Chapter 2. Jagged Lines.

It had been around several months now that Kai and Ray had been living together in their first home and a few weeks back had just refurbished their kitchen-diner.

When they first moved in Kai had said from the start that due to money being no issue for him he would gladly take the brunt of the renovation costs if it meant everything could be completed straight away. He didn't see the need in waiting around when they really didn't need to.

Ray however, being the proud man he was, was adamant that as it was his home too everything should be completely 50/50 and wanted all costs to be split between them equally.

He knew that Kai had more money than sense, and that realistically Ray didn't even need to work. But he didn't want to just be kept like a trophy wife and so this meant that the home improvements had to be a slow and steady process so as to not completely screw up his finances and drain his savings.

So on top of their busy work schedules causing the two to not often see each other, the mess that was the house due to Ray's pride was also another hindrance for the two, and it had caused a fair few arguments along the way.

By month two of living there Kai was beyond irritated with the slow process and would often just pay a team to come in and renovate whilst Ray was at work...

[4 months ago.]

"So when were you going to tell me Kai that you just paid to put in a whole new bathroom?"

Folding his arms over his chest Ray tilted his head as he stood in the doorway, clearly annoyed amber eyes fixed on the back of Kai's head who was sat at the computer in his office.

"Or were you just hoping I wouldn't notice?"

Kai continued to type away on his keyboard, his attention staying focused on the screen as he plainly responded.

"It wasn't expensive Ray, don't worry about it. Just, pay me back when you can I guess."

Ray scoffed.

"Wasn't expensive? The wall tiles literally have gold flakes embedded in them, and there are crystals in the ceiling! Actual freakin' crystals, Kai! Who are you trying to fool here? How much was it all, and don't lie?"

Kai exhaled through his nose as he nonchalantly spoke again.

"I don't know, like, two and a half grand or something?" he pulled out of thin air. "The company owed me a favour so did it on the cheap. Seriously Ray, don't worry about it."

"No, I will worry about it!" Ray argued, taking out his cell phone and opening up his online banking app.

"1250 is going into your account right now... Next time Kai, consult me first, please? I can't afford to be doing all of these improvements this fast," he warned as he shoved his phone back into his trouser pocket before turning on his heel to leave.

Kai lightly shook his head before immediately opening up another tab on his internet browser and logged into his own bank account.

= R. Kon ) + 1,250
= Bathrooms R Us ) – 50,000

Kai then proceeded to set up several scheduled payments of small amounts that would drip feed the 1250 back into Ray's account over the course of a few weeks.

He'd done that with the cost of the drive-way, the complete new rewire of the house, and the kitchen diner.

He was kinda surprised Ray hadn't noticed to be honest...

'Well.. What he doesn't know won't hurt him...' Kai thought to himself with a smile.

x-x-x

[Present Day.]

It had just gone 6:30am and the sun had barely started to rise.

It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for Kai to be the last to go to bed yet the first to get up, and today was one of those mornings.

He was standing in the living room with a much needed black coffee in hand, staring out into their derelict back yard through the closed French doors, and still clearly seething from last night's rejection.

Sleep had come to him eventually though it was a mere doze, and three hours at most. Unlike sleeping beauty beside him who didn't so much as stir the moment he'd dropped off.

Though upstairs, the remaining form under the sheets began to move and come to. A deep inhale followed by the fluttering open of golden eyes.

Waking up alone wasn't an uncommon occurrence for Ray, and once again it was one of those mornings. Though today it shouldn't have been. Ray knew that Kai wasn't going into the office today so why was he up so early?

Ohh he'd better not still be annoyed about last night... the big baby.

Pulling back the soft linen bed sheets, he sluggishly made his way into their en-suite bathroom after a long stretch on the edge of the bed and hopped into the shower. The hot water welcoming and aiding in him fully coming round to face the day.

Hearing the shower water running from downstairs the brooding Russian glanced up at the ceiling before taking another sip of his coffee.

Try not to drown... Dickhead.

After around an hour Ray came downstairs with a bounce in his step and went into the kitchen to make himself some cereal.

Wearing his usual work attire that consisted of smart black trousers and a white polo shirt with the restaurants logo sewn on, his hair was also up in its normal fashion, though slightly fluffier from the shower.

With bowl in hand he entered the living room to see Kai sat on the couch reading a book. His focus almost stubbornly staying on the pages as he walked past him.

Unfazed by the lack of acknowledgment Ray made his way over to the glass doors and chirpily spoke out before taking a spoonful of cereal.

"Good morning! And such a beautiful one too! We really need to get this yard sorted out at some point don't we, babe?" he commented before slurping another spoonful of cereal. "I should be getting a bonus from work in the next week or so, and summer's coming up so we should look into doing it soon. It'll be awesome when we can have the guys over for BBQ's and drinks and stuff wouldn't it?"

"Hn." was all the response he got.

Turning round to face Kai on the couch Ray blinked as he swallowed the mouthful of cereal.

"Something wrong Kai?"

Seeing in his peripheral vision that Ray was now facing him, crimson eyes now more than refused to leave the paperback.

"Nope."

"Well, there obviously is..." Ray mumbled.

Glancing over the book at his interruption Kai's piercing eyes narrowed.

"If it's so obvious Ray then what's wrong?" he bit.

Ray casually shrugged his shoulders as he took another mouthful of cereal.

"Well I don't know that's why I'm asking."

Kai rolled his eyes before carelessly chucking his book beside him. This was stupid and he wasn't even reading the damn thing anyways.

"Just leave me alone. Eat your cereal."

Placing his bowl down on the glass coffee table in the centre of the room Ray knelt down in front of him. Resting his arms folded onto Kai's lap he set his chin on them and looked up at him.

"You talk like I don't know you. There's obviously something bothering you Kai so why not just tell me what it is?"

Growing tired of the repetitive conversation Kai growled before glaring down at him.

"Well you can't know me that well because there's nothing wrong. I was just here minding my own business. I'm not usually one to be bouncing off the walls at any given time Ray, never mind first thing on a morning so what are you actually expecting from me?"

With a light sigh passing his lips, Ray rose back to his feet and picked up his cereal bowl again.

"Is it about last night?"

"I don't even care about that."

Ray suppressed the eye roll. So that's a yes...

"Well if it is about that, I'm sorry to have turned you down babe but I was exhausted," he explained, "Works really busy at the moment and I just wasn't in the mood at all. Please don't take it personally."

Though Kai of course did, even if he knew deep down that he was being unreasonable but he was far too gone with the pissed off act to back down now.

He was over this conversation. He was tired, and he hated arguing with Ray, and also hated how well he really did know him.

How dare he understand him more than he understood himself!

Standing up from the couch he held his sneer as he turned to face the other stood by the French doors now.

"I said I didn't care," he snapped, "But even if I did, just know that there won't ever be another chance for you to reject me again!"

And with that Kai stormed out of the living room, took himself upstairs and, Ray presumed by the slam of the bathroom door, have his own shower to cool off.

A mix of emotions now filled him as he stood alone in the living room.

A little saddened by the cold reception this morning; it had been a while since Kai had spoken to him like that.

Guilt, for having dismissed Kai's sexual advances last night.

If he had just gone along with it this whole thing would've been avoided... But as much as the other male didn't like it, he knew Kai, along with all of his empty threats.

The only reason he ever usually acted out like this was if he was deeply hurt.

Kai missed him. Ray knew that. And knowing that, overall, he felt flattered.

Kai really had come a long way when it came to expressing himself.

With Ray he wasn't his infamous cold and stoic self. He was playful, and loving (in his own way of course) and Ray felt truly special knowing that out of all the people in the world, it was he that the ice prince chose to be that open and vulnerable with.

But Kai still had a long way to go when it came to expressing his feelings of disappointment.

He just couldn't accept that sometimes things just didn't go his way. But rather than talking about it, he chose to either lash out or skulk off by himself.

Ray understood though that with time, he'd get there. And in the meantime, he didn't mind reading between his lover's very jagged lines.

Finishing off the last of his cereal he placed the bowl in the kitchen sink and took himself upstairs to finish getting ready for work. Knocking on the bathroom door he leaned in close and awaited for the predictably hostile response.

"What do you want?" Kai's harsh toned voice echoed from inside the bathroom.

Smiling to himself Ray innocently replied, "To brush my teeth, I need to leave soon."

"Whatever..."

Knowing that what Kai really meant to say was "Oh yeah sure, that's absolutely fine Ray, my love, come on in sexy boyfriend of mine, Ray proceeded into the bathroom.

Hot steam filled the spacious tiled en-suite, instantly warming his tanned skin as he entered. To his left stood the white porcelain toilet and sink, and to his right, currently being occupied by the moody Russian, the glass cubicle shower.

Having a cheeky glance at Kai's wet toned body through the glass shower screen, Ray smirked to himself.

He may be a huge grump but by God he was hot...

Even though Kai currently had his back to him, facing towards the wall, his sharp instinct told him that he was being ogled at.

"Eyes that way Kon, you don't deserve to look at me."

Turning to face towards the sink Ray grinned, picked up his toothbrush and ran it under the tap.

"Oh give over your royal highness. If I didn't have to go to work I'd have you in that shower right now."

Kai scoffed.

"You'd be so lucky."

Trying to suppress the smirk tugging at his own lips, he squirted a blob of shampoo into the palm of his hand before lathering it into his slate coloured locks.

He really couldn't stay mad at Ray for long.

Squeezing the toothpaste onto his green toothbrush Ray spoke just a little louder to be heard over the running water and potential shampoo in Kai's ears.

"Do you think you'll get a chance to call someone about the back yard today?"

"Yeah, I'll get my assistant to sort it," Kai dully responded. Mentally adding that to the list of jobs he already had to do today.

Bringing the toothbrush in to his mouth Ray gazed into the mirror before him where he could conveniently see Kai in the reflection. He could just make out the glossy figure through the steamed glass, watching as the lathered up shampoo bubbles slowly slid down Kai's muscular back before resting on his perfectly toned ass.

Phwoooaarrr...

It wasn't until the sound of a familiar voice several minutes later brought the boy back to reality.

"You sure you got any teeth left?"

"Hm?!"

With wide eyes Ray spat out the toothpaste and quickly rinsed out his mouth. He had no idea how long he'd been staring at him for.

"Shit I need to go now or I'm gonna be late. I'll see you when I get home handsome, let me know about the garden, love you!"

Quickly wiping his mouth on the back of his hand Ray dashed out of the bathroom and moments later out of the front door.

The house fell silent.

Turning off the water Kai stepped out of the shower and rubbed his hair roughly with a dark coloured towel before wrapping his lower half with it.

"Yeah, love you too, moron," he said to himself with a small smile before leaving the bathroom and making a start on his own day.

x-x-x

It was officially the first day of Summer and it'd been several days since their last little argument over nothing. Ray had received his mid-year work bonus and things currently seemed fairly settled for the two.

"Tiffany sorted out a landscaper by the way… he's starting on Monday," Kai informed as he jotted down various events that were coming up for the company that month on the glossy calendar that was hung up on the kitchen wall.

Summer was always a busy time for the company for some reason.

23 important meetings, 15 presentations, 3 charity events and an afternoon tea with Mr. Dickenson.

Noticing that Ray's ridiculously neat handwriting stopped for 2 of the squares next week, he spoke out with a hint of hope.

"You're off next weekend?"

Still in his dark blue pyjama bottoms Ray, who had the day off, joined Kai in the kitchen and walked over to the sink to place his plate from breakfast down on the marble counter.

"Yeah I can't remember the last time I had a weekend off. Can finally get some R + R..."

Letting out a yawn he stretched out his arms as he gazed out of the kitchen window at the neglected backyard.

"Ah, I can't wait 'til it's all finished out there, it's gonna look great," he added with a smile. "Does Tiff know them personally?"

Making his way then over to the calendar Ray hugged his suit clad boyfriend from behind and rested his chin on one of his broad shoulders.

"Nah don't think so," Kai replied as he continued to write on the squares. "Just someone who was recommended to her I think."

Ray's eyes gazed over the dates and it was then that he saw Kai too wasn't working that same weekend he was off.

"Heyy we could maybe do something together if you're off that same weekend. We could go see a movie or get a bite to eat or something."

Finishing up, Kai let go of the string attached pen and looked down by his shoulder at Ray with a suggestive smirk.

"Orr, we could always make dinner here and have a quiet night in..."

Turning around to face him Kai rest his arms down by his waist.

Instantly placing his arms up on his shoulders when he turned to face him, Ray gazed into those pools of crimson he loved so much and spoke out with a cheeky smile flashing his fangs.

"Mm, sounds good to me, Hiwatari..." he then prodded his finger on Kai's chest. "You're cooking though."

Kai smirked.

"First of all that's Mr. Hiwatari to you, Raymond... and sure whatever. I'll whip something up."

He placed a kiss down on Ray's forehead before releasing him from his embrace.

"Anyways I'm going, probably gonna be a late one so don't wait up."

Walking out of the kitchen Kai made his way out into the hallway and picked up his black laptop case that was propped up against the bottom of the stairs.

"Uh huh, as usual," Ray sighed some as he loosely folded his arms and casually leaned against the kitchen door frame, his smile softening as he watched Kai begin to make his way out of the house.

Unlike his ex-captain, Ray wasn't a huge fan of being home alone all day and really missed Kai while he was gone. It wasn't like he couldn't bear to be by himself, but he was a natural social butterfly and enjoyed being around others and having good company.

Though he'd be sure to keep himself occupied with something until he got back home.

"I'll have dinner plated up for you for whenever you decide to return. Just microwave it for a few minutes."

Kai frowned at the younger male's unnecessary instructions.

"Yeah, thanks mom," he retorted.

Ray tutted.

"Shut up."

Unlocking the front door Kai looked back over his shoulder and spoke again, his voice dripping with his usual sarcasm.

"I mean honestly I just don't know what I ever did without you, honey. Surprised I haven't starved to death already."

"Oh, fuck off. Sue me for caring," Ray jokingly bit as he rolled his eyes, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Go on, get out of here or you'll be late."

Picking up his car keys off the hook Kai opened up the front door and stepped outside before turning to face him.

"You do know I'm like, the boss, right?" A smug look now sat on his face as he soaked up his own superiority. "I'll get there whenever I decide to get there."

Ray pushed himself off of the door frame, stood up straight and puffed out his chest before walking towards Kai at the door and spoke in a mocking tone.

"'Oh you do know I'm the boss right?' – Only boss round here buddy is me," he told, pressing his index finger onto Kai's chest again before wafting his hands in a shooing motion.

"Now be gone with you, go, I can't tidy up around here with you under my feet."

Kai huffed a small laugh.

"Such a good wife..."

With a scoff and an insult muttered under his breath, Ray now stood at the front door and puckered his lips out.

"Bye my love."

Leaning down slightly to place a peck on them Kai then pressed the key fob to unlock the gleaming black Mercedes parked on their front drive.

"Bye loser."

Ray let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Whyy can't you just love me?!" Holding both arms out in question he stood and watched Kai saunter to his car. "God, you're so frustrating."

Kai lightly chuckled as he got into the car and at a push of a button started up the vehicle.

Pressing a switch on his car door to bring down the passenger side window, he leaned over the gear shift and spoke out loud enough to be heard over the soft purr of the engine.

"What did you say? I'm what?"

"I said you're frustr-"

Before Ray could finish Kai pressed down on the accelerator a few times with his foot to rev the loud engine over his voice. The powerful roar completely drowning Ray out and causing a few nosey neighbours to peer through their windows at the unnecessary noise first thing on a morning.

Kai cupped a hand to his ear before shrugging his shoulders, his perfectly white teeth making a rare appearance as his own practical joke amused him.

Taking his foot off the accelerator he called out to Ray again as the engine died back down to a soft purr, the smile still dancing on his face.

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that, babe. Say that again?"

Ray simply put up his middle finger. He wasn't going to fall for it a second time.

Taking out his sunglasses from a compartment above his head, Kai put them on before turning to look at Ray again, a smug tone laced his voice as he spoke.

"Oh, and FYI I do love you, more than you'll ever know... Now go get that house cleaned bitch, I'll see you later."

Popping his lips at him to send a kiss, he quickly flicked up the switch on the door to bring up the car window again and sped off the drive to avoid any repercussions of his words. A short screech of tyres filling the air causing more shakes of neighbour's heads.

Glancing into his rear view mirror Kai watched Ray go back into the house, a cheeky smile still dancing on his lips.

'Asshole,' Ray thought to himself with his own smirk as he made his way into the living room.

"Well, I was going to, but now he's said that, if he thinks I'm just going to be spending my entire morning off cleaning he's got another thing coming," he said to himself, picking up the landscaping brochure on the glass coffee table and flopping himself down onto the couch in protest.

Resting his feet on the table he flicked through the colourful glossy pages, musing aloud as he took in the picturesque examples of what their dump of a garden could become.

"Ooh that looks nice... Hmm, those flowers are pretty… Oh, a water feature, that'd look good..."

After around ten or so minutes Ray's exterior design thoughts came to a halt when his phone started to ring. Placing the booklet down on the table he picked up his cell and read the caller ID.

His eyes widened some in disbelief, and his mouth gaped open.

~Mariah~

Dun dun dun.. o_o Ooh what does she want? xD

Thanks for the love so far guys! Makes me smile.

Also just to add I'm in no way affiliated with a company called 'Bathrooms r Us' nor am I aware if that's even a real business. That my friends was just the extent of my imagination (or lack thereof) one evening whilst writing this.

If it is a real company and the owner has just so happened to stumble upon this fic, well, you're welcome for the free advertising. (Also please don't sue me for defamation for saying your bathrooms are expensive AF) xD

I must admit I am soooo excited to put out the next chapter.. It's a juicy one. So yeah. I'd stick around if I were you.

K~