#p.aras

[fadingkai]

This is completely, utterly, horribly embarrassing. His cheeks are tinted a light pink, the color even rising to the tips of his ears, and he swears his face is on fire as fingers unbuckle the seatbelt he wears, eyes wandering  to the window, where he can see children, couples, and even those that he’s able to recognize walking around and enjoying the winter festivities. The weather is even rather nice; not freezing cold, nor is it too warm for a nice sweater.

Yet, there lies the problem.

The sweater he wears has lumps, and the thick black, white, and gray threads are awkwardly strung together; the arms are even too long, while the hem is too short, and it is strangely longer in the back. The most that he can approve of is the choices in color, but the black English letter “T” threaded shakily across the front even throws that off a bit.

Looking over now, he sees his best friend who sits in the passenger seat, seemingly excited to get on with the fun. Taemin had promised they would go together, after all, but he hadn’t expected his best friend to shove a sweater into his arms and plead with him to wear it. And how could he possibly say no, when the other had put so much effort into the craft? Yet, he still remains amazed that his friend could even sit still long enough to get such a tedious project done.

Sighing softly now, he manages a smile, calming the heat in his cheeks by opening the door and stuffing his keys into his pocket. “Let’s go, yeah? I heard that they’re giving away hot chocolate.” 

Kai didn't really know where he found the attention span to make Taemin a sweater, but all he knew was that it happened and even though it wasn't the kind he'd see on those fashion blogs it was made with love. And excitement. And impatience. And a few frustrated tears. He had planned on making himself a matching sweater, but unfortunately the first one had taken so long he had no time. So instead he would be going to the festival with a leather jacket and a very short blue scarf he had managed to knit for himself until he ultimately gave up and played with his dog instead.

Taemin wore the sweater though and it warmed Kai more than... well a sweater possibly could. Especially that one. The appreciated the gesture, it's why he adored his friend so much in the first place. He always seemed appreciative of his friend even when Kai could also be rather embarrassing.

"Wait, giving away hot chocolate? Like, for free? Like, I don't have to pay anything for it?" Kai asked eagerly, shifting around in his seat like an excited puppy now. Even though he was making money for himself, 'free' was one of his favorite words. "Then you better drive fast or else it's going to get cold!" He fiddled with the radio for a few moments before he remembered his manners and leaned back in his seat once more. "So what do people do at these Winter Fests? I've never been to one. And I don't like the idea of celebrating the cold," he said with a small scowl as he looked out the window. A smile spread over his features quickly "Oh! Are there rides?"

[leohxnter]

The cigarette was thrown to the side and Leo darted in the direction of the cries. It was supposed to be a nice walk to clear his head. Yet a job was a job and one wasn't scheduled hours when it came to demon hunting. Or just helping people from each other. He hoped it was a demon for some dark reason. He felt stressed to the point where he wanted to break something. Leo blamed it on the fact that he just couldn't find anything about his brother. Or maybe he was just as dark as those creatures he tried to destroy.

He inhaled sharply when he made it to the alleyway, finding several figures crowding around one that was panting on the filthy cement ground. "Well, this is hardly fair," he mused aloud, watching them as they glanced towards him. Yes, demons. He could tell by their blacked out eyes. But they weren't very good at what they did, or else they would have sensed him far before he drew his gun on them. "For you guys, of course."

He stepped closer to inspect the man laying on the ground, letting out a sigh when he saw he was still breathing. "Leave. Now. And I'll kill you guys later," he barked, listening to their footsteps as they ran away. For a few moments he waited until he was left alone with the man before he knelt down beside the man, tucking his gun away. "You okay?"

[fadingkai]

He could hear the dogs barking inside the shelter.  It was faint, stopped by the brick walls and the noises coming from the street but it excited Kai still.  He bounced slightly where he stood on the sidewalk as his hands played with some loose change in his pockets.  It was rare for him to volunteer for anything, to give anything back to the planet that gave him so much.  Lately he had been trying harder to be a productive member of society.  Yet usually he got bored and gave up.  Animals were fun though and he could already see Kyungsoo approaching, it was too late.  "Hey there!" he called out, waving at his new friend from his spot.

[fadingkai]

It all started with a look. He had only meant to walk around the city in peace, taking all that was around him in and exploring parts he still had not become familiar with. Kai enjoyed walks, they eased him when his mind was filled with worries. Mostly about his friends. Last night was different though. He made eye contact with an old woman, and that wasn't new. He smiled at strangers all the time. But like a snake attack its prey her hand snapped forward and grabbed onto his wrist. She held onto him tightly and told him he was found. Easing his arm out of her grip was easy but running without breathing wasn't.

It was probably silly. It was probably nothing. But someone like him couldn't take any risks. People at home wanted him dead, he had too many secrets that they needed buried with him. Others wanted him hurt as vengeance and they would use any means necessary. He had to go. He had to hide. Even for just a while. If he couldn't keep the people he cared for safe what was the point in caring in anything?

With the snap of his fingers, he arrived in front of his destination: Vartouhi. And with his hand on her shoulder and another snap of his fingers they found themselves on the same rooftop in Chicago they were a few weeks earlier to witness fireworks. Kai felt like they were blowing up in his chest today. He felt like they were going to burst within him.

"Sorry for this. I'm uh- Touhi-" he began, whimpering slightly as he covered his face with his hands. He hoped he never had to do this in his stay on earth but here he was. His hands dropped to settle on her arms. "How have you been?" he attempted to sound nonchalant, smiling in hopes that she would ignore how his voice cracked.

[fadingkai]

Kai often heard that he was like a puppy, so it only felt right to check out a dog park finally.  And honestly, he loved it here and the two of you haven't even walked through the entrance just yet.  There was something so comforting about listening to the dogs barking that made a smile almost flicker on his face. "It feels weird coming to a dog park without a dog of my own," he mused and tilted his head over towards you.

[fadingkai]

Kai was surprised with himself after he had lost almost everything in his life.  He had always thought that he would crumble along with his family and his possessions when the Kaiju attacked.  Never before did he think he was someone who possessed the strength to survive to want to survive.  If he didn't have his friend with him he probably wouldn't have.

Even if his friend was a bit on the odd side.  More curious about these creatures destroying their planet than anyone else Kai knew.  At first he was wary of this but now Kai just listened to his ramblings on about the monsters.  Chanyeol's enthusiasm made Kai's curiosities grow.  He wouldn't be able to stop them, he wasn't necessarily the brightest.  But more information couldn't hurt.  Maybe he could find something to keep himself safe.

It’s why he agreed to follow Chanyeol around the forbidden parts of the cities and the outskirts as well.  Forbidden because of cleanup and the danger that went along with living with kaijus randomly destroying their homes.  Kai just wanted some answers.  

“Chanyeol,” Kai found the other in their own makeshift bunker away from the crowds of people that gathered for safety in their own little camps.  “If we don’t go for a walk I’m going to get stir crazy.”

[fadingkai]

The park was one of Kai's favorite places to wander. It reminded him of his own childhood, with the excited cries of the kids around him and the still nature that always had the tendency to make him tranquil as well. There was nothing as relaxing to him, than to walk around the park at any point in the day. He discovered that walking around at night was a terrible idea once when he had to run away from a drunken man trying to steal his cell phone. One bad experience didn't ruin the entire place for him, he just tended to stay way when the sun set.

The sun was up today though. And there seemed to be more children here than usual, but they were all surrounding a man with an instrument resting on his shoulder. Kai stood off in the distance and leaned against a tree as he watched and listened to the music that came from the strings and the man's fingers. Kai liked his music to be loud most of the time, the kind of music with heavy bass where he could feel his entire body shake. Club music. This made his chest tighten though and for some reason he wasn't sure of, he was almost homesick. The song was so gentle, it reminded him of his parents and he had to shake his head at the stray thought.

He doesn't like to think about where he came from. Only where he was. And right now that was trying to find out what kind of instrument the man was playing because even though he was here on this planet for a year and knew a lot, he didn't know everything. He stayed in the same spot as the children ran off to their parents, the performing seeming to be over and the performer now becoming a teacher once more. Or so it appeared to Kai, he was still terrible at reading situations.

"That was beautiful," he commented after he made his way over to the musician. His hands were shoved deep into the pocket of his jeans and he wore a small smile.

[fadingkai]

Kai liked the feeling of soil between his fingers. He liked to watch things grow and to stay outside for the entire day with dirty under his nails and sweat soaking his shirt. Back on his own home planet, his family was considered poor. They farmed and lived off the land and it was probably the happiest Kai had been when he was younger. Sometimes he helped out with gardening here too, when he was desperate for the money. He didn't like it enough to keep it as a job. That's why the wedding invitation from one of the homes he spruced up wasn't a surprise to him, he viewed them as friends rather than clients.

He had never been to a wedding before. He had heard stories and seen pictures, but the thought of free food, socializing and drinks was too tempting to pass up. And he managed to steal a suit for it, he was all set. Back home they didn't have ceremonies for weddings. Marriage wasn't about love, every pairing was a move on a chessboard. There were reasons behind them that weren't love. Every day he spent on Earth he realized how much less he could have survived back there.

In all of his excitement for the wedding though, he forgot to ask for a date. Kai was clueless when it came to such things, he figured they wouldn't let him through the door without a companion. Learning the human culture was still a work in process. Luckily his answer came in the form of a small man he bumped into on the sidewalk. Kai placed his hands on the shorter man's shoulders to steady him and beams down at him. He would do, he thought to himself. "Sorry about that," he muttered hastily, running his fingers through his hair and huffing. "Look, I need to ask you for a huge favor and I promise it has nothing to do with money. I'm kind of desperate."