Authors note: Okay, here we go! I am sorry for the wait, but better now than never!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!3
VanillaMuse: Thank you so much for an absolutely fantastic review! I really appreciate the time and effort:D It is good to know that the details are not to much, because I do know that I sometimes have a tendency to stray away from what is important. It is a fine balance! I am also truly relieved that think Kai is in character. I always find him difficult to write, much because of his role in the series, were you can never quite figure him out. Interesting what you have to say about the sequel. I find I sort of agree with you, "Untouchable" stands on its own, but then at the same time, at least for me, it was almost unbelievably tempting to pick up on a few of the loose threads. Anyway, I am so happy that you like this fic, and thanks again for a great review!:D
LePetitPoney: Yay, thank you so much for yet another great review! I have to say that I am super happy that you like Frankie, seeing as this is not exactly the most common pairing out there. If you think I stray to far from her original character, do tell, even if she is barely mentioned in the series. No worries, I absolutely love writing this, although I am sometimes a bit unsure about what direction to take it. Thanks again for leading feedbacks, it is greatly appreciated!:D
.
When it burns
Chapter 9
.
It was a strange experience, sleeping with someone and not having sex. We hadn´t even talked about it, and after a few intense kisses on the couch she had started yawning. I had carried her shrieking into the bedroom in an unusual display of playfulness, and she had invited me to stay the night, under the condition that we actually slept. No one had said no to me before, and deep down I was glad she had broken the habit. She didn´t just roll over and give people what they wanted; I liked that about her.
I slept surprisingly well, and when I cracked one eye open in the morning, it was already ten O´clock. She was sound asleep, her face buried in my chest and our legs entangled. I was of course rock hard, and with a sigh I shifted onto my back, careful not to wake her. The blinds were closed, so it was still dark in the room. That did not prevent me from noticing how the oversized t-shirt she slept in had slid up a bit, exposing her slightly arched, smooth back.
I ran my hand over the ivory skin a few times, resisting the urge to get rid of the t-shirt.. She looked graceful even in her sleep, long slender limbs stretched out, pressed flush against my chest. Once again she reminded me about a lioness; utterly comfortable in her own skin, peacefully sleeping with the knowledge that she was indeed in charge. I watched, fascinated, as light from outside played over her alabaster skin, giving it a subtle shine.
"Good morning", she whispered softly, opening her eyes to look at me.
She blinked a few times, blue-grey eyes glittering tenderly up at me. I loved how they stood in distinct contrast to her strawberry blond locks, and those exquisite cinnamon coloured freckles. When she smiled even, white teeth were revealed, and I was instantly reminded of last nights make out session on the couch.
"Morning", I responded, smiling slightly.
She sat up, absently stretching her arms, the t-shirt sliding up again. Perhaps she did it on purpose. The slight glimpse of her flawless, pale back was enough to completely destroy what little self-control I had left, and I inwardly groaned. With a yawn she snuggled close, long, slender fingers gently tracing my jaw. She smiled, and I supressed a pleasant shudder.
"You look handsome with stubble", she said, eyes roaming my face.
I just looked at her, taking in her stunning features with something close to awe. She had dimples, and her lips were a rosy pink, full and delicious. I tried to think of something else
"Like Clint Eastwood as Blondie".
"Is that the third dollar movie?" I wondered, receiving an affirmative smile.
"You have not seen The Good the Bad and the Ugly?" She asked, almost incredulous, and I shrugged.
"I have the DVD", she said, raising both eyebrows suggestively.
Of course, I knew an invitation when I saw one. The look in her eyes made me feel almost insanely happy, like I was appreciated. I don´t know. There was something about how she behaved around me. Unlike the others she was not so cautious. She did not fear me I realized, somewhat surprised by the revelation. It was oddly comfortable, the way she would touch or stand close to me like it was completely normal. I liked it.
"Tonight…..at my place?" I inquired, grinning broadly.
"6 " she clarified, eyes glittering.
Her hand moved from my face to my hair, and she ruffled it, playfully tugging at the sun bleached locks.
"You have been in the sun", she stated, looking curious.
"I lived two years in Morocco, came home just before Christmas", I clarified.
She looked interested, and I was happy too answer all her questions as I got dressed and followed her out in the kitchen. It was homely and comfortable, just like the rest of her apartment, and unsurprisingly the fridge was covered in photos of horses. Just like last time I felt oddly drawn towards them, and while she cracked a few eggs and turned over a few slices of bacon that were sizzling in the pan, I carefully scrutinized them. The horses seemed to be such an important part of her life, and she held some kind of everlasting unconditional love towards them it seemed. It was something that interested me, although I couldn´t quite grasp why.
"Hot chocolate", she said, turning to hand me a steaming cup.
She smiled knowingly at me, and I smirked ever so slightly in return.
"Thank you".
My guilty pleasure. Part of me wondered why I had come up with that, and not something else. Then again it was true, even if it sounded ridiculous. With a mystified half smile I took a sip, proceeding to set the table and retrieve some orange juice from the fridge. Moments later she placed a tray of egg, bacon and toast on the table, and we sat down, opposite each other, for which I was thankful. I hoped with all of me that she had not noticed my current state; if she had then she was at least considerate enough not to laugh at me.
"Lazy mornings warrants for an unhealthy breakfast, don´t you think?" She wondered, innocently biting her bottom lip.
"Of course it does", I said, raising both eyebrows in mock seriousness.
She laughed, and I couldn´t help but smile, once again completely drawn in. I had always had a thing for redheads, but she had just brought my mild sexual obsession to a whole new level. It was frightening the effect she had on me, and not for the first time I willingly acknowledged the fact that I really wanted this too work. She deserved only the best, and part of me felt that she was out of my league in that regard. I had a past that would continuously come back to haunt me, I was cold, moody and sometimes horribly ruthless and inconsiderate. She deserved someone better. Still, I was a selfish creature, and had always been. Even if I knew I should there was no way I was letting go of her.
I left at about half past 11, feeling energized and…..happy, something that for me was a first. I couldn´t quite remember the last time I had felt something close to this. Perhaps when I departed to Morocco, or when I left the Abby, but then those feelings had still been coloured by all kinds of negative memories and experiences. Frankie was different in the sense that I couldn´t quite compare her to anyone or anything else, much like me she was different, albeit good different. With a pleased sigh I exited the car at home, unlocking the door and leaving my shoes and jacket in the hall. I could hear Rey move about in the kitchen, and a blue Maserati was parked in the driveway. Tala of course. Part of me was amused that he had gotten rid of grandfathers blue Lexus.
"Morning", Rey chirped, pausing to turn over the pancakes he was currently making.
"Hn", I grunted, immediately suspicious.
Tala was seated by the kitchen Island, absently sipping his espresso.
"Slept well?" He asked innocently, face serious.
He looked expectantly at me, and I caught the discrete look that passed between the two of them. What was this? The inquisition? I considered escaping for a jog, but was too slow. Before I had the time to turn around and bail, Rey had somehow manoeuvred me over to the kitchen Island and placed a steaming Irish coffee in front of me. Of course, I knew what that meant. He was doing his best to acquire all of last nights details; what better weapon than whiskey? Fuck the both of them.
"I am driving", I said.
They both ignored the statement completely.
"So, was there any action?" Tala asked boldly.
Rey sat down next to him, so that they were both facing me, and I momentarily felt like the child in a parent teacher conference. Naturally I would never let this show, but it irked me that the both of them suddenly appeared to be immune to my death glare. Perhaps it was necessary with stronger, meaner measures?
"She any good?"
Rey looked at me curiously, and I stared frostily back, suddenly angry. She any good? She was perfect in every way, part of me was furious that they talked about her like she was just any other girl. She was not!
"We didn´t have sex", I said shortly, regretting my own words in that same instant.
Rey looked at me, shocked, while Tala snickered, obviously amused.
"See, no wonder he is in a bad mood", he said, looking knowingly at me.
"Oh Kai, I am so sorry!" Rey exclaimed.
"Just shut up both of you", I snapped.
What the fuck was wrong with them? Tala merely seemed to enjoy my perplexed discomfort, while Rey had gone into comfort Kai mode, which I hated. Sometimes I wondered why I even bothered. There was this quality I had that seemed to attract all kinds of people, especially when I was my antisocial self.
"She is coming here tonight, and you two better be gone by then".
They exchanged another knowing look, before nodding in unison, like all bad children trying to be good do. It was not a very comforting sight. When had that happened by the way? I could never recall the two of them acting this…..close. Suddenly they appeared to be accomplices, and one didn´t need my uncanny ability to know that this was bad news.
"What are you making for dinner?" Rey immediately asked.
"Kai, you have stubble", Tala informed me.
"She said she liked the stubble", I said, irritated.
"Then what are you making for dinner?"
There was another pause, in which I realized that I had no idea.
"We are watching a movie, I never said I would make dinner".
I am pretty certain I am not lying when I say that disappointment was clearly evident in both their faces. Ha! They had probably hoped to stay under the pretence of helping me cook. Like that was ever going to happen. Then again I was more than willing to acknowledge that I couldn´t cook, at all. Correction; I had never really tried. Normally I ate out, or Rey cocked, which pretty much ruled out the possibilities. This had started to worry me a little bit, I was certain that at some point I would have to make Frankie dinner. Somehow I suspected that scrambled eggs would not quite cut it. With a sigh I turned, prepared to go upstairs and change for a run.
"You have gotten an invitation for the Today Show", Tala stated, and I came to a halt, once again turning to face him.
"When?"
He looked at me, eyes cool and serious this time.
"Next week".
"Papov is probably planning on confronting you live", Rey said, shaking his head in displeasure.
To him this whole thing probably seemed incredulous. No matter their past or future wrongs he always forgave, always gave a second chance. It was not in his nature to think badly of people, to assume that they would do something inconsiderate. And yet he was always so aware of others, able to see through their pretences, to predict their motives. Not for the first time I wondered if his almost naive and soft persona was just for show. I sent him a scrutinizing look, which he just smiled at. Perhaps he saw through me even now. Still, I would always care for him, in my own strange way.
"Did they give any reason for the invitation?" I wondered.
Tala briefly shook his head.
"Only that you have been gone for a while. They wanted to interview you about how life is without Mr. Hiwatari".
I scowled, old fury returning full force, blood boiling in my veins. The game, would it ever end? Would someone ever walk away the victor, for good? No, somehow I doubted it. With a barely audible sigh I ran a hand through my hair, pushing the anger away, favouring my cold calculated self, the jaguar opening his amber eyes to give his opinion of the world. Yes, I reminded myself, this is a predators world. As with so many things in life it is the strong and the cunning that survive. The rest are usually left to die, be it quick or terrible slow. Well, I suppose I wouldn´t have to be in the dark anymore at least. Now that I had an idea of what he had planned I could finally start to prepare.
"Tell them I´ll be there", I said shortly.
They both looked slightly taken aback, but merely nodded in response. Good. At least they knew when to shut up. I was supposed to go for a run, and I did. Despite myself I just ran faster than usual, and when I got back I still had a few hours to kill before Frankie was due to arrive. In retrospect I know that it was a bad idea, but that small melancholy part of me had been willing me to do it for days, and it came to a point were I just couldn´t resist. Nervousness was coursing through me like small, electrical charges, and I drove more reckless than usual, not caring either way. Perhaps they are not even home, what will you do then, a small voice whispered.
I ignored this fact, trying but failing miserably at emptying my mind of unnecessary thoughts. Turn around! You should turn around; you have to! But no, I didn´t. Going there, seeing her again, my mother, it frightened me. Of course then I had to do it. The place looked no different from the last time. There was snow, a few Christmas decorations, but otherwise it was the same. Al homely and yellow. I parked across the street from the now familiar house, engine running. The solitary wailing of Black Sabbath´s "Warning" was playing in the background, and I gritted my teeth, feeling the unfamiliar stubble on my chin. What the fuck was I doing here? Why did I even bother?
Part of me was still waiting, still hoping, for her to contact me. Of course she hadn´t. I wondered why I couldn´t be rational about this, why I couldn´t seem to snap out of this over emotional state whenever she was involved. The jaguar was ever present, but even he seemed slightly out of it, not sad, he was never sad, just…..confused. She knew about me, of this I felt certain, grandfather had unintentionally confirmed it.
They knew that I was with him, and now that he was dead nothing prevented them from searching me out. My name had been all over the news when I returned, they were very much aware that I was in New York. Perhaps they don´t have a television my mind wondered half-heartedly, and I turned up the volume on the stereo.
I am not completely sure for how long I actually sat there, watching the house. The hedge was too tall for me to see inside, and I didn´t have the courage to go and knock on the door. What would I say? Hi, I am your son, why did you give me away, to him? No, that was definitely out of the question. Instead I drove back home, watching the inviting yellow villa disappear in the rear-view. One day I would have to confront her, I knew that. But perhaps not today. When this Papov thing was under control, maybe then the time would be right.
.
.
I watched him attentively, following his every movement with wary eyes, unsure of what exactly I should expect. We were in his apartment on the upper level of the Abby, and I felt oddly fascinated. Everything was so big, so…..grand. Part of me was completely awed, while a smaller, submissive part was terrified. As with everything else connected to him it bred conflict, in every sense of the word.
"This one is French, a Bordeaux, from Chateau Falfas", he sounded oddly preoccupied.
I had never seen him this distracted.
"An excellent vintage, 1998".
Boris had once mentioned that he collected wine, but I had never imagined him to be this….obsessed about it. I watched, deeply unsettled as he skilfully opened the bottle. A small pop was heard, and then he carefully smelled it, nodding to himself, pleased.
"It has to rest before we try it, remember that little phoenix, otherwise you will not do it true justice".
I nodded vigorously, as always trying not to displease him, even though the nick name irritated me. He smiled, eyes appraising me as he gestured at the sofa opposite his chair. I dutifully sat down, once again intently observing his every movement.
"Sometimes Kai, you remind me of a kitten, or rather, a tiger cub", He laughed at what I assumed was a joke, even if it was aimed at me.
I didn´t find it amusing at all.
"Cubs have the ability to learn fast, very fast".
He smiled.
"Especially with the right motivation".
His mahogany eyes glittered wickedly when I narrowed my eyes, the slightest glint of insecurity evident in my features. He laughed softly, slowly shaking his head at me. One of the aids entered shortly afterwards, carrying the opened bottle and two glasses. I watched as he poured rust-red liquid into the glasses; it looked like blood.
Grandfather testily spun his glass a few times, swirling the liquid around in circles. Then he carefully smelled it, before taking a slow sip. I didn´t dare touch mine without permission.
He closed his eyes briefly, savouring the taste.
"Excellent", he said, sighing with obvious pleasure.
When he reverted his attention back to me again he was serious once more, eyes full of dark promise.
"When you grow up little one, you will be magnificent", he paused, taking another sip of wine.
"However the road is long, and it will be painful".
He smiled once more.
"This game, our game, you will do well to remember that it has no end"….
.
.