Ray blinked at the ceiling before snapping his head to him. "W-what?"
Shifting himself to hover again, Kai locked eyes with Ray below him. Heart still beating frantically in his chest as his blood quickly rushed north into his ears.
"I love you." He repeated, not breaking his gaze from the male below him.
Maybe now wasn't the right time, sure, he got that, but was there ever a right time for these kinds of things? Hell if he knew. He'd never been in love with someone before.
Ray stared back at him in disbelief, both mind and heart running a mile a minute as the three simple words circled in his ears. H-he did? Since when? For how long? He had so many questions as his inner self jumped for joy as well as a wave of reassurance washed over him.
Is that why he'd asked him to move in? Did he really feel that deeply for him like how he did him? So soon? So he wasn't crazy? It wasn't just him?!
"I... I love you too." He then blurted out realizing he'd just been gormlessly gazing back at him. "I love you too!"
Grabbing at his face he pulled Kai back down to him, pressing his already swollen lips against his into another bruising kiss.
Kai's lips curled against Ray's in a smile as he kissed back yet kept it brief and pulled away.
"So then move in with me, there's plenty of room here. If you still want to quit then I won't take it personally, but at least then I'll still have you."
Ray's hands settled on his shoulders, a small sigh coming from him before speaking.
"It's not that I want to quit. You know I love working there and get along great with everyone. Just, obviously recent events have sparked a whole new kind of fear I think in all of us, and that on top of the grief I get from Lee about it, whole thing is just stressing me out." He admitted, tone sounding defeated even though he was still giddy on the inside.
"I just don't know if it's worth it. And like I'd said to Tala earlier I obviously don't want to seriously ruin the relationship I have with him so figured that was the best option, y'know?"
"And I get that, nor am I saying right this second. But the offer is there for you if you want it. You'll always have it." Kai tried to soothe, brushing the bangs that had stuck to Ray's face from sweat away gently.
"How long is he even giving you before he wants an answer?"
"You know Lee, he isn't." Ray shrugged some. "He's assuming the decisions already been made and that's that. That was one of the conditions though, I get out if I plan on continuing so if I go and say to him now I'm moving out that's gonna be like a smack in the face for him... I'd love to live with you, I just- I don't know what to do Kai..."
Kai huffed a sigh, rolling himself to the side so he wasn't hovering over Ray and making him feel more restricted. Kicking his pants off the rest of the way to get more comfortable, he pulled at his own hair off his face and stared at the ceiling above his bed. Mind going in twenty directions at once.
"What is it you want to do?" He asked, head rolling on the pillow to look at Ray beside him.
"Way I see it; it isn't about Lee and what he wants. It's about what you want. Yes, I get it. Shit's kicked off in a way that has us all on edge and scared, and I don't blame anyone for feeling this way. But as awful as it is, he wanted her, and he got what he wanted. He has no reason to come back and bother us. So it's just Johnny and Bryan now, and there's only so many places they can run to and hide away." He tried to comfort.
Ray saw in his peripheral vision Kai was looking at him and too turned his head before rolling onto his side and snuggled into him, head resting on Kai's chest and an arm draped over.
"I'd love to move in with you... When the snow came down it was torture not being able to see you and I'd have wanted nothing more than to have been snowed in with you here... And I know it's not about Lee but all we have is each other. I don't want him feeling like I've just used and abandoned him."
"I don't think he'd see it as that, he's never given the impression of him thinking that way. Maybe a little overbearing, sure, but after what he told me I can see why." Kai said, arms going around Ray instantly and held him close.
"Are you sure it's not the other way around though? Because like Tala mentioned last week, you have us now too not just Lee. So really, think it's him who needs you more than you need him. I'm not saying it's going to be easy; he'll probably scream and tell you all sorts of reasons why you shouldn't keep working or even move in with me, but if you're all he really has, he'll eventually cave."
"You think so?" Ray asked, head looking up to him. He'd never really thought about it like that before..
Kai shrugged, "Never been wrong before." He shifted his hold on Ray, getting more comfortable himself and fighting sleep now.
"Either way, the offer is there. You don't have to move in right this second or even tomorrow. I know this is kind of really fast, for the both of us, so if you want time to think about it all then take all the time you need. Okay?"
Ray brought his gaze back down, a single finger delicately drawing shapes on Kai's bare chest and sent him a hum.
"Okay... I'll think about it..."
"Okay." Kai affirmed, placing a kiss on the top of Ray's head. "I'll take you back home tomorrow then."
It wasn't long before Kai dozed off again and Ray followed shortly after, the high emotions of the day eventually taking its toll and knocking them out, Thomas included who for the first time all week had slept right through the night.
Waking early as he always did, Kai let them both sleep a little while longer, enjoying the peace some yet there was something odd in the air about him.
He took another drag of his cigarette, flicking the ash off out the side door he was currently stood at with his coffee, both the heat from the mug and smoke clearly visible in the crisp morning air.
Yesterday, whilst admittedly a rough day, had gone as well as he could've hoped for. Thomas hadn't played up that much considering, and it was a beautiful service for his mother. Slight hiccup over Ray but that was all sorted between them now to a degree.
He rolled his eyes some as he took a sip of his coffee. And that's why Russians shouldn't play Chinese whispers... Idiot.
Flicking out the cigarette he stepped back inside and slid the door to a close, turning around and jumping out of his skin as he almost bumped into-
"T-Thomas! How long have you been up?!" With a hand on his chest that was now heaving on him he looked down to the small child that nearly had a mug of coffee poured on him.
"Smoking is bad Uncle Kai!" He reprimanded folding his small arms, the very scolding similar to one he was sure Ming-Ming had delivered once or twice over the years.
"I know, I know... I'm quitting." He'd given her that answer too.
Thomas didn't look convinced in the slightest, but there were more important matters at hand. He was hungry.
"I'm hungry. Can I have ice cream?"
Kai scrunched his face. He was no expert on the first meal of the day as he very rarely had it, but he was pretty sure no nationality had ice cream on their breakfast menus.
"No." He plainly sent down to him. Though, there begged the next question. What the hell could he have?
He stepped to the fridge and opened it up, knowing full well it was pretty much empty but was hoping something would magically appear.
He'd been that busy with everything lately he hadn't had a chance to go to the store and hadn't had much of an appetite himself to have felt the need to bother anytime soon.
"How about... Uh..." He opened up one of the cupboards, eyes locking on a cardboard box. Ah!
"Granola. You're not allergic to nuts are you?"
It was Thomas's turn to scrunch his face up at the suggestion, "No. But that stuffs gross."
"No it's not." Kai argued looking over the box. "It's got raisins and almonds in. Have you ever tried it?"
Thomas made an over exaggerated gagging noise, holding his stomach for emphasis as he coughed and gagged on air.
At the coughing, Ray arched a brow as he came down the stairs. Hair wet and down his back, sticking to his clothes.
"What'd you do to him now?" He asked looking between Thomas and Kai.
Kai sent him a look. "Nothing." He sent almost defensively still holding the box. "Just making breakfast or trying to at least."
"Ah." Ray gave a nod, eyeing Thomas who was still gagging overdramatically.
"Thomas, that's enough now. Nobody wants to hear that." He scolded, the boy looking at him in shock it stopped the gagging long enough for Ray to look back at Kai without all the noise around them.
"Why don't we just go out and get something? You have to take me home anyways."
Kai set the box back where he found it in the cupboard and closed the door.
"Yeah probably a better idea. Don't have much in anyways, need to get some food in otherwise it will be ice cream for breakfast, huh?" He directed down to Thomas who seemed more than thrilled with the idea.
"Yeah, no. No ice cream. But, can get some waffles or pancakes with lots of syrup and whip cream." Ray pitched, seeming to make the boys morning brighter.
"YES! And sprinkles!"
"Sure, whatever you want buddy. Go get your shoes and coat on, it's cold out." Ray directed, Thomas running past him for the stairs to his room to get his things.
"You're a natural." Kai commented, head gesturing to where Thomas was stood and took a final slurp of his coffee before setting the mug in the sink.
"Just take no shit." Ray chuckled, coming more into the kitchen and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.
"Morning by the way, sleep good?"
"Mm... Was nice getting to wake up to you." Kai replied with a small smile, tucking a strand of hair behind Ray's ear.
"Thanks for staying with me."
"You're welcome." Ray smiled back at him, heart fluttering in his chest.
Before more was said, or he could go in and dive in for an actual proper kiss, Thomas was running back into the kitchen with his coat and shoes on, arms full of toys.
"I'm ready!"
"What are you doing with all those?" Kai asked him with a look of confusion on his face.
Thomas looked equally as confused, "I wanna bring em."
"Bring one, don't want you to lose all of them in the car or something." Ray bargained, getting a pout from the boy.
"But I want to bring them all!" He stomped his foot, "Momma always lets me bring em with me when we go places!"
Ray huffed a sigh; only been a day and he was throwing the momma card. Was understandable, but also too early to deal with a fired up five year old.
"One, Thomas. Or we're not going at all."
Thomas's bottom lip went, amber eyes looking between Ray and Kai before he gave up the fight and set down the other three action figures in his arms and kept the one he really wanted.
"Thank you, now c'mon I'm starving. You too, huh?" Ray asked, coming up to the boy and holding his hand out for him to take in a bid to ease their morning into a better direction.
He realized he may have been over stepping at the moment, he wasn't really meaning to, but given what he'd come down to and Kai already smelling of smoke, he was just trying to relieve some of the strain this big change was; on the both of them.
Stepping outside, Kai having had to go back in the house as he'd automatically picked up his Corvette keys, the three jumped in to the more family friendly vehicle that had been sitting in the garage for a few days now.
Ray sorted out Thomas's car seat whilst Kai looked over the front, familiarizing himself with the controls and readjusting the mirrors and the seat that had him practically sitting on the steering wheel.
He knew Ming had been short but damn...
This was a whole lot different to his car. For starters when he looked in the rear view mirror he'd never locked on a tiny bundle in a car seat talking to an action figure before. It was odd...
Sticking the key in the ignition he brought the car to life, some weird nerves sitting in him like he was on his driving test even though he'd been on the road for years and was perhaps too confident at times behind a wheel.
"So, that little diner near your place?" He pitched turning to Ray.
"Yeah, that's where I was thinking." Ray nodded back as he strapped himself into the passenger seat beside him.
With a nod Kai reversed out, eyes being drawn to the head of blue in the back once more, finding the whole scene surreal and imagined he always would.
It sort of felt like he was just looking after Thomas for the day and tonight he'd be handing him back to his mother. Was just temporary with her needing to run some sort of errands but that wasn't the case and he was going to have to get used to this.
He let his mind wander as Ray struck up some conversation with the youngster. Asking what he was going to have on his waffles and listening to the elaborate response back of chocolate chips on top of sprinkles and more chocolate chips until they pulled up outside the diner.
"You ready buddy?" Ray asked, unhooking himself to go help Thomas out of his seat.
"YES! I got it!" Thomas cheered, wiggling and fighting with the clasps over his chest and between his legs without making much progress.
"It's alright, I'll help ya." Ray chuckled as he popped the back door open, unhooking the guy from his seat and helping him out.
"Thanks Uncle Ray, c'mon Uncle Kai!" Thomas called, bounding out in front of the car and rushing out into the parking lot without either of them.
"Thomas wait!"
The two of them bounded after him, Kai reaching him first and snatched at his arm, heart now pounding in his chest and not from the sprint over.
"Don't ever run off like that again Thomas! Do you understand?!"
Thomas's eyes welled up hard, being scared at the grab and never seeing his Uncle Kai look so angry with him before. He didn't even understand what he'd done wrong, but he nodded back to him quietly as the tears started to roll down his cheeks.
Instantly Kai felt awful and loosened his grip on him, kneeling down to Thomas's height and wiped at his eyes. Great. Five minutes of being a dad and he already made him cry. Surely that was some kind of record.
He wasn't mad with him but that had genuinely scared him just then. Only a handful of times in his life had he ever felt so and seeing the little boy fly off like that without them was one of them.
"Cars can pull out at any time and they're not gonna see you." He softly explained, thumbs still wiping his cheeks. "So you need to always hold my hand, okay?"
Thomas sniffled with a nod back to him, "I-I'm sorry." He apologized in a broken off whine.
Ray felt his heart swell a little after it nearly ran out of his chest. He felt just as scared as Kai, and even more so guilty. He should have grabbed Thomas's hand the second he pulled him out of the car, he didn't think Thomas would bolt like he had being the age he was though.
Just thank God Kai got to him in time and the place was relatively empty right now.
"It's okay buddy, just next time remember. Okay?" He said just as softly, touching Thomas's shoulder and getting another nod back.
"C'mon, let's get inside. It's pretty cold out." He urged the two to follow.
With a small hand in his, noticing the other was in a fist rubbing at his big watery eyes, Kai followed Ray inside, the smell of warm sugary goodness filling their nostrils instantly along with bacon and sweet coffee.
Being sat in a small booth the waitress handed out the menus and poured some coffee for the two adults, leaving them for a few minutes to decide.
"Were you still wanting those sprinkles, Thomas?" Ray asked as the boy was busy coloring on his kids menu he'd been given.
"Yes, please." Thomas sniffled back, not looking up from what he was doing.
Ray frowned a little at him, looking to Kai across from him who looked a little lost himself after the whole morning run in the parking lot.
What little appetite Kai usually had in the morning had diminished completely now. He shouldn't have grabbed him like that. Had he hurt him? He couldn't tell with Thomas's long sleeved shirt covering him so maybe he'd marked him?
Looking back he'd probably overreacted back there. Wasn't like there were many cars in the place so it was highly unlikely anything as dramatic as him getting hit would've happened.
He took a sip of his coffee, eyes going from the small boy and locking gold over his mug.
"What are you wanting?"
Ray sat his menu down with a small sigh, could practically see the dark cloud hanging over Kai's head sitting there.
"He's fine, you did what anyone would. I should have held onto him better, and for that I'm sorry."
"It isn't your fault..." Kai sighed out as he set his coffee down. "He's not even your responsibility he's mine."
Ray tilted his head to the side a little as he looked to be pondering over something, "And since when was child rearing a one man show? Let alone, we're together now. I'm not saying I'm going to, or trying to overstep, you want me to back off I will. But it's not something you need to tackle all alone, Kai."
Whilst he appreciated the sweet words Kai didn't grasp hold of them for long. It was him that Ming-Ming had entrusted with her son, nobody else.
Not that he didn't think anyone else was good enough or that he didn't trust them; Ray in the short time he'd known the boy had shown he was a natural and great with kids, but it just didn't seem right allowing him to take this on too.
He'd already gone through so much because of him and this wasn't his burden to bear...
"What are you wanting..."
Ray let out another, harder pressed, sigh. Looking back down to his menu and figuring right now it'd be best to just drop the conversation. Was still too early to deal with all this.
"Hash brown platter, smothered in onions and mushrooms and cheese. You?" He simply replied, looking back up at him.
Kai shook his head, setting his menu down and lifting up his coffee mug to his lips again.
"Not hungry..."
"Okay. I'll pay for this then." Ray sent back, looking to Thomas again still coloring away.
"You want some chocolate milk or something else, buddy?"
"Chocolate milk, please. I gotta pee." Thomas answered, head popping up and looking to Kai sitting beside him.
Kai's ears immediately perked at the need, mug being set down instantly on the table and shuffled out of his seat.
"C'mon then." He beckoned, holding his hand out for Thomas to take.
Thomas slid out after him, waving at Ray as they went off while Ray waved back at them with a small smile curling up his face until they were on the other side of the small diner.
With the other two gone, the waitress coming back and topping off Kai's coffee, Ray put in their order for them and got something for Kai even if he said he wasn't hungry. Could take it home and heat it up later anyways if he wanted.
Having the short time alone, he pulled his phone out to check his messages since it'd been put on silent since he woke up. Responding to Lee to let him know he'd be home in an hour, going to Tala to give him a small little update since he had asked for it and by then the other two were coming back to the table, Thomas bouncing along beside Kai like a new kid.
Letting the little boy scramble and crawl back along to his seat Kai too shuffled in and reached for his filled up cup.
"You ordered?"
"Mhmm. Came right after you two walked off." Ray answered as he sipped at his own coffee.
Kai gave a slight nod, mind now elsewhere going over what else he needed to do today now.
Drop Ray off home, go to the store, call the station for an update as he'd not heard anything for some time now; all whilst keeping a five year old entertained. Good thing he brought along his action figure that should keep him quiet at least.
"Did you sleep good, Thomas?" Ray asked, just to keep the table from going quiet.
"Yeah... But there was a monster under my bed making a lot of loud noises." Thomas answered, head down and focused on his coloring again.
Kai's head snapped to him. He knew there was no monster but what was making the noises? God did he have rats?! He had to investigate...
"What kind of noises?"
Ray almost choked on his spit, and again when Kai had decided to ask Thomas to elaborate.
Just as Thomas looked up to answer, Ray slapped the table making the other two across from him jump.
"Nononono." He waved at Kai to stop him from talking, moving onto Thomas.
"Was probably the wind buddy, that's all. There's no monsters under your bed." He laughed off awkwardly, eyes darting back to Kai with a look that asked him just how stupid he actually was.
Kai was sending his own look across the table, not following at all until like a lightbulb turning on his face immediately paled. Ohhhhhhh... Shit.
"Definitely the wind." He blurted out to his left, "Couldn't be anything else."
Thomas just looked between the two of them, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!" Ray covered, face doing the opposite of Kai's and gaining more color.
Thankfully, the waitress came over to save them with their food.
"Sorry for the wait, big stack for the big man." She smiled to Thomas, passing the plate along to Kai, a mound of extra whip cream and sprinkles dazzled on the top of his waffles.
"Hash brown platter, smothered." She gave off to Ray, "And eggs with toast and bacon." She held the plate to Kai.
He made a face at the plate. "Uh we didn't-" Locking on Ray opposite who was holding a coy smile as he started to tuck into his food, Kai accepted the plate and gave his thanks, the waitress leaving them to it and enjoy their breakfasts.
"I said I wasn't hungry."
"Mhmm. I know." Ray hummed around the food in his mouth before swallowing and looking up at him, "But you didn't eat anything yesterday either, and I don't want to hear any more about it. Otherwise, you're not gonna be hearing that wind howling for a long time." He sent with an even more coy smile and ducked back down to eat his food.
Kai pressed his lips together to suppress the smirk that wanted to appear, picked up his knife and fork and did as he was told.
Ray was right, he hadn't eaten at all yesterday and once he'd gotten that first mouthful of bacon and eggs down turned out he was starving.
He reached out with his foot underneath the table after a few more mouthfuls and rubbed against Ray's calf, keeping his gaze down though like it wasn't him.
Ray smirked into his own food, all the while Thomas was oblivious to it all and chowing down on his whip cream and sprinkles with a side of waffles. Downing his milk in intervals and going back for more till his little stomach was bloated.
"Can I have ice cream now?" He asked, head lulling to Kai with whip cream smeared on his chin.
"You're still hungry?" Kai asked him in genuine disbelief.
"Mhmmmm!" Thomas nodded back quickly, blue hair going all over the place.
Kai cocked a brow. Well, would be no reason for the kid to lie... If he said he was hungry he was hungry right?
"Alright." He agreed with a nod though still didn't think ice cream should be consumed in the morning.
"Are you wanting anything else?" He directed to Ray.
"No, I'm good. But don't think he should have ice cream so early in the morning. He'll be bouncing all day." He cautioned.
Kai mulled over the warning. That was something to consider but he'd already said yes now... Hm... Maybe the kid would forget by the time they cleared their plates.
Thomas put his hands together, turning to Kai in the booth. "PLEASEPLEASPLEASEPLEASE?"
Or not.
Kai's expression showed uncertainty, clearly torn but the pleading face to his side was doing something weird to his heart that he'd never felt before.
Ugh. He could not think of anything worse than a hyperactive child but- oh the bottom lips out. Aw, that little face.
Well it's the least he could do for making the kid cry. What was a bit of ice cream? Doesn't have that much sugar in it. Was fine as a one off...
Getting the waitress's attention by raising his hand she came over and Kai turned to the little boy again.
"What ice cream do you want?"
"Chocolate!" Thomas nearly hyperventilated out.
With a smile at the boy's excitement Kai turned back to the waitress that had stood waiting beside them and sent her a small shrug in his defeat.
"Some chocolate ice cream please."
"Of course." She smiled back at him, jotting it down and left.
Ray kept his mouth shut about it, although he had several things to say on the whole thing yet decided to try and finish his own food for the time being.
Thomas squirmed with excitement as he watched the bowl of ice cream be carried over to the table a few minutes later. Kai's own expression lighting up some once more at seeing how elated the child was over something so simple.
This parenting thing was easy! What was he so worried about?
"Happy now?" He asked when the bowl was set down in front of him.
"Yes! Thank you!" Thomas sent back, grabbing the spoon and scooping out a huge glob of the frozen goodness into his mouth quickly.
"What is it you're doing after this?" Ray asked as he watched with an amused expression.
Kai looked from his left over to Ray with the same small smirk. "Need to go to the store and do a big grocery shop." He answered with a slight sigh before setting his knife and fork down, the food he wasn't hungry for long gone. "Can't be doing this every day. Need to get food in he's gonna eat."
Ray nodded back a little, "Well, hopefully he'll run off the sugar rush there for ya." He smirked a little and glanced back at Thomas who had gotten three spoonful's in and was done.
"I gotta pee." Thomas whined, looking back to Kai with chocolate on his face.
Kai's head turned to him; slate brows furrowed. "Again?"
Thomas nodded back, squirming in his seat. "I gotta gooo."
"But you just went?" Kai huffed before shuffling along and out the booth again.
"C'mon then." He drawled out holding his hand out.
Thomas scooted out with him, grabbing his hand and dragging Kai back to the bathrooms.
While the two were gone again, Ray called the waitress back over and got their tab and paid for their breakfast. A little thankful Thomas had to pee again, so he didn't have to fight Kai over it.
Wasn't long before they were back, Ray easing himself out of the booth to join them.
"All better?"
"Yeahhhh." Thomas groaned, "My bellies full."
"Good. C'mon, let's get ya in the car." Ray smiled at the boy, ruffling his hair and heading for the exit.
With Thomas's hand firmly in Kai's they pushed open the door, walked across the carpark and head back to the blue vehicle.
"How much was it all?" Kai then asked Ray as he fished the keys out his jacket pocket and unlocked it via the fob.
Ray shrugged at him, taking Thomas's hand to put him in the back since he was sitting behind him.
"Dunno. Just slapped some money down." He said with a cheeky grin, parting ways around the front of the car.
Kai looked to him unimpressed over the roof as he pulled open the driver's side door.
"You didn't have to do that..."
Slipping in he turned back to watch Thomas get strapped in and then for Ray who eased himself in the passenger seat not long after.
"He barely even touched the ice cream so let me pay for him at least."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Ray waved off in a slight huff, "Besides, who knows how much you're fixing to spend at the store with him."
Starting up the car Kai frowned some before pulling out of the lot and heading in the direction of Ray and Lee's.
"Won't be that much. He's only little. How much could he possibly eat?"
"You'd be surprised." Ray chuckled lightly, the offer to tag along or even keep Thomas so Kai could go without him on the tip of his tongue but held back. Was better for the two of them to get into the swing of things on their own now, Kai would be able to handle it.
They pulled up to Ray's place several minutes later, Kai having gone characteristically quiet as he mentally thought of a shopping list and Ray chatted away to Thomas in the back.
"Let me know when you're free for me to take you to that place down on the docks. Can get Tala to watch him for a few hours." Kai gestured to him with a head tilt as Ray unbuckled his seat belt.
"Sure, sounds good." Ray sent to him, turning back around to look at Thomas in the back.
"You be good for your Uncle Kai, okay buddy? Next time I see you I'll have a surprise for ya if you are."
Thomas gasped and kicked his legs. "What is it?!"
"Can't tell ya, it's a surprise. But only if you're good. Uncle Kai'll tell me if you're not." Ray warned, sending the kid another smile before turning back to Kai.
"Need anything just call me, okay? Doors always opened too if you need it."
Kai nodded to him, reached over and squeezed his thigh. "Yeah I will, thanks. I'll call you later or something, okay?"
"Okay. You be good too." Ray smirked at him, easing out from under Kai's hand and slipping out of the car so they could be on their way.
Standing outside it, he waved to them as Kai backed out of the drive, waiting till the car was out of sight before heading into the house.
"I like Uncle Ray." Thomas smiled in the back of the car, feet still kicking as he played with his action figure.
A small smile crept on Kai's face before he let out a dreamy sigh. "Yeah... Me too..."
"What's a... A dock?" Thomas asked out of curiosity, head tilting a little as he watched Kai drive.
It was a little weird seeing him driving his momma's car, all of this was weird, and although Uncle Kai had explained it to him when they put momma in the sleeping box he still didn't really understand it all or why it had to happen.
He missed her...
"It's somewhere near the ocean." Kai explained, keeping his eyes ahead. "There's a restaurant there I wanna take Uncle Ray to."
"Why can't I go?" Thomas asked.
"Do you like seafood?" He sent back in an instant, knowing full well that he wouldn't.
"Yes?" Thomas answered, unsure. What was seafood? "But I wanna go, why can't I go too? I'll be good, I promise!" He pleaded.
"Cos kids aren't allowed." Kai lied. "You aren't old enough yet. Wouldn't you want to see Uncle Tala?"
Thomas pouted at the back of Kai's head, nodding quietly back to him. Of course he did, but he also wanted to go to the docks too.
"Hn?" Kai pressed having not heard an answer and looked to the rear view mirror. "I thought you liked your Uncle Tala."
"I do... But I wanna go..." Thomas whined at him.
"Well, I'll take you when you're older, promise." Kai offered, hoping the kid would drop it now that they'd pulled into the grocery store parking lot.
It seemed to work, Thomas's face lighting up at the big building and wiggling to get out of his seat again.
"Can we get marshmallows and candy?!"
Kai had unbuckled his seatbelt, eased out and walked around to get him out.
"Yeah, can get some snacks and stuff. We need actual food though Thomas, so you need to tell me what kinda things you like." He told him as he fussed with the straps, brows knitting together as he was clearly struggling.
"How the fuc- uh- You know how Uncle Ray did this?"
"He just pushed the buttons." Thomas said, looking down at the chest clip and the big red button between his legs.
Kai then firmly pressed the button he was pretty sure he'd pressed twice already and the straps lo and behold released.
"Thought you were gonna be stuck in this for the rest of your life then." He joked lifting him out and setting his feet on the floor.
"Would've had to have stayed little forever."
Thomas giggled, waiting this time by the car and taking Kai's hand. He didn't want him angry or yelling at him again.
"I like chicken nuggets, and mac n cheese. And ice cream!" He shouted as he skipped along beside Kai to the store.
"And gummy worms, and suckers, and cookies!"
Kai huffed a laugh; arm being pulled along by the small bundle. Well there was a start. Chicken nuggets were food.
"Anything else that's not candy?"
"Uhhhh." Thomas drawled out, craning his neck back to look up at him. There were other options?
Kai looked down to him. No? Nothing? Mmkayy. This was going to be fun.
"Maybe once we get started and you see things you'll remember what you like." He said as he pulled out a metal cart from the long line of others.
Thomas jumped onto the front of the cart, hanging on to the basket part as Kai wheeled them the rest of the way inside.
"What do you like to eat Uncle Kai?" The lil boy asked, amber eyes wide in excitement.
Kai hummed as he thought. What did he like? He wasn't overly fussy; he ate most things... Well, when he actually ate.
"I like pasta, and pizza. I bet you like pizza, huh?"
"Yes! Can we get pizza?" Thomas bounced on the end of the cart.
"Nyeah sure." Was quick, easy. Of course they were getting pizza.
"Get down before you fall." He then added as they head down the first aisle.
Thomas jumped off like he'd been told with a huff, looking at all the boxes and jars on display as they walked past them.
Was boring.
And he was to be bored for a further twenty minutes which felt like hours as they continued to meander down the aisles, the shopping cart containing a decent amount of items now.
The essentials: milk, bread, eggs, cereal... The requests: chicken nuggets, pizza, fries, ice cream...
And then they turned round and into the king of aisles... The sweetie aisle...
Like he'd been slapped, Thomas came to life and rushed down the aisle, back up it and down again. Mouth nearly salivating at all the goodies on display and eyes wide and bright.
"Can I get these? Oh, what about these? These too!" He asked but was already grabbing bags of candy off the shelf while asking.
"Woah! No we're not getting everything, put those back!" Kai reprimanded taking the bags and setting them back down out of his grip.
"I said a few not the whole shelf."
Thomas gave him a confused look, he hadn't grabbed the whole shelf, just three bags.
He huffily put the one he really wanted in the cart and the other two back randomly on the shelf, kicking his feet where his shoes scuffed into the tile of the floor with his head down.
So dramatic...
"Pick one more." Kai let out in a sigh not wanting him to sulk on him as he picked up some gum for himself and chucked it into the cart.
Thomas lit up again, snatching the one he'd put back but paused and looked at the last bag like he was torn on which one he really wanted.
He grabbed both again, holding the bags close to his chest with a tiny glare on his face in challenge.
Kai would've laughed if it was anyone else being defied right now. Really? First day and he was squaring up to him already?
"I said one."
"No!" Thomas shot back, the bags in his hold crinkling as held them tighter.
"Thomas." Came the low tone of warning, "Put one back. Seriously."
The glare fell for watering eyes and bottom lip wobbling. Like all his bones had suddenly liquified, Thomas face planted into the floor, his hold on the candy still tight as he wailed into the floor.
Kai's eyes went wide, quickly looking over his shoulder and around to see just how many people were witnessing the tantrum and a wave of embarrassment began to wash over him when a few sets of eyes turned to look over.
"T-Thomas. Get up off the floor." He bit through grit teeth trying to scold the boy without looking like a child abuser.
Thomas's legs kicked, screaming louder since the floor his face had met muffled it out some, making sure he heard his displeasure in this entire thing.
Ooohh my fucking goddddd! Where was the off switch?!
Kai wanted the very floor Thomas was flailing about on to swallow him whole. All this over a pack of fudge?!
"Thomas come on now." He cooed down to him though he was sure he wasn't heard over the cries.
This was awful. People were looking. What the hell did he do?! In all his years he couldn't remember when he'd ever felt genuinely flustered before?!
"Alright, alright! Fine! Get both!"
Like a switch, the screaming and kicking stopped. Thomas pushing himself off the floor but now without a decent sized red mark on his forehead from smashing into it.
"Thanks Uncle Kai, you're the best!" He smiled and chucked the bags into the cart like nothing happened.
After another both mentally and physically exhausting hour checking out, getting the shopping in the car, getting the shopping out the car and another fight with Thomas's car seat they were back home. Kai wanting a strong drink though chose against it with it only being midday.
"I'm hungry."
Kai was putting the last tin away in the cupboard when the voice caused him to look down.
"You had a big plate of waffles and ice cream earlier, how are you hungry?"
Thomas shrugged at him, "My bellies growling." He whined, rubbing his little stomach for emphasis and putting on a sad pout.
Kai exhaled through his nose though at least they were prepared now; Fridge and cupboards full to the brim.
"Okay, well, what d'ya want?"
"Chicken nuggets!" Thomas beamed before quickly grabbing at his crotch and dancing in place.
"I gotta pee!" He shouted and darted off towards the stairs.
Kai watched him go and huffed a laugh. At least he didn't have to deal with potty training and changing diapers. Could've been a whole lot worse...
Flicking the oven on he shoved some nuggets and fries on a tray and placed it inside. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had kid food, but he couldn't be bothered making himself anything different. Not that he was overly hungry yet, but he'd may as well have a nibble.
Relaxing with his back against the counter he fished out his phone and started to type to the one that conveniently avoided the store's events.
[Well. That was an experience.]
[Oh? Do tell.] He could almost hear Ray's amusement from the text alone.
[Had our first tantrum in the sweet aisle. Don't think I've ever been so embarrassed in my life.]
[Oh fun. Lemme guess though, you caved, and he got what he wanted anyways?] Ray responded back.
A small smirk appeared. [Well what else was I supposed to do? He was rolling around on the floor screaming like he'd been shot.]
[Pick him up and carry him out kicking and screaming. More you cave, more times it's just gonna keep happening. But you'll figure it out.]
Kai rolled his eyes. Ray wasn't there. He couldn't have just done that...
...Well, maybe he could've done but whatever.
[How's your morning been?] He asked deciding to change topic completely.
[Currently hiding in my room while Lee gets ready to leave for work, when he's gone then I'll try and sneak out to get something to drink. Don't wanna risk another yelling match.] Ray replied.
Kai's face softened. [Guessing he wasn't happy you stayed here last night?]
[He's not happy about life. Seriously, you all thought I was kidding. But boy NEEDS to get laid. Either way, Tala offered to come save me later for dinner, so gonna head out with him tonight.]
Kai had started to type his reply, but the little whirlwind came back into the kitchen jumping up and down excitedly in front of him.
"Is it ready yet? Is it ready yet? I'm staaaarrvvinggg!"
Kai shook his head, eyes back down on the screen trying to finish off his text.
"No, a few more min-" The oven timer cut him off as it started to chime, and Thomas pulled at Kai's arm.
"It's ready it's ready!"
With a scoff Kai set the phone down on the counter, half written out message no further to being sent and plated up the food as Thomas bounded his way over to the kitchen table.
"Don't run..." He groaned out, setting a plate down in front of Thomas and the other one where he was going to sit opposite.
"Ketchup?"
Thomas nearly vibrated on the spot in his seat, already shoving a chicken nugget into his mouth and having to nod back his response.
Retrieving the red bottle Kai flicked open the cap and gave him a decent dollop in the corner of his plate before doing the same on his own.
"Bon appetit." He announced and finally took a seat down after what felt like hours.
Thomas went to town, scooping more ketchup on the nugget than there was nugget and shoving mouthful after mouthful down till his plate was clean like it was the first time he'd eaten in days.
"What're we doing now?" He asked, bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"How does a nap sound?" Kai dully replied.
"But I'm not tired." Thomas protested.
Kai internally rolled his eyes. Of course he wasn't. "Alright, well, what do you want to do?"
Thomas shrugged at him; he had no clue. Just wanted to spend some more time with his Uncle Kai.
"Well if you don't know kid, I don't know." He informed taking a bite from a nugget. Wow these are awesome, no wonder kids just wanna eat em all the time...
"Why don't you go play with your action figures?" He suggested popping the rest of the nugget into his mouth.
"Oh.. Okay.." Thomas sulked, slithering out of the chair and heading for his room with his head down.
Kai watched him go but called after him. "Hey what's wrong? You don't wanna do that?"
Thomas looked back at him with the saddest eyes he'd ever seen on a person, a little sniffle coming from the boy like his heart was broken as he shook his head at him.
"I wanna spend time with you." His bottom lip wobbled.
Something within Kai melted at the performance before him, his whole expression softening as he looked over to the small boy.
He did? Aw...
He'd have liked to have a moments peace but how could he say no to that face...
"Alright so go bring some down here then?"
"Okay!" Thomas shrieked, rushing up the stairs with his tiny legs as fast as he could, it sounding like a bag of bowling balls were rolling down the stairs.
He wasn't sure which ones to bring, so grabbed an armful of action figures and cars and raced back down the stairs with them.
"I got em!"
"How many do you need?" Kai laughed out, easing himself up from the table and stepping through into the living where Thomas followed and let the armful fall to the carpeted floor.
Thomas looked up from his haul, "Do we need more? Oh! Here, you can have Iron Man, momma always said you were like Iron Man." He spewed, shoving the red and yellow action figure into Kai's hand before shifting through the pile he'd brought down.
"And look, it looks just like your car!" He shouted, holding up a toy Corvette and passing it off too.
Another small laugh escaped him as Kai took the toys that had been forced upon him and sat himself down cross legged on the floor next to the pile.
"Did she now?" He asked looking over the action figure. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist? He'd take it...
"And hey it does." He noted looking over the car next. "Is this the car you want when you're older?"
Thomas scrunched his nose and shook his head, "I want a monster truck."
"Of course you do." Kai chuckled out, setting the toys down and letting Thomas have at what he wanted.
After an hour of play, Thomas finally winding down and a large yawn breaking through, he declared he was tired and left his toys on the floor to go take that nap Kai had suggested earlier.
Taking himself upstairs with his feet dragging, another yawn coming out of him as he went and within seconds of laying down he was down and out for the count.
With a groan Kai slowly eased himself up from the floor, his back having ceased up and one of his feet gone to sleep so had to gingerly step to the couch and set himself back down in a heap.
The kid had an imagination alright. Was nice to see that hadn't changed considering everything.
Being immersed in silence and the comfort of the cushions beneath him, Kai's own eyes started to feel heavy. He took a glance down at his watch. He could have half an hour; he'd deserved it after today...
Only that half hour turned into two, Thomas not coming down till almost five himself to wake him up claiming he was hungry which had Kai once more scrambling to make them dinner.
By the time dinner was done and made, those frozen pizzas becoming a life saver, it was bath time.
Figuring Thomas was old enough to know what to do on his own, he left him to it only to get a shrieking scream seconds after he left him in the bathroom.
After turning the water down from boiling lava hot, he left again in hopes Thomas didn't have another issue only to be called back to the bathroom five steps into his own room when the boy got soap in his eyes.
Accepting his defeat and role, he cleaned Thomas up and got him dressed for bed. Yet the little scamp was more hyper than he had been all day, so left him with his video games in his room so he could have a moment of peace and quiet and his own shower to wash the day away.
Beyond getting to the store, he hadn't done anything on his list of things he needed to do for the day. Luckily, he still had a while to get the transcripts for Thomas's school filled out and sent in before he had to go back, the sooner he had them done the better though.
He still needed to call the station for an update, get a hold of Nicole since it'd been a week now he hadn't talked to her, on top of going to the club and fixing the place up to reopen by New Year's which was within a week and a half now.
Coming out of the shower, head so full of things that needed to be done he missed the little face sitting there on his toilet watching him as he stepped out of the shower.
"Can I have some ice cream?" Thomas asked, kicking his feet some where he sat.
Kai's heart nearly jumped out of his throat, feet almost slipping from under him as his first instinct was to grab the nearest towel to cover himself.
"N-no you can't have ice cream, Thomas, it's too late, go on and get into bed." He tried to shoo.
"You gonna come read me a story?" Thomas asked instead.
"Uh, sure, whatever, go on. Bed. I'll be two minutes." Kai pressed, standing there on the mat still dripping wet.
Five minutes... That's all he wanted... Five fucking minutes...
Thomas nodded and slid off the toilet seat, pottering out of the bathroom with a lil head bob as he went.
Running a hand through his damp hair Kai stepped out into his own bedroom, quickly dried off and got into his own lounge wear and rubbed at his hair with his towel before heading into Thomas's room opposite.
Sooner he got this over with the sooner he could have some time by himself. Fill out those forms at least.
"Right, have you picked one?" He asked the boy that was sat upright in his bed and had instantly held up the book he'd chosen to him.
"I like this one, Green Eggs and Ham." Thomas smiled as he scooched to give Kai room beside him on the small bed.
"Momma always read this one to me in funny voices."
A small sigh instantly escaped him as he perched on the edge of the bed. "Of course she did..."
Flicking through the thin book Kai frowned some when he looked back at the title. What a stupid name, no wonder these kids have wild imaginations, what nonsense is this?
Having read through the first few pages and getting tongue tied on more than one occasion at the ridiculous, whatever this story was about, Kai paused and looked to Thomas whose eyes were sparkling as he listened intently to the elder.
"You actually like this?"
"Yeah, don't you?" Thomas asked back.
Kai gave him an unconvincing 'sure', continued with the book and a few minutes later had finished the last page and closed it.
He felt like he'd lost at least a dozen brain cells after that and could openly admit that Dr. Seuss was not going on his list of top ten authors.
"Okay, now go to sleep, I'll see you in the morning." Standing up from the bed he slot the book back on the shelf with all the others and started to make a quick escape.
Thomas watched him go with a little frown on his tiny face, "Love you." He called.
Kai's feet came to a halt as he looked back into the room, hand already up by the light switch as he peered over his shoulder clearly caught off guard.
"Love you too." He sent back a little too quickly, almost robotic before switching off the light and leaving the door slightly ajar for the hallway light to peek through into the room.
Thomas smiled and wiggled himself down under his covers, though laid there staring up at his ceiling for what seemed forever listening to Kai walking around downstairs and then back up and down again.
Soon enough his eyes got heavy and closed, drifting off but continued to twist and turn in bed as if he were sleeping on a bed of rocks.
Somewhere around midnight, with Kai finally calling it a night himself and settling down in his own bed, Thomas's eyes popped open and slipped out of his bed quietly.
Dragging his blanket behind him, he tiptoed over to Kai's closed bedroom door and carefully opened it and peeked inside. Seeing his uncle's large form, his chest slowly rising and falling in sleep.
Clutching his blanket tighter to his chest, the rest of it dragging behind him, he came up to the side of the bed and peered over the top of it where he could barely see Kai's sleeping face in the darkness.
Just as carefully and quietly as he had been, he hoisted himself up onto the large bed and settled his blanket out around him before scooting as close to Kai as he could without touching him and laid down.
Within minutes he'd drifted off, a soft snore coming from his little frame that caused Kai to stir some.
At feeling the weight beside him he narrowed his eyes to try work out what the hell was going on though quickly realized the little shit had snuck into his room.
Beside himself he smiled to the little bundle, reached over Thomas for the edge of the covers and pulled it back over him like a burrito. He couldn't be bothered carrying him back to his own bed. Anything for ease right now. The kid was asleep, so whatever, let him sleep.
Settling back on his own side of the bed it wasn't long before sleep took hold of him again, recouping all the energy he could get for whatever tomorrow would bring.