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She pulled away from him, moving to the door and gently trying the doorknob. Locked. She frowned, glancing around. It locked from the outside but there were always keys around for those who hated confined spaces.
"I will break the door down soon…" He muttered, banging a little harder on the door and then on the walls, "Then again, I wouldn't be allowed back here again…"
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Xio laughed softly, gently grabbing his hands and lowering them. “Calm down, Kai.” She smiled sweetly before releasing him and sliding past him. She beamed once she caught sight of the key. It hung an inch or so out of her reach, placed on the rickety light. “There’s the key Kai…”
Kai looked to where Xio was looking and he released a breath as he reached up and grabbed the small silver key, "Thank stars for that. Seriously, I don't think I'll be coming back here." He chuckled.
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“Aww, you don’t want to get locked in a small room with me again?” She joked, half heartedly laughing. She too wanted to get out of the small space. She didn’t like the feeling of the walls closing in on her. “Hurry, I want to get out.”
Kai nodded, adjusting the grip on the key and made sure he wasn't shaking before reaching over to the lock. He pushed the key in and twisted it, hearing the faint click before he pushed the door open, cold air hitting him in the face as he stepped out with a relieved sigh.
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Xio followed him, hugging him from behind once they were out. “Feeling better?” She asked him softly, pulling away quickly when she heard the distant sounds of screams. She had forgotten they were in a haunted house for a little bit. She shivered, laughing softly.
Kai nodded, chuckling somewhat nervously as he heard the distant screams, "Yeah, much better. What about you, you feeling okay now?" He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
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“Much. But it’s a little colder now I’m not right next to you.” She grinned like an idiot, looking around. They were in a long hallway that didn’t seem to end. She didn’t like it. Not one bit.
At least she was out of the confined place. She actually didn’t want to admit it but the feeling of being pinned against the wall gave her anxiety. Anytime she was pinned made her panic. She was often held down by Marx or his goons whenever he felt she was disobeying him.
"You'll warm up soon enough." Kai led them down the hallway, smiling slightly but not by much. He, too was glad to be out of that small space. He pushed away the bad memories that started flooding in and focused on Xio and the never-ending hallway.
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She nodded softly, hoping he was right. She was small enough that if the cold found its way into her bones, it wouldn’t go away for awhile. And she had forgotten to bring a jacket. She always did. Sometimes on purpose. A jacket would mess up her look. She hated to admit she cared about that but she really did. She figured if she at least looked good she could find someone to like her. Hopefully it was working.
As they continued down the hall, Xio grew antsy. She really wasn’t liking the small whispers coming from just behind them nor was she loving the occasional obstacle in their path. Often it was a staff dressed as some horrific creature. A few times she tripped over fake body parts, small squeals and squeaks leaving her throat. Why she had agreed to this was beyond her.
She found herself subconsciously hanging onto Kai’s arm now and then, using him as a prop to walk safely. She closed her eyes, whining. Some places on the floor when stepped on would cause a breath of air to spray or some horrific sound play. She felt trapped in a way here. The hallway forced her to go one way. Along that way were multiple traps meant to scare someone.
Even though he wouldn't admit it, as the hallways got darker Kai wanted to run and hide under a bunch of blankets and never leave. It might be childish, but he had a huge fear of the dark. So much so, he had to keep his desk lamp on at night. The body parts and traps he could deal with. The jump scares made him curse in Spanish a few times but nothing got to him like the dark did.
He kept his eyes mostly on the ground or Xio. He could tell she was scared but because of the props and traps. He released a slow breath, dodging something that came out the wall he couldn't really see and wished he was out of this hall.
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Xio tried every single door they passed only to find them locked or blocked by something. Her small body was wracked with shivers and shudders even after the end of the hallway came clear. A large curtain blocked their view into the next room. Xio nearly prayed it was the end or something less harmful than the stupid hallway or small room they had been forced into. She closed her eyes, running a hand through her hair. It became messy and tangle as she did so multiple times.
“I hate this place.” She mumbled, squealing at staff member that grabbed her arm. She pulled away, covering her mouth and whining lowly. “How are you so good at keeping calm Kai?” She asked softly as she pressed closer to him.
Kai chuckled and kept a protective arm around her, "You want the truth? It's honestly really hard to stay calm," And I'm not calm at all right now, "I just keep my focus on you and making sure you don't start having a panic attack." He smiled softly and cursed again when someone jumped out at him.
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She looks up at him, eyes wide and innocent. “You’re amazing Kai.” She said nonchalantly, biting her lip. The person jumping it made her scream. She stumbled back, gasping softly.
Kai caught her before she could stumble too far and fall, pulling her close once he did so, “Let’s hope this thin is over soon. Or we could always tap out.” He slipped a hand into his pocket and got a hold of his glow stick.
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She smiled sheepishly. “I threw mine back.” She admitted, laughing nervously. “They’ll let you out but not me.” She explained, biting her lip as she studied his face.
He frowned a little, "Well then you take mine and get outta here if you want to leave, I'll just rush the rest of this." He shrugged, rubbing at his left eye under his glasses.
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“I can do it.” She said firmly, folding her arms across her chest. “I can make it.” She laughed softly, nudging him. “You forget I’m stubborn.”
He huffed a laugh, a small smile threatening to spill, “You’re right. I did forget. I wish you weren’t so stubborn.”
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“No glow stick for me!” She replied with a bright smile, tugging on his arm slightly. “I hope we work.” She said suddenly, resting her head down. A soft sigh escaped her lips. “You’re funnto talk to.” She added, intertwining their fingers. “Good company for a girl like me.” She leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to his jawline, humming happily,
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((Just to let you know, I won’t be on much on the 15th (that might be a different day for you. In two days I won’t be on much. So not tomorrow but the day after tomorrow.) I’ve got a conference then work to go to. Having two jobs is haaarrrdd)
(Ooft, that's okay. I have lots of assignments and projects to do over this weekend so it should be okay. Also, sorry I wasn't on much today either, been super busy)
Kai chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze, "I hope we work, too. You're also pretty fun to talk too, and good company, also." He kissed the back of her hand softly.
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((Oh no you’re fine. I’m just letting you know early. I’ll also be gone for quite a bit tomorrow. Going to a friends house for her birthday, for me, this birthday is going to be on Valentine’s Day. I think you’re a day ahead of me sooo….))
She grinned like an idiot, pulling him forwards. She really enjoyed everything about him. How could she be so greedy and want more? She was just going to ruin it all. Xio didn’t want to lose him as a friend, but she also wanted to be more than a friend. It was all wishful thinking. She couldn’t keep a relationship for her life.
Xio fell silent, her mood had obviously dropped. She jumped and squeaked st a few more scars but remained unnaturally silent for herself. She couldn’t do this to Kai. She couldn’t make him deal with her. Not st all.
(Okie dokie! Have fun and tell her happy birthday from meee lmao)
Kai sensed her change in mood almost as soon as it happened. Even though he'd never been good with people, with Xio it was a different story. He could read her like an open book, though he only made comments when necessary. He hated seeing her sad, it made him sad to see it.
With his free hand he lifted it up and created a few love heart snowflakes drift towards her. One landed on her heart, the other her forehead and the other her nose.
"Whatever you're thinking about," He said softly, "Stop thinking about it. I don't like seeing you sad, it makes my heart ache and I can't really comfort you very well in here." He kissed the top of her head.
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((Will do!))
The snowflakes brought a small smile to her face. She gently touched her nose where the snowflake had landed, looking up at him with those big sad eyes of hers. She needed to make things work. She had too.
“You’re too amazing Kai.” She replied softly, leaning into him. His soft kiss warmed her face and heart. But she was still having a hard time with it all. Could she keep him happy? “I’ll try for you. I’ll try to stop thinking so much.”
“I never said you didn’t have to stop thinking,” He muttered, giving her hand another squeeze and drifting another snow flake towards her face, “Just all those bad thoughts. If I’m not allowed to think like that, then neither are you.”
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“I’ll stop thinking those thoughts then. I can do that easy.” She replied, flashing a saddened smile. Truth be told, it was going to be hard for her to do that. “It really isn’t fair for you, huh?”
Kai frowned a little, "What do you mean? I didn't… If you think I was trying to control your thoughts then I wasn't I just… don't like seeing someone as perfect as you upset."
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“Kai it’s ok. I’m not saying you’re controlling my thoughts. I mean that I’m going to try harder to make sure they don’t bother me anymore.” A soft blush crept onto her face. “I-I’m not that perfect…”
