Hey all! :)
I know. An update that hasn't taken 4-6 months? Whuuuuut?
I was eager to get part 2 done, so here it is.
Many thanks to everyone who read & reviewed the last chapter, appreciate it!
Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Dynamic Shift – Part 2
The sun came in soft rays through the beige stand-in curtains. And with it, Kai's eyes peeled open like they tended to with the light.
In his waking confusion, his head came off the pillow hard, sucking in a deep, surprised stream of air through his nose as his bleary eyes tried to work out where he was.
It didn't take long to remember and flop back down.
Oh yeh...
He was in 'his' bedroom...at his teacher's house...
He resentfully stretched himself more awake. Must have seen almost every hour of the night.
Just couldn't get comfortable.
He rolled his messy head over and sighed, taking in the curled up, knocked out figure beside him still in blissful slumber.
Nice for some...
He stretched and rubbed his face a little longer to wake himself up until faint sounds of movement from down the hall made him freeze.
They were up...
He stayed still, listening carefully.
There went the bathroom door...
And one of them was shuffling down the hall and down the stairs.
He lay there straining his ears in waiting until the second one also made their way down the stairs.
Well...that meant the coast was clear for at least a little while. He ought to take the opportunity.
Carefully getting out the bed so as not to wake Rei, he summoned his inner ninja skills to tiptoe silently out and to the bathroom.
Even assassins had to pee first thing...but no way in hell was he willing to let himself be seen in his morning form.
He poked his head out the door once he'd ended his call of nature, checking the hall before quickly and quietly taking his pyjama clad, bed-head self to the bathr-
Ah fuck! His toothbrush and stuff!
Cursing himself, he ninja'd his way back to the room, almost shitting himself as one of the floorboards creaked.
In a panic, he flung himself in and stood still.
...He heard nothing.
Give it a minute more and try again...
...The hell was he doing this for?!
Fiddling with the coffee maker downstairs, Dan lifted his silver eyes to the ceiling.
"Ohp! One of 'em is up! Bet you five bucks it's Kai."
At the counter, Charlotte scoffed as she tiredly whisked.
"Mmm..."
Dan smirked.
His vixen wasn't exactly bright eyed and bushy tailed first thing.
"How about some tunes to blow the sand out your eyes?" he pitched pretty much rhetorically as he sauntered to the other counter where the radio was.
Charlotte snorted.
"You're not helping us seem young and hip by having a radio in the kitchen..."
"Pff, I think that ship sailed long ago...but anyway, I think radios are still king." he chuckled back and fiddled with it "Raaadio, soooomeoooone stiillll loveessss yooooouuu-!"
The static crackled back as he twiddled the dial to find the station he liked.
"-iiggght, I wanna lay it at your feet. 'Cause girl I was made for yoou-"
Dan lit up instantly at the memorable baseline and melody.
HE LOVED THIS SONG!
"And girl you were maaaade for meee!" he sang along as he spun in his slippers, throwing finger guns at Charlotte and shimmied his way over to her waking up his fast approaching middle-aged body with the ancient art of dad dancing.
He threw his hands on her hips behind her and swayed energetically.
"IIII wass maaadeee for looovin' you baaabbbyy! Youuu were made for lovin' meeeee!"
Charlotte giggled, setting down her whisk and turning in to him to put her arms round her stupid other half's neck.
The smile soon wiped off her face though.
"Morning Kai!" she shrieked with a deer in the headlights look.
He stood in the doorway looking moritified and feeling his brow spasm, unable to look away like watching a car crash.
Both of them in their undignified morning forms. Hair all over the place, fluffy robes and checkered pyjama bottoms. Slippers.
Grotesque displays of affection to suggestive old rock anthems.
This was heinous.
And something he could never ever unsee...
He leapt out his skin as arms flung round him from behind.
"IIII can giiive it alll to you baaaaby, can you giiive it all to meee?"
Kai's eyes widened in horror as his body got moved to sway like the older aliens had, and in a kneejerk reaction he pulled himself out and shoved him off.
NO. HE DAMN WELL COULDN'T!
Rei just laughed it off. He only did it to bug him anyways.
Pink in the face, Kai gaped as Rei went by him in to the kitchen.
"Morning all..." he yawned, long hair also sticking out everywhere and pyjamas still on.
Had none of them any shame?!
"Mornin' Raymundo! You boys sleep well?" Dan asked as he turned to face them, draping an arm round Charlotte's shoulder.
"Sooooooo well!" Rei droned happily, sitting himself at the kitchen table.
"Fabulous! Glad to hear!" he beamed before he moved his eyes to Fireball, still stood like a lemon in the doorway all washed and dressed and-
Well, he'd say groomed, but the bed head was permanent on that one.
"You gonna stand there all day?" he smirked at him, "Come sit! Coffee's almost finished. Rei, you're not a fan am I right?"
"Not for me thanks."
"Tea?"
"Yes please! If you have some!"
"I'm making waffles! Thought I'd make something a little special for our first breakfast!" Charlotte chimed in.
After that, it was almost as if his head had been dunked in water. The sound was there but was kind of tuned out as they chattered and went around getting cups of coffee poured and breakfast made looking like...that.
Seeing Dan out of a suit the few times he had was odd enough. But this...
Charlotte he barely knew and she was there without her makeup on.
Looked like an entirely different people almost...
And as for Rei, sure it wasn't like he wasn't used to seeing him right out of bed. But just...
How could he just make himself so at home?!
Be so comfortable?!
Dan lifted a brow as he ferried over hot cups of joe and set one in front of his zoned out looking Fireball.
"You still not with it huh?" he laughed slightly.
That popped the bubble round his head, but he still just nodded in response.
A few minutes later, Charlotte brought over plates and cutlery.
"Here we are boys! I'll get the syrup."
As they all sat around the small table, the space seemed to close in around him.
Just...eat the damn waffles...
"So Kai, how are you liking this doctor fella?" Charlotte asked with a smile.
His cup instantly went back to the table and gave her a warning look.
That was a bit personal wasn't it?!
Dan felt the fire crackle and groaned inwardly.
Her heart was in the right place...but he knew he likely wouldn't see it that way.
"He's a nice guy aint he!" he slid in to try and diffuse a little.
"Yeh..." the other grunted back, going back to his coffee cup.
The sooner he ate, the sooner they could end this and get going...
"Good morning Kai!" the doctor greeted brightly as he emerged from his office, walking over to them.
"Please, come on through." he gestured.
As always, Dan gave him a supportive smile. But it went unacknowledged as he stormed his way ahead of the older man in and ready in his seat.
Foster lifted a brow as he walked in, closing the door behind him.
Someone was more eager than normal today...
"Well then!" he clapped his hands together, making his way to his desk, "How are we today?"
The boy on the other side of him looked somewhat off and like he was in some kind of mental deliberation.
He eyed him when he was quiet a little too long.
"Are you all right?"
Finally, he cracked.
"No. Not really." he fired out looking somewhat flustered.
The doctor blinked. Not even forty-eight hours ago, he was beaming and talking about the string of successes he'd had going for him the past weeks.
"Oh...Well. Let's talk about it then. What's wrong?"
He went quiet again, apparently in another round of mental torment while he considered whatever it was. He waited patiently.
Kai let out a desperate sigh.
"I-I don't even know where to start! But I'm in way over my head here!"
Again, the doctor blinked.
"Well I'm all ears...Just start anywhere and we'll go from there."
Kai rubbed at his jeans and tried to sort his head to start from the top...
"There's something I didn't fill you in on...after the contest. See, Mr. Harris was potentially going to transfer at the end of the term..."
The older man listened intently to his explanation and couldn't help but smile a little.
He knew those two had a special relationship, based on the brief interactions he saw between them and from the little bits and pieces Kai had told him about. Even though he apparently meddled and annoyed him at times. And it wasn't exactly often teachers drove and waited for students at appointments.
He looked proud as punch though telling him about his contest win and test scores to...
It was nice to see.
But it was quite something to hear he'd gone as far as to commit to taking full guardianship.
His case file highlighted the lack of actual family currently. And any information given about the conditions he was kept in prior was...well, heartbreaking, for lack of a better word. He was glad someone had finally come along to give him the kind of home any kid deserved.
"Well, I think that sounds like wonderful news!" he commented when Kai took a pause, "So why the face?"
Kai's shoulders sank along with his whole demeanor.
"Because it was all good until we helped him move last weekend. He and his girlfriend got a house together. But when we got there..."
The doctor waited...
"Well see...he..."
Foster leaned forward in anticipation and concern.
"He gave me a room!" the younger lad hissed in despair.
He tried. He really did.
But he wasn't seeing a problem.
"As in a bedroom?" he stated the obvious, checking to make sure he didn't mean some kind of dungeon or reason to call the police?
Kai nodded slowly with the same look of despair on his face.
"Yeh! A-and he wants me to decorate it and for me to spend weekends there! Wants us to do movie nights and stuff!"
He got a very blank look back.
"...And this is...a bad thing?"
The boy in front of him almost looked offended.
"Of course it is!"
"Right...Could you do me a favour then and explain why? Because I'm afraid I'm not following?"
Kai let out a frustrated groan.
Mostly because he couldn't really explain coherently himself. It just was!
"It just is! Does it not seem weird to you?! He's my teacher! What!? I'm supposed to just go over there and be fine with him and his girlfriend be all canoodley and stuff!? "
The doctor chuckled.
"Well, it's his home isn't it?"
"Yeh! Fine! But then why am I in it?!" Kai bit back with a raised voice.
Foster sat back a moment, feeling the anger rise.
"So, was this not the arrangement you both came to when he took on guardianship?"
Kai shook his head.
"There was no arrangement! As far as I knew, nothing was changing except he was moving out the school and in with Charlotte."
"So, no discussion between you both?"
"Nope! Typical Harris!" he scoffed.
He gave a nod.
"Right then. Easily fixed." he said brightly as he stood himself up.
The other suddenly felt uneasy.
"...It is?"
...Why was he walking to the door?
Noooo no! Don't be doing what he thought he was doing.
"Dr. Fo-"
"Mr. Harris?" the older man called down the hall, cutting him off as he walked the short distance to the waiting area.
Kai froze in his seat, feeling stuck to it and tongue tied like he'd licked a frozen streetlamp.
Ooooooohhhhh shit...
This was going to be bad..
Putting his head down at the sound of footsteps, they walked in to the office, Dan wading through the thick tension to sit beside him on the sofa while the doctor settled back down at his desk.
"Okay. So, Kai has mentioned that there's some new living arrangements..." he started off.
Dan tensed up instantly.
So this was why he'd been asked in.
God. He was right...he hated the place...
He knew it!
But the question remained why?!
All the effort and ball-ache fighting for jobs, meeting lawyers, keeping the lady happy, getting everything set up to have this and it still wasn't right?!
"And it seems there's been a lack of communi-"
"What the hell Kai!?" Dan expelled loudly and sadly, making the other jump out his skin, "I knew you hated the house, but I just don't get it! Why!? I mean sure, it isn't the Ritz or the Hilton or anything bu-"
Kai instantly saw red.
"Is that what you think of me?!" he cut off, insulted, "You think I'm that shallow and entitled?!"
"I didn't think you were like that, no! But then what other reason is there?! What else am I supposed to think when Charlotte and I shuffle our life plans to fit you in them!? When we buy a bigger house than we'd planned to fit you in it? And then what do we get for it!? You lookin' like it's an enormous imposition on you!"
He took a breath, feeling bad instantly.
He hadn't meant to go off like that.
But...he had to admit, this time it really stung.
And he wasn't the only one feeling bad.
T..that wasn't it! At all!
It wasn't an imposition!
It wasn't that the house wasn't a mansion! He could give a shit about stuff like that! If anything he thought it was great! Had more character and warmth than pretty much anywhere he'd ever slept and they'd literally just moved in.
There was only one other place that came to mind that had the same qualities...
It was that there! What he just said! Changing entire life plans! Spending out on a bigger house for him!
But the question remained WHY!?
Argghhhh! Why did he always have to go too far?!
The red in his vision started to burn brighter, feeling himself rise out his seat before he could stop himself.
"Well I didn't ask for any of it did I?! " he yelled
The doctor finally saw a space to get a word in edgeways.
"Okay! Let's cool it down shall we?" he said firmly before this got too out of hand, "Let's put that breathing in to practice. Deep inhale for four, exhale for eight. And how about sitting down?"
Kai threw him a fiery glare.
This was some bullshit...But he did as he was told.
Foster looked between the upset and miffed looking pair.
"Let's take turns listening to each other, all right? Kai, you're saying that you're somewhat uncomfortable with this new room and staying with Mr. Harris. That you weren't expecting this. Is that right?"
Kai nodded through his reluctant exhale.
Dan made an annoyed and perplexed face.
"What do you mean you weren't expecting it!?"
The hell did he think would happen after signing a paper taking full responsibility for him?! That he'd just leave him at the school?!
"Ah, Mr. Harris. Please."
"Sorry..." he grumbled, holding in the rest and folding his arms in a sulky manner that rivalled the kid next to him.
He got a forgiving nod back.
"It seems clear that you both have very different ideas of how this situation should be. So Kai, why don't you try and clarify. What were you expecting?"
Kai hunched his shoulders, pulling his folded arms in to himself harder.
"I wasn't expecting anything!" he snapped defensively, "Like I told you, I expected things to stay like they were. The only difference was gonna be that instead of him sleeping at the school, he was gonna sleep somewhere else. That's it."
"Okay." the doctor nodded while Dan didn't look too thrilled with the answer, "Then could you maybe tell us why you're averted to staying with him?"
He tensed harder.
"I-I don't know! It's just weird! He's my teacher! I've only met his lady a handful of times and now we semi live together! She's talking about me keeping my room clean and doing my laundry! Today I saw them dancing around in their jammies like it was the most normal thing in the world!"
Dan jolted in his seat.
"It is!" he shot back defensively and embarrassed, "It's what ya do at home!"
"Mr. Harris..."
"Sorry..." he bit.
Oh sure! Sue him for daring to relax and enjoy his new home!
..Okay he could see why maybe it was a little awkward with Charlotte...They were still getting acquainted, he wasn't exactly great with people. And Charlotte bless her was trying her best to connect with him but hadn't mastered the Kai Code just yet...
He hadn't really considered it being that much of an issue though. Just a case of giving them time to get to know each other.
"Okay, so I want to focus on something you just said, and you said it before as well." the doctor continued, "You keep saying 'he's my teacher'."
Kai gave him a look.
"Yeh? And?"
Point being?
"I'm supposed to be your guardian too..." a sad, quiet voice muttered beside him, making Kai's scowl weaken.
The doctor didn't scold him for interjecting this time and instead nodded.
"Exactly...While yes, he still is your teacher, and yes, I can imagine seeing him in a home setting rather than a school one is perhaps a little unusual," he chuckled, "I think it's fair to say he's become much more than just a teacher has he not?"
Kai wouldn't look at either of them and stayed quiet.
"Let me ask you this then." he tried to prompt, "In your eyes, what exactly is a guardian?"
He got a small shrug.
"It's the one people call if there's a problem. For a minors with no one else..."
The doctor waited for more, but nothing came.
"...And?"
Kai didn't dare look at Dan despite feeling the disappointed vibes coming from him.
This is exactly why he didn't want to say anything to him...
Because he couldn't say what he was meant to say. And he knew deep down it would probably hurt him.
But nonetheless...
"And what?"
The doctor nodded, unable to stop himself feeling sorry for the guy sat next to him who looked very let down by the answer.
"Okay...how about you Mr. Harris?"
He looked up.
"Hm?"
"What's your definition of a guardian?"
He sighed.
Well, after Kai's sparkling answer, he felt stupid saying now...
But as always, smile through it.
"Well, with this one, there sure are plenty of calls...gonna save the school a fortune on the phone bill. So there is that..." he forced a laugh.
Nothin. Tough crowd...
He supposed he'd better just be honest then.
"But that's just a tiny part of the responsibility. I guess for me, a guardian is just a slightly lower rank of a parent. I just don't have the blood-tie. I don't know if I could use him for a kidney. We don't share a last name. He doesn't call me dad. And there's some legal mumbo-jumbo and an expiry date according to the lawyer. But all those are just trivial little things. Doesn't matter to me about the names and all that. Or what a piece of paper says I am. There's families of all shapes, sizes and circumstances out there, and I wanted us to form our own."
He deflated completely after finishing his own little ramble and side eyed Kai.
"...I just thought that's what you wanted too..."
The doctor's eyes travelled back to Kai and gave the boy a second but nothing came up from the messy bangs hiding his face.
"Kai?"
"...What?" he muttered back.
"What do you think about what Dan just said?"
Kai tried to answer that in his own head. But his chest hurt and burned.
He felt hot and uncomfortable. So much so it was almost like his insides itched.
What did he think?
He didn't really have words. Just that overwhelming niggle again that was really revving up.
He didn't not want it...nor did he want it...if that made sense?
Tsch. It didn't...His head was a muddle.
He couldn't stand this. Nor the rays of disappointment coming from next to him and the prodding eyes in front of him.
He knew how he felt. It wasn't the ungrateful and snobby way that was being implied.
But he couldn't express what he meant.
He felt backed in to a corner with no way to defend himself or make this stop.
Apart from...
"Urrghhh..." he growled before his ass left the seat again, "I think this is bullshit! You're both ganging up on me!"
"We're doing no su-"
"Fine! Wanna know what I think!? I think this is too much! It's way too much!" his voice wobbled slightly, recovering just as quickly.
"Why am I the bad one again!? Why am I the shitty brat because we're not on the same wavelength!? How am I in the wrong?! If anyone has more understanding of what a guardian is in this room, its ME!"
The doctor lifted his hand.
"All right lad...easy. Take a br-"
"Oh breathe out your ass! That shit doesn't work!"
"Kai..." Dan warned.
"YOU TOO!" he turned to him like an angry blue raptor, "What exactly are you playing at!? Why have you always got to take it too far!? You can sit there and look all hurt, but you don't care how I might feel about it!"
Dan's mouth opened and closed.
"...What do you mean? How is any of this hurting you?!"
In what universe was giving him a place to stay a slap to the face?!
"Because you treat everything like a game! Well this isn't a game to me! It's my life! And the worst part is you knew how this was supposed to go! You were the one making calls to Mr. Dickenson! You saw how he was and knew damn well there was a line! That there were no sleepovers and movie nights! Or rooms! In fact, he's been my guardian for a couple years now and I don't even know where he lives!" he yelled furiously. "He's head of the BBA, he contacted me about tournaments and got dragged in when I fucked up! That was his role, period! He never once came to one of those parent-teacher things or anything like that because guess what?! He isn't my parent!"
Dan stared and took in the wave of rage. His face softened.
"Kai...You know that's not how it was...He really just couldn't make those in person. He's a super busy guy. He called me plenty because he wanted to know how you were doing. And he made it to the contest, right? When he could, he came. But this is exactly why the whole topic of giving guardianship to me came about in the first place, remember? He desperately wanted you to be taken care of properly in a way he just isn't capable of doing himself. If I know how much he cares about you, then deep down you must know that too..."
Kai held a hand up.
"Stop. You don't need to do that. I don't care that he didn't come or that he's busy! I'm just saying he knew where his line was and I knew where my line was!"
Dan had a look of tired frustration on his face.
"What the hell are you talking about!? I ju- you're not making a lot of sense buddy? How am I treating this like a game? What line are you talking about?!"
"Cause you even said there's a time limit to this!" Kai yelled back, "So what?! We play happy families for a while and then once the contract is up we shake hands, say it was fun and part ways?!"
"I-"
"And what if Charlotte and I don't get along?! Gonna have to kick me out aren't ya?!"
"Tha-"
"Or say you actually get your shit together and knock her up, then what?! Aint gonna be room for the charity case then is there?!"
Dan felt himself lose his patience. Which didn't happen often.
"Enough!" he snapped, getting up and grabbing his shoulders to give him a good shake, "Just stop! 'Cause you're talking nonsense and...and...pissing me off!"
He shot a fiery look at the doctor, who he half forgot was there.
"You wouldn't believe this guy was the highest scoring kid in the grade would you?!" he threw out before he went back.
"After everything, I thought it was obvious what the deal was here! But since you're spinning out and claiming ignorance, allow me to make it crystal frickin' clear to you. Like it or not, I'm. Not. Going. Anywhere!" he said sharply, giving sharper shakes, "Which means you're not going anywhere! Yes, the guardianship is until you turn eighteen. Because then legally you'll be classed old enough to make your own decisions like anyone else! Does that mean people stop being a son or daughter when they hit eighteen!? NO! They continue to freeload! I called my dad just last week 'cause hell if I knew how to install that stupid washing machine!"
He let himself take inhale, and Dr. Foster couldn't help but smirk at that as it reminded him of his own grown children calling for anything from needing help with rent to wanting to know if it was safe to eat the slightly out of date chicken...
"And I know I'm not your dad, okay? But while I'm responsible for you, I want to give you all the things one should provide you! From a roof over your head, to a source of embarrassment, to guidance. When you turn eighteen, you're probably gonna end up going off to some prestigious as hell college. But even then, from time to time students come home. After you graduate, you might need somewhere to live while you're looking for a job and finding your feet. Even after you've moved out on your own, there's Christmas, birthdays, barbecues just because! I know that's a loooong ways off, but it doesn't matter how much time passes after that paper expires. As long as you want it, the place with us is yours! No matter what!"
While the doctor enjoyed a dose of warm fuzzies, Kai lost more color in his stunned face.
Even though his speech was meant to be comforting, it was enormously heavy, pressing down on his chest and making him start to feel dizzy.
He pushed him off, needing the distance and not to be touched.
"But why?!" he demanded in a coarse voice, "Why am I getting so much?! What is it you want from me back?!"
Dan wasn't the kind to want money or anything...that he was sure of.
The older made an exasperated face.
Oh for the love of- Why was he acting like he was handing him the Holy Grail or something?!
"Just for you to take the damn place and for you to be happy!" he laughed tiredly, "That's all I've ever wanted for you! Despite being a royal pain in my ass sometimes, you're my Fireball and I love ya! That's really all there is to it!"
The laugh stopped and the smile wiped off pretty quickly though, when the response was a terrified look in his eyes, labored breathing and a familiar ghost-like complexion.
Oooohhhh shit...
"Buddy?"
Doctor Foster stood and moved round his desk.
"Let's sit down, shall we?"
Helping him get sat down and putting himself beside him, Dan sat back feeling helpless for once as he handed the reigns over to the professional.
Just sitting and watching was horrible...
The trembling and gasping. The distressed look on his face.
"Ican'tbreathe!"
The panic...
It hurt every time to see it.
Where in the hell had it come from though?!
What was he missing here? Kai had seemed so happy when asked him if he wanted him to stay and be his guardian. Shed tears even. It was one hell of a moment.
So what had changed? Why the freak out?
Sure, he could appreciate that 'staying with a teacher' might be a bit weird initially, he didn't see it as this big a deal?
Like the attacks he'd seen before, he started to calm, got a second wind and flared right back up again and now finally he was coming out of it.
Was comforting at least to watch how Dr. Foster dealt with it. Wasn't far off what he did.
...Glad to know he was doing something right.
The doctor finally stood himself up from where he was crouched in front of him, stretching his old knees as he went to the watercooler and filled a small paper cup for him.
"Here. Have some water."
Kai gave a silent nod in thanks and took it, his hand still tremoring ever so slightly.
And then there was silence.
Dan looked from Kai to Foster and back again with the quiet killing him.
"Do you remember a while back," Foster finally said, "when I told you the root of anger is usually fear?"
He nodded.
"Would you agree with me then if I put to you that your outbursts here were because actually, you're feeling incredibly anxious?"
He stayed quiet and sipped on water.
"May I offer some observations?" Foster offered to try and help, "You can tell me if they hold any truth or not."
Kai lifted his eyes and nodded.
"It can be extremely hard, for someone who has lived in cruel circumstances and been treated badly, to let someone else get close. Even if they might want to."
The other's head stayed still for a moment until it bobbed ever so slightly.
"A teacher is far easier to cope with than a guardian. There's far less emotional investment. The less invested you are, the less likely you are to get hurt."
The niggle felt some kinship with that, so nodded even if though he wanted to shake his head.
"Before Mr. Dickenson was your guardian, you were in the custody of your grandfather, is that right?"
"...Yes."
"Did you ever do things together?"
A snort burst out of him and his eyes prickled.
"No. Barely saw him really, even though we lived in the same place."
Which was fine, since when they did cross paths...
"He wasn't home a lot?"
"Oh, he was. Just easy to avoid each other when you live in a mansion." he said with some emphasis for Dan.
He'd been there, done that...was not all it was cracked up to be for sure.
"Oh. How nice?"
He knew it wasn't, but he wanted to hear it from him.
Kai shrugged and took his eyes around the room instead.
"If you enjoy echoes for company. Or not being allowed to touch anything, even in your own room 'cause all the shit in it was worth more than you. Was like living in a damn museum."
"How do you mean?"
"Well..." he sighed, "Like, my dresser was some antique...Victorian...god knows what that I was sure was going to break every time I went to get clothes. There was some ugly ass paintings on my wall I'm pretty sure are worth more than both your houses put together. Nothing I would actually pick myself. I'm sure if you saw it, you'd think it was nice. All fancy and stuff..."
"That's not very homely though, is it?"
"Well, wasn't exactly much of a home, so..."
A small, sympathetic smile tugged on the corner of the doctor's mouth.
"That's what all this is really about, isn't it?"
He got a look back, waiting for him to continue speaking on his behalf but nothing more came.
The old man was better at explaining his feelings than he was...
But he figured he owed it to Dan to try.
"Its about a lot of things I guess...Which is why it's hard to know what to say or where to start...But I guess the room and stuff, yeh. It feels weird. Maybe to you 'it's just what you do at home'." he aimed at Dan, "But anywhere I've ever lived, I couldn't..."
He drifted off a moment.
Imagine. Dancing around his cell in the abbey like no one was watching with posters on the brick walls?
Shimmying down the red carpeted stairs under the chandelier in his PJ's and bed head to go make himself some pancakes?
He shuddered.
The consequences didn't bear thinking about.
"It's like when me and the team stayed at Tyson's place for the summer. That was one hell of an experience. Their house was just so different. He was allowed to do pretty much whatever he wanted. If he wanted a snack, he just went and got it. If he wanted people over, he just brought them on in. His Grampa cooked for us every day. And we all ate together on one table. Not on opposite ends of those enormous, long dining tables meant for forty people in silence. And Tyson's room was just...well it was chaos compared to any room of mine. Was covered in stuff. His own stuff that he liked. But he had three or four of us staying over, so we all slept down in their dojo. It was really weird at first, but after a while..."
His mind took him back on a little trip of nostalgia.
That whole time had been insane. Bitbeast thiefs left and right. Total chaos.
And in one instance, tragic...
Even if he didn't talk about it, even if it ate him up inside, not being in that big, empty, heartless place made all the difference. Just having them there made it more bearable.
"I've slept on cell floors, I've slept in four-poster French beds worth thousands, but nothing was quite like that futon on the floor at Tyson's..."
Dan frowned as cogs turned.
Sorry, did he just say cell?!
But Kai carried on.
"We had to do chores and stuff too. Help Grampa out and pitch in. Tyson used to whine and complain about it, and I hated it because he had no idea how lucky he was or just how jealous I was!"
His chest ached again.
"I don't think I've ever been more jealous of someone...he had everything I wanted and knew I could never have!" he fired, turning his gradually dampening eyes to Dan.
"Until you came along and stuck your oar in that is..."
Dan snorted at the sudden sass and cleared a tiny bit of the lump in his throat.
"So no, I don't hate the house at all...and I didn't mean to look like I don't appreciate it or anything you've done for me. It's the opposite. It feels too much to accept. Like why would you give any more when you already give me so much? Let alone something as huge as my own place in your home..."
He stopped, worrying his bottom lip.
"Means an awful lot to you, huh?" Foster said gently as his guesses slowly got confirmed.
Kai nodded slowly while Dan's mouth kept making weird shapes going from duck lips to pursed and other weird expressions to hold in the swell in his chest.
He wanted to bear hug the little asshole. But resisted.
"But anyway, that doesn't really matter because there's nothing I can do about it, is there?" Kai said quietly, "I can't just inhale for four and exhale for eight and make all this better can I? How am I supposed to do any of this when I'm such a...well, me!? I want all of this, I do! But I just don't think I'm cut out for it! "
The two men frowned.
"Do any of what?"
"Any of this! Being what Dan wants us to be! Being comfortable in the house! It isn't just Dan either, it's getting too much with Rei too!" he spewed.
Dan's brows shot up.
WH?! What did that mean?!
YOU DARE BREAK IT OFF WITH HIM!
As did Foster's.
"But you were glowing about Rei less than forty-eight hours ago? Did something happen?"
Kai's face turned pink.
"Not exactly..."
"Then...?"
"I just took the time to think about it is all!" he lied, "Rei is amazing...but I know him. He wants someone that I'm not...Like, we already had an argument because he wants to tell our friends we're together and the thought makes me feel physically sick! And we're not even a month in! What's gonna happen when he wants to take more steps forward and I'm always fixed to the spot!? He's gonna be unhappy, I'll be unhappy..."
Dan's spidey-senses tingled.
Ooooohhhhh shit...
He may very well be to blame for this 'revelation'.
Urggghhh...all he wanted to do was be a good guardian. Make sure there were no injuries or anything and for them to be smart and respectful.
Buuuuuutttttt he just spooked him...of course.
The doctor let out a whistle.
"Hmmmm. So you have a friend that's now a boyfriend, a teacher that's now a guardian and a new home. That's quite a lot of new ground all at once, isn't it? It isn't surprising you're feeling this overwhelmed."
Kai nodded.
"So you're searching for every reason you can to sabotage and get away from it all."
He stopped nodding and frowned.
"No?"
"Oh? But you couldn't possibly stay with a teacher. That's too bizarre. And besides, they might have a baby and need your room back. And well, if Rei wants to tell friends about your relationship before you're ready to, then clearly that means you're just incompatible. Should just cut your losses now to be honest and be done with both."
Dan smirked, as much as he felt for his Fireball it wasn't often he got to see him outsmarted.
Kai's brow twitched.
"So what? I'm wrong for actually considering what could plausibly happen?" he growled a little.
"Well no. But lashing out and stating that you yourself are incapable loving relationships is a tad much."
He got a teenage glare back, which made him chuckle a little.
"I think it's very clear from what happened a few minutes ago, all of this, and things we've discussed before that the concept of someone loving and caring for you frightens you, just as much as the thought of letting yourself love or care back."
It wasn't shocking that the boy averted his eyes completely.
"On that note, I wonder, when was the last time someone told you they loved you?"
The air in the room physically coagulated. And hung for a good while.
"...I don't remember..." he said ever so quietly.
He couldn't remember a good chunk of his life...but hey...maybe someone said it then...
Doubtful as that was.
"Have you ever said it to someone?" he asked in a gentle tone.
He got a head shake back.
As much as Dan liked this guy, he wanted to punch him.
He was making it soooo hard not to bear hug him...
Unbearable even!
He had a horrible thought.
Was blurting out a 'love ya' what pushed him over the edge in to a panic?
The doctor nodded.
Conditioned not to allow emotional attachments and feelings...that's what it had said.
But that was a conversation for them privately another day.
For now though...
"It's okay. That doesn't mean you'll never be able to. You even said yourself you want all this with Mr. Harris and Rei. That's key." he said as he turned his gaze to Dan.
"If you don't mind my asking, is this the first time you and your good lady have lived together?"
Dan sat up straight at being addressed.
"It is, yes. Properly."
"Congratulations." the doctor gave him a smile before going back, "So you see, it isn't just you treading new ground. Mr. Harris and Charlotte need to adjust to living together. That takes some time and getting used to, I'm sure Charlotte is just as anxious about getting along with you as you are about getting along with her. And is it Rei's first romantic relationship too?"
Kai nodded.
"Well then I'm positive he has his own worries and hang ups. You both need to adjust going from friends to a couple. Everyone needs time to adjust to changes! It's totally natural! The important thing is that you support each other through it and communicate properly."
Dan gave strong nods.
That's what he'd said!
About something else, but it applied!
"So. I think for right now, let's see what we can do to help you adjust, shall we?"
A little while later after their time was up and they'd said their thankyou's and goodbyes, the two of them walked back to the car and buckled themselves back in and both let out a huge sigh.
Well that had been an eventful hour...
Now there was a weird sense of the air being cleared some but also awkward.
"You sure you're feeling up to going?" Dan asked as he turned the key.
Didn't want to overload him by taking him to town to meet Rei and Charlotte. But he was insisting.
"I'm fine."
See?
But Kai was actually quite eager to go.
He doubted that the doctor's suggestions would have a huge impact, but now he had a physical task list and direction to focus on, he wanted to get started.
They'd settled on four tasks to complete over the rest of the weekend.
1. Find out three things about Charlotte. By actually asking her about herself.
2. After Dan mentioning the afternoon in town, he was set with the task of choosing and buying something for his new room. Could be anything, he said. A pencil sharpener if he fancied. As long as he chose it himself.
3. Pick something he was comfortable doing with everyone and suggest they do it as a group.
And number four...that was for later.
The drive was quiet.
Dan felt like he should say something. Allow himself to cave and squeeze the crap out of him.
The more he learned about his life before, the sadder he got and the more desperately he wanted to protect him.
On that note, after some things Kai had said, he had questions...
But, he decided to leave it for now.
Like the doctor said, baby steps were the way to go. One thing at a time.
Instead, pulled out his trusty iPod to kill the silence.
They walked together to the familiar restaurant, and were greeted by a familiar older waitress.
"Syllllvia! The only woman beautiful enough to make that apron sexy!" Dan grinned.
The old lady giggled, having been excited for her playful fancyman's arrival since Charlotte came in.
"Hello handsome! You're lovely lady is right this way." she guided, taking them to where she and Rei were sat.
"Heeey! There you boys are!" she smiled.
"Sorry Vixen, took ages to find somewhere to park." Dan apologised as the two sat themselves.
"Oh no worries, we've just been chatting, haven't we Rei?"
"Yeh. We haven't been here that long anyway. I'm excited to come here though! Judging by those dessert thingies you brought that time, this is gonna be good!"
"Ooohhh just you wait! Been coming here religiously for years, haven't we Vixen?"
Kai glanced around the table.
Okay...Okay...This wasn't hard. He knew how to ask people about themselves...
He could ask her what she was going to order?
No...that wasn't about herself...
He was listening and waiting for inspiration for questions so long he forgot to look at the menu.
When the little old lady came to take their orders, he panic ordered and went back to listening.
Urgh. It had been less than an hour and he already hated this.
There had still been no progress when the lady brought the food over, putting plates down in front of the adults first.
"And one lasagna for you..." she placed in front of Rei, "And one chicken avocado wrap for you, young man!" she cooed at the younger gentlemen, checking they had everything before leaving them to it.
"You can't beat a lasagna. That looks soooo good! I might have that next time. Be adventurous." Charlotte chuckled as she went to start on her usual.
"You really can't. Best one I ever had was in Italy though. Probably shouldn't say that before I've tried this one though."
In between their chews it went silent for a moment.
But Rei had given Kai a jolt of inspiration.
Perfect!
"Have you ever been to Italy?" he fired out in his deep, flat voice.
The two adults lifted their heads and looked at him, working out who he was talking to.
Charlotte was shocked to see he was looking right at her.
"Me?"
He nodded.
"No, actually I haven't! Would love to though!"
Okay...so was it acceptable for one fact about her to be that she'd never been to Italy?
That counted, right?
Oh crap, she was still looking at him...
He didn't have any more questions...
He felt himself get warm in the face and took his eyes to his plate.
"Okay..."
Dan snorted in to his water, catching himself before he laughed and feyned the water doing down the wrong hole.
Awww buuudddyyy...
It hadn't gone unnoticed that he'd spent the short duration at the table burning holes in to Charlotte's head, waiting for an opening.
He was a man on a mission.
He just...yeh.
"Been to some other cool places though, haven't ya Vixen?" he threw a bone.
"A few! You boys know I spent some time in Venezuela. While I was over there I went to Brazil and Peru as well."
"Oooooh! Did you see Machu Picchu?" Rei asked.
Kai shot him a glare before he could stop himself.
Damnit! That was brilliant!
She talked more about her travels as they ate, and then conversation moved on and round the table, making him throw the towel in for now.
Only 33% of task one complete...disappointing.
Finishing their undeniably delicious lunches, they rolled out, letting their food digest a few minutes while Dan flirted with Sylvia a little more until they left to drive the short distance to the shopping mall.
Now for task 2.
He sighed.
These little tasks sounded sooo easy when Foster came up with them. But actually, they were harder than he thought.
What would he possibly buy for the room?
Maybe he would end up with that pencil sharpener...
And as for Charlotte, he had to get his shit together! He was overthinking it.
If in doubt, think WWRD?
What Would Rei Do?
"Oh! Would you guys mind if I dropped in to the music shop? I keep forgetting to buy rosin for my bow." Charlotte tapped Dan's arm and pointed at the little, old and dusty looking store that jogged her memory.
"Yeh, sure!"
The two boys followed like good ducklings, the door having a little bell that jingled as they walked in.
Rei's nose twitched.
It smelled like old people...
His gold eyes passed the boring looking shelves of...he didn't even know what, to the more interesting shiny or wooden instruments.
Oooooooooooooh...
He may not know much about it, but he had to admit the instruments were pretty.
He looked at the brass, shiny ones, leaning in and checking out his stretched, distorted reflection in it with a snort.
He walked over to the string instruments, checking out the cellos, violins and whatever the hell the other ones were.
...Maybe he could take it up too? Kai would like that...
His eyes went down to the price card and jolted.
Oooorrrr fuck that...
THAT'S what those cost?!
Meanwhile, Kai browsed the store trying to remember if he needed anything for his baby.
Didn't think so...
He kept wandering, moving round to the little shelves of music books, magazines and sheet music.
He walked by, but then felt himself turn and go back.
….Huh...
He found himself looking at the wall to the side of the shelves.
…He liked that.
Looking over his shoulder, Charlotte and Dan were still waiting at the counter, giving him the go ahead to peruse the shelf to look in to his little idea.
Hmmm...a little expensive for what he was wanting it for...Seemed a waste.
"You boys ready to go?"
He slipped it back on the shelf and followed them out with cogs turning.
He really hadn't had any ideas for what to get. So now he actually had one, he wasn't going to let it go.
They followed them towards the home store, when he saw it...
His feet came to a stop.
Ohhh...that place might have some.
Glancing over his shoulder, Dan saw Kai had stopped.
"You good buddy?"
Kai walked up to him.
"Yeh. Uh. I was wondering...am I allowed to put things on the wall?" he asked quietly, for some reason.
Dan's eyes lit up.
YES! He had something!
Let the muse run free!
"Yeh! No problem! Think Charlotte would rather you use that tac stuff though instead of pins. So we'll get some before we go home, yeh?"
His face didn't overly show it, but the violet eyes also lit.
"Okay. Can I go to there quick? I'll meet you guys in a minute."
"Sure, we're just going to be in Home Haven."
Rei appeared, wondering what was happening, and Dan took the chance to push the two lovebirds off for a bit.
"See you two in a few!" he waved as he went back and took up Charlotte's hand.
"Everything okay?" Charlotte asked as they started to walk.
"Yeh...I'll fill you in on all the details later. But listen, I need you to do somethin'."
"Oh?"
"Kai's got some little assignments from the doctor. One is to find something for his new room, which he looks like he's doing now."
She smiled.
"Aw, that's good!"
"Yeh.. And the other is to find some things out about you."
She snapped her head to him.
"Me?"
"Yup! Like I told you, he's just as nervous about you liking him as you are him liking you. So he's been tasked to ask you about yourself."
"Is that what prompted the Italy question?" she smiled with her eyes glinting.
How sweet!
"Heh, yeh...I just...he's so dry..." he chuckled, "Okay..." he mimicked and chuckled a little more.
"Awww, you leave him alone! He tried!" Charlotte defended.
"I know, I know. I'm not trying to be mean. But that's why I'm telling you so you can just...help the poor sap out? Dangle some bait?"
She swung his hand a little, feeling all fuzzy.
"Of course. I'll do my best."
"Great. Now let's go do what hip, young couples do on a Saturday and go get us a toaster!"
Meanwhile, Rei followed behind Kai in to yet another store that smelled of old people.
"What we doing in here?" he asked as he picked up his pace to bring himself to the side of him.
"I uh...wanted to see if they had something. For the room."
Rei frowned and looked around.
This was all second hand stuff?
"And you didn't want to get it new?"
"Not for this, no..."
Rei shrugged.
Was his room after all. But he was intrigued as to what it was he wanted.
He got distracted and browsed by himself at all the random and wonderful things the store had on offer until he grew bored of it and made his way back to Kai, lost in his own world and fixed on one shelf flipping through with a few thin book things under his armpit.
"You find what you're looking for?"
"Yeh, won't be long, sorry."
"No, take your time. Just want to know what it is. Getting some books?"
Kai got a little pink.
"Mmm not exactly. Just wanna try something. You'll see later-Ooh!" he exclaimed happily, pulling his new find out from the shelf and looking incredibly pleased about it.
"Heh. Look forward to it." Rei chuckled, leaving him to it.
Whatever he was doin', he looked happy. And a happy Kai was his favorite.
Walking through the front door, they all carried the shopping bags through to the kitchen to set on the table before getting their coats and scarves off.
"Whew, feels like snow might be in the air! Who wants something hot to drink?" Charlotte asked.
"Tea please!"
"Coffee please!"
"Kai? Want something?" she asked as she went to fill the kettle.
He let out a noise, having not processed the question at all.
"Ahhh crap! I forgot the sticky stuff!"
Dan dramatically clapped his hand to his face.
"Ooooohhh noooo!" he gasped as he rummaged in one of the bags, "You mean...this sticky stuff?"
Kai felt a fizz of excitement, nodding and going over to get it from him.
Despite the urge to withhold it from him 'til he told him he was The Man, Dan accepted the thanks and handed it over.
He was about to ask, but snatching up his mystery bag, he was gone in a shot and the sound of footsteps going quickly up the stairs echoed through while the other three just watched him go.
"...So should I make him coffee or...?"
He spread his purchases on the bed, slowly turning and trying to choose a wall.
This was weirdly exciting...
He felt weirdly free.
Which was weird considering how until just over an hour or so ago, this room made him feel sick.
It still did, he knew that wasn't just gone.
But for right this moment, he was experiencing a weird and wonderful rush. And he wanted it to last as long as possible, because it was much nicer.
He eenie-meenie'd his purchases and and grinned at his first victim, peeling it open sliding out the first to touch the virgin wall.
Rei poked his head through, catching him stood on the bed and stretched to reach the top of the wall.
"Hey. Brought you some coffee...whatcha doin'?" he asked as he tilted his head at it.
Kai finished pressing the paper and moonbounced his way off on to the floor again.
"Thanks." he said as he gratefully took the cup, "That music store we went to. Did you see the wallpaper they had? With all the sheet music on it?"
Rei thought back.
He hadn't been paying attention really, was too shook by the price of that cello.
"Uh? I think so?" he said a little dumbly before a fang slipped out. "Oooooohh! So you're doing that in here? With actual sheet music?"
Kai gave a nod.
"I thought it was kinda cool...so wanted to see if it would look good in here. They had brand new ones at that store, but like three times the price and I don't know...brand new ones seemed a bit of a waste. But these ones are pretty old. Look, the paper is even a little aged. Looks nicer than starch white I think...And I was super lucky! That had a bunch of my favorites in there, so I can cover a good amount of the wall already!"
Rei couldn't help but find it endearing. For one, it was a pleasant change from his school dorm with little of his personality in it. And another, it wasn't so often he witnessed Kai get animated. But recently, the more he told him about music, the more he realised just how in to it he was.
And when he did, he lit up like this every time.
...The gorgeous nerd.
"That is a cool idea. So these are some of your favorite songs?" he asked as he scanned the covers if the folders.
Tchaikovsky, that rang a bell. He thought? Or was that a drink?
Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Jean Sibelius, Camille Saint-Saëns
...Theeeey did not ring any bells...
"Yeh. They're not called songs though, they're pieces."
"Oh..." Rei blushed.
Whoops...
There was a knock at the door.
"Can we come in?"
Kai tensed up.
He wasn't going to be in trouble or anything, was he? He said stuff on the wall was fine...
Dan's head poked round the door and instantly burst in to his trademark Cheshire grin.
"Heeeeey! Cool idea!" he praised heartily, clocking the few neatly placed sheets of music on the wall and the spread on his bed.
Charlotte followed behind, giving an equally enthusiastic "Ooooooh!".
He felt his face heat up some.
"Thanks...the music store had some wallpaper like it...I thought it was nice."
"Ohhh that's right! They do!" Charlotte nodded as she stepped to look over his selection.
"Where did you get these?"
He stood straighter at being addressed.
"Second hand store..."
"Clever idea! Way better than getting them new. What made you choose these ones? Or was it just grab whatever?"
"No, these are some favorites..." he shifted his feet.
She gave him a very approving look.
"You have some wonderful taste."
Dan cleared his throat hard, and again until Kai's eyes wandered to him, throwing an exaggerated nod in Charlotte's direction.
Wide open window right there, buddy! You can do it! I believe in you!
He silently stuttered a second while his brain tried to remember what people words were.
"S-so. What do you like...?"
Dan mentally punched the air.
WOOOOOO!
Charlotte's eyes twinkled.
"Ahhh the list goes on for miles. All these fine gentlemen here for sure. Mozart, Dvorák...Ooohhh but I have to say, as a cellist this one here is one of my all time favorite pieces to play. It's sooo beautiful." she gushed as she picked up one of the files and held it up.
The Swan – Camille Saint-Saëns
Kai nodded.
"I wanted the sheet music for the violin version. But its mainly for..."
The cover suddenly seemed to yell at him.
For Cello and Piano.
Task 3!
"H-hey! Do you think you two could play this for us?!" he spewed. "Rei hasn't heard it before I don't think, but it's really nice!" he switched from talking about him to to him, "And we've not heard you play before...and Dan could show off on his new piano..." he pitched.
It was Charlotte's turn to blush a little.
"Oh...well sure...if you want?" she laughed bashfully, but actually loving it.
He wanted to hear little old her play!?
"Yeh. Please."
"I'd be honored." she said before throwing Dan a cheeky smirk and thrusting the sheet music at him.
"Come on then Danny, you get to accompany me...Don't mess up my debut."
Dan bubbled over, always excited to perform and proud of him for pitching something like that.
He knew Charlotte was probably thrilled.
"Lillibet and I would never do such a thing."
Kai snorted.
"Settled on a name then?"
"Yes. But it's Elizabeth to you."
"Whatever."
They took themselves down to the living room, the two boys waiting on the couch while she set up the large instrument.
Soon Dan's fingers started to press the keys, and Charlotte's bow touched the stings and filled the room with exquisite deep, rich sound.
Rei listened, feeling the room get a somewhat romantic atmosphere despite Dan and Charlotte being right there.
Was nice sitting with Kai listening to something so pretty...A private concert just for them.
As the music went on, the intensity in it grew.
He couldn't help but smirk when his eyes happened to look down and caught the exposed skin of Kai's arm below his rolled up sweater sleeves prickled in goosebumps.
He couldn't exactly judge though, since his skin was the same.
As the bow came off the strings and hands came off keys, the two of them clapped politely.
"Wooowww! That was amazing!" Rei praised, giving a standing ovation.
Charlotte giggled.
"Stop, you're making me blush."
"No but really, even Kai had goosebumps!" he laughed, throwing him under the bus for funsies.
Kai stuttered and flushed, wanting to slap him round the head.
"Ohhhh, you boys are sweet. You should bring your violin next time and dazzle us."
"Yeh!" Dan piped in, "Can show her your Chopin! You'd love that, wouldn't you Vix?"
"Yeeehhh!" she gushed, "I really would!"
Rei just kept smiling and nodding.
He guessed he'd find out what that was next week...
She turned to give Dan a mocking look.
"And what exactly are you bringing to the table Maestro?"
"Did I not just carry your performance with my immense talent?"
"Pfff...but really, I did Saint-Saëns, Kai has Chopin. What you got?"
Kai smirked evilly.
"Such immense talent deserves a challenge, does it not?"
He got a sly look back.
"Are you challenging me Grasshopper?"
He was up and bolting up the stairs again, coming down again with one of his new purchases.
"Here..." he said with a smirk, holding it out as he walked, "Liszt..."
Charlotte started to giggle.
"Oooohh..."
Dan chuckled with a fiery look back and took it.
"Oh-hoooo you think I can't handle a little Liszt? Which one is- Ahhhhhh shit..."
Again, Rei was left smiling with the other two laughing until Kai came and sat down with him again.
"Liszt is famous for making ridiculously hard piano pieces. Like just insanely hard." he explained, "Particularly that one..."
Dan cracked his knuckles though, determined to make it his bitch.
Alas, the poor Maestro did struggle. But considering it was on the spot and sightreading, Kai had to admit he was impressed.
"Give me til next week! I'll have it shining like a new penny!"
Giving up, he and Charlotte went back and forth playing other pieces Rei had naturally never heard before.
Even though he felt like a fish out of water, he was enjoying the atmosphere.
It was fun, relaxed, musical. Just good vibes.
And he was just happy to see that Kai was slowly unwinding as well.
Later on, after a chilled evening at home watching some Saturday TV and finishing Kai's wall, the time had come to climb in to the big, comfy bed.
And compared to the night before, Kai seemed more relaxed and less off.
"You have fun today?" he asked, making himself comfy under the covers.
Kai gave a slightly reluctant nod.
Parts had been for sure.
"Mmhmm..."
Rei threw his arms back behind his head and settled in to his pillow.
"I really like that wall...suits you somehow."
Kai's mind raced as he found himself faced with a potential opening for Task 4.
How was he even supposed to bring it up?
"Do I suit you?" he blurted out.
Rei did a double take.
"What?" he laughed.
The hell was that?
Kai cringed. That sounded so much better in his head.
"I...I want to ask you something, but you know I suck at this so I'm just going to come out and say it." he said almost gruffly, "Are you happy with me? With how things are going between us so far?"
Rei's brows furrowed.
"Of course...Why wouldn't I be?"
The hell had this come from!?
Kai shifted.
"I just...I want this to work..."
Rei rolled over to face him.
"Did something happen at the doctor's today?"
Kai recoiled.
"How did you guess?!"
Rei huffed a laugh.
"Because you've been acting kind of weird today. Just lots of little things. Put two and two together I guess."
"Smartass..."
Rei's smile fell.
"Hardly...compared to you three..."
Kai lifted a brow.
"Hn?"
"Well I hardly fit in, do I? I mean, the three of you are all cultured and musical and stuff...I have no idea what you guys are talking about half the time. Don't get me wrong, the music was beautiful! I just feel a bit like the odd one out..."
Kai snorted.
"You're kidding, right? 'Cause from where I've been standing, you slid right in and made yourself right at home. You and Charlotte never shut up, Dan thinks you're the best thing since sliced bread. You guys just gel..."
Rei shrugged. That was nice to hear...
"Yeh, like I said, I like them a lot...I just can't help but feel a little stupid when you three start talking is all..."
Kai blinked.
"You're not stupid? But I'm sorry...I'll stop." he muttered, feeling bad.
He had no clue he felt that way.
He guessed Foster was right. Rei had his own hangups too...
"Don't be silly! That wasn't what I was meaning. They're music teachers and it's something you share with them. That you're all passionate about. It's a good thing Kai. I just wish I was more like you..."
Kai snorted again.
"You don't wanna be like me, trust me. But if you want to trade we can, I'd much rather be like you."
"Pff, the hell for?"
Kai shrugged.
"You just get along with people. Make all that stuff look so effortless...It's a long story, but I was given an assignment of sorts to ask Charlotte some things about herself. And it was stupidly difficult...I couldn't think of anything. But you? You just keep it going. Comes so naturally to you."
Rei gave a soft smile.
He supposed everybody wanted what they didn't have...
He would kill for Kai's intelligence and talents.
But apparently Kai would kill for his more refined people skills.
"I suppose combined, you and I are perfect. Like Ying and Yang..."
Kai stared as the comment made his chest ache. But this time in a good way.
One single comment that numbed some of the niggles.
They always had been like Yin and Yang, really. From the early days as teammates where he was essentially Bad Cop and Rei Good Cop with the other two, to blading styles, to personalities. Very different from each other, but somehow they just always fit together nicely.
Despite the mental list of things he wanted to ask him, he folded it up and set it aside for another time.
Even though it was supposed to be open and honest conversation with Rei about the pace of their relationship, Dr. Foster also offered up another nugget of advice while they were talking about the assignments.
"The early stages of a relationship are some of the most exciting, so don't forget to enjoy it too."
So technically, that was doctor's orders...
He shifted himself closer, their hands mirroring and coming to rest on each other's arms while their faces shifted close together and hovered, breaths tickling the other, teasing until they cracked and succumbed to the rush.
Just like the pleasant thrill of the freedom to decorate the room earlier, he wanted to hold on to the moments like this as long as possible.
They were much nicer...
The next morning, the sun came in soft rays through the beige stand-in curtains. And with it, Kai's eyes peeled open like they tended to with the light.
His head came off the pillow, bleary eyes trying to figure out where he was.
Oh yeh...
His bedroom. At Dan's house.
He stretched, getting a satisfying crack in his neck while Rei's lay buried under the covers with only tufts of dark hair sticking out.
He quietly made his way over him and out the bed, stretching himself out more and twisting himself with a yawn.
He was pretty sure he only woke up once or twice last night.
He looked at his wall, just over a quarter or so covered and felt the corner of his mouth tug.
...He really liked it.
And it would be fun going hunting for the more to put up there.
He froze still when almost like clockwork, he heard movement and footsteps coming from the other bedroom.
Just like yesterday, they came out, one breaking off to the bathroom while the other went downstairs.
And just like yesterday, he stayed frozen until the other made their way downstairs.
The coast was clear...
He tip-toed to the bathroom, cursing himself for leaving his washbag in his room again.
Halfway back down the hall, he stopped a moment until his feet quietly carried him to the top of the staircase, still in his morning form, bracing himself to be bold and join them.
"Poooouuuurrrr sommmmmeee sugar on meeee, c'mon fire me up, pooooooouuur youuuur sugar on meeeeee..."
His feet did an automatic U-turn as the old rock ballad filtered up the stairs after him and retreated to his room.
Nope.
Not today, Satan.
It was probably best to take it one step at a time...
End of Chapter.
Was a long chapter, apologies, but there was a bunch I wanted to put in.
Either way, hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, take care!
Roy