With a heavy head that felt like it was filled with sand, Kai groaned as he came out of one of the best sleeps to date the past few weeks. He'd only been half joking about getting tranquilized, but the way his body felt he wasn't so sure if Ray or Lee had actually come in and knocked him out at some point. The only problem was, after coming out of such a dead-like sleep, everything hurt! Almost ten times what it was yesterday, and to top it all off, he was starving.
Thankfully, he could smell breakfast cooking from down the hall through the closed door. Again, the only problem was he was in too much pain to even want to move a pinky toe at the moment.
After a few more minutes of laying in quiet and painful contemplation, while listening to the two cousins bicker back and forth in Mandarin, he finally heaved himself up off the bed and stumbled his way out of the room with his hair a mess and an almost dazed look in his eyes while having to use the walls to support most of his weight.
Finally, after what felt like years, he made it into the kitchen which promptly shut the two up as they seemed to freeze and stare at him like he was a member of the walking dead.
"What? I don't look that bad, do I?" He asked a bit sheepishly.
Ray was the first to shake his head, his long hair undone for once and still tossed and knotted from his own heavy sleep on the couch.
"Kind of forgot you were here." He admitted in his own sheepish tone, "But c'mon, sit down you shouldn't be walking too much." He urged him into the kitchen more, while Lee gathered some coffee mugs from the cupboard.
"Coffee?" He asked over his shoulder at Kai who was slowly easing himself down into the chair he sat in the night before.
"Please.." He practically pleaded, "And some more pain relief if you wouldn't mind.."
He let out a slight groan as he settled into the chair, the smell of bacon that was dancing up his nostrils not soothing enough for the amount of pain he was in.
"Smells really good." He praised, watching Ray head back to the stove to tend to the food.
"How many did you give him last night?" Lee asked Ray as he filled their coffee mugs, taking Kai's over to him.
"Gave him three." Ray answered, a small smile hidden with his back turned to the other two. "Thanks, should be done in a minute."
Lee wandered off to the bathroom, leaving the other two in the kitchen quietly while Ray finished up their breakfast and was already plating them when he returned with two pills for Kai.
"Here ya go, how'd you sleep?" Lee asked as he settled down at the table with Kai, passing him the pills across the table and sipped at his coffee.
"Best night in a long time actually, considering." He admitted, taking the pills from him, popping them in his mouth and gingerly sipping at his hot coffee to swallow them down.
"How about you guys? Ray?"
He still felt a little guilty for letting the guy take the couch. It wasn't as if Ray wasn't completely damage free as he'd seen Enrique launch the two of them into a table at one point.. That had to hurt.
"Good. Probably the pills." Lee chuckled a little, not missing how Kai couldn't really keep his eyes off the back of Ray's head until his cousin turned around, and it was like Kai was zapped out of his staring and went to looking into his coffee mug while Ray brought over their food.
"I'm fine." Ray huffed back, already having gotten chewed a new asshole by Lee when he woke up, which prompted a quick look over himself and the nice bruise that had blossomed all over his side and lower back.
"Didn't know what kind of eggs you liked, so just scrambled them." He directed at Kai as he sat his plate down in front of him, moving to his chair at the small round table.
"Honestly, I'm that hungry I'm not gonna be fussy, thank you." He sent with a light laugh and a warm smile as he reached for his fork, "Really owe you guys, thanks for letting me stay and sorting me out, Lee."
"Bah, don't sweat it man." Lee waved him off, digging into his own food like he was starving just as badly.
Ray just nodded in agreement, though had a few requests once he had the right chance to go over them with Kai. Now, of course, was not the time but something needed to be done before someone actually got killed.
He'd never imagined that starting at this highly respectable club would turn out like this, he'd heard such great things about it and now he wasn't even sure what to really think about it as a whole.
Bryan betrayed Kai and Tala last night, even put him in the hospital. Ming-Ming was abducted by some sleazy looking man that somehow knew Johnny, with a damn gun!
Now that he'd really had time to sit over it all and think about it, he wasn't so sure if he even wanted to go back to work when the club reopened or not. If Tala wasn't going to be there, then definitely not. If for whatever reason Kai let Johnny come back, then there was no way in hell he'd go back.
And that was exactly what he needed to talk to Kai about. He just needed to find the right time to do it.
"Lee's going to take us back to get your car on his way to work." He informed Kai beside him, though wasn't looking at him as he picked around his food.
"Ah great, thanks, can get a better look of the place in the daylight too.." Kai seemed to deflate a little as he scooped up some food into his mouth.
Noticing Ray's slight shift in demeanor before he too looked back down to his plate. "Actually dreading the state it's probably in…"
"You got insurance and stuff like that?" Lee asked, sounding intrigued as they ate, Ray letting them have at it while he ate what he could quietly.
"Oh yeah, of course, so don't have to worry about anything like that." He replied, reaching for his coffee. "It's just, yet another thing to deal with y'know?"
Taking a sip of his coffee his eyes trailed to his left at Ray who had gone awfully quiet on them now. Maybe he was tired? Can't have been all that comfortable on the couch.
Finishing off his plate, Kai set down his fork and sat holding his cup with his elbows resting on the table, taking another deep inhale of the caffeine before contently sighing out.
"That was really nice, thanks Ray."
Lee's eyes shifted to take in Ray, frowning slightly at the sudden cold shoulder he was giving Kai now. Granted he was sure none of this was easy on any of them, and he only knew the bare minimum of what happened. Though, knowing how his cousin worked, it was all just now sinking in and he was fixing to freak the fuck out.
Ray barely snapped out of it, finally looking to Kai and felt his heart slam into his chest hard. Out of all the shit and chaos that went on, and regardless of how out of it he was at the time, he could clearly remember what they had almost done in the men's bathroom.
Sadly, as much as he wouldn't have minded it, he didn't understand why.
"You're welcome." He smiled, taking Kai's empty plate and putting it over his still full one and carried them to the sink.
"Gonna go get ready so we can go." He announced, already down the hall by the time he'd said anything.
Kai just watched him go, wondering what the hell he did before sending Lee half a smile and thanking him again.
Wincing slightly as he slowly eased himself up from the round table, Kai used the walls again to help him hobble along back to the bedroom where Ray was getting some clothes out from his drawers.
"Hey, is uhm.. Everything okay?" He asked him, slowly easing the door closed so Lee wouldn't overhear them.
Ray startled slightly, nearly throwing the shirt he'd had in his hands at Kai. "Don't do that!" He yelled in a distressed tone, looking a few shades paler until he gathered his nerves up off the floor.
"Yeah, just worried about Tala and Ming-Ming is all." He answered in a small tone, "And... Everything else really."
"Sorry…" Kai sheepishly shifted, walking further into the room and sitting himself on the bed.
"Tal will be fine, he's a tough one. His pride will be hurting the most I'm sure... And as for Ming… Yeah.. I'm gonna sort it.." Whilst he'd said it, a phrase that passed his lips often, Kai had no idea how he was actually intending on sorting any of this out at all. He had to though. He had no other choice.
"You don't have to worry about anything though, just leave it to me."
"And watch you collapse from exhaustion? No. You're one man, Kai. You can't keep going on like this!" Ray snapped at him, though his tone was more pleading than angry.
"You got severely hurt last night, and Johnny is out for your blood for whatever reason. You're going to kill yourself."
"That's..." Kai paused as he tried to find the words for him, exhaling his held breath as he ran a hand through his hair.
"You don't have to worry about him, or me. That's between us and it'll get sorted." He sent him more firmly. He knew Ray was concerned, but he wasn't his mother. He didn't need the lecture every god damn day.
Tears of frustration rolled down Ray's face without warning as he shook, not even sure what to say to that as he just stared at Kai. He was beyond exhausted, hurt and bruised while running on little sleep, and scared out of his damn mind right now. Not just from the attack, but whatever was suddenly manifesting between them that he didn't quite like.
"I don't know! Okay? I don't know, I just don't want to see you get hurt again!"
Kai's expression instantly softened, regretting shouting at him once he saw the tears fall down his cheeks and broke his gaze off from him.
"I'm sorry..." He sighed out guiltily. "I'm sorry you had to see all of that."
He had a long list of people he'd have to get in touch with today, too. Hilary and Mariah just to name a few. The two scared out of their wits at the sight of a gun against their friends head.
"Quit that! Quit apologizing! It wasn't your fault!" Ray cried back at him, almost sick of hearing Kai apologize at this point since he'd done it so much.
But he was right, it wasn't Kai's fault for what happened. It was Johnny's.
Kai's lips parted, automatically going to apologise once more before he stopped himself. Ray might have said it wasn't, but the whole thing seemed like it was his fault. Entirely.
If he hadn't gotten involved with Nicole then Johnny wouldn't be coming for his ass right now, but like hell was he not going to help her. If he hadn't gotten involved with Ming-Ming, Robert wouldn't have come for his ass, but like hell was he not going to help her.
Like he knew they would, his plates were starting to spin out of control and smash on the floor. He was losing it. Losing control of everything, and he didn't know what to do to stop it.
"I don't know what to do, I really don't... I'm just asking to let me help, anyway I can. That's all." Ray voiced in a quiet tone after a silence had befallen them, giving him the time to calm himself down some since he knew it wasn't helping anything at the moment.
"I just don't want you to get hurt either, Ray." Kai tried to sound as firm as he could considering the atmosphere between them now.
He wasn't sure when, or how he'd grown to care so much for the other but ever since his interview he'd just felt, something. How could he feel so much for someone he'd known two minutes?
It wasn't just a physical attraction anymore, there was more to this.. And it was starting to worry him.
"Those closest to me always end up getting hurt.. Tala, Ming.. You even got in a scrap last night, and for what? There was no reason for you to have been involved."
"I was trying to get to you, get Johnny off of you before he killed you... That other guy blindsided me, knocked me into sobriety." Ray attempted at a joke.
"Not much help then, I know. I just... I didn't..." He stumbled around his own words, not even sure what he was trying to say to him now.
Kai eased himself up, stepping to Ray leant against the drawers still fumbling with the shirt in his hands and placed a hand on his arm.
"I know you were, and I appreciate it.. All everyone was trying to do was protect me, and they got hurt in the process. So just... Let me feel bad about it.." He fake pouted, his own attempt at lifting the mood between them.
At the touch, Ray's skin lit up like he'd been shocked but remained still. His breathing getting slightly heavier, though wasn't sure if he was fixing to cry again or in anticipation of something else. Lifting his eyes to Kai's, he nodded slowly as he bit into his bottom lip to stop it from opening or wobbling.
He didn't want him to feel bad, about any of it. If he could he'd change what had happened last night, but all that was really left to do was move forward from it the best they could.
Tala and Ming-Ming needed them right now, as did everyone else who relied on Kai. He didn't really know how much help he could be, and not wanting to pry into his life, he wasn't even sure how to.
"Okay..." He finally breathed out, reaching out and touching Kai's hand that was against his arm. "But just for an hour, deal? And let me just be here for you, you don't have to do any of this alone."
"Deal." Kai smiled at him and sent him a nod, he too feeling a tingle the second the others hand touched his skin.
His eyes stayed locked on gold, subtly lowering to his lips and back again before he cleared his throat to break the silence.
"So, got anything you think will fit me?" He tilted his head, gesturing to the drawers behind him.
"Ummm..." Ray gave him a look over, face flushing when his eyes fell on the bare chest he was almost eye level with.
What was the question again?
"Ray?" He softly pressed, noticing the other had seemed to zone out.
"Yes!" Ray snapped back to attention, face burning now and quickly let go of Kai's hand before awkwardly shuffling his way around him to the closet on the other side of the room.
Was probably a weird thing to give Kai his ex's clothes to wear, but it wasn't like he could wear them, and they looked to be the same height and build so hoped they'd work.
Grabbing the faded pair of jeans from the top shelf that had been shoved to the back, along with a few shirts that ended up falling out on top of him and to the ground, he snatched the one off his head and blushed even more as he held them up.
"These okay?" He squeaked.
"Uh yeah, thank you." Kai replied, wondering why he'd gotten flustered all of a sudden but found it endearing none the less.
Taking the clothes from him he stared back at him for a while, Ray seeming to be glued to where he was stood.
"Shall I go get changed in the bathroom then, or…"
Ray shook his head at him, "No, you don't need to walk around too much. And I have to do my hair anyways, and- Oh my god! Lee's going to be late for work! Hurry up!" He panicked, rushing around Kai to grab the clothes he'd left on the end of his bed and zipped out of the bedroom as fast as he could.
Kai blinked before chuckling to himself as Ray darted out of the room. Not too fond of the idea of rushing to get dressed when just blinking hurt at this stage.
Lee sent Ray a look as he came out the bedroom, tapping on his invisible watch and shaking his head at him.
[The fuck are you doing? Do you want a ride or not? Mind trying to get in his pants later please, I've a job to get to!]
[I'm having a fucking mental breakdown, is that okay with you?! And I'll be quick, promise!] Ray shouted back at him as he disappeared into the bathroom, knowing he'd just lied through his teeth. His hair took forever to tame, even on a good day and it was anything but a good day.
Lee tutted, continuing to sip on his coffee and aimlessly scroll through his phone as he waited. Damn kids…
As Lee pulled up outside the club, police tape surrounding the place like some kind of murder scene, Ray hopped out and assisted Kai as best he could out the back, hissing in pain followed by quick apology's from the other.
"Thanks again Lee." Kai managed to get out through a slightly clenched jaw to which he'd brushed off like he had done before.
[Get him checked out when you see Tala today.] Lee sent to Ray through the open window.
[Yeah, I will. See you tonight, maybe...] Ray nodded back to him, keeping his hold on Kai as they stepped away from the car so Lee could drive off.
"Do you want me to drive?" Ray asked once they were alone in the empty parking lot, save for Kai's car.
"Would you mind?" Kai asked with slight unease.
He was starting to feel pathetic, but every slight turn or twist was agony, he wouldn't even feel in control of the car if he was to drive right now.
"Not at all." Ray smiled at him, dragging him along to the car. "You do have your keys, right? Or are they inside?"
Kai blinked before turning to the building beside them. "Shit… In the office… Come with?"
"Um... Why don't I just go get them, you wait here." Ray suggested, Kai didn't need to be on his feet more than he needed to be.
"Just tell me where you keep them, I'll be quick."
Kai thought about it for a moment. Not really wanting to send him in there on his own but figured it was best. Be quicker too.
"Upstairs, think I put them in the top drawer of my desk."
"Okay." Ray nodded back, setting Kai's weight up against his car and waited a second once he let go to make sure he wouldn't topple over and dashed as fast as he could around the back of the building.
Thankfully, the back door was unlocked, making it easy for him to just slip in only to trip halfway up the stairs and knock his knee.
Picking himself up, his knee throbbing now along with his back, he threw himself into Kai's office and dashed like a mad man to the desk before ripping the drawer open and off its tracks.
"Shit!"
But, there were the keys he was looking for and snatched them right up and awkwardly sat the drawer on the top of the desk to deal with later.
Kai stood by his car waiting for him to get back, shifting in the clothes that felt odd on him simply because they weren't his own.
The past 24hours would be enough to send any sane man mad and the longer he stood by himself, going over all he had to do to begin to rectify this mess, he could feel himself fixing to laugh.
If it weren't for Ray jogging back over to him he probably would have burst out in something, whether that were a laugh or tears.
"Hey, got em!" Ray cheered rather happily that his quest had been fulfilled, waving the keys about as he made it up to him, panting heavily after that run.
Unlocking the car and taking Kai's arm, he led him to the passenger side and helped him in. It wasn't until he was sat in the driver's seat himself did he feel a sweat form on his back. This car was worth more than his life! And he was fixing to just drive it?! The hell had he been thinking?!
"So um..." He went to put the key in, only to find there was no ignition slot. Why wasn't there and ignition slot?!
"Help..." He whined, flustered already and felt like he broke the car for some reason.
Kai just sat and watched him for a moment, confused and not even registering what the problem was until it clicked a second later.
"Ohh yeah.. It isn't a regular key, just press that button there and hold it down for a second.. Right of the steering wheel.. Just there." He directed as he pointed over, "Can just stick the keys in this little drawer, you don't need 'em."
Ray did as he was told, pushing down the button till the car shook to life and freezing cold air hit them in the face, adding to the already chilly air of the car.
"I'll let you um... Fiddle with all that..." Ray gestured at the dash board, there were too many buttons for him to even attempt to try and touch it.
Slowly, as if he was driving his dying grandmother to the grocery store, he eased the car out of the parking lot. Sweating harder as oncoming traffic zipped past them.
He said a little prayer, while also praying Kai had really good insurance and wouldn't kill him if they got in a wreck as he guided the car out onto the main road.
At the press of a few buttons Kai cranked up the heat, the car soon warming up as they continued to drive along... At a glacial pace.
"I know there's a speed limit Ray, but Jesus." He playfully digged, leaning to see they were barely touching 30 in a 45.
"Pretty sure the accelerator is in the same place in all cars… But lemme know when you find it."
"Shut up! I know where it's at." Ray bit back, eyes a little dry from not blinking and just staring at the road and cars around him.
He eased his foot on the gas pedal, the car gaining a slight bit of speed that the people behind him were more thankful for. Releasing the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding, he put his foot down some more and got up to the actual speed limit. Letting his muscles relax and actually wet his eyes by blinking a few times.
Was all fine, everything was fineeeee.
It was missed entirely, but an amused smirk danced upon Kai's face. The amount of concentration sitting on the others more than entertaining for him. Guy was acting like he was on his damn drivers test, bless his heart.
"Y'alright now? We settled?" He continued to tease, eyes still on him.
"If you weren't so beat up, I'd smack you." Ray grumbled back.
Kai snorted. "Rude… Soon as I'm decent I'll take you for a spin, show you what this baby can really do."
A smile finally cracked over Ray's face, the idea not sounding all that horrible in his head. As long as he didn't have to drive this thing again, he was fine.
"I'd like that."
After another twenty minutes, Ray pulled into the large hospital car park, never reversing back and forth so much into a space in his life, terrified he was too close to either car parked beside them. Once he was happy, the two got out and made their way in through the automatic glass doors and straight for the main reception.
"Hello, how may I help you?" An older lady greeted behind the desk, taking note of his swollen lip and blackened eye.
"We're looking for a Tala Ivanov, would've been admitted last night sometime around 1am." Kai stated, trying to seem completely normal and not in any pain whatsoever and completely ignore the look this receptionist was currently sending him.
The lady nodded, checking her computer for a minute though her eyes kept darting back to the two men who'd come and approached her. Clearly the one was worse off, but the shorter one did have a cut up cheek that had swelled and reddened.
Wasn't her business or job to pry, so jotted down the number and floor they were meant to go to and passed the little paper over to them with a smile on her wrinkly face.
"You sure you can walk all the way there, they have wheelchairs." Ray questioned as they wandered to the elevators.
"Yeah it's fine, need to just try and forget about it." He replied, reaching for the button and pressing it.
Ray just nodded back, following quietly behind him into the elevator. The ride up to the fifth floor just as quiet while he kept his eyes on the silver doors, staring at their distorted reflections until they reopened on their floor.
Standing back in case Kai suddenly went down while walking, Ray trailed behind him down the long tiled hallways and through two security doors. When they finally got to the closed door, letting Kai knock on it and get the go ahead to come in, Ray held his breath as they stepped inside.
Kai swallowed too before pushing open the door, an anxious pang hitting his stomach as he prepared himself for what he was about to see. He'd only caught glimpses of Tala during the fight last night and wasn't sure of his condition, or what to even expect right now.
Though, being the only one carried out on a stretcher he had an idea he wasn't in a good way.
Kai was mid speaking with an officer when he was put in the ambulance, unable to tell where his face ended and his hair began from the amount of blood. If he'd have been thinking straight, he would've told Ray to wait a minute outside, so he could've prepared him for what he was about to see. Described to Ray a little on what to expect before he came in to ease some of the shock. But nothing would have prepared them for the state their friend was in as he laid on the hospital bed.
"Tal..." Ray gasped, hands coming to his mouth as his eyes began to water.
It wouldn't have matter what Kai had done or didn't do, there was no way to ease them into this horror that was currently their lives right now.
A mouth piece was over Tala's face, which was bruised in all different shades, a neck brace wrapped tightly around his neck. His left eye looked swollen shut, and another impressive shade of black and blue. While the right side of his jaw was just as equally swollen and stitched up the side of it into his cheek.
From the bruising all over him to seeing him hooked up to the different machines and IVs, the image slowly burned a hole through Ray's head. He'd never be able to get it out of his head.
Though beside it all the fair hand that was closest to them weakly lifted and waved to them, once he'd tilted his head over and registered who had come to visit.
Kai exhaled the breath he'd been holding on to as he stepped inside, heading straight for the bottom of the bed and pulling a chair across, letting Ray be the one to sit up close at his bed side.
This was all his fault...
Ray followed behind, easing himself down into the chair while unable to tear his eyes off of Tala. Though as he sat he wasn't even sure what to say or do.
And to think, Bryan had done this to him...
"Well, don't just sit there and stare. Say somethin." Tala croaked out as the silence and staring became too thick.
Kai took a glance to Ray, having completely expected him to fill the room with conversation as he always did but of course he'd probably never seen anyone in this way before. This messed up. Poor guy was probably frozen with shock.. He should've just come here by himself first..
..Fucks sake Hiwatari..
"H-How are you feeling?" Came the stupid question from the bottom of the bed.
"I mean I've been better I'll be honest.." Tala replied, slowly reaching up for the face mask and easing it off him. Damn thing was getting annoying. "You don't look all that crackin' yourself, you been checked out?"
Kai shifted, arm seeming to be in a permanent position over his ribs as he nodded to him. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine." He brushed off.
Tala rolled his head towards Ray as if to confirm what Kai had said, making Ray jolt in his chair and shake his head no.
"My cousin looked at him last night, but he probably needs an x-ray." He answered, not looking back at Kai as he spoke for fear he'd yell at him to shut up.
Tala nodded, at least it looked like he was trying to and rolled his head back towards Kai at his feet.
"Get yourself checked, that bastard did a good number on you. Can't be walkin around with a broken rib or something."
Kai suppressed the eye roll but sent a look to Ray that went unseen. Thanks. Asshole..
"Yeah I will.. Anyways.." He quickly redirected, though didn't exactly have anything to change the subject with.
"Don't even try it Kai, you're already here so just go speak to the reception.." Tala sent him in a sigh, clearly over all of this and the pain he was in so wasn't even going to argue with him at this point.
"Make sure he does before you leave, Ray, yeah?"
"Yeah, of course." Ray nodded back, shifting a bit closer to Tala.
"What did they say about you though? How long are you going to be in here?" He asked as his voice wobbled and close to tears again.
"Just a few days all being well." He responded, moving a little where he sat trying to get himself more comfortable. "Had to check me for internal bleeding since that prick really went to town on my ass."
Kai muttered an expletive under his breath as he kept his gaze down. He knew Bryan had made some poor decisions in his life; but restraining him, and what he did to Tala was at the top of the list.
"And?" Ray stressed in a panicked tone.
The hand closest to him weakly waved him off. "Oh no, no I'm fine on that.." He faintly chuckled. Shit probably should have clarified.
"Worst thing is he broke my nose.. The bastard.. One thing I had going for me was my looks and now I don't even have that.." He fake pouted as best he could considering his cut lip.
Ray sighed out a relieved breath, a small chuckle coming out him at Tala's remark. "Nah, you still got that." He said in a bid to try and lighten the mood and perk him up.
Kai's eyes snapped up from the end of bed sheet he'd been keeping himself occupied with over in Ray's direction. Why was that comment not sitting right with him?
Despite the cuts and bruising, Tala's wolfish smirk was still prominent. "Aw you think? Shucks.. So, you'd still want that white picket fence with me?"
Kai's eyes looked from Tala immediately back to Ray waiting for his response. He better watch what he says..
"If you want it, offers still up." Ray chuckled as his face tinted slightly pink.
Hell, if Tala was gay he'd have been all over him on day one. But, alas, just wasn't meant to be...
"But, you don't like the suburbs. So." He shrugged his shoulders, happy that the tense and heavy atmosphere was lifting around them.
Kai clearing his throat from the bottom of the bed caused the other two to look down to him. "So anyone else been to see you? That girl you're seeing for instance." Just in case Ray forgot he wasn't Tala's type..
"Nah. She don't know anything that's happened. Wanna say Mario was here but was probably too drugged up to talk to him, and if I did I don't remember it." Tala chuckled back, trying not to smirk at Kai's attempt at getting him and Ray to stop bro-flirting with each other. He was onto him, no matter how slick Kai thought he was.
"What happened to you anyways, you got cut up too." Tala asked as he gestured at Ray beside him, taking in his stitched and swollen cheek.
"Oh. Um. Got rammed into by that blonde guy, knocked us into a table and his ring got me." Ray explained, dragging his eyes from Kai while wondering why he'd interject into his and Tala's conversation the way he had.
Seemed a bit rude, to be honest, but was still wondering why he even bothered. They were only playing; it was pretty clear... Wasn't it?
"Enrique." Kai stated. Knowing Ray could've cared less for his name but thought he'd give him it anyway.
"They won't get away with what they've done.. None of them will.. I'll make sure if it.." His tone had gone dark as he spoke collectively of the four men in question.
Robert, Enrique, Bryan and of course at the top of his shit list, Johnny.
"And have you gotten looked at then, Rayyyy?" Tala asked in a sly voice as he looked back over at him, only to find he'd gone to looking and listening to Kai till he heard his name.
"Oh, my cousin stitched me. I'm fine." He waved off quickly, turning back to Kai with a brow raised.
"Who were they? The guy that took Ming, and Enrique? Why were they even there?"
Kai looked to him before breaking off his gaze. Oh nowww he wanted to talk to him.. Why not just ask Tala who they were.. Not that he knew but whatever.
"Old associates.. Of Johnny's not mine." He quickly added after to clarify. "Was obviously some big plan he'd organized to get back at me.."
"For what exactly? Past week you two had been fine." Ray pressed on, and now it was Tala's turn for his attention to bounce from one to the other.
Though he had known something was going on, just didn't know what. He had a feeling though it was linked to why Kai had turned up late to the party in the first place.
"I can't remember the last time we were genuinely fine, all what you saw had been acting, clearly on both our parts.." Kai's tone was bitter as he started to explain, feeling somewhat foolish now that he hadn't seen any of this coming.
"Several days ago I got a text from his pregnant wife who, turns out, he's been knocking the shit out of for god knows how long.. And I moved her into one of my other places up north whilst she files for divorce... Isn't hard to work out Johnny wasn't too pleased about it."
"My god..." Ray stared at him as did Tala, their admiration for their boss rising along with the respect they had for him.
"Why she get a hold of you and not the police or something?" Tala asked.
Kai rubbed a hand down his face and exhaled a sigh. "Cos despite everything she still loves the fuckin' moron and didn't wanna see him behind bars... It's also why I had to keep my fists to myself and not deck him as soon as I saw him next.. She didn't want him getting hurt."
"Okay... I guess..." Tala blinked at the explanation, though still wondered how they were even close enough for her to call Kai up in the first place.
Sure, he knew Kai and Johnny went way back as best buds at some point, but you don't just call up your husband's best buddy after he beat the shit out of you.
"Have you talked to her at all, since last night?" Ray asked.
Kai shook his head. Was another thing he needed to do today..
"No not yet.. Spoke to her before the party, but I could do with going and checking on her to be honest.. It's a few hours' drive away though.."
"Okay. Let's go then." Ray said before turning back to Tala, "I'll come by and see you tomorrow, if you want?"
"Wait no-" Kai interjected before Tala had a chance to open his mouth, "I can't expect you to drive me all the way there Ray, it's too far."
"You just said it's a few hours away, and like hell you can drive right now. And what am I supposed to do, sit here till Lee gets off work?" Ray huffed back at him.
Kai tutted. Shit he had a point. Fuck Johnny for turning him into a god damn burden!
"Right fine then! But I'm buying you lunch or something.." He snapped back at him, rising to his feet and easing the chair back to where he found it.
Tala just sat watching the soap opera play out before him. This was way better than the shit they played on the TV's here..
"Have fuunn.." He sang out watching the two of them fix to leave.
"Yeah, we'll try." Ray rolled his eyes, not missing the sly look Tala was now throwing their way.
"Before we leave, you're getting checked out." He turned to Kai, pointing a finger in warning in his face.
Kai just sent him a bored look, before nodding his goodbye to Tala. "Call me if you need anything." He sent him before opening up the door to his room.
Tala nodded back to him before popping a kiss over in Ray's direction. "Thanks for coming."
Ray flushed red a little, wondering what that was for but blew one back at him anyways.
"Get some more rest, see you tomorrow Tal."
Waving them off, Tala eased back into his pillows once the door had closed, able to wince in pain as much as he wanted to now. Was difficult keeping up the joker act when he was feeling as low as he was.
Was nice to see them both of course but truth be told after all that had transpired with his so called best friend last night he was heartbroken..
"Alright, let's go get you looked at." Ray said to Kai, on a mission now to get him looked over and then take him to Johnny's soon to be ex.
"We don't have time Ray, so forget it. I'm fine, I'll do it tomorrow." He sent back, keeping up his pace intending on going straight back to his car.
"Like hell, it's not even noon yet." Ray scolded, grabbing Kai's hand to stop him. "You need to get looked at. Just to rule out that nothing is actually broken, or you don't have internal bleeding. I promised Tala and Lee to make sure you were taken care of, kind of man are you to make me break a promise like that, hm?"
Kai had winced slightly at the grab though bit it back. He knew he was just being stubborn now and truth be told hospitals just make him feel nauseous with nerves.
He just looked back at him, thinking of something to send back but nothing would come.
"Besides, I have the keys to the car anyways. So you can go down there and wait all day if you want to keep being stubborn." Ray jabbed back at him.
Kai clicked his tongue at him. This guy could just starve now.. Bar of chocolate out the vending machine, that was all he was getting.
"Fine!" He barked, diverting from the elevator to the reception.
"Fine." Ray mocked behind him, following after with a smile coming over his face and a light bounce in his step.
An hour later and back in the car, the directions to Kai's other house set in the GPS, they were back on the road in a tense silence that had followed them since Kai came out of the ER.
Luckily there hadn't been any major damage done to him internally, and with a bottle of pain meds to help, he was still slightly annoyed that they had wasted the time to even be told the same thing Lee had told him the night before.
There was way too much to do and sort through in the few hours they had in the day, it was a waste of time to get himself looked at when there were other people he was more concerned about than himself. Then again, he wasn't even sure what he could do for any of his people. Tala was being looked at, which was good, but not knowing where Ming-Ming was had been eating him alive since he woke up and still had no idea what to do about it.
And now, he was going back to adding more onto his spinning plates as they wobbled all over the place.
But, he had to check on Nicole. Tell her what was going on and had to do it in person since there was no one there for her in order to tell her over the phone, he didn't need something else worse happening to her or anyone he knew. Which also meant the longer Ray was there at his side, the more he was putting someone else he knew in danger.
At this point though, he was pretty sure Ray would just be as stubborn as him and not budge on letting him be and do this all on his own. Wounded or not.
"You hungry?" Ray finally asked, once more not tearing his eyes off the road but going the speed limit this time now that he was used to driving the fancy and expensive metal death trap.
The silence was becoming too thick, he could only take so much of it, and although he understood why Kai had been giving him the cold shoulder it wasn't like he appreciated it.
"Not really.." He muttered, clearly still sulking with his arms loosely folded over himself, and his whole body tilted as far from him as he comfortably could be.
The distinct smell of the hospital was still lingering up his nose, and he really did not appreciate that nurses cold hands all over him. Whole thing would have been avoided if Ray had just listened to him. If everyone just listened to him things would be fine!
"Well I am, and you promised me lunch." Ray responded in a borderline cocky tone, "And you'll need to eat something with your meds. So, what do you want? Saw a McDonalds coming up if we take the next exit."
"Didn't promise, just said I would.." He retorted, not appreciating Ray's tone. Can get him a happy meal since he wanted to be so childish!
"Whatever though.. Fine.. You're the one driving.. Not like I have a choice in anything anymore."
"If you want, you can pick out the drapes for the living room." Ray snipped back.
Kai frowned for a second before it registered what this clown was trying to do, and he turned his head further from him to hide the smirk that was daring to appear on his lips.
"Very kind of you.." He sent back in the same tone, "Still not having four fuckin' kids though."
Ray pouted even if Kai couldn't see it, "Fine then, we can have seven. It's a lucky number, right?" He jabbed.
"Or we cannot even risk the gamble and go with ZE-RO." Kai clapped back, not even sure if this was playful anymore as the tones they were using suggested otherwise.
"Look, I'm compromising here with you. You get to pick out the drapes for the living room, and I get four kids. It's a fair trade." Ray argued with a playful tone, so far into it he wasn't even realizing what they were doing. Either way, it was better than Kai being mad at him.
A scoff escaped him as his head snapped to the driver's side. "How the hell is picking out drapes a fair trade for four freakin' kids?!" A mad man! He was stuck with a mad man!
"I tell you what, you pick out the drapes, and we'll get a cat."
"Mmmm, can't. I'm allergic to cats." Ray sent him a sheepish smile, "And I'm terrified of dogs."
Kai tutted. "And I don't like kids so.. Guess you can just go set up home with Tala then."
Ray arched a brow; the better tone Kai had been using changing to another that he didn't quite like and liked at the same time.
Was that jealousy he could hear in there? Whatever for? Wasn't Tala he almost kissed in a drunken stupor the night before.
"Can't, he doesn't want the white picket fence in the suburbs. Want it all, or none of it."
"Well.. Too bad for you then." Kai sent in a sarcastic tone; his mood now even lower than before for whatever ridiculous reason.
He knew Tala wasn't that way inclined, hell would've had his own wicked way with him ten times over before now if he was. But how they were together just seemed so nice. Playful. Easy.
Not like the two of them bickering over fuckin' drapes for a living room in a house they don't even have yet. And why are they getting a house together anyway, they're not even anything to each other!
"If you plan on taking this next exit I suggest you get in the right lane."
"Yes dear." Ray rolled his eyes, not catching what he said before it was already out of his mouth as he pulled the car over into the other lane to take the off ramp.
With the two of them grabbing a burger meal each, Kai being hungrier than he'd originally let on and actually finishing before Ray, they continued the drive up to Citrus and another forty minutes later pulled up into the long drive of the home Nicole was staying at.
Golden eyes stared up at the impressive detached home through the windscreen, locking on the front porch held up by a pillar at either side, and an impressive array of greenery surrounding them.
This was just one of his other homes? Jeez..
Parking up, he switched off the engine with a push of a button, feeling somewhat smug that he was getting the hang of this futuristic car and parroted Kai's movements in reaching for the seat belt.
With a click Kai released his and paused for a moment to look over at him. "You don't have to come in if you don't want, can't see me being that long."
Ray paused himself, before pouting at him. "It's freezing out here, and it'll waste gas if I let this run." He said and shook his head, "I won't pry, I can sit in your second living room or something."
"Alright fine." Kai accepted, finding it weird how he knew he had another living room but brushed it off.
Reaching for the handle he eased himself out the car and gingerly head for the front door. Again the same churn of anxiety swirling in his stomach as he knocked on the front door and took a slight step back as he waited for her to answer.
Ray wasn't sure what to be expecting, eyes trying to take everything in at once that was around him.
The place was bigger than he'd ever seen, or even dared step foot on. They could have twenty kids and still have breathing room in this thing!
The handle of the door jiggling as the lock clicked brought him out of his crazy thoughts, attention snapping on the woman who opened the door and smiled kindly at her even though she was more focused on Kai.
"What happened to you?!" Nicole cried, her own face still slowly healing from the bruises and cuts on her own face.
"I'm sure you can hazard a guess." Kai dully replied, walking in when she'd taken a step back to invite them in.
"This is Ray, by the way."
"Oh. Um, hello. Nicole." She waved off almost dismissively as Ray came in behind Kai, going after him as he kept wandering through the large foyer to a wide hallway for the kitchen.
"Kai, what on earth is going on. Have you been looked at?" Nicole fussed at him, putting a hand on his shoulder that made an uncomfortable jolt run down Ray's spine.
"Yesss this morning.." He sighed out, sick of the molly coddling for one day and taking a quick look around the place to make sure everything was ok, and that she was okay.
Quickly he continued scanning the place for anything and nothing at the same time, continuing his man on a mission pace as he then ventured into a living room.
"You might wanna sit down." He suggested to her though by his tone was more of a command.
"Oh god Kai.." She sent him with her hand settling over her mouth, nerves running through her as she sat down on the plush couch.
Ray wandered off, he said he wouldn't pry and decided to keep his word for once. Admiring the marble flooring and the pillars, praying he didn't get lost at the same time.
Nicole shifted, not taking her eyes off Kai as her breathing became harder as every worst scenario played out in her head. Kai chose to remain standing, the pain of getting up and down getting too much for his heavily bruised ribs.
"There was a fight at the club last night.." He started. "Orchestrated by your darling husband.. And this is the aftermath." Gesturing to himself, his tone held a slight bitterness to it.
He knew it wasn't Nicole's fault. He couldn't have gone for the prick even if he'd wanted to thanks to Bryan. But he could still be pissed off with the whole situation.
"No..." Nicole gaped, "And what happened?" She asked, even though part of her didn't want to know. She knew how dangerous Johnny could be, but even he was no match for Kai.
Fearing the worst, tears budded in her eyes quickly. "P-please... Please tell me you didn't..." She choked up.
"No, I didn't touch your precious Johnny! Couldn't anyway 'cos one of his stooges restrained me so he could get a fair few cheap shots in, since apparently that's the only way he throws hands. To women and men who can't fight back." He snapped, pacing around back and forth as he ranted to her.
Nicole shook, covering her mouth as she cried harder and tried to breathe. What the hell had Johnny been thinking?!
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Kai. I-if I hadn't called you, this wouldn't have happened."
The pacing stopped and his hard face softened when he'd realised how upset she was. His ranting taking over to the point he forgot the reason as to why he'd come here in the first place which was to check on her.
"No, you did the right thing. Sorry, just, pissed off with the whole thing. It isn't your fault." he sighed out, deciding to take a load off now and sat down beside her on the couch.
"But yeah.. Cops showed up, naturally, dragged him off me and took him away in cuffs."
"I see..." Nicole heaved in a breath, tears running down her face as she slowly calmed down.
"What happens now then? You're going to get him out, right? He needs help, Kai." She asked in a breath, trailing her red and puffy eyes towards him.
Kai's lips parted before closing again and sent a look to the woman beside him in disbelief.
Did she not see him? See the purple bruising under his eyes and the swelling to his lip? The fact he'd winced when he sat down beside her and continued to hold onto his ribs in pain. But he had to go fix Johnny who'd left without a scratch?!
"Help him? You want me to help him? You're not serious right now?"
"He needs help, Kai. They're not going to help him there; he'll only get worse. I'm not saying to forgive him, or take him back to work, but you can't just leave him in there." She defended.
Kai pressed his lips together as he went over his blatant lose-lose situation.
Press charges, he goes away for a few months, Nicole ends up hating him and potentially run the risk of going back to him and starting the whole cycle again.
Don't press charges, get him out, she's happy, he's happy but then what? Run the risk of it all happening again and the two maybe reconciling anyway?!
Nicole obviously couldn't see it, but him being behind bars was helping everyone, including Johnny. He wasn't just a pain in the ass anymore. He was running round with criminals and as they say, you are the company that you keep.
"Right.." He sighed out running a hand down his face. "I won't press charges then.. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm done with the guy after this. I can't keep running round fixing his mess Nicole, he's a grown man."
"I know. And I know how much you have on your plate right now, but please know that I appreciate everything. I really do." She said in a gentler voice, touching his arm and giving it a small squeeze.
"So thank you, for everything. I don't know how I can repay you for it all."
"Just don't go back to him." He plainly said. "After all of this, don't go back to him and that'll be reward enough."
"I won't. I promise... I have to keep my child safe, first and foremost." She smiled and touched her stomach with her free hand, "Thank you..."
Out in the hall, not that he had meant to since he was pretty sure he'd been lost not even a second ago, Ray shifted behind the wall he'd pressed himself against after having caught the conversation right in the juicy bits.
Was Kai insane?! He was going to help Johnny after what he did. The only sensible reason for why Kai would even consider it at all was because of Nicole, especially the way she was hanging on him and how he calmed down around her so quickly.
The baby was Kai's, had to be. And he was just doing this out of guilt for getting Johnny's wife pregnant.
And he said he didn't want kids! Pah.
The longer he stood there, growing green around the gills for no actual sound reason, the other two moved and it jolted him away from the wall where he quickly scurried off to look like he hadn't been there through most of it.
"I'll keep you updated then, I guess.." Kai assured her, his tone less than enthusiastic as he looked around trying to see where Ray had taken himself off to.
"Yes, please do.." She replied one hand resting on her stomach again and the other stroking his arm.
"Hey, Ray, we're done now, ready to go?" Kai then called out, turning to face him when Ray reappeared round a corner.
"Mhmm." Ray hummed back, wondering how he managed to make another lap back to where they were when he went the opposite direction and still managed to wind up back where they were.
Place was a damn maze.
"Right, call me if you need anything." Kai sent to her before leaning and tilting his head slightly for her to kiss his cheek as she always does before he leaves.
"I will, thank you again Kai.. I really do appreciate it.."
Ray looked away, heading for the front door and more than ready to be gone and done with the day. The only problem was, he still didn't think Kai should be driving in the state he was in. So now what were they supposed to do?
Kai had remained standing in the doorway for a moment longer as Ray walked down to the car. Him and Nicole having some final words before walking down the few steps and easing himself into the car with a slight groan.
"Right, we'll drop you off home now, so you can actually get a Sunday off.." He said with slight bitterness knowing his day was far from over as he had a jail visit now.
"What're you going to do?" Ray asked before he could stop himself, getting the car started and let it run for a minute to warm it up before pulling out of the drive.
"Just got some other shit to do, don't worry about it." He replied through slight grit teeth as he fought with his seatbelt.
Ray nodded as his fingers tightened around the steering wheel, glaring at the road as he guided the car through the expensive subdivision.
'Other shit' was him going and letting Johnny off scot free, like nothing happened. Like he didn't let some crazy man into the club and abduct Ming-Ming, like he didn't beat seven shades of shit out of Kai.
And he was going to help him?!
"Why?" He questioned in almost a defeated sigh, though had a bite in the back of his throat.
"Why what?" Kai asked, turning to him with a raised brow.
Ray grit his teeth, knuckles turning white from holding the steering wheel too tight. Without warning he jerked it to the side, lurching the car over to the side of the road and threw it in park.
"Why are you going to help him?! After what he did to you!" He snapped, turning in his seat harshly at Kai.
"Tala is in the hospital because of his little buddies now, and you could have been right there beside him. Ming-Ming is missing, and you want to help HIM!"
Kai's heart was still racing in his chest at the sudden swerve of the car and firm slam of the breaks. Getting a little too confident there now Ray.
Releasing his own tight grip of the door handle he groaned out in his own frustration. He knew all this. Of course he did! Did Ray think he was stupid?! Did he-
"Wait, you were listening to us?"
"I got lost! Somehow ended back where you were talking and-don't change the subject!" Ray yelled back, slapping the top of the center console between them.
"Why are you going to help him?" He demanded, locking eyes with Kai.
"It- it's just complicated, alright?!" He snapped back. "It doesn't concern you Ray, so just drive the fucking car!"
"I think it does concern me, it concerns all of us if you go and bring him back there! You do realize that none of us would come back if you let him off like this?" Ray argued as his voice wobbled and rose at the same time.
"Let him go! He's not a good friend, and he's an even shittier boss. You're better off without him, why can't you see that?!"
"I know this, Ray! Trust me, I know.." Kai growled out, his jaw clenching in frustration as he sat himself back in his seat and avoided the gaze currently boring into him.
"I just.. Don't really have a choice.." His tone seemed defeated before firming again as he turned to him once more, "Look, just drop it. I'm handling it! Alright?! He's not stepping foot in the club again. If you'd have been eavesdropping properly you'd have heard me say that I'm done with him after this!"
"You keep saying that but look where it's gotten us all! I know I've only been here for a short time, but it's been long enough I think I have some say here in how well we'd all do without him! Let him rot in there, why are you protecting him?!"
"Because he's my brother, Ray!" Came the yelled confession. "We're not just old fucking school buddies. We're family!"