Ryder snorts at Miki’s comment and Gabriel huffs.
“Not cause you’ll scare them but… I don’t know how well you’d fit.”
Kissa rolls her eyes. “Nonsense. Let him-“
Ryder grabs handfuls of Gabriel’s hair, horrified. “Holy cow, Gabriel! Has no one cut your hair. I could make a wig outta this!”
Silver glared at her sister, ready to throttle her, but Ryder moved on and changed the subject. She looked up at Gabriel's long, unkept locks.
Miki laughed. "Ha. He won't let any of us touch his hair. I think Kissa's caught him and trimmed it like twice ever. He's like a cat when you try to catch him and make him sit still. Not even Silver can do it."
Gabriel blushes, batting away Ryders hands, and Ryder scoffs. “Oh please. I used to cut it all the time! You guys got a big knife? Maybe a sword?”
Cages eyes widen, horrified. “A sword?? What about something safer and normal. Like scissors?”
Silver made a squeaking noise. "You cut his hair with a sword?? No wonder he won't let me touch it!"
Miki bent over, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "No, no, doesn't Ben have a sword? I'm sure Ben has like ten swords. I need to see this happen."
Cage sighs. “Ben will not let you use his swords. No way.”
Ryder smiles at Silver remark and Gabriel turns himself invisible, obviously embarrassed. “Don’t be offended! He didn’t even let his mom cut it!”
Silver wrapped her arms around Gabe's arm, holding him to her even though he was invisible, and glared at Ryder.
"Heyheyhey," Miki said suddenly, smacking Ryder on the arm with the back of her hand. "I think I have a knife in my pack. Like a big one. It's like a Swiss army knife or something? I don't know, but it should be big enough."
"Miki, no." Silver growled, turning her glare on her sister.
"Exceeeeeeeeeeeept," Miki continued, tipping her head to look up at Ryder. "Some genius decided to leave my pack at Dio's when he grabbed me and yeeted across town." she raised an eyebrow at him.
Ryder coughs. “Ah, yes. Only a true idiot would do that.” He scrunches his nose for half a second before turning back to Cage.
“Where could I find Ben’s sw-“
“Nonono,” violet interrupts, shaking her head. “You ask. He’s downstairs.”
Ryder gives her a small nod. “Forgive me, I’m not used to manners.” He jokes.
Cage rolls his eyes. “Obviously.”
"Ugh." Miki groaned, rolling her eyes. "And here I thought that would be a good way to get him to go get my stuff." she laid her head down on the counter. "I'll just wear Silver's clothes for the rest of my life."
"You will not." Silver muttered, still glaring at her, but not letting go of Gabriel. "You can walk back to Dio's and get them yourself."
Ryder shoves Silver gently, igniting Gabriel’s snack as he does so. “Do you know how far Dio’s house is? Kiss, why don’t you fly her?” He turns, looking to Kissa and she gulps.
Why me.
She slowly looks to Miki, obviously distraught.
“I- I guess….”
Silver hissed, baring her teeth and snapping at Ryder. Miki slowly lifted her head and squinted at both her sister and Kissa.
"Mango, you've turned my sister into a monster and Kissa into a nice person. What have you done to our family."
Ryder shrugs. “I have that effect on people. Anyways, Kissa’s always been pretty nice,” he ruffles her hair and her cheeks turn a light pink as a small smile crosses her lips.
Violet looks between her and Ryder, still leaning against the wall.
My goodness. Not another one.
“Kissa can’t.” Gabriel quietly squeaks. “She’s weak.”
With that, Kissa’s expression changes to pure horror and she glares. “What?!”
Miki snorted. "Have you met her? She's the farthest thing from nice. And yeah, she can't carry me. I'm too fat." She proudly patted her very flat stomach.
Silver tightened her grip on Gabriel and switched her glare to Kissa in case she was going to fight with him.
Ryder rolls his eyes, “point is, I’m not leaving right after I got here. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen these freaks? I’m not just bolting after two minutes. Not to mention Dio will put me in jail next time I see him.”
Kissa shakes her head just the slightest bit, looking back to Ryder. “I could go grab it and she could stay here, if she doesn’t want me to take her.”
Miki stared at Kissa, highly suspicious and surprised. "As long as you swear on Ryder's white hair that you won't mess with my stuff. And tell Dio we're alive and everything's fine."
Silver pressed her lips together. "No. Kissa, she only wants her pack so she can let Ryder use her knife. I will pay you money to not go get it."
Kissa looks to Silver, obviously conflicted now that money was offered.
“Ha! I’ll pay you to go get it!”
Cage raises an eyebrow, “pay her what? Do you even have money?”
Ryder raises an eyebrow. “Touché. I’ll find something though. Like… odd pebbles. Heads on silver platters.” He winks at Kissa and she looks back to Silver.
“He pays in heads. I like his bribe better.”
Silver held Kissa's gaze, not blinking. "Fifty bucks. And half my candy stash."
"Silver!" Miki yelped. "Okay, knife aside, I need my stuff and Mango Moron won't go get it even though it's his fault!"
"Seventy five." Silver whispered, her gaze never leaving Kissa.
Ryder puts his hand up. “I CAN FIX THIS.” He sighs, putting his hands down. “I’ll just- Imma go ask Ben if I can use his sword, hold on.”
Cage scoffs. “Have fun.”
Gabriel watches him go to the basement door and then turn back.
“Nobody is coming to support me? Gabriel?”
"NO!" Silver yelled at the same time Miki dashed after him screaming, "I'M COMING IM COMING. I am so here for a sword haircut!"
Silver squeezed Gabriel tighter, staring after them as her anger turned to horror. "Let's go hide in the attic." She whispered to Gabe.
Gabe stays put, not wanting to say no but not wanting to leave.
“I-I can’t.” Be whispers. “My hair is too long.”
“Alright!” Ryder shouts. He opens the door and jogs down the steps.
Ben is a few yards to the left, eyes closed in a one handed hand stand.
Silver sighed, feeling for his hair until she found the locks curling around his shoulders. "Why won't you just let me trim it with scissors? Why do you have to let that crazy man hack at it with a knife?" she whispered back.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Miki whispered, catching Ryder's sleeve and pulling him back. "Shhh. Don't bother him. This isn't a good time. If you interrupt him now he'll roast you for sure."
Gabriel is silent for a second, “I just- I don’t like scissors… and he’s cut my hair before. He’s only cut me a few times.”
Violet takes a pair of hair scissors from the bathroom and sets them on the counter, taking a seat in the living room.
hopefully they’ll decide scissors are better.
Ryder looks back to Miki, whispering back. “Why? He’s just… doing yoga or something. Worst he says is no, right?”
Silver's eyes flew wide. "He's only cut you a few times??? Gabriel, I–" she paused and took a deep breath, trying to calm down and speak calmly. "At the very least let Vi cut it if you don't trust me. Vi's never cut any of us. Ever." She stared at her hand, gently twisting his hair around her fingers, since she couldn't see his face. "Please." she whispered.
Miki shook her head violently. "No. Didn't you hear me? The worst thing he could do is turn you into roasted mango. Let's go upstairs and see if Vi will let us use the butcher knife in the kitchen."
Gabriel is silent for a good few seconds.
“No thank you.” He whispers. He slowly becomes visible and looks at her. “He does it good. I promise.”
Ryder takes Miki’s arm, suddenly very excited.
“Wait is his element fire?!?” he whispers. “Man, I gotta see that.”
Silver watched him, studying his face while she could see him. Finally she sighed and rested her forehead on his shoulder, mouthing more than whispering, "Okay," in defeat.
Miki held her hands up, shaking her head as she backed up the stairs. "Have at it. Can't say I didn't warn you." and she bolted up the rest of the stairs, bursting into the living room yelling, "THREETWOONE RYDER'S GONNA MAKE BEN BLOW."
Cage shrieks. “WAT!?!?”
“SToP!” Kissa demands, whacking his shoulder.
Gabriel sighs.
Betted now than later.
-
Ryder watches Miki retreat, then shrugs, turning around.
His temper can’t be as bad as mINE HAHAHA.
He walks down the remainder of the steps, finding Ben in the same place.
Duuude, that’s one strong arm.
He (Ryder) rocks on his heels twice, then silently walks over beside Ben, quietly getting into a handstand by him. His shirt falls down covering his face and he closes his eyes.
This is uncomfortable. My head is gonna burst.