Centrepiece

Chapter
2

Thanks for the
reviews: Gaara, Rei Kon chan 666, madness, Kang-Lin, rejiita and LingXiaoyu.

Hope
you liked the opening. On to the next chapter now.

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Bryan
growled at the back of his throat before reaching for his headphones, putting
them on and cranking up the music. There were times he regretted living with
such horny bastards, as all they ever seemed to do was screw each other while
screaming at the top of their lungs therefore making sure everyone in the
neighbourhood knew they were screwing
each other.

Okay,
so maybe he’s exaggerating a little. They weren’t that
loud, but still loud enough to annoy him, and the thud of the headboard against
the wall could drive even the sanest of men off his rocker.

Returning
his attention back to his computer, Bryan typed in the next word into the
‘search’ box before hitting Enter. Tala would probably give him a hard time
if he knew Bryan spent most of his time researching to write essays and for his
novel. Bryan smirked. He had already had an offer for one essay, not to mention
an invitation from an American University to come study in a highly sortafter
course. Bryan had turned them down… for now.

Frowning,
Bryan tugged one of the earpieces aside, listening. Hm. It would appear that Ray
had not joined in this latest bout. That didn’t surprised Bryan though. Ray
had begun to look as if he were fading away over the last ce ofe of weeks, so he
was probably just sitting this one out, though the other two would force him to
make up for it later.

Bryan
shook his head and pulled a face in disgust. The Wolf and the Phoenix were
preying on the Tigers vulnerability, he knew it. He had observed them, noting
how they would flitter around the younger until he would comply to their
unspoken demands. The Tiger had always been emotionally weak, and the two were
using this as a weapon.

Bryan
growled. Why should he care what they did, anyway? It wasn’t his business,
never had been. If they wanted to use Ray, that was their problem. Just so long
as they left Bryan to his own devices.

Stretching,
Bryan glanced at the clock in his room. Already it was midday, meaning that
those jackasses had been at it all morning. Grunting, he put everything onto
standby for later before he stood, making his way to the door.

He
wished he had of had a lock for his room, or that the rooms were at least
soundproof as he heard them again. Pausing out of curiosity he gently opened
Ray’s door, peeking in and spotting the form curled up asleep on the covers.
Without making a sound he closed the door again before heading for the kitchen.

Just
why had he done that? What was it that had caused him to look in on the
neko-jin, just to see if he was in there or not? Why was it that over the past
couple of weeks he had found himself wondering after the younger man, trying to
work out what made him do the things that he did?

Brushing
it off, Bryan made himself some lunch, scowling as he saw that no one had
bothered to do the breakfast dishes. Once again he would be stuck doing them.
Just meant he would have to give his captain an earbashing once again. He
smirked. Not that he minded doing that.

Hearing
a light step he looked up, spotting the blurry eyed Ray as he rubbed the sleep
from his eyes. Golden eyes shifted to fall on him, Bryan narrowing his own eyes
and turning away as he tugged open the fridge, looking for something to drink.

“Did
you come into my room before?”

Bryan
glanced back and shrugged. “Curious to see why you weren’t with the
others.”

“I
was tired.”

“So
I saw.” Bryan could feel Ray watching him as he reached for the juice and
pulled it out.

“Hope
you’re not going to drink that straight from the bottle.”

“Don’t
believe everything Tala says, Kon.” Bryan closed the fridge with his foot as
he turned to reach for a cup. “Besides, it’s Kai who is the culprit.”

Ray
smiled as he moved toward the fridge to find something to eat. “You wouldn’t
mind pouring me something as well, could you?”

“Whatever.”
Bryan snagged another glass as he cast a glance over his shoulder. “I
wouldn’t use the cream if I were you.”

Ray
looked up at him, intending to have jam and cream on his bread but pausing as
Bryan spoke. Frowning, he turned the bottle in his hand and winced at the used
by date. He dropped the container into the sink before returning his attention
to the fridge. “Thanks.”

Bryan
finished his drink and set his cup down. “Last thin nee need is you sicker.”

Ray
straightened, head smacking against the top of the fridge before he spun.
“How…”

Bryan
was already gone.

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