Chapter 10: Helpful Talking

Kankri was leaning his head on a table, rocking his feet back and forth while he was perched on a chair. He sighed, not having said anything other than a meek 'hello' at the doorway. He was still having a hard time wrapping his head around the idea of being in love with someone different than Latula, who had been his obsession, to say the least, for sweeps.

He sighed again and groaned, nuzzling in the crossed arms he brought on the table as a fancy lady looked down at him.

"Kanny..? I know you came here to talk about something, but you don't seem very.. talkative?"

Porrim raised her pierced eyebrows in concern. She tried moving closer to put an arm around him, but Kankri all but hissed at her as he moved away.

"Don't touch me! You know very well this triggers me!" He yelled at her.

She backed away with a frustrated huff. "Fine. Care telling me why you just walked into my hive just to say 'hello' and sit down with the mopiest of looks on your face, then?"

Kankri slumped back on the table.

"Porrim, I know that despite the fact that you're very open minded towards quadrant issues and relationships, with which you are probably all to familiar with, I'm afraid I might trigger you if I talk about serious feelings and not some infatuation or libertine behavior with our friends to the point of actually making them uncomfortable around you sometimes but that's beyond the point, I mean -"

Porrim sat in front of him, a slight scowl on her face. "I'll just ignore your insults in favor of helping you, because you clearly have a problem you're not talking about. Just say it, you know what triggers me and what doesn't."

The Vantas rolled his eyes and hid his face again.

"I think I've fallen in love with the wrong person." His voice was muffled by the wool of his sweater.

The Maryam leaned a little forward. "What..? You're not talking about Latula, are you?"

Kankri groaned again. "No, I thought it was quite obvious it'd be someone different, otherwise I wouldn't have come here to talk about this with you, wouldn't I? Or at least… argh!" He went back to his warm hiding place.

Porrim grinned. "Well now, who's the lucky one then?"

He stayed quiet. Her smile became e little more encouraging. "Kanny, there is no wrong person, you just fall in love with someone, girl or boy or both at the same time." She leaned on the table as well to level her eyes at Kankri's. "So, can I know who it is?"

Kankri hesitated. He looked her for a fraction of a second then looked away. "It's Cronus..."

Porrim's smile suddenly became more of a grimace. "...Forget anything I said." She shook her head with a giggle. "Seriously? I knew the two of you were friends, but.." she stopped seeing Kankri's frowning scowl. "Kanny, just because I don't like him it doesn't mean you can't be with him. Are you happy with him?"

Kankri laid back on his chair. "We're not in a quadrant.." he hesitated. They weren't officially together, but they were supposedly doing everything two real matesprits would do. Gog this was so confusing.

Porrim shook her head. "That's not what I meant. Do you feel happy when you think of him? Do you see it as a problem to be in love with him?"

The Vantas looked down. He actually was fine with him, probably more than he was when he was around Latula.

"No.. I don't think it's a problem..."

"So? What's wrong?"

Kankri rolled his head backwards. "It's just. For sweeps I've had a huge, almost obsessive crush on someone and then I just go and notice how cute his smirk is when he's fantasizing over someone even though I don't know who it is, and the real smile he gets when he's just finished playing one of his favorite human songs with his guitar, the way he cares so much for the people he loves even though he's kind of rude and offensive towards the others, the way he runs his fingers in his hair and scratches the back of his neck when he's flustered or nervous. The way he chews on his cigarette when he's angry or nervous… and it just happened so suddenly I don't know what to think anymore! All those lessons for Latula just made me forget her instead!"

Porrim furrowed her eyebrows. "Lessons?"

Kankri stopped, his mouth still open. He could feel his cheeks getting warmer. "Well, yes, I have asked his assistance to confess to Latula my feelings… but it didn't work out very well."

Porrim leaned her head on her hand. "I see. Did you guys do something together that made you change your mind?" She said with a wink.

Kankri blushed violently, still keeping a neutral façade. "No, Porrim, of course we did not absolutely do anything you're used to do."

The Maryam just laughed. "I don't want to know what you two have been up to or what made you change your mind, but if you're happy with him, who cares. There is no wrong person Kanny, there is just the person you love, whether it's black, red, or pale, or anything. You might even be able to get him to behave a little."

Kankri just stayed quiet, a small smile making it's way on his face as he thought of what he had been doing with Cronus, and the warm freshness of his embrace, and…

"...how do I tell him?"

"I don't know. You're not forced to tell him right away if you don't feel like it. I usually just go straight to the point, or even just a kiss, it really just depends on the situation and the inspiration."

Kankri huffed. "Well you should know."

Porrim glared at him, but he continued. "I want to, I have to tell him, as soon as possible maybe. I don't want it to go like it did with Latula, but I just can't work up the courage to do so."

"Well technically he's been teaching you how to do it, so why not use his information?"

Kankri grumbled. "It's not that easy.."

"You know you aren't making any sense, are you?" She smirked. "Anyway, whenever you feel like telling him, just go for it."

Kankri nodded slowly. He knew this was going to be just as hard as it was trying with Latula, but this time he wouldn't let his chance get away.

A.N:

To Gyest: I'm not sure if you're liking this or not, but thank you for reviewing anyway! ^^"