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.
Just outside the front door, he took in a heavy breath and braced himself for what lay beyond inside it and whatever his cousin had ready to go and throw his way.
Sure, he told him he was staying with Kai, so that had been covered, but it was probably a bad idea having hung up on him mid-rant when he had told him about it the day before, so surely Lee was going to say something to him.
Unlocking the door and easing himself inside the warmth of the house, he quietly slipped inside. Releasing the breath he'd taken outside when everything was just as quiet, clearly Lee still asleep and began to tiptoe his way down the hall for his room like he was a teenager sneaking back into the house after staying out all night.
Just as he reached his sanctuary, Lee cleared his throat from behind him, making Ray spin around with a guilty look on his face as his hair stood on end from being scared half to death.
"Morning." He sent with a lopsided smile.
Lee let out an unamused snort, arms coming over his chest while his own long hair was left around him and disheveled from sleep.
"Got your text." He snipped back.
"Oh, well… Good." Ray continued to smile at him, it still lopsided with his hand behind him on the door handle to his room for a fast and quick exit should he need it.
Lee huffed and rolled his eyes at him, "Quit acting like such a child! This is why I always get onto you, man up for once!" He snapped at him, bringing Ray to attention.
"Obviously, you stayed over, obviously you opened your legs again for him. And again, don't ever think of the goddam consequences! Did you even tell him you're quitting?"
Ray nodded back, having to snap his own mouth shut as it had slowly fallen open during Lee's tirade towards him.
"Which part are you nodding at here?"
"All of it, he knows I'm quitting. Said he was fine with it." Ray answered with a small shrug of his shoulders. Keeping the fact that Kai had offered him to come live with him buried deep down, not needing to give Lee more reason to keep yelling at him and so early in the morning.
"Well good!" Lee shot back, so worked up that was the only thing he could come up with at the moment.
"I guess." Ray shrugged again, "You want me to make you anything for breakfast?" He bargained, hoping to simmer his cousin down some.
"No, it's fine. I don't gotta be in for another few hours anyways. So, just… I don't even know Ray! I just don't anymore with you! You're driving me insane and all for some dick! I know you don't want to quit, know you don't want to break it off with him, but I don't want to lose you!" Lee spewed out at him.
"And you're not going to, Lee! I'm right here, not going anywhere or plan on going anywhere." Ray defended, his voice going slightly higher pitched.
"But that could have been you and you know it! And then what am I supposed to do?!" Lee near enough cried back at him, looking more upset than angry with him.
Ray dragged a hand through his hair with his own sigh coming out of him now. Yeah, he knew that, and that was one of the reasons he'd actually considered Lee's demand of quitting, because that could have been him in that casket the day before. It could have been any of them. In a perfect world, he'd rather it be no one, but in reality it was one of them and that was enough to put a fear in him he hadn't really had before.
That stint with Bryan just weeks ago still fresh in his mind, the wounds still in the process of healing, and not knowing where he or Johnny were at the moment was still keeping him on edge almost all the time now. But he still didn't want to just up and leave everyone he knew, especially not Kai right now when he had promised him he wouldn't, that Kai wouldn't have to do any of this alone anymore whether he wanted the help or not.
Yet, if he went off and told Lee about any of that, what was said during the night at Kai's place, it'd only push Lee over the edge and so bit his tongue about it again.
Kai loved him, and although that made him happier than he'd ever felt before, he couldn't go off and say it to Lee because then he'd just turn it around and tell him Kai was saying it because he didn't want Ray to leave, or some other farfetched reason he could come up with.
Though with that, what Kai had said to him also flitted through his head. That Lee was holding onto him so tight because Lee didn't have anyone other than him while he'd gone off and made friends and even acquired a lover to spend his time with now. Who did have Lee other than him? No one that he really knew of, not since Lee's last break up that was almost two years ago.
So in Lee's eyes, the more Ray thought about, he really was losing him in some way even if he wasn't being buried in the ground.
"Listen, I promise nothing like that is going to happen again. I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'm quitting, like you asked. But I'm not leaving Kai, and that's it." Ray said as calmly as he could.
"Fine!" Lee threw his arms up in defeat, though something told Ray that he wasn't nearly done with him as he seemed to be right now.
Keeping his mouth shut as Lee turned on his heel and stomped back down the hall to his own room, Ray shook his head and turned around for his room finally and slipped inside it to hide away till Lee left.
Throwing himself down on his bed after changing his clothes into something cleaner, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through mindlessly to pass the time. Dozing in and out during the hour it took for Lee to eat and get ready for work before leaving him in the house alone.
Halfway through a video on his phone, it pinged with a message from Tala. Quickly swiping away from the video and going to the chat thread his fingers got to work in typing out his own reply.
[Left him about two hours ago, said he was running to the store to get some food in the house.] He responded to Tala's question on how Kai was doing and what they were up to now, clearly a little sore that he was out of the loop at the moment.
[You didn't go with him?]
[Nah, figured it'd be good for him and Thomas if I wasn't there. Let him get the feel of fatherhood on his own without me stepping on his toes or getting in the way.] Ray replied, rolling over onto his stomach to get more comfortable.
[I doubt he'd see as you getting in the way.]
[Already told me Thomas wasn't my burden, so. Yeah…] Ray replied with a slight frown setting on his face.
[Oh… Well, you free tonight then?]
[What you have in mind? Can come save me from my cousin before he comes back from work. LOL.] Ray chuckled to himself as he typed out his reply, feet kicking behind him as he laid out on his bed.
[Your knight in shining armor, at your service. There's a decent bar downtown if you fancy?]
[Sounds good, five a good time?]
[Yup, see ya then my fair maiden.]
Ray laughed a bit harder, shaking his head at the reply Tala had sent. [See you then.] Just as he went to go back to his video, his phone pinged again with another message that made his heart flutter in his chest.
[Well. That was an experience.]
He arched a brow at Kai's text message, though quickly thought back to how long it'd been since Kai had dropped him off at home and going to the store with Thomas.
[Oh? Do tell.] Maybe he should have gone with him after all.
[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?] Yup, he should have went. The poor thing.
[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.] Ray brushed off, was just the first time after all. Kai was new to this whole father thing; he'd figure it out… Ray hoped.
[How's your morning been?]
[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, though was sure Lee had already been long gone for a good hour now.
[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.]
Ray kicked his feet behind him again, waiting for the reply to come back since they'd been coming in so quickly, the smile he'd been wearing the entire time slowly falling off his face when he never got one back.
That was fine, Kai was busy with Thomas, was understandable. He'd get back to him when he had the time to.
Finally going back to his video, he rolled onto his back again and lost track of the time going from one video to the next as he acted like a slug on a log till Tala was at his door ringing his doorbell to come pick him up for their night out.
With a start, he jolted out of bed and rushed down the hall to let him in. Slightly panicking since he wasn't dressed and after having laid around all day his hair was a mess and all over place yet let Tala in so he wouldn't freeze outside waiting for him to get ready (even if he didn't think the guy could, seeing as how he walked around shirtless in the middle of winter.)
"Sorry! Just, make yourself at home I won't be long!" He spewed as Tala came inside and the front door was nearly slammed shut behind him, Ray turning to run off back down the hall to his room for another change of clothes.
With a hard groan and pounding headache, Ray lifted himself off his bed to check the time on his phone, the light coming off it almost blinding him and making him squint at the tiny screen as he read off that it was already noon.
He should really stop drinking with Tala, seeing as how it never seemed to end good for him, but at least he was home and in bed, even if he was still dressed in the same clothes he wore out to the bar and could faintly smell and taste the vomit still lingering on his breath after upchucking whatever concoctions he'd drank during the night.
Dragging himself out of bed and his feet along the floor, he went to the bathroom to try and get a start on the day, albeit a late one, and popped some pain killers from the cabinet to tame his headache.
Thankfully, Lee wasn't going to be home till later, seeing as how he was working the double night shift, but given him waking up at noon that only gave him two hours before Lee did come waltzing into the house. As much as he loved his cousin to death, he could not deal with a yelling match on top of a hangover.
Nearly falling back asleep in the shower standing up, he dragged his sorry-self back to his room for a change of clothes before heading to the kitchen to make something to eat. Grabbing his phone before heading out and checking his messages, and even with the slight pain that was pounding in the side of his head, his feet came to a stop halfway down the hall as he stared at the last text thread between him and Kai.
After his little joke about Lee, Kai still hadn't responded with anything. No goodnight, no good morning, no nothing…
Given how often they messaged each other during the week they were snowed in, and even before that, it was odd not seeing anything from him. But at the same time, Ray could really only just shrug at it once more seeing as how Kai was busy with Thomas.
It was probably a hard adjustment, he understood that, so instead of waiting for Kai to message him, he quickly sent a good morning text despite it being the afternoon and dragged himself the rest of the way to the kitchen to fill his empty stomach.
With a bowl of cereal, he made himself comfortable on the couch and flicked on the TV when the front door was opened, and Lee was dragging himself inside the house.
"It's noon, and you're eating cereal…" He grumbled, falling into the couch beside Ray.
"Didn't wanna make anything." Ray mumbled around his mouthful, a bit of milk running down the corner of his mouth as he side glanced to his cousin beside him.
"Long night?"
Lee gave a slow nod, looking like he'd just come back from the bar himself. "Too long. What'd you do?"
"Nothing." Ray answered, quickly shoveling more cereal into his mouth so he couldn't talk to him.
"Ah. Well, heard from lover boy today?"
Ray shook his head at him, mouth too full to answer and kept his eyes forward on the TV this time.
"Kay, well. When I get up in a few hours, wanna run to the store with me? Think that milk you're eating is expired."
Ray nearly choked up what he had in his mouth, harshly turning back to Lee. "Are you kidding me?!"
"Look, wasn't like I have time to go out and get anything in the place. And with that week being snowed in we couldn't go out and restock, so yeah. It's probably expired."
"Well, why don't I just go myself?" Ray quipped back.
Lee gave him a look, shoving himself off the couch to head to his door that sat next to the ET center. "Just be ready in a few hours to go."
"You think I'll go over there, don't you?" Ray bit out at his back, "Jesus, Lee. Even if I did, what does it matter?"
"You know what, fine I'll do it myself since you don't wanna come out and spend time with me!" Lee shot back at him, throwing his door open and stepping into his room and slamming the door shut behind him, shaking the pictures hanging on the wall.
Ray sat and stared at the closed bedroom door, mouth hung slightly open and feeling torn in two separate directions again.
How could he leave Lee behind to go and live with Kai, regardless of how much he really wanted to, when all Lee really did have was him? What if Lee really never did come around to the idea of him living with Kai and he lost his last family member for good?
Wasn't like he was going to move in with Kai right this second anyways, so why was he getting so worked up about it anyways? He'd just offered it in a moment where Kai clearly wasn't thinking straight, and Kai had even said he could think about it. So why fret over it all right now? There was no reason to, not yet at least.
To appease his highness, and maybe keep the house at some kind of peace, Ray went with Lee out to the store to restock their low and expired supply of food and other things. It seeming to make Lee's day the entire time they were out doing such a mundane thing.
By the time they returned home, with no new messages from Kai all day, Ray decided to try and call him up only for the call to go to voicemail almost instantly.
It was fine, he was just busy with a five-year-old, was understandable. So, again, Ray shrugged his shoulders and continued on about his day and made up dinner for him and Lee before they sat down to a movie in the living room together to keep the peace that had found them since the store.
Come Sunday morning, waking up without the hangover this time around, Ray checked his phone as was habit now and frowned at the blank screen. Quickly sitting up in bed and going to Kai's number to try and call him up, worry settling into the pit of his stomach since the last time Kai hadn't answer any of his text or calls someone had been found dead.
Like the last time he had called the day before, it went to voicemail, so he went to his best next option and called Tala right after. Hoping and praying that everything was fine, that his imagination was just getting the better of him along with his nerves as the ringtone seemed like a dull noise in his ear until Tala picked up the other line.
"Ah, here he is!" Came the familiar chirpy greeting paired with a chuckle. "Thought for sure I'd killed you off this time when I didn't hear from you."
Ray lightly chuckled back at him, shifting on his bed. "Sorry, nope. Still breathing. Anyways, have you heard from Kai since the funeral?" He asked, deciding to just bite the bullet and get it over with.
"Uhhh, no, not really." He drawled out trying to recall. "Messaged him the next day asking how he was feeling, got the usual brushed off 'fine' in response but that was pretty much it. Told him if he needed anything to just let me know and not heard from him since, so, sorta just left him to it. Why, what's up?"
"Well at least you got something." Ray grumbled back, "I haven't been able to get a hold of him since Friday. I know it's only been two days, but he normally sends a good night or good morning text and I haven't even gotten one of those since before you and I went out. I'm starting to worry about him."
A low hum sat in Tala's throat as he pondered. "Well how was he when you stayed over?"
"We were fine, great even. When he dropped me off he offered to take me out to this place on the docks even, so... I don't know what's going on now. I mean, I get it, he's got Thomas, but even still he should have at least two minutes to just shoot me a text saying 'hi, still alive and kicking, don't worry'."
Whilst it would be unseen by the other, Tala pulled a slight face to show his confusion. Odd... No matter how busy you are it doesn't even take a second to send a text. Surely the kid doesn't have him run that ragged?
"Yeah, isn't hard... Though, it isn't uncommon for the guy to just go off the radar either... I'll give him a call, if he don't answer we could always have a drive over there if you want? Can swing by, pick you up and see what's up with him?"
"Yeah, that'd be great actually if you don't mind. I'm ready whenever you are, but no rush. I just got up myself, so." Ray nodded back, his nerves starting to settle some now they had somewhat of a plan.
"Yeah s'cool. Just gimme like an hour or something, gonna finish my breakfast, I'll call him, and we'll head over if need be. I'll let you know, kay?"
"Sounds good, lemme know." Ray sent back, hanging up on him and let out a heavy sigh and dropped his phone onto his bed before getting up.
Throwing himself off his bed to get dressed and start his day, he came out to the kitchen where Lee was at the stove making them breakfast, looking the chirpiest he'd seen him in almost two months.
"What's the special occasion?" Ray chuckled as he grabbed himself a mug from the cupboard, pouring the freshly brewed coffee into it and leaned up against the counter beside Lee at the stove.
"Nothing, why?" Lee asked, giving Ray a questioning look beside him as he flipped the French toast in the pan over.
"Just, haven't seen you smile like that in a while." Ray shrugged back at him.
"Ah, well. Had a good dream." Lee bullshitted, going back to focusing on their breakfast without his smile wavering any.
"Oh yeah, what kind of dream?" Ray asked in a teasing tone, only to get slapped on the arm.
"Do you ever not have your mind down in the gutter? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?" Lee snapped at him.
"It was just a question." Ray chuckled back at him, "Anyways, I might be heading to Kai's today." He informed, sipping on his coffee and watching for Lee's reaction.
"What for?" Lee nearly growled out at him.
"He's not answering any of my calls or texts. Tala said he was gonna try and get a hold of him, and if he can't then was gonna come get me and we go over there to make sure he's okay." Ray explained.
"Well why doesn't Tala just do it?" Lee snipped back, the happy vibe that had been surrounding him suddenly vanishing.
"Because I'd like to see him?" Ray answered in a question, like it wasn't obvious.
Lee scoffed. "I'm not being funny or anything Ray, but if he isn't answering any of your calls or texts he obviously doesn't wanna speak to you never mind see you." He rolled his eyes at how oblivious this guy was at times. Was almost embarrassing.
"Learn to take a hint would ya?"
"Or how about that he's busy with a five year old all the time?" Ray snipped back, sipping at his coffee again as his own rage started to bubble up.
"And can you make up your mind about the guy already? Do you like him or not, because my God I can't stand how one minute you're fine with him and the next you're like this!" He snapped, trying hard to brush off Lee's comment that of course had struck a nerve in him.
"So if he's busy then leave him alone." Lee nonchalantly sent back, ignoring the dig at him as he lifted the pan from the stove and tipped the toast out onto a plate.
"Why you gonna go bother him if you know exactly what the problem is?"
"Because something is clearly wrong, even with him having Thomas he should have enough time to shoot a two second text telling me he's fine. I'm worried about him, want to make sure he's fine and help if he needs it." Ray answered quickly.
"Yeah you're right, he should. So since he isn't, that pretty much says it all doesn't it? He's bored and lost interest." Lee rubbed in, picking up his plate and going to saunter into the living room.
"Like I said - Learn, to take, a hint."
"Oh yeah, lost complete interest. That's why he asked me to move in with him, makes perfect sense Lee." Ray spat after him.
At that Lee instantly lost his appetite and his feet came to an abrupt halt. His head slowly turning to look back over his shoulder to Ray who's expression seemed somewhat smug now.
"...What?"
"He did, offered it right up to me because of you making me quit work. This way, he didn't have to let go of me completely. But sure Lee, he's bored of me. So bored, not just swamped with taking care of a five year old and grieving at the moment." Ray scoffed back at him.
"So he asks you to move in after, what? Two months of knowing each other?!" Lee was fixing to explode, the plate getting shoved onto the kitchen table before it got launched somewhere.
"You don't think that's a little fucking weird Ray? Do you have no sense of danger? Like, at all?! You hardly know the guy, he was clearly just thinking with his dick when he asked you that, but oh! Oh, lemme guess, you're that blinded by loove for the third time this year you said yes right? Go on, make me fucking laugh!"
"I didn't say yes, actually." Ray answered, not seeming fazed by the outburst he knew would happen.
"I told him I can't. He said I could think about it, but if this keeps happening between us then I might just take him up on his offer. Regardless of how 'weird' you think it is. You go off and say I hardly know him, yet you know nothing about him yourself!" He countered, his voice finally rising to match Lee's.
"But hell Lee, instead of worrying about what I'm doing all the damn fucking time, why don't you go out and get a life for yourself instead of trying to meddle in mine?!"
Once the sharp words left his mouth the expression opposite faltered some in hurt. Lee just staring back at him as he let what Ray had just hurled at him process.
Is that what he really thought? Him wanting to simply protect him from the same bullshit that had happened numerous times before as 'meddling?'
How many times did they have to go round in this circle of Ray misconstruing his care for anything else? That's all it was! He loved and cared about him! Sure, perhaps too much at times but what was it going to take for this kid to learn? Someone close to this guy he was messing around with had died for fucks sake. Why was he not taking that as the clear as day sign it blatantly was?!
"Maybe if I wasn't working so fucking hard Ray to keep this damn roof over our heads I could have a damn life!" He spat at him, voice cracking at the sheer volume he was using now.
"But since I'm so awful to you and you wanna leave so bad then why did you say you can't?!"
"Because I'm not some selfish prick who just wants to hightail it out of here at the first chance I get, when all along you've been the only thing I've ever had! But for fucks sake, Lee, I'm so tired of this!" Ray shouted till his voice seemed to die away.
"It's never been like this between us, and I will always be grateful for everything you've ever done and sacrificed for me. But I can't keep living with you like this, I'm not going to. So if you want me around still, then this needs to stop."
An exasperated sigh came from the other, his voice too dropping in volume as a headache threatened to come on.
"You don't think I'm over it all too, Ray? The constant worry for your well-being every time I know you're with him? It isn't that I don't like the guy because I do but that girl dying has changed everything here and you know it." Lee's eyes seem to glisten some as he turned his head away. Grabbing at the now cold toast and heading back for the living room.
"You'd be an absolute fool to not be cautious now considering everything that's happened, but you just go on ahead and do what you want Ray. Go run around and pander to a guy who can't even be assed to return your calls. I don't fucking care anymore..." His tone seemed exhausted, whole demeanor defeated as he took himself off and sunk into the couch, ready to just accept whatever Ray decided to do from here on out. He was done arguing.
More words were left to hang in the back of Ray's throat, no longer hungry himself so swallowed whatever he was going to say and sat his coffee down on the counter before going back to the sanctuary of his room.
He already knew that Ming-Ming dying changed everything, he wasn't stupid, but what more could they do about it? It wasn't Kai's fault it happened, or any of theirs but the people who killed her. Sure, it could have been him, could have been all of them or none of them, he didn't have all the answers and neither did Lee.
Throwing himself down onto his bed, he plucked his phone up from where he'd left it earlier after his phone call to Tala to check for any new messages, either from him or Kai, but once more there was nothing from Kai but at least he had something from Tala this time around.
He wasn't sure how to feel, reading about Tala not being able to get a hold of Kai either, seeing as how it just wasn't him Kai was avoiding now, but after all that was said between him and Lee he felt it best he just stay home right where he was and let Tala go off an handle it. He'd be able to tell him what was going on, have Kai get a hold of him.
He had to keep the peace for as long as he could now, seeing as it was a very strong possibility now that Lee was right and Kai was done with him, and if that was the case then he needed to make sure he didn't lose the only roof that was currently over his head.
Having enough of the back and forth with Lee through the entire week, not hearing from Kai at all, Ray was nearing the end of his rope. Every venom filled word from Lee getting into his system, breaking him down more and more as the days passed on and every time a text or call went unanswered, he believed Lee's words more and more.
Why would Kai love him? He'd said it before, had known it long before they were anything more than boss and lowly employee, Kai was way out of his league.
The excuse of Kai caring for Thomas, having to adjust to something as huge as fatherhood outrunning it's course around Wednesday night. Unable to justify it or come up with any more excuses when Lee got into his ear, all Ray was able to do was shrug at him in silence while tears hung in the corners of his eyes.
How the hell was he supposed to answer his questions when he couldn't even get a hold of Kai? Either way, the sudden cold shoulder, child to care for or not, and Lee's constants 'I told you so' jabs made him snap come Thursday morning.
Without a word or even breakfast in his system, he dressed and called up a cab the second Lee was gone off to work. Having hid in his room till the coast was clear to do so and taking the 30 minute or so drive over to Kai's house part fuming and part unsure now that he was standing outside the front door.
It was now or never though, he reasoned, either Kai wanted to be with him, or he didn't. The least he could do was be a man and tell him face to face. Not hide behind Thomas and act like a coward if that were the case.
With a few hard knocks he pulled his hand back to his side and shifted where he stood, shivering some from the cold of the morning air that swept past him.
It wasn't before long did the door open, along with his mouth though that snapped shut when his eyes took in the blank space he was expecting Kai to be occupying till he glanced down at the head of blue hair below him.
"Thomas... Where's Uncle Kai?"
"Asleep." Thomas answered, "What're you doing here?"
"Um... Came over to say hi." Ray answered, brain trying to work overtime to come up with something more appropriate than 'kicking your Uncles ass for breaking my heart' to answer with.
"Oh, well. Come in!" Thomas just smiled and let Ray into the house, shutting the door behind them.
Ray's brow had reached to his hairline by the time he made the three steps over the threshold, nose already curling at a foul smell that assaulted him the second he got inside. Finally looking the little doorman up and down more properly, he noticed Thomas's shirt was stained, hair a mess like it hadn't seen a brush in days.
"Said Uncle Kai's asleep?" Ray confirmed.
Thomas nodded back to him, heading towards the kitchen table on the other side of the first floor where his bowl of cereal sat, amongst other bowls and plates sitting on the table.
Ray couldn't help himself but look around, feeling like he walked into a second dimension all of a sudden with the state of Kai's home.
Dishes were piled up in the sink and along the counter, take out and pizza boxes beside them and the trash can almost overflowing with discarded food boxes and whatever that foul smell was.
"Why are you up so early then?" Ray decided to question next, watching as Thomas ate his cereal from what he hoped was a clean bowl.
"I never went to bed." Thomas answered around his mouthful.
Ray's eyes widened as his mouth fell open, "You what?"
"Mhmm. We built a pillow fort and had marshmallows and then a pillow fight. Uncle Kai said he was tired so went to bed, but he said I could watch a movie." Thomas explained.
Ray blinked a few times at the kid, brain working double overtime to process everything before shaking it all off.
Whatever beef and anger that had bubbled up over Kai faded in an instant, clearly with the evidence around him things weren't going good but that just begged to the question as why Kai never reached out to him if he needed the help.
It was fine though; he'd do what he could while Kai got some much needed rest.
"Okay... Well, let's let Uncle Kai sleep some more then. Sounds like you wore him out pretty good. But I need you to help me, think you can do that?" Ray asked as he came closer to the table Thomas was sitting at, making sure he had the kids attention and got a nod back since his cheeks were full.
"Awesome. When you're done, I need you to go to your room and get me allll of your dirty clothes, including the ones you're wearing so we can wash them. But, you have to be super quiet, you know the quiet game?" He asked and got another nod back, Thomas's eyes going excited suddenly.
"Okay, so we have to be very quiet, so we don't wake Uncle Kai up. If we wake him up then we lose the game, alright? If we wake him up then there's no prize at the end of the game, so remember to be really quiet for me. Got it?"
"I got it." Thomas whispered to him.
Ray cracked a small smile at him, leaning in closer to the boy and whispering back. "So again, I need all of your dirty clothes. Bring them down here so I can wash them and then we'll get you in a bath. Sound good?"
"Okay, I can do that." Thomas whispered excitedly, turning back to his cereal and nearly sucking it down in one go before rushing to the stairs as quietly as he could.
While Ray waited for Thomas to come back, he tackled the horrible smelling trashcan, nearly puking as he tied it up and dragged it outside to the bigger bin.
Coming back through the front door, stopping in the living room he dismantled to pillow fort that was already starting to fall over and collected up Thomas's toys that had been scattered along the floor after putting the cushions and pillows back onto the couches where they belonged. Picking up the stale popcorn kernels out of the rug as he went to throw away in the new less foul smelling trash bag.
"I got my clothes." Thomas whispered out from behind the bundle he was carrying in his arms, standing behind Ray and at the ready for his next set of instructions.
"Awesome, let's go put them in the wash then." Ray whispered back, leading the boy out into the garage through the side door in the kitchen.
"I was super quiet. Uncle Kai is still snoring like a bear!" Thomas giggled, talking at a normal level now they weren't actually inside the house now.
"Is he now? Well that's good, let's keep it that way. Alright?" Ray chuckled back as he took Thomas's clothes from his hold and chucked them into the wash.
"Now that's done, I got all your toys picked up in the living room, but they need to go back up to your room. Can you do that for me?" Ray asked as he turned to Thomas standing there waiting for more orders.
"Of course! Do I gotta be super quiet again?" Thomas giggled.
Ray nodded back, "Yup, as quiet as you can be. Don't wanna wake up the bear." He grinned.
Thomas giggled some more, heading into the house before Ray to go put up his toys quietly while Ray went back into the kitchen to start on the piled up dishes that needed to be done.
Getting half of them in the dishwasher and going, while letting the bigger pans soak in the sink, and Thomas back down beside him watching his every move quietly, Ray finally turned around to him drying his hands off on a dishtowel.
"When was the last time you had a bath little man?"
Thomas shrugged his shoulders in response, he didn't know.
"Right… Well, c'mon. Bath time." Ray shooed, putting his hand on Thomas's back and leading him up the stairs, making sure to put his free hand and index finger to his lips to signal Thomas to be quiet as they slipped into the bathroom.
Ray nearly choked at what he came face to face with in the bathroom upstairs, eyes nearly bulging out at the toothpaste smeared on the mirror and counter and all over the sink. Wads of toilet paper left in the trash can beside the toilet as well as a pile of towels just left on the floor and already starting to smell of mold.
"My god…" Ray sighed heavily, quickly pulling himself out of it and turning to Thomas. "C'mon, get undressed." He directed and went to the shower to kick it on for him so he wouldn't burn himself by turning the water on too hot.
"I'm going to take these down to the garage to do next, okay?" Ray directed to Thomas as he climbed into the bath water, Ray picking up the smelly damp towels off the floor.
"Okay." Thomas sent back, playing in the water with his bath toys.
Dropping the towels on the garage floor to get to later, Ray went back into the kitchen to start scrubbing at the counters now that they weren't so cluttered. Letting Thomas play in the bath to keep him occupied for the time being while he worked, getting lost in his own head for the time being while he worked in the quiet of the house before moving onto the pans he left soaking in the sink and draining the water before rinsing them off when a hand came down onto his shoulder.
Ray nearly leapt three feet off the ground, heart beating so fast in his chest and legs weak on him that when he spun around he had to use the counter to support his weight as all the color in his face had drained from him.
"Jesus fucking- Mary and Joseph, FUCK! Kai!" He shouted, not making much sense but was too scared to care if he did at the moment as all his hair stood on end to the point it hurt just as badly as his heart was with it still slamming into his chest.
The outburst even startled Kai, any sleep remaining in him long gone now as his hand retracted from his shoulder like he'd burnt him.
"Only me!" He blurted out with both hands up now in defense. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you..."
"W-well you should have thought about that before sneaking up on people!" Ray continued to shout, taking in a heavy gulp of air to hopefully calm himself down.
Kai smirked a little at the dramatics. "I mean I live here so if anyone's sneaking around here it's you... How did you even get in?"
"Thomas let me in since you were asleep, said he never went to bed last night so got him in a bath right now and clothes in the wash." Ray answered more calmly, then without warning he lifted a hand and slapped Kai on the arm as hard as he could.
"And what the actual hell, Kai?! It's been a week and I haven't heard anything from you. The place looks like shit, you look like shit. You told Tala you'd get in contact with me, but you never did, so what the hell?!" He yelled again.
A mixture of both panic, embarrassment and a whole bunch of other emotions coursed through Kai. Had he not even locked the front door?! Had he really not even been able to do that? Anyone could have just walked in! Stolen everything and worse could have taken Thomas.
He remained where he stood, mind drowning in what ifs and like the whole traumatic week had just hit him like a train now that someone from the outside world had burst the bubble he'd been in.
Ray's heart may have calmed, but his was now racing. The yelling from the male opposite not even registering and the hit on his arm not even shaking him out of the zoned out trance he'd fallen into.
His chest started to heave on him, skin paling some making the purple under his reddened watering eyes look even worse.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Ray's face softened, the hand he used to smack Kai with going to holding the same arm he'd struck.
"Why didn't you just call me if you needed the help, Kai?" He asked in a softer voice.
For starters, Kai had no idea where his phone even was at this point, but that was hardly a factor as he wouldn't have called him anyway.
"Because, i-it's fine! I was taking care of it! Things just, got a little on top of me but I was handling it."
"This is you taking care of it?" Ray scoffed back, "No offense babe, this isn't taking care of anything. Let alone yourself."
Kai's mouth opened to retaliate but he had no argument, hence his wave of embarrassment just now. He hadn't been handling it at all. Like he'd been told in the past time and time again he doesn't even look after himself that great never mind a five year old on top of everything else.
"Just rub it in why don't you..."
"Wouldn't have to if you just called me. But whatever, here now." Ray sighed and withdrew his hand from Kai's arm, "I have to go get him from the bath, you need to go get me any of your dirty clothes so I can throw them in the wash too, kay?" He ordered more than asked as he walked past him for the stairs.
Simply doing as he was told; Kai took himself up to his bedroom like a scolded teenager and brought down the pile of clothes he'd gone and picked up from the floor. Shoving them all in the washer along with Thomas's bundle and switching it on.
The place looked better already he noted as he stepped back through the house and headed upstairs. Realising if he'd have just swallowed his damn pride things wouldn't have even gotten to this.
"How long have you been here for?" He asked the back of Ray's head as he towel dried Thomas.
"Maybe an hour?" Ray answered without looking back at him.
"There ya go buddy, all clean. Jobs not done though, need you to go and clean up your room now for me or no surprise later, deal?" He bargained with the boy who was now squeaky clean.
"Alright! Do I have to be quiet still?" Thomas asked as Ray helped him back into his shirt.
"Nah, be as loud as you want since the bears awake now." Ray chuckled and getting the boy the rest of the way dressed and letting him run off to his room.
Taking the towel he'd used he hung it up to dry instead of leaving it on the floor, going right over to start on cleaning the bathroom up since it was such an eyesore.
Kai watched Thomas run past and frowned some, not following. The bear? Pft. Was nice to see the kid laughing though.
"Leave it Ray, I'll sort it out." He offered. "Do you want a drink or anything?"
Like he had wool in his ears, Ray continued to clean up the bathroom, grabbing the trash can that was overflowing with toilet paper to take down and toss in the trashcan downstairs. Only to stop when Kai was still in the doorway and blocking him from leaving.
"Nope. Now move."
Kai didn't oblige that time. Silently holding his hand out expecting to be handed the trash can.
"No. I said I'll sort it. Give me it." He pressed as Ray was yet to hand it over.
Ray narrowed his eyes at him, not budging either in moving or handing the trash can over.
Whilst Kai loved a heated stare down, gazing into the fiery golden eyes opposite caused his hardened expression to falter some and a small smirk dared to twitch at his lips.
"Ray..."
"Kai." Ray parroted back at him, they could stand here all day and do this if he wanted.
Knowing that with Ray's track record he really wasn't going to win this, ever, Kai rolled his eyes and groaned before stepping aside.
"Thank you." Ray sent with a sweet smile and stepped past him; head held high victoriously as he sauntered on down the stairs with his hips swaying.
The eyes of the other dropped lower and drank up the sight he'd been starved from all week. The defiance causing something other than just his lips to twitch.
"My room could do with a tidy up too?" Kai cheekily called down to him.
A playful brow rose as Ray looked over his shoulder at him, only halfway down the stairs before stopping.
"Then get on it."
Biting his lower lip, Kai turned on his heel once Ray continued on down the stairs and head for his room. Taking a peek into Thomas's to see him sat procrastinating on his tidying up as he played with his toys on the floor.
Distractions... Distractions everywhere. Though Ray was a welcomed one that's for sure.
Dumping out the bathroom trashcan into the one in the kitchen, Ray went about like a mad man to finish cleaning up the kitchen like he had been before he was so rudely startled out of his mind.
Checking the time on the oven, it'd already been nearly two hours since he arrived and felt like he'd barely scraped the surface of cleaning the place any, but lunch time was also slowly approaching so popped the fridge open to see what there was to make for them since he was down there.
Although he and Kai needed to have a good, long, sit down about what had been going on the past week, he felt it best to hold off right now and discuss it later with him.
As far as he could see and tell, Kai wasn't done with him as Lee kept trying to drill into his head, Kai had just been too swamped with life like he knew, but either way, he felt like they needed to talk about it because the distance, the cold shoulder, had really hurt more than he cared to admit.
He just didn't want to pile more things on Kai at the moment or make him feel worse than he already probably was.
Popping the last bits of chicken nuggets and fries from their bags into the oven for something easy, he grabbed the counter cleaners and headed back up the stairs to tackle the bathroom before lunch.
Peeking into Thomas's room to see what he was doing, finding him playing with his toys rather than putting them away, he left him alone since he was quiet and went to the bathroom to start scrubbing at the tooth paste that was smeared all over the place.
With his own room a lot tidier and his bed made for the first time all week, Kai head back down the stairs when he'd heard the oven timer ping. Letting Ray know and beckoning for Thomas to follow too, he dished out for the three of them and sat the youngster down at the kitchen table and gave him his usual dollop of ketchup in the corner.
"Ketchup?" He asked Ray once he'd joined them in the kitchen.
"Please." Ray smiled back at him, stinking of cleaner now and more than hungry.
Squeezing another blob on the plate Kai pulled the chair out for Ray to sit down before easing himself in the chair opposite. Thomas going at the nuggets how he usually did with more ketchup than nugget.
"So, how have you been?" Kai then dared to ask, sensing an odd air about them now they'd both sat down.
"How you think I've been?" Ray asked with a small bite in the back of his throat, eyeing Thomas to his right with a raised brow as the kid seemed to be in his own world of ketchup and chicken nuggets at the moment.
Kai had sensed right then noticing the tone though didn't understand 100% exactly what he'd done or hadn't done.
He'd just been swamped is all. Did everything he had to do for the day and then once Thomas was in bed had pretty much Ko'd himself until morning.
"Dunno, that's why I'm asking..." He sheepishly asked with a slight shrug
Ray nodded back slowly to him, "Tell you later, not right now." He sighed and finally went to eating his own food.
Having wolfed down his plate, clearly wanting to get back to whatever game he was playing upstairs, Thomas bounced in his seat after asking if he could go back up and after Kai gave the go ahead he was gone like a shot; the two of them being left alone now with the thick air between them.
"For someone who didn't sleep last night, he sure has a lot of energy." Ray mused as he watched the little whirlwind bolt up the stairs.
"You done?" He then asked, looking back to Kai across from him and was already picking up his own half eaten plate.
Kai sent him a nod, his appetite having disappeared with the awkwardness and let Ray take his plate up from the table along with Thomas's and set them down on the kitchen counter.
"Are we okay?" He then perhaps stupidly asked as Ray's back still faced him by the sink.
With a heavy sigh, placing his hands on the counter, Ray shrugged his shoulders at him. "I don't know, you tell me Kai."
The expression behind him looked a little lost. "Well, I thought we were? I'm okay with you anyway... What reason do I have to not be?"
"An entire week, Kai. You blanked me for an entire week, how am I supposed to feel after that? And yeah, I get it, you're busy, I see that, but it takes two seconds to get in contact with me and you didn't!" Ray snapped at him as he spun around to face him, still using the back of the counter to support his weight.
"Only reason we're having any kind of contact right now is because I came to you, because God knows when you were going to at least try and get in touch with me. So what, you're phones dead or missing, you still have a car! I don't even have one and I still came over here to make sure you were okay despite everything Lee was saying about us."
Kai opened his mouth but the words he originally had for him got redirected once the last thing he'd said had processed.
"The hell has he been saying?"
"What hasn't he been saying this time?" Ray asked back with a forced chuckle, dragging a hand down his face.
"You tapped it and quit it, got bored of me and that I couldn't take the hint. Said that when you offered me to live with you, you were just thinking with your dick at the moment and didn't mean it since you weren't even talking to me anymore. And just... So much more... I got so tired of it."
Crimson eyes narrowed, offended. "And what you believed him?"
Ray's shoulders went up weakly, "How could I not when you weren't talking to me?"
An exasperated sigh left him. "I've just- I've been busy Ray, that's all! If you accepted the offer I apparently only made with my dick and moved in here when I asked, you'd have been more than aware of that." He snapped, that particular comment not sitting right with him at all.
"I've been up to my neck in bullshit, you've come over here to check on me, which I appreciate by the way, but you can clearly see things haven't been all that great on my end yet you're still gonna grill me? C'mon Ray."
"I'm not trying to! Okay, but one second you're 'I love you, come live with me' and then the next you're not even returning my calls. And I said, I get it, I really do, but it still hurt, Kai." Ray defended.
"Especially with Lee getting into my ear like he has been, I wasn't sure what to think. Second I got here I knew things weren't great, I could see that, but it still hurts."
Kai stood up from his seat at the kitchen table and stepped over to him by the counter, hand cupping Ray's jaw and thumb caressing at his cheek.
"I'm sorry. Really. I... I didn't even think how you'd have felt in all honesty, I just sorta presumed you'd be fine and getting on with whatever. Last I heard you were going out with Tala and then the next thing I know you're putting laundry in my washing machine... The past several days have just been a blur I don't even know what day it is right now... What day is it?"
"It's Thursday." Ray answered with a barely there smile on his face, "And it's okay, really. Just wish you'd told us you needed help instead of trying to do this on your own." He said softly, his own hands settling over Kai's hips.
"This isn't anyone else's problem Ray, it's mine. Thomas is my responsibility, so I need to just..." His voice trailed off as he thought, not even knowing what to say as he'd obviously tried his best the first time round and that hadn't worked out clearly...
"You just need to let me help you, cus whether you like it or not you need it." Ray supplied after Kai's voice had trailed off.
Nearing his face to his, Kai let his eyes slip closed and softly pressed his lips against Ray's, hand trailing further around the back of his neck to pull him in closer and deepen the kiss.
Smiling into the kiss, pulling Kai's body in closer to his own by his hips, Ray's arms came around his back where his fingers curled into the fabric of Kai's shirt.
After what seemed forever of getting lost in the almost forgotten euphoria, he gently pulled them away from each other.
"Guess we're okay now." He smiled a bit dopily at him.
Sending him his own coy smile, Kai gave him another peck on the lips just for good measure.
"Good. I'm glad." He softly voiced, tucking a loose dark strand behind Ray's ear.
A handful of hours later, dinner served, eaten and cleared away, Kai had tucked Thomas into bed and for the third time that week read that ridiculous story with the ham and green eggs.
He was starting to know it off by heart which just seemed a complete waste of his memory, but it was inevitable considering it was Thomas's favorite.
After a stroke of his small head, switching off the light and an exchange of 'love you's' Kai stepped back down the stairs to rejoin Ray in the living room.
Running a hand through his hair, he flopped down on the couch next to him, a comfortable silence between them now apart from the TV that was just on in the background.
"All being well he'll actually stay there tonight..." Kai hoped as Thomas had made it part of his routine to sneak into his room the past few nights.
"Wouldn't hold out too much hope there." Ray chuckled, scooting in closer to Kai's side and snuggling up to him with his head resting on Kai's shoulder and a hand draped across his stomach.
Kai's arm instantly wrapped around and held him, fingers blindly playing with Ray's hair as they watched the screen ahead though neither were paying that much attention to it.
"You got a curfew tonight?"
"Should have been home hours ago, but whatever." Ray mumbled with a slight shrug, "Why, looking to get rid of me again?" He joked, tilting his head back to look up at him.
Kai smirked before looking down to him and meeting his gaze. "Not at all, was going to ask if you wanted to stay actually..."
"Hmmmm.." Ray hummed a little, the hand on Kai's stomach starting to move in a blind pattern over his shirt.
"That offer to move in still available instead?" He asked a bit bashfully.
Kai's brows lifted in surprise. "Yeah, of course. Unless it's just a ploy to get back at Lee for pissing you off..." He teased.
"Maybe." Ray smirked back before he took in a heavy breath and let it out slowly.
"Not really. Been giving it a lot of thought today. I don't want to quit my job, I don't want to lose you, at the same time I don't want to lose him, but I can't keep living with him like this. It's exhausting. And whether or not he comes around, that's his choice. I just don't want to have to listen to it anymore."
Kai hummed to him. "And you shouldn't have to. You're a big boy now, you should be able to do what you want. Surely he doesn't think you're gonna live with him forever does he?"
"You'd think that's what he thinks with how he goes off at times, but really I don't know. Can't ever really tell with him sometimes." Ray shrugged again before curling into Kai's side tighter.
"So... Was that a yes then?"
A smile appeared above at the squeeze around him.
"Yes it was a yes." He chuckled. "Can help you with your stuff whenever you want. Though, I'll wait outside just in case the lion decides to pounce."
Ray smiled a little at that, eyes closing at the sense of relief he suddenly felt wash over him.
"Figured you'd want to come in, in case he does." He joked again.
"Oh, I've no doubt you can handle yourself, but you really don't want me in that house in case he says something to me." Kai threatened, knowing that Ray had probably only told him a quarter of the shit Lee had spewed about him.
He thought they'd cleared the air and they were cool but apparently not. Like Ray had though, he'd stopped caring.
"Oh.. Yeah, got a point." Ray chuckled lightly, lifting his head again off Kai's shoulder and peeling himself off Kai's side to straddle his lap instead.
"Not in that big of a rush to move everything over right away, can grab some clothes and odds and ends first. But now that's figured out, what're we doing for Christmas?"
Kai took in a breath. Christmas... Fuck.
"Haven't even given it a thought to be honest. Think Thomas'll still believe in Santa Claus?"
"I don't know, can just ask him." Ray shrugged back; hands draped over Kai's shoulders as he made himself comfortable on his lap.
"Well, got a few days left still. Can drop him off with Tala for a few hours and go shopping for him either way. Boy needs a proper Christmas after everything, and so do you."
Kai's hands had settled on Ray's thighs either side of him before he rolled his eyes. "How old am I?" He asked with a look. "Isn't about me. Just need to focus on him." He gestured to the stairs with a head tilt.
"I'll call Tal in the morning then. Can't see it being a problem."
"Actually, that's a good question. I don't know how old you are, or when your birthday is." Ray chuckled again, "Mine was last month on the 6th, so." He offered before leaning in a little and wiggling his hips.
"And I'm sure there's something you can think of that you want." He said in a low purr.
"First of August." Kai supplied with a smirk, the grip on Ray's thighs tightening some as he moved around in his lap.
"You agreeing to move in was all I wanted so wrap yourself in a bow and wish me a merry Christmas."
"I'm sure I can do that." Ray smirked, leaning in and pecking Kai on the lips.
"What color would you like the bow?" He asked, trailing the kisses down Kai's chin to his neck.
Kai tilted his head to give him more room to roam, head relaxing into the back of the sofa cushion as his hands made it to Ray's hips.
His favourite color was blue but against that gorgeous skin tone of his?
"Red..."
Ray hummed into Kai's throat in approval, he was sure he had something left over from his pole days that would do the trick. First thing he'd pack when he went back home.
"And what do I get?" He breathed against the pale skin.
A shiver ran down Kai's spine at the warm sensation in the crook of his neck and he felt himself twitching underneath him with every soft kiss. His teeth sinking into his own lower lip as he was getting more and more riled with the missed movements of the other and his own wild imagination.
His hands trailed down to Ray's ass that had started to grind against him and unable to control himself squeezed and pressed his hips up against him.
"Whatever you want." He promised in his own breathy tone, becoming absolute putty in Ray's hands beneath him.
Ray fought hard not to smirk, loving every second of this. "You." Was all he sent in a deeper purr, nipping at the exposed neck gently.
Ray didn't have to tell him twice. At the simple request Kai cupped underneath his legs and with the strength in his own lifted them up from the couch and head straight for the stairs, Ray wrapped around him like a koala and giggling with excitement.