Ch.2
By Nathen Rexen
I do not own anything involving Guilty Gear, Any thing GG related is property of Aksys games and Arcsystem works.
We made it back Kain's place without any real problems. No one was
home yet, so we went up to his room to drop off our stuff and relax. Kain took this time to voice his concerns. "Are you really ok?" He asked as he sat down on his bed next to me.
For the first time in a very long time I feel safe. "No" I leaned against him, the emotional exhaustion from all that's been happening finally catching up to me.
Kain guided us both down onto the bed. "You look like you could use some sleep. I'm worried about you."
By this point I was almost asleep.
"Looks like you haven't changed all that much." He pulled the blanket over us, resting my head on his chest. "You can be yourself here."
Back at my place dad and Noel were talking. "Dad, whats happening to him? I understand why he would be angry at first, but it's been so long."
Dad looked deep in thought, "Well I guess it's the feeling of betrayal, you two where extremely close."
Noel didn't look very happy with that answer, "I had no idea that was going to happen!
Dad responded quickly. "I said feelings of betrayal, I wasn't thrilled about he and Kain either, they took it to far. I know that you did not expect such an extream reaction from telling your mom about them."
Noel was thinking back on her role in all this, "It really is my fault, I destroyed our family."
Dad hugged her. "No you didn't, your mom and I were on the verge of divorce already, and I'm sure Nate will forgive you in time."
Noel sounding worried. "I don't know, this morning was almost a disaster."
Dad tilted his head a bit in confusion.
"The only reason I stepped in was because I honestly thought he was about to kill a friend of mine. You haven't actually had to fight him... how could you understand."Noel had a look that showed a chaotic mix of emotion. "For a moment I thought going to use All Guns Blazing, thankfully it wasn't. I just want things back to the way they use to be, before every thing feel apart, before I lost my brother...." Noel just drifted off not wanting to deal with harsh reality anymore.Dad spoke after a short time " I understand, it was my doing you, your brother, Kain ended up Gears. I'm surprised your mom didn't abandon you like she did Nate." Dad said genuinely worried. "I am to, but in her mind, my Gear powers are a gift from God, the more I look at the group mom follows, the more i want think Nate is right.
Kain's mom poked her head into the room and smiled at the sight of us. She spoke quietly, trying to be gentle in her interruption. "Dinner is going to be a bit late." With that she headed back downstairs.
Kain looked down at me, worried about the years that had passed since we were last together. After I got kicked out of the first school, my family had moved away. Ever since then things just kept going from bad to worse. Every new school had that one group of "clean cut" students that were given special privileges because of money, popularity, or family influence. These jerks were usually associated with a church too, or some other group that would spout endlessly about 'equality', talk about hypocrisy. What they don't tell you is that in order to enjoy that "equality" you have to submit there near dictatorship like rule say That 50s idolgy of the perfect boy next door. The one That read the bible and go to bed fearing that if they did not do what what there pastors told them, no mater how insane, there lives would be hell. Even if I was not a christ damned bio weapon, I could never make myself that stupid. It happened about the same way every time. The elite chosen, or what most people would call normal, find the ones that don't agree with them and hound them till they give in and adopt their narrow-minded beliefs. Or they resort to violence to force the ones they think can't fight back to submit. The fact that most faculty back these asses only made matters worse. So these so-called 'good people' never fail to get their way even when they use intimidation and violence. In my case trying to use violence is a real stupid thing to do. I have advantages that most don't know about. Anyway long story short, they usually jump me and not even using half of what I am capable of, hurt them pretty bad. . Usually I get get kicked out as punishment for hurting the poor 'good souls who only want to help' that ambushed me. Meanwhile the ones that jumped me get the hero treatment.
Asleep in the comforting warmth of Kain's embrace I feel the fox gently nudging me. "You hungry?"
Still not really awake I mutter. "5 more minutes, I don't have school today."
He smiles, nudging me again, this time managing to wake me up. "Food's ready."
I admit to being conflicted in this situation. On the one hand I was hungry, on the other I was warm and cozy. Not really wanting to get up I give in to my growling stomach and start to sit up. Kain licks my ear before before I start to slip out of his arms, whispering softly into it. "Welcome home love". The sensation of his tongue on my wolfish fuzz makes me shiver, for the first time in recent memory I actually feel at home, not some outsider trying to survive.
I stretch as walk down stirs with him. He puts his arm around me as we get the kitchen, My tail wags behind me happily. Kain is the only person theses days day that can make me that happy, the one i know i can always count on, and for the time being everything that was wrong just seemed to disappear.
At the table the atmosphere was very relaxed, mostly idle chatter about there day. It was nice to be able to cling to my boyfriend without worry of a harsh reaction. . "Kain we have family coming over this weekend, Nathen is welcome, but please make sure to be discreet. You know how your aunt and uncle are."
Kain looked over at me, obviously not really liking his extended family all that much. "They are very conservative". I picked up on his meaning easily. "But I wouldn't worry too much. My cousin keeps to himself and his parents should pretty much leave us alone."
Dinner was wrapping up when Kain's dad suddenly remembered something. "About the conservative part, your cousin has been turning out to be the exact opposite, and things are not going well."
I nodded, "I can sympathize, has it reached the level of what happened with my family yet?"
Kain's dad looked concerned. "Not yet, but the rift is growing."
Kain piped up here. "What's going on exactly?"
Recalling the call from his brother "Well, for one, Ben is now calling himself Beth"
Kain's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm not sure how to react to that..."
Kain's mother shook her head. "I know you won't do anything intentionally, but please be careful about adding flames to the fire. I hope seeing you two will at least help him. They should be here in the morning."
"Where are they staying dad?"
"Your aunt and uncle are getting a hotel, Ben is going to stay here."
The next morning we woke up to what sounded like an argument down stairs. Thinking something was wrong I summoned Flame Seal started to make beeline for the door till Kain got my attention. "Easy Nate, that's just my aunt and uncle arguing.." It was then we heard a small knock at the door. A shaky voice came a moment latter. "Kain...can i come in, I .... I need to get away from the yelling" I had already put Flame Seal away when he unlock the door and let the smaller fox in. "Come on in." Kain said in usual gentle manor. "Thank you......" Ben looks toward me and gets nervous abit "is this a bad time?"
"No not at all, Ben this my mate Nathen, you can relax around him." The smaller fox seem to relax but only a bit.He wore lose shirt and jeans and was slightly younger than me. " I guess you both heard the scream feast.......Ive been pretty much disowned." "Kain are you sure I don't need to go down there?" "For now hun , Ben are you sure they disowned you?"
"Yes, I'm pretty sure 'you don't have a home' means that." The younger fox was on the verge of tears. "Yes you do, weather they like it or not" Ben tilted his quizzically. "What do you mean?" Kain just smiled "Its simple we have an extra bedroom here, and it wouldn't be much to go get your stuff." Kain's father walked in about now. "To be honest i saw this coming, my brother was always a bigot, any way your aunt should be back by lunch with your stuff. Ben once again look surprised and puzzled "Just to be clear, you know why the gave me the boot right?"
"Your father wont stop telling about it. But he wasn't this mad yesterday, what caused the sudden shift?" Ben just rub his temples "Long story short it was argument about me not attending church like a mindless lap dog. He thought a more "positive" influence would fix me. Heck it was stupid bet to start with, I lost and had to wear girls clothes for a week. Not my fault they fit better than the macho stuff he trys to force on me. That and some how he found out I was flirting with other guys." Kain's father wasn't sure how to respond, one the hand the story would have funny if Ben's parents hadn't reacted so harshly, on the hand the guy was pretty much devastated. "You don't have to worry about that here, Nathen here nearly had a heat attack when we found out he Kain, his family didn't take to well either.
Unlike many other people, Kain's parents are very open, so when they found out about us I freaked out for no reason. They welcomed me like they always had. They asked questions, and wanted know more about how we started seeing each other. This was only because cared for both of us. It was kinda of embarrassing how it happened. We had been spending alot time around each other after we first met. He really helped me learn to control my abilities.
About a month after we met, I really had no idea why, but I had become very attached to him. However I had absolutely no idea how to tell him how I felt about him. To be honest I was too afraid he would hate me if I did. One day though my dad tells me to come answer the phone. It was Kain.
"Hey Nate, are you doing anything this weekend?" I thought for a second "No, not really."
"You want to come over for the weekend?" he sounded a bit nervous but I thought nothing of it at the time.
"Sure, I'd love to."
When I got there he was the only one there, quickly closing the door behind me. "Glad you could come, we got the house to ourselves for awhile." In person he looked even more nervous than on the phone, shifting from one foot to the other. He looked like he was going to be sick and I almost asked him if something was wrong. That's when he said it "Do you like me?"
My mind was running at a hundred miles an hour as he stared at me. Then in the stunned silence as my brain tried to catch up to my heart I saw fear come into his eyes. He quickly looked away.
"I'm sorry, shouldn't have said that. Just forget I asked" The mixture of fear and sadness which I'd seen on his face made me feel the need to tell him the truth.
"Yes, I do, alot." He jumped slightly, like he'd been shocked. Then he smiled and wrapped his arms around me. I looked up at him, his eyes showing clearly how he felt. "I was just to scared to tell you."
He licked my ear and my tail wagged a bit. "I will never hate or abandon you." Taking my paw he lead me up to his room. "I was hoping you felt the same, so I was thinking, maybe we could have kinda of date."
I was blushing through my fur, and very nervous "W-with me?"
Kain hugged me again, a bit tighter this time. "Of course with you. Why wouldn't I?"
I look away a bit. "'Cause I'm just a freak mongrel."
Kain looked concerned. "Don't say that, you're not a freak."
When we walked into his room it looked like a scene out of a romantic movie. There were candles, calming music playing on the radio, and several movies to watch stacked next to his TV. I admit I was almost crying, not really used to this type of kindness.
We ended up snuggled together in his bed, only making it half way through the first movie before losing interest in it. He leaned in to kiss me, but just before our lips touched his mother walked in. She looked embarrassed but didn't really act shocked at seeing us together, more like she felt bad for interrupting. The only thing going through my head though was a worst case scenario and it showed. Trembling, I backed to up into the corner of the bed, pressing against the wall, nearly catatonic. Had I been paying attention I would have heard their conversation.
"I'm sorry you two, I didn't mean to interrupt." His mom then looked at me and said in calm but worried voice, "We can talk about it latter, right now your boyfriend needs you, your father and I will be down stairs if you need us."
Kain nodded and immediately came to me. "Nate, its ok, they know I'm into guys. It's okay. You're going to be alright." He reached out a paw and stroked one of my arms squeezing tight around my chest. "You're safe here."
Eventually, bit by bit, his soothing voice penetrated the fog of fear that had enveloped me and I regained my composure "R-really?" My voice was still wavering.
"Yes, all they ask is to be kept in the loop, and that I be careful. I'm guessing your family doesn't know."
I shake my head.
Kain gently lifts my face to look at me. "It's alright, they understand, but you frightened my mom. I'm going to go tell my parents you're ok, alright?" He laid me down and pulled the covers over me. "I'll be back in little bit, try to relax and get some sleep, it's gotten late.
While I was asleep, he was talking with his parents. "I think he will be ok, he was just really shook up."
His mom was still worried. "I'm not so sure, with all that's going in his life right now. I take it his family doesn't know."
Kain shakes his head. "No, not even his sister, but that's probably because of the company she is keeping"
His dad spoke up. "Let me guess, she went hyper religious because it was a way to be accepted."
"That's about right dad, but right now it's easy for her. Nate on the other hand is having to deal with his powers surfacing. I feel real bad for him, his mother treats him like monster. At least I had both of you to help me." He summons his scythe with ease. Kain's parents were the kind and compassionate kind. When his Gear powers surfaced they didn't even seem phased by it.
"Tomorrow your mom and I would like to talk to both of you." Sensing his parents intentions were kind Kain just nodded. His mom just smiled. "Ok now go back upstairs, it wouldn't do for him to wake up and you not be there."
As Kain and his dad told the story I couldn't help but blush, but Ben pick up the mention of my ability "I under stand how he felt, but what did you mean by 'his powers surfacing'? At this point it felt real awkward, it wasn't common knowledge that Kain, Noel, and my self are Gears. I decided to answer. in quite but serious tone. "We are living weapons, Gears"
Ben look very confused by this. "Living weapons, are you kidding me?" I just nod my head and summon Flame Seal. The area around paw erupts with fire as the sword appears in it. "Are you the one that made that huge scorch mark at the NorthRidge school?" I nodded as i started telling him the story of how it happened.
We had moved after my parents got transferred to a new lab. Being the new kid is never easy. They tried though, said a colleague's son would help me adjust and to look for a fox wearing black after school. But before I could find him I ran into the resident bully. This was before I could really fight well, and ended up taking beating. Out of fear I tried to get away only to chased into a dead end alley. That's when it happened, I swung wildly and wall of flame separated us, many other students saw this and ran away others started calling me a freak. I wanted to get out of there fast so I ran a random direction, the burst of flames having both opened a large gap in the crowd that gathered and distracting the rest long enough for me to slip away. I ending up in some kind of park.
After realizing I had escaped, I stopped and sat down. Alone and depressed all I could do was try not to cry. Then I heard a gentle voice behind me. On the verge of a breakdown, between the wall of fire and the bully I finally just gave in and slumped at the base of the tree, waiting for another beating. Instead a fox slightly taller than I was knelt down and put a hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright? I saw what happened and wanted to check on you."
I looked up and saw his concern was real. "I don't know." My voice was shaking a lot.
When he saw me close up he knew who I was. "You're Nathen right?"
I nodded and he sat next to me and put his arm around me. "I'm Kain, my dad said I was suppose to meet at the front of the school, then I heard what everyone was saying about a...well, you, and started looking for you."
"I'm sorry for troubling you." I was looking down again, thinking that after hearing what had happened he would turn on me like everyone else. Instead he hugged me.
"It's no trouble." He smiled and I relaxed a bit, starting to calm down.
Seeing this he pulled out his cellphone and called his mother, letting her know that we were ok and where we were. When she arrived he helped me up and in to the car. I was so exhausted I fell asleep almost immediately.
