"I was wondering if you... I mean we don't have to... But..." He stumbled over his words. "What?" Kai asked curiously. "Would you like it if I visited?" Claude blurted out. "Visit me?" Kai asked, Claude, sat up in his bed and nodded. "Yeah!" He said chewing on his lip nervously.

Kai was quiet for a moment and then smiled, "Yeah I'd like that." She said, after talking to Claude over video chat for the last few months. She wasn't worried anymore. "Really?" Claude said clutching his phone. "Yeah of course. I'll even come to pick you up at the airport if you like." Kai said with a smile. Claude nodded, "I'd like that a lot actually." He said tucking some of his hair behind his ear. He looked away from his phone with a brilliant smile on his face. "Alright, that sounds like a plan then." Kai cheerfully replied. The two of them talked more that night and then Claude sent Kai his flight details and when his estimated landing time was. She could hardly believe that he was actually coming all this way to visit her of all people.

But they had known each other for years now. It was only natural that they would want to see each other in person. So when it came time for Kai to be there at the airport she waited at the appropriate gate dressed as well as she could be. There was some small voice in her head telling her that this was just going to crash and burn. But Kai tried to ignore it. Claude... Claude wouldn't think of her in any other way as a friend. That is what she told herself. There was no need to worry about things falling apart. Long as she kept her feelings to herself, she could keep Claude in her life. After all, he wasn't just some guy she had a massive crush on. He was her friend.

She stood there with a bouquet of roses. They were pink, Kai was sure that they looked romantic. Sort of it was, but roses were the national flower of America so. She could play it off that easily. Kai checked the time and made sure she wasn't in anyone's way. He was nearly thirty minutes late. Kai was a little worried, she didn't want to assume anything but...

Then that little voice was in her head again. Kai silently worried about everything. Maybe this was some sort of sick prank? Convincing her that she was his friend, only to ghost her? Maybe Claude wasn't even Claude and he was just a deep fake somehow? Kai didn't know a lot about those programs but she knew they existed. But that didn't make sense. Why would he approach her out of all people? She wasn't even that popular online then. There were other top players that were women just like her. It would've been just as easy to get close to them. The more likely situation was that Claude saw her and decided he didn't like what he saw.

Kai had sent him full-body pictures modeling clothes for him in the past few months. So he knew her body type. He never commented on it at all. Instead, he gave her fashion advice on what patterns and colors to use. He actually helped her turn her outfits into cuter and more fitting for her. He had even sent presents to her P.O. box. Kai sent a few his way as well. Usually returning the favor in whatever he sent her. He'd send her a cute jacket. She'd send him a cute jacket. He'd send her cute accessories she'd do the same.

Kai decided to wait just a little longer. She'd believe for just a little longer that he was her friend. Even if that voice in her head kept screaming he wasn't. It was another twenty minutes before Kai felt her resolve breaking. "Maybe his plane got canceled?" She offered herself rubbed the back of her head. Just about an hour was enough for Kai to feel like she had spent enough time waiting. She started to walk off when she heard a voice shout, "KAI!" She turned around and saw Claude at the top of the escalator stairs. "Claude?" Kai asked looking actually surprised. She expected Claude to use the stairs like a normal person but he ended up bounding down them like he was some sort of excited puppy.

One last jump down a small group of stairs, he landed with a thud and ran over her to her before jumping into her arms. Kai stumbled back but managed to hold as Claude hugged her tightly. She shifted the roses in her hands and hugged him back. "Oh my God, your hugs are as amazing as I thought they'd be." His voice was muffled because his face was buried in her shoulder. Kai laughed and gave him a firm squeeze causing him to grunt slightly. Kai expected him to pull away after a few seconds but Claude hugged her tighter and sighed. "I'm sorry I'm late my plane got delayed." He apologized.

"Hey it's okay I understand." Kai said pulling away, "No. I..." Claude started to say but his face turned slightly pink he chewed on his bottom lip. "You're going to make your lip bleed again." Kai scolded grabbing his face without thinking. Her thumb brushed against his lip. The two of them froze, Kai felt her face turn red. "I can touch you." She mumbled as the thought occurred to her. Claude's eyes sparkled and he opened his mouth to say something only to have Kai shove flowers in his face.

"Roses... Are America's national flower." She mumbled handing them to him. Claude took them and smiled. "Thank you, I love them." He said sweetly. Kai got a distinct feeling that the flowers weren't the thing he loved. Because he didn't even look at them once. Kai then grabbed Claude's wrist to lead him away. However, Claude easily changed it so they were holding hands. Kai couldn't help but notice that this... Made them look like a couple.

She turned to maybe suggest they shouldn't hold hands but Claude. He looked thrilled and had a big grin on his face. Then a little voice in the back of her head started to wonder. Did Claude have feelings for her? Shaking those thoughts away Kai helped Claude get his bags from the turnstile and they headed to her car. She had no idea why he needed three bags for. But, to each their own she guessed. Kai's place was just five minutes away from Claude's hotel so she and Claude decided to hang out there for a while. Especially after Kai had talked up her cooking skills so much.

When they arrived Claude followed closely behind Kai carrying his backpack. "Your apartment is so cute Kai." He complimented looking around. "It looks like one of the apartments out of that show..." Claude snapped trying to remember. "Friends?" Kai asked, Claude, nodded, "Yes that's the one!" He exclaimed, "Well it was based in Emerald City so that's probably why." Kai said closing the door behind her and locking it. "Do you mind if I use your shower?" Claude asked, "I smell like an airport!" He whined sniffing himself. Kai laughed, "Go ahead.' She said pointing him to where her bathroom was. "I'll get lunch going. I'm sure you're starving." "I am!" Claude exclaimed before opening her bathroom. "It's pink!" He exclaimed from inside making her laugh.

Kai whipped together some burgers because Claude said he wanted to try real American food when he came to visit. Not exactly her favorite but, Kai was fine with having that for lunch. Things were quiet in the bathroom as she finished putting things together. She sat the plates on her table before walking over to the bathroom door. She was just about to knock when she heard Claude talking to himself. He was speaking in French. But it seemed he had forgotten that Kai could speak French too. "Come on Claude." He told himself softly, "You can do this!" He tried to talk himself up under the sound of Kai's bathroom fan. She heard Claude groan, "I'm a mess." He whined softly to himself. Feeling like she heard something she shouldn't Kai raced over to the kitchen as quickly and quietly as possible. Only managing to make it seconds before Claude opened the door. As casually as possible she looked around in her fridge before looking up.

"Hey, I've got some different sodas in here and-." Kai tried to sound casual but her voice trailed off when she saw Claude's red face. "Hey is there something-?" She was cut off, "I like you!" Claude exclaimed, "What?" Kai asked with a laugh, "As more than a friend." Claude quickly added. Kai's smile dropped off her face. "I think and talk about you all the time! I... I always wonder what you're doing or how you're feeling! I see things and I think of you! Some of my luggage is just stuff that I bought because I thought of you!" Claude rambled, "I've liked you for a really long time, and every time I learn something new about you I just— I want to learn more." Claude was shaking standing there.

Kai just stood there feeling like her head was on fire hearing all of this. Claude looked unsure and scared. "I'm sorry." He apologized, "I shouldn't have said anything. I just... Seeing you in person..." Claude covered his face and groaned, "I messed everything up." He choked out sounding like he was on the verge of tears. "You... You like me?" Kai managed to choke out her words. She slowly closed her fridge. "Please don't tell me this is a joke." She said softly, Claude uncovered his face looking confused. "Why would I-?" He started to ask, "I won't be able to handle it." Kai told him honestly.

"I'm not!" Claude exclaimed, "I really like you, Kai." He said walking towards her. He then held his arms out for a hug. The two of them hugged tightly and Claude sighed softly. "Kai..." Claude mumbled, "What dynamic are you?" He asked his eyes slowly got cloudy. "I... I'm an alpha." Kai stuttered out, Claude laughed, "That's great but also not." He said amused, "Why?" Kai was still trying to process everything. "I think... I think your scent activated my heat." Claude mumbled clinging to her tighter. Kai's eyes widened, "Claude! Where're your suppressants?" She asked panicking, he moaned softly resting his head under her chin. "They're... Ah... In the car." He mumbled dazed rubbing his cheek along her hand in his clutches. It looked like he was trying to get her scent all over him. Kai went to pull away to go get them but Claude stopped her. "Kai... Do you like me too?" He asked, Kai had never answered in response. "As more than a friend?" He clarified. This... This was what he was focusing on now? Kai having very little time blurted out, "Yes of course! You're amazing!" She confessed in a bit of rushed fashion but getting Claude his suppressants was more important than confessing romantically right now. Claude grinned and his eyes sparkled. He let her go and Kai rushed to the car to get his suppressants.

She ended up going through most of his bags before finding the little bottle of pills. Just as Claude said some of his bags were filled with cute pastel things that were obviously in Kai's style. Kai decided to ignore them for now and raced back inside the apartment to get the pills to Claude. When she walked in the entire place smelled of cherry blossoms and cappuccino. It was Claude's scent. She heard soft happy sighs coming from around the corner and saw Claude curled up on her bed surrounded by what looked like a thrown-together nest. He was wearing her housecoat and purring as he hugged her pillow.

Kai swallowed trying to reason with herself that Claude was just working off instinct. He sat up when he heard her and smiled. "Kai!" He exclaimed in his usual friendly tone. "Did you find my suppressants?" He asked still clutching her pillow. "Um yeah," Kai said grabbing a kitchen towel and covering her nose and mouth with it. Claude purred louder as she approached the bed eyeing her with one eye open. She had grabbed a water bottle from the fridge on the way over and held out both the pill bottle and water in her hand holding the towel to her face.

Claude eyed the bottles and then Kai he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the nest on her bed. Kai tried to fight his pull but Claude was surprisingly strong. She flopped onto the bed with a thud and the towel fell off her face as she sat up. "Claude you need to take your suppressants," Kai told him grabbing the bottles and holding them out to him. He eyed them and smiled. "Okay...!" he purred before sitting on his knees and opening his mouth. She heard loud purring reverberate from him and saw his canines were extended. Kai swallowed dryly. "You're killing me." She whimpered under her breath before checking the bottle and popping out two pills as instructed. She then placed them in Claude's mouth. She then fed him the water from the water bottle and sighed in relief when he swallowed the water.

"Good," Kai said relaxing, she then went to get out of the nest when Claude pulled her back in. "No. Don't leave." He whined softly. Kai slowly sat back down on the bed with a sigh. Claude trilled happily and moved close to her leaning his head on her shoulder. "Claude I have to leave the nest." Kai tried to reason with him, "your suppressants haven't kicked in yet and your scent is still very strong." Claude had his fingers interlocked with hers as he side-eyed her. "What will happen if you don't?" He asked with a relaxed smile. Kai covered her mouth feeling her canines growing.

"Then I might do something to you..." Her voice was muffled as her hand covered her mouth. Claude looked up at her and purred loudly. "I don't see the downside." He remarked, "Won't your idol agency get mad? Don't they have like clause for that?" Kai tried to remind him. Claude clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "I don't care about that." He said looking frustrated. Kai was about to pull some other excuse out of her hat but Claude cut her off. "Why is it so surprising that I'd want you?" He seemed to be slowly regaining his senses thanks to the suppressants. He seemed more focused and less dreamy.

"Ah well..." Kai started to say, "I like you, Kai! No, I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you! Why is that so unbelievable? I know you feel the same way." Claude spoke frankly. "No one spends as much time together as we have without feeling anything." He mumbled squeezing the pillow in front of him. Kai pulled her knees up to her chest in sighed. "It should be fairly obvious." She spoke up. "Is it because I act? It's not really that big of a deal. I'm just on television. It's not like I'm some superstar." He questioned, "No." Kai replied she wasn't bothered by his fame. To be honest, Kai was kind of famous in her own way now. "Then what is it?"

Kai was silent for a while and Claude sat there. "Is there someone else?" He asked, Kai, shook her head. "I'm sorry Kai I'm drawing blanks here." He said not seeing why they couldn't be together. "Claude, look at me, really look at me," Kai said staring at him with a frown. "Girls, especially alphas, like me don't get the guy." She told him.

"You might like me for who I am. But everyone wants someone they can be proud of walking next to in public. And sure you'll deal with it for a while but it'll wear you down. It'll make it to where all you'll see is what they see." She said as calmly as possible. "I would rather you end up with someone else than to ever have you look at me like that Claude." Kai said softly, "I... I couldn't take it."