Eight Days Later
Wraith Headquarters' Docking Bay, 1119
Kai had been avoiding him these last few days, this he knew. But why? He didn't think he'd done anything to offend her, had he? No, Ty concluded, he hadn't. So instead of trying to find the blame in himself, he headed off towards the docking bay where he felt Kai's presence best. As soon as he stepped through the door, he knew where she was. Kai was rocking forwards and back very slowly as she sat, knees to her chest, under her X-Wing.
He crossed the docking bay silently, watching her all the while. Two steps from where she sat, she seemed to notice him. As Ty saw her black eyes flick to his face, he offered a slight smile. Kai nodded in return, then went back to rocking back and forth. With a muffled sigh, Ty sat down next down next to her. She stopped rocking at once, as though made nervous by his close presence. Unconscious warning bells sounded in his mind.
"What's wrong?" he asked tentatively.
The simple shrug he received in reply alarmed him more than anything else. What had he done to deserve the silent treatment again? Kai's gaze flicked to him again, her eyes more piercing now, and Ty quickly realized she'd been reading him through the Force. Her expression softened and she released her knees to instead wrap her arms around him in a somewhat awkward hug, given their current sitting situation.
All that thought was driven parsecs from his mind as he felt moisture seeping through his tunic. Ty looked down at Kai, knowing he was acting far too worried, but he didn't care. Kai never cried. That was just how it went in the universe. Stars went nova, Alderaan was destroyed, Kyp Durron blew up a planet, and Kaizan Loran didn't cry.
Before he knew what he was doing, he'd pushed Kai back to arm's length and watched as she quickly wiped her face on one of her sleeves. Ty waited until she was done before he said anything. And when he did speak, he repeated his earlier question.
"What's wrong?"
Kai took a deep breath as though she weren't quite sure she wanted to answer. Ty waited patiently, watching her face the entire time, as she came to terms with what she was mentally arguing over. After a minute or so, Kai shrugged his hands from her shoulders and sat back on her heels, this time facing him.
"My dad," she said simply. His confusion must've shown very plainly because she grinned slightly and elaborated for him. "You and I both know that my dad doesn't exactly like the fact that we're 'seeing' each other. Mom's okay with it, but Dad's still...Dad. I just...I don't want to make him mad at me. I want him to take pride in something I do, rather than continue scowling on it because of you. And then when I try to figure out what the problem is, why he's got such a problem with it, I just can't..."
Kai as looking at him again, her expression something like a mix between sadness, confusion, and a hope that someone would understand. And, in all reasonability, he did understand. When he was younger, he'd felt that everything he'd ever done didn't please his father. But that was far from the truth and he somehow guessed the same in Kai's case. Ty opened his mouth to respond, but was distracted by the sounds of a droid coming over. It took him all of three seconds to register the color coordination as Vape's patterns. Meaning that Face was out here somewhere. Ty glanced down at Kai to see that she'd obviously drawn the same conclusion. With a sigh, she stood. Feeling little alternatives, he stood up as well and positioned himself behind Kai. Without realizing it, he'd taken her hand. Kai didn't protest it, only watched as her father came walking over.
Vape scooted around in a circle, whistling and blatting profusely. Uncle Face, on the other hand, was looking towards them. He sighed heavily and Ty noticed Kai's growing tension as easily as he'd register being hit with a proton torpedo. The expression he expected to see on his uncle's face, however, was completely missing. His attention was solely focused on his daughter. Ty felt as if he should leave the docking bay but stopped himself as he felt Kai squeeze his hand ever so slightly. Instead, he waited it out quietly.
Uncle Face finally made a comment. "Kai, is that really what you think?"
Well, that was unexpected. Kai was looking up at her father and, though he couldn't see her face, Ty had the distinct impression of amazement seeming from her in the Force. After a moment, she nodded slowly, as though unsure of what reaction that would bring. Even as she did so, Ty watched his uncle's shoulders heave in a silent sigh. And then Face's eyes had moved from his daughter's face and were now searching his. Ty blinked, momentarily lost for understanding at the quick change of study subject. And then Face spoke again, sounding somewhat defeated.
"I've got nothing against you two, I guess. It's more like the 'you've got one last chance to be a protective dad' thing. Adra's been after me about it for the last week. I suppose I should just let it go." He paused and looking at his daughter for a minute before continuing. "Kai, I'm not mad at you. You were raised to make good choices and I've no doubt that you will. Okay?"
Next second, Kai had released his hand and was hugging her father. Ty took a step back, towards her X-Wing, grinning silently. And then Face was gone, walking back towards wherever he'd been before. Kai had rounded to look at Ty and was suddenly hugging him as well. Tentatively he wrapped his arms around her and bent his head to kiss the crown of hers.
When she looked up, he saw she was grinning. "Thanks for dealing with my stupidity," she said calmly.
He laughed, grinning broader now. "Well, it all comes at a price, you know," was his reply. That reply made, he waited patiently for the fist that would be punching him. Instead, he felt a hand behind his head, pulling him down. Complying, he responded to her kiss instantly.
When they broke apart again, Kai poked a finger at his chest. "That cover my debt?" Her tone was openly playful, daring him to contradict her conclusion.
Ty put on a thoughtful look, eyes never leaving her face. "Well, I suppose it'll do-" He trailed off as he bent his head to kiss her again.