"F" as in Falcon

Ok, I’ve finally updated… I’m going to try to upload all the chaps I have during this week, including a new one that isn’t on FF yet… I want to upload here first =)

Disclaimer and warnings are still in chap one and it’s still Beta read by Birdie. Mega thanks again Sis!

I can’t thank my reviewers enough! You make me continue writing!

I won’t waste any more of your time, read and enjoy and write a review if you feel like it.

Chapter 5

Ray's POV

Two weeks since we got back and I already wanted to leave again. I didn't belong to here any more. I tried, and I don't think any one noticed, but I was still hurt. I wanted to be back with the Blade Breakers. Or in Russia, with Kai and... Bryan. I thought about him all the time, worrying.

This morning was no different. I sat on my lawn but in my mind I was in Russia.

"Ray-Ray!"

"Here Mariah." I was back to reality, my smile back on.

"There's a letter for you, here."

She gave me an envelope, the address was scrambled through on it, but where the return address should have been there was a simple F in neat quill writing. My heart made a jolt. Could it be...?

"Who is it from?" Mariah asked.

"It's not polite to poke in other peoples business." I tried to joke it away, but she just pouted.

"I'm not poking, I'm just curios."

"Same thing, different name."

She pouted some more. "Please?"

"It's some one I've been writing to, that's all."

"Who?"

"A friend."

"That's not an answer."

"No, but it's all you're going to get."

"Ray, you can tell me."

I just sighed.

"Ray?"

"Mariah, it's my business. The end of the story."

"Are you cheating on me?"

"WHAT?" Ok, I didn't see that one coming. She actually thought that we were a couple?!

"You are, aren't you?!" She was getting worked up.

"Mariah, calm down. I'm sorry if I've done anything to make you think that I like you more than as a friend." I knew I was hurting her, but she had to know. She had to move on.

"What? What are you saying Ray? I thought... that after Russia... we were together all the time, we still are..."

"No, we weren't and we aren't. We DO spend a lot of time together because you're my friend, a sister. But I'm a lot of things that you don't know. I've changed. I love you, as a sister. And nothing more."

"But you do feel something more for this F?" She was getting angry, and I felt that she had every right to.

"It's some one I care about a lot, yes."

She stared at me, tears falling down her cheeks. "When did you meet?"

"Does it really matter?

"Yes."

"In Russia."

"No..."

"I'm sorry, but yes."

"Do I know who she is?"

"No." Since it wasn't a she, I wasn't really lying.

"I'll leave now."

"Mariah, don't hate me. I just didn't understand that you thought..."

"I don't hate you Ray. But I don't want to be around you for a while. My heart needs to heal."

"I'll wait."

She left. That went pretty good. At least she didn't bite my head off...
I walked into my kitchen and made some tea. I stayed in a small one room house on the outskirts of the village. It suited me perfectly.
I sat down with my tea and opened the envelope.

It was! It was from him... from Bryan....

Ray

Thank you for your letter, it does help a lot. I still have a hard time in understanding that you actually forgave me. So I ask for you forgiveness once again.

By the way, you must be one sly Kitten to manage to give that letter to Ian without detection.

There has been some slight changes in the security here. The police is having the Abbey under surveillance so they had to change some things. Now we are allowed to go out to the town for two hours every Saturday. Half the team at a time. That's, of course, so that we don't run off... Anyway, that's how we managed to get a post box downtown. I'll write the address to the end of the letter.

Spencer and I went to a café last Saturday. Maybe that is not such a big deal to any one else, but we have never done it before. To tell the truth, I liked the feeling of freedom, but there were too much people and too much open space... Spencer says I've got agoraphobia. I'm not sure about that, but I don't like too much people too close to me. I don't trust them. Maybe that's stupid, but that's just the way I am.

I don't trust people easy, but you have sparked my curiosity... Never knew I had one until now.

What's China like? I've studied a lot of Chinese history, but I don't know much about what's it like to live there.

Our study period has started. We do most of our study during the summer since there is no tournament now.

I don't know what to say any more. I just want to say thank you once again. Thank you for answering and for forgiving me. And... Thank you for being a friend.

Ray I'm sorry, but I must once again ask you for a favour. Do you know how to get in contact with Kai? Or could you get him to contact us? Tala is sick, really sick. They did something to him the night before his match with Tyson. That combined with the punishment he received afterwards is making his body shut down. I think that there might be a chance for him to start to fight again. He's on the verge on giving up and he really misses Kai. I don't know what Kai has told you, but they have a strong connection.

Please try, I don't want my captain to give up.

Your Falcon

My Falcon? I liked the sound of that...

As glad as I was about their new freedom, the only thing on my mind at that moment was Tala. I needed to borrow the village's phone, that was for sure. I put the letter in my pocket and grabbed my wallet and ran into the centre of the village.
The phone was located in the school, good thing it was a summer break now. I didn't want to fight over the phone. I got into the one room house and locked the door behind me. The phone was old, but it usually worked. I pulled out Kai's phone number from my wallet and dialled the number. There was a long silence before it finally connected. After five tones some one answered.

"Yes?"

"Kai?"

"Who wants to know?"

I couldn't help but smile, that was definitely Kai.

"A cat from China."

"Ray." He chuckled. "It's the middle of the night here."

"Sorry, but I had to call. You have to go back to Moscow. Tala's sick. Bryan says he's giving up. He misses you."

There was a long silence.

"You're right. I have to go there, but how am I to get into the Abbey?"

"Falcon says the cops are in the place, that they had to loosen their security up a bit. Just so it won't look too suspicious. Call Mr. Dickenson, maybe he can help you."

"I think... I think that's a good idea. Thank you Ray, I seem to be not able to think straight at the moment."

"It's nothing. I wish I could be there for you."

"You are, just not physically. By the way, Falcon?"

I blushed, I couldn't believe I just said that out loud!

"Well, he is a Falcon, isn't he?"

"Actually, I think you're right. I do, however, have a feeling that if any one but you called him that he would get their heads."

"Well, he's the only one allowed to call me Kitten."

"He is?"

I blushed again.

"I'm just worried about him, that's all..."

"Yeah, right." The sarcasm was dripping from Kai's voice.

"Kai... Please..."

"Ray, just so you know, he is gay, at least that's what Tala said."

"What?"

"We all are. Tala and I, Spencer and Ian. And Bryan of course. I don't think he's ever had a boyfriend though, hearsay from Tala again. I would be happy if it'd work out between the two of you. But that's up to you two. Just don't play with him."

"Never!"

"Good. Sorry, but I guess I'm a bit overprotective over them these days."

"It's ok. That would be something to throw in the homophobes' faces though, the mighty Demolition Boys are gay."

Kai laughed out loud.

"You know Kai, I like the sound of you laughing."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Listen, I really need to go now. But tell them hi from me, all of them. And... I miss you Kai."

"I miss you too, Ray. I'll try to contact you some way when I know some more."

"Do that. But don't call here, Mariah would have a fit."

"Ok. Bye."

"Bye."

We hung up. My worries had lightened somewhat. I trusted Kai completely with this. He loved Tala. Kai could love and therefore that person was special. Even to me.
My thoughts went back to Bryan's letter instead. Why did the sound of "my Falcon" send shivers down my spine, why did I allow him to call me Kitten? I hardly knew him... Sure, now afterwards I was able to accept the fact that he was gorgeous. When we first met I detested him, but now... Kai sure seemed to think that there was something between us. But I still don't know him. Then again, you don't really have to know some one to have a crush on them, do you? Ok, I just have to admit it. I have a crush on Bryan. There, done.

It didn't help, I'm still confused. I think I'll just go to blade.

I sent a reply to Bryan the next day. It took me almost the entire night to write it.
Admittedly I was amazed by the risks they were willing to take for each others, for the others' happiness. I had realized during my writing what an achievement it had been for Ian to come to me at the hospital.
R&R?