Hello all!

Thank you so much to those who left a review for the last chapter! I always love hearing your thoughts on it!

I was lucky to have this chapter almost ready to go for a while, hence the faster update!

I'm excited to see what you guys think about this one! Been in the works for a good while.

Big thank you to Luxah for her huge contribution to this chapter. Would not be what it is without her!

Without further ado, please enjoy!

Chapter 16 – Betrayal

Ray put the phone to his ear, a rage building up in his stomach that he had to keep down as he tried to sound casual. "Hey, what's going on?" He asked as he stopped just at the top of the stairs.

"My god, you're alive!" Ben's cocky voice echoed back, "seriously, I was starting to worry he'd eaten you! You down for a little game plan meeting? Get you out the house and up to scratch?"

Ray's nails chipped into the railing, it was like a veil had been lifted over his eyes. This is what the others had meant, that he had allowed... Not any longer.

"Pfft, you really think I'd let him? C'mon, I'm the man remember?" He joked with him, just to keep up the charade. He didn't need him running off, he had to settle this. For Kai.

"Yeah, I'll meet you there." He said as he started down the stairs, his nails raking down the wood as he went.

The second the front door clicked shut, Kai threw the barely cooled sheets off himself and got up, feeling murderous. He paced the room like a tiger in a cage. Ray was right, he was an idiot... For believing he wanted to fix this. All he wanted was to get his dick wet...and then run back to his boyfriend. He felt himself get riled up. Both angry and hurt. This shit was never going to end...

He threw on his clothes and head out the door, legs automatically taking him to where he needed to be.

Ray had pocketed his phone, storming down the path and into the wooded area. It was starting to get dark out, he'd barely realized that the day had flown right by them already. As he got closer to the clearing he tried to put on a friendlier face, if he faced him with murder in his eyes, Ben would sense something was up, and he wanted to strangle him without having to chase him down to do so.

Ben lay back against a tree with his arms behind his head waiting. He turned as he heard rustling, letting out a huge smirk.

"Long time, no see bro!" He greeted as he made out Ray's form coming towards him.

"Hey, hope I didn't keep you waiting long." Ray said with the fakest smile he had ever worn before in his life, stepping up to him.

Ben lazily hoisted himself off the grass. Patting off his pants as he met him. "Long enough, but I forgive ya..." he said as he drifted off, picking up a scent before giving a devilish smirk.

"...and now I see why you kept me waiting."

"Is that a problem?" Ray asked coolly, folding his arms over his chest as his back went ridged.

Ben was a little surprised by that reaction but chuckled anyway.

"What? No! You the man, Ray! Finally got the princess to put out!" He said before pausing, "so come on, dish! Is sex with a pregnant dude as wild as I've heard?"

Ray's blood boiled but he held it down, "You have no idea." He said with a slight smirk, "So, what'd you want?"

Ben cackled and punched his arm in manly approval. "Bet it was nice to have him moaning like a bitch in a good way for once..."

Ray didn't look impressed, "You gonna tell me what you wanted or not?" He asked as he playfully punched his arm back, adding some strength behind it.

Ben's laughter died down as he caught Ray's face.

"What's the matter? For someone who finally got laid you sure look uptight! And I just thought you'd wanna hang out. Escape the clutches of Satan. I've missed you, man! You've been gone days!"

"Hn, didn't realize you'd miss me so much." He said as he eyed him, stepping back from him a little. "Why is that?" He asked as he cocked his to the side.

Ben bit his lip ever so slightly. "...Well, I like Tyson and Max and all. But it's hardly the same without you." He answered with a coy grin forming, "and don't bullshit me, you've missed me too..." he joked.

"Guess I have." Ray shrugged a little, trying to wind him in. Get him close enough on his own so he could kill him.

Ben eyed him. Something was different about him today. He had a weird feisty yet standoffish vibe going on... It was nice...

"So...a little bird told me something interesting yesterday...

Ray cocked a brow at him, "What's that?" He asked as he grounded himself.

He sucked the inside of his cheek to suppress the grin he got whenever he thought about it. "...that your little lunatic finally pushed Tao too far...and that he's off the team."

"Who told you this?" Ray asked, his rage fixing to bust out at any moment.

Why had he allowed Ben to talk about Kai like that he would never know. It made his heart sink, knowing he was the cause of it, but he was there to put an end to it. Make it right like he had said he would.

Ben arched a coy brow. "The little ball of leather himself..."

"And I'm off for a week too, in case he didn't tell you." Ray added.

Ben snorted. "Oh, he did. That's why I gave you a few days without calling..." he said before peering in Ray's eyes, grinning harder. "I honestly don't think I've heard of anyone's eyes getting stuck in a slit, you poor fuckin' schmuck...what is he doing to you?"

Ray shook his head, "It wasn't his fault."

"Pffft..." he scoffed, "Don't tell me his little freak out made you feel sorry for him? Please...I heard he had to be strapped down...I mean, just wow..."

"C'mere a sec." Ray tilted his chin back; his claws having drawn blood in the folds of his arms he had been digging them into his own skin so hard.

Ben shrugged and did as he asked.

"You just got a lil somethin'..." Ray said as he reached out towards the top of Ben's hair, like he had done to him.

Ben's eyes lit up. Ray was looking good tonight. There was something...

In a flash Ray's eyes slit, a slight pain hitting him as they did so but he pushed it back down as he grabbed a fistful of Ben's hair. Without much of a struggle he jerked his head back, getting in his face baring his fangs.

"You think you're fucking funny?" He hissed, his claws digging into the top of Ben's scalp.

Ben startled and hissed at the pain and the shock. "Ray, whatthefuck!?"

He exclaimed as he reached up to put his hands on his wrists.

"I've have enough of you bad mouthing Kai!" He yelled and shook him hard, his eyes piercing. "Do you understand me?! You say one more thing about him and I'll knock all your fucking teeth in!"

Ben's eyes slit. "The hell is wrong with you!? I've only ever been backing you up with what you've told me!"

"AND IT ENDS NOW!" Ray's roared at him and threw him backwards, pulling some of his hair out in the process. "I shouldn't have ever came to you, I trusted you! I thought you were my friend, but you're just a fucking snake!"

Ben rubbed his head where Ray's claws were and grit his teeth. "What are you saying!? I've only ever gone off what you've told me..." he said innocently before thinking, "is it what I said about you getting laid? That's just guys talk! I didn't know you were so sensitive about it. I meant no harm..."

Ray growled in the back of his throat. "You know exactly what I'm talking about! You do realize that being pregnant is actually not the same as being fat?! That Kai is the best fucking blader around on this fucking planet!"

Ben frowned hard. "...What the hell are you talking about?"

A menacing chuckle passed Ray's lips, this guy really liked to play dumb. No wonder they got along so good before. "You know exactly what I'm talking about." His voice rumbled out of his chest, his eyes slitting thinner again like they did before.

Ben huffed. "I really don't! Look..." he said as he held his hands up, "I know I rib him to you, but it was just to have your back...you never complained before so I thought it was helping you vent."

"Are you really going to stand there and lie to my face?! Did you or did you not make fun of his weight?!" Ray bit out, itching to get his claws into him.

Ben laughed, exasperated. "Who the hell told you I said that!? All I ever said was maybe wait til after the baby for the wedding...no one wants a big ol' bump on their wedding day! That was ages ago! And I was just making a comment! You were there!" He added

"And you think that's right?!" He yelled, "Why would you say that to him?! That was before any of this other shit happened, so don't tell me it was to 'back me up'."

Ben slapped his palm to his face. "You were right there when I said it...if I offended either of you, why are you bringing this up now? It was like...two months ago!"

"Why did you say it?!" Ray repeated angrily.

Ben shrugged, "because it's true! Was just a passing comment! Wasn't a dig at him! Ohhhh what's the matter? He a little self-conscious? Or was it that time I mistook how far along he was? Honestly, do I look the kind of guy that knows many pregnant people? He looked pretty big and I guessed wrong...my bad!" He spat, annoyed.

Ray bit into his lip so hard that he broke skin, kicking back against the ground he went for him again. His right arm went out, his fist closed tightly, as he cold clocked him in the jaw.

"I fucking warned you!" He roared as Ben stumbled away from him, holding onto his jaw.

He made a few more grunts as white pain filled him, spitting on the floor to check for blood. "What the fuck was that for!? I didn't do anything!"

"Yes, you did." Ray said darkly, his fists clenching at his sides again. "Say one more insulting, degrading, anything that is a dig at Kai and you'll get another." He hissed, his slit eyes narrowed. They were probably going to get stuck like this again, or worse, permanently, but he really didn't give a shit right this second.

"I have every right to be pissed at you for saying the things you have, for what I allowed! How stupid do you think I am?!"

Ben stood himself back up. "I really don't know what's happening here...but you're under a lot of stress, so I'll just let you vent...you came to me to talk. You were the one who started saying things about him, I just did what I thought a friend should do and have your back...and this is how you repay me? Throwing punches months after I said something trivial and upset your emotional, pregnant fiancé that's been driving you crazy- your words, not mine." He added quickly.

"Because I needed someone on my side, I thought you were that person but I was mistaken. Since talking to you everything else has gotten worse!" Ray yelled back, his shoulders shaking. Ben had been his childhood friend, this was if he was fighting with Lee.

"I shouldn't have said those things about him..." He breathed, trying to calm himself down... Everything Ben was saying was true... It was his fault...

Ben sensed an opportunity. He put on a sympathetic brow. "Ray...look, it's OK. You feel guilty for saying bad stuff about your man and you're angry that I joined in...things have been rough for you, man. I just wanted to be someone for you to be able to relax around, say those things you had to get out your system. I didn't mean any harm...I am your friend..."

Ray's back tensed up, was this his form of an apology? Was something as messed up as this going to even be fixed with that?! He couldn't think straight, he had come here to put Ben in his place. He hit him for heaven's sake and the other didn't even put up a fight!

With a trembling hand he pulled his bangs from his face, he didn't have words to say since his brain was misfiring on him now.

Ben's eyes softened. "Come on Ray...you and I have always been tight...this isn't the first time my big trap has gotten me in trouble, but I really don't want to let it ruin our friendship...if I've stepped out of line, I'm really sorry. I misjudged..."

Ray held a hand out to stop him from talking, putting a hand to his forehead that was searing with another pain. He hissed, closing his eyes and once more it felt like glass scraping against them. He cursed his ancestors; the hell was wrong with them to put this kind of curse on his kind?

"Just... Just stop..." He bit through the pain.

Ben's eyes widened. "Ray!?" He gasped, dashing forward to him. "What's wrong!? Your eyes!? Let's get you sat down..." he said as he gripped his arms and guided him to a grassy patch.

Ray's body tensed as Ben's hands came around him but he couldn't protest, getting down as he kept his eyes closed. As he settled into the grass he was very aware of Ben's hands on him and jerked out from under them.

"I'm fine!" He bit out in a growl.

Ben huffed. "Will you quit this! Like it or not, I'm your friend and I'm gonna help you!"

Ray didn't know what to say to him, wasn't he the enemy? "There's nothing you can do for them." He sighed heavily, "They just need time..." He said as he cracked them open, flinching slightly.

Ben let go of him and sat beside him. "All right...time it is..." he said softly as he went quiet for him.

Ray pulled his knees to his chest, putting his arms that were dried of his blood around them and put his chin in the dip between his knees. "...I'm sorry..." He said in a shaky breath.

Ben glanced over. "What for?"

"Everything..." Ray breathed out, "Pulling you into this mess... Attacking you..."

He decided to reach over and pat his back. "Don't sweat it...you need someone to talk stuff out with? I'm your guy...need a punching bag, apparently I'm your guy, too..." he joked.

Ray cracked a small smirk at him. "Just really... You need to stop talking bad about Kai..." He said quietly.

He held up his hands. "Understood. Won't say another word..." he said as he mentally hurled every colorful insult he could at the pregnant pansy.

"And stay away from him." He added. "Shouldn't be too hard to do for either of you."

Ben rolled his eyes. As if he wanted to be within 10ft of that blowhole... "Of course...won't be hard. But I'll keep my distance..."

"Thanks..." Ray heaved out a sigh.

Maybe this mess could be fixed somehow, he didn't know... This hadn't gone like he thought it would, he had half expected that the two of them would have gone for each other's throats after that first attack but he liked this idea better. As long as Ben knew where he stood now that's all he needed.

"Yeh...not a problem. Can we move on now? You know I'm no good with shit like this..."

Ray nodded, that sounded like a good idea to him. "Yeah, sorry."

"Stop apologizing, asshole..." he joked as he rubbed his back where his hand had been resting.

"Alright, alright." Ray chuckled a little, his back arching into the touch a little as if it were a normal reaction... Stupid cat genetics...

A shiver went from his hand down his arm as he felt it, feeling himself grin. He'd need more hands to count the times he felt Ray's attraction for him. The slight lil' blushes or the deeper breathing when he touched him 'innocently'. He wasn't in love with Ray. He liked him and all...but to say he wouldn't want to see him balancing on the end of his cock would be a lie... He brushed his fingertip down the line of his spine, to see if he could make the kitty purr...

Ray's eyes fell closed on him, still hurting him, but with Ben's hand on his back it almost blocked out the pain. As Ben's finger brushed down his spine he let out a soft gasp, a low quiet purr following it as he leaned into the touch more.

He was exhausted, from the rumble and tumble with Kai not too long ago to having to confront Ben all in the span of a few hours. It was only getting darker out and he knew he should go home, now that his mission was complete, but he just needed to rest a little. Wait for his eyes to dilate so Kai didn't ask questions.

Ben bit his lip...he felt him reacting to it. Preggers must be a pretty shitty lay if he still had an itch he needed scratching. He ran his finger back up his spine and ghosted the side of his neck, before spreading his fingers and gently going through his hair.

Half asleep, half-awake Ray leaned a little into the touch some more. That felt good, a lot nicer than the pull and tugging Kai had given it earlier. Another purr escaped him, this one coming out louder and stronger than the last where it vibrated his body. Something in the back of his mind was screaming, this was wrong, he needed to stop it and stop it now.

"Ben..." He breathed out, having to stop as his fingers started to massage his scalp. It was meant to come out in a warning, but it had sounded more breathy than commanding.

Ben sucked in air through his teeth as the sound of his voice aroused him. He knew it...he wanted him... He leaned in closer, placing a butterfly kiss on his neck before putting his lips to his ear.

"Yeh...?" His deep voice purred.

A fire surged through Ray's body, it shaking on him but he couldn't force his eyes open. His nails digging into opposite hands as he ground his teeth, his mind screaming louder at him as warning bells fired off inside his head. He wasn't going to do this, not to Kai, he had to stop him.

"Stop." He breathed out in a pant as Ben's teeth nipped at his earlobe.

Ben only got more riled by the sound of him. He liked a little game of cat and mouse... "Now why would I do a thing like that...?" He purred back in his ear as he moved a hand and rubbed the front of Ray's pants to see if he was getting the effect he wanted.

Ray's eyes shot open, still painfully slit, as every muscle in his body tightened against him. The hell was going on?! Before he could get his brain to work on him for once, a moan escaped his lips at the touch against him, praying to any higher being that he wouldn't respond to it. Ben's own eyes slit as a needy growl escaped, feeling Ray harden under his hand. He snapped, pouncing.

He pushed Ray back on to the grass, cradling his head with one hand before crashing his lips on to him hungrily.

Ray laid there frozen for a split second until his arms finally managed to move on him. Though really all he managed to do was slide his fingers over Ben's arms, winding them up around his back into his hair. Ben groaned in to the kiss, gripping Ray's hair tighter as he pushed his hips to rub against Ray. This was too easy...

Ray's claws dug back into the back of Ben's hair, his body tensing as he rubbed down against him. He moved his mouth a little, getting Ben's lips trapped between his and then bit down, drawing blood, before he jerked his head backwards with one hand, the other pushing on his arm to get him off of him. He ended up rolling Ben over onto his back, quickly getting over his waist and spat the blood that had pooled into his mouth out to the side.

"Liked that, didn't you?" He asked darkly, his eyes burning as everything within him snapped. Grabbing the front of Ben's shirt in a death like grip, lifting his head off the grass.

Despite the pain, Ben's bloodied lip cracked in to a smirk as he lay pinned. "...Who knew little Ray-Ray was so kinky?"

Ray shoved Ben's head back down into the grass hard, a growl tearing through him as his hair stood on end. He lent over him, watching Ben's eyes roll around in his head for a second.

"I don't ever want to see your face again!" He hissed out low, picking him up only to slam him back down again.

"How dare you do this to me!" He screamed, repeating the motion before Ben had a chance to react.

"I TRUSTED YOU!" He kept going, not finding it in himself to be able to stop.

Every time he pulled and pushed Ben back up and down there was another crack as the back of his head hit the ground, his eyes only getting more dazed with every hit. He wanted to kill him, he was probably close to doing it, but he finally stopped, somehow.

Letting the front of Ben's shirt go he sat back on his knees over Ben's waist, his body shook uncontrollably as tears filled his eyes.

He had done it, what he had said he wouldn't do all along. He betrayed Kai, himself, his parents, Aoba and Shou... How was he going to get through this one?

Kai waddled his way down the path with all the force of an angry duckling, his fists clenched at his sides as he was scolding himself in his head. How stupid was he? To have fallen for Ray's tricks, again! He hated himself, but hated Ray more.

The slime, the prick, that good for nothing...

"ASSHOLE!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, getting a few strange looks by those he was walking by.

He stopped and glared at them, smirking as he saw them all cower away from him. That made him feel a bit better, least that still worked for him...

He continued till he saw Aoba's house, having to calm himself a little before he reached the door and knocked on it a few times.

Aoba pulled the door open, bouncing Yi gently on his shoulder as he poked his head around the door.

"Hey!" He greeted brightly, "I was going to drop by and see you later! Come on in..." he offered.

Kai followed after him, going right to his spot on the couch and fought with himself a few good minutes until he settled down onto the cushion. His feet were killing him and he kicked off his shoes, propping his feet up on the ottoman that sat in front of him.

"Sorry for coming over without warning..." He mumbled shyly once his anger calmed down some more.

Aoba continued to bounce the fussing baby and smiled at him. "Heh, that's kind of our thing! Don't apologize!"

Kai cracked a small smile at him, eyeing the fussy baby in his arms... Maybe this was a bad time...

"If you're busy I can come back..."

Aoba gave him a look. "Don't be silly. Keep your feet up...in fact, show me those ankles..." he said in a stern motherly way as he nodded at his feet.

Kai reached at his pant legs and hiked them up, straining over his stomach to reach above his knees. He hated this, this stupid bump, these damn swollen ankles, he hated that he was being treated like a petulant child all the damn time now.

Aoba tutted in disapproval. "Better stay like that for a while..." he said as he made his way over next to him as usual on the couch. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked tiredly as Yi grizzled in his ear.

Instantly Kai felt hot tears prick at the corner of his eyes, if anything that's what he hated most of all out of this. He opened his mouth to speak as a sob tore through him and his chest heaved heavily. He tried to keep it in, for Yi's sake but the damn broke open and the flood waters poured out.

"I... I can't do this anymore... I-I-He-He's a... A-P-prick."

Aoba would have been taken aback if this weren't a regular thing and instantly made a grab with his freehand to the tissue box on the coffee table and handed it to him.

"What happened?" He asked automatically.

Kai took the tissue box, just holding onto it as his fingers dug into the flimsy sides. He shook his head at him, his chest still heaving through heavy sobs.

"He doesn't want... Want to be with me... I... I heard him on the phone with B-Ben."

"Shhhhh..." Aoba soothed at both him and the baby, "What did he say? You sure you didn't just mishear something?"

"Something about me not letting him..." He started, trying to calm himself so Aoba could understand since at this rate he was having a hard time understanding himself. "Called himself 'the man'... Again!" He spat out, more angrily than sad. "And then he left, didn't even tell me..."

His brow furrowed sympathetically. What the hell was Ray playing at?

Yi's fussing turned in to full cries, and Aoba was actually a little grateful. His son would make a good distraction for a minute.

"Would you mind...?" He said as a mere formality as he took the tissue box and placed the infant in Kai's arms. He was always reluctant to hold him, but he had to learn.

Kai barely had a chance to nod or protest as Yi was placed into his hands, he immediately held onto him like his life depended on it, his tears and sobbing stopping instantly. He wasn't good at this, Aoba knew that, so why would he do this to him?

"Aoba...?" He asked warily, Yi still fussing in his hold.

"I just gotta go get stuff to feed him. You got him..." he said as he strut out the room waving. He was an excellent parenting coach...

Kai tried to bounce him a little, that always seemed to do it when Aoba did it but this time it only caused Yi to cry louder.

"Shhhh, it's alright. Shhh, it's... It's... Going... To be okay..." He choked out.

Aoba's ears pricked in the kitchen as the crying got louder. "Don't bounce him so hard!" He called through gently.

"I'm sorry!" Kai called back, slowing down a little to a more gentle bounce. Yi calmed, if only slightly.

"See, what'd I tell you? I suck at this!" He asked, tears in his eyes and then flinched as his own child kicked him hard in the ribs.

"Don't apologize, you're fine! He's just hungry." Aoba said again.

"Okay..." Kai called back, his voice slightly strained from having cried so hard. Yi seemed to settle down a little, his own little one twisting to find a place to cuddle into itself, deciding that his hips were the perfect place for a nap.

"Will you get out of there?" He whispered harshly, trying to push his hips upwards while holding Yi at the same time and his lower back popped on him. Yi getting startled by the sudden hiss of pain he expressed, going back into a full blown fit of tears.

"Aoba..." He called again helplessly.

Aoba bounced back in. Shaking a bottle as he gushed at him.

"Will you stop panicking? Just go with your gut...here." He said softly as he shoved the bottle at him. Learning to feed a baby was a great way to stop the tears...maybe?

Kai looked from the bottle to Yi to Aoba and back again, sometimes switching the pattern until his eyes finally landed back on Aoba in a silent plea.

Aoba raised a brow at him.

"What are you gonna do when baby girl gets here, huh?"

Kai's shoulders trembled a little as he shifted Yi in his arms, trying to get him to lay down in them while keeping his head propped up and put the bottle to his lips. Yi gurgled and spit at him, the formula running down his chin and then he gave Kai a wide gummy smile that melted his heart.

"I thought you said he was hungry..." Kai asked in an irritated huff, trying again only for Yi to wiggle and grab at his hands and the bottle.

Aoba watched and smirked. "He is. He's being a little shit. Get it in there..."

Kai cocked a brow and shook his hand out of Yi's tight little hold, shoving the nipple into his mouth. For a minute the formula just ran out the corners of his mouth and he could feel Yi trying to push it back out of his mouth, until he took it in further and started to actually suck. Kai's shoulders relaxed as he settled into the back of the couch, he did it... He actually did it.

He turned to Aoba with pride in his eyes, a small smile at the corner of his lips as if saying 'look what I did.'

Aoba could have liquified in to a puddle on the floor, his own eyes beaming with pride too. He just needed to try. He sat beside him and watched him seeming to be enjoying feeding his son.

"Told you he was hungry..." he said as he took some tissue and wiped the milk on his baby's cheeks.

"Guess he was just being difficult." Kai chuckled a little, holding Yi a bit closer to his chest. Suddenly a sound erupted from within himself and his eyes widened, "Do they purr this early?" He asked.

Aoba recoiled a little as he heard it, staring at him wide eyed.

"...That's not coming from Yi..."

Kai sighed, he knew it hadn't but hadn't wanted to admit it...

"My eyes slit too..." He mumbled quietly.

Aoba's eyes went wider. "How is that possible!?" He exclaimed, both stunned and fascinated as he gently pushed him forward a little and rest his ear against Kai's back to listen.

Yep...that was a human...purring...

Kai's face flushed red as it warmed, the purring only getting louder and he didn't know how to turn it off.

"Aoba..." He squeaked uncomfortably.

Aoba giggled gleefully, this was fascinating.

"Yeh?" He answered finally as he came back.

Kai shifted a little, not wanting to wake up Yi now that he had fell asleep, still sucking at the bottle as it was almost empty now.

"N... Nothing... Yi's asleep though..." He said, trying to get his face to calm down and the damn purring to stop. "Where's the off switch to this thing?!"

Aoba leaned over and gushed. "Isn't it awesome when they fall asleep on you?"

"I... Guess..." Kai said, looking down at the baby asleep in his arms still sucking away. "Kinda weird that they can do that while asleep though..."

"Awwww I love it!" He continued to gush. "Try and take it out, be gentle though..."

Kai did and with a little pop it came out, some of the excess running back down the corner of Yi's mouth. He looked at Aoba again, waiting for more instructions.

He put the towel over his shoulder on Kai's chest. "Hold him up against your chest and pat his back gently."

Kai did as he was told, sitting up so and straightening his back out, making sure to keep a firm hold on the back of Yi's neck as he put him against him. Thankfully his purring had calmed down, but he could still feel it rumbling in his chest a little. He started to pat his back some before his hand moved in small circles on their own and back to patting, getting a burp from the baby before he cuddled into his chest more.

"That good?" He asked and Aoba nodded, holding his arms out to take his son from him to put to bed.

Kai handed him over carefully, as if he were made of glass, and once Aoba had a hold on Yi he sat back against the couch and watched Aoba take Yi upstairs. As he sat in the momentary silence he rubbed at his temple, breathing in heavily not having forgotten why he had come over in the first place. His mind wandered to what Ray was possibly doing right now and visions of him and Ben crossed his mind, spurning new tears without warning.

"Dammit..." He cursed, trying to rub them out before they broke down his face.

Aoba came back down a minute later to find him crying again. ...was nice while it lasted. He sighed, feeling for him and walked back over, sitting himself down and putting an arm around him.

"Ray's not like that, Kai...I know it was a shitty move to leave without telling you, but it won't be anything inappropriate..."

Kai shook his head, how could any of them know that? "What if he is? He's given me no reason to trust him right now... "

He rubbed his back supportively.

"He isn't...you gotta have faith in him..." he stalled, he didn't want to tell him he and Ray had had a little chat about it before at the hospital.

Kai scoffed back at him, his purring kicking up again as Aoba rubbed his back. He was really getting embarrassed by that now. "I did and then he threw it back in my fucking face." He bit out, trying to get himself angry so he would stop purring. Ray never purred when he was angry so figured it would work for him.

Aoba sighed. "...Please keep calm...and please trust me. It's not like that...I'm sure it had to do with the team..." he did his best to comfort. What else could he do?

Kai tried but the images of Ben having Ray pinned up against a tree and then a bed flickered through his head and his body shook, the tears coming out full force.

"What would he have to say to him about the team? With what Ray had said before he left... And he didn't even tell me even after we..." He stopped, heaving in heavily.

"...Had sex?" He filled in for him.

Kai's body tensed and his chin dropped to touch his chest, grabbing at the front of his pants and nodded. Hot angry tears running down his face as he bit into his bottom lip, his pupils quivering as he felt the anger burning in the pit of his stomach.

Aoba smirked at him. "See, why would he go to Ben when he got taken to heaven by you." He tried to reason.

"...Because he's a sick bastard that likes using me!" He spat out.

His smirk disappeared. "He's not using you...there's a reason for it, just you wait and see..."

"Like what?" He asked as his head shot up to look at him, tears running down his face.

Aoba hesitated. "Like I said...something to do with the team...most likely!"

Kai heaved in heavily, once again it was about the team... HIS team... That didn't make him feel any better but he nodded, like it had, and wiped at his face with the back of his arm.

Aoba's hand went from his back up to his neck and massaged it one handed...he needed to keep him as relaxed as possible. And there wasn't much else he could tell him about Ray...all he could do was let him cry it out or try and distract him.

Kai leaned into his hand a little, his purring starting up again. "Sorry about all the noise..." He mumbled.

He smirked again. "Embrace it. You're one of us now..." he said gently before letting his own start vibrating in his chest to join him.

Kai smirked a little, he wasn't sure if it was really appropriate... Ray only ever purred for him, wasn't it like some kind of mating thing? Though as Aoba worked his hands on his sore neck, upping his own purrs ten-fold, he leaned a little closer, his shoulder brushing Aoba's.

This is what he should have had with Ray, the father of his child. This is what he had with him before Ben, before everything. He missed him and maybe he had already made up his mind about it, Aoba was nice to him, supportive and caring. Everything Ray used to be…

"Aoba..." He breathed heavily, tilting his head a up a little at the taller male beside him.

"Hm?" He asked gently, unable to not feel proud of himself that his massages were that good.

Kai leaned up more, having to use Aoba's other shoulder to push himself high enough to reach and pressed his lips to his. Aoba's purring stopped in an instant as he froze. Kai pushed back harder, wanting, needing to feel something from this. His nails dug into Aoba's shoulder as he shifted, his stupid stomach getting in the damn way again so he pulled Aoba down to his level instead. His purrs shook his body, his arms going around Aoba's neck.

Aoba let out a startled noise from his throat as his brain tried to catch up with what was going on. He gripped Kai's shoulders and pushed them back as hard as he could to separate them, their lips separating with a smack as his eyes bore in to Kai's powerfully but scared.

"Kai...?" He breathed out.

This didn't happen...it couldn't have...

Kai's eyes watered again, his lips still tingling, he couldn't tell if Aoba was out of breath because he enjoyed it or from shock. He took the latter and leaned forward again, wanting more.

His eyes got wider as Kai leaned in again and shook him. "KAI!" he said loudly, trying to snap him out of it.

"What?!" He bit out, narrowing his eyes. Did no one want him?!

Aoba's own eyes watered. This was his fault...he must have given off the wrong signals...all he'd wanted to do was help him...

"...I'm a married man." He told him softly but firmly.

Kai's arms slipped from around his shoulders and turned his head away, he couldn't look at him now... What had he done? Why had he done it?!

"I'm sorry..." He said quietly and pulled away from him and picked up his shoes, tears streaming back down his face as he slipped them on. All the guilt crashing down on him.

Aoba stayed where he was feeling paralyzed. "...Kai..." he began, with no idea what to say next.

He stood up and forced himself to look at him, "Please... This wasn't your fault... I'm sorry..." He breathed heavily and started for the door.

Aoba wrestled with himself as to whether he should follow or not. He chose not...

The front door opened and Aoba's heart slammed.

"I'm home!"

Kai stood petrified as Shou stood in front of him, kicking off his shoes at the door.

"Hey, Kai!" he greeted in the same, friendly manner he always did.

He shook.

Shou frowned at him.

"You all right?"

Feeling bile rising from his gut up to his throat, he pushed by him and bolted out the door without looking back.

What the hell had he done?

End of chapter!

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