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"Feel better?" Shurik questioned cautiously, and Tavir nodded, wiping away the remnants of his tears. Shurik gave him a handkerchief. <Poor Tavir. Reyn has been treating him like this for so long.. if only I'd known, I could've..> Could've what? He doubted that Tavir had even realized it himself before this whole thing with his knee had happened. He couldn't have done anything but watch; Tavir had needed to figure it out for himself.

"Now what, Shur?" Tavir looked lost, and he was looking to Shurik for help. "I've nowhere to go."

"You could stay with me, if you like." Shurik offered. It'd probably drive him nuts, having Tavir so close all the time, and yet not his, but he wasn't about to leave Tavir out on the street, either.

"Won't your parents have something to say about that?" Tavir wondered as he offered him the handkerchief back. Shurik took it with a grin. Tavir really hadn't been paying attention to the world around him, had he?

"I don't live at home anymore. I moved out. My place is kind of small, but it's nice. And I've a sofabed, you could sleep on that." His grin widened as Tavir stared at him in surprise.

"You moved out? Wow, I really do have to stop calling you kid, don't I?" Tavir finally managed a grin; it was wobbly, but it was there.

"You want to stay with me until you get yourself sorted out, then?" Shurik didn't mind being called kid so much. He tried to remember who he knew with a car. If he could get Tavir's stuff in the next few days, Reyn wouldn't throw it out. And he lived within walking distance of the hospital, too. Having Tavir around again wouldn't be so bad, actually. It'd been too long since they'd just plain 'hung out' together.

"You know, I think I'd really like that, Shur. Thanks." Tavir brushed back his hair, looking almost like his old self again.

Shurik managed to talk Jerran into helping him move Tavir's stuff. He was a good coach, and he liked to help his team. Shurik felt a little safer, knowing that he'd be there; a middle ground between them all, he'd be a good buffer against Reyn doing anything. <Doing what?> He didn't know, but Reyn just made him feel unsafe. No need to be near him by himself.

Things seemed to go okay. Reyn opened the door for them, and then ignored them the rest of the time. Several trips of heavy boxes assured him that he'd been right in making Tavir stay home for this venture; this was the last thing his knee needed. So Tavir did his exercises while they lugged boxes about, trying to find room in Shurik's tiny apartment.

"Ah, Reyn?" Shurik tried not to sound too nervous. Reyn glanced up from the game he was playing.

"What?" He was obviously annoyed at the intrusion.

"Ah.. that's Tavir's." Shurik pointed to the Playstation. They'd moved everything else of Tavir's, but Reyn had made no efforts to volunteer the Playstation. Shurik wasn't about to leave it behind though; he knew how much enjoyment Tavir got out of it.

"No it's not." Reyn replied briefly, before turning his attention back to the game.

"Yes, it is." Shurik insisted, frowning. What, Reyn was not only going to break Tavir's heart, he was going to steal from him, too?

"Trust me, it's not." Reyn didn't even look up this time. Shurik moved until he was standing between Reyn and the TV.

"Trust me, it is." He said, hands planted firmly on hips. Reyn tried to look around him, then gave up and tossed the controller on the floor.

"What, are you trying to rob me now, as well?" He stood, mocking Shurik's stance -- except that he was a good 6 inches taller, and better built, too. Shurik gulped, but he was angry now, and he wasn't about to give in.

"I know that Playstation is Tavir's. We chipped in and bought it for him for his last birthday," he said, glaring up at Reyn. Any fear left in him was rapidly being taken over by anger.

"Well, aren't you the little martyr." Reyn smirked at him. "Get out, would you? You're in my way."

"Damnit, Reyn! You took over his mind, you walked all over him, you broke his heart and nearly crippled him for life! Do you have to keep lowering yourself by resorting to petty theft as well?" Shurik's hands were balled into fists. <He sure riles me like nothing else. I'm so sick of him and his superior attitude!> Reyn was glowering at him, and his mouth opened to speak, a sneer forming on his features, but Jerran broke the mood.

"He is right, Reyn." The coach looked almost embarrassed at having butted in. "I helped chip in myself. Tavir's a good sort. Let him have it." Reyn was glowering at Jerran now, his expression incredulous. Shurik was willing to bet he wasn't used to so many people going against his wishes. That was three now, including Tavir. <What sort of parents did he have, to grow up so cold and superior? I don't know if I should feel sorry for him.. or for them..>

"Fine, fine. Go ahead and rob me blind, what the hell do I care?" Reyn waved his hand at them, his cold, distant expression returned. "There's more to life than money." With a quick final glare at Shurik, he walked out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Shurik collapsed into the nearest chair. <I can't believe I just stood up to him.. and survived.>

"Thanks, Jerran." He turned a grin on the coach, who grinned back.

"No worries. I know it's Tavir's." He glanced in the direction Reyn had gone. "Is Tavir going to be able to play hockey again?"

"I don't know. Probably not." Shurik knelt down, gathering up the Playstation and its games. Better to do it now and be gone, in case Reyn changed his mind.

"Shame, that. Guess you'll have to be the team star by yourself then, Shurik." Jerran knelt down to help him push cords and other pieces into a bag.

"Team star? But.. Reyn?"

"Reyn? You think I want someone with that sort of disposition to stay on my team?" Jerran grinned at him, even as he stared back. "C'mon, Shur, we've got everything. Let's go." Jerran grabbed up what he could, leaving Shurik to pick up the Playstation itself and hurry after him.

"Jerran?" He caught up with the coach as they reached the car. "Thanks. For caring."

"Hey, how could I not care about such a great pair as you and Tavir?" Jerran winked at him, and then climbed into the car.

He didn't mention the scene to Tavir; it was something he didn't need, another Reyn confrontation to worry about. Just like he didn't mention that he heard Tavir crying at night, and didn't know how to go comfort him. Or the fact that Tavir walking around in just his boxers every morning was messing with his head.

Tavir was doing his therapy, but recovery was slow going, and there was not much he could do to help until he got better. He did what he could, though; while Shurik worked his part-time job and went to his classes, Tavir kept the apartment clean and cooked meals for both of them. He was a good cook, too. Shurik didn't ask where that particular skill had come from. Reyn had probably made him do all the cooking, or something. But whatever it was, the two of them were back to being best friends again, and Shurik treasured all the quiet times, and all the fun times, that they spent together. And Tavir slowly stopped crying late at night.

"Seeya tomorrow, Chris!" Shurik called to his boss as he headed out of the shop, letting the door lock behind him. He turned up his collar; it was late, and the night was crisp, enough to make him shiver.

He walked home at a languid pace, humming softly to himself. It was his birthday today, and Tavir was cooking something special for him. And who knew, maybe with the right mood, Tavir would realize.. He laughed at himself. <It's a nice birthday wish, but who the hell am I kidding? It doesn't matter. He's with me again, and there's no Reyn to tear him to pieces.>

He paused two blocks from home, the wind ruffling his hair. Was it just the wind? He could've sworn someone called his name. He started to turn, thinking perhaps Chris was trying to catch him up, when something hard smacked across the back of his head. He dropped to his knees, vision skewing wildly, as someone stepped in front of him. He dimly saw a foot as it rushed towards his face, kicking him over onto his back. Pain splintered through his jaw, merging with the pain in the back of his head, all of it throbbing heatedly.

"Happy birthday, Shurik." A malicious, melodic voice floated down to him. There was nothing for a moment, and then the foot connected with his stomach, leaving him gasping, even as he curled in on himself.

"That's for letting us lose the hockey finals." Something scraped harsh and vicious against his shoulder.

"That's for poisoning Tavir against me." Another smack, this one belting against his ribs.

"That's for making me look a fool in front of the coach."

"Reyn.." he managed to gasp, and cold laughter filled his ears, even as something slashed across the side of his face.

"That's for losing me my place on the hockey team." Reyn's voice roared in his ears, and he tasted blood as he fell into blackness, escaping the pain.