He wasn't like any other blader he's seen. No, Lui Shirasagijo was different. Gabe had noticed that when the smaller male first transferred to his school.

Lui didn't talk much, normally staring out the window next to his seat. No one dared to try and talk to the blue flame-haired male, thinking it would end bad if they did.

Gabe watched him carefully through the weeks of Lui being there, slightly hoping to see a change in the other male. It wasn't easy considering he shows no emotion. The only exception is the look in his eyes.

He was training with his bey one day after school, wanting to perfect his launch in time for the tournament. Lui would always stand off to the side, observing, not saying anything and just watching. It was an everyday thing that would happen, and it was driving Gabe mad.

~~~

         "Do you need something?" He asked suddenly at practice. The baby blue-haired male stayed silent, his violet eyes staring into Gabe's brown ones. He reached into his pocket, drawing out a bey, and held it in front of him.
          "Battle me." The smaller male stated simply, taking the latter off guard. "Battle me and Lost Luinor."

It was the first time Gabe had ever heard his voice. His actual voice. He felt they were making progress after that. From that point on, Lui would only talk to him, always muttering things to him when other people were around.

That was when Gabe started having feelings for the shorter male, finding he liked his quiet yet fierce aura that always surrounded him. The closer he got to Lui, the more he fell in love with him.

~~~

         "I love you..." The taller blader said one day after school. It caught the blue flame-haired boy off guard though it didn't show, and he didn't know how to react to the statement.
        "But... Why?" He asked, confused as to why Gabe fell in love with him. "Why me of all people?"
        "I like how quiet you are, I find it adorable when you're flustered or embarrassed." The taller male started, taking a step forward. "And I like how fierce you look when you battle. That's why, Lui."

Violet eyes stared into brown. He was speechless, he didn't know what to say. Heat burned his cheeks, they turning a shade of pink.
        "I..." Was all that managed to escape his lips, his small hands fidgeting with the scarf around his neck. "I have to go..."

He ran off, leaving Gabe standing there, wondering if he did something to upset the small male.

~~~

        "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Lui screeched into his pillow, pressing it harder into his face. He breathed deep, calming down slightly and pulling the pillow off his face. "Why do make me feel weird Gabe Brunai...?"

He heard a knock on the front door, making him groan and get up, walking out of his room and into the living room. When he opened the door, he was about to slam it shut. Who was standing in front of him?

Gabe.

The taller male kept his hand on the door, sensing that Lui wanted to close it on him.
         "We need to talk..." He stated simply, his brown eyes piercing through violet.

A soft growl escaped Lui's lips, but he moved aside anyway, allowing Gabe to come inside.
        "What do you want?" The blue flame-haired male hissed, sitting on the couch.
        "To talk obviously." Gabe said matter-of-factly, crossing his arms.
        "Maybe I don't want to talk." Lui snapped.
        "It's not about what you want. We need to talk." The maroon-haired male snapped back.

Violet stared up at him, they filled with emotions Gabe has never seen in them before. Surprise and just a hint of fear. He sighed, bringing a hand up to rub his forehead softly.
        "Look, I just want to know what happened. You just ran off without saying anything after I told you how I felt. Why is that?" The taller male said, brown eyes staring into violet.

Lui stayed silent, but he forced his eyes to leave the gaze, directing it to the floor. He was currently a whirlwind of new emotions he's never felt before, but the biggest one for him right now... Was fear. He muttered something inaudible, making Gabe raise an eyebrow.
        "What?" He asked, taking a step closer to the baby blue-haired male. Once again, he muttered, starting to frustrate the other blader. "Lui, I can't understand a word you're saying..."
       "I don't know what love is!" The small male suddenly cried out, taking Gabe aback.

He doesn't know what love is? How long has he cut himself off of from emotions?
       "Oh Lui..." He said softly, sitting next to him.
       "I always had a reputation for being who I am... My life was so bad before I moved that it shut down my emotions... When I met you, you didn't care about my attitude. You're one of the select few that would." The violet-eyed male explained. He sighed, crossing his arms and forcing the tears in his eyes to stay there. "I've never felt love before because there was never anyone to love me back..."

Gabe was speechless. He never knew Lui had been through so much growing up. He wrapped his arms around the smaller male, pulling him close and surprising him.
        "What are you doing...?" He heard him ask softly, feeling him rest his head on his chest.
        "Comforting you. I had no idea you had a rough childhood... I never knew you hadn't felt love before, and I'm sorry. You deserve better than this Lui..."

The smaller blader blinked, a few tears running down his face. He slowly wrapped his arms around his neck and pressed his face into his shoulder, doing everything in his power to swallow down a sob. He felt the arms around his waist tighten slightly as they just sat there holding each other.

It wasn't like anything Lui has ever felt before. Is this what it's like to be loved? That's the question he kept asking himself. He brought a hand up to rub away the tears in his eyes and on his cheeks, feeling Gabe move and pull back slightly.

Violet met brown, a softness crossing Gabe's eyes when he seen a few stray tears.
       "You ok?" He asked softly, bringing a hand up to gently rub away the last of the tears. The blue flame-haired male's eyes tore from his once again, his cheeks turning a slight pink in embarrassment as he managed a nod.

Gabe's hand never left his cheek, making violet eyes look at him once again. The taller male suddenly leaned forward, capturing Lui's lips with his own. It caught him off guard, to say the least, and he didn't know what to do. He's never experienced a real kiss before, and it felt... Nice...

The reaction was slow, but he managed to kiss him back, almost shyly. They pulled away and Lui's cheeks burned darker, hiding his face with one of his hands. The reaction made Gabe chuckle softly, pressing the smaller blader against him more.
         "Love you Lui..." He said softly, nuzzling his neck slightly.

The baby blue-haired male moved the hand on his face, shock evident both on his face and in his eyes. He wrapped his other arm around his neck once again and rested his head on his shoulder, smiling softly.
        "Love you too Gabe..." He muttered softly, not noticing the smile on the other male's face.

He sure wasn't like any blader he's seen. No, Lui Shirasagijo was definitely different. Sure he didn't talk much, or his attitude towards others wasn't the best, but that's what Gabe loves about him.

And nothing can change their burning love...

NightBear15 signing off...