His hair is so gorgeous and Ryder's just gonna murder it, Silver thought. "Please watch his ears." She said to Ryder.
Lackey, invisible, slipped in the backdoor which had remained unlocked, and circled around them all, reaching the front door and opening it to reveal a very stressed and frustated Dio. He stepped inside and his jaw dropped as he took in the scene of everyone gathered around Gabriel and Ryder.
"당신은 뭐 해요?" he yelled.
Ryder pauses, looking to the door and smiling. “Eyyyyy!” He waves his sword.
Cage bounces up. “ 머리를 자르다!”
Ben raises an eyebrow at Dio, a grin surprisingly on his face. “This yours?”
"제길, yes, he's 'mine'!" Dio retorted, stepping into the kitchen. "What the hell are you doing, Ryder??"
"He's cutting Gabriel's hair!" Silver wailed, flinging herself off the counter and into his arms. "Everyone else thinks it's funny but it's dangerous and scary!"
Dio held her, patting her head while he glared at Ryder. "You certainly know how to make an impression, don't you? I'm so sorry, Benjamin. I'll take him away right now."
"What are you waiting for?" Miki hissed at Ryder. "Hurry up!"
Ryder hurriedly yanks Gabe’s head back into place and slices a good bit of his hair off, then hugs Gabriel’s head. “HES GONNA GET ME.”
Gabriel coughs, “bre- I need air!” He squeaks.
Cage runs to stand in front of Ryder. “NO! We like him!”
Kissa glares, standing close by.
Touch him, I’ll kill you.
Ben sighs. “Look, we’ll have to make a deal here, Diablo.”
Silver shrieked, burying her face in Dio's shoulder. "Make him stop, make him stop, make him stop." she begged.
Dio pressed his lips together, landing his irate glare on Ben. "A deal, Benjamin? What sort of deal? You'll let me take this rabid idiot away only after he kills your daughter's boy? Why aren't you stopping him?" Dio lifted his hand and a pillar of ice instantly rose from the counter and encased the sword in Ryder's hand, arresting any further cutting.
Miki groaned and threw her head back. "Dang it, Mango, I told you to hurry! Now there are too many adults around for you to finish."
Ben glares, stepping forward.
My sword!
“Diablo, stop.” He demands.
Cage turns to see the ice, eyes wide. “Woooah.” He murmurs in awe.
Ryder lets go from Gabriel and Gabriel stands, backing away from the ice in two quick steps. He turns his head to glare at Dio, quickly putting an arm in front of Ryder.
“He’s not hurting me or anyone else. Leave him be.” He demands, his voice low and scratchy. His eyes turn to Sil, “come here,” he extends his free hand, “he won’t do it anymore.”
Ryder runs a hand through his (own) hair. “Hey, hey. This isn’t life or death.”
Kissa steps closer to Ryder.
No, it’s Ryder or no Ryder which is worse.
Silver glanced between Gabe, Ryder, and Ben, before slowly stepping away from Dio and coming to Gabriel. "I'm sorry." she whispered. "He's so crazy and scary."
Dio slowly retracted the ice, leaving the sword and the counter as dry as before he had entered the house. He took a deep breath, his lips still pressed together in frustration. "I came here expecting to see Miki and Ryder in ashes and instead I find you looking on –in approval, I daresay– as Ryder hacks away at Gabriel's hair. Forgive me for my confusion."
Miki dropped her head onto Cage's shoulder, sighing dramatically. "Worst plot twist ever."
Gabriel takes Sil’s hand with a small, relived sigh. “Don’t worry.” He whispers.
Ben rolls his eyes, relaxing again. “Please, Diablo. They claimed to have done it many times before. Besides, last I checked you weren’t supposed to be in my house, hm?”
Violet puts a hand to her forehead. “Not this again.”
Cage turns to face Ben. “If Ryder is allowed here, can’t Dio be? Pla- LEEEEEEEEESE.”
Silver squeezed Gabriel's hand and wrapped her other arm around his skinny waist. "I don't mind if he cuts your hair if you really want him to just please ask him to not be a crazy maniac while doing it."
Dio planted his short arms on his short waist and took a deep breath, his eyes lighting with nigh on rage. "I came here to retrieve that–" he pointed at Ryder. "Because I assumed –based on multiple previous interactions with you– that the last thing you would want was another crazy Kavi in your house, especially considering he came from my house and brought Miki back." He gave a very low, very mocking bow to Ben. "Forgive me for my confusion, again." He spun on his heel and marched back toward the door.
"No, no, NO, NO!" Miki yelled, dashing away from Cage and flinging herself in front of Dio, blocking the door. "No. No. Ben, if you let Mango Moron stay then you have to let Dio stay sometimes too. Dio won't even live here and you know Mango Dude is totally gonna end up sleeping on the couch. You can't keep him and not Dio. Not fair."
Violet sighs. “For once, I agree. You boys need to grow up and get along please.”
Ben turns to Vi, looking betrayed.
What?
She raises her eyebrows. “I’m sure you heard me right.”
Ryder takes a step to the side.
this is hilarious.
Kissa turns herself and him invisible, just in case the conversation didn’t go in his favor.
Silver started when Ryder disappeared, and turned to glare at where she had seen Kissa last. Miki remained plastered against the front door, staring in shock at Violet. Dio slowly turned around, taking in Violet sitting calmly in the living room. He opened his mouth, but wasn't sure what he could say that wouldn't make things worse. Before he could settle on anything, Lackey slowly lifted his hand and pressed a finger against his lips.
Wait.
“Don’t look so shocked.” Violet muses, taking a sip of her tea. “The kids get along just fine, why shouldn’t you?”
Ben sighs and turns back to Dio. “Did you bring Miki’s stuff? I don’t care if you take her and this,” he goes to motion to Ryder but realizes his no longer there. “Ah, wherever he is.”
“He is not taking Ryder.” Gabriel states, glaring.
"Wait, yeah, did you bring my stuff?" Miki asked. "I kept asking Mango Man to go back and get my pack cuz it's his fault but he refused."
Dio nodded without looking at Miki, slowly coming back into the kitchen. "Yes, it's in the carriage." he said. He sucked on his lips for a moment, studying both Ben and Violet. Gabriel looked like he was ready to pounce on anyone who tried to take Ryder away and… and Ryder wasn't actually visible. Finally Dio swallowed and said, "What if… what if you let the kids visit me whenever they want. That should make everyone happy and it will give you and Violet… a break."
Silver audibly gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth, staring pleadingly at Ben. Please, please, please, please, please say yes. Please say yes. I want to go to Dio's.
“No.” Ben states, without missing a beat. “Absolutely not. Do you know how dangerous it is having them go from one place to another? Besides, you liv-“
“We could be invisible.” Ryder states, still invisible.
Cage gasps. “YES THEY COULD MAKE THE WHOLE CAR INVISIBLE.”
Ben rubs the bridge of him nose. “Yes, because driving a car that absolutely no one else can see is an amazing idea.”
Dio chuckled against his will, shaking his head.
"NO, BUT OKAY." Miki said, flying back into the house with her backpack. "No, no, no. That's the best idea Ryder's had. I can drive, yeah? I'm a normal human, yeah? MAKE EVERYONE ELSE INVISIBLE AND IT'LL LOOK LIKE I'M DRIVING AN EMPTY CAR. Super safe, right?" she glanced between Dio, Ben, and Violet. "Also, did you even see Ryder fighting? If anything happens he'll just murder everyone in like two minutes and we'll be fine. Super safe."
Dio raised his eyebrows at Ben. "This isn't such a bad idea, Benjamin. Since apparently none of us can separate Miki or Ryder from the rest of them, if we can keep them together and they spend time at both our houses, everyone should be happy. Including you and me."
Ben is silent for half a moment, no denying the idea.
“Fine. But they’re not going to your house alone till Violet and I have been there.”
“That’s reasonable.” Violet chimes. “I agree.”
"YUS." Miki cheered, pumping her fist. "Violet agrees, so that means it actually is a good idea."
Silver released Gabriel and planted a kiss on Ben's cheek, then went over to Violet and hugged her, beaming. "I love you so much, thank you, you're the best parents ever."
Dio nodded. "Alright. That works." he stood in his spot, unsure whether this meant he should leave now.
Lackey slowly made his way over to Violet and offered her his ever present bowl of trail mix. "Thank you." he whispered.
Kissa turns herself and Ryder visible again and takes his arm. “So you’re staying?”
He ruffles her hair. “No way you could get rid of me.”
Violet looks at the trail mix, not really knowing how to respond. “Oh, um, thank you?” She says, taking a very small handful.
What on earth?
Im assuming it’s hurtful to refuse.
Ben closes his eyes for half a second.
Im going to regret this.
Cage squeals and squishes Miki. “Yussssssss!”
Silver returned to Gabriel and kissed his cheek too, then ran her fingers through the long side of his hair. "Ryder?" she said cautiously. "Could you… fix this? Without being a crazy weirdo?"
Lackey nodded, satisfied, and perched on the back of the chair nearest Dio, nibbling his trail mix and watching Ryder and Gabriel. Dio nodded again, hands on his hips, still at a complete loss as to what he was supposed to do now.
Miki squeezed Cage back, bouncing up and down. "Hey, hey, Sushi Man." she said suddenly. "Do you want to try our sushi ice cream? Cage and I made it ourselves. It's disgusting."
Ryder raises an eyebrow, looking over Gabe’s hair. “Uh, yes? Wasn’t that what I was just doing?”
Gabriel sighs, “don’t use the sword this time if she doesn’t like it.”
Ryder blinks. “What?”
Cage gasps. “YES WE MADE ICE CREAM.”
Ben rubs his temples, the sheer number of people starting to make him anxious.
He strides over to Violet's side, rubbing her arm as he leans down to whispers that he’s going outside.
She nods and gives him a small kiss on the cheek. “Let me know if you need anything, Love.”
Silver swallowed, starting to regret her request. "Maybe just use a kitchen knife if you can't do it with scissors? It's just… this bit looks weird since you cut everything else."
Dio eyed Miki and Cage. "If it's disgusting why should I try it?"
Miki laughed and went over to the freezer. "Well, we think it's disgusting, but you might like it, being a sushi connoisseur and all." She hauled out the bucket and got a bowl out. "Here. Just try one bite at least."
Ryder shakes his head. “Kitchen knives are too dull. What about broken glass?”
Gabriel gives him a small shove. “Idiot. If she’s not okay with a sword why would she be okay with broken glass? Besides, where would you get it?”
Ryder shrugs. “There’s plenty of glass in this house.”
“We made bacon ice cream too.” Cage tells Dio, watching Miki get out a bowl.
Ben heads outside, simultaneously hearing Ryder suggest breaking things and cage poisoning the guest.
Aish, this night is going to be the death of me.
Silver shook her head. "No, no, no, no. Never mind. Just… Gabriel, can I please just use the scissors? Ryder can watch if it makes you feel safer." she asked him, eyes pleading.
"YES, get the bacon one too! And–OH MY WORD CAGE. We made a trail mix one for Gabriel but he didn't like it. Dio, do you think… wait, his name is Lackey right? Do you think Lackey would like it???" Miki finished filling the bowl with sushi ice cream and plunked it down on the counter, beckoning to Dio to come try it.
Dio inched up to the counter, staring at the bowl like it might bite him. What on earth have I gotten myself into. "Lackey… ahm, he…" he turned to see Lackey smirking at him from his perch on the chair. "Well, I'm apparently trying sushi ice cream, you should try the trail mix one."
Oh, no. Lackey shook his head, just once. This is your rodeo. You ride it.
Gabriel swallows and turns around. “I don’t care.” He quietly states.
“Don’t pout. I’m sure she’s not as bad at it as your mom.” Ryder raises an eyebrow at Sil. “Do it fast before he runs.”
Cage sits on a stool, staring at Dio. “Try it!”
Silver stared at both of them, her mouth working before she finally blurted, "What part about getting your hair cut with a sword is good?? Okay, okay, just sit still please." she picked up the scissors and reached for Gabriel's hair, but dropped the scissors just as quickly when she realized her hands were shaking. "I can't… I'm–VI!" she turned around. "Violet, can you come fix his hair please?"
Dio picked up the spoon and carefully took a small bite, grimacing as the cold dessert touched his tongue. Now I remember why I don't eat ice cream. He made another face as the actual taste hit him, and he swallowed quickly. "Aaahhhh. Oh my. Well… it does taste like sushi but…" he shivered, both from the cold and the flavor. "Whatever possessed you to make this?"
Miki hooted and slapped her thigh. "I told it was disgusting! It's super nasty. Now try the trail mix one since he won't."
"Oh, no." Dio held up his hands. "I'm good. And I don't really enjoy ice cream at all, to be honest."
Miki slowly put the tub of ice cream down and stared at him in shock. "You don't like ice cream?"