Hey everyone!
Hope you're all doing well and staying safe.
I honestly don't have an excuse for why this took me so long to update. Guess instead of having no time its just been a struggle to get the motivation. But you have my apologies as always.
Big thanks to all of you that left comments last chapter! I appreciate them a lot and go back and read them for a motivation boost when I need them :). So thank you. And everyone as always who is still here reading this.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Dynamic Shift – Part 1
Beeep. Beeep. Beeep. Beeep.
Elbow and head hanging out the rolled down window, Dan enjoyed the incredibly manly sensation of backing a moving truck, albeit a smaller one, in to the drive of his and Charlotte's brand new house.
Charlotte on the other hand, watched with caution.
Dan was a good driver, but this wasn't the little car he was used to...
Would just be their luck that Dan would reverse in to the wall or something...
While she acted as the conductor, Kai and Rei took in the new Harris residence from the outside.
Kai gave a nod of approval.
Very nice indeed.
Decent size. Not too big, not too small.
Seemed like a nice, quiet little neighbourhood.
Just right for two music teachers...he guessed?
The engine turned off, getting his attention again.
They were drafted in for a job, after all.
Dan hopped out, grin beaming brighter than ever as he marched and crunched along the gravel towards them.
"Door open?"
"It is, yeh." Charlotte answered, taking it as her cue to turn to head through mentioned door.
But Dan had other plans.
"Whoaawaitwait!" he halted, march turning to a trot to get to her faster.
"I've been dying to do this!"
Charlotte let out a surprised yelp as hands went round her back and the back of her legs, scooping her up from the ground.
"Gotta carry my Vixen over the threshold! One of you boys be a lamb and get the door will ya?"
The two boys felt beads of sweat drop as Rei took the task upon himself to get the door for him.
He was more of a tiger than a lamb, but whatever...
Standing back, he watched him carry her through like they'd just gotten married and giggling like they were still teenagers like them.
...Did they clap, or?
"Home sweet home, baby!" He heard cheer from the inside, "Come on in boys!"
Rei's ears twitched at the sound of creaking and clunking metal sliding, turning around and feeling himself face palm a little.
He opened his mouth, but after seeing a box with tufts of silvery hair poking from behind it, he just sighed instead.
Business before pleasure, as always...
Rei stood aside, letting him pass.
Dan and Charlotte both lifted brows as the box entered, shifting his feet to get his shoes off.
"Heh, hold your horses there buddy! Where's the fire?"
It could be anywhere. As long as it stayed the hell away from his new castle...
"We thought we'd show you around the place first."
Violet eyes peered over it.
The hell for?
They'd been going all morning. Surely it was better to just get on with it?
But okay...whatever they wanted.
Now what to do with this stupid box?
Dan snorted as he watched him look around for somewhere to put it.
"Welp. You can set that down on our first stop. The living room! Come one, come all!" he ushered brightly as he lead the way.
Rei's "Ooooooh" only made him and his Vixen beam brighter.
Damn right ooooh!
Look at those shiny ass wooden floors!
That wide ass open space!
That comfy ass couch!
That big ass TV!
Beat the hell out of the tiny little room where you couldn't swing a Rei by his ponytail. And this was just one of them!
Seeing as both he and Charlotte had been living in teacher's dorms, they didn't exactly have any of their own furniture. Or that many belongings, really.
So weekends leading up to this were solely running around shelling out for everything from refrigerators to couches, to pots and pans.
...Thank god for that pretty winter bonus they both got. And the summer one.
Praise be to every deity possible for the free accommodation until now to allow for decent savings.
Why did shit have to cost so much?!
At least for now, they had all the essential stuff they needed to get started. They had all the time in the world to fill the place with junk later.
He lead them through to the near enough empty room, which Dan seemed very excited about.
They didn't even know what they were doing with this one yet.
But it didn't matter! They had another room!
As in, more than one!
It had been so long since either of them had had multiple rooms!
Could turn in in to a little library. An office...
Did someone say pool table and mini bar?!
Could have his own frickin' Speakeasy!
And through here was the kitchen-dining room. They could make whatever the hell they wanted whenever the hell they wanted! No more shackles of dining hall menus and opening times!
There was a table that they could put a vase of tulips on and sit at to actually have breakfast together in the mornings!
And just out in the hall was a little WC they could pee in once the coffee settled!
Oh-HOOO but that wasn't all! There was more upstairs!
Look look look! Another WC! And a bathroom! Had a bath and a shower in it!
(That tub was probably big enough to fit more than one person in, but he'd find that out later...)
This was the master bedroom. Heh heh, that's right! He was now a master of a house and it was to be referred to as master bedroom at all times.
Oh, and across the hall was a small spare room.
Yep! You heard right. Spare room.
As in, a room to spare!
For guests or like...when the lady of the house was angry with him.
"We saved the best for last for ya buddy..." he exclaimed dramatically, grabbing Kai by the shoulders and steering him a little further down the hallway with Cheshire grin in place.
He stopped to push the door open.
"This..." he paused, yet more drama as he came around him and leapt in, throwing his arms out and spinning like he was in the Sound of Music, "Is your room!"
He stopped spinning, chuckling heartily at the very Kai-ish expression he had, brows akimbo and a grouchy sort of bewildered.
And bewildered he was...
What did he mean his room?!
Dan gestured at the double bed.
"And of course, if Rei wants to st-"
"Weeeeeee will take you shopping as soon as we're settled! Maybe next weekend if we can fit it in? Hope you don't mind, we just don't want to overload ourselves." Charlotte interrupted.
Kai snapped his head to both of them.
The flying fuck were they talking about!?
"Sh-shopping?" he stuttered quietly as his face got even more bewildered.
"Of course! Can't keep it like this!" Dan laughed as he gestured desolate room with a bed, "All it needs is a crucifix and you've got yourself convent room. But then we wouldn't want you bursting in to flames now would we, my little Dark Lord?"
Rei snorted while Charlotte shook her head trying not to.
"Those curtains are just some old ones a friend gave me and those sheets are just basic ones. Once you know what colors you want and stuff, we'll get you new ones." she offered.
"Yeh! Whatever you want! It's a blank canvas! I mean, within reason of course. No painting the walls black or anything..."
"Oh, he would not!" she defended, "But while we're talking about boundaries, all I ask is you keep it at least reasonably respectable. Laundry goes in the hamper and dirty glasses get brought down..." she said with an air of exasperation.
She'd seen some horrible things as a boarding school teacher...and that was the girls.
It was Dan's turn to snort.
"Oh honey, please...you've seen his room at school, right? The crucifix thing works there too!"
Bed.
Desk.
That was it if he recalled?
Was probably the only student who followed the 'no poster' rule.
Ohhh those pin marks drove the principle insane every year.
"Oh, I know! I'm just wanting to get off on the right foot is all!" Charlotte said almost defensively, hoping she hadn't offended before narrowing her eyes at Dan. "That applies to all of you, by the way!"
Kai stayed rigidly still until a musical ping-pong echoed through the house, making Dan's eyes light up and his mouth gape in excitement.
"Ohmygod is she here?!"
He all but shoved by them, throwing himself back down the stairs only for a maniacal cackle of glee to echo back up to them.
"Is who here...?" Rei asked with a cocked brow.
Charlotte however, rolled her eyes.
"His side piece..."
The boys exchanged confused glances before following her out and down the stairs.
Dan danced in the doorway like his bladder was about to fail him, making weird hums of glee.
"That's it fellas! Nice and easy! Careful, some of those keys are sharp! Heh heh heh."
While Charlotte both cringed and giggled, the moving man furthest away from him lifted his head and granted him a small, amused smirk.
YES! That one was getting a tip.
He backed up, letting the two large gentlemen wearing back braces reverse themselves carrying the wholesome fancy woman concealed and draped teasingly in cloth through the entrance way.
"Through here gents!" Dan ran, coming back every few strides to make sure they were following.
He didn't have to wait much longer until the reserved corner of the living room was filled.
As Charlotte came in the room along with Kai and Rei, he grabbed her and pulled her in, throwing an arm around her to share the joyful experience with her.
The two moving men finished settling her in, all that was left now was the grand reveal.
They undid the straps, taking their corners of the cloth that covered her up and finally undressed her.
Dan's eyes shone with joy and emotion as though he'd been presented with his first born.
"She's beautiful!"
Rei couldn't help but look at him like he had more of a screw loose than he thought, whereas it seemed Kai actually agreed with him for once.
Ooooooh. She was pretty...
Dan gratefully led the two gentlemen out, shaking hands and thanking them for being so careful with her before he rushed back to gush over her.
"Ohhhh, what shall I name you my sweet?"
Rei made a face.
Yep. Several screws loose.
"Any suggestions?!" he asked with a grin as he spun around, happening to catch Rei's eye.
"Um..."
His mind went blank of every name he'd ever heard of.
Think of a girl...think of a girl...
"Hilary?"
Dan made a face.
"Ehhhh...makes me think of Clinton. And I already have a First Lady..." he added as he wiggled his brows at Charlotte.
He looked to Kai, who rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Pff. I don't know. Gertrude?"
Dan went in to thought, going back to his new love.
"Hmm...not bad. Sounds like a good name for a buxom, hearty, wholesome lady that oozes beauty..." he commented as he ran his hand over the polished wood.
He gave Charlotte her chance.
"Hmm. Elizabeth?"
"Ooooohhh! Regal. Elegant. Enchanting. When we're alone, I can call her Lilibet..."
Kai pulled his phone out to check the time.
This was wonderful and all, but...
"Are we gonna start or what?"
Dan gave him a look.
Mood killer...
Naming party over, he put naming a musical instrument on the to-do list for later and started to limber himself up.
Last thing he needed was to throw his back out.
On the other hand...a mild injury could warrant a day off...
He got his shoes on, going back outside to the truck where Rei and Kai were already lifting out a large, long box together.
Man, it was weird seeing Rei without crutches now.
The kid finally got his cast taken off. So he rewarded him with manual labour.
"Oh! Let me open the door for ya!" Dan offered, running to do so and letting them pass.
"Where do you want this?" Rei asked.
"Oh...Uh...That's Charlotte's so let me ask. Hey Vixen?"
He went back inside, guiding the boys back with it to the spare bedroom upstairs on her instruction.
Before he could even blink, the two athletic teenagers were out raring to go, appearing in another flash with a box each.
"Oh. Those are for the living room I think?"
He wandered outside, making it half way before he got overtaken by a stoic face and biceps of steel.
And then a pony tail with just as impressive muscle followed in to the back of the truck with him.
Dan's hands awkwardly went to his hips, leaning back and forth on his heels like a lemon in his driveway.
Should he feel emasculated?
Kai stepped down with a box.
"Hey Rei. Pass me that small one there. Can probably take both."
Like a human packhorse/hulk/Mowgli, he hoisted a box on each shoulder and wandered back in to the house.
Next came Rei, looking like the box he was carrying may as well have been empty.
He peered in to the inside of the truck.
Welp.
This probably counted as strength training for the boys.
Would be almost immoral to get in the way of that.
Besides, someone had to be on refreshment duty!
He dusted his clean hands together as he wandered back inside with a cleaner conscience.
By the time it had all been unloaded from the truck and taken to it's appropriate room, the sun was already going down to bid farewell to another weekend.
Having finally stopped to sit down and have something to drink, both boys were feeling it now.
Kai stretched his back.
Not too much longer and he could go back to his dorm and have a show-
"Soooo. What we thinkin' gang? Go out for dinner? Order in?"
Kai spluttered his drink a little.
"What?"
They all looked at him.
"Dinner. What we all feeling like?" Dan reworded.
Kai whipped out his phone again.
"Uhhhh shouldn't we be getting back?"
Charlotte chuckled.
"Oh, it isn't that late. Besides, you boys must be starving! So we'll get whatever you two want, our treat as a little thank you."
While Rei smiled and carried on about how it was no problem, Kai shifted uncomfortably, coming over a little weird again.
They came here to help them move.
And now they'd finished.
Surely this was where they bid farewell and went back to where they all belonged?
"How about ordering pizza? Nice and easy. Don't have to leave the couch." Dan suggested.
Rei smiled along with his stomach.
Cheesy carbs sounded heavenly after all that lifting and hauling today.
"Perfect!"
"A-actually. Sorry. If you wouldn't mind, I really should get back to school."
He felt his face get a bit hot when they all looked his way. He felt like that probably wasn't the appropriate response. But...
"Do you really?" Rei asked pointedly through his smile in a tone that told him to stop.
Urgh. Did he even realise he was being rude? Nope. Probably not...
And what a surprise. Sourpuss was sticking to his guns.
"Mhmm. Lot to get done for tomorrow."
Dan tilted his head and hid his disappointment.
Aw. But he wanted to break the first bread in their new home as a family...
He guessed he had taken their whole weekend...
Kai probably did have some homework he couldn't get done. And perhaps he wanted to spend a little time with Rei.
Hmm. Well at least if the celebration waited 'til next weekend, the place would look a little more put together and homely. And they'd have more time to enjoy it without rushing.
Good point, Kai.
"Oh. Yeh, all right. I'll take you both back when you're ready then!"
They did just that. Finishing their drinks and getting back in to Dan's car that took them, to Rei's displeasure, away from the nice new house that would provide pizza, back to Hogwarts, a small room and yet more canteen food...
He sat on the single bed of the dorm room, freshly showered with his towel hanging round his neck waiting for Kai to get out.
As he looked around the room, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself after what Dan had said earlier. About how hanging a crucifix in here would make it look like a convent.
And then Kai bursting in to flames. Heh.
He had a point though.
Not that there was anything wrong with this room. A stable roof over your head was a good thing. But compared to Tyson's bedroom, Max's bedroom...
They had so much of their personalities in there. Posters or action figure thingies. Their trophies. Just little thingamabobs and knick knacks.
This really was a bed and a desk. 100% practicality.
Which, judging by the occupant, was somewhat understandable. And there was some no-poster rule apparently.
But hell, even compared to Scotty and Reuben's dorm rooms, this one sure was plain.
Like a business hotel or something.
It would be interesting to see what he'd do with his room at Dan's.
The bathroom door clicked and opened, Kai emerging comfortable and squeaky clean in his sweats.
As enticing as the view was, Rei had a bone to pick.
"Better?"
"Yeh." the husky voice answered as he wandered and flopped beside him on the bed.
Rei folded his arms.
"Did you manage to wash that layer of cranky off?"
Kai's small towel slowly came down his face to reveal a frown.
"Hn?"
Rei huffed.
"Don't 'hn' me. Why'd you turn them down for dinner? They wanted to say thank you and celebrate moving in and you flat out said no. Bit off wasn't it? In fact, you seemed to keep pushing to get it over with all day. Didn't even look that happy about getting shown around. Could you really not muster turning down the Sourpuss tap a little for a day like today?"
It was Kai's turn to sigh as he shifted a little defensively.
"And like I said back there, I have stuff to get done for tomorrow. Already spent my whole weekend hauling boxes. Not that I mind, but doesn't mean I don't have things to do tonight. I don't have time to sit around all night stuffing my face. And besides, why would we need to hang around? Why would they want us there to celebrate? It's their house."
"Well yeh, it is, but it's also y-"
"Rei! I have stuff to do!" he cut off with a bite, "It really isn't a big deal. I'm sure they're not devastated we're not there, so let's not, hm?"
Rei's brows both lifted up, deciding whether or not to say something back.
Probably not worth it. Would only cause a pointless argument, and it wasn't like they could go back now anyway.
"Okay fine." he sighed.
Kai gave a curt nod, standing up and taking the few steps to his desk.
May as well do said things...
As the book flopped open and the room went quiet, he stared at his French workbook with a small pang of guilt revving up.
Not just for snapping at Rei. But because he knew deep down this would only take him ten, fifteen minutes tops...
Crap. Now he'd have to drag it out so Rei didn't find that out. Just read a book or something...
He stalled a little by tapping his pen on the page and going in to his own little world, groaning inwardly.
Urrghhh...he hadn't offended them, had he?
He hadn't meant to. He'd just felt weird being there. Especially after the unexpected reveal that they'd given him his own room.
Why would they do that? There was even a spare bedroom in the event of needing to crash there.
Had not seen that one coming...an after that it felt somewhat overwhelming being in the house at all.
Like, suffocated almost? Wanted to get away and put some distance to breathe.
He didn't know why, but it was just a powerful niggle that won.
He went back to the reading passage.
Ah...it was probably fine. Dan and Charlotte wouldn't have thought anything of it. If anything, they were probably grateful. Now they had the whole evening to be all gross, old and weird together and fawn over the new piano and extra rooms...
"Good evening, this is the News at Nine. Tonight's top story, the Ministry of Justice..."
The news caster's voice seemed to drone over their heads as Dan and Charlotte sat on their couch with bellies full of pizza.
Dan's arm lay draped over the back while Charlotte's legs kicked up, leaning herself in to him.
This was sooooo nice...
A blissful start to normal, adult life...finally.
Little later in life than they'd planned to have their own home but eh, didn't make it any less special.
"We could totally get a dog..." Dan muttered out loud, letting his thoughts come straight out his mouth.
Charlotte lifted her head.
"The hell we can? You nuts?"
Dan pouted at her playfully.
"What? You love dogs! We have a little yard now, got a park close by to take it walkies. You even said we should get a dog!"
Charlotte gave him a look that told him she had no idea what he was talking about.
Until it clicked.
Oh. This moron...
"That was during a fight, why would you bring that up?" she asked in a disappointed tone.
Was their first night here. Was meant to be special...
"Fights are natural! Still an excellent point."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head at him.
She'd said he should get one when he was wanting to postpone them moving forward. Again. For Kai this time.
Even though her anger was totally valid, she did feel bad. She had a soft spot for both those boys that was growing more and more as she was getting to know them.
But she also liked the man Dan had slowly been changing in to since he met Kai.
Everything was still met with a joke or glossed over with light-heartedness, which had its pros and cons.
But since he and Kai crossed paths, there was definitely a more mature, responsible side to him that was blossoming.
He always had enjoyed teaching, always had good rapport with his students.
But whether he or Kai were conscious of it, or willing to admit it or not, the kid really looked up to him and Dan was trying his best to fill those shoes and be that role model.
Dan had never been depended on before, really.
He cared for his students like she cared for hers. Would be upset if something bad happened to any of them, and just as equally was thrilled when something good happened just like any half decent teacher. But his responsibility for them ended with a school bell and stayed within the walls.
But she always was so curious as to why after all these years of teaching, this one became so much more.
The more she heard though, and the more she got to know him in person, it seemed like Kai had never had someone he could depend on. No adults or parent figures to give him the attention and care he needed. The kind that still existed after the school bell went.
She guessed there was just something that clicked, and even though they were chalk and cheese at times, others they seemed to be peas and carrots.
She smirked.
Despite the hardships and clashes, they really were good for each other. Dare she even say needed each other.
Dan's elation at becoming his official guardian was yet to come down.
It was awfully endearing. And she knew he took it with the utmost seriousnes-
OH. That reminded her...
"Oh my god! I knew I needed to talk to you about something." she interjected as she slapped a hand on his chest.
Dan jolted at the sudden hit, head looking down at her.
Uh oh. That was never good.
"M'yeeeessss?"
She lifted herself off his side to sit up and face him properly.
"About Kai's room..."
He sighed heavily.
"Ohhhh thank god you were thinking it too..."
"...What?"
His face saddened.
"He really didn't look like he liked it, did he? I mean, I know it's pretty plain right this second, but we explained it was just until we had time to go deck it out how he wants it!" he fired, "I just don't get it...it's bigger than the box he lives in at school? We even got him a bigger bed!"
Charlotte quickly held her hand up.
"That! That's what I want to talk to you about!" she got in quick before he distracted her.
Dan stopped his ramble, looking confused.
"Hm?"
She sighed.
"I know we got a double since we assumed Ray would also be staying..."
"Uh huuuh?"
She shifted uncomfortably.
"Urrrghh...we really should have discussed this earlier!" she groaned as she ran a hand through her auburn hair, "I-I don't know, just didn't even occur to me until I sat and really thought about it...we're not even used to having our own roof, let alone kids living under it with us..."
She dug deep.
"But. Since you are his guardian now, that pretty much means I'm his guardian now too, right?"
Dan continued to eye her. Where was this going?
"Yeeeess?"
"So...It's our duty and our responsibility to guide, educate and care for him."
"It isssss?"
"Aaannnd the boy you've sworn to care for is at a particularly difficult age in his life..."
Dan's frowning brows lifted as he felt storm clouds gather above his head.
Something awful was about to happen...
"...Mmhmm...?"
She gave him a bored look.
"Soooo... I think perhaps it might be wise for you to have a little talk with him that your father had with you when you first started dating..."
For once, in a rare occurance, Dan's face started to turn a slight shade of pink.
"Oooohhh come on!" he brushed off in an off pitch, "He knows the birds and the bees! S'fine!"
"Dan!" she snipped, "I'm not talking about telling him where babies come from. I'm talking about...responsible intimacy!"
Dan's face got pinker, laughing it off awkwardly.
"Puh-leaaaase! Those two!? They've only just started being able to be in the same room without blushing, I don't think we need to worry about...stuff...any time soon."
She frowned, folding her arms.
Men...
"Oh. Sure. No. Two teenage boys in blissful honeymoon phase with their first loves. Sharing a bed. Not gonna get curious about what's in each other's pants at all..."
Dan covered his ears and cowered.
"Baaaabe! Come on!"
"Oh, grow up Dan! Of course they're gonna at some point!" she snapped.
So much for that budding maturity she was mentally swooning over moments ago...
"So, if you're not okay with that under this roof then we need to tell them now that Rei will be in the spare room whenever he comes here? Or that doors need to be left open? Or are we okay with them sleeping in there? You're the man of the house, what do you think?"
Dan blinked, smirking for a split second.
Man of the house. He liked the sound of that.
Oh shit, right, he had to act like one.
Umm...uhhh...
Ohhhhh he didn't know!?
He really hadn't thought about it!
Now that he had for five seconds, he felt a little bad. Shoving them together in Kai's room at school may not have been the best idea in hindsight.
But shhhh, was fine...
Damn. She wanted a response.
"Well...I mean, feels a little different doesn't it? Not like there's going to be any little Fireballs with fangs popping out should they...ya know."
Charlotte smirked at the imagery of the fanged infant with a scowl, but made herself wipe it off.
"I know...but that isn't all there is to it, is there? We want them to be safe and careful and think with their heads instead of their...things."
He nodded so he didn't get in trouble.
"You're right. And you're obviously more eloquent at this kind of thing, so I'll let you be the one to sit 'em down..."
She spluttered.
"As if, Harris! Come on now! This is your first big hurdle as guardian! You gonna be stumble at the first hurdle!?"
"N-no!"
"That's right you aint!" she rallied, "Look, I get it's a really uncomfortable subject, I get that they're both mature, smart boys. But remember when you were that age? God, especially your first romance. It's intense."
Dan nodded, blush still very present.
"...Can I talk to Rei instead at least?"
Would still be an awkward conversation, but at least Rei wouldn't burst in to flames or react like a vampire in the sun.
Maybe?
Charlotte's shoulders dropped.
"Well...that's your call. Maybe both of them wouldn't be a bad idea?"
Dan winced.
No. He hadn't meant both!
"Leave it with me..."
She smiled and went back to snuggling in to his side.
"I will."
Silence fell over them for a while.
He shuddered.
Ohhh Christ. He had not anticipated these kinds of issues. Were the tempers and attitude not enough? Now he had to worry about walking in on Brokeback Mountain as well?
Maybe they could set up a warning system...send an alert when they were ten minutes away. That would be good.
Pfff...wished his own parents were this cool when he was their age...
He'd never forget that one time when his dad just let himself in...
"Hey...your parents ever catch you making out or something with a boyfriend?"
Charlotte snorted.
"Yes. But fortunately it was my mom. You?"
"Oh-hooo yeh. Girlfriend though. Not boyfriend."
"Pfff. That hardly surprises me. Not like you're the most careful person." she giggled.
He let a coy smirk slip.
"Well you knoooow...We've got the house to ourselves and my folks are gonna be out alllllll evening..." he said in a sultry voice, pretending to yawn and dropping his arm around her.
She snorted, slapping his thigh playfully but letting him pull her.
"Stupid man..."
Was their first night in their very own home after all...
Following the first night came the first morning. Despite the initial pain of the 6:30 alarm, the mood in the Harris home lifted quickly after realising they were actually in the Harris home.
Both had slept wonderfully.
The two of them took themselves downstairs, wrapped in their robes and getting the coffee on quick to warm them up on the cold winter morning.
Past-Dan was a genius for buying some croissants for them.
Who knew something as simple as a quick breakfast could be so enjoyable?
But, like all good things, they came to an end.
They weaved around each other, getting themselves washed and dressed ready for another day of teaching.
Wrapped up in coats and scarves, they stepped out their front door and pecked a kiss on each other before splitting and getting in to their separate cars.
The farewell was dragged out a little on the count of needing the cars to heat up first...but eventually they got on their way to work.
At 7:50, the door to the teacher's room flew open and in walked a bubbly, red nosed, wrapped up man with a level of energy that didn't have any business being present on a Monday morning.
"Gooooooooooooooooood morning all!"
Some grunts and head nods greeted him back.
Loud. Coffee. Precious quiet time before first period.
Dan didn't seem to care anyway, taking himself to hang his coat and get his own peaceful cup of fuel.
Not too much longer later, the door slid open again.
"Gooooood mornin' Rei!"
He got a fanged smile.
"Morning. How was your first night at the new place?"
Dan lit up even more and sent invisible middle fingers to his so called work buddies.
The sixteen year old thought to ask...
"Fantastic! Slept like babies!"
"Heh. Glad to hear it. It really is a great house."
"Thanks! Hopefully when you come over this weekend it won't look like such a bomb site."
The moment Rei took his seat at his desk, he shot out of it once again as the door slid open and the principle walked in.
His senior counterparts rose from their own chairs with a little less vigour than he had, but they were soon given the all clear to slump back down.
The stern, stiff man took himself to the front middle, center stage.
"Gentlemen. Winter is well and truly upon us..."
Rei bit his lip.
Sounded like something out of Game of Thrones...
Shhh. Don't laugh. You're a serious, respectable teacher now Rei.
"And like every winter, that brings with it the oh so delightful plague of influenza..."
There was another wave of sighs and zombie-like groans.
"Already we have a handful of cases in the third grade and two in the second grade. So as always, to try and keep it under control, I urge all teachers and students to wear masks, homeroom teachers please take a box to your classroom, instruct them to wash their hands regularly. Common sense precautions. Any one with any signs of fever please send them straight to the school nurse. Any homeroom class that has four or more students confirmed with flu is to be cancelled for one week. So please be prepared to provide supplemental study materials in the event of..."
Rei shuddered.
Sheesh. This was intense? He'd never had the flu, but was it not just a cold's big brother?
How cool for the healthy kids in the quarantine class though. Got a free week off!
Not that he wished illness on anyone, but if that happened in Kai's class, that would mean they could spend some more time together!
He leaned his chin on his hand with a wobbly smile on his face as his focus on the principle turned to dust and his mind went to something better.
He'd come home from his day of work...Kai would have his god foresaken homework done. They'd have allllll evening to snuggle up under the covers and keep all warm and-
"Meeting adjourned."
Coming back in to the room, Rei shot up out his seat with the other teachers in time to see the principle out the room.
Whoops...hadn't been listening. Oh well.
With the door closing, the flock of teachers scurried around picking up books and downing what was left of their coffee.
In room 1-4, Kai sat impatiently, waiting for the door to open.
Surprise, surprise, a few minutes after the bell, it finally did.
He subtly eyed Mr. Harris as he came sauntering in, upbeat as ever, even for a Monday morning.
The pang of guilt lifted.
See? Rei was overthinking it. He wasn't offended at all.
He waited to see how he called his name for roll call, just to check.
Yehhhh was fine.
He waffled on with morning announcements.
Oh good. Flu season.
"So remember gang! Masks on, wash your hands, stay healthy!"
The bell chimed to end homeroom, Dan swapping out for Mr. Simmons and so began yet another day at St. Tristan's.
Returning to the staff room, Dan took his seat back at his desk and booted up his laptop ready to get some work done.
As his fingertips clacked around the keyboard, his attention was dragged away when a presence appeared beside him.
He looked up to see the office guy holding a brown envelope.
"I guess I don't really need to waste a stamp mailing this out." he chuckled.
Dan took it from him, seeing his name and address on it.
"What's this?"
"Term test results."
Dan did a double take, a pleased as punch grin curling up quickly.
Ooooh! That's right! Parents and Guardians got sent out stuff like this.
His shoulders wiggled a little.
"Thanks! Let's have a look see how m'boy did!" he said happily as he went ahead and ripped the top.
This was weirdly exciting...
He'd find out anyway. He was the homeroom teacher, he'd find all of their grades out.
Not to mention one of Kai's scores was one he'd given him himself.
But still...he felt warm and fuzzy. Never thought he would be the recipient of any of these.
It felt even more official now!
Unfolding the crisp, white paper, his eyes scanned it and smiled proudly.
"Hn...what a surprise..."
"He ace 'em?"
He turned his head to see curious gold eyes peeking up from over at his own desk.
"Sure did! Whoaaaa! Got a 99.5 in Math. That's both awesome and sucks! What did he lose half a point on? Yo Tim! Little harsh aint it?" he laughed, looking around to try and find him.
Ah right. Teaching.
Ooooohhh! That meant Kai would be finding out his score now too!
"Heh...bet he's gonna be pissed."
Back in 1-4, Kai walked back to his seat from the front and quickly turned over his test sheet, eyes going right to the red pen at the top.
His eyes lit up before they dulled and frowned.
Oh, come on! Seriously?! Half a frickin' point?!
He lifted his head slowly and glared hard at the teacher at the front passing papers back.
Hope it was worth it Simmons, 'cause you just made the LIST!
The week went by quickly as they tended to, soon coming round to Thursday morning when Kai was once again walking in to Dr. Foster's office.
The older man seemed rather happy to see him.
"Sit, sit, sit!" he gestured with a smile, settling himself at his desk as he did.
"I've been looking forward to seeing you. You have a lot to fill me in on."
Kai gave a slight, polite smile.
With tests, he hadn't been able to come here last week.
"Soooo how was the choir contest?" he asked with anticipation in his voice.
The slight smile got larger and more genuine.
"We actually pulled it off. Got first place."
He slapped the desk.
"Marvellous!" praised with a beaming smile, "Congratulations to all! I'm taking that to mean your concerns about panics never materialised?"
"Well. I still wanted to puke the entire time. But no, luckily that never happened..."
Foster chuckled.
"I'm sure everyone who participated wanted to puke as well. But I'm thrilled to hear it. Did you do anything nice to celebrate?"
Kai's butt shifted a little.
"Kind of. The day after Rei and I went out together..." his ego couldn't help but drop in, "And then Sunday we hung out with our friends Scotty and Reu. Scotty is also in the choir so, I guess that was a celebratory hang out."
Foster caught it and gave him a sly smirk.
"Ohhh? A date at long last?"
Kai both reeled and matched the smirk.
"Perhaps..." he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well congratulations on that front as well. I'm pleased all that worked out nicely for you both. And that you are getting along with your school friends again. I understand last week you couldn't come due to your term tests? How did they go?"
The ego peacocked even more.
"We got them back this week. All high 90's."
He'd managed to keep his streak going.
Heh, even Scotty surpassed his own expectations. Especially English and the Gatsby paper. The little loser practicality spun in his seat and yelled at him in class when he got his result back.
Their lunchtime library sessions and getting a literary smackdown seemed to have paid off for him.
The older man snorted happily.
"Well good God man!" he exclaimed dramatically, "I'd call that a Royal flush!"
"Hn..." was all he got back, but the glow around him spoke louder.
"Annnnnd no issues there? Test nerves setting you off?"
"Mmm nope."
"Wonderful! Looks like we can start to rule out performance anxiety as a possible trigger for your attacks then." he said optimistically.
Kai just nodded. That was good. He guessed?
But now the probably impossible task of finding out what else they could be. He couldn't see a pattern.
"Anything else to tell me about? Win the lottery as well while you were at it?" the doctor chuckled.
Kai felt the niggle wake up.
There was that. But what would he say exactly?
In the end, he just shook his head.
"Nah, that's about it..."
"Alrighty, let's get to it then! Now on the topic of your recent panic attacks, I think it might be helpful to go over them..."
Urgh...
Could they not just continue talking about how great he was?
By the time they'd gone over the very first one with the asshole shrink who'd locked the door, their time was up.
Welp. Another hour spent and next to nothing fixed...
He quite liked this guy though. So it didn't seem quite as insufferable.
He walked Kai back out to where Dan was waiting for him, putting his phone away and rising to his feet.
"Thanks a lot Doc!"
"Pleasure. Sounds like its been quite a successful few weeks!"
"Sure has!" the dopey grin radiated proudly as he clapped Kai on the shoulder, getting an eye roll in response.
"On that note, before you leave I wanted to see if you wanted to reschedule an appointment to make up for the one you missed last week?"
Kai was about to tell him he was fine without one, but Dan cut in.
"Please! When can you fit him in?"
The older man took himself to the small reception desk, talking and checking with the receptionist.
"The soonest available slots aaaaarrrre...this Saturday at ten or next Monday at ten." she offered, looking up from the computer screen.
"Wow. What's the beef with ten o'clock?" Dan chuckled, "Shall we say Saturday? Leave after breakfast, finish in time for lunch! Saves you missing more school too." he put to him.
Kai felt his stomach drop and the niggle rise, tensing up.
"Sure..." he muttered, making his eyes wander round the room and inspect tiny chips in the paint.
It was Dan's turn to roll his eyes.
Well gee, tone the enthusiasm down a smidge there, buddy...
"Saturday at ten would be wonderful. Thank you."
They took their leave, belting up in the car and setting off back to the school.
"So how'd it go today?" Dan asked him brightly. Sounded like he'd told him about his triumphs.
"Yeh. Was good." the teenager shrugged back.
Dan waited a moment to see if anything was going to be added to that. Nah.
Good talk...
"Glad to hear..."
The car fell quiet apart from whatever crap was playing on the radio. Dan wasn't really paying attention. As well as driving, the cogs in his mind were turning and his thumbs tapped the wheel as an uncomfortable feeling swirled in his stomach.
He did promise he'd handle it...
Weekend was approaching fast.
They were alone without anyone else around to possibly interrupt or overhear...
He cleared his throat.
Maybe he should try and ease in with something less horrific first...
"Oh hey! Charlotte and I had an idea! So we were thinking; Friday nights could be movie night! She picked some Marvel movie for tomorrow. Said she and Ray both like those so wanted to start with that. We figured since we couldn't do pizza last weekend with you boys we'd get some delivery goodness and watch...I don't know...Iron Man blow stuff up!" he fired, snapping his head to the side.
Kai's eyes stayed fixed out the window and clenched up.
Ohhhhh God...his niggle had been right...
He wanted them to spend the weekend there...
"You haven't seen any of 'em right? And hey, if you boys aint feeling pizza, we found some nice looking take-out places around there. Got Indian, Chinese, Thai...You can choose, Mr. High Nineties! And next week it's my turn to pick a movie! We thought it would be cool if we all took turns picking! Ray can choose the week after. Or you. Whichever! Don't think our waistlines would thank us for take-out every week, but still, can make something nice for dinner and what not..."
As Dan went on his excited ramble, Kai just slowly coiled tighter.
Apparently not just this weekend...every weekend?
He felt weird. Light headed even...
"Sure..."
Dan raised a brow at the gloomy parrot.
"You okay?"
"Yeh."
He held in a sigh. Unconvinced. But then again, was Kai...
"We were thinking of going shopping Saturday too! Maybe after we're done at the doctor's, we can meet Charlotte and Ray somewhere for lunch and then head out to get you some stuff for your room! We need a toaster as well and a few little things we didn't think about."
Eyes betraying him, they ripped from the window over to the driver, the guilt pang sparked at the sparkly, excited looking face.
So he forced an awkward, crooked smile while his throat closed up some.
"No rush..."
"Ah! Let's get the ball rolling!" Dan waved off.
"Sure..."
Dan gripped the wheel a little harder and stared harder at the road.
One: No really, tone down the enthusiasm there buddy! It's getting embarrassing!
Two: Why did he get the feeling he hated their house!?
Three: Shit, he was out of ideas for lead ins! The window of opportunity was here, but it didn't feel like the right time?
Then again was there one for this kind of thing!?
He cleared his throat for the fourth or fifth time since they got in the car.
"So...on the subject of your room, I actually need to talk to you about something."
Silence. Perfect.
"Kai?"
"Yeh, listening..."
Ohhhh even better. Just his luck to catch him on a moody day...
But Daniel F. Harris didn't back down from a challenge!
"See...Thing is...How do I say this...?" he asked himself before puffing his cheeks and feeling his face get warm already.
"You know how much I like Rei don't ya? A-and how good I think he is for youuuu and like how I think you're good togetherrr...?"
He glanced over to find the deep eyes frowning hard.
"And...see..."
What did he say? When a boy loves a boy very much?
"Well, when you care for someone, I mean in the way you and Rei care for each other..."
He glanced again to see one brow had crank up.
Kai waited quietly, feeling storm clouds gather overhead.
He had the feeling something awful was about to happen...
Dan let out a desperate groan as his mind went blank for anything to say.
This was horrible!
"Arrrgh...Look, you're not doing anything to get him pregnant are ya!?" he spewed out in almost a panic.
Both brows were at the hairline now. As well as a deeply disturbed, horrified and nauseated look on his face.
"Stop talking." his dry throat managed to growl out as he snapped his slowly flushing face out the window again.
Dan's shoulder's slumped in defeat.
He needed to start over.
"Kai-"
"Nope! Stop talking!" his voice cracked in both pleading and demand.
Dan sighed yet again, roughly hitting the indicator and pulling over.
...And hitting the child lock. Didn't put it past him to get out and bolt.
"Just...Don't interrupt, let me get this out and then we can pretend it didn't happen okay!? This is hardly fun for me either!" his voice raised.
"So just don't?!" Kai raised his back.
Dan considered it..
Nahhh, she'd know!
"Just. Shush will ya?!"
The seatbelt beside him unbuckled and the door handle went clunk.
And again.
Clunkclunkclunk.
HA! Damn, he was good!
Anyway...
"Kaaaaaai...Look, this is uncomfortable as balls but really important." he whined, "I know you two room together already, and I'm happy for you to do the same at home, but-hmmm...the thing is, people your age getting their first taste of love and romance, w-well, isn't uncommon to get swept up in the moment and let...excitement cloud judgement..."
Despite feeling like he was choosing his words wisely and keeping the cringe as minimal as possible, the beet colored Dark Lord was currently hissing, dissolving and squirming in his seat.
"Okay. Got it!"
Dan dug deep. No buckling over hurdles here!
"You two really are good for each other. It would be horrible if that was tarnished or worse because you went too fast before you were both ready. 'Cause there's a big difference between love and...and lust." he powered through, feeling himself cringe, "Just make sure you're both on the same page, yeh? Respect and communication are key. And make sure it's safe and that you know exactly what's... involved."
He wasn't exactly an expert on how the...gay version worked?
Just knew lube was key.
Did...did he tell him that?
Nah. He could already cook an egg on his face. That would actually make him burst in to flames.
Or holy crap, unless he knew that already cause they'd already...taken the plunge?!
Ohhhhh why had he put them in a room together at school?! That was so stupid and irresponsible!
He was a terrible guardian!
All he'd wanted to do was give them a little push, but that was more of an epic shove.
"Unless you two have alreaaaaddyyyyy...?" he pried, guilt and regret desperate to know how bad he'd messed up.
Having already sat looking like he wanted to be swallowed in to the ground, Kai recoiled more in to the car door, face glowing and shaking his head ferociously at the implication.
"No! We've only kissed!" he screeched out to protest his innocence in a pitch he hadn't had since before puberty.
Dan let out a sigh of relief. Now he felt a little better.
"Okay! Good good!" he replied quickly in an overly cheery voice, "Well uh...yeh! In that case, just... take your time. Don't rush and uhh...yeh!" he summarised horribly.
"Just drive..." Kai pleaded in a tone that sounded like he was about ready to cry, unable to look him in the face.
Dan had the good sense to shut his mouth and do as he asked, the two remaining painfully quiet with a rich aura of awkward stinking out the car until they reached the school grounds.
The seatbelt was off before the car even stopped, out the door in a flash and bolting back to the building.
As soon as he was out of sight, Dan's head flopped forward, smacking his head against the steering wheel.
Well. That went well...
Meanwhile, Kai tried to rid himself of the trauma of what just transpired, roughly throwing his clothes off and hoping the humiliation was stripped off with them. He grabbed his uniform to quickly cover himself up again.
That idiot did not just...
What in the flying fuck possessed him to talk about...THAT?!
He hadn't even thought about it yet?! They'd barely just had their first kiss let alone their first...THAT!
O-okay, to say he'd never thought about it was a total lie. He'd imagined them and...that before.
But not actually doing it for reals thought about it.
He flopped and sat on the side of his bed, running his hands roughly through his hair.
Should he have?! Was Rei thinking about it?!
How long was normal before things got to that point?
What was the process?! The protocol?!
How much time did he have?
Who initiated?!
Like hell he was going to WikiAsk this one...
He sighed hard.
He was absolutely horrible at all this stuff...The fact he'd had to Google everything from the second they first kissed just proved it.
Maybe he just wasn't cut out to be a boyfriend...
But...he wanted to be...
Seriously, what possessed him to bring that up?!
Was pretty sure teachers didn't have these conversations with students!
But then again, they weren't strictly student-teacher any more...
Still! Mr. D was his guardian until just recently and he sure as hell had never crossed any lines like that!
And another thing! He'd never spent any time at Mr. Dickenson's house either?! Didn't have his very own room in...wherever the hell he lived!
See!? He didn't even know where the old man lived!
So they sure as shit didn't have Friday night movies and pizza! Or shopping trips!
He was just the phone number they went to when stuff happened...The one to report to when he'd fucked up.
His head started to spin slowly and dully, rubbing a hand over his chest as he felt himself get wound up.
Breathhhhe like the good doctor said...
This was just...he didn't even know.
It was hitting him that in a very short time frame, everything had changed.
A week or so ago, Dan was his music and homeroom teacher. Sure, their relationship was different than any other teacher, but that was the definition. He knew where they stood.
Now...
He...he was half living with them he guessed?! Since when?! Talking about laundry and...and THAT?! And why was he giving him a space in their house?! That seemed like a huge gesture and way too much to accept...
And as for Rei, it wasn't long ago they were the friends and teammates they always were. He may well have felt the way he did about him, but he knew where they stood.
Now they were dating and looking down the barrel of...of...
He shuddered hard.
He guessed he'd seen Rei in just a towel before...but Rei hadn't seen any of him.
Ohhhhhh god...he wasn't sure if he wanted him to see the mess under his shirt...
Let alone-
Ohhhh Jesus Christ...was his junk normal!?
Okay, relax. Surely it was way too soon to even be worrying about anything like that.
But then again, Rei was also wanting to tell everyone about them the second they got together...had been the one to slip in some tongue first. Clearly he was wanting them to move forward at a certain pace?!
He let out a pitiful groan and pushed his hands into his eyes.
This was feeling too much too fast...all of it.
The two people he cared about most in the world suddenly had changed their definitions. Now he wasn't so sure where he stood or what was expected of him.
Before they were all stood at a good arm's length where he could see them clearly, but now both of them were suddenly standing toe to toe with him. Right up in his face.
And despite caring for both of them...there was just that fuckin' niggle...
Question was; what the hell was he going to do about it?
For that evening, he kept himself at his desk with 'homework' while Rei amused himself with comics until it was time to sleep.
Dan was easy enough to avoid. Just keep his head down in class.
That was, until the bell chimed the following day to signal the start of the weekend...
His heart sank as the animated knock came at his dorm room door.
"You boys ready!? Got everything? Hey! You can probably take some stuff to leave over there!"
A few minutes later, Rei bounded through the door way.
Sayonara, tin can!
Ooooohhhh he couldn't wait!
Pizza! Avengers! An actual couch! Good company! A double bed!
Kai dragged his feet behind, giving his dorm room a look over as he shut the door behind him.
...So long, old friend...
He offered Rei the front seat, letting him and Dan talk up a storm until they pulled in to the driveway.
Oh god...
Dan hurried them out, getting excited when he saw Charlotte's car already there. He quickly burst through the front door.
"Honey! We're hooome!"
"Welcome home boys!" she called through.
As they walked through to the living room, Rei let out a second 'oooooh'.
Already the place looked so much more homely and put together!
"Wow, you guys didn't hang around! It looks great!"
"Thaaaank you!" she chuckled happily as she pulled herself off the couch.
"And Kaaaiii! Well done you on those test results!" she beamed as she glided towards him with her arms coming out.
He jerked back instantly.
"T-Thanks..."
She read the back off vibes loud and clear, putting her arms back down.
Whoops...she got ahead of herself.
"We thought as a little reward we'd get take out! Well, and as a belated thank you to you boys for helping last week. Whatever you're hankerin'! I put the menus out on the coffee table here, so have a browse Mr. High-Nineties!"
Kai's brow twitched at the nickname.
Oh God they really were the same person...
What kind of nickname was that any way?! Sounded like a temperature than a person!
I'm burnin' through the skkkyyyy, yehhhh! Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mr. Fahrenheiiiiiiiitttt-
GAAAH!
Was he slowly turning in to them as well!?
"Whatever you guys want..."
"Nope! Your choice!" she insisted.
"I'm easy!" he insisted right back with a little bite, "Go ahead and pick, Rei. Where's the bathroom?"
"One down the hall and one upstairs?" Dan replied with a lifted brow.
He...he'd been here before?
While Rei took over the role of decider, Dan watched as Fireball bolted up the stairs.
He hid in there a few minutes mentally slapping the shit out of himself to pull himself together before he made himself go back down.
Ray and Charlotte nerded out over movies until the food arrived, making them all mess around with DVD players and plates before getting settled.
As the movie played on and the selection of whoever the hell these superheroes were did whatever the hell they were doing, Kai glanced around.
All made themselves completely comfortable and at home, chewing on pizza and glued to the screen.
Really!? Was he the only one that thought this was weird?!
Dan also found himself glancing over from his armchair over to the couch where the rest of them were.
Rei and Charlotte were clearly enjoying the movie.
The other was sat like he was in a job interview. All stiff and rigid.
Hadn't really touched the pizza either...
Something was up. And he was going to find out what...somehow.
His heart sank a little though.
He just...didn't get it.
Was it the fact this place wasn't as fancy as he was used to?
He really just didn't see him being that kind of kid...
But then what was his problem?
He'd wanted this, hadn't he?
He would never forget the moment they had when he told him he was staying.
Had not expected tears from him. But the fact they happened meant the world to him.
So then, what the hell was with him now?
He turned his attention back to the movie.
Maybe he was reading too much in to it...
Maybe his problem was actually that godforsaken talk they'd had yesterday. Would make sense...
He shuddered at the flashbacks.
Ohhhh the joys of having a teenager.
He shoved a slice of pizza in his face, shaking his head a little at himself.
And he signed himself up for it like a chump...
A few hours later, it was the time Kai had been dreading.
Bedtime...
They all rotated round the bathroom getting ready for bed before bidding each other a good night, but not before the two adults had fussed over them and checked if they had everything.
But now they were alone and Kai was getting in to the left side of the big bed like he did at his dorm.
He assumed he had the same side here too. The world surely hadn't gone that mad.
Rei quickly followed after turning off the main light and turning on the smaller lamp.
"Ooooooooh I've been looking forward to this bed all week!" he grinned as he wriggled in childishly beside him.
"Hn, yeh..."
Rei rolled on to his side, propping his head up on his elbow.
"So, how was losing your Marvel virginity?" he giggled, eager to hear his opinion since he hadn't said anything after the movie ended.
The other's stomach dropped.
Of all the ways to phrase that...
"Fine I guess..."
Rei frowned.
Oh...that was it? Aw...He'd been excited to watch them with him. Maybe they really just weren't his taste?
"You okay? You've been super quiet."
He could sniff something off.
"I'm always quiet."
"Not this quiet..." he replied.
Kai shook his head.
"I'm fine. Really. Just tired."
A fang slipped out.
"Good. In that case..." he purred as he slid himself up against him, moving in to press his lips against Kai's for their goodnight smooch session.
He reciprocated, kissing him back with an incredibly conflicting sensation of both freezing up and warming.
He loved this...
Rei was all warm and kissing felt nice. He loved how close he was, physically and otherwise.
But at the same time, it frightened him as well.
Now after that stupid conversation it scared him even more.
Fortunately, it wasn't too long before the kisses got sleepier and Rei pulled away, eyes drooping and rolling the other way to get comfy in the bed he was so excited about.
He said goodnight, lazily flopped his hand around until he found the switch for the lamp.
With the room going black, Rei seemed to clock out at the drop of a hat.
Kai however, lay with his eyes wide open, niggle as wide awake as he was.
He tapped his thumbs on his folded hands while his mind continued to fall down the rabbit hole.
This was going to be a lonnnnggg weekend...
End of Chapter!
I hope you enjoyed it. Part 2 I really hope won't take as long to get to you.
Until next time, stay sexy, beautiful readers!
Roy