The secrets we keep [bxb]

Chapter - 18

Changed this chapter a bit :)

Yuri silently stared out the window as his eyes followed the two boys running around in the backyard, goofing around as they laughed about. He noticed how happy Zara looked with Thomas running after him, that famous smirk playing on his lips as he dodged Thomas's hands trying to catch him. It was a sweet sight, Yuri thought while sighing softly.

He had been inside the bedroom all morning, not feeling all too well. It was like having a fever, but it felt a bit different as his skin felt like it was itching everywhere. Rae had kept his distance after their argument that morning too, making the younger feel even more bad. After his little outburst and after his head had cooled down a bit, he understood the older's words. Rae maybe had been right, if he had to be honest.

It wasn't like he didn't want it, because he did, he wanted Rae to claim him. He trusted him. But he didn't know the consequences of it. They said Rae had to bite him, but how? Where? Does it hurt a lot? What after? All these questions made Yuri feel scared and insecure, not knowing what to expect.

He needed to talk to Rae about it and not have him shove it down again like before. Yuri had a feeling the older wasn't ready either, in a way.

I love you, Yuri. You know I do.

Yuri blushed as those words repeated in his head. He never had somebody say those words to him before. It had made him all shy and quiet while he quickly had fled the scene, not knowing what to do with his feelings.

Soft knocking on the door brought the younger out of his thoughts as he mumbled them to come in, the corners of his lips pulling up at the sight of Yara shuffling inside. "Hey, I thought it would be good for you to have some thee, so..."

"Thank you, Yara." Yuri smiled, gladly taking the mug from her hands.

"So, how're you doing? Feeling any better?" She softly asked while sitting down next to him.

"No, not really. I feel worse." He confessed, kind of distracted by pulling his sleeves over his fingers so he can hold the mug better. "Everything that touches my skin feels like sandpaper scrubbing against me."

"Has Rae talked to you about the mate bond?"

"No? I only know that you guys use it as a term for soulmates, if I'm correct. That we are made for each other and that he kind of feels and knows what I do?" Yuri ended with a question, not knowing if he was right about that part.

"Urg, that idiot." She huffed irritatedly. "He didn't tell you anything. I guess I need to tell you about it if my brother is too stupid to do it himself."

Yuri pursed his lips at that, not knowing why he felt like defending Rae even though she was right. "Can you... t-tell me about the claim thing too?"

"Alright." She sighed with a small smile. "First off, I asked my mom about heats and found out about some things that would be useful for you."

"Tell me." Yuri mumbled interested.

"Well, we know your heat can last several days and that cycle comes back every few month after you mate too."

"Y-you mean... sex? A-after we have sex?"

"Yes, after you guys have sex it's still going to be there but not like how your heats are now and not this strong. After the claim and mating part, it's going to feel a bit different. Mom didn't really go into detail with that, but I think it will feel better? Less painful? I don't know." Yara shrugged.

"Wait—" Yuri sputtered out, setting his mug down to give her his full attention. "You said after the claim and mating thing? So... do we —does he have to... do both at the same time?"

"Yes, normally you do that after each other. Well— you probably wouldn't be able to do it any other way even if you tried. You're gonna be newly claimed, the mating bond would push you to do the last step anyway." Yara said while breathing out a smile at seeing the shocked expression of the younger. She wanted to hold his hand, but didn't know how he felt about that right now. "Can I... hold you hands?"

Yuri blinked a few times before slowly nodding, feeling like he was somewhere else at the moment, not knowing what to think. Yara slowly picked up his hands and brushed her thumbs over his knuckles in a hopefully soothing way. "Didn't he tell you that?"

"N-no." Yuri frowned.

"I think... he maybe isn't ready either." Yara mumbled. "You want to know about what after the claim and the mating part happens?"

"Yes please." Yuri softly whispered. He felt kind of betrayed, somehow. Why hadn't Rae told him this? He was part of it too, he had a right!

"Well." Yara began. "After everything, you guys will be able to know where the other is. By that I mean you will be able to tell when RJ comes into a room without having to look and know when he is close by."

"That is... kind of cool."

Yara chuckled, nodding. "Yes and RJ will be able to feel what you feel, but my mom wasn't sure if you would too. So that's kind of still a question mark."

"Rae said he can already feel a little what I feel right now."

"That's possible, yes." Yara nodded, her eyes taking in her friends frown. "You know he wants the best for you, right?"

That question took the younger off guard, because of course he knew that, but he never really thought about how Rae did always thought about him first. "I know." He mumbled, feeling like a bad boyfriend.

"Hey, why the sad pouting?" Yara smiled, softly wiggling their hands to gain back the attention.

"I just... I don't know." Yuri sighed, eyes casting down at his lap sadly. "I feel like he always does things for me and I...—And I never do anything in return."

"That's not true or a bad thing, Yuri." She smiled reassuringly. "RJ is just like that, but maybe you can try and meet him half way some of the times if that is what you think is important."

Yuri hummed at that, glad to have a friend like Yara around. He took a deep breath before hugging her. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, but that feeling slowly faded the longer they sat like this. "Thank you, Yara. I-I don't know what I would've done without you."

"Of course, I'll always be here." She chuckled, leaning back to look at him in the eyes. "So... do I need to tell my brother to go up here and talk to you or do you want to do it yourself?"

"I'll... go find him myself, thanks though."

"No problem." She beamed, standing up to leave the room. "Oh and if he says anything stupid, just call me and I will teach him some manners. Yeah?"

"Sure." Yuri chuckled while she closed the door behind her.