Somewhere around three in the morning, where the sun was not due to make its daily appearance for another three hours, headlights and streetlamps were all that lit up the stretch of road while most of the world slept.
He knew it was early, way too early, to really be heading out but with Ray passed out after a long run around and back and forth only a few hours prior, it was probably the only chance he had to get out and go. Made him feel like a damn teenager again sneaking out like he had, out of his own home no less, but Ray had put his foot down and not that Kai blamed him. He understood where the other was coming from, just… He had to do this. He had to see him, and he still had five hours to go before he got to.
With the heat kicked up inside the car, the rumble of the engine and with still an hour left before he got to the jailhouse, Kai fought his eyes from closing on him. He was tired, rightfully so after the day out he'd had to now waking himself up in the middle of the night to sneak out and go see his brother. He fought the yawns, the way his eyelids kept getting heavier. Didn't need to fall asleep behind the wheel.
He needed coffee, desperately, and luckily found a drive-thru before he crashed and burned.
As the employee behind the window passed him back his card and freshly brewed coffee, his eyes caught onto the glint from the lights hitting his ring. His throat clenched for a minute, giving a wobbly and forced out 'thank you' to the employee before leaving.
He'd gone this long at avoiding looking at the ring sitting on his finger best he could, but now that it had caught his attention that was all he could focus on now as his hands rest on the steering wheel in front of him.
In a way, he knew what he was doing was wrong. Especially after Ray had nearly begged him not to go with tears of frustration in his eyes. Knew that when he returned home he was going to be in a lot of trouble, especially since he'd gone and told Ray he wouldn't go and do what he was right now.
He wasn't big on lying, let alone lying to Ray of all people, but he had done just that. Right in the other's face. And currently, he wasn't so sure how he felt about it yet since he still felt strongly about doing what he was.
It'd be alright though, when he got home, he'd just perk Ray up with something. Buy him another car or something… He'd figure it out.
With an hour passing, coffee in his system but barely doing anything for him, he finally got up to the jailhouse and threw the car in park off to the side of the road nearby. Still had four hours before the place opened.
But now without the distraction driving, Kai was left there in his own head again while he sat there in the silence of Ming-Ming's car. (Couldn't take the Corvette as it would haven woken Ray and Thomas up.)
One hand, he wanted to turn back around and go home. Sleep in his warm bed and not deal with Johnny's shit anymore like he kept saying he would do. If it wasn't for what Johnny had done, he wouldn't even be sitting in Ming-Ming's car like he was let alone having to drive all the way out to the jailhouse to see him!
On the other hand, he kept side eyeing the digital clock in the center of the dash as if every time he looked at it the time would somehow move faster. Wishing it would hurry up so he could go and see him, make sure he was okay after everything. He had to do it, he had to… But he still felt horrible for having to at all.
Whatever this was. He wasn't sure, but he did hope it would bring some closure for him. He needed it. Then, hopefully, he could walk away from Johnny without looking back.
After having dozed off in the driver's seat, arms wrapped over his chest and the heater still running for the past four hours. Kai was startled awake when his phone started to go off in the door pocket beside him, arms hitting the steering wheel and sounding the horn, making him jump again as his tired-self tried to get a hold of himself and rummaged in the door for his phone and turned off the alarm.
Now that the slight fear that had shot through him subsided, he was left with another kind of fear and dread as he finally caught up to the fact that he was really doing this. His eyes darted towards the jailhouse he had parked nearby, his mouth going partially dry and brain losing anything and everything right there but it was now or never. Hadn't camped out on the side of the street in his car for no reason.
Shutting the car down, deciding to just walk across the street instead, his bout of nerves only kicked in harder with every step towards the front entrance as he held a large paper envelope at his side.
By the time he could have backed out, it was already too late as he was sat down in a room with picnic tables scattered about the concrete floor, the smell of the place almost nauseating and his bout of nerves not helping the twist and turns of his stomach.
Leaving the envelope on the bench beside him, out of sight for now, he kept his attention on the door that kept opening and closing with other inmates being led through it to join their own visitors.
Kai shifted where he sat as the fourth inmate was led through with still no sign of Johnny yet, until the door opened a fifth time and his heart plummeted into his stomach at the sight of bright orange clothes and handcuffs.
Dulled bloodshot eyes actually dared to brighten once the familiar slate coloured hair was in his line of sight. He- he came? Kai actually came through for him? The slight elation simmered almost instantly and a flicker of rage sparked within.
Well, it was the least Kai could fucking do seeing as it was his damn fault as to why he'd been thrown in here in the first place.
It had only been a couple of days since that night. Barely 72 hours after the night that truly shattered what little relationship the two of them had and had clutched on to for so long.
The moment the cold metal clicked around Johnny's wrists and he was dragged away out of the club, whatever he'd felt for the other had twisted and transitioned into pure hatred.
He'd done nothing but relive that entire scene almost obsessively since he was thrown into a holding cell but with each recall the playback seemed to differ slightly. One time Johnny could have sworn he saw a tear fall from ruby eyes. The next he'd bet his life he actually saw the fucker smirk.
Still though, a whir of something churned in his stomach as the guard unlocked his handcuffs and it took everything within him to remain somewhat restrained and not just run up to his big brother that was now sitting right there. He was torn on whether to punch Kai's damn lights out or hug him as tight as he could. Like hell would he admit it but he was actually relieved to see him at that table.
A measly few days or not, it had been fucking awful behind those bars with nothing but the clothes on him and the thought that perhaps his one phone call had gone to waste.
"Didn't think you'd show." He admitted with slight bite as he sat down heavily opposite Kai, rubbing at his wrists a little where the handcuffs had dug into his skin.
"Didn't think I would either." Kai sent back under his breath, eyes watching Johnny rub at his wrists and felt his stomach churn harder.
Wasn't much he could do about them keeping the bonds too tight, he'd dealt with it before, so felt for the other right now and wished he could do something.
"Got your call, and Nicole called me too. So." He explained after clearing his throat.
All Johnny could really do was give him a slight nod before perhaps the most audacious question he'd ever asked in his twenty odd years passed his lips after a moment of silence.
"How is she?"
"Don't know. All she called me about was you." Kai answered, shoulders having gone up a little.
Johnny nodded again to him, deciding to just leave that shit storm where it was and not even delve any further with it. Wasn't like it was going anywhere; and besides, he had plenty of other problems that needed handling first.
"Right well, let's just cut the shit shall we and get to it." He started resting his arms on the table in front, hands clasped together like he was holding an interview.
"When are you getting me out of here?"
Kai would have choked on his own spit if he wasn't somewhat expecting the question. His head slowly shaking, finally realizing that he hadn't so much as looked Johnny in the face yet like he was the one in the orange jumpsuit.
Lifting his eyes up from the table, his back muscles tensing some, he locked eyes with the other across from him.
"I'm not."
"Excuse me?"
Kai held in the sigh and the urge to rub at his tired face. "You honest to God can't believe that I came to get you out of here, can you? After everything, Johnny?" He asked in a hushed hissing whisper.
"I came because you called. Nicole called. Just..." Shit, he didn't even fully know. He hadn't come to apologize, but also didn't want to just slap the divorce papers down he and Nicole needed off the bat since he knew Johnny wouldn't sign them if he took that approach.
The male opposite just stared at him for a long moment, that initial flicker of rage igniting some more within his stomach. No. This was clearly just one big joke.
"Just what Kai?" He pressed none too quietly in his frustration which promptly got him a verbal warning from one of the guards behind him stood at the wall.
"Just what?" He repeated adopting a quieter volume though was clearly seething, "You've made your fucking point. I've learned my lesson. Well done. Your little stunt worked and like I said to you at the damn club, I'm. Sorry. You wanna hear it again? I'm Sorrryyyy. Now quit fucking around and pay my damn bail so I can get out of here!"
Kai's hand up came and slapped the table between them harshly to get him to shut up so he could think, getting a warning himself that went through one ear and out the other.
"And do I still look like I give a damn how sorry you are?" He hissed at him again, "I am not here to pay your bail, where you once again, get an easy ticket out of the trouble you caused yourself. I came to see if you were okay, you jackass!"
"If I'm okay? You wanted to see if I was okay?! Do I look okay to you?!" Roughly gesturing to his orange attire, Johnny could feel his chest heaving in his anger, his fists now clenched along with his jaw as he stared the other down.
"You've some fuckin' nerve Kai, asking if I'm okay when it was you who put me in here to begin with!"
"If you two don't quieten down visitation will end immediately, you got that?" Came another threat from the uniformed guard behind.
Kai held a hand up towards the other guard without looking his way, keeping his eyes locked with Johnny's through his whole tirade.
"At least you're alive, Johnny. And me? The nerve of me? Seriously? You came to me that night, wanting me to just shrug it all off, act like nothing had changed, like you didn't monumentally fuck us all over. And I don't just mean me, I mean everyone from the club.
"So yeah, how dare I be the bad guy here Johnny. Could have fucking put a bullet between your eyes that night, but instead let you live. You're welcome for that, by the way."
Johnny huffed a laugh at what Kai deemed to be a courteous action. And he swore he was the unbelievable one.
"Such a fuckin' martyr aren't you? Well thanks Kai, thank you sooo much for not putting the rabid dog out of its misery and pulling the trigger. Though, we all know why you really didn't do it, so how's about you stop making it seem like you did me a damn favour and admit it's 'cos you didn't want to be the one sitting in cuffs, again."
Johnny's tone dripped with poison as he sneered at him, eyes remaining locked on the ones opposite as he brought out the old skeletons in the closet.
"Or what, did you think I'd forgotten? You sit there in your designer fuckin' jacket and your flashy fuckin' watch and-" It was then Johnny clocked the wedding band and the sight caused him to pause momentarily, faltering some before picking up where he left off.
"-and you swear you're so much better than me. Sure, right now it seems like you're living all fancy and everything's fine and dandy while my life's gone to shit, but you were here once Kai, and what happened?" He paused again, tilting his head with an air of arrogance before continuing.
"Let me remind you 'cos clearly you seem to have forgotten... It was me that went to Voltaire. Me that fucking begged and pleaded like a little bitch for him to help get you off for everything. And now that the tables have turned, you're gonna leave me in here to rot when it wasn't even me that killed the fucking slut? You should be in here Kai, not me!"
"And I never asked you too!" Kai let out, on the verge of coming off the bench and across the table at him.
"Not that I'm ungrateful for it, but unlike you I didn't beg and plead for my freedom because I knew I didn't deserve it! So fuck you, Johnny. Fuck you for helping me because since then you've just gone and held it over my head. So fuck you!"
The male opposite sat unfazed now. The two swapping their demeanors with Johnny now appearing cool calm and collected.
He knew Kai had never asked for help back then because whether he felt he'd deserved it or not his damn pride wouldn't have allowed such. He'd helped him though and got him out. Regardless of the probable selfish reasons for Johnny doing so he'd done it. He needed his brother back then, and he needed him now.
"So return the favour." He nonchalantly suggested. "Get me out and then we're even."
The corner of Kai's nose lifted like he'd smelt something foul in the air. Scoffing at the persistence of the other.
"No." Was the simple and firm reply.
The blasé attitude hardened when the spoilt inner child's requests were refused once more.
"So after everything we've been through, everything I've done for you, you're really just going to leave your own brother to fend for himself here? I always knew you were a cunt Kai but this is a whole new low for you."
"Funny coming from you of all people." Kai shot back with an eye roll and fixing up his jacket on his shoulders some.
"You want me to help you but I can't. You think I have the kind of influence Voltaire had? It wasn't just the money he had, Johnny, he had influence and people in his pockets. I don't. All I have is the damn money and that won't be enough to get you out and make it all go away.
"Shit, enter a fucking plea deal and tell them where the others are to help your chances here instead of looking for me to bail you out from your own shit show." He advised best he could, but also would not bat an eye if Robert finally got caught and thrown behind bars too.
"You think if I knew I wouldn't? I don't know where the hell they are, Kai, otherwise I would. They're the real criminals here, not me." He told, tone softening now that he seemed to be getting some form of genuine assistance from the other after sweet fuck all the entire time Kai had been there thus far.
"I just- I don't know what to do man..."
"Enter a plea deal." Kai repeated, "You're good at negotiating, so."
A barely noticeable smile sat opposite at the compliment. Was probably the best chance he had. Or more so the only chance he had.
Kai really wasn't going to help him here, that much was clear. Though not because he wouldn't, but because he couldn't. That thought alone seemed to dissolve some of Johnny's bitterness though he'd be lying if he said he'd forgiven him.
"...Will just have to see what happens then." He exhaled in his defeat, "The first hearings next week so... Got til then to come up with something..."
Kai shifted a little in his seat, no longer with the angry words being thrown across the table this seemed almost like any normal visit... Just, in a jail house and behind his fiancé's back.
"Do you... Do you want me there?" He asked almost unsure of himself for even asking such a thing.
Sullen eyes glanced up not believing what he was hearing either. "You'd do that?... For me?"
Kai gave a slow nod back at him, not sure what else he was meant to say or do. Maybe he shouldn't have offered, but he did want to be there.
Johnny wasn't sure how to take that at first. Knowing Kai as he did he couldn't help but feel there was some underlying reason or motive for the offer. But that skepticism was short lived as elation quickly took over.
"Yes! I mean, y-yeah. I'd like that..." He shifted some, before reaching to rub the back of his neck. The beds here were like sleeping on rocks.
"It's on the 9th. Not sure of the time but you could prolly find out somehow."
"Okay. I'll figure it out, be there." He paused and glanced at the paper envelope sat beside him on the bench.
"I really did come to see you, but since I'm here and you're here." He started, picking up the folder and setting it between them on the top of the table.
"Can you sign these?"
Red brows furrowed some as Johnny glanced down to it, "What is it?" He asked, reaching across and flicked the file open.
Within seconds all became clear and Kai was sent a sneer along with the documents being carelessly flung back at him sliding across the table.
"Should have fuckin' known why you really showed up!"
"Don't even!" Kai bit back, "I did come to see you, I just fucking said that. But I highly doubt she's going to come all the way here, heavily pregnant, to get you to sign these now. So I'm here, you're here, so why not? But I did come to see you, first and foremost."
"Why?!" Came another outburst, "You said to check I was alright, but how the fuck do you think that's supposed to make me feel on top of everything else going on right now?" He snarled, not even caring now of how loud he was being.
"You didn't come to check on shit, Kai, you just wanted to be the one to rub salt in the damn wound."
"And why would I? You think I actually enjoy seeing you sitting in that godawful orange jumpsuit right now? You think I've enjoyed any of this?! Please, Johnny, I didn't want any of this!"
"Then you shouldn't have called the fucking cops on me, man!" He practically screamed, voice cracking on him as he slapped on the table in his upset and rose to his feet.
"I'm your fucking brother! And you sold me out!"
At the commotion two guards promptly ran over and grabbed at Johnny's arms.
"Alright buddy you've had enough warnings, times up."
Struggling against their hold on him the clink of metal cuffs sounded as his wrists were restrained once more and a lone tear trickled down Johnny's cheek as he glared towards Kai.
"All of this is exactly what you wanted and have done for a long time." He spat as the guards started to drag him away from the bench.
"Had it all coming didn't I?! Always was seen as the black sheep in your perfect fucking family!"
As they hauled Johnny away, Kai sat there numb for a moment till he had to collect the envelope and papers that had been scattered all over the place before stuffing it all back in and rising from the bench he'd been sitting on for who knew how long now; he just knew his ass was numb and his legs needs a good stretch.
Of all the times Johnny didn't want to believe him, now was the time? Sold him out? Sure, maybe. But then again, he wasn't the one that had beaten the ever living shit out of him-TWICE- and in his own home no less.
With a small growl fixing to rise from his chest, making sure he had everything for the long ride home, he let himself out of the room very aware of the eyes on his back that he promptly ignored.
Maybe he really shouldn't have come. Was a bad idea. Was getting blamed, again, for all of Johnny's own problems and the things he did! While still, he was there trying to fucking help!
This was still a damn courtesy, not that Johnny would see that from behind those bars. But was better than the other alternative and being six feet under like Ming was.
The ride home was a bit of a blur. All that had been said between them playing over in his mind and seeming to cut him even deeper than the first time the words had been hurled.
Whilst he couldn't deny that Johnny had been treated differently by Voltaire the family was far from perfect. He knew the redhead was aware of that deep down so why he'd said it he wasn't so sure.
There were plenty of things he wasn't so sure about now actually. One being how the hell was he going to get Johnny to sign these divorce papers now? He'd hoped for a new year new start for Nicole. Wouldn't have cost him a penny but he couldn't give it to her. He couldn't exactly force him to sign them so what was he supposed to do? He couldn't help her, just how he couldn't help Johnny.
He made a pretty shit brother...
Before he knew it he pulled up into the drive and whether from lack of food or just nerves he felt nauseous. He exhaled as he retracted the key and stared up at the house.
Made a pretty shit husband-to-be too...
All of Ray's harsh words had circled his mind too, the scolding going on until past midnight on what an idiot he was for even thinking about seeing Johnny after everything.
He knew that, but really what was he supposed to do? It was hard enough putting him in there in the first place so taking Ray's advice and 'leaving him in there to rot' just wasn't something he could bring himself to do.
After a few internal words of encouragement he forced himself out of the car and gingerly shoved his key in the front door.
Time to face the music...
The second the key could be heard in the lock and jiggling around, Ray's head snapped from the TV he was currently watching in the living room and held his breath till the door swung open.
Kai didn't really look at him as he stepped into the house, toeing off his shoes and shrugging off his jacket with his head down while all Ray could do was look at him. Yet, his face didn't give way to what was on his mind or anything for that matter.
If anything, he just looked slightly relieved to see Kai home.
He knew where Kai went, of course he did, was he angry? Maybe. He wasn't really sure yet. Disappointed though? Very much so. And by the look on Kai's face when he did look up again, Kai looked just as disappointed as he did which made Ray rise to his feet and come around the back of the couch.
"I really don't want to hear it, Ray." Kai warned in a soft, almost pleading tone.
Ray's head cocked to the side a tad, "Wasn't going to say anything. Just wanted to know what you wanted for dinner."
"I'm not really hungry..." He answered in a mumble. Appetite gone just how it always did when some shit had hit the fan.
"You can have whatever you want though."
Ray looked more unimpressed by the answer than by the fact he'd gone and woken up alone in bed.
"Well think of something, cus that answer isn't good enough." He snapped lightly, hands on his hips.
"My god, anything, Ray. I really don't care. Whatever you want." It was clear from Kai's tone he had zero energy for something so trivial. He was glad to not be discussing his not-so-secret secret mission, but just discussing anything right now was far from his list of things he wanted to do.
In fact...
"I'm going to lie down. Honestly, I'm good with whatever you want so just do whatever."
Ray's eyes rolled, the resistance to bite his tongue about it all thinning to the point he couldn't anymore.
"Oh but when I wanted you to not go see that piece of shit you did the opposite."
Kai's feet came to a halt, his foot having not even touched the first step before lowering back onto the laminate flooring of the hallway. Here we go. He'd said he didn't want to hear it, but of course, in true Ray fashion, he had to just tell him anyways.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He sent him on impulse, keeping his eyes away from the ones currently glaring right at him and his audacity.
Ray tried to hide in his unimpressed look though it came out anyways, his hips going out again as he shifted his weight.
"So you sneak out of the house at three in the morning to what... Cheat on me?"
Kai tensed. Honestly going there today really had felt like he was doing just that. He could have sworn Ray was asleep? Had he really just gone and watched him quietly get his shit together and leave without saying a word?
He exhaled in his defeat. He could not have another argument over this.
"Can we just drop it? Please? The situation is fucked as it is without us going to shit too."
"It is fucked, which is exactly why I don't get why you would even bother at all! I appreciate you telling me, but I don't appreciate you sneaking out of the house like you did as if I wouldn't find out or know! I'm not two, Kai."
"I know but what am I supposed to do, Ray?! Please try and see this from my side here!" He pleaded; arms held out at his sides. "He isn't just some random kid to me, he's my brother. I feel torn as hell right now and you're not making this any easier for me."
"And I get it, I do! But what kind of brother has he been to you?! My concern is you, not him. Not after all the bullshit he's done to YOU! See it from my side, here. Please." Ray begged, his voice cracking.
"If it wasn't for him then Tala wouldn't have been in the hospital! Lee's car wouldn't have been smashed- and I wouldn't have a scar on my fucking face!" He screamed, eyes threatening to spill as he pointed at the scar from the knife Bryan had taken to him along his cheek bone.
"So tell me why you'd go and still care about him?!"
Kai's expression softened in his guilt as he was reminded of the ridiculously long list of all the things Johnny had done. And those were just the things Ray knew about. Wasn't even the half of it if he counted all the shit from before Ray even came into his life.
He could see Ray's point of view as clear as day. He wasn't an idiot. He knew exactly why he was upset but even so he wasn't changing how he felt.
"I know it's all his own fault why he is where he is. All of it is for screwing around with the wrong people his entire fuckin' life. But..." He paused for a second, another sigh escaping his nose.
"...I just can't leave him there having nobody. I'm sorry if you disagree with that but, that's just how it is. He's the only bit of family I have left, Ray. That's why I went, and that's why I care."
"Then who the hell am Thomas and I to you then?" Ray choked back at him.
Kai's jaw tightened. "That isn't fair and you know it." He retorted, eyes remaining on him and his chest clenching at seeing the other upset. It seemed like all he was doing once again was hurting everyone around him when he was desperately trying to do the opposite.
"And you think it was fair of you to just leave in the middle of the night instead of being honest with me?"
"No, it wasn't." Kai admitted in a mumble, "And I really am sorry for that. But I couldn't sleep and I had to just go and see him and check he was okay... Not only that but he needs to sign those damn divorce papers for Nicole. I need to get her as far away from this mess as possible too."
Ray took in his own deep breath to calm himself down. He got it. He really did. He just hated it, all of it. Kai was too good for his own good, and if he was honest he was scared. Scared that Johnny would somehow worm his way into Kai's ear and Kai would get him out, let the wild animal loose and they'd be in danger again.
"I just don't want to see you, us, your family hurt. Any more than what we've already been put through. Do what you want, Kai. But I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm happy about this."
He got a slow nod in return, crimson eyes downcast as he listened once more to the voiced concerns.
"I know, but you don't need to worry as no one's going to get hurt. From what I know of the judicial system he won't be getting out any time soon so honestly you might as well just forget about him." He suggested, tone forlorn, though with his earlier advice to Johnny on a plea deal that time may just get decreased... He'd best just keep his mouth shut on that.
"Maybe not me, or Thomas. But what about you? Seeing him again I'm sure wasn't easy, why do that to yourself?" Ray asked in a calmer, almost sympathetic tone.
"I'm fine, Ray." He assured in a sigh of slight relief that the tension was starting to evaporate.
"Isn't me behind bars, it's him. Sure it wasn't all that great seeing the kid in the orange get up but, that's what happens when you make bad choices." He shrugged, "Hardest part for me was the acceptance that there isn't a damn thing I can really do to help him. He's gone too far this time. All I can do is be there for him."
Right there a shiver went down Ray's spine, mouth falling open slightly. "Be honest with me... If you could get him out, would you?"
Whilst Kai's outer demeanor wasn't showing much, inside his stomach started to tie in knots at the question. If he could get him out... Would he...
Would he?
His actions thus far would suggest he'd do anything to get Johnny out. Sneaking out into the night at stupid o'clock in the morning and driving on over there like a sick with worry mother. Waiting in his car to be first in line to get in there all so he could check he was alright?
Lying to his fiancé about it all too and having a huge argument until past midnight. It was ridiculous.
If he could get him out... Would he?
"No..." He finally answered, "I wouldn't..."
The admission probably came as a surprise to the other. It was sort of a shock for Kai himself but honestly he wouldn't given the chance.
"If it was a choice I don't think I'd have him in there as long as he's more than likely going to get... Y'know, being part of a murder and all... But no, I think he needs some time behind bars to have a good think about all he's done and how he plans on spending the rest of his life."
Ray gave Kai's words some time to settle in the stiff air around them before he could feel his head slowly nod back to him, not sure with what he could say back to him or if there was anything to say back at all now on the subject.
"Okay... Well, I'm gonna order some take out for dinner. Thomas is at Hilary's for the night, Caden and Harley asked for him before school starts." He informed, feeling all sorts of weird but not sure why now.
Part of him really didn't believe Kai, that one day he'd just wake up and there would be Johnny sat at the dining table eating breakfast like he didn't have a hand to play in all the bullshit the past months.
The other part wanted to believe him, needed to believe him now with those ring on their fingers but this wasn't the kind of start he had envisioned or wanted for them.
Kai sent him his own nod and allowed the silence to uncomfortably swallow them up.
Was probably for the best Thomas was out of the way tonight. Honestly after his day he really didn't have the energy to entertain him.
"Gonna go lie down..." He repeated, turning on his heel and taking himself upstairs like he'd intended when he'd first got home.
He was glad for the air being somewhat cleared, but he too felt that awkwardness that draped over them now and he just didn't wanna be around it.
When the sun rolled up for a new day, the house didn't seem as lively as it had been since the week of Kai's constant nightmares. Ray thought they'd have been past the tension at this point, been past the awkward feeling of stepping around each other like they weren't anything to one another but that's exactly how it had felt all night after Kai took himself up to their room until dinner arrived; leaving Ray to just lazy about after cleaning up the place a bit while Thomas was away.
After dinner the tension was somewhat more cleared, small talk being passed between them because neither could honestly stand the uncomfortable and choking silence that had hung over them. When they retired to bed all seemed a bit better but not what it clearly could have been, nor was Ray sure if right now it could get back there when he was still unsure of Kai's answer to him earlier.
That niggling in the back of his mind kept telling him that Kai would somehow find a way to get Johnny out. It happened to him, he knew their justice system was flawed already, but he just couldn't wrap his head around why Kai would let Johnny off like he wasn't the cause of half their problems, more Kai's than his own.
In the end he'd gone and bit his tongue for the rest of the night, and then the following days through the week, there was no sense in having another go round with him until the sun came up, but they were both restless every night as they tried to sleep with their backs to each other until Kai's alarm blared them out of their light daze come another Monday morning.
As Kai pulled himself out of bed, mumbling a dry and sleepy 'morning' to Ray he head straight for the closet by his side of the bed and disappeared behind the door. Ray blinked the bit of crud from his eyes as he sat up on his side, trying to peek around the doorway to see what it was Kai was doing as he heard the hangers scraping along the railings inside the closet.
It wasn't long before Kai emerged with a shirt hanging off his shoulder, a pair of jeans in his arms that he plopped on the bed before going to his dresser by the window behind him.
All the while, Ray took note of how Kai kept avoiding his gaze or just plain looking in his general direction at all.
"You're going again, aren't you?" He accused with a small bite.
Kai exhaled a breath through his nose that would suggest he was already over this as he pulled his shirt off his shoulder and pushed his arms through the sleeves, his sight remaining away from the other on the bed as he fussed with the buttons.
"He needs to sign the divorce papers." Was all he gave him in response though knew Ray wouldn't buy it entirely.
"...Kay." Ray huffed with a slight growl in the back of his throat, throwing the sheets off himself and heading for the shower where he slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.
With another sigh Kai finished off dressing himself and by the time Ray was out of the shower he was already gone. In the car again and heading over to the prison across town to get the long awaited update from Johnny.
Unbeknownst to the other he'd received a call from him a few days ago and the two did what they'd never done before.
They just, talked. Casual chit chat on nothing in particular and it was actually pleasant. He'd hung up the phone feeling perplexed yet a small smile sat on his face.
He hoped the visit today would be just as amicable.
Like his first visit, the envelope on the bench beside him, Kai's eyes were locked on the doors that would soon open to reveal his brother, the stench of the place making his nose curl again but without the horrible nauseous feeling twisting his stomach.
It wasn't long before dark red hair emerged and was heading over to where he was sat after being uncuffed and given a small word of warning from the guard.
With a small bounce in his step Johnny sat himself down at the bench heavily and sported the cheeky grin that Kai hadn't seen for the longest time, greeting him too in a way he hadn't heard for a while either.
"Hey bro! How ya been?"
For the first time, in a really long time a genuine smile actually came over Kai's mouth as he greeted Johnny across the table at him.
"I'm..." Well, he was fine he supposed. Things weren't so fine at the moment back home because of what he was doing but what more could be done about it? This was what he needed to do, he just had to.
"I'm fine. You?" He asked after clearing his throat.
"Nyeah, as good as I can be I guess." He shrugged before his tone suddenly adopted excitement.
"Oh! Remember that guy I was telling you about? The one who had clear beef with me and I had no idea why? Well. I took your advice and we don't gotta worry about him anymore... All taken care of." He grinned with a firm nod of his head.
Kai huffed a small laugh under his nose, "That right?" He mused humorously, "Good. I'm glad."
"Yeahh I got friendly with the big boys round here and..." Johnny slyly looked around ensuring no one was listening before scooting closer to him and barely speaking barely above a whisper.
"They buried him out in the yard. You were right, strength in numbers." With a smirk he eased back into his seat and tapped the side of his temple with a wink.
Kai just shook his head, and here he thought Johnny would change a little being locked up. Nope, was just surrounded more by like-minded individuals.
"Kind of feel sorry for the bastard." He chuckled dryly, pulling his hands up and resting his elbows on the table between them to get more comfortable.
"But what about the case, Johnny? Have you talked to your lawyers at all about the plea deal?"
A drawl came from opposite as he tried to recall exactly what was said. The whole meeting had taken around two hours and he'd stopped listening a handful of times admittedly as they droned on about what options he had. Which turned out, weren't all that vast.
"Uh yeah... So basically I can choose to plead 'not guilty,' which is the truth, but with the current evidence stacked against me it isn't looking great and I can be looking at twenty plus years if we lose... Or, I can plead guilty, and assist in helping them find the others and I'm looking at half that time."
"And you have no clue where they are, do you?"
"...No..." Johnny begrudgingly admitted after a moment. "They don't know that though..."
Kai let out a hard pressed sigh, he figured as much and hated it. What he wouldn't give to have them all locked up, stand trial for what they'd done to Ming...
"Surely you must have known something, though. A hideout he would have kept her, something, Johnny!" He desperately let out.
"I've told them everything I know!" He sent back in the same frustration.
"Whether you wanna believe it or not Kai I wasn't all that involved with Robert. Sure I screwed around at his club but apart from that and getting high at his place a bunch of times that was it. I told the cops already that dump by his club was the last place I saw the chick and I'm pretty sure she was still alive then..."
As the words circled the air between them, something in Kai's eyes changed as his breath hitched in his throat.
He saw her... He saw her alive and he didn't do anything?!
And he kept wanting to claim he had nothing to do with her death...
Before either of them could blink, Kai's body came up off the bench and across the table at him, jerking Johnny by the front of his orange jumpsuit before they both just toppled backwards where he quickly scrambled over the top of him, pinning Johnny below him on the cold concrete with his entire body shaking in a pent up rage he hadn't felt since the day Johnny had decided to come to his house and attack him.
"YOU SAW HER AND YOU LEFT HER THERE!" His voice roared out of him as his eyes blazed with a thin film of tears building up inside them.
"YOU KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING TO HER AND YOU DIDN'T STOP IT!" His voice shook out of him, the grip around Johnny's jumpsuit getting tighter to the point he could feel his own nails embedding through the fabric into his own hands.
The moment the confession had slipped from his lips Johnny knew that he'd fucked up and even more so when his back met the solid ground.
All he could do was stare up in fear at the older male with his hands up in submission, his words of defence being shook out of him in mere stutters before two guards sprinted over to drag Kai off of him.
The fingers gripping into Kai's shoulders and arms barely registered as all he could see was red, yet he still managed to wiggle and keep wiggling out of the guards hold on him as he didn't know what else to do but sit there on top of his brother's waist and look down at him with the tears accumulating more in his eyes.
"She trusted you." He choked out, the buildup finally releasing as he had to blink and the tears rolled down and onto Johnny's cheek below.
"And just like her, you're dead to me now." He spat, finally letting Johnny's jumpsuit go harshly, the guards either side of him not hesitating to hoist him up to his feet and drag him away that he didn't put a fight up against.
Johnny remained on the floor for a moment, his heart still racing in his chest at what had happened just now before another guard helped him up to his feet. He shrugged off the assistance as his own now watering eyes watched on as Kai was dragged away. The sight feeling like deja vu of all those years ago when he was taken away in the same manner and shoved into the back of a police car.
Kai didn't mean what he said. He can't have done. The mere thought of it caused his throat to tighten.
He can't be done with him... He can't be!
"Is this yours?" The guard questioned pulling Johnny from his thoughts as they picked up the file of paperwork Kai had brought long forgotten about on the bench.
Johnny looked it over in the guards grasp before silently nodding a moment later, his gaze downcast as another reset his cuffs and lead him back to his cell.