Kai and Grampa walked in through the familiar doors, the old man with his surgical mask in place ready. Kai didn't really need escorting in, but he liked to say hello to Miki or her daughter if she was around.
The moment they set foot on to the premises, long black and grey hair bounced as she launched up out her seat. Her flowy earthy green dress charged towards them with her eyes huge and shining.
"Afternoon, Ms. Miki!" Grampa greeted as usual.
"Afternoon!" She beamed, turning her head to him while her body still went for Kai. She arrived, slamming her hands on the boy's shoulders excitedly.
"We have something very special in store for you today, my boy!" She shrieked in a deep, almost crazed excited voice.
Kai's face hung, taken aback by her... This. She was usually pretty calm and chilled.
"O-oh?"
Her massive grin got wider. "Yep! We have to train you up for your newest job!"
Kai looked at Grampa, assuming he knew the reason for the hubbub. But the old man just shrugged.
"Well, have at it K-dog! Pick you up usual time!" He waved off chuckling as he took himself out before he sneezed to death. He had a feeling the car ride home was going to be interesting. She had something up her sleeve.
As soon as he was gone, she snatched up Kai's wrist and dragged him through the doors to the animal paradise where he spent a few hours a day.
"We need to hurry! Mr. Saito isn't going to be here much longer!"
Kai tensed. Mr. Saito was a vet that came periodically to check over the animals that needed some treatment. But he'd only met him once in passing. Enough to say what their names were and that was it. He let out an internal whine. He didn't like new people...
They finally arrived at the door of the medical room. He'd never been in this one before... Sure enough, a man around the same age as Miki was busy checking over one of the sick cats.
"He's here!" She announced, pulling him in.
He looked up, dark eyes lighting a little as he gave a small smile. "Ah! Nice to see you again. Not often we get to meet. Bear with me one moment, I'm just finishing up with Haru here... That ear infection looks to be clearing up nicely." He added as he went back to his furry patient.
Kai just nodded in reply and stayed quiet; the man was busy...
After a few more minutes of awkward standing, Haru's checkup was finally complete and the poor thing was allowed back to her little kennel. Miki scooped up the black and white fluff and excused herself, making Kai's heart slam. He shifted uncomfortably.
The doctor washed his hands. "So, Miki tells me you've been doing one hell of a job here. Says the place would fall apart without you now." He smiled over his shoulder.
Kai jolted and went pink around the nose. "Oh, I-I wouldn't say that! I just do odd jobs and play with the cats..." He spat out bashfully.
The tall vet dried his hands and turned. "And as a result, she and Yuuri have more time to get the official stuff done without the animals getting neglected. That's a huge help. She says you're a real hit with them. And she's been singing your almighty praises about Jack. I'd have to agree too, every time I see him he looks better and better and it sounds like it's all thanks to you."
The pink got darker, even though that made him happier than he had been in forever. He opened his mouth to argue, but Miki came back.
"Did you show him yet!?"
"Nope, was waiting for you to get back." He chuckled, "Anyway, Kai. I'm afraid we have to ask for your help some more. See we had some new arrivals this morning, and they're going to need some extra special care for a little while. Miki and Yuuri will be in charge most of the time, but we thought while you were here, it would be a big help if the job went to you..."
Kai blinked, riling up in a good way. Something in his waters was excited about this...
"Okay? So what's the job?"
Saito's eyes twinkled as he took himself over to a metal cage against the wall, gently reaching in and pulling out a box. He carried it over and gently set it down on the table, gesturing for Kai to come over and see.
As he peered in, Kai's insides exploded along with his eyes as he let out a noise that wasn't human.
"Babiiiiiessss!"
Three tiny lumps lay in the box, huddled up to each other, seemingly asleep. Saito chuckled and Miki vibrated. The older man reached in and picked one up. Despite his care and gentleness, the baby began to cry. Kai's hands smacked over his nose and mouth as he took in the little miracle of nature.
"We got these three in this morning. By the looks of them, they're only about two days old. Can see their umbilical cords are still attached look..." He explained as he maneuvered the baby to show his little belly.
"Hnnn!"
"And their eyes are still closed. They won't open for about another week yet. It's a little hard to tell still, but I think we have two boys and a girl here..."
Kai gushed a little more before he snapped out of it for the moment. "And there was no mom? Did the people check?"
Saito raised a brow. "Nope. No mom by the look of it. Impressed you know that's something to look out for."
Kai shrugged. He liked cats...
"Anyway, babies this small need to be fed every two hours or so. Think you can do that for us while you're here?"
Kai's starry eyes came back. He got to take care of the angels?!
"YES!"
The two adults snickered. "All right... Let me show you how. There's a few things you gotta watch out for and some other things you gotta do..."
Kai watched like a hawk as the Mr. Saito took him through the whole process. How to make the formula, how much to load in, how to hold the baby and encourage it to latch.
As the little one's mouth latched on, it's tiny front paws stretched out instinctively, and his hands were smacked over his nose and mouth again. But he had to focus... You had to be slow. They didn't have gag reflexes yet. Could go down to their lungs...
Once the warm kitten belly was full, the doctor showed him the less glamorous side. Newborns couldn't go to the bathroom by themselves... Their... Parts... Had to be stimulated with a wipe.
They had such cute little butts!
After weighing him and writing it down in the log, Mr. Saito got another one out. "Would you like to try?"
Kai nodded at a speed that almost caused his neck to break, bouncing over before holding his hands out and taking the precious and delicate baby in his hands.
"Oooooooooohhh..."
Mr. Saito sat him down on the stool and placed a towel in his lap, loading up another syringe for him. "Here..."
Miki's phone was already out. Ahhhhhhhhh! She knew he'd love this! Grampa had to see it all!
Kai nervously tried to do as he was shown and get it to latch, scared he might hurt it or something. It was so fragile... It's body shook just because it was so freshly born. Little limbs moving for no reason. Little cries because it was baby.
He put the nipple thing to its mouth and the little face fumbled around, not quite getting it. He carefully shifted his own hand to try and help it, this time getting the little mouth to latch.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Remember, reallllllly slow..." The vet coached.
Kai's heart was imploding on itself, one hand on the syringe while one hand supported the little neck. This little thing was so perfect! Was gonna grow up and be all big and strong.
Oooohhhhhh he wanted to take all three of them home! He would be a great papa to them! He wanted to be a parent to cat babies! Hell, give him more than three! He could do this all day! Give him twenty!
Twenty babies...
….
His head came up and frowned. Seemed like deja vu...
Grampa listened to the sound of whales in his head while the crack macaw went in his ear again. Newborn cats... Why would Miki do that to him? Was the dog not enough wonder?
Ah, he was happy for him. Anything that kept him happy and not festering in depression in his room... Just. The noise...
They pulled up to the house, Kai once again hurled himself out the car and charged in to the house.
"RAY!?"
"Back in the bathroom with Palmella and her five daughters." Came Tyson's bored and unenthused voice from the couch.
After having run around trying to get Ray to spill the beans on his not so mysterious man, getting nowhere in the process, he'd gone to zoning out at the TV bored out of his mind. Then it clicked who was home, the person who knew all there was to know in the world and all about Ray apparently too!
He spun himself around, throwing half his upper body along the back of the couch and waved. "Kaiiiii! Buddy! come sit! I missed you! Come tell me about your day and oh by the way, Ray has a crush on Enrique, weird right, did you know?!"
Kai ran in and threw himself next to him, glowing and grinning from ear to ear. Aw, he missed him!? That was nice! What a beautiful day! What a wonderful family!
"You're not gonna believe it! Today was unbelievable! Best day ever! These little bab-the fuck did you just say!?"
"I missed you!" Tyson repeated with a wonky grin, "And that Ray has a crush on Enrique, you know the guy we met last year in Rome and I totally kicked his ass but that's beside the point." He quickly waved off and bounced in Kai's space.
"Did you know?! Did he tell you? How long have they been together, or are they even together? He wouldn't tell me a damn thing all day and I even asked nicely!"
Kai's eye twitched. "They're not together..." He hissed as his hands balled to fists, "And oooooh, I remember Enrique-poo, no need for the reminders. You kicked his ass... Ha! You really did huh? You kicked his ass good!" He praised a bit like he would Jack.
For whatever reason Tyson's wonky grin got wonkier, able to sniff out the praise even if Kai had said it in a weird way. Didn't matter, he'd take it anyways and felt weirdly proud at himself.
"I did! So why would Ray like a sap like that? I mean, does he just like him for his money? And wasn't Enrique like super into chicks? He had two girls hanging off each arm!"
Kai's eye twitched harder. "Oh any hole is a goal for that guy! The requirements are that it has a pulse! And who knows why he'd find that attractive! But he isn't the money grabbing type Tyson, shame on you!" He spat venomously as he whacked him on the back again.
Tyson flinched, rubbing his poor back. "Ow, what I do? I'm just making assumptions cus he wouldn't tell me anything!" He whined before another light bulb went off, getting closer to Kai to the point he was almost in his lap.
"Did you know he had a thing for Mariah and Lee? At the same time?! Dude, I thought he was just popular with the ladies but he's swinging for both sides!"
Kai's lip curled in to a snarl and shoved him off. "Welllllllllllll isn't he just a little... Romeo..." He hissed, unable to think of another word.
"I guess. Ya know, really never gave it much thought till now. But even though we've known each other for almost two years now, I realized I really didn't know him like I thought I did." Tyson said as he laid out on the couch from being shoved.
"Maybe next time we should switch, you and me for a few hours alone. See what we learn!"
Kai let out a slight chuckle, which evolved into a giggle, and then finally a full blown laugh.
Tyson lifted his head, "What? I'm serious. It's always you and Ray paired up and me and Max. We should switch it up some, get to know one another better."
Following the weird, random, laughing coming from the living room, Ray finally edged his way back in with them as he eyed Kai a little for laughing so hard.
"You okay?" He asked as he stopped at the side of the couch beside him.
Kai's face fell to a scowl and folded his arms. "Uh huh. Tyson was just saying you two really got to know each other today, and suggested he and I do the same..."
"Ah." Ray nodded a bit. Though that whole idea had a montage of the two of them fighting and arguing and everyone else coming to a house on fire in his head.
"Well, I mean we talked for a bit. Wouldn't say we learned anything all that new." Ray said as he eyed Tyson next to Kai, wondering what the hell he'd already gone off and done.
"Anyways, how was your day?" He asked as he pushed on Kai's shoulder some playfully, "Can make you some coffee, head outside and you can tell me about it?"
Tyson gave him a weird look, though the offer wasn't all that suspicious or surprising, but what was he supposed to do without his best buddy if those two went off together and left him all alone?
Kai lifted a bitchy brow and leaned towards Tyson a little. "Nah. I'm gonna stay here with, T..." Wouldn't want to get in the way of his fantasizing over two grubby ferals and an Italian slime ball...
Ray matched Tyson's weird look though threw it at Kai then at Tyson. He laughed and shook his head, whacking Kai on the back like he'd done to Tyson as it finally clicked in his head what his problem might be.
"Right, okay. Gotchya. I'll just be in the kitchen if you need me." As he pulled away to leave he let his fingertips trail across Kai's shoulder, hoping that was a good enough sign to get him to realize he was being stupid, or better yet follow him so he could explain.
"I won't!" He fired back childishly before turning himself to face Tyson and stare him dead in the eyes the moment he was gone. "What else did you learn!?"
"Um. Well, that was really all he told me about himself. The rest he talked about you." Tyson said, not daring to tell him the whole reason they were on those kinds of topics was because he had a crush on Hilary, and definitely not in front of Kai if he was going to be his rival in and out of beybattles too.
Kai's eyes were on the kitchen door. Why would he tell Tyson about Enrique? About Mariah and Lee? Clearly he hadn't mentioned him...
"Uh huh, great." He said vacantly as he pushed himself out his seat and stormed to the kitchen. Rage! Green rage! Samurai rage!
Sitting in his usual chair, hands neatly folded over the top of the table and an almost knowing look on his face, Ray simply smiled as Kai stormed his way into the kitchen with him.
"Thought you said you weren't coming in here?"
"And I thought you said it wasn't like that!" He fired back with heartbreak in his eyes.
"What wasn't like what?" Ray gave him an innocent look, fighting down the smile that wanted to crack.
He knew what he was talking about, why Kai was so wound up right now, and it was kind of cute this time instead of the possessive jealousy before. And messing with him was just too good to pass up, especially since it was very clear that he still, and never would, have a thing for Enrique.
Kai near enough stomped out of frustration. "Oh cut the crap, Ray! Why would you tell him that!? Is it true? Did you start writing each other again!?"
Ray just looked at him, trying hard not to laugh as he pushed himself out from behind the table.
"C'mon." He waved at him to follow as he headed to the back door.
Kai glowered and followed. He wasn't above taking a plane and hunting an asshole down...
Outside and away from prying ears, Ray turned around mid-step and smacked Kai in the arm. Hands going to his hips quickly. "How are you so smart but so dense at the same time? What is wrong with you? Of course it's not like that, but I had to tell him something!"
"Ow..." He whined as he rubbed his arm, "The hell are you talking about!? Why are you telling Tyson about alllllllll your little crushes!?" He hissed back bitterly.
"Because he started it all off by trying to set you up with a girl! And then it somehow got onto him needing help with his crush, which he also said you might be competition for so had to divert some way and somehow ended up telling him I was Bi and then he kept asking who the guy was, and since they don't know about you, and it's not for me to do, had to keep his attention elsewhere." Ray panted slightly after all that word vomit, hoping Kai got all that since he was not repeating himself.
Kai just tilted his head from side to side trying to compute it all. "Why is he trying to set me up with a girl!? How am I competition for him!? I don't know any girls! Why did you have to tell him you were Bi!? And why didn't you tell him to mind his business instead of saying it was him!?"
"Because he thought it'd make you happier or something, I don't know. Said that you needed, and I quote, smooches and some other stuff. And he thinks Hilary likes you, and she did, but only the three of us know how that went." He waved his hand in the air, unsure how the events went in chronological order, but that wasn't the point.
"And it slipped, again? I don't know. He asked if I was ready for a relationship and I said that I thought I was, but that I know I have things I need to do on my end to be better for 'him' and he took that and ran with that instead of the very useful life advice I gave him. But again, I couldn't say anything about you because he doesn't know and just settled on the first name that came to mind."
Kai's eyes almost fell out his head, sliding over closer to Ray like a gossipy Queen at a water cooler. "Tyson likes Hilary!?" He whispered.
"Ugh, yeah? Kind of obvious they both like each other." Ray answered with a small, jerky, nod.
"It is?!" Kai fired back. What an explosion of stuff in the few hours he was gone.
Ray licked the front of his teeth, having to remind himself who he was talking to for a minute. If Kai hadn't noticed his flirting and subtle hints at first, then of course he wouldn't have caught on to Tyson and Hilary.
"Yes, it is. But he said he's going to wait till we deal with the Saint Shields first before he says anything. But anyways." He slapped him on the arm again for good measure. "Stop thinking I like anyone else but you!"
Kai shifted his feet and hung his head, ignoring the sting in his arm. Tyson was having to put everything on hold too, huh? Poor guy... But anyways. He shuffled forward and flopped his head on to Ray's shoulder, wrapping his twig arms round him.
"What's this for?" Ray asked as his own arms went around Kai's back.
"Don't want ya to like anyone else but me..." He whined as he squeezed him.
"Well I don't. So don't worry about it, okay?" He rubbed Kai on the back some, burying his face under his neck while he had the chance.
"Tyson had a weird theory about us, too. Said something about how since we're so compatible I should settle for you, and you're too useless to find someone other than me. But again, had to steer it around where he thinks your straight. So."
Kai's head snapped up, mortally offended. "I'm useless!? You're settling!?"
Ray huffed a sigh, "No, and no. And I'm sure he didn't mean it the way you're taking it."
Kai turned on his heel. The bull had seen red. "Let's go find out!"
"Find out what exactly?" Ray asked as he chased after him.
"If he meant it the way I'm taking it!"
"I highly doubt it, and it's fine." He snatched up Kai's hand before they reached the back door, pulling Kai back towards him. "You're not useless, in any sense of the word. And I'm not settling for you or anything like that. Okay?"
Kai's angry face relaxed some. He was right, probably just Tyson spewing words again... And besides, he knew all too well people did and said stupid stuff when their heart was hurting. If he did think Hilary had a thing for him instead, maybe he was just trying to make himself feel better?
He took his hand out of Ray's grip and just gave him a tired nod, taking himself back inside to the living room and lowering himself back in the seat next to Tyson and stared at him intensely.
"What's up?" Tyson asked a he wiggled his finger in his ear, giving Kai a questioning look for the stare down he was getting.
Ray tiptoed back in, though stayed out of sight as he leaned against a wall in the hallway. The hell was he doing now?!
The rusty cogs turned in Kai's head, scrambling to think of the best way to make him feel better. What made him feel better? He wasn't about to pull Tyson to lay on top of him. Nor was he overly willing to touch him.
His red eyes narrowed, stony face looking him up and down. "You look nice today." His dry voice stated.
Ray covered his mouth, holding in the laugh as his shoulders shook. That's what he came in here to do?
Tyson's brow arched as he looked down at his normal get-up, had a stain on his shirt from the juice he'd spilt on himself earlier.
"Um, thanks? You too. Though honestly you also look a bit weird in normal people clothes, especially with the face paint still on. Kinda funky, but it suits you too. Wouldn't be you with naked cheeks."
Kai looked down at himself and snapped his head back. "I- Weird? Funky?" He asked, the sting in his voice.
"A good funky! Really." Tyson assured. Maybe Ray had been right, shouldn't have said that if he wanted to see his next birthday.
Something hit him over the head about that moment in time, putting the pieces of Ray having stared off into space and almost falling out of his chair when Kai had left and then all he knew now about him.
"Pretty sure Ray was checking your ass out when you left earlier anyways, so see it's a good funk!" He said nonchalantly.
Kai flushed pink and leaned forward to lift a questioning look at Ray in the doorway. Ray's eyes went wide as his face blended in with his headband. Unable to look away from Kai, he inched his feet around the corner until he slowly disappeared around it and out of sight.
Kai cleared his throat. "I uh. I doubt that. Probably just saw a bird."
"Eh, maybe you're right." Tyson shrugged, "Almost fell out of his chair too, so must have been a good lookin bird."
Kai let a smug smirk crack. "Musta been..." As much as he liked the idea that Ray would look at him like that, he had come in with a goal. One that required subtle brilliance to pull off.
"A-and I think I've seen Hilary look at you like that too..."
Tyson's brow went up again, looking slightly appalled. "Like she wants to eat me?"
Kai opened his mouth before stopping and rolling his eyes. And he called him useless!
"No, idiot! I mean like. You know. Think she might like you or whatever."
"Oh... Oh! Yeah, well... Got other things to worry about right now." He shrugged off, trying to play off the burning jealousy he felt again.
He highly doubted that, and what was with Kai coming in and trying to tell him all this stuff anyways? Rub it in his face that he was the one she clung onto all the time and had drooled over their first meeting. He didn't get a bow the first time they met, but Kai did!
"Who do you like?" He asked suddenly, he hadn't gotten Ray to crack so maybe Kai would be in a more sharing mood since he wanted to be all buddy buddy with him.
"None of your damn business." Kai answered back automatically.
"Oh c'mon!" Tyson groaned as he sat up, "This is our moment to bond! Clearly you know who I like, we know who Ray likes, so just tell me who you like and then we'll team up on Maxie when he gets home!"
Kai swallowed hard. Did he just bite the bullet and tell him he was the way he was? Didn't seem to care that Ray was in to both.
"I uh..." Nope. "You don't know them!"
Tyson gave him a disbelieving look, "Dude, you don't know anyone else but us! And everyone you do know, we know! Just spill it. I won't judge, you should know me better than that."
Kai's face heat up as he went in to panic. He wanted to just admit it, have it all out in the open. Ray. He was hopelessly in love with Ray and would be forever and ever until worms ate his face. Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray. Oliver in another lifetime. But Ray Ray Ray. His brain overloaded. Abort! Abort! He couldn't tell him that!
"Uuuhhhhhh EMILY!?"
"Seriously?" Tyson didn't look all that impressed but took it anyways. "Well, good luck with that." He pat him on the shoulder, hoping to give him the strength to endure whatever type of life that would bring him in the long run.
"T-Thank you! Oh, how my heart burns for her?" Too much? Not enough?
Tyson blinked a few times, was he going Shakespeare on him now? "Um. That's nice. And my ass itches, so I'm just gonna go take a shower? Good talk." He pat him again, this time a bit more awkwardly as he got up off the couch.
Maybe the whole idea of switching best buddies for a few hours was a bad idea, he could hardly handle the few minutes that took.
Kai nodded, holding his breath until the Shrimp was out of sight. The second he was he let it out in a mortified groan and shoved his head in his hands. Emily!? He was gonna tell everyone he had a thing for girl Kenny!
Passing Tyson in the hall as he headed for the stairs, a mug of coffee in one hand and tea in the other, Ray arched a brow as Tyson stopped and put his hands on both his shoulders.
"I don't know how you do it. But God bless for the service you provide your fellow man." Tyson said in a grave and serious tone.
"Um... You're welcome?"
Tyson pat both his shoulders as he stepped away and continued on for the stairs. There was something to take away from all this, he was sure of it, what just yet he didn't know. But he'd learned a lot and that was enough, and maybe too much.
With Tyson gone and up the stairs, Ray continued in the direction he'd come from, taking the drinks in to where Kai was sat with his face in his hands still.
"So Emily, huh?" He asked with a cheeky smirk as he sat Kai's coffee down on the table in front of him.
"I couldn't think of another girl!" Kai flapped as he lifted his embarrassed head.
"That's fair. We don't know many girls really when you think about it." Ray settled himself on the couch beside him, sipping at his tea.
Kai slid down like a deflated balloon. "Last time I try and make him feel better! Just wanted him to know I'm not interested in Hilary and he has the gall to snub me for my sham love..." He pouted.
Ray chuckled at him, "You did a noble thing, should be proud of yourself for trying to help him at least. Though after all this I agree with him, should team up on Max when he gets home and figure out who he likes."
Kai tutted. "Why do you all care so much about stuff like that?"
Ray shrugged, "Personally I think it's interesting, and it does help us get to know one another better in a way. And it's not something we should be embarrassed about sharing with one another."
Kai rolled his eyes. "Fail to see how..."
Ray rolled his eyes back at him, sipping at his tea quietly which was a nice change after all the talking that had been going on all day. He got himself more comfortable, pulling his legs up under him and enjoyed the peace and his tea for a short few minutes as the moment he got relaxed the front door opened.
"Hey Maxie." He called, listening to Max shuffle around some to get his shoes off but after a few minutes he hadn't been given a reply which was odd.
"Max?" He shifted around, looking over the back of the couch to take in Max rubbing his eyes with the back of his arm by the door. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Max shook his head as his bottom lip wobbled, shuffling over to the couch as he continued to wipe at the tears rolling down his eyes. Ray sat up, alarmed and worried. Wasn't he supposed to come back home bouncing and excited because he spent the day out with Judy? Why was he coming back in tears?
Without a word, Max just crumbled down on top of the couch between Kai and Ray. Kai having watched him the whole time and wondering the same thing on why he was crying but hadn't said anything. Still fighting the tears, Max slumped to his left and landed on Kai's bony shoulder and sobbed harder.
Kai froze up even more. Oh. Awkward. He was so upset; he'd picked the wrong parent. He subtly pushed him, trying to make him flop over to Ray instead.
Ray on the other hand was already up and shifted closer, so it was no use in trying to get Max onto him now. Rubbing his back in gentle circles while their poor baby sobbed and clung harder to Kai's shirt.
"Max, what happened?" He asked in a gentle voice, worried eyes looking past the blonde hair at Kai's confused face.
Kai figured he'd copy, shifting to put an arm round him and pat his back. "Yeh, what's with the crying?"
Max sucked in some air but didn't let go while he fought the tears. "S-she said we... We were go-gonna spend all day together. B-but she... She was to-too busy." He sobbed out harder, his voice cracking as he spoke in broken intervals.
Kai panicked at the outburst, patting him harder. "Hey, it's all right, breathe..." He tried to soothe.
"But you have been out with her all day, right? Didn't she pick you up?" Ray matched Kai's soothing voice with his own, not liking where this seemed to be going already but needed more information.
Max did as he was told, sucking in another heavy breath that made his whole body shake. "She did. We went out to-to the movies, b-but she got a... A call and left ha-halfway through. I didn't see-see her back in and found her outside." He explained in the same broken off tone, though his sobbing had lessened some now.
Kai rolled his eyes. That god damn woman... If work was so important, why did she have him? He rubbed his shoulders harder. "Aw, Maxie... That sucks, but I'm sure she would much rather be with you. But you know, sometimes grownups have to put their job first like that. She can't just not take it."
Max shook his head at him, "She promised she wouldn't take calls! She even turned her phone off before we left here, she turned it back on later. She lied to me!"
Ray frowned and rubbed a bit harder, what a bitch. He glanced back up at Kai past Max's head, wondering what it was they were supposed to do or if there even was anything for them to do about it.
Kai sighed and pulled him in a little. "Then she's been very unfair to you. I'm sorry..." He tried to comfort, but knowing he probably wasn't. He listened to Max sniffle more and finally pulled out his phone.
"Wanna see something awesome? Look what we got in today..." He said in a soft voice as he shoved pictures of tiny kittens in his face.
Max took a peek at the babies, still refusing to let go of Kai and nodded into his chest and soaked shirt. "Did their mom abandon them to-too?" His voice cracked and his bottom lip wobbled again.
Kai winced, maybe not the best idea... "Not sure. But whatever reason, they got no mom, so it's up to us to take care of them..." He cleared his throat. "I-if you want, you wanna come with me tomorrow and meet them? And I'm sure Jackie would love to meet you too?"
Max nodded again; he'd like that. Had been wanting to meet Jackie for a while now but hadn't wanted to intrude. "O-okay. I wanna meet-meet him too."
"He's really sweet, he'd love you." Ray pat him on the back, heart breaking for him for the day he had out but at the same time fluttering a bit harder at Kai's offer.
"Do you want me to get you something?" He asked, sitting back some and ready to go fulfill any order Max gave him.
Max sniffled, "Can I have some chocolate milk?" He whined out, peeking over his arm back at Ray who was up in a flash and gone.
Kai continued to rub his back and sighed. "She loves you Max. No doubt about that. Is just too sucked in by her job to see how much she hurts you... But it's okay, cause we're here too right? I mean. Not the same but... Yeh."
"This is better." Max grumbled bitterly.
Kai cocked a brow. It was? Then again. Judy. "Well then. Come spend a day with me tomorrow? Forget about her! I-I'll try and be more fun? I tell ya Maxie, that place is the greatest place in the world! You'll feel better. I'll treat ya to ice cream or something after, how's that sound?" He pitched.
Max dried his face on Kai's shirt, pulling away and nodded to him. He was the best. "You don't have to, I'm fine with just going to the shelter with you."
"Oh... Okay. Then you get to choose what we have for dinner tomorrow night." He nodded at him. He had to make him smile.
Max went into thought for a bit, getting pulled out a little when Ray came back up to them with his glass of chocolate milk. Finally releasing Kai and sitting up, he took the milk and went back into thought. What did he want for dinner? Something homemade, and maybe a little bit of something that made him think of home back in the states too. Just to ease the bit of heartache and remember a time things were better between him and his mom.
"Can we have mac n cheese with corn dogs?" He asked a bit sheepishly.
Kai made a face but forced a smile. "Suuuuuuuuuuuure, champ!"
"Really?!" Max bounced a little, it had been ages since he'd had a decent corn dog. "Then can we have the ice cream party?"
Kai choked on his spit. "I just offered you ice cream and you said no!"
"I didn't really say no, just that you didn't have to treat me to any. If we all have some I wouldn't feel as guilty."
Kai pondered that. Fair enough... "Fine. Can have ice cream as well."
Max let out an excited squeal as he bounced in place again, his chocolate milk spilling out of his cup some.
"Thank you! Thank you, thank you! You guys are the best!" He said as he looked between both of them on the couch beside him.
"You're welcome, just stop bouncing before you get milk all over the floor." Ray put a hand to his shoulder to hold him still.
Kai leaned back to look at Ray behind Max's head. "You know how to make that stuff!?" He mouthed.
Ray tilted his head some, he wasn't good at reading lips. "Max, why don't you go check on Tyson. Think he might have fallen asleep in the tub." He pat him on the shoulder he was still keeping pinned down so the boy wouldn't start bouncing again.
"Oh! Yeah, I can tell him about the feast we're having!" Max spewed and zipped off the couch.
Ray waited till he was gone, though still did a double take over his shoulders to make sure he wasn't around and scooched closer to Kai.
"What the hell is a 'corndog'?" He asked in a whisper.
Kai shrugged dramatically, looking panicked. "I dunno!? I thought you'd know, Master chef!"
"I'll figure it out." Ray shook his head, pulling his phone out of his pocket to google it.
"And I told you I didn't like her for a reason. What a bitch..." He finally let out the growl he'd been holding in the back of his throat, his fingers smashing the buttons on his phone.
"She doesn't deserve a son like Max, and he doesn't deserve to be treated like he's just disposable because she has a job. Plenty of people have jobs, they still make time for their families."
Kai shrugged. "I know. But guess it just happens. Voltaire was the same. Not that we'd eat ice cream and go to the movies if he was around or anything."
Ray's nose curled a little, that didn't make him feel any better or help the situation. Choosing to ignore it for the time being, since he still didn't have a clue on what to do, he continued to look up what a corn dog was and how to make one.
"Oh. This should actually be really easy, will just need to run to the store to get everything when you two leave for the shelter. I can take Tyson with me." He said as he held his phone up to show Kai the image and recipe list.
Kai's eyes squinted like an old man to take it in, making another disapproving face. "Looks nasty..."
"Well... It's not the healthiest thing in the world. It's a bunch of batter wrapped around a hotdog and then deep fried." Ray shrugged and made a face, that did sound nasty. "But. It's for a good cause, right? If it keeps our baby happy then I'll stomach it."
"Hn, yeh... Should wave stars and stripes around, make him feel more at home." Kai chuckled.
Ray smirked a little, "I'm sure I can find some sparklers and banners. Play the national anthem for him too. Can be like the fourth of July for him."
Grampa's eye twitched. There was not one crack macaw. But two. And boy were they squawkin'... He wasn't even sure if it was directed at him or between themselves any more. But glancing in the mirror, the two of them comparing pictures they'd taken took the edge off the jarring noise pollution in his head.
Was nice to see K-dog and Maxie together like this. A nice mix up from the normal pair up... He chuckled to himself. Sadly for Ray, that meant he got lumbered with his idiot grandson...
He pulled up to the house, not even bothering to try and say anything to them as he let himself out the car.
The two of them parted to get out, mouths still flapping as they circled to reconnect around the car again with their phones in each other's faces while they bounced in unison back to the house.
"Tyson! For the last time, get out of the batter! That's gross and I need it!" Came Ray shouting from inside the kitchen, followed by the loud clunk and clanking of metal pots.
"Alright, I'm going!" Tyson whined back, slumping his way out of the kitchen through the back door where he stopped to take in the two bunny rabbits hopping their way towards the house. Finally someone to spend time with him and keep him company! He was about to go insane from the lack of social interaction.
"Maxieee, Kaiiiii-eee! Welcome back, I missed you guys!"
"Hey Ty!" Max glowed as he bounced past him in to the kitchen alongside Kai, who gave a half assed wave as he looked at Max's phone.
Tyson's huge smile got smacked off his face, neck cracking around as he watched them hop inside the house. The hell was that?! No, no he refused to be ignored a second longer!
He charged back towards them, hopping along as he peeked over their shoulders to see what they were looking at while getting into the house.
"I said get out!" Ray yelled without looking, only having heard the door open again not even two seconds after he kicked Tyson out.
What followed next was a wooden spoon being hurled through the air at him and the open door, only realizing a little too late who he had actually thrown it at.
Kai stopped hopping and rubbed his forehead. "The fuck, Ray!?"
"It wasn't for you! I'm sorry!" Ray flapped back, feeling horrified he'd just knocked the love of his young life upside the head with a spoon.
Kai gave a nod of understanding as he continued to rub his sore spot, turning around and thwacking Tyson round the head for him.
"Hey!" Tyson whined at him, shrinking away as he scooted around him and Max to go to the living room. He knew when he wasn't wanted. Why, he didn't know, he was a fantastical delight dammit!
"You okay?" Ray asked sheepishly but was thankful they were home. Tyson could go play with his brother while papa watched them both till he was done with this... This monstrosity of a dinner Max picked out.
"Was til I got attacked..." Kai pouted until he turned back in to the sparkly goo, "But look!" He shrieked as he launched to shove his phone in his face.
Ray peeked at it, his heart melting and let out an 'ohhhhhh'. His baby looked so happy having fun with Jackie.
"So did you like him?" Ray asked as he looked up at Max.
Max's face almost exploded. "HE'S AWESOME! He took a while to come over. But Kai. He came over. And sat with me. And after a while he came and stared at me like this!" He spewed before putting on sad puppy eyes, "And then. Kai took my hand and pulled it to let him sniff it, next thing I knew HIS NOSE WAS IN MY JUNK!" He glittered, "Jackie I mean, not Kai."
Ray laughed at that, "Yeah, needs to learn what personal space means. Glad you had a good time though, now I'm afraid I need you two to get out so we can have dinner at a decent time."
They both pouted in unison. But they had so much to tell him! "But Raaaaay... " They pouted until Kai looked like he got 100 volts up the ass.
"I forgot the ice cream in the car!" He flapped as he bolted.
Ray rolled his eyes before they narrowed at Max, his arm jerking up as he pointed at the door. "Tell me at dinner, okay?"
Max slumped and dragged his feet out. Before remembering he had Tyson to gab to. His slump broke in to a run. "HEY TYSON!"
As if angels were singing in his ears, Tyson's head popped up from behind the couch. Eyes going starry with a small tear as his best buddy in the whole world barreled into him, using the back of the couch like it was a hurdle and landed on Tyson's chest.
"Hey Max." He wheezed.
A screen got shoved in his face, showing a big toothy grin, a tongue hanging out, and an oh so cool slight thin smile that did no justice to the grinning eyes.
"LOOK!"
"That's great... Buddy." Tyson continued to wheeze as his windpipes were being crushed.
Max finally eased up. "And I fed baby kitties!"
"Awwww! I wanna see!" Tyson shot up, jumping and attaching himself to Max's side like a magnet.
"You showing him the babies!?" A deep and excited voice shot back through carrying tubs of ice cream.
"YEH!"
"WAIIIIIT!" The oldest ordered, jetting off to the freezer.
"Hurry up!" Tyson whined at him, he wanted to see baby kitties and be part of the inner circle too!
Kai slid back in on his white socks, falling over the side of the couch on to Tyson and Max's lap. "Here! Look at the bellies!"
Tyson let out a squeal as his face was smashed with another phone screen. "Oh my god! Babiesss! Look how tiny."
"And look! Here's Maxie feeding Tyson!" He gushed as he swiped to show Max syringe feeding the chubbiest one.
"Me?!" Tyson squealed in a higher pitch, a lil tear in his eye.
"Yeh. This one puts it away like a champion! First name that came to mind." Kai nodded as he swiped through more.
"Aw. That's so sweet." Tyson choked as he wiped the falling tear, "What're the other names?"
Max snickered while Kai blushed a little. "Max and Kenny!" The blonde informed him.
"Aw, you really are just a big softie." Tyson gushed as he pushed into Kai's side.
Kai scoffed. "Oh get bent! This one stuffs his face and hollers, this one loves everyone and this one is tiny and dweeby lookin', that's all!" He protested.
Tyson wasn't fooled, leaning into Kai's side as he bat his lashes and put on the dumbest and cheekiest grin he could as he looked up at him.
"Daw, whatever you say. You love us and you know it."
Kai narrowed his eyes back. "One Tyson I'd drown. And it aint the cat..."
"Ugh, why you gotta be like that?" He huffed and rolled his eyes, jumping up and shaking Kai by the arms. "Just say it, you love us. You know you dooooo." He sang in a weird pitch.
Kai rolled his eyes back. "Mmmmno. Look! Here's real Max playing fetch with Jack!"
Tyson's attention was drawn back to the phone, not that he had much of a choice as Kai had shoved the screen in his face again. "Awww, when can I meet Jack?!"
Kai blinked at him and shuddered at the thought of the oaf in his sacred space. "Think Ray is calling me!" He distracted by jumping out his seat.
Tyson blinked; he hadn't heard anything but shrugged it off anyways. Scooching over to the 'real' Max to keep looking at the photos, and to hear about his day.
"You called!?" Kai bullshat as he slid in to the kitchen.
Ray looked over his shoulder from the boiling pot of oil he'd dropped the corn dogs in, brow raising. "No? I wanted everyone out so I could finish this, remember?"
"Ah. That's right. How's it going? Need help?" He asked with a hopeful smile.
"Not really, pretty much done. Just waiting for these to finish." Ray answered as he gestured to the pot, "Why, he bothering you already?" He took a guess, though was pretty sure that was exactly why Kai was in there with him now.
Kai shook his head tiredly. "I dunno how Max puts up with him..."
Ray nodded in agreement before he shrugged, hell if he knew. "Dunno, but about ripped his ponytail out of his head at the store today. Would not stay with me, wanted everything else that wasn't on the list of things we needed to get. Was like being with a toddler."
Kai palmed his face. "Exactly! And now he wants to come meet Jackie! I can't bring him round him; he'll scare the shit out of him!"
"You don't know that; he might be really good. He's got his good moments... They're just scattered a little. And besides, at this point, I need a break from him. So you take him and do something, and I'll keep Max for a few hours."
Kai flailed a little. "No! I'm not risking him freaking him out! Or the babies! What if he crushes their windpipes!? Hell no, that's final!" He insisted as he literally put his foot down.
"Wow... Okay then. Fine." Ray held his hands up, no sense in trying again since Kai seemed dead set on it. He waved him over anyways though, needed someone to taste test these things.
"Come try one of these for me, I'm pretty sure I did it right but want to make sure." He said as he pulled the corn dogs dripping with grease out of the pot and down on a paper towel covered plate.
Kai looked even more offended. "What makes you think I'll know if that crap is right!?"
"Well, if you bite it and it's still too soft then it's not done yet." Ray voiced in a snide tone. Sure, it wasn't some gourmet dish, but it wasn't crap either. "And you wanted to help, so come here and help."
Kai huffed and forced himself over. He dreamed of his single days. When he wasn't helping Tyson with his love life, only to get shit back, or dealing custody issues with Max and his terrible mom. Or Tyson shitting on his one thing. Or eating shitty hotdogs in whatever that was...
Tsch, he was getting too soft. No more! He'd gradually become the bastard they all respected once again! Starting by snubbing thi-OOOOOOOOOHHH WHAT DELICIOUS FRESH HELL WAS THIS!?
Ray waited for the verdict but seeing as how Kai hadn't spat it out and told him to toss the whole batch away, then he could only assume it was okay.
"Well?" He asked anyways, holding back the smug grin for now.
Kai chewed, stupid grin on his face. "God bless America..." He said jokingly as he walked up to him, floating the fried joy towards Ray's face. "Have a try..."
The smug grin cracked, enjoying the praise a bit too much. Bridging the already small space between them, Ray put his hand over Kai's to steady the corndog waving in his face. Holding back his bangs, he opened his mouth slowly and bit down, the crust crunching like it was supposed to with the hot meat of the hotdog in the middle. He let out a content groan in approval, master chef he was, and let Kai's hand go while he finished chewing.
"Mhmm, can get the kids in then, since this is done."
Kai's head fried as crisp as the corndog. "You sure... You sure you don't wanna try it again to make sure?" His voice cracked.
"Why? It tasted fine to me. Crunched like it was supposed to, and it's not gooey."
"Do it for Max!"
"Okay." Ray sighed, redoing what he had before and took hold of Kai's hand to steady it.
This time though he had to get it in a little deeper, seeing as how the top half had already been taken off. The crust crunched again, like he had been expecting it to, and came away licking his lips and nodded.
"Alright, it's good. Now go get them so Max can eat one too."
Kai's pink face nodded. "Mmhmm. In a sec..."
Ray gave him a weird look; he was acting strange now and he wasn't entirely sure why. "Alright fine, I'll get them." He shook his head, moving around Kai to go get the others since he seemed to have malfunctioned. It was good, but it wasn't that good.
The moment he did, Kai threw himself at the sink to splash cold water on his face. He was a sinful prick...
A few minutes later Ray had the others and grandpa back in the kitchen, plates full of liquid gold covered noodles and crunchy corn dogs on the side. There was probably zero nutritional value to any of it, but it put one of the biggest smiles on Max's face as his eyes lit up taking it all in.
For a good while everyone was contently quiet and eating, enjoying the crunchiness and gooey goodness of the mac n cheese when Max's phone began to ring.
All at once his smile got wiped off his face, while the light in his eyes died some. He knew that ringtone, and part of him didn't want to answer it while the other did; just to see what it was she had to say.
"Excuse me." He said in a low voice, head hanging while he took himself out in the hall outside the kitchen to answer his phone.
"Hey mom." He greeted in a less than enthused tone.
Back at the table Ray and Kai exchanged a look, wondering why she was bothering to call though pretended to ignore the conversation they could hear Max having in the hall.
"Oh, well... I don't think I can tomorrow, mom. We have to train and have other things we need to focus on."
There was a small pause while Judy talked, making Max shuffle around in the doorway of the kitchen some.
"I guess... If you want to." Max mumbled back, another pause coming that made him shift around harder.
"Okay. Bye." He hung up, carrying himself back to the table where that light in his eyes didn't come back.
"Everything okay, Max?" Ray asked across the table from him.
"Yeah, she wanted to go out again tomorrow, but we have to train and do other stuff. So I told her I couldn't, but she said she'll come by and see me anyways." He grumbled back, staring at his food on his plate that he suddenly didn't want to touch.
Kai shifted in his seat. Welp. There went his effort to be a good dad. "She's making an effort Maxie, it's a good thing..."
Max's shoulders fell forward some, "I know..." He mumbled back, picking up his fork and using it to pick around at his mac n cheese.
"But what's the point if she's just going to sit on her phone the whole time? Or just come over to see our progress on finding her rock?"
Kai pushed his plate away too. "To be fair, the more we know about it, the better it is for us too. It isn't like we don't benefit by finding it." He tried his best to reason.
"And her calling and insisting on seeing you probably means she's realized what she did and wants to make it right. If you can forgive me stealing your bitbeasts in Russia, and Andy in New York, you can forgive this, hm?"
Max's shoulder fell even more, truth though was he wasn't sure if he could. All those times only happened once, whereas with his mom it was a constant occurrence. Work always seemed to come before him, he only felt like she wanted to be around him when it was convenient for her work in some way. Like he was the second option. How many more chances was she supposed to get?
"I guess I can see what she has to say." He shrugged back.
Kai nodded back. "Mmhm. And you use the opportunity to tell her to her face. Speak up for yourself."
"I... I don't know if I can do that." Max mumbled, picking at his food a bit faster while he mulled over the idea.
"If you don't, then how is she supposed to know why you're upset with her?" Ray asked.
Max didn't really have an answer for that, he was right and so was Kai. It didn't do him any good just sitting around and being upset over it if his mom didn't actually know why he was upset in the first place.
He gave a nod back to them, the least he could do was try and let her know. Worst thing that could happen was she brushed it all under the rug and make excuses for it all, he reasoned.
"Thank you, guys. For all of this." He lifted his head and smiled at them, feeling a bit better but now dreading having to actually confront his mother the next day.
Tyson clapped his shoulder, mouth full of cheese. "Glad to help, man!"
Max smiled at him, finally getting back to actually eating. They still had an ice cream party to enjoy, and maybe some movies before bed.
Come next morning, after training that wasn't as hard pressing as it had been the days before, Max finally got the call that his mom was on her way. She'd miss their training, which was another box ticked off in Max's long list of disappointments and broken promises.
Tyson and Gramps had gone off to the store, leaving Kai and Ray at the house with Max since he could trust they wouldn't crowd like Tyson would. Even if it was coming from a good place, Gramps didn't want to risk Tyson putting his nose into it and mucking it all up for Max.
Max kept himself busy after the call, pacing up and down the front porch while Kai and Ray decided the best place to keep a look out was under the open window to listen in. They'd both agreed that at the first sign of distress, or tears, they'd intervene and save their baby boy and boot Judy over the wall.
Since having sat down under the open window, Ray had braided and un-braided his hair three times, emitting a low angry rumble and growl through his throat the whole time.
It wasn't that he didn't want things to get better between Max and his mother, he wanted nothing more for him, but if things went sideways then they'd have even more of a mess to clean up once she was gone.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the car pulled up and low heels made their way up the driveway cautiously to the little blonde boy.
"Hey there Maxie..." She greeted.
Max's eyes began to water, what for he wasn't quite sure. He had half expected her to call and tell him she couldn't make it, or just not show up at all.
He knew, in a way, he was being unfair to her. She was busy, always busy, and he understood that, but it still hurt he never came first.
"Hi mom." He choked out a little, stopping his pacing and decided to just sit where he was on the edge of the porch.
Her eyes softened as she quickened her pace and sat beside him, smoothing her skirt. "...What's wrong, Max?" She asked, seeing it written all over his face. Not to mention hearing it in his tone on the phone.
"I..." He stopped, a lump catching in his throat.
He knew he had to tell her, otherwise things wouldn't change, but he also didn't want to upset her either.
"I just... I thought... I want you around more, mom! And you aren't. It's always about your work, and I know you're busy but what about m-me?!" He spewed before breaking down, his shoulders shaking while he buried his face in his hands and cried.
Kai jumped up, wild silver hair and red eyes appearing at the window like an angry gremlin.
Judy on the other hand welled up, pulling him in close in a heartbeat. "I know. I know Maxie..." She choked back, "I'm so sorry. I try! I do! But the longer I'm there the more they want from me... I want to be with you more than anything, but I-I can't just switch my phone off, I can't ignore the people who need to see me."
"I know." Max's chest heaved some, slumping into her side and let his hands fall to his lap. "But I need you too, momma. You promised it would just be us, and it wasn't. I was so happy because we never see each other now, and I thought you wanted to spend time with me. Just me."
Ray turned and reached up, putting a hand on Kai's shoulder, and bringing him back down to sit. Yes, he was crying, but he was getting out what he needed to say, and they just needed to wait it out. And Kai knew that, but he hated hearing him upset. And he wasn't swearing nearly enough at her. So he grabbed Ray's hand to keep himself calm.
"I know you do..." Judy repeated, "I really did want it to be just us. But with this whole rock business, I just couldn't ignore it!" She repeated, stroking his back.
"I... I don't know how to make it better, Maxie. I don't want to keep breaking promises. I really do want us to spend more time together. I know it's been hurting you. But if I don't do my job, I can't provide for us, make your future secure... Your dad's shop won't put you through college..."
Max wiped at his face, shaking his head some. "I don't even know if I want to go to college..." He hiccuped back, though felt if they talked about that then they'd not focus on the bigger issue.
He pulled away from her side, blue teary eyes narrowing at her. He didn't want to do it this way, he loved her more than anything, but something needed to be changed. He could only put in so much effort.
"I know what you do is important, and that there are people who depend on you a lot. And I know I'm growing up and don't need you as much as I used to, but that doesn't mean I don't need you at all. I'm important too, mom, I should come before this stupid rock! I'm the one that's out on the front lines trying to find it anyways! Doesn't that matter to you?!"
Ray's mouth dropped at what he just heard, holding Kai's hand tighter as he just looked at him with a dumb look on his face. Kai's other fist punched air ever so slightly. Atta boy! Fuckin' tell her!
Judy sighed. "Of course it does! And you do come before a rock! But like you just said, you can function without me, these people can't!" She fired back frustrated.
"Well that's not how it feels, mom!" Max shouted louder as he stood up away from her, his shoulders starting to shake again while his blood rushed in his ears.
"You promised you wouldn't take any calls and you lied to me! I watched an entire movie without you! I had to find you outside, and after that you were still on your phone the rest of the day! Get a secretary or something to take your calls, but don't lie to me!"
Kai lit up and threw himself up on his knees to peer out with pride radiating from his eyes. Got it from him... What a good boy!
Judy reeled, rendered speechless. Her mouth opened a few times searching for excuses. But really, she knew he was right.
"You're right..." She admitted, "That was really mean of me to do that to you. I'm sorry Max..." She sniffled, "Things are so hectic I can't seem to switch it off..."
Max's mouth opened to throw more, only to stutter and stop at the apology ringing in his ears and the guilty look on his mother's face.
He shifted his feet around some while rubbing at his arm. "I love you, momma, but it doesn't feel like you love me anymore." He choked up again.
Kai's face stopped looking proud and dimmed. Arrow shooting through his chest. Aw, Maxie...
Judy looked horrified. "Aw Maxie... That couldn't be more far from the truth..." Her guilty voice wobbled as she grabbed him in to a tight hug.
"I love you more than anything... I've just been horrible at showing it! Will you please let me figure something out?"
Max nodded into his mother, clutching the back of her shirt as he held onto her tightly. Silent tears running down his face. He wanted that more than anything, wanted her to remember that although he was growing up he was still her baby boy and he needed her.
Hopefully, this was the right step to getting back what they used to have before he moved to Japan, and that there wouldn't be any more broken promises between them.
Judy held him a little longer before holding him out a little. "Would you like to go for lunch with me? I-I'll leave my phone in the car!"
Max's face lit up, "Okay, w-wait here I gotta go get my shoes!" He zoomed out of her hold and into the house, only to come back out in record time with his shoes on.
"Bye Kai, bye Ray!" He hollered at the two still inside, grabbing his mom's hand and taking off for her car.
"I gotta tell ya all about these sweet baby kittens they have at the shelter I went to with Kai yesterday! Oh, and Jackie! I have pictures!" He spewed as he dragged her behind him.
Judy blinked as she got hauled off. Shelter? Who was Jack? Kai? What?
Kai lit up beside Ray. "Did I get to tell you about the babies!?"
Ray smiled at him and shook his head, "Nope, but I'd be happy to hear about them. Want something to drink first?" He asked as he picked himself up off the floor and shut the window, holding his hand out for Kai.
Kai took it, hoisting himself up and gripping on to it. "Yeh! Ice tea! Anyways, we went in and they were crying, got there right at feeding time. That's my job when I'm there. To take care of them..." He informed him proudly, knowing the spiel now like the back of his hand.
"How old are they?" Ray asked as he led them to the kitchen hand in hand, swinging their hands between them a little as they walked.
"Only about 5 days old. Fresh lil babies. Eyes aren't even open, and they still got their lil' bits of umbilical cord on their round pink lil' bellies!" He gushed and floated beside him, getting his phone, "I have pictures!"
Stopping by the stove, Ray let his hand go as Kai stood beside him and showed off the babies on his phone. "Aw, such tiny little things. I like that one, got some pretty colors on him." He pointed out the chubbiest one in the pictures.
"He doooessssss! He's a noisy little thing. Always hungry. Always hollering. He annoys the other two by pushing them off the little heat pad and hogging it all."
"That's cute." Ray snickered, "Sounds like Tyson."
Kai snickered harder back. "Guess what I named him..."
"You didn't." Ray chuckled harder, "It fits though. So who are these two?" He asked, pointing out the other two.
Kai found a picture of the three of them together. Cat Tyson sprawled with the other lighter colored one curled up with him while the tiniest one lay with one of Tyson's paws on his head.
"Give you three guesses."
Ray tilted his head some, inspecting the picture a little more. "The little one, Kenny. The other either Hilary or Max."
"It's Max! They all got balls!" Kai gushed harder, happy he got it.
"You softie." Ray nudged him with a playful grin.
Kai's stars and rainbows vanished. "Ew. Stop! That's what T said!"
"Mhmm, and when did you start calling him T all of the sudden? C'mon, just admit it already. You love em." He nudged him again, his playful grin getting wider.
Kai blushed and made a face. "I-I must have picked it up from you creeps! Knock it off!" He whined.
"Not me, I don't call him T. Pain in my ass maybe, but not T."
Kai pouted. "Yeh you do! Everyone calls him T! Max is Maxie, Tyson is T, Kenny is Chief... You're just Ray and I don't got one either."
Ray rolled his eyes, "Tyson, for me, is Ty. Like Max calls him. You came up with T on your own." He pointed out before poking Kai in the side, "So just admit it already, you're a big softie who loves his boys."
Kai flinched at the tickle and stepped back from him, looking unimpressed. "I did not! One of you calls him that, I'm sure!"
"If you're sure." Ray shrugged, but that playful glint in his eyes only sparkled harder as he bridged the space Kai had put between them and tickled him again.
Kai sadly got backed up against the counter squirming hard and nose scrunching up as he started to giggle. Urgh, why did he have to be so ticklish!? This was not Samurai Spirit!
"You yield?" Ray chuckled, fingers going nuts against both of Kai's sides.
Kai's body wriggled, giggle turning in to louder, almost pained laughter. "Never. But stop!"
"Not till you yield."
Kai jolted harder, gripping hold of his wrists. If he didn't stop soon, he'd pee. "What am I yielding exactly!?" His giggling voice cracked.
"I don't know. Just wanted to hear you say it." Ray laughed back.
Kai twitched harder as Ray's hands hit the overly sensitive patches. "Okay, okay! Yield!"
Ray smirked, pulling his hands back and putting them on his hips. "There, that wasn't so hard. Wanted iced tea right?" He asked like nothing had happened, turning for the fridge.
Kai slumped against the counter, legs like jelly and heart going like a hamster at the tickly assault he just endured.
"Please... Asshole."
"You love me." Ray said in a sing song voice, head stuck in the fridge.
Kai hoisted himself on to the counter, kicking his skinny legs and grinning. "Mmhmm..."
"Here you go then." Ray handed him a glass with the tea, sending him a wink before taking himself to the living room with his own drink.
Kai watched him go with his mouth open a little and nose pinker, legs kicking a little faster against the back of the counter a moment before he hopped off, making the tea spill slightly on his shirt. He could not have given less of a shit... Love was beckoning him to the living room.
Sipping at his tea, Ray looked up from the couch as Kai came walking around the front of it and stood there. His heart began to kick up on him, he hadn't really expected Kai to follow him but was glad he did all the same.
There was a burn in his stomach, not even sure where this was suddenly going to go but wasn't going to question it. For once they had the house to themselves, for how much longer he wasn't sure, but that didn't matter. As long as it lasted enough to refuel him to keep him going a bit longer till the next time they could do this, whatever this was.
"Hi." He smirked up at him, his fang slipping through while he sat his cup on the table by the couch.
Kai turned and copied, setting his glass down and slithering next to him on the couch, staring at him like he was magic.
"Hi..." He smiled back. He felt stupid all of a sudden. Hyper and silly.
Ray shifted closer, his blood rushing in his ears while his chest hurt from his heart slamming into it harder. He knew he shouldn't, that they had promised to wait it out, but the wait was killing him more than he had imagined possible.
Just one little kiss, that's all he wanted. What would it hurt if it was just one? But would he even be able to stop at one once they started?
With his eyes on Kai's, his breath coming in slower, he inched closer to the danger zone while the rest of the world around them became white noise.
Kai's hands instantly went to Ray's arms. Just one touch... One touch wouldn't hurt, would it? He had to be better than this, suffer now so that they could be happy later. A quiet sound of need left his throat as his fingers touched Ray's soft, warm, and firm skin.
...One kiss wouldn't hurt, would it!?
His blood bubbled. The look on Ray's face enticing him more and making him lean in closer too.
Losing all coherent thought, Ray leaned in the rest of the way. Doing his best to keep it as one small peck, that had been the plan but when lips finally touched he became intoxicated on it instantly.
One hand going to Kai's shoulder to steady himself, the other around the back of his head as he inched closer without even looking. It'd be okay, all he had to do was pull away again at some point. Preferably before Gramps and Tyson got home, but now that he'd dived in he wasn't sure how to swim back out.
As Ray turned the key in the lock, he burst out his cage, unable to help himself. His arms wrapped round and pulled him closer, letting out a deep breath of desperate relief as he kissed back harder.
A noise left Ray's throat as Kai kissed him harder, trying to match the intensity as fingers curled in Kai's hair at the back of his head. Somewhere in the distance there was the sound of a car door closing, making his ears twitch but with the sound being drowned out with his blood still rushing in his ears and his heart hitting harder, he ignored it and pressed into Kai again.
It wasn't till the drowned out voices of Tyson and Gramps approaching the house talking did it finally click in his head that their time was up, but he still found it too hard to pull away.
"We'reeeee homeeeee!" Tyson's voice sang from in the kitchen, and that was when Ray finally shoved himself off of Kai and back to his side of the couch slightly panting and face flushed a deep red.
Kai threw himself in to his side, panting also with his hair messed up more than usual and quickly crossing a leg over. And they said he loved Tyson really. Ha! He really would drown the bastard. After he stopped internally crying.
"Hey, anyone home?" Tyson continued to call as he wandered into the living room, taking sight of the spikey hair over the back of the couch.
"Hey, didn't you two hear me?" He pouted.
Ray grabbed up his drink from the table, knocking it back to help with his dry throat and maybe the flush he still felt on his skin.
"Y-yeah. Sorry, was watching something on my phone." He managed to get out, his voice slightly off as he shifted to pull his legs up under him.
"Oh, cool. Well gramps and I picked up some food if you guys are hungry."
"O-okay." Ray squeaked back.
Kai whined silently. Ooooooh he was starving...
"Hn..."
Tyson skipped off to the kitchen with the bags in his hands, leaving them in peace for a moment before a deep, booming battle cry had them leaping out their skin.
Kai knew that sound... He jumped up, turning with his knees on the couch and putting his hands up just in time for the bamboo sword to smack in to his palms.
"HAHAHAHA! Atta boy, K-Dog! I knew you'd be a fast learner!"
Kai's wide eyes turned in to a frown. Well... At least he killed the mood...
"Got practice bright an early tomorrow, don't forget." Gramps swung his sword around a bit once he pulled it from Kai's hold, "Grubs up first my dudes, chop chop." He beckoned them to follow as he left.
Ray gave a slow clap for the performance, very impressed and still a hot mess and even more so now at what just happened.
"Should probably go eat." He voiced, but still stayed stuck to the couch.
Kai waved his hands, trying to get the sting out. That frickin hurt... He nodded and stood himself, holding his sore hand out to him.
"Yeh. Probably should..." He replied reluctantly.
Against his better judgment, Ray took Kai's hand and got to his feet. Feeling his face burning again, though took up his drink and left to the kitchen without a word. He could probably do with a good whack upside the head by one of grandpa's swords, knock some sense into him.