Chapter Seventeen

Things were a whirlwind of activity after they got off the stage. The townspeople continued to come up to them, praising their performances and congratulating them. Radley, still the professional, beamed and thanked them. Kalin, rather in a euphoric daze, was pretty sure he also thanked them but wasn't entirely sure. Once the crowd mostly thinned out, he found himself looking at Yusei, Jack, and Crow.

"You always did have to have a showstopper finale, didn't you?" Crow smirked.

"It was wonderful," Yusei said sincerely. "Both of you did so well. And congratulations. Kalin, I'm really happy to see you healing so much."

"Yes, I'm not sure when I've been so positively surprised," Radley smiled.

"Thank you, all of you," Kalin said. "Suddenly I just wanted to show how I felt. I wanted everyone to know it."

"And you most certainly did that," Jack finally spoke. He looked to Radley. "Kalin never gives his feelings lightly."

Radley sobered. "I most certainly know that. It was quite a struggle getting him interested for a long time, or so it seemed. Later I learned that I'd started succeeding very soon, but Kalin hadn't felt worthy to accept."

Kalin nodded. "Being given a second chance when it looked like all was lost was the most amazing, incredible feeling possible. I wasn't going to squander it again."

"You sure don't believe in letting grass grow under your feet," Crow commented.

"And why should he?" Radley beamed. "We should seize our moments when they come."

They headed off soon after for a late dinner. Once they placed their orders, they settled at the table with Yusei and the others. Yusei still looked so very happy for them, especially for Kalin, while Crow seemed to be going with the flow and Jack seemed the most unsure what to think.

"Yusei, I hope you weren't too distressed by Scotch's first choice of song to sing," Kalin said. "He showed us a video that had been taken of Malcolm singing it to you."

"That was . . . something else," Yusei remembered. "It was a lot better hearing Scotch sing it than Malcolm."

"The video was quite amusing," Radley chuckled. "Scotch considered playing it for everyone, but we decided it would be better if he just sang it himself."

"That was better," Yusei agreed. "But either way, it's good the town could laugh about it after all Malcolm did."

"I wondered about that myself," Radley said. "I'm glad we've all healed enough for that."

"Yeah, I'm sure the song wouldn't have flown right after Malcolm and Lawton were stopped," Crow said.

"It wouldn't have," Kalin agreed. "We were all in shock about Lawton blowing up part of the town." And, in Kalin's case, deep in horror that he had kept pushing Radley away until it had seemed to be too late.

"We were pretty shocked by that too," Crow said. "Man, that guy was something else."

"Let's hope he will never get out of the Facility," Jack grunted as he drank his cup of coffee.

"I hope neither of them will get out if their attitudes don't change," Radley said. "If they'd turn their lives around, I'd say they should be allowed parole. They could do more good outside."

"They won't change," Jack insisted. "People like that never do."

Kalin flinched. He hadn't ever thought he would feel such a way, but Jack's attitude suddenly bothered him. If no one changed, did that mean Jack felt he hadn't either?

His expression must have displayed his concerns, because Crow hastened to say, "Of course, people like that must've always been low-down creeps. Then there's genuinely good people who lose their way for a while. They can change."

Jack grunted into his coffee. "Of course."

Yusei firmly nodded. "Everyone who's really trying to change deserves a second chance," he declared, smiling at Kalin.

Kalin smiled back.

Radley relaxed and laid a hand on his shoulder, hoping the potential crisis had been averted.

"Anyway, Radley, are you saying you'd really forgive Malcolm and Lawton for everything they did?" Crow suddenly asked.

Radley paused, thinking on that. "Whether I could or not, I'd still say they should get parole if a miracle happened and they wanted to be good," he said. "But I hope I can forgive them regardless." He sighed. "It won't be easy, of course, especially in Lawton's case. I guess sometimes I saw glimpses of a better person in Malcolm, or maybe it was just that he was so amusingly silly with his rants and rages that I couldn't help but be an itty-bit fond of him."

"And you would still feel that way after he ordered your death?" Jack snorted.

Kalin's expression darkened.

Radley squeezed his shoulder. ". . . I don't know how I feel," he had to admit. "I'm disappointed . . . hurt, even. And I know that's crazy to feel that way after everything he did to this town, but . . . I do. Part of me wonders if he was drunk when he gave that order and he just said it in a fit without really meaning it." He shook his head. "But I'm probably fooling myself. I'm pretty sure that wasn't even the first time he tried to have me killed."

Kalin frowned. He hadn't realized Radley felt these ways about the situation at all. It was understandable why he wouldn't want to bring it up with Kalin, given how deeply hurt Kalin still was about his own part in that horrible night. And yet, part of him rather wished Radley had confided in him about it.

From Radley's expression, now he was concerned about Kalin's feelings on the matter too. "Anyway, I shouldn't have said anything," he quickly added. "I don't know why it spilled out now. Maybe I'm just thinking more about Malcolm tonight with the concert and all." He smiled. "We should be thinking about happy things tonight. We're celebrating a great victory over Malcolm and Lawton."

"Yeah," Crow mused. "We are at that."

xxxx

The group shared dinner together, talking mostly amiably. Then it was time for dessert and they all got up to go to the long buffet table of treats Radley and the Bunch had prepared.

Kalin moved closer to Radley as they stood in line. "Why didn't you talk before about your feelings about Malcolm?" he asked.

Radley sighed and shrugged. "I didn't wanna hurt you by talking about something so painful when I figured it didn't have to be talked about," he said. "I guess I've wondered what's wrong with me that I'm actually hurt about what he did. It shouldn't be a surprise. I shouldn't feel hurt at all. I mean, we were rivals and he was a creep! He finally had me caught, so why wouldn't he try to get rid of me once and for all?" He shook his head. "Maybe I thought that every now and then I was making a dent in how he felt, like at Christmastime, and he was starting to soften. But then it always seemed like he'd go right back to his awful behavior again. Money meant more to him than anything else."

Kalin considered that. "There's nothing wrong with you," he said at last, "but there's a lot wrong with him. And if I hadn't started to soften about you, there'd also be a lot wrong with me. Anyone who rejects you is a fool."

Radley smiled. "Thank you, Kalin."

"And . . ." Kalin hesitated. "I . . . want you to confide things in me, even if you think it will be too painful. I want to know everything about you and how you feel. I want to know what makes you happy . . . sad . . . everything."

This brought an even deeper smile. "That means so much. It's what I longed for and thought I would never have."

"Now you definitely do," Kalin said.

"And I won't forget it," Radley promised.

Kalin smiled, then looked to where Jack was scrutinizing every dessert. When he was satisfied, he'd put one on his plate.

"Well, that's sure an interesting way to eat," Radley chuckled. "What, does he have to make sure each one lives up to his high standards?"

"Something like that," Kalin agreed with a bit of a smirk.

"Then I guess I should be flattered our offerings pass his test," Radley remarked. "Mostly I'm thinking he's going overboard. But then I've always found food judges to be silly and picky and prissy."

"They are, pretty much," Kalin agreed. "It's a world I'll never understand."

"It's so subjective too," Radley said. "There's not many universal rules of cooking, really. Each judge has their own ideas of what's right and wrong and they often contradict each other." He smirked. "I'm sure Jack would fit right in if it was a career path he wanted."

"And maybe he would if he wasn't so bent on beating Yusei," Kalin said.

"He really is like Kaiba in that respect," Radley chuckled. "But let's hope he never becomes quite that obsessed."

"I do, every day," Kalin deadpanned.

"Well, at least he's a good guy," Radley mused. "He protected the kids and I know they and Jordan are grateful."

Kalin nodded. "I wonder if he's so protective of kids now because of what he did to Rally," he remarked. "Maybe he feels so guilty about it that he wants to make sure no other kids suffer when he could help them."

"It's an interesting thought," Radley said. "It could be true, I suppose, if he really felt that badly about it."

"Or maybe I'm just projecting my own feelings onto him," Kalin said. "I know I'd feel that way."

". . . Do you think he really likes me, Kalin?" Radley suddenly asked in concern. "Maybe he thinks I'm not someone worthy of you."

"I'd be more likely to wonder if he thinks I'm not good enough for you," Kalin grunted. He sighed. "But I imagine we're both wrong. I'm sure he's really fine with both of us and he figures how close we become is our business. I don't think he cares a great deal what we do."

"Really?" Radley frowned. "We were just talking about how protective he is of kids. You don't think he would extend those feelings to you too?"

"Oh . . . I don't know," Kalin sighed. "Maybe I still feel so unworthy of everyone and I wonder how others would not feel that way. Yusei was really the only one who stood by me through everything; Jack and Crow gave up on me when I started losing it."

"But they came back," Radley kindly pointed out. "Maybe Jack feels badly he left you and he wants to make sure he never does anything like that again."

That brought a touched but skeptical smile. "Maybe," Kalin said.

"Have you really spoken in-depth with him and Crow since you first reunited?" Radley asked.

"Not much, and not about me, really," Kalin said. "Jack is not the heart-to-heart type. Crow isn't always so much either."

"Maybe you should," Radley kindly advised. "If it feels like there's still an elephant in the room, it should be let out. Those things fester if left alone."

". . . Yeah, I know." The advice had taken him by surprise, but in another way it hadn't. Radley tried to help counsel all of the Bunch with their problems. Now he and Kalin were close enough that he felt comfortable including Kalin in that as well. It was nice.

"I want to see you fully happy," Radley said, gently squeezing Kalin's arm. "I don't want any demons of the past to plague you and follow you in your new life."

"I know Yusei feels the same," Kalin said. "And deep down, I guess I really feel that Jack and Crow do too. They didn't know I was involved when they looked for Yusei, but when they got here and everything was such a mess with Lawton and Barbara, they pitched right in helping despite my presence."

"Of course they did," Radley smiled. "You're still special to them."

"That's still an amazing and hard to grasp feeling," Kalin said. "I feel so unworthy, and yet there it is."

"No matter how hurt I am over what the Bunch did, I will always come in an instant if any of them need help," Radley said.

"Anyone who can do that is an incredible person," Kalin said. "I don't know that I could."

"You're stronger than you know," Radley said.

"When you say it, it feels like it could really be true," Kalin said.

"Good," Radley smiled.

Suddenly he chuckled. "Malcolm really is a character. Did I tell you about the time he wrote a song parody about me?"

Kalin stared at him. "No."

"He must really like Moana, because he took the song Shiny and rewrote it to be about me loving jewelry and other shiny things," Radley snarked. "One time I walked into the Red Scarf Saloon wanting to talk to him about something and he was up at the mic, completely sloshed and singing that song."

". . . And I thought You're Welcome was bad," Kalin remarked.

"Oh, this one is really a piece of work," Radley said. "Scotch was hopping mad about it, but I just laughed. Let's see . . . how did it go now. . . ."

Well, ol' Radley hasn't always been this glam

I was a real drab guy once

Now I know I can be happy as a clam

Because I'm beautiful, baby

Did your granny say listen to your heart

Be who you are on the inside

I need three words to tear her argument apart

Your granny lied!

I'd rather be...

Shiny

Like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck

Scrub the deck and make it look

Shiny

I will sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck

Just a sec!

Don't you know

People are dumb, dumb, dumb

They chase anything that glitters (beginners!)

Oh, and here they come, come, come

To the brightest thing that glitters

Mmm, new followers

I just love hangers-on

And you look like new fans

Well, well, well

Old Malcolm's having trouble with his temper

You loco guy that I will always beat

Ouch! What a terrible performance

Get the hook!

You're not worthy of sharing the stage with me

Yet I have to give you credit for my start

And your itty-bitty Duelists

For because of you I made myself a work of art

I'll never hide; I can't, I'm too...

Shiny

Watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough

Strut my stuff; my stuff is so...

Shiny

Send your armies but they'll never be enough

My shell's too tough

Malcolm, you can try, try, try

But you can't expect an old guy

To beat a young one

You will die, die, die

Now it's time for me to take apart

Your aching heart

Far from the ones who abandoned you

Chasing the love of these idiots

Who made you feel wanted

You tried to be tough

But your armour's just not hard enough

Malcolm

Now it's time to kick your

Hiney

Ever seen someone so

Shiny

Soak it in 'cause it's the last you'll ever see

C'est la vie, mon ami

I'm so...

Shiny

Now I kill you, so prepare your final plea

Just for me

You'll never be quite as

Shiny

You wish you were nice and

Shiny!

Kalin just stared at him. "You laughed?"

Radley giggled. "What can I say? It was hard for me to be mad with Malcolm giving such a classic performance, even if he was grossly exaggerating me in his lyrics."

"I would have punched his lights out if he'd written something like that about me in the Enforcers," Kalin said.

Radley gave a wan smile. "Yeah . . . you probably would have. Well, while I definitely don't find it funny how some of the townspeople think of me, I was able to have a sense of humor about Malcolm's version. It was just too silly to take seriously."

"And what did Malcolm say when you laughed?" Kalin wondered.

"He said something about 'Now you know how I really feel about you, you old pole-cat' and fell off the stage," Radley said. "I made sure he was okay and then said, 'Oh, I already knew that. I just didn't know you wanted to be the next Weird Al Yankovic.'"

Kalin had to smirk a bit.

"Yeah . . . those were relatively good times," Radley mused. "I wish the rivalry with Malcolm had always just stayed silly like that. But oh well." He perked up as they reached the head of the line. "Are you ready for dessert?"

Kalin nodded. "I won't scrutinize everything like Jack did."

Radley smirked. "I hope not."

They quickly selected their desserts and then went back to their table. The others were already there.

"So what was that weird thing you were singing?" Crow asked. "I only caught snatches of it with the crowd all talking at once."

"I was telling Kalin about a song parody Malcolm wrote about me," Radley said.

"To make fun of him," Kalin said flatly.

"Yeah. I don't think Malcolm would have ever written something about me in all sincerity," Radley said. "I was really annoyed when some of the Crewmembers came up with a stupid song where I died, but this one . . . I just couldn't help but laugh. Maybe because Malcolm writing parodies of Disney songs is the last thing I ever expected."

"That is pretty out there," Crow said.

"Shiny is supposed to be a David Bowie tribute, but I doubt Malcolm knows or cares about that," Radley said.

"What are you guys talking about?" Scotch asked as he bounded over.

"That time Malcolm rewrote Shiny to be about me," Radley said.

"Oh." Scotch made a face, but just as quickly perked up again. "We can dish it right back! You know what I just realized?! I can totally sing Gaston all about Lawton! I just need to change the name and that weird spitting part! I'll make it a dueling contest instead!"

Radley laughed. "Oh gosh."

"It really fits!" Scotch insisted. "Especially the one from the animated version! Listen!" And he proceeded to sing the entire song with no changes except the ones he had mentioned. Radley and Crow were soon laughing and even Kalin had to crack a smirk.

"Okay, you win," Radley giggled. "Yeah, everything fits, alright."

"And with everybody still here, I'll make it a special encore to the concert and sing it tonight!" Scotch said.

"That will be interesting," Kalin said. "What will you do about all the different characters in the song?"

"I'll recruit some of the rest of the Bunch!" Scotch said. "I'm sure they'll go for it!"

"Even the female lines?" Kalin deadpanned.

"Well . . . we'll figure that out when we rehearse it!" Scotch said. "I'll probably sing those!" He danced off with his dessert plate to pitch the idea to the others.

"Oh boy," Crow commented.

Jack humphed. "This is all childish."

"I know, but it's harmless fun," Radley said. "Like I said, the town's healed enough to be able to laugh at their enemies."

"It might hurt your chances at the polls on Tuesday," Jack said.

"I kinda doubt that," Radley said. "Bettina's group already hates us and wouldn't have voted for us anyway. I don't think this'll turn anyone else off. Even some of the Malcolm supporters ended up not liking what happened when Lawton took over and he and Barbara betrayed Malcolm."

"They were real pieces of work, alright," Crow snorted.

Jack looked to Kalin. "Is this the kind of thing you go in for now?"

Kalin shrugged. "Scotch is doing it, not me. Radley allows Scotch the freedom to do most anything he wants in these concerts. It's Radley's diner; he has that right."

"In other words, you don't agree," Jack said.

"I think in the Enforcers, you would have," Yusei spoke up. "You were the one even making the concerts then."

"I know," Kalin said. "That was a lifetime ago. I'll let someone else have the spotlight now."

Radley smiled. "I think we had a good piece of the spotlight tonight. Scotch will probably have other songs for us to sing later."

"And I'll probably agree," Kalin said with a bit of a smile.

"I wonder what else he'd come up with for you two," Crow said. "So This Is Love? A Whole New World?"

"Maybe both, and more," Kalin deadpanned, actually not sure he was kidding.

Scotch suddenly popped up behind them. "I was thinking of Never Knew I Needed!" he chirped.

Kalin started, but Radley wasn't surprised by his sudden appearance. "That is a nice song," he mused.

Scotch nodded enthusiastically. "And it fits how you guys didn't understand each other at first but came to care about each other so much!"

Radley smiled more. "I like it," he said. "I'll have to play the song for Kalin when we're home."

"It sounds good," Kalin had to admit.

"I think you'll like it too," Radley said.

"Are you planning another concert for tomorrow night?" Crow had to ask.

"No, but a mini concert for then is a good idea!" Scotch said. "And I'm always planning for more big ones!"

"Hmph. Are your friends going to sing Gaston with you?" Jack grunted.

"Yeah!" Scotch said. "They think it's funny too!"

Radley smirked. "I've gotta say, it's classic. I wonder what Lawton would think of it."

"Part of me feels like he'd actually like it," Kalin said flatly.

Regardless of whether he would or not, the audience, for the most part, roared. It was indeed a time of healing and they enjoyed being able to laugh about the arrogance of those who had caused them so much sorrow and grief. As the evening drew to a close and people began to file out, some of them were singing their favorite lines under their breath or even out loud. Scotch looked triumphant.

Radley smiled at him. "You've made this festival special in so many ways, Scotch. I'm proud of you."

Scotch looked ready to levitate at such praise from his idol. "Really?!"

"Really," Radley said firmly.

Kalin nodded in agreement. "Thank you for what you've done for us . . . for me . . . by choosing that song for us," he said. "It was perfect. And it was just what I needed to express my feelings."

"It was so amazing!" Scotch gushed. "I've got it all recorded! I'll get you guys copies!"

"We'd really like that, Scotch," Radley smiled. "Yes, thank you so much."

Scotch hugged them both and danced off to round up all the Bunch for the ride home.

Yusei smiled. "We'd better be getting to the hotel now. Thanks for inviting us, Kalin. It's been great."

"We couldn't celebrate without you," Kalin smiled back.

Radley nodded. "We'll see you tomorrow for the rest of the festival."

Jack gave a curt nod, while Crow waved. "Later!"

Radley smiled contentedly as they watched their friends leave and head down the sidewalk to the hotel. "They can really do that without fear of being cornered by Malcolm's men," he said in awe. "Sometimes it's still hard to believe that Crash Town is really safe now."

"You're right that it's hard to comprehend," Kalin said. "But it's amazing."

Radley ran his hand up Kalin's arm. "And it's all thanks to you and Yusei and Jack and Crow."

Kalin drew Radley close in a hug. "And to you. I hope you'll fully be able to believe that someday."

Radley smiled and leaned into the warm and loving embrace. "Maybe someday. Especially with you here to tell me."

Kalin smiled too. "Always."

It was an incredible feeling. And it was theirs forever.

For a moment they lingered, wrapped up in the feel of the cozy happiness. Then, as the Bunch started to come out from the kitchen and the lounge, Radley said, "Looks like it's time to go home now."

Kalin nodded. Home. . . . What a wonderful word. For the first time in years, he really had a place to think of as home.

"Let's go," he agreed.

They drew back from each other, greeting the Bunch and heading for the doors together. They were all a family. And at last Kalin really had more confidence that he would handle it right. This wouldn't be like before. They were going to make it.