Later that day once the elder two had finished bickering the blond and purple haired teen stepped down the stairs.
"We're back!" Ian yelled jumping from the bottom step to stare up at the much taller teens.
"We can see that Ian" Bryan stated simply not bothering to acknowledge Spencer, he knew the blond would speak when needed to and not a moment before.
"I have us the mics, there're three. One is for us so we can hear what's happening, the other two are for you and Tala" Spencer spoke up, handing Tala and Kai a small mic. "It clips onto the inside of your shirt. If you don't wear a jacket it'll be visible." Nodding they looked over the microphones, trying to find the microscopic clasp.
It was a small metal box, a tiny antenna sticking from the top a thin wire hanging down a small ball on top. He presumed that was the microphone.
"Is it turned on?"
"No, the on button is on the side, I made sure it was switched off. No need having Ian fill the tape inside with his inane babbling."
"It's not inane." He protested, folding his arms over his chest as he glared up at Spencer.
"Of course Ian, attach them to the inside of your shirt. I'm sure there'll be a jacket or something in one of those boxes for you Kai."
"What about Tal?" He asked, finally finding the clasp and attaching it to the inside of his shirt. Releasing it to see how it fell a noticeable dip in the material was apparent from the pinched fabric.
"He's got a few jackets, some more appropriate than others."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I had no idea it was a girl's jacket" Tala cut in, earning strange looks from the bluenette.
"A girl's jacket?"
"I didn't know, it was in a box, it was baggy, black and looked alright. I didn't know it was made for girls." He was glaring up at the blond for bringing that up, irritated that he couldn't forget that embarrassing incident.
"It had frills."
"I thought they were frayed bits from age." Kai sat quietly listening to Tala embarrass himself. It was very amusing for him to listen to the first thing he could remember sitting there embarrassed.
"If it was frayed you shouldn't have worn it"
"It was cold and the only thing big enough that looked like it was warm."
"Can we stop talking about this now? Look, I'll grab my white jacket." Pushing himself up he stalked past his friends, scowling at them as he did.
"Come on Tal, we're only teasing you." Ian assured, patting the boy on the back.
"Yeah, yeah, I know" he reached inside a box pulling out a large white jacket, the turtle neck long enough to cover half his face.
"It's not the arctic out there Tal"
"I know, but it'll cover the microphone. And it's not a girl's jacket." He stressed the last part, pulling on the oversized jacket. Zipping up the front he pulled the turtle neck up to cover his mouth. "Do you think it's a bit much?" He asked, smirking though they could hardly tell.
"Yeah, that's an understatement." Ian smirked back, trying not to laugh as Tala pulled down the collar to speak over it.
"Well, I don't care, it's really comfy."
"Fine, look like a skier. Well, it's almost dark. Be gone!" He smirked, enjoying this far too much.
"Shut it Ian, you're not the one going to confront a murderer."
"Well, I'm talking to a murderer now." He pointed out, raising a brow at the bluenette.
"I didn't do it willingly like him." He glared down at the boy
"You still did it"
"Ian" Spencer cut in, halting any more conversation. "Be quiet. Now, are you leaving?"
"Yeah, Tal you coming?" Kai asked, checking over the recently attached microphone.
"I am, Bryan, look in the back box. There should be a jacket suitable for him."
"It's not a woman's jacket, is it?"
"I didn't know!"
"Well?"
"Boys" he answered scowling. He was still a little sore from their jokes. Stifling his laugh he watched as the lilac haired boy left to retrieve his jacket.
"Hey Tal, what's it look like?"
"Leather, a few sizes too big for me. It should be just a little too big for Kai." Digging into the box he pulled put different articles of clothing. Laying the unneeded ones on the sides.
"Are you going to be like this the whole way?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" He snapped back, scowling from the corner of his eye.
"Being temperamental"
"I'm not temperamental!" He argued, folding his arms over his chest, pouting.
"Whatever Tal" rolling his eyes he turned from the redhead staring over at Bryan instead. "Well?"
"I think...ah! Found it!" He declared, smirking as he chucked the leather to the seated bluenette. Grabbing the dead animal he pulled it on, noting gladly that it fit just about right.
"We're going then?" Kai asked, raising a brow at the redhead who finally snapped out of his daze.
"Uh, yeah, come on then, let's get out of here." Standing he moved soundlessly towards the steps glancing back to Kai who followed.
"See you later guys, try not to get killed." Bryan taunted, gaining two glares from the red and blue haired teens. "What? One's already dead"
"Shut up Bry" Tala told him plainly, pushing up the hatch and slipping from the basement.
"I was just joking"
"And I'm getting hungry" hiding his smirk Kai followed after Tala. Leaving a stunned Bryan with a smirking Ian and Spencer.
As the hatch slammed shut Tala had to ask.
"You were joking, right?" But he gained nothing but a knowing smirk from the bluenette.
Leaving the building they walked side by side, Tala glancing sideways at him every few steps.
"Stop Tal, you know I'm not hungry, I've already eaten." He reassured, smirking again from Tala's tension released shoulders.
"I guess, so you were just saying it to scare Bry?"
"Of course"
"You know Kai? I think I'm going to like you being a 'creature of the night'."
"Shut up, you're making it sound like a bad cheesy movie."
"Would I be the damsel in distress?"
"Only if you're tied up with Barthez trying to eat the flesh on your neck."
"Wait" Tala halted them, unzipping his too large jumper. "I haven't turned it on."
"Me neither, still, that's probably the best thing. We shouldn't be filling them with mindless chatter."
"Then we'll stay quiet till we reach the old Vamp."
"That doesn't mean it won't record anything, there'll just be nothing to listen to. Wait till we're closer to where we're meant to meet him."
"But he could see us then."
"He might see us now."
"Thanks, now I'm going to be paranoid" releasing his shirt, as he'd intended to switch on his mic he zipped up his jacket, stuffing his hands in his pockets and stalking off, "thanks Kai" he muttered bitterly.
"You should have known Tala, Barthez told us himself."
"I'd forgotten about that." He admitted, scowling as the bluenette jogged to keep up with him.
"Switch it on then, forget again."
"I can't now!" He objected, subconsciously hiding his face behind the oversized collar. Rolling his eyes Kai pulled the zip down for him, not bothering to smirk at the gasping look on the boy's face. Grabbing the mic he switched it on, his senses stronger allowing him to easily feel the small button for power. "Kai!" He squeaked, yanking his hand away from him. "What're you doing?!"
"Shut up Tal, the mic's on, stop acting like a child."
"I'm not being a child" he argued, folding his arms over his chest.
The conversation ended there, the two walking silently, the only movement other than their feet being Kai turning his own mic on.
An hour later they finally made it to an alley near where they'd first met Barthez. They'd instinctively moved closer to the other, no space between them.
"Kai?" Tala whispered leaning in closer to the bluenette. Kai may have been technically younger than him but he was sure the bluenette was stronger, the boy was a Vampire.
"Yeah?"
"I don't want to die"
"You won't Tala" fighting against his instincts Tala grabbed onto Kai's arm, feeling far more secure at knowing he had the walking dead to shield him.
"You can't promise that, but you won't die."
"How'd you get that?" He asked, genuinely perplexed.
"Cos you're already dead. You died a day ago." Smirking at his own reasoning the bluenette rolled his eyes, though Tala's smile didn't drop.
"If I'm dead that makes me a zombie"
"No, Vampires are far more scary"
"You realise we're filling this with absolute rubbish"
"Oh well, it's not us who's going to be listening." As Kai went to retort an eerie voice broke through.
"Well, well, look who's here. My favourite runaway and his roommate" they froze, a shrouded figure dropping from the rooftops, landing just feet from them. Freezing in their steps they glared across at the man. As much as they wanted to get him to speak they couldn't look suspicious. They had to get them to confess everything and be arrested, that couldn't happen if they didn't play this right.
"Barthez" the redhead spat out, hoping he sounded just as disgusted as he felt, if not more. He did have to be convincing.
"Oh Tala, don't be like that. It hurts, it really does. I'm surprised you're standing next to that though." He admitted, glaring at Kai as though he were filth. "That, Tala, is nothing more than me. He's a disgraceful being. Not even human."
"I don't care. He's still Kai-"
"He's a murderer" the elder vampire interjected.
"No, he's my friend, you made him a murderer." Tala seethed, clenching his fists as anger swelled in his body.
"Touchy, touchy" the killer was having far too much fun, smirking as he wagged his finger. Patronising Tala as though he were a child.
"Shut up"
"Don't get riled up" Kai advised, though his jaw was clenched as his voice was heavily controlled.
"Take your own advice Kai" Barthez stepped forwards, reaching out a hand to touch the bluenette's face. "Anger doesn't suit you, I fear your face will crack." Slapping away his hand he glared at the killer, anger rising in his chest all the more.
"Kai, don't" Tala warned, seeing him beginning to lose control. The bluenette took a deep breath steadying his nerves.
"I won't" he answered simply, glaring up at the man.
"Are you sure? I'm sure I could provoke you."
"I doubt it." The tall man was having far too much fun, and he was sure that would be the killer's downfall.
"I don't. How about I tell you about the fact that you killed people before? You know there was a group of children you knew a while ago. You killed them."
"I didn't."
"Oh, you did. What were their names? Hmm, Tyson, Max, Ray, Kenny? Yes, I believe that was them." Kai froze, those names, they were the people the Dark Bladers talked about.
"Y-you're lying"
"I'm not" his smug smirk grew a few inches, reaching almost unnatural size.
"Kai?"
"I killed, I-I killed them" he finally managed to get out. But that couldn't be possible. Right?
"You what?"
"He killed his, so called, friends." Barthez filled in, his glee barely hidden.
Tala didn't know what to do, Barthez was talking, that's what they wanted. But, his words were condemning Kai, the officers wouldn't be so lenient should he have killed more. Already regretting his decision he grabbed Kai's arm.
"I don't give a shit. Kai, come on let's get out of here." Dragging the boy he forced himself not to run, but he had to get the boy away to form some sort of plan.
"Tala"
"Quiet Kai, I'm trying to think." He hissed back pulling him around the corner not bothering to glance back as he sank to the floor. Pulling his knees to his chest he lowered his head. "God" he groaned out, completely frustrated.
Seating himself beside the redhead Kai wasn't sure what to do. So he remained quiet, letting Tala work it all out while he stared down the alley.
Barthez vanishing into the dark.
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