Hello lovely people!
Realllly shouldn't be doing this...at all. Not with 3 other stories going.
But I've had this story in my head for months and wrote out this intro chapter a while ago. I've been itching to post it to see if anyone is interested in it!
Since today I turn...somewhere over 20, I decided to treat myself and post it, despite knowing damn well I probably shouldn't!
It's a circus AU, as you probably guessed from the summary. It will eventually be a Kai/Ray. Which you'll also have seen in the summary. But just in case, that means this is a yaoi. I've rated it T for now, but it may change to M in the future as there may be some mature content.
It's set in Russia somewhere in the 1900s. (Haven't got an exact date as yet. Sure you won't mind. Just for your info.)
Without further ado, here is the introductory chapter! I'd love to know if you like it and would like to read more!
Curiosities
Chapter 1 – Just Like Every Other Night
Just like every other night, the applause was deafening to the point where it almost caused shell-shock.
Blinded by the spotlight, he fought to keep his eyes from squinting as he looked around to thank the crowd he could barely see.
He bowed theatrically, the part he hated the most. Not only did he feel ridiculous, even after all this time, but it just made the ear-splitting applause louder.
He painted on his smile as he came back up, turning to make a swift exit to his dressing room only to be met with stern, lilac eyes behind the heavy, yellow and red striped curtain, just out of sight from the audience.
Now he had to fight a sigh.
He turned back to the audience, once again plastering on a crowd-pleasing smile as he held his pale hand out in the direction of the small, dying out pile of coal he'd used earlier in his act. The embers barely visible.
The applause ceased in an instant and the air seemed to vanish as the crowd held their breaths in anticipation.
As the silence fell, the embers began to reignite.
He could have this over in a split second, but as Boris had said, drag it out, make a show of it.
The black coal began to glitter orange and red.
He slowly lifted his hand higher.
As he did, the more alive the coals became.
By the time he his arm had raised over his head, the small pile of coal had turned in to roaring flames, shooting up ten feet tall in the air.
The audience breathed again.
His other arm came up to meet the other, causing the fire to blaze even stronger, even more vibrant oranges, reds and blues, earning him some gasps.
Now the finale.
His arms swooped out dramatically, like a bird of prey spreading its wings. The tall wall of fire split, seemingly obeying, splitting off in opposite directions, becoming a wall of vibrant, majestic flames, rapidly encircling the whole arena.
As the delighted voices of wonder expelled from the crowd, he was now free to make his way towards the curtain.
Walking up the few steps to his exit, he turned to the audience for the last time, raising his arm slowly to get their attention.
With the snap of his fingers, the magnificent flames burst brightly before vanishing to nothing, leaving only a circle of smoke behind.
He turned his back as the cheers and applause came back with a force, desperate to get out of sight.
He felt the smirk and the lilac eyes piercing him as he passed.
"Nicely done, Kai...that new finale seems to be going down well." his deep voice praised.
He ignored him and kept walking. He needed quiet. Needed to get out of the stupid costume he insisted on him wearing.
His silence earned him a deep chuckle from the lilac-eyed man.
He threw the door open to the dressing room, shooting a glare at the two male acrobats he shared it with. They took the hint and promptly left, wordlessly, as they did most nights.
He held his hard stare as he watched them leave before slamming the door shut, stomping over to his chair in front of the lighted, dirty mirror and glaring in to that too, with crimson eyes that burned like the fire he used to dazzle the crowds every night.
His face was caked in make-up. Ivory powder now clumping from sweating. Two red triangles painted on each cheek, starting to run a little, also because of sweat.
A black...body suit of sorts covered his body. Too tight for his liking.
He loathed it. Made him feel naked and exposed. More so than he already did.
He grabbed the damp cloth that lay ready for him and started to roughly scrub his face.
Eight years...
Eight years he'd been doing this.
It still felt like bad dream. Like how Alice probably felt when she fell down the rabbit hole.
He asked himself the same question he asked himself every night.
How the hell did his life end up like this?
Boris Balkov glided in to the arena from behind the curtain, the spotlight following him as he grinned gleefully with his arms raised, soaking in the applause, the light making the gold buttons on his vibrant red tailcoat glint. His presence, as always, seeming to fill the entire arena.
Once it finally died down, he brought his hands down.
"Are you enjoying the show!?" his voice echoed charismatically, causing another eruption of joyed cheers and claps.
He forced a delighted laugh as he tipped his black top hat.
"Are you ready for more!?"
He laughed more as the volume almost took the roof off the tent.
"Then, ladies and gentlemen...boys and girls...without further ado, I give you..." He paused dramatically as the spotlight dimmed, making the patrons lean in from the edge of their seats, "a truly wondrous gem from the Orient..." he said in a lower voice, "an incredible, exotic display of mystical arts from the East...I give you, Ray!"
The lights went out, giving him a chance to run off stage, passing the next star as he did so.
Stage hands went to work, rolling apparatus on to the circular arena swiftly and quietly as the crowd waited patiently.
The lights slowly woke up, gently illuminating the silhouette in the arena to reveal a tall, masculine physique. His upper body bare while white, loose pants clung to his waist.
As he became completely visible, it was clear his eyes were closed.
The young man slowly brought his arms in front of his chest, placing a fist against his other palm before bowing, letting his incredibly long, raven hair fall slip and drape over one of his tanned shoulders.
As he came up, he opened his eyes to reveal glinting amber irises, the like of which the front row guests had never seen.
Turning his head, he gestured to the long, thin pole that almost reached the top of the tent.
Smiling at the audience, he turned his body and approached it, taking hold of it with one of his hands as he walked gracefully around it while bringing his other hand to it.
He jumped slightly, pressing the bottoms of his feet to the sides of the unsturdy pole that already wobbled slightly as he began to shift his feet and walk up it with ease.
He stopped a few feet up, swinging his legs around to cross around the thin pole and laying back, releasing his hands and letting them fall back. His thighs the only thing holding him up as his body spun slowly while his arms dangled in the air.
After coming full circle, he came back up, climbing ever higher before gripping the pole and pushing his entire body out. Legs hovering high above the ground, this time only supported by strong hands holding on tightly to the pole.
His feet moved, looking as if he was walking on air, moving himself around the pole as the audience looked up with a growing sense of dread.
One slip was all it would take, he had no safety rope.
He climbed higher, stopping every now and then to dangerously pose on the pole that wobbled and swayed harder the higher his got.
As he neared the top, he hooked his legs around once again and flung his body back, upside down as his arms dangled.
He released enough grip from his thighs to slip down just far enough to get a gasp and a shriek from the audience before tightening it and stopping, perfectly safe.
He gave them a cheeky, upside down grin before coming back up and making his way to the very top.
As he reached the top, he swung his body hard, powerfully kicking his legs away from the pole, flipping himself and landing, balancing on the tip of the pole by the tip of his toes, earning him alarmed cries from the crowd.
He waved to them as he balanced with ease, smiling broadly as he went a step further, bringing one leg up and bending his knee, placing his foot flatly against his thigh as he balanced high above the ground on the one foot.
The crowd erupted in impressed and thrilled applause.
Rei waited...counting down from five in his head.
Almost on cue, a fierce roar boomed through the arena, and the applause evaporated in to stunned silence.
The audience's eyes lowered down the pole and felt their hearts race as a large, snarling white tiger came out the darkness in to the now fully lit arena, it's sharp shoulders rolling as it's powerful paws padded the ground, leaving large paw-prints in the sand.
Rei looked down and smirked. He never grew tired of their reaction to him.
And now was the really fun part.
The tiger circled the pole, looking upwards at the seemingly easy prey balancing at the top.
It leaned back on it's hind legs and pushed it's large front paws against the pole, letting out a ferocious roar in the process.
As the pole swayed dangerously, the audience recoiled at the young man on the top flailing and wobbling before...
Dropping.
As if time slowed, they held their breaths to watch him fall, clambering to take hold of the pole as he fell.
He managed, gripping on for 'dear life' a few feet from the top.
The thin pole bent, lowering him down ever closer to the beast below.
The large cat lowered itself to the ground, it's tail flicking in agitation as it prepared itself to strike, leaping in to the air and swiping to try and get at it's target.
The boy lifting his knees up, narrowly missing being clawed.
The pole swayed too side to side, flinging the boy around like a ragdoll while the tiger angrily stalked below.
He kicked his legs, spinning his body round the pole, descending ever lower like a cork screw.
He flung up legs around the pole to stop, the pole still dancing as the tiger let out another piercing roar, swiping at the pole to make it shake roughly.
Rei's hands 'slipped', like before, his upper body falling back, dangling as his legs held him to the pole.
The tiger pawed furiously at the pole, sending visible vibrations up it, weakening the hold of his prey's legs.
The boy's body slid rapidly, plummeting down to what seemed like a grizzly end.
Gasps and cries came from the audience as he reached the ground, throwing himself on to the sand and rolling out the way of another powerful swipe from the beast that stood dangerously close to him.
He pulled himself up, sand stuck to his skin as his knees bent and his body tensed, staring down the wild cat as it stalked up to him growling.
The cat lowered to the ground, it's hips shaking before breaking in to a bounding run.
Children yelped in fright, huddling in to their mothers at what seemed like certain doom for him.
Rei's body straightened, bracing himself.
The tiger leapt, standing itself tall, it's front legs outstretched, slamming down on his shoulders before...
The crowd's eyes bugged out their heads.
...The enormous, ferocious cat began licking his face and nuzzling him as he wrapped his own arms around him, rubbing his fur.
A wave of relieved laughter broke the tension in the tent.
At the very back, near the exit, teal eyes rolled.
He'd arranged his break to coincide with Kai's performance. His new acts were always worth a watch.
Rei, on the other hand, could use a little more imagination. He thought anyway.
Always the same warm up...Dangerous cat looking like he'd maul him to death only to reveal he was basically a big pussy cat before doing tricks.
He felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Hey Brooklyn, boss said to tell you break time is over." a harsh voice whispered.
He glanced over his shoulder, clocking the stage hand his uncle had sent to scold him.
"Yeh, yeh...I'm just going."
The older man nodded, bored of having to do this all the time and skulked back to his actual job.
The boy shoved his hands in to the pockets of his long, white coat and strolled back to his tent outside the big top.
It was quiet outside, as it usually was when the main show was going on. Only ever a few patrons wandering around, avoiding the crowds during acts they didn't care for.
He pushed back the beads of his station. A small, black and silver tent. Surprisingly spacious on the inside.
The smell of stale incense hit his nose as he walked in to his dark tent. The place adorned in silver moons and stars, plush cushions scattered around in deep blues, backs and purples.
He wished his uncle didn't insist on such cliché décor. This couldn't be more stereotypical 'mystic fortune teller' if he tried.
He tried to tell him the crystal ball was a little too much, but the boss insisted...
Luckily he didn't come in to his tent much. It stayed in the corner under a decorative throw.
As he got to the middle of the room, he lit the oil lamps, bringing light back to the still dark room from all the dark colors.
He heard the beads rustle.
"Excuse me, are you open?" a male voice asked.
He turned, taking in the young, blonde man's head poking in as his date for the evening waited beside him excitedly.
He forced a smile.
"Yes, come on in..."
The couple walked in slowly, oohing and ahhing at the mystical feel before taking in the young man who was going to tell them what their future held.
Orange hair sat on top of a pale face with striking teal eyes. A gold earring in his left ear.
He slumped himself down on a large cushion in front of a low table and gestured for them to sit opposite him.
They did so, gawking at him as they did.
"So...you want to know where your love will take you?" he asked with a smirk, cringing on the inside.
He had at least ten of these plebs a night.
They nodded furiously, her eyes beaming.
He held out his hands and waited for them to take the hint and take hold of them.
They hesitantly took a hand each.
As soon as their skin touched his, flashes of images played in his head, like a distorted dream that was crystal clear at the same time.
He fought a smirk.
Weeks from now, she would come home to find undergarments that didn't belong to her in his bedroom.
She would leave, he would pursue the other woman, only to find she too had moved on.
Poor sap...
He sucked in air through his teeth.
"Oh my..." he said in a tone neither of them liked.
"...What is it?" the young, blonde woman asked slowly, worry plaguing her eyes.
He lifted a brow and looked to the man.
"You are a busy boy, aren't you?"
The man suddenly looked uneasy.
"Well, you know how it is, got to work hard..."
Brooklyn smirked.
"Seems like you play hard, too..."
The woman frowned, glancing between them.
"What's he talking about?" she asked.
Before the man could scramble for a story, Brooklyn jumped at the chance to tell her.
"Sorry, ma'am. ..." he said as he looked her up and down, "I already know you won't listen, but I always tell what I see. A beautiful woman like you can do much better. And will. This won't last more than a month...but don't worry, you're dodging a bullet."
They both stared back at him with stunned annoyance.
"...How dare you!" the man interjected after a few moments of silence, "Who do you think you are messing with people's lives like this?!"
His smirk grew.
"You came, you asked, I told...do you want me to tell her exactly how this all ends?" he asked with a threatening look.
The man went quiet for a moment before getting angry.
"Tell her what you want! As if we'll believe some hack like you...kid!"
A smooth chuckle passed his throat.
"A hack?"
"You heard me..."
He nodded.
"All right. Fine. Don't believe me. Doesn't really matter, you're going to be found out...gesundheit."
The man frowned, taken off guard by the last word.
Seconds later, a passer by outside the tent sneezed loudly.
"I was talking to him..." Brooklyn explained as he nodded towards the source of the sneeze.
The man paled.
The woman snapped her head between the two of them, not which one she was upset or angry with.
"...Why is he saying these things?" she asked him in irritation.
He tensed.
"How should I know?! Probably just likes riling people up out of boredom!"
Her eyes narrowed.
"...I had a feeling you were hiding something from me..." she growled out as she swiped to grab her purse and shuffled awkwardly to get up, red in the face.
Brooklyn couldn't help but enjoy the look of panic in his eyes.
"Sweety, don't listen to him! He's a fraud! This was supposed to be a little fun!" he pleaded before his own body kicked in to go after her.
Brooklyn folded his arms in satisfaction as he watched her storm through the beads out the tent, watching him flail after her, but not before he looked back at him with a murderous look.
He waved back.
He got paid either way...
As they left, he straightened his white coat and ran his fingers through his hair.
When they touched him, he saw the answer to their question, but also the immediate future.
Which was handy, it meant he knew that guy would sneeze. A nice little touch to make that two-timer sweat a little.
But he also knew a guest was coming to pay him a visit...
The beads got pulled back, followed by a pale face and vivid ruby eyes poking through them.
"Another satisfied customer, huh?" his deep voice joked.
The other smiled.
"Always...come on in."
The beads clacked as he walked through them, letting himself in and going to his usual spot on the comfy, night blue cushion and making himself comfortable.
Brooklyn watched him, taking in his loose, white buttoned up shirt, grey pants and suspenders...and clear face.
"Didn't take you long to get out your beautiful costume..." he jabbed, knowing full well how much he hated having to dress up for his acts.
"Hn...surprised I haven't burned it yet..." he replied.
"You know they'd just make you an even more flamboyant one..." Brooklyn countered, "one with sparkles...sequins...maybe even some feathers for good measure."
Kai shuddered.
"Don't..."
He chuckled again.
"Sorry...you were great tonight, by the way. Like the changes you made."
He got an eye roll in response.
"I didn't come here for flattery about my 'amazing' performance..."
"Oh yeh?" Brooklyn smiled back, "then to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Kai lifted a brow.
"You mean you don't know? What kind of fortune teller are you?" he joked.
Brooklyn held out his hand.
"Lost my tarot cards...stuck with the old touch method..."
Kai smirked as he pointed his index finger and prodded the palm of his hand.
Brooklyn's eyes hazed over for a moment before narrowing them at him.
"That's all you wanted? I'm offended...and I'm still working!"
Kai's brow lifted higher along with his smirk.
Brooklyn sighed.
"Fine...in the box over there...you know where the glasses are, may as well get me one too."
Kai's eyes glittered as he rolled himself back up, able to get what he sorely craved.
He shuffled along on his knees to the small, wooden box and brought it to the table, before actually making himself get up on his feet and go to the chest he kept in the corner of the tent, creaking it open and pulling out two small glasses and a bottle of vodka.
He settled himself back down his favorite cushion and unscrewed the cap, lazily pouring the clear liquid in to the glasses. He slid one to his companion before opening the wooden box and looking hungrily at the rolling tobacco it contained.
Brooklyn watched, amused as he pulled out a paper and sprinkled some of the brown tobacco on to it, rolling it between his fingers skilfully before licking the edge and admiring his work.
"You're getting good at that..." he mused.
Kai nodded, holding it out for him to take before getting to work on his own.
"You better not let my uncle find out I'm giving this to you..." he warned, like he did every time he came for some treats. He was old enough. Kai, on the other hand, still had a few years to go.
"I won't..." he said in a bored tone as he finished his own off and placed it between his lips.
He reached in to the box for the box of matches, pushing it open and taking one out.
Brooklyn held his hand up.
"Ah, ah, ah! Hold on now...I didn't get paid for my fortune telling services..."
Kai sighed.
"I didn't even ask for it!"
"You took it...you know the deal..."
He huffed again as he put the match back in it's box and set it back down.
How he wasn't bored with this by now, he'd never know.
"Fine...put it in your mouth."
Brooklyn grinned before placing his cigarette in his mouth as instructed and waited.
He watched as his pale hand reached out and brushed over the flame of the candle on his table. As it passed, he turned his hand upwards, the tip of his middle finger carrying a small flame.
He moved his hand over in front of Brooklyn, ignoring the grin and focussing on the tiny flame.
It started to levitate, rising until it was level with his face before floating gently towards the cigarette, lighting the tip of it. As soon as the paper held a sufficient orange glow, the flame floated back towards him, lighting his own.
Rubbing the tips of his thumb and middle finger together, the flame went out.
Brooklyn brought his fingers to his cigarette, inhaling and taking it away to let himself blow out a plume of smoke.
"Very nice..." he said with the same grin.
Kai half nodded as he did the same.
"And no..." Brooklyn added suddenly, "you're not escaping any time soon."
Kai's hand paused on it's way back to his lips, raising his eyes to him.
"...You couldn't have just lied to me?" he bit.
Brooklyn shrugged.
"You know I don't sugar coat things. Just say what I see. And besides, isn't it about time you just accepted it? You might not be so miserable if you do..."
Kai smirked at him as he reached for his glass, bringing it up and tossing it back. The alcohol burning enough to make him clear his throat.
"What? Because it worked so well for you?" he asked sarcastically, his voice strained from trying not to splutter.
The other shrugged.
"Not like I have any other family...have to do what I can to keep the legacy going..."
Kai tensed.
If things hadn't have worked out the way they did, he would have been in a similar position.
But now, he was just a dancing monkey with nothing to his name but his 'act'.
The beads rustling startled him out his thoughts as he snapped his head round.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't know you were doing a reading..." a middle-aged man said in the entrance way, a small girl holding his hand to his left, clutching a toy horse with her other hand.
The two of them immediately stubbed out their cigarettes.
Back to work...
"No, not at all! He was just leaving." Brooklyn said reluctantly with a forced smile.
People sure knew when to come in...
The little girl's eyes lit up.
Kai slapped his legs and hoisted himself up.
What a waste of a cigarette...but at least he got a shot.
He lifted his eyes to see the man giving him a look like he recognised him.
"Hey..." he said as he squinted his eyes more and waved his finger at him, "aren't you the kid who did the fire thing?!"
He sighed inwardly.
"Yes, sir. That's me..." he replied dully.
The man's eyes lit up as much as his daughters.
"You. Were. Incredible!" he exclaimed, "I have to know, how on Earth do you do that?!"
His forced smile remained. He was a pro at that too now.
"A performer never reveals his secrets, sir." he answered diplomatically.
The little girl bounced.
"Will you do one more mister?!" she asked.
He smirked.
Mister? He wasn't even sixteen yet...guess she was still pretty young.
"...Sorry kid...I don't do private shows."
Her face fell, eyes dulling in disappointment.
Brooklyn raised a brow at him as he folded his arms.
Kai tried to ignore the look the child was giving him as he walked by them to leave.
As his hands brushed the beads aside, he stopped, kicking himself.
He turned himself and held his hand in the direction of the candle. The colors burning brighter as they came off the wick and floated towards her.
Careful to keep a good distance not to burn her, the flame morphed in to the shape of a horse before her very eyes, her jaw dropping as she clutched her toy harder.
The horse bounded around in a circle in front of her, stopping and rearing on it's back legs before turning to smoke, keeping it's shape for just a moment before disbanding to nothing but a wisp.
He quickly turned and walked out of the black and silver tent before any more requests came, leaving the girl and her father awe struck.
Brooklyn did his best not to chuckle.
He could complain all he wanted, but deep down he knew there was part of him that enjoyed the reaction.
"So..." he broke the silence, gesturing for them to sit, "What is it you want to know?"
Kai strolled his way around the large yellow and red tent, keeping his head down to avoid being bothered by any other patrons as he made his way to the back. His 'home'.
Behind the big top, a fenced off area featuring rows and rows of yet more less glamorous tents and trailers filled the large field.
Small bonfires had been set up by the stage hands, performers and other crew for a place to relax and unwind during breaks and after a job well done.
While their 'family' did contain some cliques, they all tended to mingle well. Like any other family, disagreements and fall outs happened, but in general, it was peaceful.
Not that he cared much. There weren't many he bothered with. Keeping himself to himself wherever possible. But every now and then, it was useful to be on good terms with certain people in case you needed something.
His legs guided him towards his tent, wanting nothing more than to flop down on the thin bed.
"Hey, Kai!"
His legs stopped, turning reluctantly.
From one of the bonfires close to him, long black hair swung as it ran towards him. No longer bare chested, but covered with a red shirt and black pants.
"Hey!" he repeated as he stopped in front of him, the darkness not being enough to stop his amber eyes from beaming, "great show tonight!"
Kai nodded a thanks.
Waiting for a verbal reply, but not getting one, he shifted on his spot.
"I really like the thing you did with the coal!" he added, hoping to get a conversation or...something.
"Thanks..."
Ray frowned. "What's up?"
He shook his head. "Nothing, just want to call it a night."
"But we didn't even eat yet! I heard Marta is making stew tonight!" he said enthusiastically, already feeling his mouth start to water.
Climbing up poles and jumping around with an enormous tiger sure did work up an appetite after all.
"I'll pass." he answered bluntly as his felt the muscles in his legs twitch, wanting to get back to his tent.
Ray smirked.
"Well...heads up...the tent isn't exactly empty.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
He and Ray shared a tent.
For the most part, it was just the two of them. But every now and then...
"If that damn fur ball claws up my bed again..." he growled in warning.
Ray rolled his eyes.
"How many times? He has a name, use it...and come on! That was when he was still young! Will you ever let that go?"
No. He wouldn't.
He never did like that tiger. Ever since he first came in to contact with him years ago.
His silence only answered his question, making him sigh.
"Well, too bad! He's in with us tonight."
"And why is that?" Kai asked bluntly.
Ray tilted his head.
"The elephant keeps him up. It's just a few days til they move her and give him his space back. Plus have you seen how much room she takes up? What he's been left with, well, there's not enough room to...swing a cat." he said with a chuckle, enjoying his own pun.
It was Kai's turn to roll his eyes.
"Fine. A few days. That's it."
"Yes, sir." Ray smirked back,a long pause setting in.
"So...did you see our new act?" he asked, wanting to break it.
He tensed. He'd caught the first part, but then spotted Brooklyn hanging out at the back and figured he could bum a smoke.
"Some of it..." he admitted quietly.
Ray's face changed.
"Only some?" he asked in a voice that was laced with both annoyance and disappointment.
Kai shrugged. Here we go again...
"I'll watch tomorrow night." he told him bluntly, not in the mood for one of Ray's sulks.
Ray's shoulders dropped as he huffed.
"What the hell? I always watch your first show when you make changes!"
Kai rolled his eyes.
"And I always watch your second..." he said before giving him a smirk, "let you work out the flaws..."
Ray's eye twitched. He could be a real arrogant ass sometimes.
"I'll have you know that tonight was flawless! Blew them away! Unlike you, fire boy!"
Kai smirked harder. He loved to rile him up.
Unlike him, Ray was very proud of his act. He worked his butt off to make it as perfect as possible.
He rubbed his ear.
"What was that? Can't hear you...was deafened by the audience during mine, see."
"Oh...shut up!"
Kai couldn't hold in his chuckle any more.
"Ray...I'll watch you and your oversized cat tomorrow. I promise." he told him in a slightly patronising tone...just to piss him off a little more, "but if you don't mind, I wanna call it a night." he said as he turned, strolling off along the grass towards their shared tent.
Ray frowned. Oversized cat?!
He really was a glutton for punishment...
"Hey, Driger?"
"Yes?"
"Kai's coming back. Give him a warm welcome, huh?"
A deep chuckled rang in his head.
"Would be a pleasure..."
Kai stopped outside the tent and braced himself. He checked in his pocket to make sure he had matches or something flammable.
He always did when he was going to be close to that...beast.
He pushed the green fabric back and kept his glare as he slowly stepped in.
The large, white and black striped animal lifted it's head from it's curled position on Ray's bed, bright orange eyes looking directly at him.
Kai scowled.
Good. He knew his place this time...stupid animal...
He walked in, feeling tense, but doing his best to ignore the enormous tiger in the room as he slumped on his bed, throwing his legs up and laying back.
He shot one more glance at the tiger, still feeling his eyes on him before putting his arms behind his bed and closing his eyes, shifting and settling down in to a comfortable position.
The tiger lay in waiting. Biding his time until he heard the breathing slow and soften. His wild, orange eyes glinted.
He pulled himself up, stealthily and quietly pawing his way off the bed, watching the bed carefully.
Kai didn't flinch.
He crouched down, his hips shaking slightly as he lined himself up.
With one more wiggle, his paws pushed off the ground as he leapt, landing with his two front paws on his shoulders, pinning him.
Kai's eyes shot open, startled.
"What the!? Get the hell off me!" his voice shrieked as he did his best to wriggle out.
Driger's head moved down, using his hard skull to nuzzle his face, getting a noise of annoyance and a little pain from the boy under him.
"I said get off! Stupid fucking furball!" he yelled as he struggled under the paws.
Driger went on to start licking his face. His large, wet, pink tongue feeling like sandpaper on his face, making him wriggle harder.
"Argh! God! Stop! Seriously, stop! What's wrong with you?!"
A low purr rumbled from the tiger's throat as he continued to roughly lick his face, occasionally throwing in a 'nuzzle' that was more like a headbutt.
He struggled harder, pointlessly, losing his temper.
Why hadn't he turned the oil lamps on!? He could have cooked this fleabag.
"Ray!" he screamed, knowing full well he had something to do with this.
The green fabric pulled back again, amber eyes glinting just like the tiger's.
"Awwww, look at that! He's giving you kisses!"
He laughed on the inside, seeing him beneath his giant friend looking red faced and angry as all hell.
"Get him the hell off me!"
Rei shook his head dramatically.
"And all he ever did was love you..."
End of the intro chapter!
I hope you enjoyed it!
Let me know if you'd like a chapter 2 and beyond! :)