Lyrics screamed through his mind, more incessant and annoying then any alarm clock a person could have imagined and put into production. Ky rolled over in his bed, knocking the picture next to him onto the floor and dropped a pillow over his head so he didn't hear the glass crack upon hitting the floor. High pitched notes and whining guitars seeped through the pillow and Ky found himself feeling like he had a hangover, his temple pounding and sleep completely leaving him. Finally he surrendered and sat up in bed, pulling a robe on as he went to the window to find that offense noise.
Nothing sat in the back lawn which he overlooked, nothing save for his father's large garage which housed his collection of cars. Ky already had a thought forming in his mind as he left his bedroom and marched down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out the back door to that large building. He already knew it was one of his father's little car workers and he was completely ready to rip him a new one for disturbing his sleep and playing that horrible excuse for music.
The garage was a large single floored complex, looking more like a car dealer's show room, filled with vintage cars from various years, all polished and shone to perfection. In the very back of the building was a large tool bench and a work area, where he found the stereo playing, a discarded cd case proclaiming 'Queen' on it laying off to the side.
Ky found his own wrecked car sitting in front of him, with a set of legs covered in grease stained jeans sticking out from under the crumbled machine and the noises of tools running underneath. Ky stood there for a moment, at loss for what to say, then he stamped his foot on the concrete floor and hit the stereo so the music stopped.
"H-hey! Get out here!"
The whirling under the car stopped and he heard a deep voice grumble something unintelligible as tools clanked onto the concrete, then the person slid out so Ky could completely see him, sending a frown in his direction.
He was tall, and big, Ky noticed that right away. The man in front of him had to be at least a foot taller than him, with large muscles showing he spent more than just a couple weekends at the gym. His hair was matted and tied back haphazardly with a bandanna of sorts, and the tank top might have once been white, though now it was stained with shades upon shades of black and grey from grease and who knows what else. A grease smudge crossed one cheek and up one side of his nose, setting off the green eyes that were so light they almost looked gold. Ky found himself just staring at him, not able to say much else. He forgot his indignation and his anger and just stared at the man before him, suddenly feeling small and insignificant.
"Hey! You his son? You did quite a number on this car." The man stood up, and took off the bandanna from his head to wipe the grease from his hands while he moved over to the work shelf and took a drink from a water bottle.
"Who are you? What are you doing here in m-my father's garage?" Ky knew the second answer and most of the first, but he found himself a bit unable to think as he watched the man's muscles while he moved. He felt overwhelmed and outgunned, of all things. An instinct to run and hide was rising as well, but that seemed to help him as it reminded him of his anger. He was the son of one of the richest men in the world after all, what right did this big olaf have to scare him out of his own garage?!
"The name's Sol," the man smirked at Ky and retied on his bandanna, pulling his messy hair back. ⌠And I'm the one who's being paid to fix the mess you made."
"Who said I even wanted that horrendous machine in the first place!" Ky felt his voice rising, and just couldn't stop yelling at this man. Something about him was just infuriating and Ky could feel him silently laughing at him and his every breath.
Sol shrugged and sat back down on the little trolley by the car. ⌠Hey, I don't care. I'm just the one paid to fix it. I should be thanking you, this'll give me a good couple weeks of work. What'd you do, wrap it around a telephone pole?"
"Shut up!!"
He simply responded with a chuckle and laid back down, sliding back under the car to work. Ky felt the near uncontrollable urge to kick at his legs, but was jolted out of that as the stereo turned back on, much louder this time. He had a remote under the car and he'd done that on purpose!
"Who said I wanted it fixed in the first place?!" Ky yelled at the room, even if he was pretty sure the music drowned him out. Clutching his fist in anger and almost pure rage Ky forced himself to stomp out of the garage and slam the door behind him. He leaned back against the warm wood, closing his eyes and listening to the muffled screams of 80's rock. Slowly the anger slipped away, returning him back to his seemingly normal numb state. He took a few more deep breaths, making sure it wouldn't reappear and tempt him to do something stupid.
It seemed all he was these days was depressed or angry at the world. Ever since the accident, Ky's emotions were off kilter, coming in quick spurts only to leave him too tired to deal with the mess he made each time. Crashing the car was a prime example, and he supposed he was really only lucky that he hadn't hurt someone sooner. Ky forced himself to breathe again and forced the anger away, also forcing himself to walk at the same time.
He needed this to stop. He needed to be stable again, he needed to let go, he needed Fredrick. Ky closed his eyes and tried to hold back the tears that threatened, slowly gathering at his eyes. He angrily wiped them away as he stepped back into the house and wandered around the kitchen aimlessly. He should eat breakfast and then he should find some sort of distraction. That's what he needed, a distraction that didn't bring up Fredrick, his father or cars. He needed something, just anything.
"Uncle Ky!" The high pitched voice came out of no where, followed by the barreling body of a young ten year old wearing a loose summer dress, with a yo-yo tangled around his fingers. Ky blinked in surprise and moved on instinct, somehow managing to catch the young cross-dressed boy before both of them tumbled back onto the floor. He couldn't resist the urge to smile as he looked up at his little cousin.
Bridget was probably the most confusing and confused child in existence. Having grown up in a house with no father, one mother and one older sister, he had decided that he was a girl as well. He made it a point to wear dressed on a daily basis and became offended when anyone even spoke his real, male name. He was Bridget, he would proclaim, and then he'd spell it out until the person relented and called him by his chosen female name. Future mistakes would be followed by teddy bears being thrown at the backs of their heads and a very upset ten year old wielding one of his many yo-yos. Bridget had always been very clear about what he wanted, another result of living with two very strong willed women, which also explained why he'd always called Ky 'uncle' even while they were cousins. In Bridget's mind Uncles were older and cousins were the same age. So since Ky wasn't the same age as Bridget, he just had to be his uncle.
"Uncle Ky Uncle Ky look look! I got a new one!" Bridget swung the yoyo on its string and did a little twisting and turning trick, catching it with a triumphant smile. Ky chuckled and played along, trying to catch the yoyo, but deliberately going too slow so he didn't ruin the trick. "Too slow!"
"You're just too good with them." Ky set Bridget down and watched him play with the yoyo more. It was a happy distraction, one that he welcomed far too easily.
"She insisted on coming over to show you right away. Mother ordered another box of new ones for her to play with a some instruction video for tricks. She'll be pestering us all week, I'm sure." The older voice was from Milia, Bridget's older sister who now sat at the kitchen table, sipping warm tea from an ornate teacup. She resembled Bridget as any sister would, her long blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail that curled just slightly at the edges. Like Ky and her sister, she had deep blue eyes and she wore a stylish short dress that showed off the legs she'd inherited from her mother. Milia's family wasn't as rich as Ky and his father, but no one would ever know it thanks to her keen fashion sense and gift for making herself always look like she had more money than she did. It also helped that Milia help herself to the same standards of any high class woman.
"Oh don't complain, you enjoy it." Ky took a cup for himself and poured some of the tea, sitting down next to her. Bridget immediately jumped up and landed in Ky's lap, smoothing out his dress like a proper lady and smiled brightly as he pretended to be part of the conversation.
"I heard you got into an accident. You should know better than to scare me like that," Milia sipped her tea politely, but the underlying scolding tone was obvious.
Ky leaned back in his chair, one of his hands idly playing with one of Bridget's short pigtails. "I'm surprised the whole world doesn't know by now. I got stupid. The ba- he bought me a car for my birthday. We were supposed to move into the house today, and what does he do? He goes and buys me a car. I just, well, got upset."
Milia nodded her head, tucking back a loose hair. "You know he means well, but your father just isn't the type to really get to know his son. He can't seem to get past the notion that someone could hate cars so much."
"I don't hate them." Ky stopped himself and sighed. "Ok, I do hate them. Because he died in one. I would be perfectly happy to never see them ever again. I just want him back."
"Uncle Ky, do they have yoyos in heaven?"
Both Milia and Ky blinked, looking at the cute blond boy. A small smile crept over Milia's lips and she reached over, ruffling Bridget's hair enough to make him squeak and bat at her hand. "I'm sure they do, sweetie."
"Don't call me sweetie!" Bridget stuck out his lip, pouting until he made Ky crack his own smile. Ky leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Bridget, hugging him much like the teddy bear he usually carried around. Bridget seemed content with that and stuck his tongue out at Milia in triumph.
"You should come out with us today, Ky, get your mind off things. I know you're not much for shopping, but spending a bit of your father's money might get you to relax. Buy yourself something for your birthday. You certainly deserve it."
Ky considered for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose, as long as it's just toy stores for Bridget."
Bridget shook his head, smiling sweetly. "Nu-uh. We can go to Bridget's toy store and then we can go to Uncle Ky and Big Sis's toy store."
"Of course. Now, go tell your Uncle to get dressed."
"Uncle Ky, get dressed!" Bridget perfectly mocked his mother's scolding tone, looking up at Ky. Ky just smiled and nodded his head.
"I'll only be a moment." He stood up and left the kitchen, already feeling better as he climbed the stairs.
In his bedroom, Ky only took a moment to glance at the cut on his forehead. It now looked little more than a simple red scratch, and his bangs easily hid most of it from view. Pulling on a pair of pants and t-shirt, with a simple jacket, he noticed the picture of him and Fredrick lying on the bed.
"Now how did you get there-" Ky frowned and picked it up, setting the picture back on bedside table. His other hand reflexively went to the keys hanging from around his neck.
Outside the window he could hear the same loud music blaring and screaming from the garage. Before he even really thought about it, Ky walked to the window and leaned against the sill, looking down.
The garage door was open and the music was loud again, having followed Sol out into the yard. The larger man wasn't currently working on any of the cars, but was instead leaning against the garage wall, smoking a cigarette while he took a break. The sun highlighted that fact that he'd gained more grease stains and now a light layer of sweat seemed to cover his skin. Ky couldn't help but stare, his hands pressed against the window sill and the room around him feel thick. Ky coughed softly and tugged at the chain around his neck, the keys moving just a little.
"Ky? Are you coming?"
"Uncle Ky! We're gonna leave without you!"
"Coming." Ky answered back and turned from the window. He quickly rushed down the stairs, the two keys around his neck jingling all the way.