Centrepiece

Chapter
35

Subtitle: Bloody Tears

Author: Jedi Princess Clarrisani

Short
one.

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Ray’s
eyes blinked open as he awoke, straightening and wincing as he heard limbs crack
in protest. His arms and legs were almost asleep, his neck stiff. Despite it all
he refused to go, to leave, to return to his home. He simply could not leave his
side.

It
had taken some convincing but Ray had managed to get the hospital staff to allow
him to remain after visiting hours, several thinking that it would be a good
idea for him to remain in order to keep a constant eye on the patient should he
awaken.

Ray
sighed, reaching out and smoothing Bryan’s hair, tears welling in his eyes as
he took in the bruising and swelling he could see in the faint light. It would
not be clear if Bryan had suffered any brain damage until he awoke, but the
likelihood that he had was apparently considerably high.

Ray
shuddered as he remembered how the doctors had explained to him the full extent
of the injuries, from faint bruising through to internal bleeding. As he
recovered Bryan would end up needing follow up procedures done to make sure he
was healing correctly, particularly in terms of his leg and face.

Ray
smiled faintly, knowing Bryan was going to hate having to come back to the
hospital as he had always had a hatred for the place. Ray believed this came
from his time in the Abbey, as the difference between the hospital and some of
the laboratories in the Abbey was next to nothing.

Leaning
forward Ray gently kissed Bryan’s forehead. This was all his fault. If Ray hadn’t allowed Bryan to get involved… no,
Bryan had always been involved. Tala had had his paws on Bryan before he had
even considered coming after Ray. But
still, if Ray hadn’t come in and sat on Bryan’s lap…

Ray
curled up in his chair, hugging his knees to his chest as he shivered, crying
softly. This was never meant to happen. None of this was ever meant to happen.
He was never meant to get involved with Tala and Kai. He was never meant to
allow himself to be used so easily. He was never meant to make Bryan get hurt.
He was never meant to fall in love…

No.
No, it wasn’t love. He had sworn to himself when he had first left the flat
that he would never allow himself to fall in love, and that was a vow that he
intended to keep. He was emotionally weak and vulnerable due to the stress of
the last few months, so anything that he thought he felt was not really there,
but a fabrication.

No,
he was not in love. He would never be in love. And nothing would ever change
that.

Nothing.

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But
no less important. It would seem Ray's in denial.