A/N: Bippity Boppity boop. i changed the ending again. Its essentially the same scene. Same events happen. but like i made it longer. and wrote it better. I mess up the character reactions when Im in a hurry sometimes and the scene comes out sloppy. You can read the last scene again if you want. But like you wont miss anything if you dont.


Smoke and Wine

Kai's picking him up from the back exit of the dorm to avoid prying eyes. Initially, Tyson had suggested they meet up at the destination or Tyson go to Kai's place and then leave from there.

Both of which the latter had said no to, insisting he stop by the dorm.

Tyson stands at the doorstep, under the shade of a yellow lamp hung above him on the outer wall of the building.

Kai's sleek black porsche idles on the curb. The door is pushed open from the inside. For Tyson.

He's having last minute thoughts.

The pavement and the roads around the back of the building is empty. There's no one to see them.

A distant ring of a bicycle bell reaches his ear.

He breathes a tiny sigh, staring at the vehicle, before climbing down the steps.

When he lowers into the car and shuts the door after him, the atmosphere inside is swanky and secluded.

Buttons and screens glow along the dashboard. The seat under him is cold but comfortable, with the feel of being brand new.

The engine purrs softly.

He buckles himself in, taking a minute or two to figure out the mechanics of it.

He does not look at Kai.

Does not even acknowledge his presence as he turns his face away to the window beside his shoulder and scans the exterior of the old dorm building.

"You look good," says Kai, breaking the silence. Tyson fiddles with the strap of his watch. Gaze on a streetlight. When he gets no response, he turns back to the windshield, peeling the car away from the curb.

The view outside the window changes from the dorm to shops to stoplights to bridges and highways.

Tyson's weirdly aware of all of his nerve endings. And also of Kai.

Every shift in gear. Turn of wheel.

The only sounds in the car are of the engine. Humming quietly in the background.

When they cross yet another bridge, Tyson chances a glance to his other side.

Kai drives with one hand. The other resting lightly on the gear shift. His eyes on the road.

He's in a button down. The collars starched extra stiff they stand out noticeably. Matching the colour of Tyson's outfit.

They must be going to a restaurant.

Kai hadn't hinted at where they were headed, or told him what to wear.

He senses his gaze. Looks over. Meeting his eyes for a charged moment. Tyson glances away, smoothing his hand along the opposite forearm, above the hairs sticking up.

He feels Kai's eyes rolling down his form. Making him feel slightly naked. Aware of his own body. He tugs at the strap of his watch.

The scenery around the car changes.

They've exited the highway.

They're in a heavily wooded path now. With barely any illumination. There's an odd streetlight here and there providing insufficient white light.

Tyson frowns. Where are they going?

The car steers off road. To a muddy clearing on the side.

A belt of trees looms in the distance. They're headed towards it.

Tyson's heart jumps.

"You're not taking me to the woods to butcher me, are you?" he asks Kai finally, twisting to face him properly for the first time since getting inside the car.

Kai snorts. His eyes gazing ahead.

They stop a few feet away from the trees.

Tyson thinks he can see a light somewhere beyond them.

Kai steps out of the car. "Coming?" he asks, bending down to peer at Tyson who is still inside.

"No"

"You're going to sit in there all night?"

"Yeah" He nods, looking straight through the windshield, arms folded defiantly.

He hears Kai exhale a disbelieving breath. "If you come with me I can promise you you'll be safe," he says, "but if you stay here alone there's a good chance you might get mugged."

Tyson clenches his jaw. Weighing his options. Jesus, those trees look fucking scary.

And it's so dark.

He climbs out of the car. "I don't nearly trust you enough for this." He slams the door shut.

As soon as he's out in the open he hears it. The sounds coming from the direction of the woods. The distant shouts and hoots of a crowd. And bizarrely, the rev of engines.

The car clicks twice when Kai locks it on their way toward the trees.

"Where are we? I thought we were going to a restaurant," Tyson tells him honestly, leaves and sticks crunching under his boots.

"We'll go to a restaurant," says Kai.

The shouts and laughter get louder. It's dark as fuck for a minute, but then they suddenly reach a brightly lit clearing.

And it's a huge place, filled with people. They're a good thirty feet away, but he sees them huddled around something. The roar of engines are unmistakable now. "Is this like a festival or something?" he asks awed, feeling excited and jittery.

Kai takes his hand. It's warm, but it tingles where their skin touch.

He leads him forward. Tyson lopes along enthusiastically, eager to find out what the fuss is all about.

He has to push a few people out of the way. People, who are dressed in all kinds of jaw dropping and eyebrow raising fits. With spikes and leather jackets. They have piercings in all kinds of places. Tattoos on their faces. He notices that Kai himself had pulled on a plain padded leather jacket sometime earlier.

The noise in the air is extremely loud from this proximity.

A woman with a dragon inked across her back moves out of their way, allowing them to step up to the fencing everyone is looking over.

Tyson's mouth goes slack when he sees the well for the first time.

It's a pit. A death pit. About fifty feet deep and almost as wide.

Four monster vehicles play in the pit. Their riders making them do impossible stunts. A muscle car with stickers all over its body is at the very bottom, flying sideways along the wall, its door open, the driver hanging out. The screech of its tires against the fencing is cacophonous.

Three devilish motorbikes zoom around the walls of the cylindrical pit at different heights. At frightening speeds.

His ears start straining under the roar and rumble of the engines.

He clutches Kai's hand in his.

He wants to tell him he's seen this on the internet before, but there were grilles separating the viewers from the vehicles. Keeping them somewhat safe. There's nothing of the sort here. They're completely exposed to the large tires.

If one of the bikes fly off course. He's dead.

As soon as the thought crosses his mind, a huge tire flies past his face, inches from his nose, straight up into the air. A biker flipping in the sky like gravity didn't apply to him.

Tyson backs into Kai, who is standing behind him. He puts a hand against Tyson's thrumming chest, leaning down to say into his ear, as closely as possible because he wouldn't be heard otherwise. "They can't hurt you," he assures him, his voice a thick rasp, giving him a light pat. "They can't."

Tyson turns around, shaking his head. I don't want to stay here.

Kai pulls him away from the crowd, away from the pit.

"It's so loud," he says as soon as he can hear himself think again. "And dangerous." The noises recede as the distance grows. "I'm not saying I didn't like it. Because I-" Fuck yeah, he liked it. He's always wanted to see it in person. "I liked it. But it was just...overwhelming. I couldn't think."

His hand in Kai's feels almost natural. He's almost used to holding it. The death pit chasing something fearful out of him, and replacing it with adrenaline.

"Does that scare you?" asks Kai. "Not being able to think?"

"No" replies Tyson. "I just don't like loud noises."

He nods. "I know something a little more your speed."

Tyson looks at him. A smile blooming on his features when he sees Kai in the glare of the bright flood lights used to illuminate the large area. An occasional fire burning along their way.

They walk across a wide expanse of mud. There's another gathering about a quarter of a mile away.

"This is like an edgier and more dangerous version of an amusement park," observes Tyson. "Do you come here often?"

"No" There's a popcorn stall beyond Kai. Stocked with cotton candy as well as grilled corn. A man with a snake tattoo on his face is manning the station. "Only when things get a little...dull at campus."

"Right. Cause partying and having sex everyday is a dull life."

Kai turns to him, a tongue in his cheek. "Who says I have sex everyday?"

"Are you forgetting the time I was around you almost 24/7 as a slave?" Tyson tosses back. He hears a breathy laugh. "You were hitting it like everyday."

"It wasn't everyday."

"I was there, Kai. I was there."

They stop walking. Kai tugs at his hand, bringing Tyson a little closer. "What were you doing watching?"

"I wasn't watching," Tyson denies, freeing his fingers from his grip and shuffling away, cheeks tinting pink.

It's suddenly difficult to hold his gaze. His eyes are dark. Smoldering. Tyson wants to get away. Away away away.


They have dirt bikes. Tyson almost drops to his knees when he sees them. Dirt bikes are his dream. Holy shit, he always watched videos of them on youTube, never in a million years expecting he'd be able to get on one so soon. That too, before graduation!

"Kai?" he pulls on his hand incessantly. "I wanna go! I wanna go!"

He lets him borrow one from a super awesome rider he knows. Tyson had seen the man drive earlier and oh boy, was he a master.

He flatters the man with compliments. The dude colours easily, stammering a thank you. These men aren't too used to getting compliments from other men, he realizes. Too bad. Tyson becomes fast friends with Enrique.

Kai tightens the heavy helmet around his chin as he flexes his glove-clad fingers over the handlebars.

He tries to instruct him on the basics, but Tyson stops him short. "I know how to ride a bike, Kai. Watch me."

He stands back, folding his arms. "Sure" he tells him. Tyson kicks start the bike. It's so light. Perfect for being airborne.

A moment before he takes off down the muddy road, Kai says what his face doesn't, "Be careful".

Tyson gives him a smile. Warming under his concern.

He releases the clutch. Accelerating.

The road is bumpy and hard to maneuver around, but he gets the hang of it soon.

He lives his best life for the next ten minutes.


"The rush is fucking crazy," he raves to Kai after. He's heading up a rocky hill that runs around the area. Tyson following. "I'm going to get a dirt bike someday. Just to ride the fuck out of it."

They crest and begin climbing down. More people hover a few feet away, but this time they're bracketing a paved road.

"Don't you like them?"

"No. Tala's a big fan, but I like something better." He jumps down the last rock.

Tyson leaps down two of them. He grins.

Kai holds out a hand.

Tyson gives him his own without thinking much of it.

A burst of laughter escapes Kai. "The keys, Tyson" he says. "The keys"

Tyson flushes. "Oh" He lets go of his hand to rummage in his pockets for the spare keys to Enrique's bike. Kai sucks in his lips. "Sorry" says Tyson, sheepishly, giving the keys to Kai.

He shakes his head, a good-humoured smile pulling at one corner of his mouth. "Come on"

When they join the throng of people excitedly talking beside the road, he stops breathing.

Cars.

Fucking sports cars.

They're racing the hell out of speed monsters.

He feels like he's suddenly been transported to the Fast and Furious universe.

They're parked along the sides. A couple of cars that just finished racing idles in the middle, smoke rising from their bumpers.

Fuck

There are men. Women. Of all sizes, shapes and colours, milling about.

A burly guy with a completely shaved round head, standing in front of the two fried cars, is overseeing the races. There are tats snaking down the sides of his arms, his neck, his hands. He's smoking, the bud moving between his lips as he speaks, exchanging money with another dude.

Tyson stares, feeling faint, as Kai claps a hand on the guy's shoulder and starts talking to him, sliding a set of keys out of his back pocket.

Illegal racing.

He's not sure about the events going on on the other side of the hill but he knows this is illegal. There's betting going on for fuck's sake.

"Should have brought a jacket," says a voice beside him. Tyson turns. It's Enrique.

"Why?"

"He's going to pull you in there with him." He nudges his chin toward Kai. "Less chance of being seriously injured if you have a tough jacket."

"Why would I be injured?" He's on a damn date. Not here to get torn into pieces like a fish.

Enrique slants him a look. "You're really new here, huh? The way you rode my bike I thought-"

"What?"

"Nothing" He shakes his head. "Well, if you've never seen him drive, you're in for a ride. He drives like the devil," he tells him with a laugh, "and that's saying something among this crowd."

When he looks back where Kai was earlier, he's disappeared.

A new race has been arranged.

The first two cars towed off.

A girl with bleached blonde hair and the tiniest skirt he's ever seen, is loitering around the road, waiting. She winks at him when he catches her eye.

A new car approaches the starting line. It's fancy as hell. Glinting metallic blue body and stickers all over its sides.

Wait

Tyson recognizes the car. It's from the Well of Death. He can't see the driver behind the wheel. They're keeping their windows fashionably up and tinted.

Another rolls right up to Tyson.

Dark black body with bright red and yellow flames painted along the sides.

The driver's side window is down on this one. "Get in, Champ," Kai calls from behind the wheel.

Tyson grins when he sees him.

"Don't kill the kid," Enrique shouts to Kai as he climbs in the passenger seat.

Tyson catches him signing something to Enrique when he buckles in and looks over. The burly guy's frame fills the window, blocking the view.

They speak and it's in some foreign language again.

Tyson leans back in his seat. Slightly miffed.

Kai rolls up the window when the guy walks away.

"What was that about?" he asks.

"Routine shit" mutters Kai, searching for something in the glove compartment.

"What's his name?"

"Brad Best"

The name stuns a laugh out of him.

Kai slams the box shut, glancing out Tyson's side at his competitor. "Here, have a Snickers," he says, holding the bar out to him.

"Are you trying to make a joke?" he asks with a pitying smile.

"Heh no" His gaze cuts to Tyson for a moment. "You haven't ate in a while. You'll need the sugar."

He accepts the chocolate from him, slightly confused.

"Take a big bite," Kai tells him.

Tyson unwraps the Snickers bar and bites a chunk out of it.

Kai's fingers close around his, drawing the remaining chocolate toward himself. Tyson blushes when he lowers his head to take a bite too, his hand warm in his.

Tyson follows his gaze.

Their competition has finally lowered that window to talk to Brad Best. It's some guy with a blue mohawk and ink all over his face.

When Brad moves out of the way, the guy sticks his tongue out at them.

Kai lets go of his hand.

Tyson wrinkles his nose when he sees the piercing on the wagging flesh. "Dude" he mutters. "What is wrong with you?"

The girl in front of the two cars about to go head to head spins on her heels, her red skirt lifting briefly.

She raises a small white flag in the air.

Tyson stuffs the rest of the chocolate in his mouth and stashes the wrapper in the cup holder.

Kai tenses behind the wheel, changing gears. The engine roars to life under them.

Fuck. How much power is this thing packing?

The traffic light up ahead starts flashing yellow. Counting down the seconds.

He looks at Kai and his breath catches. That darkness that's always waiting to swallow him whole is not lying hidden in his eyes anymore. It's all around him. Radiating outwards as he eyes the finish line.

Whoever reaches the finish line first is the winner, right? And not whoever blows a tire or some other part of the car. Right?

"He drives like the devil."

Tyson grips the edges of his seat. Just in case.

The counter starts beeping.

Three

Two

One

The light flashes red. The girl ducks. Kai floors the accelerator. Tyson gets thrown back in his seat as the car flies forward.


He cuts his steak into perfectly shaped squares. Sitting in the outdoor dining area of the hotel nearby. The two-floor building is surrounded by wilderness.

A lone round moon hangs in the sky.

There aren't a lot of residents in this hotel. Since it's pricey as hell and considered a luxury getaway.

He knows all this because Kai told him. Kai who is smoking across from him, sprawling in his chair, one arm along the back of it. His eyes on Tyson. He'd finished eating a while ago.

He's the type to eat like he's clocking himself. Doing it like a task to be completed. Monitoring the amount of calories and the time it takes.

He seems completely at ease with the cigarette though.

Tyson plops a piece of the second steak he had ordered out of a sudden craving. He shouldn't have. He's full now.

"You don't have to force yourself to eat it," says Kai, smoke spilling from between his teeth.

Tyson twirls the fork in his hand, meeting his gaze. The images of the race still flitting across his mind. Enrique hadn't even scratched the surface when he'd attributed Kai's driving to that of satan's.

He'd been scared for his dear life in that passenger seat.

Teeth clenched. Nails digging into the leather.

He smiles now. Dropping the fork in his plate with a clatter.

The waiter sweeps in to take the dishes and clear their table immediately, without prompt.

Tyson sits back in his chair as the staff works.

"Would you like something else?" the waiter offers. "More wine? Dessert?"

Kai's gaze flicks to Tyson. He shakes his head in response.

"A bottle of Yamazaki to room 206 please," orders Kai, handing over his card.

The staff leaves with a bow. Tyson takes a sip of water from a crystal glass. He's about ready to burst.

He ate entirely too much.

But he can't blame himself. He was still in shock when they reached the hotel after the race. Kai had won. But it was by no means an easy win. Mohawk had almost rammed into their side twice.

Kai puts out his cigarette.

"What do you say, Tyson?" he asks with a glint in his eye. "Shall we go upstairs?"


He takes a hot shower. Moaning under the relaxing spray of the water. It's heaven as the leftover tension and adrenaline in his body leaks out.

He sighs. Scrubbing at his arms and chest. Rubbing all the dirt and cold sweat out.

The heat chases away the small remnants of fear trapped inside of him.

He stays under the water for about fifteen minutes.

When he steps out with a cream robe tied around his body, Kai's sitting on the large bed with golden sheets in the middle of the room.

He's still in his button down.

Attention on his phone.

His gaze lifts when Tyson softly pads across the floor.

"Do you have a problem with sharing the bed?" he asks, a laugh hidden in there somewhere.

Tyson glares at his back, climbing on the soft mattress. There's so much of it there's an ocean of distance between them.

"No" he replies with a roll of his eyes.

Kai stands up, the shirt slightly bloated above the belt. It's loose fitted. Not form hugging. He stuffs his phone in his back pocket, turning to look at Tyson who is warming his toes with the help of the blanket.

"What?" he asks when he notices him staring.

There's a soft, playful light in his eyes. "You're kind of small," he says.

Tyson feels something wash over him. Something close to embarrassment. "What the fuck?" he spits.

Kai snorts at his reaction, walking around the bed. "You're swimming in that robe."

"No, I'm not." He looks down at himself to confirm. Like hell he's swimming. "I'm not"

"Okay" Kai's come around to his side of the bed. He has his hands on his hips. Staring down at Tyson. "What are you going to do?"

"Sleep" he replies, rubbing his feet.

"You look wide awake."

"No, I'm pretty tired," he says, knowing very well what Kai had in mind. What he would rather they be doing instead.

"Hmm?"

"Mmm" Tyson nods.

Kai's phone starts ringing. He was surprised the thing hadn't been interrupting them all night long, but now he realizes he probably had it on silent.

He watches him check the caller ID. "Huh well, sleep tight," he says, his voice like velvet, but the tone slightly challenging.

"I will" Tyson replies chirpily. Son of a bitch. His gaze follows Kai as he walks away, answering the call. He opens the sliding door to the balcony and steps out, closing it after him.

Tyson scans the vast room. Furnished in soft tones of gold. The walls are painted honey but they smell like lavender.

He cannot sleep yet. He has more energy left.

There's a TV.

Tyson switches it on. Resting his back on a big fluffy pillow with the remote in hand.

They have Netflix.

He ends up watching some English series with Japanese subtitles on. It's about this group of nerdy kids who finds another weird nerdy kid with supernatural abilities.

He loses interest halfway through the first episode.

Tyson turns the TV off. His attention snapping back to Kai again.

He's still out in the balcony. Talking on the phone. His back to the room.

The remote almost pokes him in the eye. Tyson drops it on the mattress, climbing out of the bed.

He pads to the balcony. Sliding open the glass door and walking out.

Kai turns when he hears him, his iPhone pressed against his ear. He tilts his head at him, with a knowing smile. He says something to whoever is on the other end of the line in his native tongue.

Tyson closes the door - not wanting the night chill to creep into the room – and leans against it.

Kai hangs up. Pocketing the device. The amused look on his face is only mildly irritating.

Tyson shrugs. Meeting his gaze squarely.

He's handsome. He thinks he wants a kiss. He's been wanting one since he was given a chance to ride that dirt bike.

He hopes Kai would get it.

He hopes he would close the distance.

His breath catches when Kai straightens from the railing.

And starts walking towards him.

Slowly

Purposefully

Heat in his gaze.

He draws a hand out of his pocket to pull at the knot on his robe.

Tyson's heartbeat picks up.

Kai steps closer when he doesn't resist.

Undoing the knot with deft hands.

His eyes are two pools of pitch black he cannot look away from. They're dragging him in. Drowning him in their depths.

The robe falls open.

Tyson bites his lip as cool air grazes his skin.

Kai leans down.

His heart almost beats out of his chest.

He closes his eyes.

His breath washes over him.

Their lips touch, and Tyson's world stands still for a moment.

He tilts his chin up to meet him.

His hands making fists in the downy fabric of his robe.

Kai presses in closer. Backing him further against the door.

His palms come to rest on the glass on either side of his head.

Tyson starts shaking.

Kai kisses him languidly. Taking his time. Making his toes curl and his shoulders tremble.

He tastes like smoke and wine.

He feels him growing hot and heavy against his hip. Down the side of his upper thigh. The feel of him sending a jolt through him. Spreading heat in his abdomen.

He's trapped under his spell for five long minutes before his senses kick back in.

They can't do this.

He can't do this.

He pushes Kai away. Tying the robe back around his waist quickly.

He looks stunned. A question on his face.

"I'm sorry," says Tyson, shocked and winded. He slides open the door behind him, his hands fumbling. He rushes out of the room in panic.