"Alright, alright! I'm coming, just, stop shouting..." Ray whined more to himself after being called from downstairs for a third time now.
Kai still hadn't let slip on what they were doing or where they were going so having had no clue as to what to wear Ray just decided on some dark jeans and a sweater, his hair was up in a plain pony tail and he'd shoved on some comfy shoes.
"What's the rush anyways? Why are we on a time limit?" He huffed after stropping back down the stairs and taking his jacket from Thomas who had just bounded over to him with it.
Like he'd been doing all morning whenever one of them asked him something pertaining to their outing, Kai made a motion over his lips as if he were zipping them shut before beckoning the two out the door once Ray had his coat on.
"Alright, to the Jeep. Already put Thomas's car-seat in there since you take forever." He playfully nudged Ray's shoulder as they walked down the path to the drive, the Jeep already running so it would warm up.
"You take anything for your hangover while you were up there?"
Ray just hummed to him as his arms wrapped round himself, the cold air feeling even more bitter in his fragile state.
"Not that it'll do anything... Sleep would though... Sleep would make me feel looaadss better..."
"Uncle Kai, what's a hangover?" Thomas questioned in a drawl as he bounced over to the Jeep.
"It's when you sleep halfway on the bed and halfway off, so during the night all your blood rushes to your head and when you wake up you're cranky like Uncle Ray." Kai answered, popping the car door open and helping Thomas up into his seat.
"You'll probably have some time to take a nap here and there." He directed at Ray.
"Ohhhh, I don't ever want a hangover then." Thomas concluded, kicking his legs some once he was in the seat.
"Mm. You really don't..." Ray groggily muttered, heading to the passenger seat and climbing in, still trying to piece together every slight clue Kai had given.
They had to dress warmly so they were going to be outside presumably? And he had time to nap so were they driving far?
He let his head fall back on the head rest and another pout sat on his face. Whatever it was he didn't wanna do it...
Kai tried to bite back the chuckle at the look on Ray's face as he climbed into the driver's seat beside him, poor baby looked like Thomas when he was throwing one of his fits.
"Oh, we're picking up Tala and Julia too. Messaged Julia when you got in the shower." He sent over in his sing-song tone as he backed them out of the drive.
"Juliaaa!" Thomas squealed, kicking his legs out in his seat and getting another groan from Ray.
"Yesssss! And uncle Tala too?!"
"Yup." Kai confirmed again, throwing a shit eating grin in Ray's direction. "Both can groan and moan about your headaches together."
"I know you were prolly just trying to be polite babe... But you knew I'd be as rough as a bear's ass today so why would you say yes?" Tala whined, hands covering his eyes as he sat slumped on the couch.
"They wouldn't have been offended y'know..."
"Because it sounded like a good idea." Julia answered as she finished off her makeup in the bathroom, having to yell back to him so he could hear her.
"I'm sure you'll be just fine anyways, Kai said it's going to be relaxing and fun."
Tala's hands slid off his face and flopped to each side of him. That just said it all right there. Kai and fun? If he had the energy he'd have laughed.
"That man doesn't know the meaning of either word so this will be interesting..."
Easing himself up and reaching for his coffee on the table in front, he stepped over towards the bathroom and peeked in through the door. The smell of sweet perfume dancing round him as he watched Julia smack her lips together after applying her lipstick.
"You look gorgeous baby."
She gave him a wink, bagging up her makeup that was scattered all over the bathroom counter.
"And you look... A hot mess still..." She frowned some at him, taking note of the untouched head of red hair all over the place and the look of utter death upon his pale complexion. Maybe she should have said no to Kai's offer of going out...
Tala waved her off, "Eh. They've seen me in some worse states... Especially Kai. So since this was his crazy stupid idea, he can just take me as I am." He stated, holding out his arms and doing a turn to show himself off.
Julia giggled at him as her eyes rolled a little, "Well make sure you get a heavy coat, it's going to be cold tonight." She informed, wiggling past him through the door just as her phone began to ring on the coffee table.
"Oh, that must be them." She announced, plucking it up and putting it to her ear.
"Yup, be right there. Okay, bye." She hung up, turning to Tala with a bright smile.
"Ready?" She asked, grabbing up her purse and anything else she needed quickly before Tala had a chance to answer her.
"Ready as I'm gonna be." Came the sighed reply as he shoved his arms through his coat and followed her towards the door.
"Wonder what Ray thinks to all this... He was a whole other level last night..."
"Oh? Do tell." Julia's lips curled into a mischievous smile, standing back as Tala locked his apartment up before hooking her arm through his to the stairs.
By the time they reached the Jeep waiting for them she was in a fit of hysterics, mascara and eyeliner threatening to run if she hadn't gone for the smudge proof. And to think she'd gone and missed all that to sit and read with Thomas.
Ah, but that was just as good. He'd been so well behaved she honestly couldn't wait to do it again. Easiest money she'd ever made in her life.
At the sight of the two toned red hair and the even fiery shade beside her another squeal of delight came from the small bundle in the back that jolted Ray awake from his light doze.
"Julia's hereeeeee!"
"I'm guessing he had a good time with her last night..." Ray uttered, rubbing at his temples as he tried to calm down his racing heart.
"Yeah, she said he woke up twice and he slept with her on the couch for a while till she got him back up to his room right before we got home. If you had been coherent last night, you'd know this." Kai said as he unlocked the doors for the other two as they reached the car.
[Did you even take a brush to that mop of yours?] He sent to Tala over his shoulder as he watched the two climb into the back seats beside Thomas, Julia being the shorter one getting the privilege of riding in the middle.
[I call it my 'hungover as shit naturale,' ya like it?] He innocently asked before throwing him a look as he clipped his seatbelt, [You did this on purpose you asshole, you knew neither me or Ray would be in any fit state to do anything today... Speaking of...]
"Heyy bae, how you feeling this morning?" Tala then cooed, switching off the aggressive Russian in an instant and wrapping his arms around Ray's neck in the seat in front of him.
"Dying, but does this asshole care? Nooooo." Ray groaned as he threw his thumb up towards Kai beside him.
Kai snorted, rolling his eyes at the two. [Drama queens.] He muttered, pulling them out of the parking spot.
Prizing his eyes open Ray took a blurry gaze over to the cars digital clock, rubbing them a little before looking to his phone on his lap to confirm the time after. How the hell were they still driving right now?
"Kai we left almost three hours ago, where the hell are we going?"
The annoyed voice up front caused Tala to stir and lift his head up off the head rest. He must've dozed off himself.
"Are we seriously not there yet? Wherever there is?"
Kai huffed a sigh at the two of them, the silence was nice while it had lasted since they both passed out around ten minutes after leaving Tala's apartment. All the noise that had been present was Thomas and Julia quietly talking to one another with the odd comment from him whenever they asked him something, along with the two stops Thomas needed at a gas station that left sleeping beauty one and two still passed out surprisingly when they had stopped and all got out.
"Fifteen more minutes, promise." He answered back before rooting in the door pocket beside him, producing an opened bag of sour gummy worms and offering them out to Ray.
"Worm?"
Ray just pouted before taking the bag and plucking one out, popping it in his mouth and blindly lifting it up for Tala to help himself to one behind.
[Gonna take more than a few fuzzy worms to convince me you ain't a dick...] Tala commented, taking two out of spite.
Kai chuckled a little under his breath, more focused on the road and the traffic around them.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. Eat your worm and shut up, I'm trying to drive." He sent over his shoulder as he looked over it briefly, looking for an opening behind him to lane jump for the exit coming up.
"Hold on..." Was the only warning he gave the others before the car was lurched to the side quickly, a horn blaring behind him before his foot hit the gas pedal and taking them from 70 to 90 down the off ramp as he threw his arm out the window to flick the person behind them off.
Thomas giggled in the back as Ray's hand swiftly met Kai's arm in scolding. "Uh ohm Uncle Kai's in troublee." He drawled out through another chuckle to Julia, kicking his legs a little.
"He will be if he pulls another move like that again." Ray warned, sending a glare over to the driver's seat.
"Can pull that shi-stuff when you're by yourself not when there's four others in the car."
"What? I had my signal on for ten minutes, he wouldn't let me over and we were going to miss our exit." Kai defended back in an uncharacteristic pleading tone.
"Besides, you're awake now, aren't you?" He sent more coyly after getting an initial glare in response to his earlier plea.
Ray just scoffed and folded his arms, turning himself to look outside the passenger window and rest his head with the same pitiful look he'd sported all morning whilst awake.
"Wherever we're going it better be worth it..."
Kai's smirk stretched into a smile at the comment but kept his own to himself this time.
After a few red lights and more turns and twists through a completely new looking city, their destination began to peak out amongst the other buildings it was surrounded by though it stuck out like a sore thumb between the skyscrapers and glass windows.
"Thomas, look out your window." Kai instructed as he guided them into the turn lane for the parking lot for the very large and very big looking mall that was sat off to the left of the road as more cars were already piled in a line going in and out of it.
Thomas did as he was told and bright orange eyes sparkled as did Julia's beside him as they locked on the impressive building.
"I've been here beforeee!" The young boy recalled, "My mommy brought me to see all the fishes! They got a shark too!"
Tala pulled a face as he too peered out to the immense shopping centre. [Really... Shopping? God I hate you so much...]
"Eee! Shopping Tal!" Julia gushed, shaking his arm, "Aren't you excited?!"
"Oh yeah! So excited!" Tala grinned to her before letting the smile drop from his face the second she looked back out the window away from him.
[Clearly Thomas just said there's a shark, so it's not all shopping.] Kai retorted back at the angry little redhead in the backseat, once more focused on not crashing the brand new car into anyone who was driving stupid for the day around them.
The whole thing wasn't really for Tala's benefit anyways so he didn't care if he liked the idea or not, this was for Thomas mainly. For Ray. Tala and Julia were just there to be there for the extra fun it provided him in tormenting his business partner.
Pulling up into a parking spot the group eased out of the car with Julia helping Thomas out of his seat and taking his hand as they walked in to the centre.
The first thing that caught their eyes was in fact the large aquarium Thomas had mentioned, and like a rocket his little feet took his small frame over to it breaking the hand contact he had with Julia.
"Thomas!" She shouted after him as she trotted over in her heeled boots after him.
Luckily, they caught up to him pretty quickly as he'd smashed his face to one of the outside displays of fish and other sea life and hadn't moved an inch since coming up to it. Orange eyes magnified by the thick and rounded glass that went from the floor to the ceiling and then over their heads to create an archway for the opening of the aquarium.
"You really want to do this first before we go anywhere else?" Kai asked casually as he stopped to stand behind Thomas, his own hand having been clasped in Ray's the whole time.
"Yeah!" Thomas bounced where he stood, eyes locked on a blue fish the same shade as his hair as it swam around some coral just in front of him.
Kai looked to Ray to see if he'd object, though just got a shrug in reply before turning to Julia and Tala.
"Coming in or?" He tilted his head at the aquarium.
"I wouldn't mind going to look at shoes actually." Julia said turning to Tala, her own fingers intertwined with his.
Tala opened his mouth to object but closed it when he locked with emerald eyes. A nice quiet aquarium sounded a good idea but how could he say no to that face?
"We're gonna go and look at shoes." He informed and a small 'eee' came from the female beside him.
"Alright, call Ray's phone when you're ready to meet up again. Apparently I left mine at the house." Kai waved them off, moving his hand to Thomas's back and leading the three of them through and under the fishy archway.
Paying for their way in at the desk and being ushered through another, darkened, archway they began their tour of the underwater world. Thomas's big eyes getting wider at all the pretty colors swimming alongside them in the tanks on either side of them, mouth wide open in his child-wonderment.
Letting Thomas be leader in which way they went when the tunnels forked off in a left or right direction, Kai and Ray stayed behind him as their own eyes darted from the tanks and to the blue head of hair guiding them every so often as the crowds around them got thicker.
"Oh, oh I remember! We have to go this way to see the shark!" Thomas shouted as they came to another fork in the tunnels, hand excitedly pointing to the right before taking off like a shot.
"H-hold on Thomas! Don't run off!" Ray called after him, his attention snapping away from the tank of angel fish he'd been admiring to his left. His hand going to pull out of Kai's when he tugged him back and kept their slow walk they'd been in.
"It's alright, I see him." Kai mused in a slight humored tone, the hold he had around Ray's fingers giving a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
Sending a small smile his way Ray leaned some into Kai's strong arm as they meandered through, their steps almost lazy as they head over in the direction Thomas had taken off in.
After his extra much needed sleep in the car Ray was starting to feel a little better, though he still had a dull headache radiating at the sides of his head. He could do with another coffee...
"So this was your big secret? The aquarium at the mall?" He questioned, keeping his head on Kai's shoulder.
"One of them." Kai answered as his own small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Ray frowned at the ambiguity before lifting up his head and looked up to him.
"One of them?" He repeated, "What's the other? Presuming there's only one more?"
"Why, got somewhere else to be other than with your family today?" Kai asked, slipping his hand out of Ray's and moving to catch up to Thomas as he threw a smirk over his shoulder at Ray before he turned around and swept up the five-year-old onto his shoulders once he caught up to him.
"Which way to the shark, Thomas?"
"That way!" He giddily pointed and his slate haired horse obeyed in stepping to the left through the crowd of people.
The sight caused Ray's heart to swell and his own stupid smile now sat on his face as he followed on quietly behind them turning a corner and the large shark tank finally stood before them.
"Woooooowwww Uncle Kai, look!" Thomas beamed, small arm pointing up ahead with his mouth wide open in awe.
"Yup, now in ya go." Kai joked as he stepped closer to the tank, hands going to Thomas's sides as if he were going to lift him into it.
A small shriek came from above before a fit of giggles erupted from the small boy as he squirmed on Kai's shoulders.
"No no no!" He continued to laugh out, clinging onto the head in front of him.
"Uncle Rayyy, help!"
A snort came from behind as Ray joined them. "Stop tormenting the kid." He smirked, giving Kai a small nudge in the ribs.
"Okay, okay." Kai laughed, letting his hands fall away from Thomas's sides and going to hold his ankles draped over his chest just in time for the great predator of the deep to swim right by them.
"Just in time too, would have been shark food if Uncle Ray didn't come save ya." Kai chuckled as they watched the shark lazily go by and around the large tank.
Though Thomas was far too mesmerized by the great white to react to Kai's teasing and his small head followed its every movement, the extra height he was getting from being on Kai's shoulders giving him a clear view of the tank in its entirety.
"Sooo cooool..." He mused aloud in a drawl.
They waited again for it to swim by, making the most of the fifty dollars Kai had paid to get in before his legs and shoulders started to get tired with the extra weight sitting on them.
"Alright, what next?" He asked as he lifted Thomas off his shoulders while they made their exit from the aquarium, having to blink a few times to adjust to the blinding lights of the rest of the mall.
"Juliaaaaa!" And he was off again at the sight of her with Tala walking beside with two shopping bags in each of his hands.
"Hey little guy! You enjoy the aquarium?" She smiled down to him and ruffled his hair as he hugged her leg.
"We saw the shark!" He blurted out to her, stepping back and curling his small hands like claws and putting them at either side of his face.
"And his teeth were like this!" He mimicked baring his teeth to her and making small growl sounds.
"That's amazing, wow." Julia chuckled back at him, clocking the two dads walking up behind him to catch up.
"I have never been here before, so what else are we going to do?" She asked the group, "It's so big, we almost got lost just finding the shoe store."
"Go karts!" Thomas cheered between the four adults before a hand was placed on the top of his head to quieten him.
"How 'bout some coffee first?" Ray suggested, he was still mildly dying for some caffeine.
Thomas pouted slightly but nodded, "Can I have some hot coco?"
"Sure thing." Ray smiled back to him, holding his free hand out for the boy to take though was a bit taken back and slightly heartbroken when Thomas latched onto Julia instead.
Oh. No. It was okay. Wasn't like he hadn't been raising him the past month and a half or anything...
Noticing the heartbreaking look on Ray's face, Kai threaded their fingers back together and took over in leading them towards one of the many food courts that was nearby for a coffee and hot coco break.
[After this, I'll give you 200 to take him go karting for an hour.] Kai sent over his shoulder at Tala behind him as they wandered through the mall.
Tala's eyes widened some at the offer. Was the most he'd ever earned in an hour, even with tips.
[Why, you planning on going for a quickie somewhere or something?]
[Yes.] Kai answered without hesitation, [Do you want 200 or not?]
Tala sent him a look, not even sure if Kai was playing along with him or not with how quick and deadpan he'd responded just now. Though, kinda seemed like he was desperate for the alone time whatever it was Kai was wanting to do with it...
[Hmm... Make it three and you got yourself a deal...] He countered. He was hungover as hell right now, and he couldn't see Julia being the one to race round with the little guy, not in those shoes.
[250. Take it or leave it.]
"Uncle Kai!" Thomas hollered upon seeing a candy cart up ahead, "Can I get some candy floss too?!"
[...275...] Tala pushed again. No way was Kai gonna wanna deal with the kid doped up on sugar.
[Fine.] Kai bit back at Tala behind him, turning to Thomas next and having to switch languages quickly before he started talking, yet the accent lingered heavily.
"No, you haven't had lunch yet. When you eat lunch, and if you're good for Tal and Julia, then you can have some."
The husky tone made it to a blonde's ears and her head immediately turned from the table she was sat at with her own young one sat opposite. Green eyes gazing over dreamily and bouncing up and down Kai's figure. Ray noticed, and the grip on Kai's hand tightened whilst he sent his own heated stare over to her.
Kai jolted a little at the tight grip from nowhere, "Ow, what?" He sent down to the male beside him who was squeezing the life out of his hands like he'd just experienced a labor pain.
"Nothing." He curtly answered. "Just, need coffee, c'mon."
Pulling him along Ray left the whore behind, the thought of her eyes all over Kai's ass now winding him up more but that was his ass! Belonged to him! Grrrrrrrrrr...
"I want a cappuccino. What do you want?" Ray then asked, hand still gripped on Kai's as they got to the counter.
"Black is fine." Kai answered, getting his wallet out with his free, and un-crushed hand from his back pocket.
"Ooh.. Good choice." The brunette behind the counter winked upon hearing the 'just black' order. A man who knew good coffee.
"Anything else?"
"Small hot coco, please." Kai answered, ignoring the eyes being sent his way as he focused more on grabbing out his card from the pocket of his wallet.
"With sprinkles and whip cream!" Thomas hollered as he bounced up beside Kai, peeking over the counter at the cashier.
The waitress chuckled, looking down at the big eyes staring up at her.
"Oh aren't you the cutest little thing! You got it kiddo, whipped cream and sprinkles. That'll keep your daddy on his toes alllll afternoon now." She winked again in Kai's direction, taking his card and processing the payment.
"If you want to go on and take a seat I'll bring 'em on over to you." She offered, handing his card back after taking note of his name with her line of vision remaining locked on him.
She got a throaty grunt in response, pocketing his card and wallet before placing his hand to Thomas's back. Clearly his mind was elsewhere at the moment, or he was just that used to people eyeing and flirting with him that he didn't bother to respond anymore, Ray wasn't sure, but his own head had visions of himself coming clear across the counter and slapping a bitch over his man.
It wasn't like he was standing right there, hand in Kai's the entire time or nothing. Or was he just that invisible today? First Thomas abandoned him for Julia and now some ditzy women were ignoring the mere sight of him hand in hand with his man?!
What was the world coming to?
Thomas clearly didn't care either, then again why would he? He was five. Too young to notice or care. He'd understand when he was older.
Being led away from the counter by Kai, and still very much hand in hand, Ray sent a look over his shoulder at the cashier like he had the blonde earlier. The urge to stick his tongue out at her and be childish over it hitting in hard until the hand he was sure he had been holding slipped and snaked it's way over his shoulders and a kiss was pressed into the side of his head, seemingly melting away his ugly jealousy.
"And you said my jealousy was cute." Kai whispered into his ear just before he pulled away from him.
"Pft. What do I have to be jealous over? You're mine." Ray scoffed with a small pout as they sat down at a table, the warm breath that had just been in his ear making him shiver lightly.
"They can ogle you all they want, I don't care."
Kai humored him with a smile as he sat across from him with Thomas between them at the small, rounded cafe table, though he didn't sit for very long when he remembered he needed to pull money out for Tala.
"Be right back." He announced and was up and gone before Ray could even stop him.
As the two redhead's stood at the counter ordering their own much needed caffeine, Tala looked over his shoulder as a familiar grip clamped down on it.
[This another one of your secrets or something?] He hissed back to him, pushing the wad of money slyly into his pocket just as discreetly as Kai had handed it to him.
[Obviously if it was, I wouldn't tell you, now would I?] Kai answered just behind him, [Don't lose him, and keep the change. I'll call you when we're done.] With that he left quietly like he'd appeared, heading back to the table where he'd left Ray and Thomas who had been given their drinks in the time he'd been gone.
"Hey, Thomas. You're gonna head off with Uncle Tala and Julia for a while, okay? I want you to behave for them, or no surprise later tonight, understand?"
Having just taken a sip of his hot coco Thomas looked up and over to him with a small splodge of whipped cream on his tiny nose.
"Why where are you goin'? We're not going on the go karts?" His eyes instantly softened with a puppy dog look activated, "I wanna go on the go karts with you Uncle Kai."
"Then we'll meet you there, but right now Uncle Ray and I are going to do some shopping, okay? Tala is going to take you go karting and then we'll get some lunch after and then go do whatever else you want around here, okay?" Kai bargained; he hadn't planned on Thomas being difficult about this.
"Don't you want to spend some time with Julia?" He pitched.
Thomas nodded and let Ray wipe at his nose with a napkin to get the cream off only to get some more on when he went and took another sip from his cup.
"Yeaahhh but I wanna spend time with you tooo..." He whined.
Kai held in the sigh; little boy was not making this easy...
"And we will, promise. Day isn't done yet. Got more surprises later for you anyways, so can I meet up with you later at the go karts?" He asked instead.
"Ookaaaayyyyy." Thomas sighed out like accepting the offer had been the biggest chore for him ever.
Kai finally released the sigh he'd held in, motioning for Ray to get up and come with him and just in time as Tala and Julia found them as he snatched up his coffee before he left it.
"See you soon then." He sent to the three of them, holding his free hand out for Ray to take since he looked less than impressed about having to be on his feet again.
"So what's really happening cos we don't need to go shopping for anything..." He queried now that they were far enough to not be heard and Kai be caught out on his lie.
Kai sipped at his coffee, dragging Ray over to one of the mall directories he caught sight of, humming to himself as he looked it over.
"We're going to floor four." Was all he gave him before he proceeded to drag him off towards the elevators.
"And it's a surprise." He added after a long silence had fell over them as they sought out the elevators.
Ray couldn't suppress the eye roll as he was pulled along and stood beside Kai as he pressed the button for the elevator once they got to it.
He was beyond bored now of his questions being brushed off the way they had been all morning, but Kai hadn't let him down before so, he doubted he'd start now. But damn he wanted to know what was going on! And what had he slipped Tala earlier? Were they in on whatever this was together? The thought annoyed him. Oh, and that damn waitress in the cafe! Oohh... He needed another nap; he was getting grouchy...
Tugging the other through with a few others into the elevator the moment the doors opened on them, Kai smashed the button for the fourth floor, a weird excitement beginning to bubble in his stomach he felt like he was fixing to burst in a way he never had before.
The surprises were worth it, he was sure of it, at least he was mentally crossing his fingers and everything else that they were. The mall was just the first stop, of course, but since they were there why not use it for all its spoils while they waited for the grand finale?
After the slow climb up each floor from the ground level to the fourth floor, Kai tugged Ray out with him, nearly cracking as he turned to him and wanted to bounce on his heels like a damn child.
"Alright, close your eyes I'll lead us there."
Ray cocked a brow, "You're not serious? I'm not gonna walk with my eyes c-" "Just close your eyes Ray. Humor me. Please." Kai interrupted and after a look the other obliged though still walked along with reluctance.
He knew Kai wasn't going to let him bump into anything but still, was weird walking so far with his eyes shut.
What Ray had been so worried about, Kai didn't know. Wasn't like he could see the people giving them both funny looks as he guided him along now and made double sure he wouldn't trip or fall or bump into anyone.
Thankfully, for Ray, the walk wasn't a very long one, but it did take longer since they went at a snail's pace.
"Good afternoon gentlemen, how can we help you today?" He heard a very formal voice asking after the clear beep of a sensor, letting him know they made it to wherever it was Kai was taking him.
He couldn't smell anything off in the air, so wasn't some perfume store. Could barely hear the classical jazz overhead, so had to be some kind of fancy store, right?
"Yes, I was wondering where your wedding and engagement rings are. We'd like to take a look." Kai answered the voice that had greeted them.
The second Ray's eyes opened and took in all the polished glass cabinets and diamonds sparkling under bright lights he almost dropped his coffee.
He took in a breath and his eyes even watered some at the sweetness of the other as he was gently tugged along to the display that had just been highlighted to them by the store assistant.
"Do either of you have an idea in mind already on what it is your looking for?" He asked as the two males opposite cast their eyes down on the array of jewelry.
"I-I don't know." Ray stuttered, seemingly overwhelmed. "I, I've not even thought about it."
"Well it is of course completely up to you, however for your skin tone sir I would probably recommend gold." He advised, gesturing over to the left hand side of the cabinet.
"And for you sir, platinum." He added, looking to Kai.
Kai nodded along, the idea not all sounding bad though turned to look at Ray to get his input.
"Can do that, or should we get matching colors?"
Ray was still mesmerized the same way Thomas had been with the shark earlier. Eyes gleaming with the different colored gem stones sparkling back at him.
Oooohh they were all so pretty...
"Ray?"
"Hm?" He hummed to Kai beside him, though didn't take his eyes off the rings below.
Kai laughed a little under his breath, trying to go from Ray's line of sight to the ring he thought Ray was looking at and pointed to it.
Was a gold plated band, a single string of diamonds running through the middle that wrapped around the entire band. Was pretty. Suited him.
"Can we have a look at that one, please?" He asked, briefly looking up to the assistant on the other side of the glass.
"Of course."
Pulling the ring from the secured case, the gentleman offered it out to them, explaining the brand and line like it mattered and every word went through one of Ray's ears and out the other as he stared at it like it was the holy grail.
"Would you like to try it on sir?" The assistant asked in a more hesitant tone, he wasn't used to clients being this awestruck by their jewels.
A small gasp escaped him as Ray glanced up like he'd just been caught stealing.
"Oh no no it's oka- can I?"
The assistant huffed a laugh. "Of course. The size may not be correct but this can of course be altered. Just gives you an idea of how it would look."
Ray nodded before slipping the ring onto his finger and a coy smile danced upon his lips as he held his hand out to take a better look.
Kai stood over his shoulder, admiring it with him quietly. That weird and new feeling he'd had in his stomach on the way up coming back and punching him in the gut all the sudden to the point he felt tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
Was this really happening? Of course he had asked, wouldn't take it back for anything, but seeing that ring and those diamonds shine off Ray's fingers seemed to slap him awake to the reality that he was going to marry this wonderful and amazing human being that had given him the world and more.
"Do you like this one? If not, I told Tala to give us an hour so we have a while to keep looking." He offered.
"It's beautiful." Ray gushed, unable to take his eyes off it and feeling like he could quite easily burst into tears himself. He'd never possessed any real jewelry before. Had only ever had the cheap stuff for his shows back in the days.
"It's amazing, a truly stunning piece." The assistant agreed with a nod behind the counter. If he sold this the commission he'd get would be amazing too.
"Absolutely remarkable in fact. It suits you perfectly."
"How much is it?" Ray asked, looking down into the cabinet where it had been retrieved from and noticed no price tags anywhere. Wasn't usually a good sign…
Kai held a hand up before the assistant could even get his mouth open, "Price isn't a problem. Also, I'd like to look at that one please." He said, pointing down at the cabinet where a platinum band was sat with diamonds placed throughout an intricate pattern that looked like trellis work woven through the band itself.
"Of course sir, nice choice."
Pulling out the ring from the cabinet with a gloved hand he gently handed it to Kai who looked over it meticulously before too slipping it on.
Ray had pouted a little at the brush off though was quickly distracted by how gorgeous it looked sitting on Kai's finger.
"Ohh my gosh..." He gushed, "That's perfect for you."
"Think so?" Kai held back the smirk as he examined it a little more before looking back down to the shorter male beside him.
"What about you, want to keep looking or are you happy with that one?"
Ray took another glimpse down into the sparkly cabinet, looked back to his finger, back to the cabinet and back again. Nothing else so much grabbed his eye as the gem he was wearing right now so just nodded his head whilst having another quick scan around.
"I think this is the one..." He mused out loud, before turning to Kai and doing a little happy shimmy on the spot. "I think this is the one."
A smile cracked out along Kai's face at the little shimmy, or whatever that was Ray had just done before picking up his hand to inspect the ring one more time on Ray's finger.
It looked like it fit perfectly the way it was now, his fit just fine too, which was even better since that saved them from having to come back after they were resized and they could walk out of there with them on their hands.
Looking away from the ring and to the assistant, keeping Ray's hand in his hold, Kai gave a nod to the other man.
"We'll take them."
It took everything within the male behind the counter to not do his own excited shimmy at the confirmation but remained professional and gestured for them to follow over to process the payment. Kai however stopped Ray from following and told him to go and sit down in a plush seat over in the corner.
"Why can't I know?" Ray huffed, folding his arms. "Why's it a secret?"
"Because then you'll tell me not to." Kai answered with a cheeky grin, "Now go, I got this." He shooed, pecking his cheek and gently pushing him off to the seat.
Ray just scoffed and did as he was told, eyeing up the cabinet of watches as he passed and then the one filled with earrings before he sat down. Didn't even have his ears pierced but those ruby stoned ones were something else...
"Right sir, so the grand total is fifty six thousand." The assistant said loud enough for his coworkers to hear and be jealous of his sale.
"Will that be cash or card?"
Kai answered by passing over his card to the gentleman, barely batting an eye at the price that was given. He honestly thought it would have been more.
Though at the other side of the store Ray felt sick to his stomach now as he'd intentionally lip read the assistants mouth and knew now why Kai had wanted to keep it a secret.
How much?!
He stared down in awe at his finger only now fear circled him. What if it got damaged? What if he lost it? What if it got stolen?! He was now terrified to wear the damn thing!
Getting his card back and signing the little paper, Kai thanked the gentlemen and wished him a good and pleasant day before wandering back to Ray who he had expected to be beaming and glowing, instead he looked ready to puke.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Ray repeated before standing from his seat, "I'll tell you what's wrong, Kai. I can't wear this. It's too much. So. Just, go tell the guy we've changed our minds."
Kai stood there a bit dumbfounded for a second, licking his lips as he smirked a little and shook his head back at him.
"And? Already said, price isn't a problem. And it fits you perfectly and it looks great on you. Not to mention, your car was more than this. So." He shrugged before taking up Ray's ringed hand in his, gently leading him out of the store.
"Stop worrying about the costs of everything, okay? We're perfectly fine, trust me. Now call Tala and let him know we're heading back."
Ray opened his mouth to retort but he didn't have anything to even send back. It wasn't that he wasn't happy, of course he was, he just wasn't used to such gifts and being so comfortable. The whole reason as to why he'd started his job as a stripper in the first place all those years ago was because he could barely make ends meet and now he was here getting cars and jewelry sent his way like they were nothing.
"Thank you." He settled on, coy smile in place as he set a kiss on Kai's cheek and fished out his phone with his free hand.
Kai just smiled back, squeezing his hand as Ray called up Tala and let the others know they were on their way to meet them at the go karts, wherever that was.
Going to the basement level and after a long walk they finally arrived, the noise of the go karts just about as over powering as the smell of gasoline in the air as they walked through the glass doors.
The place wasn't overly big, but had two different tracks set up near each other, one for the adults and the other for kids that were both roped off by black chain linked fences.
Finding Tala and Julia leaned up against the one for the kids track the two wandered up beside them, able to see the bit of blue hair peeking out under the helmet that had been provided as Thomas sat in his kart with a few other kids at the starting line ready for another lap while the attendant made sure they were all buckled in before sending them off.
"He give you much trouble?" Kai asked as he made himself comfortable against the fence on Tala's left, waving back to Thomas as the little boy seemed to have spotted him and had waved over first.
"Well, trouble's his middle name but not with this one around." He answered, gesturing to Julia beside him with a smirk.
"Anything she says he just does without question. I get at least twenty 'whys' and 'what fors' before he does it but Julia tells him once and thas it. Think you might have lost him guys."
"Great..." Kai huffed a sigh as he rolled his eyes before they set on the karts as they zipped past, Thomas once more waving at them all while he went by.
"Got a few more hours to kill, after this lunch?" Kai suggested after glancing down to his watch.
Tala nodded though kept his gaze ahead on the track, head moving sightly as he followed the kart Thomas was in.
"Yeah sounds good. Getting pretty hungry now the hangovers wearing off some."
"I heard there's a really nice Italian here if you guys fancy pizza?" Julia suggested, thinking something like that would be easiest with a young one.
"Whatever you guys want, I'm not picky." Kai seemed to wave off, his own eyes following Thomas's kart like a hawk around the track as well.
"That okay with you?" He asked Ray as he nudged him in the side a little.
Ray took a glance to him before back to the track, his set of eyes joining the other two adopted fathers the boy seemed to have in following Thomas and making sure he was okay.
"Yeah that's fine." He answered absentmindedly. "Y'know I've never been on one of these things before."
Tala broke off his gaze to turn back over his shoulder. "What, never?"
Ray shook his head to him, "Nope, never."
"Oh! Well, today is your lucky day, sir." He announced, before turning to Kai.
"May I?" Holding out his hand he gestured for Ray's that was still intertwined with Kai's.
"By all means." Kai mused with a humored tone, passing off Ray's hand to Tala's. And hell, he didn't even have to pay him to do this? Hell yes.
Snatching at the contrasting tanned hand with his fair one, Tala's eyes caught a glimpse of something shiny upon Ray's finger. Had he always worn jewelry?
"Ah, that's nice." He commented as he examined it, "You get it for Christmas?"
Julia took a glance over at the talk and gasped at seeing the ring on that finger, Tala clearly oblivious of its significance.
"Oh my gosh! Guuuyyss!" She gushed as she stepped over and took Ray's hand from Tala's, "When?! How?!"
Tala sent her a look, still not following but the coy smirk on his friend's face suggested that something had gone right over his head just now.
An uncharacteristic blush quickly spread along Ray's face as his hand, or more the very expensive ring sitting upon it was inspected a bit too closely.
"Kind of." He bashfully answered Tala's first question, darting his eyes to Kai's smug looking ones who looked ready to burst with how much his ego was probably getting stroked right about now.
"We got them just a few minutes ago, actually, dragged me there practically blindfolded." He answered towards Julia.
"But he asked me the night Tala had Thomas for us, I'll spare you the how though." He chuckled lightly.
"Aww I'm so pleased for you both! It's gorgeous..." She continued to swoon before turning her attention to Kai, "Oh, lemme see yours." She requested, beckoning for his hand.
Kai obliged and took his hand from out of his coat pocket to show her the platinum band, green eyes sparkling as she admired.
"Ohhhh it's so pretty..." She sent down to it before letting his hand go. "I never had you down as a romantic type..."
"Thank you?" Kai responded with a slight chuckle. He really wasn't, did most of these things on a whim, but the payoff always seemed to be worth it.
Clearing his throat a little as he carefully retracted his hand back to himself, he tilted his head back towards the tracks behind them.
"Were you two doing this or not?"
They were interrupted when the pitter patter of small feet bounded back over to them, Thomas beaming with excitement at experiencing the best day of his young life.
"That was soooo coool!" He bounced in front of Kai, wrapping his arms around his thigh not even knowing what to do with his giddy energy.
Kai rubbed at his back and ruffled the mess of blue hair that was disheveled thanks to the helmet he'd been wearing.
"Had fun out there, huh?" He got a quick nod back before a yawn tore out of Thomas's mouth, face going back into his pant leg.
"Why don't we go and get some actual lunch then and shop around a bit?" Kai asked as he picked the little guy up onto his hip.
"Okay." Thomas's voice droned, head resting on Kai's shoulder and eyes fighting to stay open.
Kai chuckled a little under his breath while red hearts and stars appeared over Ray's head.
Forgoing the go-karts themselves, they all filed out behind Kai with Thomas passed out on his shoulder like they had been in search of the Italian place they all had agreed on. Waking Thomas up so he could eat his lunch, though he hadn't finished much of it and they were left with carrying the rest around while they window shopped for a bit more, Kai checking his watch for the time every now and then for when they had to leave to head off to their next destination that would surely wake Thomas up.
After stopping in a few stores and carrying their own bags filled with whatever had tickled their fancy they were being led back out to the parking lot to the Jeep.
"We heading home now?" Ray asked with his own yawn coming out him, his feet were killing him, and although today had been great aside from his earlier headaches and grumpy attitude, he was ready to go back to bed.
"Nope, got one more stop." Kai answered as he settled into the driver's seat after buckling Thomas into his behind him, kicking the Jeep on and checking the time again.
The sun was barely starting to fall now, which gave them enough time to get there and find a decent parking spot at the event which didn't start for another two hours.
It had been a quiet car trip. Thomas pretty much falling asleep the moment they set off, Ray and Tala nodding off after around half an hour on the road, and even Julia had started to doze against Tala's shoulder after an hour.
Kai hadn't minded. It gave him time to think and to process all that had happened today so far. His eyes had trailed down often from the road to the precious metal now sitting around his finger. He smiled to himself each time before bringing his focus back up to the route ahead.
As they pulled up into the parking lot illuminated by lights as night had fallen upon them now, Julia inhaled a deep breath as she stirred. Lifting herself up from Tala's shoulder and rubbing at her neck a little as she peered out the window, her voice then caused the other sleeping males in the car to come to and take in where they'd arrived to.
"We're here?"
"Yeah, we're here." Kai answered as he powered down the Jeep, giving himself a moment to adjust now that they weren't in motion before getting himself out.
"Already have our tickets, so don't need to wait in line." He informed as he popped open his door and climbed out, letting the more able bodies fend for themselves while he grabbed Thomas who was more than wide awake now from his seat.
Ray rubbed at an eye as he continued to peer out the window. His free hand mindlessly unclipping his seatbelt in his daze though managed to frown some.
"Where are we?" He groggily asked, the broken up sleep really starting to play havoc with him now. He just wanted to go home in the warm and go to bed...
"Monster TRUCKS!" Thomas's excited voice answered for him as the loud sounds reached his ears the moment he was pulled from the vehicle, eyes getting wide and wrestling himself out of Kai's hold.
"Monster trucks." Kai confirmed in a more civil tone, making sure Thomas at least had a hold of his hand with the parking lot packing up around them.
It was definitely not his thing, but he was sure it'd brighten Thomas's day and it seemed it worked. One more instance of doing things on a whim that paid off.
Even if they hadn't started the main event yet, there were some trucks being placed on show near the front of the stadium where patrons could climb in and get pictures taken with a them set out there, the lights near enough dazzling as they danced in the night sky to highlight the giant arena.
For the temperature having dropped now that the sun had set, the crowd was immense, which was also why he'd cautioned the others to dress warmly.
"That one looks just like mine!" Thomas near enough yelled, small hand pointing up ahead as he used all of his force to try and pull Kai along faster.
"Can I go inside? Please please please please!"
"Yeah, yeah slow down for a second though." Kai pleaded as his arm was nearly ripped out of its socket.
The others behind kept up best they could, all wondering the same thing but at this point had just decided to go along with Kai's crazy plan. Not that they could do anything about it now anyways either being there.
Letting Thomas lead them through the growing crowds around the inside of the stadium and back outside to where the stands and their seats were located, they managed to file along the plastic fold down chairs amongst other excited fans, Thomas clearly unable to contain his excitement as he bounced so hard it made the plastic squeak underneath him.
Tala and Ray had gone up to find some drinks before the show started yet hadn't been able to make it back in time when it did start and they were still standing in line at the concession stand, the sound of the truck's engines loud enough they could hear them inside, it shaking the walls and concrete floor under their feet.
Back in the stands, amber eyes were sparkling just as brightly as the lights illuminating the bottom of the stadium where the trucks had finally come and rolled out, doing a lap and revving their engines louder as they went about until they took up their spots and parked along the inner stadium wall, leaving two in the center on the dirt track.
It wasn't his thing, yet Kai felt himself filling up with a childlike giddiness that almost outmatched Thomas's as they watched the two trucks left in the center race each other around the track and over the dirt hills and already broken down cars laid in their way, flawlessly running them over as the monster trucks nearly went airborne only to come back down and bounce off their massive tires.
The sound at that point was deafening now, yet at the same time he could almost not hear a thing either, eyes glued to what was going on as the winner spun donuts, kicking up dirt as it spun and spun and spun till the driver seemed to lose control and the massive vehicle toppled on its side for a brief moment until he somehow managed to get the thing back on all four wheels and park against the inner wall with the others as two more came forward to race.
By the time the other two had wandered back to their seats, drinks that were too expensive in their hands and some nachos smothered in cheese, they'd already missed three races that Kai was more than excited to inform them about at lightning speed and as loud as his voice would allow so they could hear him over the engines, all the while not looking away from the current race going on.
Ray, although out of his funk from the hangover, was still not wholly impressed with the entire idea of being there, but having just witnessed Kai light up like that, and the little bundle on Kai's lap, since he couldn't see over the people in front of them, still excitedly bouncing all of Ray's annoyance seemed to wash away.
Yet, that didn't stop him questioning why Kai had this entire elaborate day out planned for them. Or when he even had time to do it or if it had just all been on a whim since he woke up.
He wouldn't have traded the day for anything, that was for sure, but he did want answers at some point. And Kai forgetting his phone? Unheard of.
There, in the far back of Ray's mind, was a niggling feeling that Kai was trying to hide something from him again, though currently he couldn't ask and so had to wait the five, and then four extra hours before he could, yet the moment they had walked through the door, Kai carrying Thomas asleep on his shoulder again, he really didn't have the heart to.
Maybe he was just trying to find something when there wasn't anything to find, then again, he couldn't get the nagging feeling to go away even after a long shower while Kai had gone back downstairs to the office after putting Thomas to bed. At least Ray thought he had, but when he stepped out of the bathroom, Kai was sat there on their bed seemingly waiting for him with his cellphone held limply between his legs.
That nagging feeling screamed at him this time by the look on Kai's face, his body language completely different from what it had been all day, like he was guilty of something and now Ray wasn't so sure if he did want to know.
Against his better judgment, he swallowed around the lump that was starting to form in his throat and timidly approached the side of the bed Kai was sitting on.
"What's the matter? Are you okay?" He asked softly only to get a slow shake of slate hair in response.
Ray's heart began to race, he didn't like this. Not after the day they had. Not after overcoming so much.
"Talk to me, Kai." His tone harbored on pleading as he stood there by Kai's knees, having his newly ringed hand taken up by Kai's and that was when he could feel him shaking.
Kai, although he didn't want to do this, felt like he had to.
When they returned home the plan had been to go and join Ray in the shower yet after checking his phone that he had purposely left behind, for this very reason, there had been a slew of missed calls from the same unknown number and then a few from Nicole.
It seemed Johnny was trying to reach him, then again why wouldn't he?
It had been for the better, what he'd done the night before, but he still felt guilty to all hell about having to do it in the first place and as badly as he wanted to just leave Johnny in jail to rot, never have anything more to do with him, part of him knew he couldn't. Blood or not, that was still his little brother and he did need to see him.
But, he wasn't going to do it behind Ray's back. Even though he already knew how this conversation was going to go and had been trying to prepare for it while Ray was in the shower.
"...Kai?"
Crimson eyes darted up, the guilty look on his face only intensifying. He squeezed Ray's hand gently, hoping the other didn't feel him shaking like he was.
"There's something I need to tell you."