Little warning before this chapter: Strong depictions of violence.
Also wanted to just stop by and thank everyone whose come along for this ride, has meant a lot to both of us.
"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!"
All the air seemed to get sucked out of the car, Ray's breath hitching in his throat as his eyes went wide and all he could really do was stare at Kai like he'd grown three heads.
Brothers? They were brothers?!
"You're kidding..." He finally breathed out in almost a hard pant, for some reason not wanting to believe him.
"Please tell me you're fucking joking, Kai!" He yelled at him, not even sure why he was at the moment.
Kai's gaze broke off from his, slowly taking in a deep breath before easing himself back into his chair, letting his head fall back and exhaling through his nose.
"My father married his mother back when we were kids... I wish it was a joke... Trust me."
Ray's mouth snapped shut on him, eyes looking Kai up and down as if trying to read him and see the lie. There wasn't a reason for Kai to lie to him, not at the point in time he thought, but it was like something horrible had slipped down his throat the moment the truth came out.
He was in love with a guy who had a crazy ass brother...
Well, maybe not love. But he knew he liked him. Wouldn't have chauffeured him around all day if he didn't like him or worry that he'd collapse at any given moment.
"If you're brothers..." He started, finding his voice though it came out shaking and swallowed the hard lump in his throat.
"Why has he been treating you like this? As far as I can tell, you've given him everything. So what gives?"
Kai wet his lips before pressing them together, both preparing to tell him the story but upon remembering the ending held back. It wasn't that he didn't trust Ray. Wasn't scared he'd go tell someone or whatever. He just didn't want Ray to become scared of him after he found out...
Besides the current yelling they seemed to be getting closer, seemed to be getting along now. And that wasn't including whatever was about to happen in the bathroom last night, which neither of them had dared to bring up for some reason, but there was clear care for the other as things stood.
He feared that would all change though in an instance.
He took in another breath as he stared out the car window, looking at nothing in particular before turning back to him and starting the tale...
8 years ago
"You sure this is a good idea?" Kai asked almost nervously, following behind Johnny as he led them up to a small bar on the side of town.
It was in the middle of the night, the two of them having needed to be back home and in bed almost three hours ago.
But of course, when the old man was out of town for business, Johnny always decided it was time to play, and play they did.
Kai was just reluctant this time given they were underage, and he wasn't so sure if the fake ID's Johnny had somehow procured would even work. If they didn't, they'd get in a lot more trouble with their grandfather than they would any police officer.
A scoff came from the other in front. "Yeah, course!" Johnny attempted to reassure though wasn't wholly convinced himself now; glad Kai wasn't able to see his expression as his own bout of nerves were starting to show the closer they got to the dingy stone building.
It was one thing throwing house parties but being out in the big wide world, drinking actual paid for booze poured by some gorgeous chick behind the bar both unnerved and excited him.
"Look, these ID's are fool proof. Just memorize the date of birth in case you get quizzed, okay?"
"If you think that'll help..." Kai grumbled as he followed behind, his stomach beginning to twist into tight nervous knots.
Getting up to the door, Johnny threw it open as Kai followed behind him. The stench of smoke and alcohol smacking into them right off the bat, only making his twisting stomach tighten harder on him and wanting to puke even if he hadn't had a single drop of booze yet.
Luckily, nobody seemed to be paying attention to them as they walked through, a few pool tables put up off to the side away from the tables and booths. A simple jukebox situated right by the front door that was playing some heavy metal rock band that neither recognized.
The further they got into the bar; the more Kai began to sweat despite the cold AC blowing the smoke around the room.
Why couldn't Johnny just wait till he turned 21? He only had two years left, then he'd be able to go off and buy as much booze as Johnny wanted without the consequences that followed.
Heading towards the bar, Johnny rest a hand on top of the wooden counter as a brunette in a black tank top came over, clear skepticism on her face.
"What can I get you?"
Johnny put on his game face. Just a regular chick. This was fine.
"Double JD and coke and just a whiskey for this one please tuts"
Raising a shaped brow she glanced between the two of them, finding the taller mysterious looking one quite attractive..
"Not seen you guys in here before.." She pried, reaching for the bottle and pouring it in a glass.
"Ah we're new in town." Johnny lied, his heart beating a little faster in anticipation as he watched her make the drinks.
Had they really gotten away with it? Were they really going to get served no problem?
"I see..." She noted, not really caring either way.
Holding the drinks up she'd just made she was about to set them down before them when she paused.
"You guys got ID's?"
Kai cleared his throat as he nodded, quickly pulling out his new wallet and pulled the fake ID out. Shoving it up to the woman's face quickly, locking eyes with her as his heart slammed in his chest.
If they got caught, whatever Voltaire had in store for them would be worse than what he'd done a year ago to them after that raging house party.
"We good then?" Kai asked as he pulled his ID away from the woman's face, pocketing it back into his wallet and stood firmer.
She nodded to them before setting the drinks down in front. Truth be told she only wanted to know his name..
"Twenty please." She said holding out her hand between them.
"Hey, I'll go grab us this table, alright bro!" Johnny announced, snatching up his drink and heading over to a booth over in the corner. "Looks like first round's on you, Kai!"
The hand then moved in Kai's direction, a slight smirk on her face.
Kai huffed slightly, of course it'd come out of his pocket. He jerked his wallet back out of his back pocket, giving the woman a fifty for the trouble.
"Keep the change." He coldly said, taking up his own drink and turned to find Johnny only unable really see him in the crowd.
He'd only just left! Where the hell did he run off to?!
Before Johnny had made it to his seat violet eyes had locked on a blonde in leather pants by the jukebox. Now he was in the bar with drink in hand, coast clear and looking the part, he had all the confidence in the world now.
Top dog mindset, and he was taking a bitch home.
"Hey baby, let me get that for you.." He offered, reaching for some loose change in his pocket and sticking a coin in the slot.
The blonde looked at him, nose slightly curling up as she popped her gum in his face.
"Thanksss..." She said in a drawl, and clear disgust as she pressed for the song she wanted before turning on her heel and going off to leave him there.
He took a glance down at her ass again as she turned. How could he not? Those pants looked like they'd been painted on! An older woman too! Ooooh!
"Hey! C'mon wait up, I just wanna talk to you." Stepping to catch up with her he slithered his arm around her waist and turned her to face him again.
"Lemme buy you a drink." He offered with a coy smile. Wow she wasn't too bad from the front either...
"Are you serious?" The woman bit, wiggling out of the boy's hold with a sneer.
"Sure why not?" Johnny asked sending his own contorted expression back. "Don't see no ring on your finger, so what's up?"
"Out of your league, little boy." She sneered again, pulling herself from out of his hold.
"If this is how you pick up women, then you need a good hard lesson." She popped her gum in his face again, looking him up and down as if he was covered in shit.
A scoff then escaped him, really not appreciating the absolute look of disgust this slut was sending his way. Was she for real right now? Did she not know who the hell he was?
The fact he was just looking her way she should have felt lucky for! Who the hell did she think she was?!
"Pft whatever! Stuck up bitch! You're not all that great anyways sweetheart, so forget it." He jeered back, sending her a final look before stepping past her and looking around for Kai.
The woman rolled her eyes at the back of his head, "Big talk for someone who probably has the dick size of a penny." She sent back at him, turning on her heels and wandering off towards the pool tables there were crowded by a bunch of men and other women in leather get-up.
"And then I told him, he could stick it where the sun don't shine." The bartender continued to rant into Kai's ear, the boy not even paying attention at this point as he was three whiskey's in and everything she had said was just a dull ring in his ears.
"Don't say..." He mused silently, tracing the rim of his glass with a finger.
What was the appeal to bars? He could be doing this at home, just in silence.
Downing his drink back, Johnny slammed the empty glass back down on the counter causing unimpressed crimson eyes to glance over.
"Double JD and coke." He bit to her behind the bar before huffing into the seat next to Kai and continuing his expletive rambles.
The woman behind the bar eyed him much like the blonde in leather had, "Right away..." She grumbled, pulling the glass along the bar top to go refill him up.
"Bad night, huh?" Kai asked with an amused smirk, somehow it always amusing him when Johnny's attempts to get laid always blew up in his face.
Guy thought he was some hot shit, was only fair he got knocked down a peg or two every now and then.
"She was fuckin' ugly anyway, I don't care." He muttered, reaching for his own wallet this time and nonchalantly holding a bill out over the counter to her between two fingers.
Plucking it from him she handed the glass over and decided to just leave them to it. The one she'd been talking to was clearly uninterested anyway. Must have a girlfriend or something...
"Anyone caught your eye?" Johnny then asked taking a swig of the drink.
"Nope." Kai answered, throwing his head back to down the little bit of whiskey he still had at the bottom of his glass.
Truth was, he'd gone and taken himself off the marketplace after the disaster that was Travis a year ago (if that was even the guy's name).
Unlike Johnny, who was still trying to get some kind of high on partying and sleeping with as many girls as he could, Kai was throwing himself more into his college and focusing on getting himself straightened now he was a legal adult.
He couldn't keep playing a child when he had responsibilities, part of his grandfather's lashings a big factor in his change, but also the realization that if he kept going down the same road as Johnny he'd get nothing out of life.
"Ugh.. This blows..." Johnny let out in a sigh.
It was then a male behind them over exaggeratedly cleared his throat, Kai and Johnny turning slightly over their shoulders to see a man stood with two others either side of him all donned in leather.
"Which one of you clowns was just hitting on my girl?"
Kai looked up and down at the man who was probably a head taller than him, a littler broader but couldn't really tell with the leather jacket all that well.
Johnny would be killed if he opened his mouth to this guy, so, being the good brother he was he slipped off the bar stool and squared his shoulders despite swaying on his feet.
"Don't know what you're talking about, so instead of coming over here and bothering us, why don't you just go back to what you were doing, and we'll keep doing our own thing." He suggested in a firm but calm tone, staring the man down.
The male opposite huffed a laugh, cracking his knuckles as he sauntered closer and closed the gap between them.
"Yeah see, no can do pal, cos one of you I've been told was trying it with my girl, so I suggest you speak up and let me know, was it you, or him?" He asked turning his attention to Johnny for a moment who seemed to withdraw into himself as he towered over him.
Kai made a face as the guys alcohol and smoke infused breath hit him, though didn't back down from him any as his muscles tensed.
The last thing he wanted, needed, was a damn bar fight because his brother was a stupid moron who didn't know any better.
Whatever prompted him to say what he did next though, he'd never know, but had signed his own death certificate with it as he squared up harder to the man.
"And who's to say the lying bitch wasn't coming onto one of us? Not our fault if she found us better than whatever gutter scum you are."
"The fuck did you just say?" The other asked, closing the gap even further, so much so their foreheads were touching.
"I know you didn't just say what I think you said."
Johnny shifted in his seat, his heart starting to beat just that bit quicker at the situation quickly escalating before him. He eased off of his seat, hand on Kai's shoulder as he spoke to the other group of males trying to douse the fire. He'd seen that look in Kai's eyes before, and it never usually ended well..
"Heyyy fellas c'mon now, let's not be crazy huh? Tell you what let us buy you all a drink or something eh?"
"Gonna say this once, back. Off." Kai growled through grit teeth, ignoring Johnny's hand on shoulder as he didn't take his eyes off the man's eyes boring into his own as they flashed dangerously.
The man chuckled, eyes darting to Johnny who was much smaller and no more a threat than the one he was bucking up against currently.
"Why don't you go back and play in your sandbox, little boy." He sneered, putting his hand past Kai's and shoving Johnny against the chest away from the two of them, disconnecting Johnny's hand from Kai's shoulder as his back hit the corner of the bar.
A noise escaped him at the pain. Eyes darting between the unknown and Kai as he watched on, not really knowing what to do.
"And as for you." The male continued, attention back on Kai. "Since you wanna play tough guy, how about we take this outside, huh?"
A wicked grin came along Kai's face, seeing nothing but red at what the guy had just done to Johnny and because of it his fist flew up and cold-clocked the man in the jaw without a response, knocking the man's face to the side with a sickening crack.
"Think right here will do just fine." He voiced in an eerie tone, cracking his own knuckles that were beginning to turn red from the punch he'd thrown.
The other male raised a hand to his fellow associates that had taken a threatening step forward to stand down. He didn't need assistance with this one..
"Cheap shot.." He sneered before tackling into Kai, his back smacking into the counter causing all the glasses on it to shake and spill before they fell to the ground scrapping.
Johnny immediately stood out of the way, eyes wide and locking on the blonde from earlier who had a smug look on her face, arms folded and continuing to chew and pop her bubble gum.
The bartender screamed, telling them to get the fuck out of her bar before she called the cops on them as they grappled and threw punches at one another on the ground.
Somehow, Kai got the upper hand, throwing his feet up into the man's stomach and shoving him back with all the strength and force he could find as his body screamed in pain from being thrown around and landing into every hard surface that was around them.
With the man spitting and coughing, holding his stomach where he'd gone and landed on his ass, Kai stood up and cracked his neck. That look in his eyes flashing and getting darker, his smirk only getting more maniacal as his vision began to fade to black but still could somehow see.
"Cheap shot." His voice dripped out with a dark and deadly undertone, ignoring the pain that flared when he stood up and stomped towards the man on the ground.
Grabbing him by his long hair, Kai gripped hard where his blunt nails dug into the man's scalp and proceeded to drag him along the floor as the man gripped and clawed at his wrists and arms to make him let go to no avail.
With a hard grunt, Kai jerked the man up to his feet as they got outside, throwing the man's head and hair back as strands of it ripped out of his head and threw another punch at the man's face. Throwing him back a step.
He looked up to Kai through his good eye, the other instantly swollen from the onslaught of the other that seemed to go from 0 to 60 in a flash, he too seeing red now but only because of the amount of blood now pouring from his nose and mouth.
"A-alright buddy, m-my bad, there's no problems here alright? We-we good?"
But it was way past any form of reconciliation. Kai had long gone, some enraged possessed monster taking over, only fueled further by hard liquor.
He grabbed a hold of him by the collar of his leather jacket and shoved him into the brick of the building, fist wasting no time in connecting with his jaw again causing the other to stumble to the ground.
"Kai! Dude, the fuck! Come on now, stop!" Johnny shrieked at him, fear evident in his voice as he stood frozen watching by the sidelines.
He'd seen him angry before, but this was starting to scare him, what did he do? What the fuck was he supposed to do?!
Not hearing anything going around him now, driving on autopilot alone, Kai's fist came out again and again, smacking the man's head back into the building only to be blindsided by one of the guys buddies where they tumbled to the ground and rolled.
Kai was quick on his feet with the newcomer, jumping to and ready to attack again.
In a dizzying haze, his vision coming and going as he swayed on his feet and pushed through the alcohol in his system to keep standing, another blurry fist shot out and connected with his jaw. A sickening crack sounding in his ears, that wasn't as loud as it normally would be if it weren't for him feeling as though his head was being held underwater.
The force of the hit made him sway harder, stumbling around where his back connected into something hard where he could numbly feel his skin breaking at whatever it was he'd fallen into.
In retaliation a heavy limb flew out with a strangled cry from his sore throat, only realizing he'd met his intended target as another pain washed through his hand and up his arm.
That dizzying haze that clouded his vision got thicker, near enough searching out blindly for his victim as his throbbing hands and fingers found soft fabric to clutch onto and without warning his world was thrown around. Only for him to find himself on top, the hold he had on the shirt getting tighter with one hand as the other came back in that blinding rage and connected in a fast strike.
Another dull sound met his ears, it being drowned out with the rest of the noises around him that he couldn't distinguish from one thing over the next. Not even his name being called out in a panic, begging him to stop over the shrill screams and frightened onlookers that surrounded him and the other man he had pinned down to the asphalt that was covered in scattered glass and blood.
As another pain surged up his fist and arm, his bleeding knuckles moved away from the fabric and found skin, only to wrap around as tight as he could make them hold onto.
"Kai! Kai stop!" Johnny screamed as he watched Kai sit upon the man, hand around his neck and tightening their hold but didn't dare go in and try and break them apart.
"You're going to kill him, stop it!"
Heavy breaths expelled through Kai's grit teeth and split lip, a thin trail of blood running down his chin that he couldn't feel or took notice to as his eyes flared dangerously and tightened his grip around the neck he had found until the thrashing under his body slowly died out.
There were multiple stinging sensations running down his arms, his neck pulsed, and his chest throbbed to the point it hurt to breathe. He wasn't sure what he looked like right now, nor did he care, as he continued to drown out all the surrounding noise.
It wasn't until the body that lay below him came to a complete standstill did he finally release the vice like hold he'd had, swaying again as he stood on his weak legs and spat out the blood he had pooling in his mouth.
Johnny felt frozen where he stood, eyes wide in horror as he could hardly recognize his brother standing there with cuts and bruises slowly blossoming on his pale skin and covered in blood. Whose blood it was, Johnny wasn't sure, but there was enough of it to make his stomach coil.
Those that had gathered around, not sure what to do either, all gasped in equal horror and shock as the teen swayed even more while the night sky began to flash with blue and red lights, the sirens piercing through their eardrums and all jolted when the police cars squealed to a stop inside the parking lot.
The first thing that caught Kai's still blurry vision, as the dense haze began to lift slowly, were the flashing red and blue lights lighting up the dark night. With no fight left in him as his entire body screamed in pain, he was thrown back onto the ground where the skin on his face was torn, and his arms were jerked around roughly and hard cold metal cuffs were slapped around his bruising wrists.
"Kai!" Johnny panicked where he stood, watching as the two police officers hauled Kai to his feet with the skin on his face torn and bleeding profusely down his chin and neck.
In the blink of an eye, they were gone, leaving Johnny shaking there like a leaf in the wind while the ambulance and EMS team tried to resuscitate the man Kai had just killed.
"Three days later, my grandfather came to see me in prison... Had said that Johnny had done everything he could to convince him to come bail me out. In the end, he did, and then paid it all to go away..." Kai took a breath, not daring to look at Ray beside him who had gone silent through the entire thing but could feel how he was shaking in the driver's seat none-the-less.
"If it wasn't for Johnny doing that, going to our grandfather for help, I would still be in there... I... I owe him my life..." He finished with a heavy sigh, running a hand up his face and through his hair.
Ray just stared back at him. His lips slightly parted in shock as he processed the information that had just been bestowed upon him.
Never would he have guessed to the two being related first of all but...
Kai was... A murderer?
His hand slowly came up to cover his mouth, gaze breaking away from him only to nervously lock back on him again, feeling apprehensive now of the others actions, envisioning those fair hands gripped around his throat in a blind rage and not letting go.
"Kai I... Wow.." He let out in a shaky breath, having no other words for him.
Kai winced, even if Ray hadn't said anything more than what he had. A small silence encompassing them while his lips twitched into a smile he tried to fight back.
"And you thought Johnny was the monster..." He whispered out, looking out the window as he leaned his shoulder into the door.
"I still do." Ray defended, his eyes pricking as he gazed over at him.
"You've changed, Kai! He hasn't! It's clear that you've spent every waking moment since that day to redeem yourself, make things better.. What the hell has he done?!"
Kai shrunk in even further into himself. As much as he liked hearing that, it didn't help cut through the thick shame and guilt he still felt.
Nothing Johnny ever did could even compare to killing a man, and he was the only one who had done so.
"Just stop..." He whispered out again.
"No Kai, you stop." Ray threw back, taking a hold of the hand closest to him, regardless of the slight fear it brought.
"You know that you have more than made up for whatever debt you feel you're in with him. Like I've said, I've only been around a month and the amount of things you've let slide, or ignored, and fixed.. I can't imagine how many problems you've rectified since then for him.."
Crimson eyes took a glimpse down at the tanned thumb caressing his skin before looking up into glistening gold eyes.
"Enough is enough Kai.. You can't let him hold this over you forever..."
Kai wasn't one to easily crumble, but all of a sudden it felt like he'd been smashed into by a thousand pound weight.
Everything he'd ever done, good and bad, flooding into him at lightning speed. The events of the night before and now mixing together to the point it mentally hurt thinking about it all.
Of course, he'd never told anyone this before. Bottling it all up like he did everything else, and for it to just come out almost naturally, get it off his chest for the first time in eight years, he hadn't expected this type of reaction. Even if he could faintly see Ray's hesitance to him right now, it was better than him downright hating him for what he'd done.
It wasn't Johnny holding it over him though, he'd been doing it himself for years.
Grabbing back at Ray's hand, feeling himself beginning to shake as he forced the tears to still, his bottom lip still wobbled uncontrollably as he could only nod back to Ray to let him know that he heard him while he looked him in the face.
At this point, he wasn't even sure what he would have done without him. As much as he wanted to do this all on his own, he knew he couldn't and was more than thankful for Ray's stubbornness (even if it pissed him off slightly.)
With his emotions running as fast as they could, knowing that he shouldn't but not truly caring, his free hand lifted up to cup the back of Ray's neck and pulled him closer over the top of the center console, lips crashing together tenderly as he squeezed Ray's hand tighter in his hold as it shook harder.
Ray's eyes widened the second their lips met only to flutter close as he melted into it; tears escaping and rolling down his cheeks.
His free hand planted down between them, keeping him from toppling onto Kai in the passenger seat, and the hand that had been clutching the others slipped free to find its way up to Kai's jawline, caressing it with his thumb and feeling the wet skin from Kai's own fallen tears.
He wasn't alone anymore; Kai didn't have to do any of this alone. He was here now, and regardless of Kai's past, he wasn't going anywhere.
With Ray falling into him, and then touching his face, Kai pressed in just a bit harder. Half expecting Ray to have jerk back and smack him across the face or scream and yell at him and kick him out of his car and drive off with him stood on the side of the road (not that he'd blame him either).
His heart raced in his chest in a way it hadn't done since he was a teenager, trying to find Ray's face with his own hands and slipping through his hair as his mouth worked against Ray's like they'd done this before despite it being the first time.
Whatever it was that had sparked up between them turned into electrifying pulses running up and down his veins, wanting to stay like this for as long as he could even with the air in his lungs depleting rapidly.
That suburban house with the white picket fence wasn't sounding too bad right now. Four kids and all.
Ray's hand slipped from Kai's jaw down to rest on his chest, the burden that was breath causing him to reluctantly push lightly against it after another moment or two of being locked together.
Their lips separated with a soft pop; Ray unable to open his eyes at first though managed to prize them open after a few seconds. As he stared into deep crimson, once more he had no words, his chest just lightly panting trying to catch his breath back.
Kai took in a few heavy breaths himself as he stared at him, praying he hadn't been reading the signals wrong all along. If he had, they were both in for a very long and awkward drive home.
"Ray.. I..." He stuttered out, taking in another heavy breath to try and refill his lungs. The last of his tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry." He let his hands fall away from Ray's hair, pushing himself as close to the door as he could but couldn't look away from him.
It wasn't Ray's fault; this was his fault. For dragging him along through his messes, and now this.
Ray too pulled back from him though broke off his gaze as all the pieces started to fall into place. His mind racing, working overtime trying to process it all.
The looks, the nerves, the sweet gestures.. What almost happened in the bathroom wasn't just because they were drunk... It was starting to make sense now..
He reached for his door handle and stepped out of the car. Kai's heart fell into his stomach as he watched on, instant regret washing over him as the door came to a soft close and he was left only with the sound of his own jagged breaths.
Fuck.. He'd read it wrong... Read it all so wrong..
His door then opened a moment later, his head snapping towards it to take in Ray easing himself in and straddling him in his seat, Kai's hands instantly going to rest around his thighs to steady him.
"What did I tell you about apologizing?" He breathed out before taking his fair face with both hands and pressing his lips against his once more.
A soft noise left Kai's throat, hands at first not knowing what to do or where to touch before they traveled from Ray's thighs and up his sides. His fingertips dancing across Ray's jacket, going for holding him around his lower back and pulled him in closer as his head titled to the side to deepen the kiss.
Just as Ray went to dive in further, they were both startled out of their minds as a passing car's horn blared, shaking them back to reality where their hearts slammed faster in their chests.
Ray was the first to laugh amongst the slight awkward atmosphere, tucking his bangs behind his ears as he looked down at Kai from his perch.
"Guess we should get you home, huh?" He chuckled, being as careful as he could to climb his way off of him and out the door again.
Kai's eyes seemed to be glazed over still, slowly floating down from whatever cloud they'd soared up to as he dreamily watched him.
"Y'know, I think I'll drive.. Suddenly feeling a whole lot better.."
"You sure?" Ray's brow arched, nearly falling on his face as he wiggled himself back out on solid ground and out in the cold air.
Kai's mouth had been so warm...
"Yeah, s'fine.. Honestly." He brushed off, easing himself out the passenger side and heading around to the driver's seat. Opening up the door he spoke to him from across the roof, playful smirk fixing to appear.
"And besides, I'd like to actually get home before sunset.."
"Oh, ha ha." Ray mocked, hands on his hips for a second before he chuckled and slid himself into the still warm passenger seat.
Kai adjusted his seat back a smidge, sending another coy smile over to Ray to silently say he was a short ass, fastened his seat belt and started the car with a push of a button.
For some reason, the engine seemed to be a lot louder now, what had been a calm purr in Ray's ears before, now resembled that of a roar. The beast finally about to be unleashed now that it's master was back in control.
"How long did it take us to drive out here?" Kai nonchalantly asked as he smoothly started to pull them back off the side of the road.
Ray's body unconsciously clenched as the car shook and rumbled, feeling a small sweat form on his skin for some reason.
"I don't know, I wasn't paying attention. A-and that line for the drive-thru was ridiculously long."
"Mmm, was just under three hours right?" Kai mused, half talking to Ray and half to himself. "What if I were to sayyy... I could get us back in ninety minutes?" He drawled out his words as he set off onto the main road and casually heading towards the freeway.
Ray gave him a worried glance before he shrugged, and subtly grabbed the handle of the door.
"Just don't get pulled over." He offered, worried eyes glancing between the road and Kai a few more times.
"Do you trust me?" Crimson took a quick glimpse over to the passenger seat before back to the road, continuing to take glances to see his reaction.
After all he'd just confessed to, he didn't want Ray to think he was at all reckless. Was just a bit of a fun. Didn't want to scare him anymore than what he potentially already had done, but he wanted to show him he wasn't just this stick in the mud dictator. That he could let his hair down every now and then.
"Of course." Ray answered without hesitation, locking eyes with him when Kai had turned to look again.
The response made him smile, his focus completely back ahead now.
"Good.. Hold on."
With that, Kai's foot pushed down on the accelerator, Ray's body being sent further back into the plush leather seats as the engine roared; the dial on the rev count hitting red before Kai threw it up a gear and another a moment later.
Ray's heart stopped before it revved and kicked up just as fast as the car was going, the hand between them going and clutching onto Kai's arm resting on the center console.
He said hold on, didn't specify what...
Kai let out a light chuckle at the contact. "You'll tell me if you want me to stop, right?" He asked, weaving in and out of the other cars, eyes darting from all his mirrors ensuring they were safe to lane hop.
"Mhmm." Ray hummed, feeling a rush of adrenaline mix in with a bit of fear. Especially when Kai got too close to the car in front of them, only to swerve into the next lane and speed up.
"But don't stop." He panted out, fingers digging into Kai's jacket sleeve just a bit tighter.
"You like it?" Kai breathed, taking a quick look to him again before back to the road. "Can go faster if you want."
"Yes." Even if he could see his life flashing before his eyes like the cars they kept weaving and passing between, he didn't want Kai to stop.
This was... Exciting.
Kai obliged, Ray's wish being his command as he stepped on the accelerator a touch more, the speed on the dash crawling up a further several miles an hour.
Was it hot in here? By the look of the sweat on a tanned forehead it would seem so, however it was unlikely considering the temperature was starting to drop outside again but he'd turned down the heat anyway.
They were close to taking the exit soon, so if Ray was actually in serious fear for his life like the grip on his arm suggested, the ride for him would soon be over.
"Kai..." Ray panted in a breath again, for whatever reason out of it currently even if there was no reason for him to be, as their exit sign zipped past, but Kai didn't seem to be slowing down or even in the right lane for it!
Though Kai hadn't seemed to hear the low warning, his mind back in the passenger seat with Ray sat back on top of him. Remembering the feel of him on his lips and under his fingertips...
"KAI! The exit!" Ray's more panicked voice yelled, snapping him out of it and swerving them over the solid white lines and cutting off a minivan that blared it's horn at them.
At that, Ray too seemed to snap out of the adrenaline rush, quickly smacking Kai on the arm he'd been latched to with the back of his hand.
"Pay attention!"
Kai pressed his lips together to stifle the laugh that was threatening to escape him before sending over a sheepish look. "Bet you wished you'd drove now, huh?"
"Yes! So if you can't stay focused, move over." Ray shot back, no longer looking amused and enjoying himself.
A light snort came from him. "Oh c'mon, I'm sorry.. I was just, replaying what happened on the side of the road.."
Ray's face went a deep red, almost the mirrored color of Kai's eyes. "Well... Do that in the shower when we get home or something, not while you're driving."
Kai seemed to deflate a little at the scolding. The air between them a little thicker now and the temperature becoming cold. Was only a bit of fun.. They weren't in any major danger. How about he do one better and just not even think about him at all.
Ray shifted in his seat, everything seeming to wash and cycle around inside him like he were a washing machine.
"We should... Probably talk... About that, actually..." He mumbled, but loud enough for Kai to hear him as he fiddled with his hair over his shoulder.
There was a lot of things that still needed to be discussed, but this one seemed like the easiest topic at the moment and it wasn't like they could avoid it forever.
Kai's throat instantly dried up on him, and his stomach started to churn. What was there to talk about? Did he regret kissing him? Oh god, he did didn't he? He'd realized he'd made a huge mistake. Couldn't possibly be with a murderer and wanted to just forget the whole thing ever happened.
"Uh sure.. Go ahead.."
"Um.." Ray started and paused, his fiddling with his hair getting more aggressive. "I guess. Just wanted to make sure we're okay, after that. And... If maybe, once this other mess is done with, I can take you out to dinner. Sometime.."
Kai pulled the car over. Not concentrating on the road at all and didn't want to endure another scolding. He turned in his seat the best he could to him, feeling ready to pop some more painkillers for his ribs.
"What, like... A date?"
Ray nodded back, biting into his bottom lip. Maybe he misread this. Maybe Kai just wanted a lay, not a boyfriend.
"I... Would like that." He finally gave him after a short pause once the whole thing had processed, "Haven't scared you off then?"
"No." Ray chuckled a little, finally looking at him and unwinding his black and blue finger from his hair. "Unless that's what you were trying to do?"
"No! God no.. Was the last thing I ever wanted to do with you.." He admitted, locking eyes with him. "That's the main reason why I guess I was worried you were getting close.. I didn't want to hurt you or scare you off."
Ray felt the corner of his mouth pull into a smile, for whatever reason trying to fight it back while his heart flipped and beat rapidly again.
If one thing he'd learn about Kai in the month he'd known him, after their first initial run-ins, it was he was a genuine guy. Everything Kai ever said, or told him, he never once doubted an ounce of it.
"Maybe dinner next Saturday then?" He suggested with his smile finally cracking.
Kai sent him a nod, returning the smile with a warm one of his own. "Yeah sounds good.. Can't remember the last time I went out for dinner.."
Setting the car off again he took a glance to the clock before speaking out again, "Hey, you mind if we take a quick stop at my place first before I drop you off home? Need to just check on something real quick."
"Not at all." Ray answered, settling into the passenger seat in a more relaxed state. "Think you can still get us there under ninety?" He smirked with a coy tone.
Kai just looked to him, his smile still in place as he took the short detour to his house. He'd still have him back by sunset, no problem. Unlike grandma over there barely doing the speed limit.
Thankfully, with almost twenty minutes to spare, they finally arrived at Kai's place in one piece and with no speeding tickets.
For whatever reason, Ray had been expecting a house just as grand or bigger than the one they'd just been to, but what they'd just pulled up to was a quaint little house smack dab in the center of an expensive subdivision a few blocks away from the club.
"It's cute." Ray offered as they unhooked their seat belts and getting out of the car once Kai had it up the drive and parked.
"Thanks?" He responded with a slight frown to the word 'cute' as they headed to the front door. Fishing out his keys he stuck one in the lock and turned it.
Honestly, there wasn't anything he'd needed to really check on here. He just didn't want to get rid of him just yet. He'd really enjoyed Ray's company today, and that was before they'd shared their first kiss. Now that they'd crossed that line with each other though and had some mutual understanding of how the other seemed to feel, he wouldn't mind crossing it again... And again.. And again..
He led the two of them in the kitchen, Ray closely following behind and taking in his surroundings. The guy had better taste in this place. The kitchen tiled throughout in a warm slate grey with white fixtures. An island in the center with an inviting fruit bowl and jars filled with different kinds of pasta. It was just so, homely.
He then pulled out his phone from his pocket before leaning against one of the counters. "I should probably message Lee, let him know we're staying out of trouble."
Kai opened up the fridge to grab himself a can of coke. "Well, that isn't the complete truth now is it, Ray?" He teased, sending him a smirk from behind the door before showing him a can. "You want one?"
Ray's cheeks flared a little at the comment. That really only depended on Kai, seeing as how he was the one with the internal bruising and all.
"Please." He sent back in a sheepish voice, head ducking down to focus on his text to his cousin and caught the time on the top of his phone.
Since when did it turn almost four?! It was barely noon a few minutes ago.
Grabbing another can he pushed the door to a close and set Ray's down on the counter beside him as he leant against the island opposite and opened his up before taking a sip.
"You hungry or anything?" He then asked, trying to fill the silence that had fallen upon them.
"Getting there." Ray answered, pocketing his phone back once he'd sent Lee the text and grabbed up the coke Kai had given him.
For whatever reason now he kept avoiding looking right at him, trying to look more impressed by the decor in the house compared to Kai. Why, he wasn't even really sure. But the moment they'd stepped through into Kai's house, he was overcome with a bout of nerves that wouldn't stop.
Whatever it was Kai had to come and check on, he wished he'd hurry it the hell up so they could leave before one of them was actually pinned to one of these countertops. Not that he'd go and complain too much, but again, Kai was bruised up and hurting.
"Bathroom?" He asked after taking a few cooling sips of his soda, finally looking up at Kai in the face.
Kai nodded to his right before peeling himself off the counter.
"I'll show you, so you don't get lost again." He said to him as he head up the stairs, still not 100% convinced whether he truly had lost his way at the other house or not.
"Just that second door on the left." He pointed over before he stepped in the other direction to his bedroom. May as well get changed into his own clothes whilst he was there.
"Thanks." Ray sent over his shoulder, watching Kai walk away a bit too longer before he finally turned himself back around and slipped into the bathroom to splash his ever burning face with some cold water.
Pushing open his door, Kai took in his room that had remained untouched for what seemed like days. He'd left early on the Saturday to go run some errands, of course then went to go and visit Nicole, losing his entire afternoon before heading straight to the club for the party.
He carefully lifted up whoever's shirt off his head and dropped it on his bed, stepping to his dresser and pulling open a drawer, his eyes trailing to the silver frame upon it of him and Johnny from his wedding.
Which reminded him he still had that to contend with. Why he couldn't just leave him there until he'd learnt how to be a decent human being was beyond him. Saying that though whilst he'd said to Nicole he would, he'd never specified when.
He pulled out a shirt and slipped it over his head just in time for the almost timid knock on the door he'd left slightly ajar.
"Yeah you're good."
At the go-ahead, Ray slipped his way into the bedroom and like he'd done the rest of the house he took a few good, hard, looks around before letting out an impressed whistle.
"Damn, some place you got." He mused as he ended up staying near the door, almost as if he were afraid of going in any further seeing as how there was a very nice, large, bed in the room now.
"Oh, and you can just throw those clothes out. Doubt Michael needs them anymore."
Kai seemed to freeze by his dresser as he looked to him, his tone holding more ice than he'd originally intended.
"And who's Michael?"
"Ex-fiancé." Ray answered with a pout, once more looking away as he shifted against the bedroom wall. "Caught him sleeping with a co-worker of ours two weeks before I moved out here but hadn't realized I took some of his stuff when I moved out."
There was a brief pause before a single word of acknowledgement came from him.
"Oh." The hell else was he supposed to say?!
He turned to his wardrobe and grabbed out some jeans. Feeling all sorts of gross now as a bout of jealousy that had no reason to be there swirled in his stomach.
Fiancé?! Really?! He'd just been there walking around in his ex-fiancés clothes all damn day? Thanks Ray.
"Sorry to hear."
Ray shrugged his shoulders even if Kai couldn't see, "Eh, don't be. If that hadn't happened I wouldn't be here, wouldn't have gotten to meet Tala or you. So."
And there he went again with Tala being on some damn pedestal! Ooooohhh...
"Mhm."
It was then Kai heard a noise from downstairs and his head snapped back towards the door Ray was still stood by.
"Did you hear that?" He asked with a frown, keeping himself still to see if he'd hear it again.
Ray rose a brow at him, though leaned his head around through the open door as he strained his hearing some.
A cold chill then ran down his spine as his heart leapt up in his throat, his skin pricking uncomfortably as a lump formed in his throat.
He nodded back, not daring make another sound as he listened to the two intruders downstairs talking in hushed whispers.
He held up two fingers to Kai, hoping he'd read it as him telling him how many there were down there.
Kai gently set the jeans back down on the dresser like they were made of glass and crept towards him by the door, tilting his head as he listened some more.
"Stay here." He ordered in a hushed tone before going on to take quiet steps back through the hall and down the staircase with caution.
"What?!" Ray yelped in a whisper; hands too late to stop him as Kai slipped out of the room.
With shaky fingers he grabbed his phone again, going for calling the cops only to stop when he realized he didn't have Kai's address!
Figuring it was better two against two, he crept out of the room himself as quietly as he could behind him.
With each step Kai's heart pounded in his chest. He'd locked the door behind them hadn't he? He was sure he did?! Which meant they'd been here the entire time...
Heading towards the office, which is where he heard the voices coming from, his eyes darted around for something he could use as a weapon. He opted for a tall ceramic ornament. Was better than nothing he figured.. Had a gun sitting right there in his bedroom closet but was too late to go back and get it.
Stepping to the closed door he pressed his ear to the wood and listened, his face paling as the voices he now recognized danced around his eardrum. His hand grabbed the handle before he threw open the door that was sitting right beside the front door he and Ray had casually walked by only a few minutes prior, crimson darting from red spiked hair to short grey, and blue eyes to violet.
"Ah, hey bro.." Johnny greeted setting the picture frame he was just showing Bryan back on the mantelpiece.
"...Ya miss me?"
Coming up behind Kai, Ray's heart slammed harder than it had ever done in his life. Whole body trembling as he caught sight of not just Johnny, who was a force to be reckoned with alone, but add in Bryan...
They were dead...
Holding the 'weapon' in his hand tighter, feeling Ray's presence behind him as his own heart and blood rushed in his ears, he could barely utter the words he desperately wanted to say to him.
Johnny tilted his head, smirking as he looked at who else had come and joined the party. Again.
"Welcome." He smirked harder, violet eyes glistening.
Kai's blood froze, a small sweat running down his face.
"Ray..." He choked out around the hard lump in his throat.
"Run."