I\'m a father?

Title: I’m a father?

Subtitle: Questioning my course.

Author: Lady Snowblossom

Pairs: Rei/Bryan, Kai/Tala, Spencer/Ian, Tyson/Max and various other pairings.

Note: Rei hides in the attic. Kai and Bryan exchange words. The Majestic’s arrive in town and invite everyone to dinner. And the poem is mine.

Disclaimer: Them-all, Me-zip.


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Rei ran down the stairs, frantically looking for Kai. He raced into the living room, Max and Tyson, who were trying to see how many pedestrians they could kill with their cars, looked up from their video game and gave him a strange look.

“Rei, what’s wrong?” Max asked as he laid down his controller.

“Where’s Kai?” Rei demanded ignoring him. His golden eyes swept the room, but the Russian was nowhere to be seen.

“He’s over visiting Tala, said something about needing to clear up a problem.” Grandpa Granger said from behind Rei. The boy, who hadn’t heard the old man coming, nearly jumped out of his skin. “Why, is something wrong?”

“Yes! I mean, no!” Rei stuttered as he whipped around the old man. “When he gets back, tell him that I’m in the attic, but don’t let anyone else know!” He started for the doorway.

“But, Rei!” Tyson whined, dropping his controller and lunging for the neko-jin’s ankles. He missed and landed with a ‘thud!’ Max snickered. “What about dinner!” The brunette cried as the Chinese headed for the stairwell. “Send for take-out!” Rei shouted over his shoulder as he vanished up the stairs.

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Spencer came jogging through the front door and nodded to Kai and Tala in the living room, just as Bryan reached the same spot in his mad dash to the Bladebreaker’s house, hearing the thundering feet, Spencer looked around – too late.

“Bry! Watch out!”

”Spencer!”

The two came together in a resounding crash and landed on the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. Kai and Tala jumped up from the couch and rushed over to see if anyone was hurt. They got there just as Bryan snarled, “was your father a gorilla by any chance?”

“My mother is not fond of gorillas, thank you.” Spencer retorted as he levered himself off of his surly teammate and got to his feet.

“She had to be! Because how else do you explain having an ape like you!” Bryan spat, as he sat up and gingerly felt where one of Spencer’s knees had collided with his ribcage.

“All right, you two – can it!” Tala ordered as he reached down and pulled Bryan to his feet. “And where were you going in such a rush?” He demanded, eyeing the disgruntled falcon. “That you couldn’t watch where you were going?”

“I saw Rei!” Bryan’s eyes glowed with determination; “I’m going over there and . . .”

“No, you’re not.” Kai said calmly stepping out to block the way to the door. “I won’t allow it.” The stoic captain didn’t flinch when the lilac-haired boy rounded on him. “What did you say,” Bryan hissed, his face mere inches from Kai’s.

“I said, I won’t allow it.” Kai repeated.

“And why the hell not!” Bryan growled dangerously. He tried to shoulder the older boy out of the way, but Kai refused to give ground and he pushed the other youth back. The bluenette crossed his arms and gazed calmly at his opponent, who glared death back at him.

“Nine . . . weeks . . . of . . . silence, is one reason, why the hell not.” Kai said as he stared deep into frozen silver. “Another reason: Rei is scared to death to see you.” Kai’s crimson eyes deepened to mahogany with his rising anger. “You can’t say that the two of you parted on the best of notes, now can you?”

“Once I get him over here, where he belongs, I’ll talk to him!” Bryan snapped as he attempted again to pass the Bladebreaker captain. His eyes widened as Kai slammed him against the wall and pinned him there.

“And how did you plan to get him over here? Drag him? I don’t think so!” Kai growled, “get this thorough your thick skull, Kuznetsov. Rei is staying right where he is, until he’s ready to go willingly with you! And if I catch you trying to force my team member into doing anything, I’ll make you wish you were back at the Abbey!” Releasing the other Russian, Kai stepped back and nodded to Tala, “Later. I need to go check on Rei.” And turning he walked out the door.

Tala stared after him until Kai had disappeared around the corner of the porch, then he turned to Bryan. “Where did you see Rei?”

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Spencer watched the bluenette disappear, then he switched his attention to his teammates. He stepped back to allow Tala to handle the situation, but still be near in case he needed some muscle to prevent Bryan from doing something stupid.

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“In the room directly across from ours, why?” Bryan seethed, glaring at the door as his fists clenched and unclenched. ‘How dare Kai try to keep Rei and him apart! He’d show that . . .!’

‘Wonderful, Bryan will be up all night hoping for another look!’ Tala sighed as he watched the tiny muscles of Bryan’s jaw clench: a sign of extreme agitation in the icy warrior. “Bryan,” he said softly, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Don’t even think about it! You are not gonna sit by the window and stare at Rei’s room all night, or I’ll make Spencer and Ian trade rooms with us.”

“You wouldn’t!” Bryan’s eyes widened in shock at the threat.

“Try me!” Tala retorted as he released Bryan’s shoulder to take him by the hand and drag him into the living room and pushed him onto the sofa. “I have a vested interest in making sure you and Kai don\'t get into a fight, you know.\"”

Bryan’s eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline. “Vested interest?”

“Yeah, if we stay in that room and you sit on the window sill all night, Rei will know. Then he’ll get nervous and not go to bed, and that would make Kai cranky, because he wouldn’t be able to sleep, and if he gets cranky, I’ll get cranky, because I won’t be getting any and damn it, I’ve waited long enough!”

“And you think I haven’t?” Bryan asked wearily as he looked away from Tala. “I don’t understand why Rei is so afraid. He’s always stood up to me in the past and we’d argue; then make up. Why is this time so different?”

‘Because this time, its’ not just him, that’s involved.’ Tala thought as he tried to think of something that would help the other boy understand. But, he just couldn’t think of a thing without giving away Rei’s secret and he knew exactly what would happen if he revealed that! Bryan would go berserk! There’d be nothing on the face of the earth that could keep him from Rei, then.

He sat down by his friend and sighed, “Rei has his reasons and you’ll just have to wait till he’s ready to tell you why. That’s all I know, Bry.”

Bryan just stared down at his hands and sighed.

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Spencer laid his head back against the wall, eyes closed against the pain in his heart. Bryan was his brother and he hated to see him hurting like this: but he could do nothing to help right now. Pushing away from the wall, he crept away: feeling a sudden need to be with his own mate.

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Kai pulled opened the front door and walked into the sounds of an argument. He followed the loud voices and found Max and Tyson locked in a game of tug-of-war with the phone as the rope.

“Max, I want pizza!”

“Tyson! You are not calling for pizza! I’m sick of pizza! I want Mexican and we are going to get Mexican!”

The bluenette sighed and stepped into the kitchen to yank the phone out of the two combatant’s hands. “Don’t break the phone.” He admonished sternly, glaring at the pair, who gazed back at him with wide eyes.

“Kai! The two snapped out of their surprise and began explaining at the top of their lungs. In the midst of their confusing explanations, Grandpa Granger walked in and bellowed, “quiet!” Max and Tyson’s jaws snapped shut and they stared at the old man.

Ignoring them, the old fellow turned to Kai and jerked a thumb toward the stairs. “Rei’s in his hidey-hole. Kenny’s working on Dragoon and I’m gonna order Mexican. (Max stuck his tongue out at Tyson, who grimaced.) So, if you’ll ask Rei what he wants and tell me what you want, I’ll order the food.”

Kai nodded and left. Trotting up the stairs, he quickly reached the landing and headed part way down the hall. Stopping, he looked up and jumped, grabbing for the trapdoor cord. Nabbing it, he pulled the door down and stepped back as it unfolded into a small ladder. Max had found the attic, when he had noticed the short length of rope dangling from the ceiling, the first night he had spent in the house. Once he saw it, Rei had claimed it as a refugee from the madness in the rest of the house. He swarmed up the wooden steps and smiled as he heard Rei’s soft voice reading aloud.

“My first kiss,

a taste of heaven that changed

my unknowing heart.

My virgin lips,

had never felt anything,

so special before you parted them

with such mastery.

You drank deeply of my innocence,

so holy and inviolate.

For you, I laid down,

Holy Mother,

rose Mary Magdalene.

You smiled at the wonder in my eyes,

reveled in the pleasure of my wakening.

You took my chastity,

changed it to wanton passion – with that smile.

My first kiss was fruit from

the Tree of Life,

and my lover is the angel who guards

Paradise.”

“Nice poem,” Kai commented as he settled onto the second pillow that Rei had dragged up there to use as seating.

“Found this book of poetry in a box over in the corner.” Rei said as he fingered the pages of the book. “Thought I’d just sit up here and read for awhile.”

“Hn.”

Rei laid the book down and pulling his knees up - hugged them. He stared off into the shadows of the far side of the attic and sighed, “is Bryan coming over?”

“No. I told him that I wouldn’t allow it.”

“Bet he didn’t take that well.”

“He didn’t, but that doesn’t matter. Besides, Tala will keep him home.”

Rei turned his head and looked into calm red depths. “Kai, am I doing the right thing? Maybe, it would be better to just go over there and make a clean breast of everything.”

Kai shook his head. “No. Trust me, Rei. You need to do this when you feel ready to; when you are certain in your own mind: that now is the right time to tell him. Everything has a right time and a wrong time. Choose the wrong time and everything will be lost. What you’re striving for is too important to chance on a maybe.”

With a frown creasing his forehead, Rei pulled his braid around to play with the end; a sure sign he was thinking hard. Kai held his breath and prayed that Rei wouldn’t notice the spider clinging halfway up the binding. He looked around for something to swat the creature with. Rei had a real phobia about spiders and had been know to throw anything that had even the tiniest of eight-legged critters on it across a room, or out a window. Or if it happened to be on him: shriek at the top of his lungs and demand that someone get . . . it . . . off!

Grabbing a shirt that poked out of a nearby box, Kai leaned forward and grabbed the spider, crushing it between his fingers. Rei’s eyes went wide, as he realized what Kai had taken off him and he opened his mouth to howl.

“Ah, so this is where you are hiding. Kai, does Tala know that you are having trysts with Rei in secret?” A lightly French accented voice asked.

Startled by the unexpected voice Rei’s jaw snapped shut and he and Kai both looked toward the ladder, where a shining cap of green hair and laughing blue eyes gleamed.

“Oliver!”

The naughty French boy giggled.

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Ian smiled as he settled on the glider with a glass of ice-cold coke and a pile of American comics. Spencer would soon start dinner and Tala and Bryan had gone up to their room to do something; leaving him to do whatever he wanted.

He had just grabbed the first comic in the pile; a ‘Tales from the crypt’ issue, when he heard an engine purr. Glancing up, he dropped the comic, as a large bus pulled up in front of the Bladebreaker’s house and a female driver got out. Dressed in green and yellow, she went to the door of the ‘Breaker’s house and knocked. Kenny stuck his head out and spoke to the woman. Ian watched intently, as she turned and went back to the bus, a few minutes later, a blonde headed boy and a petite green haired youth emerged – Enrique and Oliver.

“Majestics!” He breathed before weakly waving, when Enrique spotted him and waved. Oliver looked over and smiled at him. As he watched, the two conversed for a moment, then Enrique headed in his direction and Oliver went onto the other house.

“Ian, isn’t it?” The blonde Italian bounced onto the porch and grinned at him. The small Russian nodded. “Is the rest of your team in?” The boy asked as he sat down on the concrete rim of the brick porch.

“Yes, did you need to speak to our captain?” Ian asked.

“Please,” Enrique said, then he chuckled. “Tell Tala that we just got into town and Robert has decided that it would be a good idea to get together! He’s waiting for us at the restaurant! Along with Johnny and the All-Starz’s! The Italian smirked, “so, while Oliver is inside persuading the ‘Immovable Object’ to come and bring his team. I am here to invite all of you!” Ian stared at the blonde, which caused the blonde’s smirk to deepen. “Please go and tell Tala that he must do this because, well because, Robert is making an attempt at being spontaneous and we should all encourage him, as much as possible!”

“Of course,” said Ian, not really understanding, but willing to go with the flow. “I’ll just go get Tala.” And he hopped off the glider, slid over to the door, opened it and disappeared into the house’s shadowy depths.

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Kai and Rei trailed after Oliver as the youth chattered on about why he was there. “Robert and Johnny are with the All-Starz’s waiting for us at Jake’s. Robert is trying so hard too not be so rigid and we all want to encourage him, so please say you’ll come! Oh, and Enrique has gone to fetch the Demolition Boys! Tyson and Max have already agreed to go, as has Mr. Granger, so it’s just the two of you, who need to say yes!”

Seeing Rei was turning pale, Kai said smoothly, “Oliver, if you’ll give Rei and I a moment to talk about this. He hasn’t been well and if he doesn’t want to go, I will be staying home with him.”

Oliver stopped and turned, his bright eyes taking in Rei’s pale face and slight shiver. Clasping his hands together, the French boy cried, “Mon dieu! Is that why Rei has been put on reserve! We had heard he was, but not why! Is it serious?”

“No,” Kai replied calmly, “just very draining and the doctors say, he shouldn’t blade until the condition clears up. And in case you’re wondering, it’s not contagious.”

“That’s a relief!” Oliver said grimacing as he realized how that sounded. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was glad Rei is ill, just that he will get better.”

“It’s o.k.” Rei said quietly, “we knew what you meant. Now, if you will . . .”

”Oh, of course!” Oliver exclaimed as he darted off and down the stairs, leaving the other two to talk.

Rei turned to Kai, his eyes huge. “Kai, I . . .”

Kai put a finger against the other’s lips and shook his head. “Rei, I won’t force you to go, but remember what I said about a right time and a wrong time; this might be the right time, or it might not be. But, one thing is for sure; you can’t keep hiding from Bryan. Tala and I can only protect you for so long. Bry’s smart enough to give us the slip sometime and you’ll find yourself facing him alone; at least here, you’ll be surrounded by teammates and a host of friends.” He laughed softly, “and Bryan’s not stupid enough to make a scene in public; or to take the chance of having to face all of us at once.”

A small smile quirked at the corner of Rei’s mouth. “You’re right and who knows maybe this will be the right time to came clean with him.”

“Where are you going?” Kai asked as the Chinese turned from him to head back down the hall to the bedrooms.

“To change!” Rei called back over his shoulder, “I can’t go out half-naked and dusty, now can I?”

Kai just sighed.

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Enrique sat in the living room and listened to the arguing going on upstairs. Convincing Tala that a free meal for his team was a good idea hadn’t been hard. The hard part had been convincing him to travel in the bus with the Bladebreakers. And from the sound of things, Bryan and Rei had a problem and Tala was demanding that his irritating teammate promise to be on his best behavior; or he could just stay home!

The Italian smiled; things were about to get interesting, because he hadn’t mentioned that the White Tigers would also be there.