blank, but not the same cold, emotionless facades they had been almost eight months ago. This was something different.

Then I got it, they were nervous!

'I'm their first friend from the outside.' I smiled widely and headed towards them. Kai was the first one to notice me and gave me a small smile. The rest of them tensed up even more.

"Hello, long time no see." I smiled at them and gave them a hug each. They were obviously surprised by this but didn't object. I finished by giving Bryan a hard hug.

"Hi Falcon. I've longed to see you." I whispered in his ear and his embrace hardened.

"I've longed for you too, Kitten." He whispered back, his hot breath on my skin sent a shiver down my spine.

We pulled apart and they had all started to smile. They looked so different when they smiled!

"Let's go before it starts snowing again." Kai said. I pulled on my jacket and scarf and we left.

Spencer was an excellent driver, but the traffic was crazy and I was rather scared a couple of times.
I guess Bryan noticed me jumping again.

"Don't worry, it's always like this. The only difference is the weather." He said and took my hand. I turned to him but he was looking at the floor. I sifted my hand and entwined my fingers with his. His head snapped in my direction and our eyes met. He looked so nervous, so uncertain… So different from the hating teen that had almost killed me eight months ago.

This was all I needed to be really sure that this wasn't the same person I met then.

"Thank you Bryan." He gave me a small, shy smile.

The next couple of days we spent preparing for Christmas and blading. It turned out that they had hardly bladed since they got out of the Abbey. Not that that helped me. But it was fun and it helped me to get to know them as they were far more relaxed with a launcher in their hand. But, of course, it was mainly Christmas on their minds.

I found it fascinating that I, who am not even a Christian, was sitting there, explaining the miracle of Christ's birth to them. They were so exited about everything! If any one else would have seen the Demos, they would have fainted. These people were not the cold, hard, evil teens that every one thought they were. They were more like small children. Not that I said that to their faces.

***

Nothing but holding hands had happened so far with me and Bryan, and I slept on the couch. Much to Kai's amusement, of course.

Bryan was intoxicating. My world swirled when he looked at me and I admitted to myself that I loved him with all of my heart. But he was delicate in a way, like a china doll. I wouldn't rush things; this was more new to him than to me.

***

I had managed to secretly buy things for a birthday party, and on the 24th I managed to get them to go ice skating without me. Bryan wasn't too happy about leaving me behind, but Kai dragged him out, said that I could do with some time alone. He probably understood that I was up to something.

We were going to decorate the apartment that night, and at the moment the tree was out on the balcony. I filled the living room with balloons, and I was putting the finishing touches to the cake when I heard the door open. I wanted it to be perfect. I was nervous.

"We're back!" Kai's voice called.

"Good, I'll be right there."

I heard them talking in Russian as they headed to the living room and then they fell silent. That was my cue. I tried to remember to breathe as I headed to the living room.

They were shell-shocked.

"Happy birthday Bryan!" I said and he just stared at me.

"It's… my…?"

"Yes it is Bry. I found the papers." Kai smiled at him.

I placed the cake onto the table and walked over to the Falcon. Tears were trickling down his cheeks, not good.

"I didn't mean to make you cry." I said quietly.

"No Ray, I'm not sad. It's just that... you… care."

Finally I understood. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he buried his face in my shoulder, still crying silently.

"Of course I care Falcon. How could I not care about some one as beautiful as you?" I whispered as my fingers played with his hair. He pulled back a bit and looked at me doubtingly.

"You heard me." I whispered and he gave me a small smile.

"I think you're supposed to blow out the candles Bry." Tala said smiling.

I took Bryan's hand and led him over to the table. After a while they started to relax somewhat.

"You know Ray, I like this." Ian said.

"Me too." The others said in union. I couldn't help laughing.

"You really are one being, aren't you?" I asked, making them laugh.

"Guess we are." Tala said.

Tala was still paler and skinnier than usual, but he was still the leader and they all listened to him. I couldn't help thinking about how different they are from the Blade Breakers, even from the Tigers, as we cleaned up and started to put up Christmas decorations. They had a silent communication system that I just didn't get. They just seemed to know what the others wanted, and when Tala said something they all just obeyed him, no arguing. They trust him completely to lead them right.

I found myself sitting on the couch, watching as they decorated the tree. Right now even Max on a sugar high would seem down to earth next to them, but in some chaotic way they were still organised.

"What's up Ray?" Kai asked and sat down beside me.

"I'm just thinking about how different you are from us. I don't understand why you came back to us when you have this."

"The Blade Breakers need me at the moment, but I won't lie to you, I wish we could be more like them. Less arguing and more trust in each others."

"You know you belong with them, Kai. I'm grateful that we are allowed to borrow you, because we DO need you. But you will always belong with them."

We just sat there and watched them. They were arguing about something in Russian and I understood that it had something to do with Santa Claus. Kai tensed up and I saw tears forming in his eyes as he got up and went to his and Tala's room. I tried to understand what was going on when they all turned to me with nervous faces.

"Ray." Bryan started. "We know that we buy each other Christmas gifts but… Don't laugh now, we have to ask. Is there a Santa Claus or not?"

My heart stopped and I understood why Kai left. They really didn't know! Laugh? I felt more like crying.

"No. No, there is no Santa Claus."

I got up from the couch and went out to the balcony. The cold was numbing but I really didn't care. Bryan's cigarettes were on the small table. I reached out and picked them up.

"You can have one if you want."

Bryan had joined me. I picked out one and he lighted it for me before lighting his own. The smoke was burning my thoughts, but it was a relief.

"Was it wrong to ask?" Bryan's voice is almost inaudible.

I looked at him, and once again I was amazed by his beauty.

"No, Falcon, it wasn't wrong. But it's sad. You know everything there is to know about pain and cruelty, but nothing about the good things in life. I feel lost, like there is nothing I can do to help you."

"By being here you're helping. By answering our questions you're helping. We have no one else to ask. I have no one else to lean on."

We stood there in the dusk, looking at the setting sun, smoking in silence. I put my cigarette out and reached for the small box in my pocket.

"I have something for you. It's a birthday present."

His eyes widened as he looked at me. He put his cigarette out. I noticed his hands were shaking when he accepted the small box. He carefully removed the paper, as if he was afraid that the box would break if he wasn't careful. He opened the box and his eyes widened even more.

"Is this really for me?"

"You are the Falcon, so yes, it is."

He picked up the necklace, a long silver chain with an appendix. It's a falcon with its wings spread and a heart in its claws. I took it from his trembling hands and put it around his neck. We were so close.

"The heart is mine." I whispered. "I'm giving it to you, if you want it. I love you Bryan."

I closed the last inches between us and placed a small kiss on his lips. I felt his arms closing around my waist, pulling me closer. My arms wound up around his neck, my fingers played with his soft lavender hair. I nibbled at his lower lip carefully and gained instant entrance. Our tongues engaged in a soft battle, none of us cared about winning, just taking part. We pulled apart, cursing the need for air.

"I love you too Kitten." He gave me a small kiss.

"Let's go inside." I said and took his hand. We walked inside and headed to his room. None of the four in the living room said a word. Another reason I like them better than my own team; they know when to respect your privacy.