The conversation going on around Tyson and Rick wasn't so loud that it was distracting, but it gave Max something to listen to besides the constant wave of thoughts that just wouldn't seem to stay away. Kai still hadn't managed to make his way back, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for Max to decide if it had to do with him still cooling down or the way the Allstarz had somehow succeeded in making his territory their own. Just the thought alone was enough to draw him away from everyone and into his own mind.
Even with confusion stalling his ability to so much as think, Max's muddled mind had managed to recreate a near perfect replica of what had taken place only ten minutes before. The images replaying over and over again didn't do anything to help Max decipher any more about the confusing incident, other than the fact that he had done something to set Kai off. It wouldn't have been the first time Max had accidentally done something to annoy his temperamental team captain.
Knowing that it was his actions that lead Kai to wander off on his own didn't make figuring out what it was that he had done wrong any easier. Max knew that nothing during that moment should have been enough to make Kai snap, but it was impossible for him to know what Kai was thinking. It didn't make Max feel any better when even Tyson seemed to know something he had yet to work out.
"Max, don't you still need to pack?" Whether he noticed Max's growing frustration or not, Max was almost positive that he wasn't imagining the pointed look Rei was giving him.
"Um, yeah." The hand on his back was barely noticeable, but nonetheless it did its job of herding him out of the room. He wasn't entirely sure if packing was all Rei had in mind, but whether it was or wasn't, Max doubted he would be able to concentrate hard enough to figure it out anyway.
The door was closed before Max even had a chance to think about turning around and arguing; not that he would have. As stubborn as he was, he was smart enough to know when someone was trying to help him. Whether that help came in the form of getting him out of the room in hope of clearing his mind or simply making him pack to prevent being late, Max figured the answer would come to him later.
.:A Trip to Russia:.
Whether it was the Allstarz or the newly recognized feelings Kai held for Max, the irritation never went away. It shouldn't have been as hard as it was to control it, but the mere thought of Max being with Rick had only made it worse. Max wasn't his, that was obvious, but he wasn't Rick's either and if Kai had to be the one to show him that, he wouldn't complain.
Max was another, separate problem altogether. Dealing with him should have been the easiest part, but that didn't stop the heavy feeling Kai got every time he so much as attempted to think of him. He pushed that to the back of his mind for now, because he wouldn't be telling Max about his feelings until he knew exactly what they were, even if he did have his own suspicions. Because suspicions or not, at the moment it wasn't anyone's business but Kai's.
"Maxie, come on. We need you back." It was the first thing Kai heard when he finally made his way back to their rooms. His ear didn't need to be pressed to the door to be able to hear Rick talking, and he started to wonder when eavesdropping on Max had become a thing. He was already too distracted by listening in silence to come to the conclusion that he didn't care.
"I can't just go back with you guys." He ignored the way Max took a moments pause before answering. Max was loyal, no doubt, but he'd been an Allstar once too.
"Is it because of Kai?" Rick finally asked, so gently that it made Kai want to walk in and demand he tell him what it was supposed to mean.
"What?" Max sounded about as surprised as Kai felt.
"If he's making you stay or you feel like you need to for some reason, we'll work something out."
Kai couldn't begin categorizing the raw emotions that seemed to spur to life from seemingly nowhere inside of him at the implications of him forcing Max to do anything. The ringing in his ears almost reminded Kai of Dranzer's roar, and as if his bitbeast was there with him, he could feel the blazing heat itching at his skin. Kai wouldn't be selfish enough to say that Max couldn't leave because he belonged to him, but if Rick thought he could poach Max off his team without a fight, then he was being delusional.
Kai didn't find the silence nearly as nerve-wracking as the prospect of losing Max to the Allstarz was, but the idea of that alone was enough for him to lock the thought away to deal with when his mind wasn't such a muddled mess. The silence wasn't so deafening that Kai couldn't hear over it, but it might as well have been. Mumbles were all that Kai could really hear, and even then he could only make out half-words and muffled sounds. He briefly found himself wondering what they were talking about.
In normal circumstances, he wouldn't care. In fact, he really shouldn't - shouldn't be concerning himself with problems that don't concern him. But the fact of the matter was that he did just that, made Max's problems his own, so therefore he did care. Kai cared about whether or not Max would leave, and he cared about Max.
"I want to have a battle." Kai didn't know why he hadn't noticed that he was already standing in the room, but he blamed it on Max. Even without being directly next to Kai, he still served as a distraction.
"What?" Rick's reaction was just as Kai had expected it to be.
"You think your team is good enough to have Max, then prove it." The power that every member of the Allstarz had was something Kai knew all too well, but he had no intention of backing down- of losing Max. "Whoever loses leaves Max alone."
"Fine, but when I win, I'm taking Max back."
Alright, so for anyone who is confused, I reposted this chapter because I didn't really like the other one. I changed it a lot, but some things are still the same. I hope you liked and if you did tell me. If there was something you didn't get or just didn't like, you can tell me that too. Happy Veterans Day!