Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews and comments! Really appreciated! Also really pleased that there seems to be a strong reaction to Dan's potential transfer XD.
Also, I'm sorry it's taken a while to update!
But here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!
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Chapter 11 – Assistance
Dan sat in his desk chair, stretching. Boy, he was not feeling awake today. Mondays were always rough, but the excitement from the tournament that weekend had tired him out.
He rubbed his stubbly face and reached for his now lukewarm coffee and took a sip.
He glanced around the quiet staffroom and let out a soft chuckle. Apparently no one was feeling particularly lively this morning.
He glanced over at Rei's desk before doing a double take.
He wasn't there.
...That was odd.
For someone so young, Rei was taking this job incredibly seriously. Dan was impressed with him. Despite not having that many classes and being told he could be a little more relaxed with when he came and left, he still always got to his desk a few minutes before he was meant to be there and always kept himself busy until the time he was supposed to leave. He was more professional in some ways than some of the actual teachers...including himself.
He looked at his watch.
He was fifteen minutes late, really unlike him.
He'd just broken his ankle and he was by himself... Maybe he was having trouble...
He stood himself up and went to check on him. He was sure he was fine but...he just wanted to make sure.
He made his way back up to the teacher's dorms and gently rapped on his door, leaning closer to see if he could hear anything.
Nothing.
He frowned. Where was he then?
He tried the door, it was unlocked.
He pushed it open.
"Ray? It's Dan..."
"Mr. Harris..." came a small, distant voice from the bathroom.
Dan instantly went to the bathroom, hearing water running as he approached.
He gently opened the bathroom door. Plumes of steam greeting him.
He saw the shower curtain move.
"Ray?!" Dan called out as he saw him laying in the bathtub, quickly pulling the shower curtain back.
Ray instantly covered his shame with his hands and looked up at him with a small smile.
"I uh...I fell..."
Dan crouched down.
"Are you all right?!"
"I think so...I just lost my balance when I tried to turn around. My ankle hurts to move..." he explained.
Dan nodded, concern still present on his face.
"All right...let's get you up...I'm uh...gonna need your arms..." he said carefully, seeing where his hands were covering.
"Don't worry, nothing I haven't seen before..." he tried to comfort.
Rei immediately moved his arms away and lifted them for Dan to manouver his arm around him to lift him out.
He sat him on the toilet before getting him a towel. Letting him cover up and dry himself before handing him his clothes.
"Need help getting dressed?"
"I think I'm fine." Ray said as he slipped his shirt over his head.
Dan turned around and let him dress. He stayed just incase he had problems.
"I'm done."
Dan turned around.
"...I think we'd better get the nurse to check your ankle...make sure you didn't do any more damage."
Rei agreed and Dan handed him his crutches before slowly making their way to the nurse's office.
He checked his watch again as the nurse started to take a look at it.
"...Sorry Rei, I have to go to homeroom. I'll be back in a little bit, OK?"
Rei smiled at him.
"I'm fine, Mr. Harris. I'll make my own way to the staffroom when I'm done here."
Dan smiled back and nodded before taking his leave.
Meanwhile, Kai walked down the hall. One hand in his pocket, the other holding a bag strap that was flung over his shoulder.
He reached his homeroom and slid the door open.
His eyes widened in surprise as he was instantly met with cheers and clapping.
"Congratulations!"
"You guys were amazing!"
He glanced uncomfortably around at his entire class giving him a standing ovation.
He jumped as hands grasped his shoulders behind him.
"They really were, weren't they!?"
Kai flinched as he heard Dan's voice and instantly pulled himself out of his hold, putting his head down and walking to his desk.
Dan frowned slightly at the cold reaction, but shook it off. It was Monday morning, after all.
The boys followed him.
"We watched it all on TV! That was one hell of a final match! You nearly brought down the stadium!"
"You were on fire! Heh, literally!"
Kai tensely looked around at the group of boys surrounding his desk.
"...Uh...Thanks?"
"Sure got payback for Rei! How his he anyway?"
"Broke his ankle. He'll be fine." he said bluntly as his folded arms pressed tighter against his chest.
"All right boys, back it up, let the guy breathe." Dan laughed as he felt how uncomfortable Kai was with the attention.
The boys reluctantly returned to their seats and the day began.
Dan wondered when he should tell Kai about Rei's fall. He figured he'd wait until he'd found out if he'd hurt himself any more or not. Save him from worrying.
Homeroom ended and first period started. Dan passed the English teacher and the two traded places.
When he got to the teachers' room, Rei was sat at his desk, preparing his class.
"Rei! What did the nurse say?" Dan asked as he went over to him and leaned on his desk.
Rei looked up.
"She said it's fine. I didn't do any damage. Just got to be more careful, I guess...I tell you though, showering on one leg is a lot harder than you'd think..." he chuckled.
Dan let out a sympathetic 'hmm'.
It wasn't like he could shower with crutches...and he was by himself in his room. If Dan hadn't have gone up when he did, who knows how long he could have been laying there.
...and what if it happened again and he really hurt himself?
Maybe he could go in and wait in his room when he showered in the morning...be around in case he needed help...Rei didn't seem that embarassed or bashful when he'd helped him.
The little devil on his shoulder appeared as another idea suddenly hit him.
He let out a huge, mischevious grin.
"...well, we'll need to come up with something...don't want you hurting yourself..." he said before going back to his desk, still grinning.
...Would that be too inappropriate?
...They were teammates. They did know each other well...surely Rei would be far more comfortable with him helping than a teacher he hadn't known that long...
...Kai probably wouldn't be that happy with him...
But then...when was he ever happy with him?
...was this a step too far?
...
...
Nah. Nah, it wasn't.
Now how was he going to do this...?
"Hey Rei?" he called from his desk.
"...Yeh?"
"We're gonna move you to Kai's room."
Rei took a second to process what he said before frowning.
"...What!?"
Dan turned his head to him, smiling.
"It's the perfect solution! You two are friends, right? He'll be there when you're there...he can help you in and out of the shower or be there in case you need it!"
His smile broadened as Rei instantly went beet red.
"You can't just...I can't just...no!" he protested, flustered "and Kai won't like that idea either!"
"Sure he will!" Dan waved off, blatently lying, "It'll be like a long sleepover! And hey! In return you can help him with his Chinese homework! Everyone wins!"
Rei looked nervous.
In the short time he knew Dan, he learned quickly that when he got an idea in his head...he just went with it. You didn't have much choice but to follow. Even Kai struggled. He was a choir boy now, after all.
"...Mr. Harris, I really don't thin-"
"Don't worry about it, leave Kai to me!" he said confidently as he got up from his desk and left before Rei had chance to protest more.
Rei let out a heavy sigh as he watched him go.
If it had been anyone else he'd suggested...almost anyone at all, he would have accepted gratefully...he didn't really care if anyone saw him in a towel or less, and he would feel better if someone was around while his ankle was shot...it wasn't a nice feeling laying in a heap in the bath not knowing how long he'd be there.
But Kai...
Last time Dan made him stay in Kai's room, when he first arrived and his room wasn't ready, he'd come in after he took a shower and caught him in his towel...he didn't seem too comfortable.
Then when he took a shower, he insisted he turn around when he got out...
He seemed more on the conservative side...he didn't want to impose himself on him.
On the other hand, he thought to himself, would be real nice to spend some time with him...he was so busy he barely saw him unless they had class or training.
On top of all that, he had a lot going on with his...personal stuff, too. It would be good to be able to keep an eye on him...and be there if he needed him.
He felt himself blush.
...If only he didn't have to take his clothes off in front of him, this wouldn't be so bad.
The classes for the day came to an end, which meant it was time for practice.
The boys waited in the music room, chatting amongst themselves while they waited for Dan.
Kai kept himself to the side quietly.
Dan came in, not looking as bubbly as usual.
"OK, boys...gather round."
They instantly stopped talking and did as they were told.
Dan seemed to be thinking carefully, one hand on his hip, the other rubbing his chin.
"...So, the listings for the contest just came out...it looks like there's another school singing the same song as us."
The boys let out various sounds of disappointment and frustration.
Kai just glanced around at them all, confused by the strong reaction.
"...Great..." one of them said sarcastically, "that's our chances out the window..."
Kai frowned...and then frowned harder as they all seemed to agree.
"...What's the big deal?" he dared to ask.
"What do you mean 'what's the big deal'!?" one of them snapped at him, "the schools that sing the same songs never get through..."
Kai glanced around again at them all. They all seemed to feel the same way as him.
"...You can't be serious? Some school sings the same song and you roll over? You don't even know if they're any good! I get that it's probably not ideal to have the same song...but we're just going to have to make ours better and blow theirs out the water..."
Dan's eyebrows raised as a smile crept across his face.
Kai was giving them a pep talk?...a genuine one?
The kid huffed.
"And what do you suggest? Since you know so much about singing in contests..."
Kai shot him a look back.
"...Well...why not change it so it has more of an original spin? Make it stand out?"
"With less than two weeks until the contest!? Are you crazy!?" another kid piped up.
Kai let out an annoyed grunt, feeling himself get mad.
"Fine then! Let's just sit down and hope for the best!" he raised his voice in bitter sarcasm, feeling his captain mode switch on,"You know, you guys gave me shit when I joined accusing me of not taking this seriously, and yet here you are whining but not willing to try and do anything about it! One thing I can't stand is a defeatist! It's pathetic! If this were the other way around and you guys were on my team, I'd kick your asses out in a heartbeat! If you're not going to strive to be the best, and do whatever it takes, why even compete? Just stay here in this little room and sing shit together, don't waste everyone's time!"
There was silence as they stared at him, taken aback by getting chewed out by the new guy.
Kai's frown deepened.
"...Come get me when you're ready to get serious..." he spat before grabbing his bag and heading out.
Dan let him go, pursing his lips to hide his smile at their stunned faces.
...Blunt as he may be, his little firecracker was right.
"...I think that's the most I've ever heard him talk." Scotty said finally, breaking the silence.
A few giggles broke the tension.
"...Yeh, shame he was putting us in our place...he's got a point..."
"...What do you think we should do, Mr. Harris?"
"Hm...well...I agree with Kai, we need to make ours stand out...we could try playing with arrangements and see what we can come up with..."
Meanwhile, Kai skulked to his room.
Being in the choir was lame enough...but being part of a whiny, half-assed choir that was about to perform in a contest? That didn't sit well with him...
He got to his room and threw the door open...
Then stopped dead.
"Rei?!"
Rei looked up from his book, a little startled. He was sat up on Kai's bed with a few pillows under his ankle, keeping it elavated.
"Hey, Kai..." he frowned as he took in Kai's surprised, confused demeanour.
"...What the hell are you doing in my bed!?"
Rei blinked and let out a huge sigh.
"...he didn't talk to you at all, did he?"
Back in the music room, Dan was rushing around excitedly, putting the students in a new arrangement.
"All right so tenors here...and then Scotty and James come out to the front here...when Kai comes bac-"
The door threw open.
"You!"came a familiar, aggrivated voice.
"Ah! Speak of the devil and he shall appear!" Dan said happily.
Kai stormed up to him.
"A word...now!"
Dan's happy expression faded as he clicked he'd been to his room...
"...All in good time! But right now, we may have something figured out!"
"I said now!" he yelled, getting curious looks from the other boys.
Dan gave him a soft but warning look.
"You sure you wanna talk about this right now?" he said as he subtly moved his head to gesture at the audience they had.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"I meant outside..."
Dan's beaming smile returned.
"All in good time, I promise! But right now..." he said as he took Kai's shoulders and guided him between Scotty and James standing out in front of the other boys.
"Let's give this a whirl, shall we?"
Kai opened his mouth to protest, Dan had already turned his back and gone to his piano.
"All right! From the top..."
Kai's eye twitched slightly, not appreciating being shut down.
Dan played them in.
Kai sighed before taking his cue. Resistance was futile...for now, anyway.
"When you're weary, feeling small. When tears are in your...eyes..."
He stopped and looked around when he couldn't hear the rest of them singing, feeling somewhat self-concious. It was just him and the two others.
Dan stopped.
"Don't stop! Why'd you stop?!"
Kai looked back, confused.
"Why is it only the three of us singing?"
Dan beamed.
"Because you three are our soloists!"
Kai's eye twitched harder.
"...Soloist!? I didn't agree to be a soloist!"
"You left! We talked about it. You're right, we need to change it up and make it pop. The best thing about male choirs is when they start off soft and then build up until they finally hit you in the balls!" he exclaimed, excited, "we talked and took a vote. We decided you, Scotty and James would be the best for it! You're like our front men!"
Kai blinked as he took in what he said.
"...but...why me!?"
Scotty slapped his back.
"Because you have a powerful set of pipes on ya!"
Kai looked at Scotty and then back to Dan, shaking his head.
"Oh, no...no...I don't want to do it! Surely someone else would be better!"
Scotty huffed.
"Well, we voted on you! How can you be so negative when we haven't even tried yet? I thought you said you hated defeatists..." he smirked at him, causing Kai to stiffen.
Dan smirked, too...but maybe right now wasn't the time to try and get him to sing a solo...he had other things on his mind.
...Like yelling at him for putting Rei in his room without telling him...
"OK boys, here's what we'll do. Call it a day for today, I'll work on a new score sheet tonight and tomorrow we work on our new version. How's that?"
They nodded and started to get their things, gradually filing out.
Kai stood where he was, arms folded and glaring daggers at Dan.
Dan braced himself as he waited for the others to leave.
Finally they were alone.
"...Kai, before you-"
"Seriously?! Moving someone in to my room without permission!? Signing me up to do a frickin' solo!? Why are you trying to make me miserable, huh?!"
"Oh, don't be dramatic!" Dan scoffed, "I'm not trying to make you miserable! Did Rei tell you why we put him in your room?"
"Oh yeh...he told me!" Kai spat as his face started to grow red.
"Then why are you mad? He could have really hurt himself...you don't want it to happen again, do you?"
"...Of course not! But...couldn't he crash with you!?"
Dan shrugged.
"Figured he'd be more comfortable with you! You're his best friend, right? He'd much rather hang out with you than an old fart like me!" he said before his smirk grew, "and surely you're not bashful about seeing him in his birthday suit?"
Kai's face burned and he got flustered.
"I-. It's not-..."
"I thought if anything you'd be thanking me..." Dan said slyly as he lifted a brow.
"Don't be gross!" Kai near enough shrieked as the shade of red grew darker.
"I'm kidding...but in all seriousness, Rei needs help. Today could have been really bad...what if he'd messed his ankle up more? Or hit his head? All joking and ribbing aside, I know you're the one that should help him. You seemed like you'd do anything to help him out when you beat the crap out of that guy at the tournament, I thought helping him in and out of the shower would be fine..."
Kai felt his anger drop.
Of course he wanted to help Rei if he could...but...
This was so awkward...
Dan's cheeky smile came back.
"Besides, it's not like you have to scrub him down...I'm sure if you offered, though..."
"Shut up!"
"I'm sorry, couldn't resist...I'm done...anyway, next point of concern. The solo. I don't know what to tell you, they all think you should do it and I agree. I'd think that would be a complement. What's the problem?"
Kai folded his arms again.
"...You told me this was a group thing..."
"It is."
"...not when I'm going to be at the front.."
"You'll be with Scotty and James."
"That's not quite the same as being in with everyone else."
"...you were counting on blending in unnoticed?"
Kai tensed.
"I wouldn't word it like that..."
"Oh?"
Kai stayed quiet.
"You're not singing alone. Wait and see what we had planned. You three are going to be at the front and you are going to have seperate parts. But it's all going to knit together with everyone else and be wonderful! You'll see!"
He still didn't look convinced.
Dan's face softened.
"...How come you can stand alone in a stadium with thousands of spectators, being watched all over the world and not care...but standing out from the group to sing makes you so nervous?"
Kai stayed quiet again and shrugged.
"Oh please, it's obvious...singing counts on emotion. And you don't want people to notice you have those... Too vulnerable..."
Kai scowled.
"...Why do I need to go see a shrink when I have you, Dr. Harris..." he said sarcastically.
"I know...missed my calling, apparently. Chose the wrong profession..."
"Pff..you're telling me..."
"Bullshit, I know you love me..." he grinned
Kai glared harder.
"...anyway...Rei's probably bored..." Dan hinted.
Kai stared him out angrily a little longer before storming back out without another word.
Dan chuckled to himself.
"You're so gonna peek...little perv..."
Kai was still steaming as he entered the dorms.
Dan frickin' Harris had struck again...
Double barrel this time!
It wasn't enough that he'd managed to get him to go along with his stupid idea to join the choir like
a total loser, oh no...Dan levelled it up and wanted him right at the front! Singled out. Like a dancing, singing monkey.
Why was he even still bothering to go? The tournament was over now anyway...what the hell could he hold against him to make him stay?
Maybe he'd quit...wouldn't matter to the others if he did. They'd probably do better in the contest without him anyway...
And this crap he just pulled with Rei was the last straw...he knew damn well there were other options to help Rei out, but Dan just had to jump on the chance to humiliate him. Was he trying to play cupid or did he just get off on putting him in uncomfortable positions like this?!
...And why was he even bothering...with any of this...
He might not even be here much longer...what did he even matter to him any more?
He reached his door.
He took a second and took a breath before going in...this wasn't Rei's fault after all.
He pushed the door open.
Rei sat up instantly.
"Kai, I'm sorry...I thought he'd talked to you, I..."
"It's fine, Rei." he flatly as he came in and shut the door behind him.
"...You all right with me staying in here a while?"
He nodded.
"Can't exactly have you splitting your head open on the side of the bath now, can we?"
"I know, but...I'm kind of taking your space and...your bed and stuff."
Kai tensed.
He hadn't even stopped to think about that...looked like he was on the floor for a while.
"I'll live."
Rei nodded.
...Neither of them wanted to address the big, naked elephant in the room.
Rei watched him as he moved across the room and set his bag down, undoing his tie, sliding it off and putting it away before unbuttoning the top buttons.
Rei stared...and then caught himself staring.
Damn, that uniform...
"So...how was choir practice?" he asked.
Kai tensed yet again.
"...Fine."
"You getting nervous? It's not that far away." Rei smiled.
"No..." he lied as he slipped off his jacket and hung it up.
"Really...?" Rei said, cocking a brow, "not even a little?"
"Why should I be? Doesn't make a difference to me if we win or lose.." he said almost bitterly.
Rei smirked.
"Whatever you say..."
"Hn..."
Silence followed.
Kai silently sat himself in his desk chair, swivelling round to the desk and started his homework.
"...You didn't lose your shit too much at Mr. Harris, did you?" Rei asked, half joking...half serious.
Kai tensed yet again...
He'd wanted to rip in to him...but the man had danced circles around him and shut him down...
Thinking about it pissed him off...
"No."
"Good..."
...Yet more silence as Rei stared at Kai's back as he wrote.
"...So,-"
"I have work to do, Rei." he bit.
Rei frowned.
"...You mad at me?"
Kai let out an annoyed sigh.
"No! I just have a lot to do."
Rei sunk down before nodding, even though Kai wasn't even looking his way, and made himself comfortable on the bed.
Two hours he spent in silence while Kai studied.
His face lit up a little when Kai finally closed his books and put them away...maybe now he wouldn't be in such a mood.
He stood up from his desk and reached in to his wardrobe, slipping on a navy blue school cardigan and to Rei's surprise...head for the door.
"...Where are you going?"
"Out." was all he said before shutting the door behind him.
Rei sighed.
Clearly he wasn't all right with him staying with him...
Kai snuck his way down the quiet dorm corridors. Students were supposed to stay in the buildings past 7pm after the cafeteria shut. But he needed air. He slipped out the doors and took himself around to the wooded part of the school grounds where he wouldn't be detected.
He knew he was snapping at Rei for no reason...if he stayed, he was worried he'd explode at him...even though he hadn't done anything...
He was just...mad.
Rei tried to put his head back in the book he was reading, distract himself.
'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'
He'd been to the school library the week before and borrowed it...he didn't read much...but it was Kai's favorite, so he figured he'd give it a try...
"Oh my god, I'm pathetic..." he whined to himself as he shoved his face in the book.
He couldn't say he really saw the big appeal...it was written all...old-timey. Hardly surprising since it was written in the 1890's...but Rei still found it a chore to sit and read it.
Luckily, after looking in to it a little, this particular book was a collection of short stories rather than a full novel...he figured this would be easier to digest.
...One week in, he was still on the first story...
"A Scandal in Bohemia."
He took his face out the book and started again.
Currently, a mysterious, masked visitor was at 221B Baker Street.
'You will excuse this mask,' continued our strange visitor. 'The august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have called myself is not exactly my own.'
'I was aware of it,' Holmes said dryly.
'The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has been taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditay Kings of Bohemia.'
'I was also aware of that,', murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes.
Despite being written in a way Rei couldn't follow that easily, he couldn't help but crack a grin whenever he read Holmes' parts.
...He was like Kai...arrogant, aloof, had an answer for everything and made you feel like a dumbass for not getting it yourself...All he needed was a pipe and a British accent...
...And he really was like Watson...his faithful companion who put up with his less than social ways and regarded him with a sense of awe...
There was a knock at the door.
"...Come in?" he called out.
The door opened and Dan came in, smiling at him.
"Hey, Rei! Settling in with your roomie?"
"Uh..." he tensed.
Dan frowned as he looked around.
"...Where is said roomie?"
"He...went out."
Dan's face fell.
He walked in and threw down the sleeping bag and pillow he'd brought for Kai on the floor.
"Went out where?!" he asked, almost panicked.
"...I don't know..." Rei answered honestly.
Dan let out an exhausted sigh.
"Again with this...all right...I'll go look for him..."
Rei sat up.
"Honestly, I think he just wanted to be alone. He wasn't in a great mood... I'm sure he'll be back soon enough..."
"I'm sure you're right Rei, but the rules are the rules..."
"Mr. Harris..." Rei said almost pleading, "Please? We both know he's not out causing havoc, he's just off stewing...probably in some bushes somewhere. He's been in enough trouble recently as it is...his personal space has been invaded because of me and he just wants some space...can't you look the other way this time?"
Dan thought about it and let out another sigh.
"Fine...I'll stay here with you and see if he comes back...if he isn't back by 9:30, I'm going looking..."
Rei nodded...that was something, at least.
Dan lazily slumped in Kai's desk chair, swivelling himself from side to side...making himself right at home.
"So...whatcha reading there?"
"Nothing!" Rei said defensively as he went a little pink, hiding the book away.
"...How's choir going?"
"Fine! Yeh, good!" Dan replied equally as defensively...knowing Kai probably didn't tell him about the whole solo thing...
...and it was back to awkward silence.
They eventually managed to break it and got chatting again.
45 minutes later, the door opened.
"What do you want?" came the deep, blunt voice.
"I don't think you're in a position to be giving attitude...where were you? You know the rules..." Dan said firmly as he stood himself up and folded his arms, putting his teacher face on.
"Out."
"...I know that, where?"
Kai growled.
"Just out! Get off my back! I needed some god damn privacy since someone decided to give me a room mate!"
Rei felt a little hurt by that...did Kai really see him as that much of an imposition?
Dan huffed, his arms pressing harder in to his chest.
"I just thought-"
Kai cut him off, erupting.
"You always 'just think'! And you always get it spectacularly wrong! Do me a favor and just stop!" he exploded angrily.
Both Dan and Rei were taken aback by the sudden outburst and how mad he'd turned.
Dan composed himself.
"...What's the matter?" he asked calmly.
Kai's snarl grew.
"You're the matter!" he yelled, "I can't take any more of your crap! For the last time, stop meddling and just leave. me. alone!"
Dan's face remained almost expressionless.
"Now..." Kai growled as he threw his door open again, "get out!"
There was a pause.
"...Fine...we'll talk about this tomorrow..." Dan answered flatly, "...brought you a sleeping bag and a pillow." he said before turning to Rei, "Night, Rei."
"...Night, Mr. Harris."
Dan quietly walked by Kai, not saying anything and quietly left.
The second he heard the door click shut, he felt a rush of guilt.
"...What the hell was that, Kai?"
Kai went back to pissed.
"Don't start, Rei..." he spat before going to the bathroom and slamming the door.
Rei let out a sigh.
...He had to be sharing a room with him when he was like this...
He heard the shower starting.
Kai threw his clothes off and climbed in to the shower, letting the warm spray of water cover him.
His hair fell and stuck to his face as it got wet. He ran his hands over his face and pressed his eyes before slicking it back off his face.
He took a deep breath in and a deep breath out.
He didn't even really know what the hell that was.
Mr. Harris was just up in his business again...
He felt anger flair up again.
Fucking Dan.
He brought his arm back and punched the tiles of the shower wall, grunting as the impact of his fist against the porcelain sent a wave of sharp pain through his hand.
As he took in some sharp breaths and shook his hand, he glanced through the gap in the shower curtain to where the bathroom mirror once was...
The one that used to be there before he'd put his fist through it when he'd fallen out with Dan and Ray over the file.
He rubbed his eyes again, head all over the place.
He took another deep breath to calm himself before getting on with his shower.
Not that he was in a particular rush to get out...
Of all nights, Rei had to be staying in his room tonight...
Rei felt himself freeze as the bathroom door opened.
Kai came out silently in his pyjamas, pointedly not looking at him and setting up his sleeping bag on the floor and climbing in and rolling on his side, his back to Rei.
"...want me to turn the light out?" Rei asked carefully.
"...No...you're reading."
"I'll turn the bedside lamp on..."
Kai shifted and stood himself up again, walking to the switch.
Rei turned on the lamp as Kai flipped the switch.
The room darkened, only a glow around Rei.
Rei kept his eyes on his book as he listened to the rustling of Kai getting back in to his sleeping bag and rolling back over.
"...What are you reading?"
Rei tensed...but was also glad.
"...Sherlock Holmes...thought I'd see what was so great..."
Kai felt himself smile instantly.
"Which one?"
"The Adventures of..."
"...which story you on?"
"Still the first one...Scandal in Bohemia..."
"Ah...the one with Irene Adler..."
Rei smirked.
"Hey, I'm not that far yet! No spoilers!"
"Heh...sorry..."
Rei's smirk turned in to a smile.
As his grandma always told him, 'you should never go to bed angry'.
Whatever his problem was...it was done for tonight.
And who knew, maybe by tomorrow it will have blown over...
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...Will it have blown over by tomorrow? We'll find out...
End of chapter 11! Hope you enjoyed it!
Any comments always appreciated!
Thanks for reading!