Rhythm of Life
Chapter Fifty-Three
Over the next three weeks, while Kanda and Allen were still in the hospital, Tiedoll and Cross took the time to clean out Kanda's bedroom as well as the extra room downstairs to repaint. At some point the extra room will become Cross's study now that the two had made their decision to live there. They decided to inform the boys later.
Not only had they repainted the room, but Tiedoll had installed a new carpet to replace the old one that had worn out. They also had bought two new desks, because when they had tried to move Kanda's old one it fell apart. Tiedoll bought the one Kanda had his eye on before the accident had occurred while at the same time, they found an identical dresser to Kanda's that they got for Allen.
They hung the last portrait on the wall in Kanda's bedroom. The boys' paintings of each other made the room vibrant with the splash of color while also adding the spirit of the boys' personalities.
"Cross, the only thing I see that needs replacing is Kanda's old twin beds. I bought them second hand and had to glue the wood together because the frames were loose. I thought maybe I would replace them with a double bed for the boy's. We know if we bought twin beds it would be a waste of money with those two," Tiedoll suggested. He had to smile to himself when he thought about how Kanda and Allen pushed and pulled the beds together every time they stayed there.
"I can ask Kanda about it when I go up to the hospital to check on them while you go with your artist friends for the afternoon.
"Don't give me that look of backing out. You need to be with your friends for awhile to get back into the swing of things and it'll be good for you mentally," Cross lectured his partner who has tried to get out of going with his friends all week.
"Alright I'll go, but you have the list of thing to do before the boy's come home this weekend. Cross, do you think Kanda seemed okay about missing his graduation? I couldn't tell if he was putting up a front for us," Tiedoll asked, concerned about how his son really felt about missing the end of his senior year.
"No Froi, I didn't feel like he cared either way. Anyway, Lavi's been there enough to make them both feel like they were back at school," Cross joked, getting a smile from his partner.
After Allen and Kanda could have more visitors Lavi had been going up to the hospital daily. Cross felt he was quite the entertainer and he brightened up the long days for the boy's, but it seemed more so for Allen then Kanda. Kanda looked as if the kid was annoying and wanted to throttle him most of the time.
"As soon as I find out Kanda's okay with the double bed I'll go over to the furniture store to purchase it along with the mattress and have them delivered to your house. Is that about it for today's errands? By the way, who's picking you up? Oh, and make sure the person drops you off at the hospital so we can drive home together," Cross said as he looked over Tiedoll's list of errands.
"David's picking me up," Tiedoll said timidly, not sure if Cross was going to be too keen about the idea.
David and Tiedoll had gone out to lunch a week ago, so he could tell him about Cross and his relationship, face to face. David had called him when the accident had happened, but Tiedoll was too distraught to get into any real conversation with the young artist. When they finally met, David had pretty much guessed what had happened between the two and wished him much happiness. It seemed David had met a very attractive, dark-haired, Italian guy who had his sights set on David and was doing a very good job in seducing the young artist. Tiedoll couldn't be happier for the man.
"David?" Cross asked surprised, darkness brewed in the man's eyes.
"Marion, there is nothing between us. I told him about our commitment to each other as partners and he was happy for me. Anyway, he has a very attractive man seducing him so he's not interested in me," Tiedoll cooed into his partner's ear and hugged him within an inch of his life.
"All right, I do trust you, Froi or we wouldn't be together," Cross said firmly. He put his hands on Tiedoll's butt and pressed him firmly against him to remind his partner what he had to come home to. The door bell rang.
"I love you, and I want some of that when we get home later," Tiedoll whispered into Cross's ear as he firmly gripped the outside of his partner's pants where a bulge protruded all because of him. He gave his partner a quick kiss and ran down the stair to answer the door and left with David.
"Damn, what that guy does to me," Cross muttered as he adjusted his pants for better comfort.
He looked around the room assured Allen would love what they had done to make him feel like this would become his home. The only other thing that needed to be brought over was Allen's piano, but they could do that closer to fall after Kanda goes to college.
The day the doctor removed the bandages from Allen's hands was when they all felt relief the damage had healed. Allen had begun physical therapy immediately, first regaining his fingers flexibility then strengthening his hands and fingers. The doctor had told Allen there was no reason why he couldn't go back to playing the piano if he kept up the great work he was doing in therapy.
Cross left the bedroom and went downstairs to make sure all the doors and windows were secure before he left the house. He made a mental note to call the security company to test the alarms. After Alma's stunt he wasn't taking any chances with Neah trying something especially if he wasn't around to stop him.
He made sure he had Tiedoll's list with him before he grabbed his keys and headed out the front door to his car. He'd gotten in the habit of checking the undercarriage and inside the hood of his car before getting in. Again, he wasn't taking chances with Neah. Satisfied, he got into the car and backed out of the driveway then shifted into drive.
On the way to the hospital, Cross thought back at how excited Allen was about Tiedoll's and his relationship, fearing the boy was going to bust with happiness. Of course, Kanda's reaction was one he expected, cautionary, frigid, and disgruntled about his foster father's choice in a partner—him. The Asian boy was acting very much like Cross had when Allen chose Kanda. They say what goes around comes around.
Cross pulled into a parking space near the entrance to the hospital and got out of his car locking it. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled when he felt someone was watching him. He looked around, but couldn't see anything that seemed unusual to him. Taking his intuition seriously, he called the detective at the police station informing him of his concerns. The detective told Cross to call him before he left the hospital for the day and wait for a uniform police officer to arrive which put Cross's mind to ease.
He quickly headed to the front door of the hospital and once inside walked directly to the elevators. When he got off at the fifth floor, as he normally did, he checked around for anything suspicious, even asking the nurse's if they had seen anyone that has never visited Allen before. They hadn't which also helped ease his mind, but he knew the sooner the boy's were released the better.
While he stood at the nurse's station he asked how the boys were doing only to have the nurses in back start giggling. "What's Kanda been up to?" Cross asked seriously. He thought of him first instead of Allen for doing something that might not be kosher.
The head nurse's amusing smile had Cross conjure up images of what Kanda and Allen had been doing while he was away. "Well, we seem to have the problem with the older teenager climbing in bed with the younger one. We caught them kissing and quickly realized they were boyfriends," the nurse chuckled.
"Jesus, not in the hospital," Cross muttered under his breath. He walked over to their door and opened it. The both of them were watching something on TV, in their separate beds, but turned it off when Cross entered. "You boys are looking chipper today, how are you feeling?" Cross asked and gave Kanda the evil eye.
"I'm feeling better now that they've weaned me off the IV pain medication. I seem to be doing okay with taking the pills. I would like my leg freed from this brace, but I'm sure it's going to be a while longer before they'll take it off," Allen reported to his guardian, whose eyes were only on Kanda. 'The nurses must have said something,' Allen thought by the annoyed expression on Cross's face.
"Kanda, are you doing better today? Your pain must be down considerably if you're capable of climbing into Allen's bed," Cross said sternly and received an impish look on the older teen's face.
"We didn't do anything but kiss," Kanda retorted back and glanced over at Allen who tried to hide his grin.
Kanda couldn't stand it any longer—fear consumed both of them that they could have died in the car accident. They had needed to hold each other and once held they didn't want to let go and their kisses became more intense than ever. Allen had also felt he was no longer attractive to Kanda with his blackened eyes which now had turned a purple-yellowish color. He felt his lover would no longer want to look at him, but once Kanda held his boyfriend, he kissed his bruised eyes to reassure him that wasn't true.
"Jesus Kanda, what the fuck were you thinking? Can't you wait until you two get home to do that stuff?" Cross snapped back. Kanda winced in pain and quickly moved his hand to his side to relieve it. Cross's anger evaporated instantly replaced by genuine concern.
"What's going on, Kanda? Why are you still having sharp pains?" he asked, a worry frown appeared on his brow.
"I'm alright, the pain has been better today. They want to take me down to x-ray, again, to make sure there isn't any metal still inside that they might have missed, or any that might have penetrated an organ," Kanda replied then instantly withdrew from the subject, quieting.
"I think it's a good idea that they double check, it could prevent another infection if they did miss any pieces," Cross said as he tried to reassure the Asian teen. Kanda's body language showed his discomfort talking about having the procedure done so Cross changed the subject.
"Kanda, you're father wanted me to ask you about a new mattress. We've taken out the twin beds because they were unstable and he thought he'd get a double size bed to replace them," Cross informed Kanda.
"I'd rather have a queen size bed," Kanda countered firmly. If he was getting a new mattress he wanted a queen size not some dinky double. Allen perked up noting the tone in his boyfriend's voice. This could prove to be a very interesting discussion.
"What's wrong with a double? It's going up one whole size from the twin bed," Cross responded, not understanding why the double wasn't good enough.
"The double is too small, a queen would be better," Kanda insisted.
"Damn it, Kanda. A queen is a lot more money than a double and you'd have plenty of room to sleep," Cross quipped heatedly irked by Kanda giving him a hard time.
"I said I'd rather have a queen size mattress, a double is too small, in fact I could ask for a king size!" Kanda retorted back sharply, annoyed by Cross not simply accepting his first request.
"You know Kanda, you're a fucking brat, you should be grateful your father's getting you a new bed at all!" Cross lashed back raising his voice—so much for Cross's compassion.
"I'm a fucking brat?! I'll take the queen size mattress you arrogant son-of-a-bitch, you're not the one sleeping with me! If I say there's not enough room on a double that's exactly what I mean you blundering idiot!" Kanda whipped back his voice loud and strained.
The door flung open. "What's going on in here?" Tiedoll asked, agitated by the two of them fighting. Cross and Kanda ceased arguing and quickly looked over at the door shocked to see Tiedoll. Cross glanced over at Allen who had a huge grin on his face.
"What the hell are you grinning at?" Cross snapped at Allen.
"Nothing," Allen replied as he tried to stifle his giggles. Tiedoll looked over at Allen and wondered what was so funny about the argument.
"Now, whose going to tell me what's going on here? Why are you two arguing?" Tiedoll asked sternly. He looked at the two offenders for an answer.
It had been hysterically entertaining for Allen as he watched his boyfriend and guardian get into an argument over a mattress size, but when Tiedoll barged into the room the look on their faces was priceless. They both looked as if they just got caught with their hands in the cookie jar; on top of that, the both of them were blushing from having caused such a scene. Tiedoll seemed to wield some sort of power over the two them and Allen was sure neither of them was even aware of it.
"Well, is one of you going to explain to me what you two were arguing about that I could clearly hear walking up the corridor?" Tiedoll asked firmly. He crossed his arms over his chest, tapping his foot as he waited for them to respond.
Allen burst out laughing at the exaggerated stance Tiedoll had taken being angry, and the foot tapping was too comical for the young teenager to hold in. Allen started laughing hysterically. Cross and Kanda was puzzled by the white-haired boy's outburst, but suddenly picked up on Tiedoll's pose which sent all of them into a fit of giggles and laughter. Tiedoll wasn't looking very happy about being laughed at.
By the time they got themselves under control the arguing beforehand meant nothing to any of them. Though Cross did inform his partner later about the squabble between him and his son over double verses queen size mattress's which now seemed absurd to fight over a few hundred dollars more for a queen size.
The door opened with an orderly coming into the room with a wheelchair to retrieve Kanda. Suddenly, the older teenager became anxious and started fidgeting with the bell cord. It was the first time Cross had seen Kanda so agitated.
Allen motioned his guardian over to him and whispered into Cross's ear that Kanda didn't like the large tube they placed him in the last time, nor being alone with strangers. Cross pulled away from Allen and nodded then walked over to Kanda. The Asian teen didn't know his boyfriend had informed the man of his weakness, he'd been too occupied with the orderly.
"Where are you taking Kanda?" Cross demanded more than asked the orderly. Kanda looked up at Cross trying not to show he was distressed.
"He's scheduled for x-ray, sir," the orderly replied. He helped Kanda out of bed and into the wheelchair then unlocked the wheels to leave. Tiedoll looked at Cross and wondered why his partner was interested in his son having x-rays.
"If you're taking him out of this room than I have to go with you. His life has been put in danger once and he has to have someone he knows to protect him," Cross told the orderly sternly. Now, Tiedoll understood his partner's questioning and was grateful for his protectiveness, but he hadn't noticed his son's emotional discomfort.
"I guess its okay, if not they'll let you know down there," he replied. He didn't care if the man wanted to go with the boy or not. He had a job to do.
"Kanda, you have no say in this, so don't even try to give me any flack. I'm going with you and that's final," Cross told Allen's boyfriend. When he saw the relief in the boy's eyes it was worth his efforts to go with him. "I'll be back with Kanda after they're done, Froi," Cross said quietly as he turned his head for Tiedoll to hear him then turned to look over at Allen and winked. Allen smiled back.
The Asian teenager looked at Cross as the orderly pushed him down to his appointment grateful the man demanded to go with him. Kanda felt if Cross knew about his discomfort he would harass him, but little did Kanda know about the change in the man since what had happened when they almost lost him.
When they arrived at the MRI x-ray room, Cross went in and stayed with Kanda until he was told he had to leave. "Kanda, I'm going to be right in the next room, if the tube bothers you just think about our little argument over the mattress sizes." Cross grinned and left Kanda with a scowl on his face.
The tech pushed buttons that made the stretcher slide back into the tube. Kanda held his breath and closed his eyes as he wished this was over with. The minute the door had closed to the control room, a voice came through the speaker and told him what would happen and to stay perfectly still.
The Asian teenager did as Cross suggested. He thought about the petty argument they had earlier about the mattress, but then his thoughts led him to what he would do to Allen on the mattress as vivid images conjured up in his mind about the different position they could do to accommodate his and Allen's casts when they got home.
He had kept his mind so busy with making love to Allen that the procedure was done before he knew it and the stretcher was being slid out. He wrapped his hospital robe loose enough to cover his obvious erection and prayed Allen's guardian didn't notice. Cross stood waiting for him at the end of the tube and helped him off the table into the wheel chair. Kanda sighed heavily once he was seated glad it was over and that Allen's guardian hadn't notice his arousal then Cross wheeled him out of x-ray and they started back to his room.
"Well, you must have had something to occupy your mind, because you seemed pretty relaxed in there," Cross said with a smirk on his face. He had some idea where Kanda's thoughts had roamed—Allen.
"Yes, I started out thinking about the mattress argument but it took on a life of its own," Kanda snickered. He figured he got his point across.
"Pretty much what I expected," Cross retorted.
"You know Cross, when Allen and I get home, you and Tiedoll do have some explaining to do about your "relationship"," Kanda quipped. He wasn't about to "let them off the hook" sort of speak, both Allen and him wanted to see them both squirm when they talked to them.
When they got back to Kanda's room, Cross rolled Kanda right up to his bed and the teenager stood and climbed in. "Did everything go alright?" Allen asked. Kanda looked better then the last time they brought him back from "the tube". He was glad he told Cross about his boyfriend's fear.
"Yes, it was fine this time," Kanda said quietly to Allen, he didn't want anyone to hear him. "I thought about you and what we could do on a queen size mattress." Kanda winked at his boyfriend and Allen blushed.
"The doctor said if Kanda's x-rays are negative then he would release both of you on Friday," Tiedoll reported the happy news.
"Good, I'm ready to get out of here," Kanda replied and Allen agreed with him, both excited about the thought of being back in the same bed together.
"Mr. Cross could I speak with you for a moment?" a nurse asked who had entered the room.
"Why yes," he replied and went out into the hallway with the nurse.
The three watched from inside the room as the nurse talked with Cross who nodded then took a deep breath as he brought his shoulders up and back. He exhaled, nodded again and looked over at his family, specifically Kanda before he turned and walked back into the room.
"What is it Cross? Is it the x-rays?" Kanda asked nervously.
"No…"
"Marion what just happened?" Tiedoll asked. His forehead wrinkled with concern.
"Alma just passed away an hour ago. He never regained consciousness," Cross informed his family. He looked over at Kanda and wondered if the boy still had any sort of feelings for the guy but there was no evidence of it. Allen looked at Kanda and wondered the same thing. The two had been lovers at one point and he had some history with the guy, but it seemed to be more bad memories than good.
Kanda looked shocked at first. He couldn't believe Alma was dead, but Kanda knew Alma had brought it on himself and he couldn't help it if his ex-boyfriend was mentally deranged. He turned to look at Allen with his soft blue eyes; Allen's haunting silvery ones stared back at him. Kanda didn't care who was in the room, he needed to go to Allen.
"It's alright, Moyashi, he was going to kill you and almost kill me, too. There was nothing left between us only a lot of bad memories. Now, we're safe from him," Kanda said gently to Allen.
He got out of bed and walked over to his boyfriend. Allen moved over and Kanda slipped under the covers with him. He pulled his lover into the crook of his arm and hugged him close. "It really is okay, Moyashi. I love you…not him…nor did I ever love him. You are the only one who has ever stolen my heart. Always remember that no matter what." Kanda kissed Allen, a kiss that was soft, gentle, and passionate that curled Allen's toes. He believed his lover.
To be continued…
A/N: Well my friends, there you have it…Alma died. The family's only worry now is with Neah Walker, "only" I say, but the worse of the two evils they'll face. I hope you didn't mind me showing a weakness in Kanda, but he's human and has other fears as we all do. This chapter was hard to finish due to the dreary weather we're having which affects my mood and concentration (even with my "happy" light). I feel like sleeping most of the time, so please excuse any terrible blunders. Thank you to all my readers and reviewers, it's easier to keep going with your undying support. I hope the rest of you are having sunnier skies than I'm having. ~Later
