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"I told you it was going to scar." Tavir's voice sounded guilty nonetheless, and Shurik grinned at him in the mirror. His cheek had finally healed up, and now they were examining it.

"It's okay, Tavir. I think it makes me look daring, don't you?" The scar was a thick white line, starting from just beside his left eye and travelling all the way down his cheek to his chin.

"Nah, you're still cute and innocent, kid." Tavir laughed, and Shurik joined in, watching the scar move as the rest of his face did.

"Yeah, yeah, comedian. Get out of here, else you'll be late for your interview, and what'll they think of you then?"

"Oh, I'll just dazzle them with my skills and they'll forget about it, same way Jerran does." Tavir winked, but he hurried for the door all the same, snatching up his jacket.

"Don't miss me too much!" And with that final quip, he was gone. Shurik poked at his scar a few more times. It really wasn't too bad. And it'd remind him to be wary of Reyn in the future. One hell of a reminder, but still, it could be worse.

<And speaking of Jerran..> He was glad Tavir had mentioned the coach. There was a phone call he kept forgetting to make.

"Hi, Jerran? It's Shurik."

"Shurik!" Jerran sounded pleased to hear his voice. "Long time, no talk. How are you? And how's Tavir's knee?"

"Good, good. He's healing up pretty well, too. Um.." he paused, but he had called for a reason, after all. Might as well get it out of the way. "There's something I want to tell you, Jerran."

"What's that?"

"I.. won't be coming back to play hockey this year." There. He'd said it.

"Even with Reyn off the team?" Jerran didn't sound too surprised, though.

"Yeah, I.. it's just not the same without Tavir, y'know? We joined together, to have fun together, and.." He trailed off, hoping he was making some sense.

"That's okay, I understand. Though I'll miss having you around, and I'm sure the rest of the team will, too. And not just because you're such a great player." Jerran chuckled, and Shurik smiled to himself, relieved. He'd been worried that Jerran would be upset about it, and he hated to upset people.

"Well, maybe I'll come visit sometime. And you could always get Reyn back, if you wanted a star player."

"I'd like if you'd visit, Shurik. Show us how bad we are. As for Reyn, I meant what I said. He may have the skills of a great hockey player, but his attitude leaves a lot to be desired. And much as I enjoyed having that trophy, I'm not in this for winning. I'm in it for my team to have fun. Reyn set too many of them on edge. In fact, I wouldn't have kept him around half as long if it hadn't been for Tavir." He paused, and Shurik tried to let all that sink in. He hadn't even realized Reyn was so disliked. <I accepted him from the start, because Tavir did. Guess I shouldn't be so sure of Tavir's judgment in future.> He laughed at himself, just as Jerran added, "besides, I heard he got picked up by some minor league team."

"Pro hockey?" Shurik blinked a few times. He supposed Reyn had the skill for it, but.. <Why'd he slash my face open for losing his place on the team when he's got a better one anyway?> His scar throbbed for a moment, and he pushed his anger down.

"Yeah, someone obviously liked his style at the finals," Jerran was saying.

"Can't say I blame them. Listen, I gotta go."

"Okay, Shurik. You or Tavir call me if you ever need me, got it? And come see us. You're still teammates, even if you're not playing."

"Thanks, Jerran, we will." He hung up the phone and leaned against the wall. <Stupid Reyn. I hate you for what you did to us. You don't deserve to play pro. I hope you ruin it for yourself, just like you did with our team.> He hated to be vindictive; it felt wrong and out of place to him. But Reyn sparked animosity in him like no-one else had ever done. <Forget him, Shurik. He may have his stupid hockey, but you've got Tavir back, even if you're just friends. And that's all that matters, right? Right.>

"Alright, last box!" Shurik was beaming as they finished tugging things out of the final box and folded it up. Tavir took it outside and dumped it on the pile of boxes that had grown outside. He came back in again, shutting the door behind him.

"Whew! I sure am glad we paid someone else to cart this stuff here. Too bad we didn't pay them to unpack it, too." He said with a grin. Shurik grinned back; he hadn't been able to stop grinning all day, in fact.

"We're really here, Tavir! This place is all ours!" He bounced into the kitchen, then back out, and down the hallway to look at the rooms again, Tavir's pleasant laughter echoing after him. They were so lucky to have such a big place to live in! But Tavir had scored a job at a sports magazine, and the pay was better than either of them had expected. So they'd found a big house, big enough to fit the two of them and the great dane puppy that Shurik had decided was his. And now that they were unpacked, they could go and pick the pup up. And what then? Shurik didn't know, or care. Tavir had a job he loved, Shurik was still enjoying both his job and his studies, they had a new place to live, and everything was just perfect!

"C'mon, hyper, let's go get your mutt!" Tavir called, and Shurik laughed, dashing back out to the main room.

"You got it!"

"So, what are you going to call him?" Tavir asked curiously as they walked home again. The great dane took turns at dashing ahead and trailing behind, sniffing everything in sight. Shurik tugged at the leash, convincing the dog to catch up to him for a moment.

"Puck," he decided on the spot. It had just popped into his head, and for some reason, it seemed to fit.

"Puck?" Tavir raised an eyebrow at him.

"Hockeypuck!" Shurik exclaimed, and they both burst out laughing.

"Nice dog." A voice floated out of nowhere, and they both turned their heads to stare at the person behind them, who knelt to scratch Puck's ears.

"Reyn?" Tavir's voice was faint.

"Reyn!" Shurik echoed, and a wash of emotions swept over him. Anger, furious anger, hate, fear, jealousy.. jealousy?

"Don't look so surprised." Reyn rose gracefully, smirking at them. His eyes were hidden by sunglasses, but Shurik could almost see them laughing at him.

"What do you want, Reyn?" Tavir's voice was harsh, and Shurik felt a wave of relief. Time hadn't softened Tavir's opinion of Reyn, then. He hoped it never would. He glanced at his friend, and saw a mixture of confusion and hurt on his face.

"I heard you moved. I thought I'd stop by and see how you were." Reyn's head tilted towards Shurik, and graceful fingers reached up to trace the scar along his cheek.

"My, that's nasty, Shurik. Whatever did you do?" Shurik jerked his head away from Reyn's touch, his cheeks burning. Reyn had correctly guessed that he hadn't told Tavir who'd hurt him, then. <Damn him.> He knelt down to hug Puck, shame silencing him; shame at Reyn beating and scarring him, shame that he hadn't trusted Tavir with it, and shame that Reyn could hurt him -- and scare him -- even now.

"Leave him alone, Reyn. Why are you bothering us again?" Shurik dared to glance up, focusing his attention on Tavir rather than Reyn. Tavir's fists were clenched, and sweat beaded his brow.

"Come now, Tavir, there's no need to be so hostile. What's past is past. I thought we could put all that behind us and be friends."

"Friends?" Tavir spat the word disbelievingly. "The day I'll be friends with you again is the day they go ice-skating in Hell." Reyn arched his brows in surprise.

"So cruel. I would've thought more of you, Tavir." He shrugged casually. "I guess I'll leave you to stew in your bitterness, then. Call me if you ever get over it." He smirked down at Shurik, then turned and started to walk away. "I heard you got a new job, Tavir," he called over his shoulder. "Perhaps you'll get to review me playing hockey, now that I'm in the minor league."

They both stared after him for so long that Puck started to whine. Shurik jumped at the sudden noise, then stopped clutching the poor dog to his chest and stood up. Tavir was leaning against the tall fence that ran along the road next to them, eyes still glaring in the direction Reyn had gone.

"You okay, Tav?" he asked hesitantly. Tavir turned those intense eyes on him, his expression unreadable.

"It was him, wasn't it?"

"Huh?"

"He's the one who beat up on you." Tavir's eyes flickered to his scar for a moment. He lowered his own eyes to the ground. It was all the answer Tavir needed.

"Damn him! Damn him to hell! I'll kill him!" he swore, pounding one fist against the fence in frustration. "Why didn't you tell me, Shurik?"

"It doesn't matter." Shurik raised his eyes again, meeting Tavir's, which blurred with impotent fury, pain, and remorse.

"Yes it does, damnit!"

"No, Tavir, it doesn't. What good would it have done? You can't do anything about it, and all it would've done is upset you.. like it is now." Shurik kept his voice soft, even. The fury in Tavir's eyes slowly faded away, but the remorse grew stronger.

"But it's because of me! Why did he hurt you? Why not me? Why did you have to take that pain for me?"

"Because I love you." <Wrong answer.> But it was too late, he'd already said it. He closed his eyes. Might as well damn himself completely. "I love you, I always have. I think that Reyn thinks I stole you away somehow because of that. He.. really seems to hate me for it. But I don't care. I'll take that and more, if it means having you with me again, and not with him." Silence greeted his words. <Wow, I must've really shocked the hell out of him.> He dared to open his eyes again. Tavir was staring at him, openmouthed, and tears glimmered in his eyes. Then suddenly he was hugging Shurik tightly, face buried in his shoulder as he cried. Shurik hugged him back, confused. Why was he crying?

After a long moment, Tavir pulled away again, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. He opened his mouth to speak, then paused and looked down. Shurik followed his gaze. Puck was quietly and oh-so-carefully winding the leash around their legs. He began to laugh; he couldn't help it. A small smile played at the edge of Tavir's lips as well.

"Let's take Puck home first, okay?" he said softly. Shurik nodded and knelt down to free them from the tangle of the leash. <First? First?> What was going to happen after they took Puck home? Did he want to know? <That's what I get for opening my big mouth. Stupid, stupid! How could you go and ruin things like that, just when life was going so well? Damn you, Reyn!>