I know, I know. It's been under 24 hours since my last update. I… have no idea how this happened, actually. There was no over-baring urge to write it, or to write anything for that matter. Eh.
BUT you guys reached the "I only update after I get 3 reviews" rule really fast, so yay! Go you! Maybe you could do that again this time?
Eh?
…Eh?
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"So buy a new one." Tala said, his mouth full of the sandwich he was eating. Kai growled in disgust and turned his attention back to the laptop on the counter.
"I don't want to buy a new one. I want to make the asshole who blew up my old one do that."
Tala was silent for a moment before he swallowed and readjusted how he was leaning on the island counter.
"Kai, if he wanted you dead, I don't think he's going to feel bad and pay you back. It's not like he key'd it."
Kai ignored the snide comment and continued to type away furiously at the over-abused keypad on the laptop. "Then I'll ruin him financially."
"Using what?" Tala asked, taking another bite, "Your super corporate Biovolt powers?"
"Go to hell."
"See you there."
As if he had been expecting it, Kai didn't seem to care about Tala's reply. Instead, he continued to click rapidly through the small detached mouse that sat beside the laptop, scanning page after page for any sort of information.
"So, did Valentin give you a lift home or what?"
Kai faltered a bit in his search before continuing. "You saw him?"
"No. But I saw his car."
"How did you know it was his?" Kai asked, frowning at the screen. Tala stood upright and stretched before leaning back in and fingering the toothpick that had held his sub together.
"The bumper sticker saying 'Fine wine and watches make the world go round' kinda gave it away." Tala said casually, tossing his hand about.
"So you saw him, then?" Kai repeated, aware that Valentin wouldn't put a bumper sticker on his SUV. Tala rolled his eyes and continued to pick and the cellophane on the top of the tooth pick.
"Yeah. Why was he there?"
Kai sighed. "Voltaire left him half his wine collection."
This, in turn, caused Tala to jump upright. "What?!"
"Yeah, well, it's only half."
"But it was mine!"
Kai said. "The man didn't know, he figured I was the only one who wanted it. You should have told him."
Tala growled. "That bastard…"
Silence ensued. With no other reason to remain in the kitchen, Tala pushed off of the counter and left Kai to mope over the loss of his car. Barefoot, he strolled into the living room of the flat, then down the hall, then passed the front door. He kept his gaze on the floor as he moved, but after only two steps out of the front hall, he realized that something had been sitting in the mail slot.
Backtracking, he made a double-take toward the small basket beside the door and found that he was right. A large tan colored envelope sat there, a perfect clean square against the old, ignored bills that were crumples beneath it. Curiously, Tala snuck across the tile and plucked it up, turning it over in his hands.
To The Boy Missing His Car
The fine print on the front read, raising Tala's eyebrow with each curving letter. Thoughtlessly, he began to wander back into the kitchen toward Kai.
"Hey."
"Hn."
"Letter."
"Hn."
Tala glared. "It's a ticking package, and you have twenty seconds to chose between the red wire and the blue wire." He growled, dropping it in front of Kai. "Just open it."
-x-x-x-
Kevin glared at the floor between his swinging feet. From where he said on the side of his bed, the wooden planks beneath him were cloaked in shadow, and couldn't see the look he was giving them.
Nine in the morning, and everyone was still asleep. Kevin was, by nature, and early riser, and when he discovered that no one in the Yin family was, he returned to his guest room to sulk pitifully.
The glare softened to a sad frown. With his own home destroyed by the fire, his teammates had immediately began to discuss where he would stay. It was all up in the air until Mariah and Lee's mother had learned of the news, and then without any room for dispute, announced that Kevin would be staying with them. It was awkward, walking into the kitchen in the morning to see not only his own parents, but Lee, Mariah, and their mother and father.
Standing, he came to the sudden decision that he would explore the house without anyone else awake to stop him. As he moved out of the room and own the hallway, he remain on his tiptoes as if one false move would send him clear through the floorboards. Cautiously, he descended the staircase and found himself in the front hall, where much to his meddling interest, he spotted a single envelope that had been slide beneath the front door. Curiously, he moved forward and scooped it up. It was a perfect square, tan object without a single wrinkle. The corners were pointed and sharp.
To The Boy Who Got Away
A rush of cold spikes shot down his spine. As if the box they had found wasn't enough... Lee and Rei had quickly decided that it was some sort of harsh prank, and refused to believe otherwise. Gradually, Kevin and Mariah relaxed as well, but his violet eyes scanned the curling script, his heart began to race again. Slowly, he turned it over and picked away the wax seal, removing the paper inside.
-x-x-x-
Kai jumped as the envelope clattered onto the keyboard. Looking up sharply, he snatched it up and glared.
"For god sakes, Tala, I'm trying to get something done and it's very important that you don't-"
"Read the envelope, you ornery prick." Tala snapped, sitting down on a barstool to watch as Kai did just that. Reluctantly, the crimson eyed young man unfolded the crisp white paper from inside and took a deep breath, to read aloud.
-x-x-x-
Kevin sat down slowly on the cushioned bench in the front hall and, hesitantly, pulled the stark white cardstock paper from the envelope. Dropping the tan wrapping to the floor, he slowly unfolded it and began to read.
-x-x-x-
Dear Addressed;
You are cordially invited to a gathering in honor of James P. Matherson, and his triumphant onset to the free world. In honor of said occasion, your attendance is obligatory. If you choose to decline this invitation, the termination of individuals important to your day-to-day life will become effective immediately. Refusal is not an option. The Blitzkrieg Boys are also expected to attend.
You shall arrive at the abandoned southern entrance of Seaquest State Park, Washington, in the United States five days from now. Those who fail to arrive will be considered to have declined, and punishment will ensue. Upon entrance of the park, gather with the other guests at the fallen bridge and wait for further instruction.
In the spirit of special interest, Mr Matherson will not wait for certain guests to arrive late, and will instead send someone to 'pick them up' despite protest. Necessary means of force may be taken.
It is a momentous occasion that Mr Matherson wishes to share with all of you.
Expecting you soon,
X
-x-x-x-
Kai stared at the paper in his hands with a distant look in his eyes. Tala, who had expected it to be some sort of follow up to the funeral, sat speechless. Whatever snide comment he had created in his mind before hand was long gone now, lost with the words that Kai had just read aloud. Both remained as silent as the grave for several long moments before the shrill ring of the telephone brought them out of their stupor. Snagging it without looking away from the letter, Kai held it to his ear and spoke.
"What… What?! Why the hell are you in the hospital?!"
Tala just stared, not sure how to react as Kai listened to someone on the other end.
"It… What blew up? Who's hurt?... Tyson…. Tyson, goddamnit, what?!... Fine… Fine… Oh, shut up, will you?"
Kai slammed the phone down. Tala stared at him with a cocked eyebrow. Silence followed, stretching out like toffee before Kai sighed and lowered the letter to the countertop. Slowly, he turned and began to walk out of the room.
"What about your super corporate Biovolt mission?" Tala called after him, frowning. Kai growled.
"If you haven't put two and two together yet, then you're an idiot." He spat over his shoulder. Tala narrowed his eyes, still perched on the barstool.
"So then where the hell are you going?"
As Kai vanished around the corner and down the hall, Tala felt the weight of the situation begin to drag down on him. Staring straight ahead, he did nothing when he heard Kai's reply.
"I'm going to call Rei."
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ROAD TRIIIP!
Kai: Shut up! I don't want to go anywhere without my caaar! D:
Tala: Get over it, you loser.
Kai: NEVER. –tackles redhead to the ground, catfight ensues–