Kankri sat in Anatomy with the girl that had deemed herself his best friend. He didn't really know how to feel about that, but she seemed nice enough. He'd been tutoring her since the beginning of the semester at the request of his TA, and it seemed like it had helped her, though she was very pushy with boundaries. He didn't like that. At all. He slapped her hand away from his shoulder while he took notes on the lecture. He really thought that she should get to work; it was just so hard to tutor someone that didn't put forth any effort. But he wouldn't say anything as he didn't want to offend her.
While he was taking notes, he was doing his best to keep his mind off of Cronus. He really did want to contact him, though the past week and a half had been a strain on both of them. The first few days after Kurloz had shown up and Kankri had had his dream, he didn't want to be near Cronus as he felt that it would be unfair to his partner, though after those days, Cronus had been the one initiating the distance. He'd been sitting further from him in classes and not returning his texts, though when he did they were short and curt.
Kankri was beginning to worry that he'd upset him with the distance they'd had in the first few days there. He shook his head to snap out of it and realized that the lecture had been over for a few minutes. Packing his things, he pulled out his phone. There was a next text. Excitedly, he looked at it hoping that it was from Cronus, but was only a little disappointed when he saw that it was Suddhindra. He texted back while he walked back to his dormitory.
Hello brother! :)
Hell9, Suddhindra. What d9 y9u want?
Do I have to want something? Can't a guy just text his little brother? :(
I supp9se that y9u may, th9ugh I'm still w9ndering why.
I wanted to invite you out to meet someone! She's very nice and I hope that you like her. I know I like her. :)
I h9pe that y9u are n9t intending t9 set me up on s9me s9rt 9f r9mantic excusi9n.
Oh no, it's nothing like that! I just want you to meet her. You could bring your friend from dinner last week if you want. He was spunky. :)
I'm n9t 6ringing Cr9nus.
Fair enough, suit yourself! But I still want you to come out with us tonight if you could! I wanted to talk to you about something. I've already told Porrim. :)
9h? And what w9uld that 6e?
A surpise! ;)
I see. I supp9se that I c9uld j9in y9u this evening.
Why wait? Let's get together now. I want to tell you my something before you meet this mystery lady. :)
Fine. When?
How about now! I'm actually in my car by your building. Just meet me there. :)
I can see y9u fr9m here. I'll 6e there m9mentarily.
See you soon! :D
He put his phone back in his pocket and went to Suddhindra's car. He knocked lightly on the window and his brother waved, then opened the door. "Hello, Suddhindra."
"Hello little brother!" He smiled as he put the car in drive. "How are you today?"
"I'm not unwell."
"But you're not feeling well either, are you?"
Kankri frowned and looked at the passing scenery. "Not really."
"Tell me what's wrong. You know you can tell me anything."
"I know. It's just a very personal matter and I don't know if you would view me the same way or if this could trigger or offend you!"
"Kankri. You know what offends me. So say it aloud for me."
"People that talk at the theater and... children's choir concerts?"
Suddhindra shuddered a little. "Children's choir concerts are terrible. I don't understand them at all." He shook his head and made a disgusted noise.
"I know that you don't like them."
"Then you know that they're one of the only things that I hate." He glanced over. "So tell me: what's wrong?" He smiled kindly.
Kankri took a deep breath and let it out. "It's a long story."
"We've got time."
"Very well..." Kankri started from the very beginning. From his first meeting with Cronus to the last time he'd seen him in class. When he was done, he could feel tears stinging his eyes. Suddhindra had pulled the car over on the side of the road and parked looking at him. Studying him. He scratched at the stubble on his chin, thinking.
"So then. I was right. Mostly."
"What?"
"About You and Cronus." He smiled calmly.
"Wait... You knew?"
"Well you did have quite the hickey on your neck and he did keep staring at your mouth when you spoke."
"What?" Kankri was flabbergasted
"Just an observation. So then the two of you are dating. And you haven't seen much of each other lately?"
"We're not dating! We're just..."
"So then it's all about getting to a stage where you can screw him?"
"No!" Kankri's face had flushed a deep shade at the implication.
"Then you are...?"
"Partners. He's... He's my partner."
"And you love him?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't you talk to him?"
"Because he won't talk to me."
Suddhindra rolled his eyes as he started the car and got back on the road. "Don't be so fucking childish, Kankri. If you love him and he loves you, then just go to his room and ask just what it is that's going on."
Kankri's eyes darted to the floor. "I just... I simply don't know about any of this!" He leaned forward and laced his fingers behind his neck. "Can we please just talk about something else?"
"Of course." Suddhindra looked ahead seriously, though his expression quickly changed back to a wide grin as he bit his lip. "So I have some rather selfish news. At least in light of your current circumstance."
Kankri continued to stare at the floor. "And what's that?"
"I've met someone."
"And?"
"And she's wonderful." He sighed. "Her name is Diandra Leijon and I met her in my mission group." He smiled as they pulled into the parking lot. "I think I'm going to ask her to marry me."
Kankri frowned. "As wodnerful as this news may be, I am finding it rather triggering with my current unknown relationship status."
"Kankri, the only way to know what's going on is to talk to him. Go ahead and send him a text now. Tell him that you want to talk so that you can figure out what's going on." He swallowed hard as he pulled out his phone and stared at it. "This is someone that's been where you are now and lived through it. Just do it."
Kankri tapped out a message with precision and sent it.
We need t9 talk.
There. Short. Sweet. To the point. With absolutely no way that it could be triggering at all. None. No way at all.
He and Suddhindra went into the restaurant and took a seat at a table so they could have a nice, brotherly chat.
