forum Apaixonar: The act of falling in love.//OxO//Romance//CLOSED

Started March 29, 2019 by @croccin-champagne

tune

"That's what he told me." Babe said, a deadly calm to her voice. The main indicator that something was wrong was how tight her fist was clenched, half moon cuts drawing blood from her palm.

Henry saw the blood and moved over to nudge her hand. "You're going to try to do something about it?" It was an innocent question, and his tone was completely silent about what he thought the answer would be.

Babe was quiet for so long, it seemed like she wouldn't answer. And then she sighed, leaning back against the wall and lifting her hand to check the damage. "I won't do anything if Kai doesn't want me to. This time."

Henry kept his gaze locked on her face. "Good. Do you want to get him home or stay for practice?" He glanced back at the door, wondering how long they had before the team got there.

"He's staying here. Zach and Adrian are out scouting for good business, and Rico is…on a date, I think. He doesn't need to deal with the other's still there, and mom." Babe said, not turning to look at Henry.

Henry gave an understanding nod, moving to go back into the room. He hesitated near the door, resting one hand on the handle and the other on the wall. "How often does this… happen?'

"This is the first time it's happened here. Back home though…too often." Babe said, taking a moment before following him.

Henry bit his lip as he lead the way back into the room and over to where Kai sat. He paused there, watching Babe come in and the dynamic between the two.

Babe flopped down on the couch next to Kai, peering over his shoulder at whatever it was he was doing. "Watcha doin'?"

"I'm building a flashlight, since you really need to stock up." Kai said, voice still a bit hoarse from crying. "This selection is pathetic, Babe."

"I know, I know. I lost a bunch of stuff in the move, man. I think most of it's in a box under my bed."

Henry leaned over to look. "You mean you're building a flashlight? Actually building it?" He leaned on the back of the couch to look over Kai's shoulder.

"Yeah. Mine always last longer than the ones at stores." Kai said. It wasn't bragging, just a fact being stated as he continued putting things together. "It won't have the fancy outside plastic, but it'll work."

"That's awesome." Henry grinned at Babe, trying to encourage her a little. It was obvious how smart Kai was, and Henry was pretty confident he would get through this.

((Welcome baaaaack))

"You still gotta fix my stereo." Babe said, meeting Henry's eyes over her brother's head. "It keeps making that godawful noise."

"That screeching? Yeah, I'll get on that when we get home." Kai said, not looking up from his project. "Speaking of. You two have some explaining to do. Mainly, about why the heck we're in a hockey stadium."

(I'm sorry about that! It's been a very sleep deprived weekend)
Henry paused and looked over at Babe. "I play hockey. It's my hobby, and…" He looked at Babe helplessly, unsure of how much she wanted Kai to know.

"I'm his teammate." Babe said after a moment, sighing. "I tried out when we started up school here. Hawk coaches."

"Uncle Danny coaches here?" Kai looked up at that, before shaking his head and focusing a look on Babe. "You what? I get that you like it, but after everything…."

Henry relaxed slightly. "Kai, if you broke your hand building something, would you stop? When you like doing something, injuries can't stop you." Inside his head, the words made sense.

Babe shot Henry a grateful look as Kai sighed. "Of course not. It's not my past times that mom doesn't like, though."

"Mom doesn't get it, man. Dad be damned, hockey is one of the few things I'm actually good at." Babe said, tugging a hand through her hair. "And I love it. Everything about the sport, from my team, to the ice, the chill and adrenaline rush and the cheering crowd when you score. It's my robotics."

"Well, let's be perfectly honest here. Babe could also go into a singing career. But to be fair, there's a difference between something you can do and something you want to do. And you want robots. Which is awesome." Henry straightened up, glancing over at the clock and then back at Babe.

Kai studied both of them, looking back and forth between them. And then he sighed. "You both have a point. I won't tell mom." He seemed to know that was exactly what Babe needed to hear.

Babe pulled him into a tight hug, before jumping up. She grabbed her bag off an arm chair, and turned to look at Henry. "The other's are gonna be here soon, aren't they?"

Henry grinned at Kai's answer, grabbing his own bag. "Probably. I'd say we have about three minutes to warm up, Hawk might already be here." His relief was evident on his face as he turned to the door.

"You hang out here, or come out and watch, but stay out of trouble, alright?" Babe pointed at her brother as she walked backwards towards the door.

"Yeah, yeah. Just go do your thing, you jock." Kai shot back, sticking his tongue out at her.

Henry laughed as he headed out to the bleachers, sitting down to lace up his skates. "So, ah, Babe, about this competition thing? Not that we have to do it, we could totally not do it."

"Nope. Kevin has to face the music, man." Babe plopped down next to him, slipping on her own skates. "Now quick, help me come up with something to make you both do."

Henry gulped, watching Babe out of the corner of his eye. "This is probably a terrible idea. What if… We could have someone lay in the middle of the ice, and we could both try to jump over them?"

Babe stilled, looking a little pale. "That-that's not something you want to mess with, Jacobs. If somebody-I'm not taking that risk."