“I like that. Fate brought us together. A socially awkward snow mage and an equally socially awkward serial killer-to-be.” Xio bit her lip to keep from grinning. She too felt happy he was around. Enough so it made her giddy. How he got her to such high levels of euphoria she did not know but he managed to do so.
Xio had to mentally groan when the teakettle decided to scream at that moment. She didn’t feel like getting up anytime soon. She rolled to her stomach then pressed up to her knees. For a moment she was close enough to Kai she could catch his scent. She sat back, escaping from the embarrassment that followed.
“I’ll go make our tea!” Her words were hurried and jumbled. She was even more confused now than she had ever been. Just what was Kai to her? A friend, right?. A good new friend that deserved all happiness in the world. But he made her happy beyond anything she had known. Not even books took her that high. Maybe she was just so unused to his personality. She had been isolated with Jeremy as her only friend for years. Kai’s personality was different than Jeremy’s. Maybe she didn’t know how to react around his character.
Xio shook those thoughts from her brain as she stood, adjusting her blouse as she moved into the kitchen. She grumbled under her breath and attempted to sort her thoughts out.
Kyle chuckled and watched her go, smiling widely at how flustered she had gotten for some reason. Even though he didn't know, he couldn't help but feel like he caused it and that made him smile. He'd never had that affect on anyone before and if he was being honest, he was slightly scared.
He'd known Xio for two days and already felt like he'd known her for years. Something about her smile and her laugh made him want to be happy himself, something he'd always had trouble with doing but around her it wasn't forced but natural.
He rubbed at his face with both hands, his glasses lifting up over his hands as he did so, the good thing is he wasn't as warm as he was in the hospital but he definitely had a temperature still. He wished he was normal and didn't have to deal with this stuff.
She had to lean against the stove for a moment to let her face cool. Once she felt composed enough, she pulled two mugs from the cupboard to her left. Tea cups were expensive, mugs were cheaper.
The two teas were made fairly quickly though she was sure they both needed more time for the flavor to set into the warmed water. Xio carried the two beverages easily back to the couch where she set her own down and handed Kai his. “Careful, it’s still kind of hot… and I’m sure it might need a little more time.”
Xio sat next to him keeping her distance. She fidgeted nervously and eyed a stack of books placed where a television would usually sit. Their television was in Xio’s room at the moment. Her father had let her move it there so she could keep herself busy while he was out. “K-Kai?” She stammered, biting her lip before continuing. “Would you maybe want to hang out with me and my father on Saturday? He asked me to bring a friend. But Jeremy is in the hospital… We’re going to a Japanese grill then to an all year round haunted house. You don’t have to if you don’t want to but the offer still stands.”
Kai took the tea gladly and blew on the top to cool it a little before he took a sip, "Thank-you, I appreciate the tea." He sent her a small wink before he contemplated her offer.
Saturday. What was Saturday? He was going to spend it with Levi and Denzel but then again, he hung out with them all the time so they could wait one day to hang out. He beamed at Xio, "I'd love to come! Thank-you for inviting me and hey, if you want on Sunday you can meet the twins," He shrugged, "Unless you have other plans or don't want to or just don't want to hang out, that's cool too."
She smiled sweetly, a hint of sadness behind the smile. She took her own and sipped on it, looking to the window. She wanted to close the blinds badly. “No problem. Tea always helps me. Tea and lemon poppyseed cakes. And Chicken Alfredo.” She had a lot of comfort foods and was ashamed to admit it. Though she was small and weighed so little, Xio was certain she’d end up overweight in the future.
Xio’s mood uplifted. She grinned from ear to ear. “Now I can’t wait. My father does want to meet you. Said something about making sure you were a good kid. I assured him you were, don’t worry. My father is a sweet old man with a taste for the paranormal.” Her eyes lit up at the mentioning of the twins. “Can I really meet them?! I’d love to meet them! I’m in one hundred percent.” She giggled, folding her legs underneith her. “I feel like I know more about you than myself now. Im so glad we got along so well and so fast!”
Kyle laughed, a real genuine laugh when he heard how excited she was over meeting his brothers and he shook his head a little, smiling, "Good. Now I'll have a friend for both days of the weekend. Is it bad that I'm nervous to meet you dad? And I'm glad we got along fast too."
“Not at all. People say he’s intimidating but he really wouldn’t hurt anyone.” She reassured Kai. Her father really was a genuine cinnamon roll. He gave out cookies and hot chocolate to every friend she brought with her.
Soon, Xio was sipping on her tea regularly. She giggled softly, studying his features and drinking them in. She did enjoy his looks on top of his on friendship.
"Well, if I find our you be lying to me and he's really some MMA fighter then you're be feeling cold for quite a while." Kai smiled behind his mug, taking a sip afterwards. He would never freeze her but, it was fun to threaten.
When he caught her staring and smiling at him, Kai raised an eyebrow and sent her a small wink, taking a sip of his tea soon after.
“Aww, you wouldn’t freeze me would you?” She pouted. The thought actually scared her. She knew he wouldn’t, but feeling trapped was one of her biggest PTSD triggers. And she was sure being frozen felt like a trap.
Xio bit her lip and felt her face heat up. She downed the rest of her tea to distract herself for a moment.
"Nah, I would never freeze you, promise," He placed a hand over his heart before finishing his tea with a smile at how flustered she had become, "I don't think I've ever frozen someone anyway, not that I can remember anyway."
“Oh thank goodness.” She laughed softly, running her hand through her hair. Xio seemed tired again. “Don’t freeze anyone unless they’re Jason.”
Kyle chuckled softly, "I won't, I swear." He was quiet for a moment, just observing her, "You look tired, do you want me to go so you can take a nap?"
She shook her head, laughing softly. “No, you can stay. I like the company.” For a moment, she closed her eyes and tried to sort out her thoughts.
“Naps are overrated.” She said after a long moment of silence. Her brown eyes studied his blue. She was lucky to have a friend like him.
"I know, but sleep is more important then hanging out with me." Kyle said, running a hand through the part of his hair that was exposed.
His blue eyes sparkled a little, almost like his power was trying to escape through them as he looked at hers and smiled.
“Sleeping is overrated.” She joked. “I think you’re more fun to hang out with than sleeping.”
Xio sighed loudly. “You’re making me want to just sit here and write forever.” She murmured, blushing lightly. “Your eyes are so description-worthy.”
Kai chuckled, "Thank-you," He took his glasses off to clean them again, a few specks of dirt still stuck to the lenses, "You could write now if you wanted, I don't mind."
This time Xio was able to notice the freckles. She grinned. A new thing to add. “I’ll write when I can. Right now I want to talk to you.” She was pretty stubborn
Kyle rolled his eyes, placing his glasses back on and leaning back into the couch, "Damn, you really are stubbon aren't you?"
“So people tell me.” She flashed him a dazzling smile, snickering. Her strong suit was always her stubbornness. When she was dedicated, she was dedicated.
Kai chuckled a little, "Damn, we really are totally opposites. Not that I'm complaining, I think that's a good thing."
“I like it. You’re a side of humanity I’ve never seen before. It’s refreshing.” She sighed softly, once again laying on her back and looking up at him with a small gleam in her eye. “I like having you around.”
Kai smiled softly down at her, "I like having you around too. I've never had a real friend before. Maria was my mother, Damien and Giselle are becoming parental figures too and Levi and Denzel are my brothers," He shrugged, "It's nice to have a real friend."
“Mm, I lost all my friends soon after my parents split. I know the feeling of wanting for a friend.” She sighed softly, kicking her legs out of fun.
“You know what would be fun? If we did a get to know you activity.” She grinned evilly. The ones she had been shown were rather interesting.
Kai narrowed his eyes at her. That smile was not one to be trusted and he was sure of it, "Depends what kind of game you're thinking about."
“Just a simple get to know you. How you would react in certain ways.” She giggled softly, remembering the last time she had played this game she had almost been kissed by one male, and questioned about her willingness to skinny dip. It was rather interesting so to say.
His eyes narrowed even more, "Fine. Explain the game." He crossed his arms and his legs, tilting his head to the side as he waited for a response. He hoped it was nothing too bad, otherwise he would never be playing a game with Xio again.
“You do anything you can to phase the other player. Whether that be asking a question or doing something. Really anything goes as long as you’re comfortable with it. The one who gets a bigger reaction out of the other wins.” She laughed at the thought, wondering what she could do.
Kai thought for a moment. It wasn't a bad idea in all honesty, in fact he was kind of excited to play although this was Xio. And Xio could be unpredictable so he was still nervous, "Okay. Fine. You first."
“Me? Oh dear.” She leaned back, thinking for a moment. Maybe she should start small?
“Alrighty then, Kai. Ever really wanted to kiss someone? You say you’ve given up but it’s a natural instinct sometimes.”
Kai thought for a couple minutes, "Yes, I have." He answered honestly, shrugging afterwards.
