Centrepiece

Chapter
8

And
another long one

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The
day passed too quickly, Ray enjoying his time alone. He managed to finally
finish reading a book he had started over a month ago, before he whipped up a
large lunch, which he persuaded Bryan to eat with him. Afterwards, by mutual
agreement, the two threw open the fridge and went about removing everything that
had gone off or simply did not look right.

This,
of course, was nearly three-quarters of the fridge’s contents.

“When
did we last order Chinese?” Bryan asked, tugging the box from the back.

Ray
frowned. “It would have to be nearly three-four months ago, wouldn’t it?”

Bryan
tugged open the lid, pulling a face before handing it to Ray. “I doubt it’s
meant to be that green.”

“Green?”
Ray glanced inside. “Urgh. I swear there’s something alive in there.”

“Hn.”
Bryan pushed aside another container before frowning, dragging it out. “Found
another open margarine.”

“Is
that one mouldy too?” Ray took it as Bryan handed it back, tugging off the
lid. “Nope, it’s just plain black.” Dropping it into the rubbish bag, Ray
shook his head. “We really need to do this more often.”

“Not
like we ever get the time.” Bryan pulled a face as he spotted something
growing at the back. “Hand me the bag.”

Ray
did so, wincing as Bryan scooped the muck out and dumped it into the bag. Bryan
himself was glad for his gloves, but made a mental note to take a nice long
shower once they were done.

As
Bryan was cleaning out the back, Ray turned his attention to the door, opening
the cheese holder and glancing in. “I know you can get mouldy cheese, but this
is ridiculous.”

“The
health inspector would have our heads if he saw this.” Bryan glanced up as Ray
began flipping the cheese down into the bag. “Shall I be game and check the
crisper?”

Ray
winced. “I remember buying some tomatoes a couple of months ago, but I don’t
remember us ever using them.”

“Thanks
for the warning.” Tugging it open, Bryan scowled. “Found them. They’re
behind the shrivelled carrots and an onion that looks like it’s trying to root
itself in what might have once been the pumpkin.”

Ray
blinked. “Who on earth put an onion in there?”

“Money
on Tala.” Bryan pulled the drawer out and tipped the contents into the bag
before sliding the drawer back into place. “You do realise we still have to do
the freezer.”

Ray
snorted. “Good luck. I haven’t been able to get the door open for a couple
of weeks now.”

“Well,
I think that’s that last of it.” Bryan looked up at him. “You wanna finish
this up or should I?”

“I’ll
do it. You can start of the freezer.”

Bryan
nodded as Ray moved to get the cleaning spray and a cloth. Standing, Bryan
tugged off the gloves and dropped them into the bag before tying it closed and
heaving it up. He made his way out through the side door and into the garage,
opening the lid of the bin and dumping the bag inside. Replacing the bins lid,
Bryan stepped back into the flat and made for the bathroom, washing his hands
and cleaning off some of the goop that had made it’s way onto his bare arms
before he returned to the kitchen.

Ray
looked up as Bryan returned, having nearly finished what he was doing. The
interior itself clean, Ray tugged the door right open so Bryan could reach the
freezer. Reaching up Bryan tugged at the freezer door, finding that Ray had been
indeed right. Widening his stance he pulled again, and when it still didn’t
budge he planted his foot on the fridges side for leverage and pulled with
everything he had.

With
a crackling tearing sound the freezer door burst open, showering Ray in ice
crystals as Bryan flew backward and onto the floor. Brushing the crystals from
his hair, Ray tried not to laugh.

“You
okay?”

Bryan
growled, pushing himself to his feet. “Who was the moron who spilt something
in there and didn’t bother to clean it up and therefore letting it freeze the
door closed?”

Ray
raised an eyebrow. “I’ll give you three guesses.”

“Ivanov
is going to die.” Pushing the door aside, Bryan took in the interior. “If
there’s something in here, it’s well and truly frozen.”

“I
think there’s a scraper in one of the drawers.” Setting the cleaning spray
back on the sink with the cloth, Ray went along tugging at the drawers and
peering inside, finding what he was looking for and tossing it to Bryan.
“I’m going to go through the cupboards. I remember seeing the other day a
half-empty box of crackers that I think got opened when we first moved in.”

Bryan
glanced at him. “I do recall that one to be my
fault.”

“Mm.”
Ray sighed, shaking his head as he found another garbage bag. “You do realise
that when the others get home they’re not even going to notice.”

“Of
course not. Do they notice anything other than themselves?”

“Yeah.
Me.”

“Charming.”
Bryan chipped away at the ice. “You seem a lot better today.”

Ray
smiled faintly. “I feel a lot better
today. And I’ll have you know that I have not thrown up once.”

“Has
to be a record. Usually it seems like every time I need to go to the toilet
you’re in there throwing up.”

Ray
blinked. “Is that how you knew I was sick?”

“Partly.”
A large chunk of ice fell away, Bryan picking it up and tossing it into the
sink. “I mainly read it in your body language.” Not to mention you once left
an eyeshadow on the basin.”

Ray
winced. “Eh…”

“I
put it in your room. You were in Kai’s at the time.” Bryan glanced over his
shoulder. “I see you’re not weariny toy today.”

“You’re
not the one I’m trying to hide my illness from.” Ray frowned, finding an
empty box of cereal and tossing it into the bag. “I just wish I knew what was
wrong.”

“Remember
what I said this morning, Kitten.” Bryan grunted, a shape beginning to form
where he was chipping. “You’re wearing down emotionally, which effects you
mentally, which in turn has repercussions physically. You’re destroying
yourself.”

“Great.
Just great.” Ray tossed a half-empty container of fruit that looked to have
been there for some time into the bag with a thud. “Like I told you, it’s
not going to be that easy to get out from under them. Even if I told them no…
they won’t le go. go. Especially not Tala.”

“Tala
is very possessive over what he considers his property. He’s always been like
that.” Bryan reached in and got a grip on the object, yanking it out and
growling. “And that son-of-a-bitch had the nerve to blame me.”

Ray
looked up. “What?”

Bryan
showed him the object. “That screwdriver Kai lost a while back, remember? He
accused me of borrowing it and not returning it.”

“Yeah,
I remember.” Ray chuckled as he returned his attention to the cupboards,
finding an old jar of coffee that’s lid had gone missing. “What you said
about Tala being possessive, it makes me wonder…”

“What?”

“Well,
about the way Tala acts toward you.” Ray glanced over his shoulder. “He
doesn’t like it when anyone goes near you, or haven’t you noticed.”

“Oh,
I’ve noticed, I just choose to ignore it.” Bryan narrowed his eyes as he
stared into the freezer. He smirked as an idea occurred to him before he turned.
“Back in a minute.”

Ray
watched him go, wondering at Bryan’s words. Just why was
Tala possessive of Bryan? It was something Ray had been wondering for a while
but had never gotten around to asking, and it looked like he wasn’t going to
get any more out of the lavender haired Russian. Unless, of course, he pushed
the issue.

Looking
up as Bryan re-entered the room, Ray fought to keep from laughing. “Cheat.”

“Come
on. You’ve gotta say its original.” Bryan plugged it in, before fiddling
with a couple of buttons.

“Oh,
I’m sure you’re not the first person to take a hairdryer to a freezer.”
Ray shook his head in amusement. “I’ve got to ask, why is
Tala possessive of you?”

“In
case you haven’t noticed, kid, I’m a member of his team. He’s very
possessive of his team.” Bryan turned the heat up more, glancing over his
shoulder. “And I would not be surprised if Kai were the same.”

“He
is.” Ray blinked, eyes falling on the freezer. “Bryan, the ice is…”

Bryan
frowned, turning back around before his eyes widened, swearing graphically in
Russian as he switched off the hairdryer, putting it aside before he grabbed up
a tea towel and began mopping up the water, Ray once again trying to keep from
laughing.

Ray
blinked as a thought occurred to him. It had been so long since Ray had actually
had any fun, and this was exactly that: fun. And he was having it with Bryan,
the cold-hearted Falcon of the Demolition Boys, the same guy who had almost
killed him a couple of years beforehand. And not only that, Bryan was being… open.

“Need
some help?”

Bryan
glanced up. “I’m right. Just finish with the cupboards.”

“Right.”
Closing one door Ray moved along, pulling open another and rummaging around,
checking the contents and the used by dates. “Hey Bryan?”

“Yeah?”

“Have
you ever actually been in a relationship?”

Bryan
glanced over at him before shrugging it off. “A few. None worth talking about,
though.”

Ray
smiled faintly. “I’ve only been in the one.”

That
got Bryan’s attention. His gaze hardened as he set his jaw, straightening as
he looked toward the other. “You mean, before you were with Kai and Tala, you
were a virgin? In every sense of the word?”

Ray
shifted uncomfortably beneath his gaze. “Eh… yeah…”

Bryan
muttered something under his breath, tossing the tea towel into the sink before
he picked up the scraper, once more attacking the ice, channelling his cold
anger. Those bastards. Those sick,
cold-hearted bastards. Great work, guys. You’ve done a great job of screwing
up the kid. Just couldn’t resist the fresh meat, could ya’s? Why I oughta-

“Bryan?”

He
looked up. “Yeah, Ray?”

Ray
leant back against the bench, watching him. “Did I say something wrong?
You’ve closed yourself off again.”

“No,
it was nothing you said.” Only what
those arseholes did. Bryan forced himself to relax, smiling easily.
“Freezers just starting to piss me off, that’s all.”

“Understandable.”
Ray stifled a yawn. “Man, I’m getting tired. How long have we been at
this?”

“Gotta
be on a couple of hours.” The hairdryer had loosened the ice, his job now a
lot easier as another large chunk fell away from the sides. “I say we finish
this up then take some time out.”

“Works
for me.”

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This
one was mainly for fun, but what do you think?