Bring Me an Umbrella

Bring me an umbrella. Tyson's gaze lingers over the text, an uncomfortable mix of emotions swirling in his gut. In his chest. An impossible weight bearing down on his entire form just at the mere thought of him. All the joy in his world evaporating in an instant upon glimpsing a name on a screen. It's getting worse with each day. He's started flinching at the chime of his phone's notification.

A location pops up right under the last text. He pockets his phone and catches a bus with a feeling of dread in his heart, a pair of umbrellas in his hand. He'd been at the Blitzkriegs house, relieved to find it empty of Kai as he laid the freshly laundered suit and some money down on his bed. The message from Kai had arrived seconds later. He grabbed an umbrella from a bunch near the front door and walked straight to the closest bus stop.

He expects to not find Kai right away but the opposite happens. He spots him out on the street through the bus window, a lone black figure trudging through the hard rain. He recognizes his profile alarmingly easily. The gait, the build, the way he's hunched his shoulders against the wind and downpour. Tyson asks the driver to stop, has to make a fuss about it because it's an intercity bus, not a local one. He exits the vehicle in a rush and runs across the road towards Kai. There's a bit of running to do and the wind does not help him get there faster. It pushes back against him with considerable strength. Rain whips across his face despite the umbrella he's held over his head. He jerks open the other one and holds it out to Kai when he reaches him.

"What are you doing out here?" Tyson shouts against the howl of the storm. "Where's your car?"

He's drenched. He takes the umbrella from Tyson and when their fingers brush for a second while passing it he notes his fingers are freezing cold.

"Have you been out here for long?" he asks again. "What happened?"

"It's lovely that you're concerned, Granger, but save it for someone else," says Kai, combing his wet hair back from his forehead.

Tyson takes a deep breath to stop himself from retorting to the jab and asks for one last time. He won't bother again after this. "What happened?"

"I took a walk and it started raining," says Kai through gritted teeth. Clearly regretting it. He starts walking again.

"That was a bad idea," says Tyson, trudging along to god knows where. He's just following him with no trust in his heart. "It rained in the morning too."

"I'm aware," he says in clipped tones.

What prompted him to take a walk? Tyson wonders distantly but pushes it out of his mind because there's something else urgently seeking his attention right now. This fucking rainstorm. His fingers are getting cold, jacket and pants soaked with water in minutes. He can feel the cold creeping into his bones.

He starts shivering before long and the jacket he's wearing might as well be nonexistent. It does nothing to keep him warm.

Kai pauses in his steps all of a sudden, and Tyson can't figure out why. They are still in the middle of nowhere. In the outskirts of the city. He walks around Tyson, switches from his right side to his left and continues on his way. Tyson is confused for a good while before he realizes that he's not getting hit by the rain as much as before. Kai's body is obstructing it, shielding him.

And it was deliberate.

He feels furious when he puts two and two together. They reach the cover of a bus stop and Tyson immediately rounds on Kai.

"Save your mind games for someone else," he says, unconsciously echoing Kai's earlier words.

He wipes rain water off his face. "What?" he spits.

"You almost ran me over with a car last night! Don't you dare pretend you care about my wellbeing now."

Kai closes his eyes, irked. Water drips from the locks of hair hanging over his forehead. Rain pummels the earth. "I don't care about your wellbeing, Granger, but you were fucking shivering in front of me and it was fucking annoying. Why would I not do something about it when I can?"

"Oh what a great guy you are. Can't stand seeing people in pain. You have to help them if you can. Do you fucking hear yourself? You almost fucked me over last night! Completely deliberately! You had that shit planned. You hired a driver and you lied to him and your friends. You told no one about what you were intending to do. You put my life in his hands, and with what guarantee? Who told you I would be fucking okay?" he screams at him.

If looks could kill Tyson would be dead right now. "Enrique wasn't a hired driver," says Kai. "He's my friend."

"So?" he scoffs.

"So, I know him."

Tyson actually considers that argument seriously for a second before he realizes that that's an insane thing to say. "You don't know shit. You had no idea he was going to be able to stop that car on time. You're a crazy fucking dick and don't you dare do that again!" he says, pointing at the rain.

Kai keeps his mouth shut, eyes alight, almost shaking with anger. His fingers tight around the handle of the umbrella. A gust of wind blows their way, into the bus stop and splashes them both with a bucket of water. Tyson audibly gasps and subsequently trembles. Kai grinds his teeth, aggravated and turns away from Tyson, facing the road instead.

Tyson goes and takes a seat on a bench, farthest from Kai and they wait for the bus in silence.

Their hands accidentally touch while climbing the bus and Tyson physically recoils and almost sends them both flying down the steps. Kai, thankfully, has more balance than him and steadies them with a firm hand on Tyson's shoulder.

He makes a weird whimpering sound and scampers up the steps, moving down the aisle quickly, looking for seats. He finds no empty ones and sags disappointedly against one of the support poles. Kai joins him near the same pole, but doesn't lean because Tyson is doing so. He hangs onto a handhold as the bus lurches into motion.

He listlessly watches the scenery outside the windows. More people file in with time and crowd him and Kai to a tiny space. Kai ends up standing behind him, one of his arms going past him to hold on to a pole.

When the bus hits the brakes, he almost falls back against Kai's chest but he's stopped by a hand on his hip, keeping him in place. It burns him all the way. Tyson feels his heart sour, feels indignant, wronged. He hates it when Kai touches him.

And he can tell Kai is uncomfortable too. That the touch wasn't intentional. That he'd just grabbed the part of his body that was closest to his hand. He takes it away almost as quickly and Tyson gulps, fighting an involuntary shiver.

The rest of the ride is awkward and stifling.

His hair smells like peaches. It's all around him. Kai can't escape it. The scent penetrates his lungs and makes a home there.

Kai pulls the trunk open. Tyson peeks inside. There's a black bag and some other stuff in there that looks like camping equipment. Kai opens the bag and rummages through it.

He draws out a set of clothes and hands them to Tyson who protests immediately. "Oh no, I- I can't- no more clothes-" he stammers.

"I'm not letting you track mud into my car."

"I'm not carrying mud."

"Change or I'm leaving you here."

Tyson opens his mouth to argue but Kai cuts him off.

"That was the last bus passing through this area."

He falls silent, defeated. Kai pushes the clothes insistently against Tyson's chest who stumbles back a step.

These are posh clothes. The shirt is silk and maroon, falls elegantly down his shoulders. The pants made of the finest fabric that accentuates his legs. He looks like a different person. Like a snobby rich kid who would pick up a handkerchief using only the tips of his two fingers and drinks wine in tiny sips.

He hates it.

He curses as he makes his way out of the room and then once more in his heart as he spots Kai who has changed into a black suit jacket and pants. The top buttons of his shirt undone.

He gets a once over himself and Tyson steels his nerves. One bad word and he will finish him.

"Roll up your sleeves," says Kai.

"What?" asks Tyson, thinking he heard him wrong because he's expecting insults.

Kai steps up to him and pulls Tyson's left arm towards himself and starts folding the fabric that almost falls past his fingers. He watches dumbfounded for a minute (what is happening?) as he adjusts the sleeve up to his elbow, then he snaps out of it and shrugs him off. "I'll do it myself," he says hurriedly. A thunder in his chest.

"Where are we going?" he wonders out loud in the car, then glances at Kai to see if he'd answer. He doesn't. Tyson laments silently, throwing his head back against the seat. "Dick"

They pull up to an oddly shaped building (an architectural marvel really) which he's sure he's never seen before. It must be new. He remembers glimpsing a construction site here once on his way to campus a few months ago.

Kai kills the Porsche's engine and Tyson prepares himself for whatever is to come.

The inside of the building is swanky and immaculate. It smells rich in that place. It seems to be an art gallery/museum. Tyson accidentally makes a twirl as he inspects his surroundings. Kai has to clear his throat at him to get his attention as a sharply dressed man approaches them, with salt and pepper hair and a few fine lines near his eyes as he smiles in welcome.

"Kai" the man calls in a deep voice. He has unnaturally straight teeth. "So glad you could make it." Kai accepts his hand shake warmly and returns his greeting.

He calls him Mr Miyagi.

Miyagi turns to Tyson with curiosity and he has to introduce himself. "I'm Tyson Granger" he says, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"He's a friend," supplies Kai. And robs him of speech.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. What do you think of my gallery?"

"I like whatever I've seen so far," says Tyson, stunned that his opinion is being sought. "And I would like to see more."

"We're sorry for being late," Kai apologises, voice rich and smooth, dripping with honey. Tyson would have swooned if he didn't know him. "There was a lot of traffic along the way and he takes forever to get ready," he says gesturing toward Tyson, who barks an involuntary laugh.

He manages to play it off coolly however. "Really sorry. It's a bad habit."

The man laughs. "No worries. I am happy just to have you here. The show is about to start. Shall we head in?" His gaze moves from Tyson to Kai.

"Please, lead the way," says Kai.

They are led to a grand theatre filled with important-looking people. Mr Miyagi gets them the best seats in the house, for the ultimate viewing experience.

Tyson holds his breath as he slides into his chair, next to Kai who is on his right. Miyagi on his left. He realizes he's smack dab in the middle of the theatre and gulps nervously.

When the lights dim and the show starts, Tyson doesn't know what to expect. But ballerinas swoop onto the stage, dressed in pink and white, moving and shimmering like unearthly beings. Tyson is immediately impressed. The story they present is raw, immersive, emotional. He glances at Kai halfway through to see what he makes of it but his expression is neutral. Observant. Miyagi seems proud and stressed at the same time. Worried about how the rest of the show will go. But he needn't have because the spectacle is mind blowing and Tyson sheds a tear toward the ending as the music crescents and the dancers spin in unison.

When it is over he jumps to his feet with the rest of the audience and gives them a thunderous standing ovation. The dancers gracefully bow as the curtain falls.

"What did you think of the show?" Miyagi asks them as he guides them down the steps to the exit.

"It was exquisite," says Kai.

"It was beautiful," says Tyson, honest.

"Ah" The man catches his eye and laughs, remembering something. "You seem to have really enjoyed it. I think I saw a tear?" he teases.

Tyson laughs out loud. "I swear I'm not a crier. The dancers were amazing."

He sees Kai lift a brow at him. Tyson wants to rolls his eyes. Who's going to tell the dick that he's the only heartless prick in this world who makes him cry?

"I'm ecstatic to hear that you both liked it. Thank you for coming. Please visit often."

"We will," promises Kai.

The ac in the car is too much. He tries to find the controls for it. Kai smacks his hand out of the way and increases the temperature.

"What just happened? Who was he? What was all that about?"

"The man you met matters a great deal to me. He invited me to his opening about a month ago and I promised to go but I was late. I couldn't go there without a plus one as well especially since he'd asked me to bring someone along."

Tyson moves his head in a nod. What about Kristina? he wonders. Why was he planning to go alone at first? Were none of his friends available?

They probably weren't.

He sits back in the chair and gets comfortable. Kai starts driving. The gentle rocking of the car almost puts him to asleep but he jerks to full consciousness when they reach the dorm.

There's an expectation in the air, like he needs to say something. But he has nothing to say. He steps outside and closes the door. He's walking away with his wet clothes in a bag when the horn goes off at him.

Tyson turns around surprised.

Kai opens the window and holds out his umbrella through it.

"Oh, thanks" He bounds back and takes it from him, curving his sealed lips at him in the shape of a smile but it's not actually a smile. It falls just short of being one. It's an out of sorts good-natured thinning of lips.

Kai rolls the window back up and the car pulls away from the curb.

His chest feels hollow.

"The Blitzkriegs apparently had a fight with the horsemen on the night of the ball."

Tyson frowns at the sound of Hilary's voice. He cracks an eye open and sees his friend lying beside him.

"What are you doing in my bed?" She's taken his blanket too. Fully colonising his space.

"Well I woke up early and had trouble going back to sleep so." She shrugs.

Tyson groans and snatches some of the blanket towards himself, snuggling next to her.

"I saw the fight," he says. "Bryan was punching the shit out of someone outside the house while we were all inside."

"Do you know what it was about?"

"I don't know. I think they were discussing it the morning after but I was.…preoccupied." He grimaces and face plants on the pillow.

"Hm" Hilary has a thoughtful look on her face then she puts it out of her mind. Switching topics.

Like it isn't five in the morning.

"Are you mad at Michael?"

"No, why?"

"The other day they were laying it on a bit too thick.."

"No, Hil." He chuckles darkly into the pillow. "They're just in love."

"I'm going to find you someone too. And the next person you date is going to be endgame."

"What?"

"I swear. No more sad Tyson. I want you to be happy." She flourishes her hand in the air.

He turns around and lies on his back. "I'm not sad. You know people can be happy without being in a relationship."

"I know but it's only fair. You had two big heartbreaks now it's time for you to have a great love."

"Great love?" He can't believe his ears. His best friend is crazy. "Jesus"

"I'm going to find someone for you," she says resolutely.

"No, please," Tyson moans. "No more matchmaking. The guys try to set me up with someone everyday. I've had enough of the chasing." He looks at her. "I'm going to let my great love come to me."

Hilary snorts. Finding it funny.

"God, it sounds corny just saying it out loud," says Tyson. "So cringe."

They're walking down the street, elbows crossed, sucking on ice lollipops without a care in the world when the text comes through.

Gym. Now.

He groans about his fate balefully.

"Bye, Romeo," Hilary says dramatically.

"See you later, Juliet," Tyson declares with a hand on his heart, walking backwards. "They will never come between us!"

"Never!" swears Hilary, holding up her ice pop like she's the Statue of Liberty.

Tyson turns around nearly in fake tears, then hurries to the Blitzkrieg house.

Kai is working out. He seems to be pushing harder than normal and Tyson's oddly invested. He sits on a bench with a bottle of water in one hand and a towel in the other, silently counting how many push ups Kai has done in his head.

Ninety four. Ninety five. Ninety six. 4 more to hundred. Let's go. May be it's because he's an athlete but to be supportive is in his DNA. Never mind if it's a sworn enemy. He will cheer them on. And in this case, silently, because he'd rather die than let Kai know he's cheering him on as he works out.

Ninety nine. One hundred. Tyson claps. Three times. Accidentally because he got too invested and now he looks like a clown. He stops mid clap and hides his hands as Kai glances over. Still in a high plank position.

Tyson looks to his right and his left, to find something to blame but there's nothing and nobody there. He's just an idiot. He stares at him dead on with a poker face.

Kai gives him an intrigued look and gets up from the floor, only to move into a sitting position to work on his abs.

There's too many reps and Tyson has to concentrate to keep count and by the time he completes all of his sets he forgets what had happened earlier and claps again. Like a moron.

Kai looks at him funny and Tyson wants to melt into the floor. Humiliating. Embarrassing. He has never been more ashamed of himself. He puts his hands away and Kai jumps to his feet and walks toward him. Reaching for the water bottle.

Tyson hands it over and diligently averts his eyes to a boring gym equipment as Kai drinks. They don't address the clapping. Tyson doesn't look at him either as it's a show he has no interest in anymore.

Kai hands the bottle back to him and takes the towel to wipe himself. "I have a quiz tomorrow," he says to him.

"What?" asks Tyson, finally meeting his gaze.

"You'll help me prep."

Ah. Quiz. Prep. Professor Daitenji again. He gives a slow nod of acknowledgment.

It's a big book full of questions. Thousand and something different theories and problems to solve.

He asks him postulates and Kai racks his brain to answer them.

"You know this one," he helps. Not that he needs it but he does it anyway. "You answered it five minutes ago."

Kai gets it. They move onto other questions that he answers correctly too and then Tyson circles back to the one he got wrong twice earlier.

"You keep messing up the same question," says Tyson, finding it hilarious.

"Why do you keep asking the same question?" asks Kai.

"Because you keep getting it wrong!"

"Oh…fuck" he curses, leaning back against the couch. Because he's having trouble recalling the same answer again. Tyson watches him struggle thoroughly amused, the spine of the book straight and facing Kai so he can't cheat.

He rests his hands along the back of the couch and looks at Tyson, focusing again. He's serious at first, then the quality of his gaze changes. He starts looking at Tyson. No longer thinking about the question but observing him instead. Why? What's he doing? What's wrong with his face?

Oh he's smiling. At Kai.

Shit.

He drops it immediately and looks down at the book in his lap. He can feel Kai's gaze on his face. He schools his expression carefully for the rest of the study session.