Miki nodded and patted his leg. "Yep. Don't try to deceive yourself."
Silver pulled out her phone, pretending to look at it while she actually watched Vi and Ben. I wish I hadn't made Violet make her take her bones out. She opened Amazon and began to browse the sales.
group
(Looking for bones on amazon)
Cage sighs, squishing his cheeks. “Wanna do something? She took the cooL guy.” He glances around for half a second then continues before she has the chance to reply, “where is Gabriel?”
Ben shakes his head, keeping his mouth shut now, and takes a sip of his coffee.
Alright, you win. Not like I care if there’s bones in the house or not.
He pauses for a second, then looks back to Vi. “Where is she taking them? Just the woods out back, right?”
His heart rate spikes.
Miki rubbed her nose, staring at nothing for a few seconds while she thought. "Well. Since they're both gone, we could… write fake notes to Ryder from her or something." She shrugged. "Gabriel? Who knows. Didn't he run away?"
Silver glanced toward the backdoor. "No. They… left. They flew away."
group
Cage nods, dropping the subject of Gabriel. “That’s a good idea! But… I dunno what Kissa would say.”
Ben sets his coffee down, staring at the window.
nonononono
“She flew away? That’s not safe.”
"Oh my goodness." Miki said, turning to stare at him. "What would she say???"
Silver glanced back at him. "Yes? She and Ryder both flew away with the bones."
group
Cage squints at the wall. “Uuuh, something like ‘I love you more than the jar of pickled hearts under my bed’.” He giggles.
Ben walks to the window, suddenly anxious, and stares out for a second, before pulling out his phone and texting Dio. “Did they say where they’re going?” He asks Sil, still typing.
Text: Dio, your bird just stole Kissa? If you see them, tell him to bring her back.
Miki burst out laughing and slapped Cage's leg. "YES! Yes, Cage, we need to write a note that says that! That's perfect!"
Silver shook her head. "I didn't see them leave. They were invisible when they left, I just felt them fly away." She looked down at her phone. "I could text her but I know she won't respond."
Dio's phone buzzed and he read the text from Ben, alternately frowning, raising an eyebrow in confusion, and sighing. "Lackey," he said. "Can you let me know if you see Ryder come back?"
group
Cage giggles. “Okay, okay. We should leave like a flower or something by it. Not a flower, something that screams ‘KISSA’. Like…. a dead mouse.”
Ben anxiously pockets the phone and looks back out the window, his stomach churning.
Youd better be careful. You know they’re looking for you, Kiss.
-
Right after Dio’s words, as if on cue, Ryders feet hit the roof with a dull thud. Kissa lands silently.
“Do you own this?” She whispers.
He shrugs. “No? I don’t own anything.” He gently takes her hand and squeezes into the attic window.
Miki howled with laughter. "YES. This is perfect. Okay, so we need to get some paper for the note. Or maybe a card? What would Kissa use to write him a love note? And…" a look of horror crossed her face. "Cage, where are we going to get a dead rat."
–
Lackey opened one eye to glance at Dio from his spot sprawled across the living room floor. A thump from the roof made him glance up.
See him or hear him?
But Dio had already put his phone down and returned to the work he had spread over the kitchen table.
group
“I said mouse.” Cage corrects. “And I betcha one of Gabriel’s animals has a half eaten one in the attic.” He shudders. “I don’t wanna get it though.”
-
Kissa slips into the attic after Ryder, fitting much more easily than him. “This is… weird?” She whispers, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.
He shrugs and sets her box down under a side table, slipping a decorative blanket over it. “He’s from a different culture. Like Korra or something?”
Miki sucked her lip. "I feel like Gabriel wouldn't let them eat each other though. Maybe… maybe we can find one in the baseme–OH!" she smacked Cage on the leg. "Maybe we can get Silver to find one for us! You know, since she can feel everything. Maybe if we ask her, she can just feel one for us."
–
Lackey frowned, lifting his head and squinting at the ceiling. Ryder was the only other person or creature, besides himself, who might climb into Dio's house, and make a loud noise doing it. With a sigh he pushed himself off the floor and turned to Dio.
Dio glanced up from his work, raising an eyebrow.
I think he landed on the roof.
group
Cage flinches, with this being about the fifth time she’s smacked him this sitting. He scoots away a little bit.
“Yeah! We could take her out in the forest in the middle of the night! Oorrr if a mouse is too hard, we might just catch a toad and put it in a jar. With holes.”
-
“You live here with Lackey?”
He nods, leaning against the wall. “I come and go. From multiple places. Mostly the grocery store and here.”
Kissa dramatically sighs and flops down into a chair. “I wish I had freedom to roam about.”
Miki nodded vehemently. "Yes. A toad would work too. Let's go." she jumped up and trotted downstairs. "Silver!"
Silver glanced up at her sister coming down the stairs, still being seated in the living room. "Yes…?" she responded hesitantly.
–
Dio frowned. "What do you mean?"
Lackey rolled his eyes. Something landed on the roof and crawled inside. And it wasn't me. Which means it was probably him.
"Well." Dio sighed, setting his pen down and standing. "I guess I should go verify that it is just him. If it's someone else, then we have a much bigger problem. Though, if it is him, Benjamin just said he ran–flew off with Kissa so…" he continued talking to himself as he climbed the stairs to the second floor, and then up to the attic.
group
Cage jogs down the stairs, heading to Ben who stares anxiously out the window still, and hugging him tightly from behind. Ben shoves him off with a scowl. “What was that for??”
“You looked upset!”
Ben sighs, rolling his eyes, “as, yes, because being squished by a very bony, cold boy helps.”
Cage shrugs. “Worth a shot.”
-
Ryder puts a finger to his lips with a grin and nods towards the door. Kissa raises an eyebrow.
You gonna scare him?
Ryder flaps his wings quietly and positions himself above the door, toes gripping the frame, and hands pushing against the ceiling, to keep him in place.
Miki scoffed. "I always feel better when I'm hugged by a cold, bony boy. Wait, Cage isn't that cold." she flopped down beside Silver. "Sil." she whispered so Ben wouldn't hear. "I need you to do something for me."
Silver raised her eyebrows, instantly suspicious. "What sort of a thing?"
–
Dio stepped into the attic and squinted in the dim light, looking around the expansive area. The only light came from the few windows, and those were shaded by trees or curtains. Nothing seemed amiss.
group
Ben huffs and sits down by Violet. “He’s freezing.” He grumbles lowly. Violet endearingly take his arm, slipping her hand into his.
Calm down Love. I know you’re worried. Don’t take it out on them.
Cage turns back to Silver and Miki, walking over and squishing up against Silver to sit with her.
-
Kissa stays completely silent, knowing the plan is absolutely stupid. It was always a dumb idea, but for some reason he apparently still did it to people.
Last time he did that to Gabriel, Gabriel literally cried.
Ryder smiles slyly, then shoots down, hitting Dio hard enough to make him a little sore, but not enough to actually hurt him. He wraps his arms around him as Dio falls/stumbles to the floor.
Silver stiffened as Cage squeezed into her chair on the other side, glancing back and forth between them with growing concern. "No. Not you two. I don't care what it is, I'm not doing it."
"Uuuggghhh" Miki groaned. "It's not that bad. We just need you to find us a mouse. Or a toad." She whispered.
–
Dio yelped, swearing in Korean as he fell face first to the floor. Ice instantly cracked across the floor and shot up, encasing one of Ryder's legs and half his waist. Dio slid on the frozen floor, twisting out from under Ryder, still swearing, but in Spanish now as well.
Lackey appeared in the doorway, eyes wide and teeth bared, expecting an attack.
group
Ryder yelps from the cold, then starts to laugh, putting his hands on the ice and trying to wiggle/break out. “I GOT YOU!”
Kissa hides a smile and stands, her and Ryder both visible now.
-
“It’s nothing bad, I promise.” Cage whispers. “And Ben won’t even get mad.”
Dio tried to stand up, but his feet kept slipping and he fell on hid hands, which elicited more swearing, this time his anger directed at the cold. Finally he jerked his hand into a fist and all the ice disappeared, except for the part that still held Ryder in midair.
"What was THAT?" Dio snapped, glaring at him as he blew on his cold hands. "I might have killed you, you imbecile!"
Lackey leaned against the door frame, gasping in deep breaths as he tried to call down. He sent a death glare toward Ryder.
I think he still should.
–
"A what???" Silver cried. "No. No, no, no." She shoved out of the chair and backed away from them. "I don't want to know why you need a rat-"
Miki launched off the chair and clamped her hand over Silver's mouth, but Silver instantly tore her hand off and shoved her sister away.
"And I certainly won't help you find one!" She finished.
group
Ryder continues to laugh, and Kissa bites her lip to conceal a grin.
“That was great.” He states, finally calming down and wiping his eyes. “Get me outta this please? I was gonna give Kiss some food.” He nods towards her and her cheeks flush pink from him suddenly drawing attention to her.
-
Cage shushes her and Violet gives them a suspicious look. Ben stares out the window, apparently too deep in thought to really notice.
Dio stood in front of him, hands planted on his hips and lips pressed together. Suddenly the ice holding Ryder collapsed with another crack! dropping him on the floor. Dio finally glanced up at Kissa. "Both of you go down to the kitchen. Now." He pointed an indignant finger forward the door.
–
"Sshhhh!!!" Miki hissed. "Come on, Sil, we just need you to come out in the woods and feel out a mouse or a toad or something. Preferably dead."
"WHAT." Silver shrieked. "No! I won't have anything to do with this. You two can go find yourselves a dead animal on your own!"
group
Ben flinches with the loud reaction and turns his head to glare at them. “What is going on?”
Violet rubs her forehead. “Nothing too serious to get involved in.” She stand, taking his hand. “C’mon.”
-
Ryder stands, not bothering to dust himself off, and extends a hand towards Kissa. “That’s where we were headed anyway.”
she gives Dio and Lackey both a suspicious look, but takes his hand and follows him out.
Silver looked at her sister like she was afraid Miki might grow fangs and bite her.
"Silveeeeeeeeeer," Miki whined under her breath as Ben and Vi left. "Please??? It's for Kissa. Come on. It's a present. She'll love it. It'll be from you too. Please???"
–
Dio watched them go, his hands still planted on his hips, eyes dark. Lackey stepped aside, but hissed at Ryder and bared his teeth as they passed, then turned to Dio.
"It's fine." Dio whispered to himself, taking deep, even breaths. "It's fine. There are too many monsters in my life that I can't control, but it's fine." He headed after them, giving Lackey a nod. "It's alright. It's fine."
It's not fine, Lackey raised his eyebrows and followed him down the stairs.
group
Letting go of Kissa’s hand, Ryder casually puts his arm around her shoulders as they walk, grinning.
Geez, Dio’s more grumpy lately. Ben already rubbing off on him? Or at least he said Ben was grumpy. He’s not too shabby from what I’ve seen.
Kissa’s cheeks burn a bright pink and she fidgets with her fingers as they walk.
Ohmyword. Calm down.
-
Cage sighs. “I’ll pay you! I’ll pay you good! Pleeeeease??”
Dio followed them into the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove, carefully preparing a cup of tea. After several moments of silence he turned to Ryder in genuine confusion. "Why didn't you just come in the front door? Why did you have to come in through my room?"
Lackey stood in front of the table, as if to protect Dio's chaotic workplace from Ryder and Kissa's possible interference, and squinted at Kissa and her obvious discomfort.
–
Silver frowned at them, her face twisting in confusion and horror. "You want a dead rat for Kissa?" she whispered.
Miki nodded emphatically.
"Well…" Silver slowly relaxed, having scrunched her shoulders up to her ears in defense of Miki's attack. "I mean, Kissa would probably see it as a peace offering of some kind."
"YES." Miki yelped, jumping away and clapping her hands. "I told you she would help us, Cage!"
Silver reached out and grabbed her sister's jacket before she got too far away. "Hey. I haven't agreed yet." she turned to Cage. "What sort of payment are we talking?"
group
Ryder crosses his arms, but Kissa stays tense no matter. He raises an eyebrow. “We were closer to the window than the door? I don’t like landing on grass? I don’t like doors? There’s a lot of reasons.”
Kissa slowly turns invisible, being uncomfortable with the situation.
Lets just go back. Ryder? Let’s go back to my house.
-
Cage bites his lip in thought.
I don’t have money… I can’t take her anywhere…
“I’ll give you lots of really great hugs, make you Asian food, OR do something of your choice with you. Your pick.”
Dio sighed, half glaring at him, before turning to the stove and pouring the hot water over his tea leaves. "Ryder. I understand that Kavi are different than humans and I try to allow for that. But." He turned back to Ryder, to stay calm. "Please do not sneak into my bedroom and never, ever jump on me in my own house again."
Lackey rolled his eyes and ducked into the pantry, returning with a mango and a package of anpan(red bean buns). He set them on the counter in front of Ryder and Kissa as if that should settle the conversation.
–
Silver's eyes slowly lit up. "Can you make Thai food?"
Miki groaned and slumped in her sister's grip. "Uuugggghhh, not the Thai thing again."
group
Kissa reaches for the package of anpan, silently turning them invisible as she brings the back to herself.
Cmon, I got a snack like you wanted, let’s go home.
Ryder furrows his brow, finally actually serious.
The hell? His bedroom is the attic???
What do I even say?! I gotta get those bones outta there!
His eyes widen and he pinches the bridge of his nose.
Ah, idiot at its finest. Great going.
“Dio….” he mumbles. He takes his hand from his face and looks to Dio apologetically. “I didn’t- look, I’ve never been up there. I assumed your room was on the second floor.”
you sleep in the attic?? Wa- dude, you and Gabriel might get along.
“I- I’m-“ say it. “I’m sorry.” He finally states. “I wouldn’t have gone in there had I known. It’s your space.”
-
Cage nods casually. “Yup. You get us a dead rodent, I make you Thai food for a whole week.”
Dio nodded over his cup of tea, his heart slowly returning to a normal pulse. "What were you doing up there to begin with? Or were you just trying to get in the house?"
Lackey smiled to himself, internally applauding Ryder. Good job, idiot. And it didn't even kill you.
–
"Done." Silver shook Cage's hand like it was a business deal and headed for the backdoor. "Come on, let's go. I want to get this done as soon as possible. And Cage, you owe me Thai food tonight."
group
Cage gasps, jumping up. “Ah! I have to start now! You two go get the rat, or mouse- whatever it is!” He scrambles into the kitchen, opening the fridge and rummaging through it.
-
Legit just killed myself saying those words. This friend should know how much I love him.
Ryder runs a hand through his hair. “Just comin in. Actually think I left my shoes up there- I’ll be back!” He turns and dashed up the stairs, leaving Kissa staring at Dio and Lackey although she’s still invisible.
He never wears shoes?
