Web of feelings

Weeks went by and the surprising companionship between Tala and Tyson, which had started on that fateful evening on the river grew stronger each day. The two teens met every evening on the same spot and talked about nothing and all at once or simply shared minutes full of friendly silence.

Tala had been astonished to discover that Tyson was a very good listener and almost everytime catched even underlying meanings. The bluenette expressed an empathy about his feelings which should have frightened the redhead. But instead of being anxious about that Tala was relieved. He slowly began to share more and more of his own thoughts and feelings as he realized that Tyson really cared about his opinion to the matters they discussed.

After some time they knew that they had formed a while somewhat unexpected nonetheless gratifying friendship in which they both revelled in. For Tala it was wonderful to have a friend besides Bryan which he knew since childhood.

Bryan and he had gone through a lot together and the lavender-haired teen would always be his best friend – but Tyson had become important to him in another way. He felt connected to the bluenette as if he had known him forever…which should have been impossible since they had met only two years ago at the World Champion Ships. But Tala felt at ease in the presence of the younger teen who at the first look seemed overly cheerful, a bit on the lazy side and carefree.

Over the last weeks the redhead had instead discovered Tyson’s hidden character which was compassionate, understanding and even slightly empathic. The bluehaired teen always seemed to know if something troubled his older friend and then immediately offered his help. But he also realized when Tala didn’t want to discuss his problems and then remained silently by his side, wordlessly showing support.

That he was not alone in his discovering of new sides on the other teen was made very clear as the two friends met this evening at their usual spot.

Tala had arrived at first, sitting down in the grass and looking at the river. His camera was slung around his neck and he pondered the assignment of the art class. Like Tyson the Russian had been chosen to the art-section and they often discussed possibilities what to do for that assignment.

Tala had decided to give photography a try and now often wore his newly-bought camera to take pictures of people or the landscape when he found an interesting motiv. After having seen some of the first pictures, Tyson had encouraged Tala to continue in this field because the bluenette thought his friend had real talent in the area of photography. Even being reluctant to overestimate his talent

Tala had to agree that his pictures were quite good for an amateur.
As he had said so Tyson had rolled his eyes heavenwards as if praying for godly guidance and then insisted on the remarkable insight of his redhaired friend. He had taken some pictures out of the first stash and shown him, saying that he was able to see the mood in which the persons had been in as Tala had taken the picture. That the redhead had catched some of the personality of each of his ‘models’ which was quite hard even for an professional photographer.

Now Tala let his gaze sweep over the river as he waited for his younger friend. Tyson didn’t show up for another ten minutes and Tala began to worry about him. But then the bluenette came running towards him at fast speed and plopped down gracelessly next to him with a breathless ‘hey’.

“You are late. Again”, the redhead tried to scowl darkly at his panting companion who looked up at him under his silklike midnight-blue bangs. Smiling sheepishly Tyson was able to regain his breath and answered.
“I am sorry, Tala. But first Gramps chased me through the whole Dojo with his Kendo stick for practice and then I had to do that stack of homework which is due to tomorrow. Combine that with my aching left shoulder where my dear grandfather was able to hit me two times in training today and you get a really, really sorry-for-coming-too-late-Tyson. Will you forgive me…please?”, the teen said batting his eyelashes in an adorable way.

Talas mouth quirked into a smile before he started to laugh.
That was another thing that was new to him…laughing freely and full of good humor. But Tyson had the uncanny ability to make him laugh at least once each time they met. And Tala admitted he liked to laugh with his friend – and showing emotions at all.

He had learned to let go of his icy and indifferent mascerade he wore for every other person when he was with Tyson and his optimistic and warm friendliness. Tala couldn’t help but let down his defences in the bluenette’s company. Tyson would not hurt him, of that he was instinctivly sure.

“You are forgiven, oh late one”, he dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand while his blue eyes still sparkled with laughter. Tyson in response bowed his head in a gesture of seemingly awed gratitude. But that humble thanks was destroyed as he lifted his head a second later and Tala could see the cheerful grin on his friend’s face.

They smiled at each other and then Tyson cocked his head at the camera around Tala’s neck. “Have you taken any good pictures today?”, he wanted to know.

Tala shook his head and confessed: “I am not really sure what to take pictures of. It’s all nice and good to go around and make photos from this and that…but it won’t bring me a good mark for the assignment. I think I should concentrate on one thing, but I don’t know which one would be the best.”

Gnawing on his lower lip Tyson thought about Talas words. He understood what his friend was speaking about and he wanted to help. Looking at the older one, he slowly began: “It’s right that you can’t simply take pictures of something that wouldn’t have any importance for you. Mrs. Simmons said that she wanted to hear the ‘story’ behind our work…hmm, I think you should decide what is more important to you. You could concentrate on the landscape – there are beautiful rivers, lakes and mountains around here. Or the forest.
On the other hand…you have real talent in catching the moods of people with your pictures, Tala. Maybe you can take pictures of people who are important to you and show them in their daily life or you picture different moods in a collage.
There are many possibilities and I know that it is very hard to decide which turn to take at this point. I have my hindrances, too.” The last words were said with a deep sigh, which made Tala look at his friend in concern.

“You don’t really know what to do with your sketches too, am I right, Ty?”, he asked the bluenette.
Tyson nodded, a frown marring his flawless forehead as he thought back to the sketchblock in his room. After an evening with Tala at the river where he had tried to sketch the sunset and had to his own surprise done really good, he had decided to do a painting for the assignment. But now he was like Tala at the point where he had to decide what to paint. And he didn’t really know either what kind of thing he wanted to portrait.

Sighing Tyson moved a bit and winced as his shoulder started to hurt. The flesh where his grandfather had been able to hit him was tender and moving caused a painful aching in his bones. He felt cramped and longed for a hot shower to ease the aches in his body, but he wouldn’t give up the the long talks with Tala each evening for a little more comfort. These meetings with his older friend had become something really important for Tyson and he often looked forward to the evenings when he could speak to Tala.

The redhead who seemed to be so uncaring and indifferent at first, had revealed to Tyson his more softer sides. He was an open-minded, loyal and gentle young man, if you knew him better and left aside his outer attire. Tala had allowed the bluenette to see the caring heart behind the icy outer shelf.

“You should have learned to move faster by now, Tyson”, Tala scolded lightly as he moved behind his friend. “Your grandpa is nearly seventy and can still get you down in your training. I think to watch you in that situation would be a sad sad sight, my friend.”

Tyson pouted but nodded nonetheless. “I know I am not quite good enough to really beat him once and for all, Tala. But you should see him when he starts a new lesson…it is as if he gets powers exceeding his normal energy. I don’t know how such an old man can be so fast – it must be his liking to whack me with that damned stick he always carries around.”

Tala snickered quietly as he heard the scowl in Tysons words even if he couldn’t see it. Smiling he laid his hands on his friend’s shoulders and began massaging gently. A tiny sigh escaped Tyson’s mouth as he felt Tala’s hands moving expertly to loosen his cramped shoulder muscles. Then he stifled a shout but couldn’t help the violent flinch as Tala touched the tender area on his left shoulder.

The redhead stopped immediately and lifted the collar of Tysons darkblue shirt to examine the bruising. At seeing the violett and blue spots on the tanned skin he winced in symphaty.
“Ouch”, he said. “That must really hurt.”

“You can say that out loud and again”, was the mumbled reply by Tyson. “That damn stick…and Gramps didn’t lessen the intensity of his blows. He said that an assailant wouldn’t hold back either and that I have to be prepared to fight on my own.”

“He is right…even if I think he shouldn’t make you look like – how did you say it again? – yes ‘like a walking blue spot’”, Tala answered while even gentlier than before massaging the bruised area.
“It is good to know how to defend themselves against an attacker, Tyson. And I believe that your Gramps trains you so hard because he wants you to be able to hold your own against even bulkier people who fight with brute strength.”

Talas voice had changed slightly at remembering how true his statement was regarding his own past. He would have given everything to have a grandfather who had trained him to be able to defend himself. With darkening eyes in emphatic hurt at hearing the barely recognizable tremble in Talas words, Tyson reached out to his friend and drew him into a short but strong hug.

Tala stiffened at first in surprise but relaxed almost immediately into the warmth Tyson showered him with. He sometimes wondered how the younger teen was able to make him feel better with only a hug or even the slightest touch. After the first time Tyson had shown his remarkable insight in his feelings Tala had allowed the bluehaired teen to reaquaint him with the sense of belonging and all the other aspects of having a true friend.

Silently parting the two friends looked at each other and shared a smile of understanding before Tyson experimentally rolled his left shoulder. A look of gratitude crossed his features as he realized that the ache had lessend considerably. A hot shower later would do the rest.

Seeing the expression of delight an Tysons face Tala smirked in satisfaction. He leaned back on his ellbows and stated pompously: “You don’t have to thank me, Ty. I know I am a wonder in the field of massaging.”

Tyson stopped moving his shoulder and lifted an eyebrow at the self-assured words of his friend. Then he grinned deviously. Seconds later Tyson had moved so fast that Tala wasn’t able to avoid the tickling-attack of his friend. Squirming and desperatly trying to contain the laughter which bubbled in him, Tala tried to shove his younger friend away from him. But the bluenette made good use of his advantage and tickled Tala mercilessly who now lay on his back in the grass and laughed uncontrollably.

After some time of producing light-hearted laughter which drove tears to Talas eyes, Tyson decided to temper justice with mercy and stopped his attack on his friends’ stomach muscles. Little devils danced a polka in his oceanblue eyes and he grinned unpertubed, as the redhead, who was panting from his laughter, tried to scowl dangerously at him.

The grin widened even more as Tala growled: “You will regret that, Ty.”

“As if you would hurt me, Tala”, Tyson answered. “Big softie you are.”

Tala who had tried to move from his lying position, looked at him with wide eyes for some moments before falling back into the grass with a groan. He covered his blue eyes with his hand and said: “I hope you won’t make this public notice – you’ll destroy my carefully created image.”

Tysons grin softened into a gentle smile full of heartfelt friendship towards his redhaired friend. He reached out and tugged at Talas hand to help him up and promised: “I won’t discover your gentleness to anybody, sweetie.”

“Don’t call me that!”, Tala growled.

“Okay, okay”, Tyson smiled at him, not in the slightest bit frightened by the fierce expression of annoyance on Talas face. “You are a big bad boy, I know.”

Tala sighed and then smiled. A real, gentle smile which transformed his whole face. His iceblue eyes showed undisguised warmth as he looked at Tyson and shook his head.

“No, I’m not”, he opposed. “Not when I’m around you, Ty. You have shown me too much gentleness and warmth to be anything else than friendly and open to you in return. I…I really…like…being your friend.”

Oceanblue eyes glittered with unshed tears of happiness as Tyson hugged Tala for his open words of friendship. The younger teen sniffed a bit as they released their hold on each other after a while. Tala smiled at his friend and reached out with his hand to remove some of the darkblue strands of hair from the equally deep blue eyes.

“So, that was enough sentimentality for today”, the redhead declared, grinning a bit at Tysons surprised blinking. Then the bluenette catched the humor in the other’s eyes and burst out laughing. Hugging Tala a third time this day after calming down again, Tyson moved to his feet shortly after.

“I have to go now, Tala. Tomorrow – same time, same place?” A nod answered the question which had become unnecessary a long time ago. But Tyson asked nonetheless every time and both youths’ relished in the knowledge of the other teen’s reaction.

Laying his hand on his friend’s shoulder Tyson said goodbye. Tala stood up, too and watched Tyson walking at a leisurly pace towards his family’s Dojo before turning around and going back to the small appartment he shared with Bryan.

Neither of the two friends had seen the pair of eyes watching them since some time. The eyes had narrowed in thought and another emotion their owner could not really understand. Yet.

And another chapter done! What do you think of Tysons and Talas friendship? Tell me!
Thanks for all the nice, encouraging reviews I have gotten!

Cu, gemini