He blinks bleary eyed as Secret Agent Man blears from his phone.
Cobra?
He rolls to his feet as he scrambles to pull out his phone, catching it several times as it slips from his hands.
Jay!
Was he okay?
It wasn't like Cobra to call him.
He quickly slides the green button, "Is everyth-"
"Breathe." Cobra's monotone voice greets him.
"Right," He follows the order automatically.
"Jay is fine," Cobra states firmly, "but he would like for you and Nani to meet us."
"Where at?" He asks curiously as the tension drains.
"We're at a park, I'll text you the location."
"I'll go check ta see if Nani's finished up her session and meet you-"
He snorts at the deadline.
Cobra.
He texts Nani before he lazily starts in the direction of his office.
He carefully opens the door when he sees the lights out, smiling when he sees a huge pillow and blanket fort in the middle of his office.
There was only one person he knew that made forts that big and complicated.
Lilo.
He was glad to see she was passing on the tradition.
He quietly shuts the door behind him.
He was sure none of the Hamadas had been sleeping well lately.
He grins as the sound of a conch shell being blown signals Nani texting him back.
Before he can pull out his phone he sees her door open and she steps out.
"Howzit?" He grins as he walks up to her.
"It went well. Apparently the girls are having dinner together with their families." Nani chuckles, "Evie rushed them off as soon as the plans were finalized."
"All four of them are getting some Ohana time then." He holds his hand out for her, "Jay mentioned dinner earlier too."
"Good, I'm famished."
He chuckles before he follows her to her car.
The two of them share a light conversation as they head to the park.
Nani's brow furrows when she pulls into a parking spot, "Is Jay okay?"
"Cobra said he was fine," He frowns as he looks over towards the table Jay was sitting on top of, looking like he'd just cried.
Cobra was standing close, one foot resting on the bench and a hand on Jay's shoulder.
Fine?
The barely look at each other as they all but jump from the car.
He sighs as he realizes his mistake.
Cobra's fine was a very large spectrum.
But, the man had probably done that on purpose.
His eyes follow Nani as she races over. Her glare at Cobra piercing.
Oh.
This was bound to be a fun night. He shakes his head before he follows her with concern.
It wasn't like Jay to be so open with his emotions- Sure he'd gotten better with them.
Like, leaps and bounds better. But to see him sitting so carefree talking to Cobra with his face as red as his eyes? That was definitely more comfortable than he'd ever been.
Jay rubs at his nose and nods at Cobra before he stands up and hops down, "Hey." He half smiles as he looks between the two of them.
"Howzit, brah?" He questions as he puts his hand on Nani's shoulder to keep her from lunging at Cobra.
He grins lazily, Nani had been ferociously protective of Lilo, still was, and now it seemed the courtesy now included Jay.
"Down mama Mako," He chuckles in her ear, ignoring the glare she shoots him.
"Did you still want to try the Indian place I mentioned?" Cobra asks as he pulls his keys from his pocket, "Or did you think of something else?"
"Nah, I'm down to try something new."
Cobra nods once before he walks off, "I'll be back then."
Jay nods, his eyes following Cobra as he walks towards his car.
"Sorry if I worried you." Jay rubs the back of his neck before he sits on the edge of the picnic table.
"We're your parents lolo, it's our job," Nani shrugs as she walks over to sit next to him.
"Yeah, Cobra said you'd say that.
He chuckles, "He's like that," He joins them and sits on Jay's other side. "It go okay, then?"
Jay nods, "Yeah, I think I'm past the whole hang up on the fact he is way better trained than I am." He shrugs awkwardly, "I get it. He does care."
"Very much," Nani blows a stray hair from her face as she rests her weight on her arms, "Doesn't make him any less of an ass though."
"Ass?" Jay's brow furrows.
"She's just mad because he said you were fine." He grins as he lazily mimics her.
"Oh." Jay purses his lips, "I am though. Swear it. We just talked a lot about the future today. Like careers, school, and shit."
"Ey?" He grins.
He'd never even thought to bring up the future in their sessions. They were usually so busy with focusing on Jay's control issues over well, everything…
Of course Cobra would set his sights on the future instead.
Careers and school.
Those were two topics Jay could definitely control.
He'd kick himself if it weren't for the fact Cobra and him had such different styles.
Both helpful. Just completely different approaches.
One helping sort through the past to put it to rest.
The other, looking towards the future to keep from repeating 'mistakes'.
It was rare that they passed off cases like this, but he was happy that they had with Jay. For as on edge as the man had put Jay, he knew they'd eventually click.
He just hadn't expected for them to click so quickly.
It was a pleasant surprise, and definitely a welcomed one.
"Yeah. I guess I never realized how many options there were, because I've never really looked more than a few months ahead at a time." Jay shrugs, "I mean, it never mattered before."
"Ey," He nods, "I'm glad. It can be overwhelming to think about."
"Oh, it was." Jay rolls his eyes, "It was one of many pauses."
Nani chuckles as she wraps one arm around his shoulder. "Oh?"
"We talked about progress, not perfection. I never would have thought T was, you know, self aware." Jay shakes his head.
"You know people well Jay, and from what you've told us-" He shrugs, "But you know, Faustina might be. Those letters definitely made it seem like it."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too." Jay rubs the back of his head. "It made me laugh, but also real sad too."
"Ah," He nods, "Those can be pretty overwhelming too brah. Emotions conflicting like that."
Complex emotions, especially for someone like Jay, had to be confusing. He knew it wasn't the first time he'd felt them, but still. They were hard to work out.
No wonder Jay had been so upset.
Though he was curious as to what turned it around, because he certainly didn't seem upset now.
Not that he was complaining. It was nice to know Cobra had been able to work through it with him.
"Well, that was lolo." Jay nods as he takes a deep breath, "We never made it to the range today, or to the parkour area, but Cobra showed me his wicked car, and let me try cappuccino." He bites his lip as he rubs the back of his neck, "And then I mentioned the Isle. And what coffee was like there."
A choked snort leaves Nani.
His lip twitches.
Cobra was a serious guy. Any one with eyes could see that. But, he was dead serious about that particular beverage, nearly the point of ridiculousness.
Jay grins, "Yeah, you can see where this is going. Apparently coffee should never be described as sludge. But I was just so shocked when he said it was more bitter than coffee and it so was not. That was liquid candy."
"He does have quite the sweet tooth, I mean not as bad as Carlos's but still." Nani smiles. "I was surprised. He definitely seemed more like a hearty type of guy."
"Right? Totally blind sided me." Jay chuckles nervously, "So um, I told him he could talk to you guys about my sessions." He continues as he runs a hand over his hair.
"You sure brah?" That more than anything spoke volumes.
Lolo.
It surprised him with how quickly he'd gained Jay's trust- But he'd been having so many complicated emotions and he'd been able to navigate them through for him.
He looks towards Jay with a smile, kid was always full of surprises.
Jay nods, "Yeah, I'm sure. With or without me. I uh, I had like a realization. After Cobra explained a few things to me."
"Oh?" Nani's eyes furrow curiously.
"He-" Jay pushes off the table and turns to face them, "He explained what Ohana means. Like it's not just family."
Identical smiles pull at their lips.
"Ah," Nani nods. "It's pretty much our family's creed. Our parents used to say it to me and Lilo all the time."
Jay nods, "It means knowing each other, and trusting each other." He smiles, "And I realized I've done that with you since day fucking one. Like brah, I've never cried in front of anyone, and that-" He shakes his head, "I had no idea what the fuck to do, so I like, grabbed you like a board or something. And then you wanted me, you both wanted me."
He nods.
"You're a person very much worth wanting." Nani smiles, "We've never met anyone like you. And certainly weren't expecting to find a son, let alone one from that place."
"The Isle." Jay rubs the back of his hand over his nose again, "That's the other part. Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten." He shakes his head as he gestures to the two of them, "Cobra told me what that meant for all of you. Our Ohana. And what it means if nothing happens by December."
He and Nani share a look of surprise.
Cobra told him?
Their plan?
He already trusted Jay that much?
Not that they didn't-
But Cobra was the one who told them not to bring it up.
He resists the urge to roll his eyes.
Ass.
"I mean, we thought Hiro was joking. One word and he'd get us out of here?" Jay rolls his eyes.
"Hiro plays a lot, we know that- But he's also super intense when it comes to doing the right thing." Nani sighs as he nods along with her.
And Hiro was a special type of psycho when it came to these kids rights.
Not that he could blame him but…
There were lines.
Jay shakes his head before he looks up at them.
His breath hitches at the tears building in his eyes.
But before he can do anything, Jay wraps his arms around both of them, hugging them tightly, as they quickly hug him back.
"I can't believe all of this sometimes. Like seriously, you guys are like the most powerful family. And you guys want to help us. Like us here and want to help us get the others. And you've been helping Ben out even when we weren't, and also working on what the Ohana will do in December-" Jay's voice cracks, "I- How do you guys not see how awesome you are? How amazing? You guys could-" his voice hitches again.
He chuckles as he nudges Jay's cheek.
"We could do a lot of things," Nani strokes his hair, "But, we prefer the right thing. And getting you kids off that place? We can't think of leaving them to live, no, survive like that. Not when we've seen how you four are. I mean-"
"We've never thought it was right, but meeting you guys was like a slap in the face. And one our Ohana can't ignore or walk away from." He continues.
Hot tears splash against his shoulder as Jay pulls them in closer, the boy clinging to them muttering something over and over in a choked voice.
"Thank you. I love you guys so Kai damn much."
He glances to Nani over his head, positive he was grinning like a fucking idiot.
"Same Jay," Nani's voice hitches as tears pool in her eyes. "We love you so kai damn much it hurts."
"It's like the only thing the OVs got right." Jay shakes his head, "But also wrong. It hurts," He admits before he sighs in relief, "but it's so fucking nice."
He chokes on his laugh as warmth trails down his face, "It really is the best kinda hurt, brah. And you make us ache with it so much."
Nani chuckles wetly, "And we're so happy you've made us feel it."
The best kinda hurt.
Love is a powerful lil' Beastie.
And trust is so fucking hard to earn.
But Jay is wading those waters like a fucking champ.
Man, he's progressed so much from the first book, but also hasn't changed much.
The kidz always had a serious protective streak, now he just has words for it.
Dark is dope like that.
Character dev but still keeping the core of the character.
This one was also full of Feelz. And, yeah, a lot shorter than the last two, but so, so very necessary.
Are you guys biting at the bit yet?
To know what this lolo ohana is planning?
Wasn't Jay's reaction to hearing what ohana really means just totes adorbz?
Fucking love it.
Like so fucking much.
We're really hoping you guys do too.
Fave Quote:
And Hiro was a special type of psycho when it came to these kids rights.
Not that he could blame him but…
There were lines.
-David
And right back to adoring my own shit.
*narrows eyes* Am I a narcissist and no one's ever told me?
Cause, like, concerning…
What was yours?
Much love and appreciation,
-Twisted