Better than ice cream
Kari looked up from her book to see her brother walk dejectedly through the door. She could tell by the tired look on his face and his slouched shoulders that the meeting hadn't gone well. Her mother entered the hall from the kitchen, and handed him a glass wordlessly. He downed the juice concoction without complaint or emotion, leaving both females to watch him, worried.
He sat down at the table across from his sister, and rested his elbows on the surface, his head clasped in his hands. They stood quietly, waiting. A moment later, Mr. Kamiya entered, his grin eager. "What did they say?" Three pairs of sad eyes met his, and he slumped into himself, mirroring his son's posture. "That bad?"
Tai's head sank back down against the wooden table, hitting hit with a loud thud. His arms dangled lifelessly at his sides. Kari looked at her father sadly. "He drank mom's shake without a word." His father made a noise that sounded like 'eesh', and grimaced. His wife slapped him playfully on the arm, but turned her concerned frown back to her son.
"I wish that there was something we could do." His parents sat down at the table with them, ignoring the beeping from the microwave as the food inside finished cooking, and the constant drone of the television set his father had left on. The four of them sat that way for several minutes, forming a soundless web of support. Tai finally looked up, his eyes watery and sad.
"How can two people have gone through sixteen years of living with him, and not be aware of what a wonderful person he is? They're completely oblivious to the fact that their son has turned into this great, intelligent, funny guy. He's popular, loyal, trusting. He'll stick by his friends to the bitter end, but they don't even seem to realize that he's human."
His mother laid her hand gently on his arm, while his father leaned back in his chair. "Son, it's time that I share with you and your sister an important fact of life. This is something you'll want to remember for many years, because it holds true. It's one of the longest standing factoids, and has been proven throughout the ages."
Tai gave him a weak grin. "Just spit it out, Dad. No one at this table is getting any younger." His father chuckled.
"It's simply this: too many damn people in this world are childish, petulant, selfish, overbearing, simple-minded freaks with too little brain power and heart, and too much time on their hands. They won't ever change, you can't bring them around. And it is those people that will make your life a living hell, until you learn that you can't change them, you can only live your life, and hope that they don't find more people like themselves to stop you."
"That was good, honey." Mrs. Kamiya smiled across the table, moving her hand from Tai's arm to her husbands. Tai looked at them, then at his sister, and rolled his eyes. "Why don't you go call Matt, dear, and see if you he can come over. I'm sure that you'd like someone more than your parents to listen to your love problems."
"Thanks, mom." He stood up from the table, and left the room. In his father's study, he picked up the cordless, punched in the familiar number, and waited.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Matt. Can you come over? I bought a new CD. It's that group that you said you liked."
"Which one? Never mind. Tell me when I get there. Should I pick up anything on my way over?"
Tai smiled. "Ken, if you would. It's time for another planning session. And ice cream, if you would. I'll pay you back when you get here."
"Sure thing, Kamiya. Make the popcorn, and we'll be over." The phone clicked, and Tai hung up. He was glad that Matt had accepted his friendship with the genius so well. He had been worried, with the amount of time that he'd been spending without the blonde, that Matt would think he'd been replaced. Of course, that didn't mean that Matt accepted it. He simply said nothing, and acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Putting the phone back in its cradle, he exited the little office, walking back to join his family at the table. He sat back down, noting that his mother had moved next to his father. They were looking over a magazine while Kari did her homework. They spoke in low murmurs, smiling up at him when they realized that he was watching. He shrugged, turning to stare at a cupboard.
He had never realized how much he took his family for granted before. They had supported him all of his life, looking to him to be a role model for his sister, and a good friend to the kids he brought home. They knew he had helped to save the world twice, but they still coddled him at times. He didn't have to do anything to gain their attention, or worry about their approval. They loved him unconditionally, something that he was starting to realize wasn't a given in all parents.
Kari tapped her pencil, and he flicked his eyes her way. She was watching him with a knowing expression, her eyes gentle. He shrugged, raising his eyebrow. "Don't forget the popcorn. Ken likes it with M&M's (which Rae does not own)."
"Thanks." He stood up, and then looked at her suspiciously. "How did you know Ken was coming?"
"Every time you plot the downfall of Davis' parents, or concoct a new plan to get him kicked out of school, you invite Matt and Ken over. Occasionally you'll think of asking one of the others, but it's always the three of you."
He paused for a moment, thinking, and then nodded. She was right. Maybe that's why Matt didn't get jealous, or left out. They always made sure to include him at least once a week, so he wasn't ever pushed to the side. Tai smiled; glad to have that particular worry off his shoulders.
The doorbell rang as he pushed the start button on the microwave. He waved his family back down, and went to answer it himself. He opened the door, and met a satisfied blue gaze. He grinned back reflexively, and nodded at Ken, who stood behind Matt. "I remembered the popcorn."
Matt's grin widened. "I brought something better than popcorn."
"Ken?" Matt shook his head.
"Something better."
"Ice cream?"
"Hey!" Ken was grinning too hard to pull of his scowl, but he tried to look offended.
"Something better."
"There's only one thing better than ice cream." Matt nodded in agreement, then stepped back. A second later, a muscular form barreled into Tai, sending him crashing into the wall. He didn't have time to protest before two lips were locked solidly with his, their owner desperately running his hands over his body, into his hair, to clasp at the back of his head. He brought his own hands up, and wrapped his arms around Davis' waist, holding on tight in case someone tried to pry them apart.
Getting a clue, and the lack thereof
Matt shut the door behind him and Ken, watching as Davis and Tai meshed lips. He waved at the Kamiya's standing in the hallway. The five of them stood there, waiting for the reunited couple to surface for air. It was a long time coming, and both boys came up breathless, clinging to the other for support. They both ended up on their knees, winded but euphoric.
"Hi." Davis smiled as he gripped the front of Tai's shirt. "Miss me?" In answer, Tai leaned forward and kissed him again. It was short, gentle where the last one had been demanding and desperate. When they broke apart that time, they were both grinning. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."
"Gods, Davis. Don't joke." Tai pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around his back and hugging him tight. His throat was constricted, making his voice hoarse. "Just tell me that you can stay. Please." He felt a tear slide down his face, but ignored it. "Just tell me you won't leave again."
Davis returned his embrace, using his hands in Tai's hair to keep his head on his shoulder. He kissed the tanned neck gently; unable to pull himself out of Tai's arms long enough to kiss him properly. "I'm staying."
Kari squealed, and hugged Matt and Ken, and then her parents. Tai and Davis simple held onto each other, while Matt and Ken took the rest of the Kamiya's into the living room to explain.
The blue-haired genius smiled shyly, uncertain. Matt rolled his eyes, and started. "Davis came home today, after destroying the dean's car at his last school. I guess his parents' warnings were enough for this guy. He sent Davis home, where he arrived shortly after Tai left today." He looked at Ken, who nodded and took over.
"His parents were, to put it kindly, pissed. They told him to get the hell away, stay with his boyfriend, they didn't care. So, Jun is in charge of making sure he gets his stuff and clears it out of his mother's apartment. His father is moving overseas, and they are going to claim that his mental balance is the reason that Davis can't live with him. Davis is unbalanced, that is. He's staying with a family whose son has the same affliction."
Mr. Kamiya shook his head, gripping his wife's hand tight. "I'm glad that he can stay, then. When Tai came home, he made it sound hopeless."
Ken grinned. "It was, until Davis showed up with a letter from his school. The dean said that he'd make sure none of their affiliates took any Motomiya offspring. Ever."
Kari clasped her hands, and then rushed to the phone. "This is so great. I have to call everyone and let them know. Davis is back, and the holder's of courage are reunited."
Matt looked at Ken with a conspiritual wink. "It's almost too sappy, isn't it? It's as bad as some cheap romance movie."
Violet eyes met blue with a teasing gleam. "And you're enjoying every second of it."
The blonde shrugged, but didn't deny it. Kari came back into the room laughing. "I suggest that everyone stay out of the hallway for a while. They're making up for lost time." The phone rang, and she pushed the power button, frustrated at not being able to follow through on mission: gossip.
______________
Tai held Davis' face gently in his tanned hands, staring down into his eyes. They were still kneeling in the hallway, their knees pressed together. "I missed you. Something's not right when you're not here."
The redhead covered Tai's hands with his own, closing his eyes to savor the sensation of his touch. "It's been way too long since I've seen you." Tai's thumb gently rubbed his bottom lip, now swollen from their kisses. "I can't believe that I left without saying goodbye. I was worried. I didn't know how you'd take Ken checking up on you."
"It was better than being on my own to stew about it. I almost hit Matt that first week. If Ken hadn't arrived when he did, I probably would have been starting fights, and kicking ass everyday."
They chuckled, stopping to lean into another kiss. "I was almost becoming worried that my parents would succeed, you know. I didn't know how I could keep it up, and still graduate on time. It would have been worth it to be near you again, but then you'd be at college three years ahead of me, instead of two."
"I would have waited for you. You're worth any amount of time I have to spend." They kissed again.
"Even if it's time spent in jail?" They looked up at Kari, confused. She held out the phone, tears sparkling in her eyes. "It's Mrs. Motomiya. She says that if Davis doesn't get home soon, she'll press charges against you. You're eighteen, and he's still a minor."
Davis sighed, leaning his head against Tai's chest as he gaped at his sister, anger and sorrow reflecting in his gaze. "Sorry. Forgot to mention one small detail. My mother is still an overbearing bitch."
