Gen and Mika came down the next morning to a full breakfast prepared by Kana. Sausage, fried eggs, hash browns, and toast. Mika’s mouth watered instantly as they walked into the dining room to eat. Gen yawned loudly and ran a hand through his hair, scratching his head as he did. The dye on his scalp was already starting to dry and irritate him.
“Morning,” he mumbled as he went to the coffee pot.
Donovan was already at the table, a full plate in front of him, coffee cup in one hand, morning paper in the other. He lifted his mug in greeting. “Sleep well?” he asked Mika as he sat down. His hair had been pulled into a loose half-knot at his neck, his usual morning look.
Mika nodded. “Yes, sir, thank you. And thank you for letting me stay last night, I appreciate it.”
Kana set a plate in front of him and patted his head before heading back to grab hers and her brothers.
“Do you want some coffee?” Gen asked Mika.
“Yes, please.”
Don motioned to the coffee accessories already on the table. “Prepare as you see fit, my good man.”
Gen put the coffee down in front of Mika and squeezed his shoulder as he took his place next to him. Mika reached across the table for the creamer and sugar and sweetened the bitter brew to taste. Gen prepared his own with a different creamer and less sugar.
“How do you drink syrup for breakfast?” Gen asked, shaking his head as Mika took a sip.
“It’s not that bad,” Mika said, offering it to him. “Try it.” Gen held the cup while it was still in Mika’s hand. He grimaced and shook his head.
“Syrup,” was his final judgment on the matter. He took a sip of his own coffee and gave a satisfied sigh, offering Mika some, who held it to his mouth the same way Gen had done his. He shrugged.
“Not as sweet, but it isn’t terrible.”
Gen rolled his eyes. “I’ll learn you yet, my dude.”
Donovan looked between the two as they continued to banter and talk about typical breakfasts in their individual houses. Apparently, Mika’s was usually something basic, like cereal or a bagel; something quick and easy. Kana was the chef in their home and she always put in her best effort to make something tasty and full of nutrients that would get them through their day. She told Mika she would be happy to make him anything he would like, all he had to do was ask.
“Well, that’s all predicated on how often he’s over here to have breakfast,” Don said, popping a cut sausage link covered in egg yolk into his mouth.
Gen and Mika exchanged a glance before Gen said, “Well, we’re dating now so…could be pretty often.” He kept his eyes on his plate, the statement hanging in the air. Maybe not the best way to come out to his dad, but–
Don chuckled. “I kinda figured that was the case.” Gen’s head snapped up, his knife and fork frozen above his food, his face wearing a seriously shocked expression as his dad grinned at him from beside Mika.
He glanced at Kana, not to see her reaction since he already knew she would be happy about the news, but to ask with his eyes, What the fuck? She just shrugged and his eyes went back to his dad.
Don patted Mika on the back, gently. “I’m glad he chose you,” he said. “I know you’ll be good for him.”
Mika smiled. “Thank you, sir,” he said. “I’ll try to be. I know he’s good for me, too.”
“Hold up!” Gen said, his hands falling to the table, cutlery still clutched. “Dad, I thought–”
“What, that I didn’t know you liked guys?” Don said, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Or that I’d make a big deal out of it?”
“Well, yeah,” Gen said lamely. “I mean, you’re my dad, and…” he stammered, not sure what to say.
Don smiled gently. “Kid, I always knew.” Gen’s eyes darted back to his father’s face, stunned. “I didn’t make a scene about it because it’s just part of who you are, like the color of your eyes, or your height, or favorite color. It’s obvious enough but doesn’t need to have attention drawn to it all the time.”
Gen glanced at Mika who was casually eating his food. He looked up at Gen and smiled, his eyes closing as he did so. He looked to his sister who seemed just as surprised, but still happy about it.
“Guess we kept it a secret for nothing,” she said.
Gen looked back to his food. He was silent, still unsure of what to say. He always thought his dad would blow up, call him names, tell him what a disappointment he turned out to be, something in the way movies and social media had portrayed. Or, maybe it would have been some big scene the other way, with his dad telling him how proud he was that he came out and that no matter what, he was still his son and nothing would ever change that, and offer whatever support he could. Again, how it was portrayed in the media.
This anticlimactic moment was not at all what he had imagined. So, instead of discussing the point further, he did what everyone else at the table was doing…he ate his breakfast and drank his coffee and carried on with his life.
“So what are your plans for the day?” Don asked. “You got the day off, right?”
Gen nodded around a bite of runny egg and toast. “I dunno, we haven’t really talked about it yet.” He looked at Mika. “Thoughts?”
Mika shrugged. “The student in me says we should probably get some homework done while we have the time. Especially since we have that test on Monday.”
Gen groaned. “Yeah, that’s true. And we worked too hard to get to this point, so we probably should run a few problems just to be ready. Plus, I need to do the reading for my tech comms class. It’s easy so it won’t take long.”
“What’s tech comms?”
They talked about the class and what it implied for Gen’s degree.
“You better be doing something fun afterwards,” Don said with his Dad Voice.
“We will,” Gen said, grinning. “Just need to get the annoying stuff out of the way first. Like good little smart boys.”
Kana rolled her eyes and Mika laughed.
Once breakfast was finished and cleared away, Gen informed them they’d be done before lunch, then he and Mika went back to his loft to do exactly what they said they would do…study.
-*-
“How do you feel about the zoo?” Mika asked when they had packed up all their materials.
Gen shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess. Too many people, though, especially on the weekends.”
“Actually, it won’t be that busy. This time of year, not too many people are out because it’s cold and the animals aren’t as active.”
“So, then why go?”
“Because there’s not that many people.” Mika gave a pointed grin and Gen understood. It was an experiment. “Is it okay if I use your shower?” he asked. “I feel kinda gross after yesterday.” He grimaced and touched his throat, looking down at the floor. “I never even thought about it last night, but…he made me feel like I was trash.”
Gen hooked a finger under Mika’s chin, tilting his head up, his gaze intense. “Don’t think about him at all today. Not once. You’re not trash, Mika. You’re perfect.” Before Mika could say anything else, Gen lowered his mouth to his, kissing him fervently, his arms going around his waist drawing him close. Mika’s arms encircled Gen’s neck as he responded, his tongue darting into Gen’s mouth, grabbing his tongue into his own mouth and sucked on it, making Gen’s breath catch as he whimpered with desire, his hands going into Mika’s hair as Mika continue to play with his tongue, his teeth grazing and his own tongue moving around Gen’s, tasting the sausage and coffee, drinking it up while his mouth held fast, not easing on the suction. Finally he released his grip, kissing him slowly and licking the corner of Gen’s mouth before pulling away.
Gen’s heart was racing and he couldn’t breathe. “What the hell…was that?”
Mika grinned slyly. “Kelly told me about that trick. She said it drives guys crazy if you do it right.”
Gen’s eyes went wide and he nodded. “Oh, she wasn’t wrong.” He pulled Mika’s hips to his own, making him feel what his little “trick” did to him. “You did it exactly right.” Mika blushed and kissed him again before stepping out of his arms. He grabbed his bag and headed out of the room and toward the bathroom, leaving Gen standing there, his mouth open, completely speechless and his head spinning.
By the time Mika was done, Gen had changed and brushed his hair, tying up half his mohawk into a bun at the back of his head, the rest of his hair laying on his shoulders. He went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, wash his face, and apply deodorant while Mika got the rest of his stuff together.
“Ready,” he said and took Mika’s hand. They walked downstairs, talking about what they would do at the zoo and what animals they might see first.
Kana had their lunch ready to go on the island counter when they walked in.
“Where’s Dad?” Gen asked around a mouthful of his pulled chicken sandwich. “Isn’t he off today?” He didn’t hear anything coming from the garage.
Kana sighed. “He got a call,” she said with a frown. “A DV in the Rockwood area.”
Mika stopped chewing, his eyes darting up to Gen’s. That was the area where he lived. Kana noticed and jolted upright.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”
Mika shook his head. “I need to call my mom.”
“Use the patio, it’s private out there,” Kana said, thumbing in the direction of the sliding glass door that led to the patio that was attached to the house. The decently sized backyard itself was walled in, with various plants growing in raised beds all along the perimeter, a large tree in the far corner.
“I’ll wait here,” Gen said. Mika nodded and hurried outside, his phone already to his ear.
Once outside, he closed the door behind him, hoping his mother would pick up quickly. If she didn’t, then he would know things were still really bad at home.
Three rings and, “Hey, Mika, are you okay?”
Mika’s body fell into the chair in the corner, relief flooding him. He put a hand to his forehead. “I should be asking you that. Everything okay at home?”
“Everything’s fine,” she said in a tone that suggested otherwise. Mika gripped the cell.
“I made plans with Gen,” he said. “But if you want me to come home now–”
“No,” she said firmly, a hint of panic in her voice. “Don’t come home. Stay with Gen.”
“For how long?” Mika asked. He was starting to shake, tears threatening to spill over. “What happened, Mom?”
In the distance, he could hear a female voice talking to Jo and Jo responding, “One second please, officer, I’ll be right there.” To Mika she said, “Please don’t worry about us, Mika. I want you to try and have fun today, okay? Don’t think about us, don’t even call.”
“But why?”
Jolene sighed. “He came back this morning,” she finally said quietly. “He was absolutely plastered, screaming, wondering where you were.” Her voice broke. “Mika…he was pissed you were still alive. He was worried you went to the cops.”
Mika’s breath became heavy and ragged as his chest tightened. “But I didn’t,” he said, trying so hard not to cry. “I swear, Mom.” He started to feel guilty for something he hadn’t done. That was the effect Thomas had. He made Mika feel guilty for living.
There was silence on the other end of the line. He could hear more voices in the background.
“Mom?”
“Why is Detective Parker here, Mika?” Jo demanded. “Did you send him?”
“No! Gen said he sometimes goes out on these types of calls when there are no active cases to deal with.”
“Mika?”
Mika swung around in his chair to see both Kana and Gen standing there, both of them looking gravely concerned. It was Kana who had said his name.
“Is everything okay?” she asked softly.
“Who’s there with you?” Jo asked.
“Gen and his sister.”
“Put me on speaker.” Mika did and told her to go ahead. “Gen?” Jo asked, her voice coming out more controlled than she felt.
“Hi, Jo,” he said, his eyes on Mika. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not even going to pretend that Mika didn’t tell you what happened yesterday,” she said. “But Thomas came back this morning to make sure Mika was dead.”
Kana dropped to her knees and took Mika into her arms. “Oh my god,” she said, her own fear and anxiety gripping her. Gen clenched his fists.
“Where is he now?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she said, pitifully. “He came in the house this morning screaming, raging that Mika had gone to the cops and that if he finds him he’ll–” her voice cut off. She took a shuddering breath and said, “I need you to keep him for another few days, is that okay? I’ll talk to your dad, too, since he’s here. It’s just until Thomas is caught.”
“He can stay as long as he needs to,” Kana said. “He’s safe here with us, I promise.”
“Are you the sister?”
“Yes, ma’am, Kana Parker.”
“Kana, you and Gen protect my baby, you hear me?”
“Mom, where are Ben and Ana?”
Kana gave Gen a questioning look.
“His brother and sister,” Gen said.
“They’re with the neighbor,” Jo replied. “They’re okay, Mika, I promise. You know he would never hurt them. But he did scare them pretty good.”
Mika bit his tongue, anger welling in his eyes. He absolutely hated hearing that. “Okay,” he forced himself to say. “That’s good. Give them a hug for me, okay?”
“Listen, I’ll get a bag together for you and send it with Detective Parker.”
“Jo?” Kana interjected. “I know this is a little forward of me, but can we take the kids for the day? If they’re scared, maybe we can help cheer them up a bit, get their minds off things. If it’s not an issue, of course. Plus, maybe knowing they’re somewhere safe will help you, as well.”
Jo was silent for several beats, Gen, Mika, and Kana on edge as they waited for her response. Finally, “Yes, I think that’s a good idea, actually. Can I send them with your father?”
“Yes!” All three of them said at once.
“Just for the day, though,” Jo clarified. “Please make sure they’re home no later than seven o’clock tonight.”
“You have our word,” Gen said. “Hopefully Thomas will get picked up and things will get worked out quickly. I’m happy to have Mika here with me, but he should be with you all, as well.”
“That’s sweet of you,” she said, her tone more relaxed. “But right now, his safety is my top priority.” Mika rolled his eyes, shaking his head with disgust. Gen walked around Kana to squat next to him, putting his hand on the back of Mika’s neck, their foreheads together.
“It’s going to be okay,” he whispered.
Mika nodded, and closed his eyes, one tear rolling down his cheek. Kana squeezed his hand.
“We’ll take care of him, Jo,” Kana reassured her once again. “You need to focus on your own safety as well, okay? We’ll keep your kids safe.”
“Thank you, Kana, Gen. You two are a godsend. I need to go talk to the police now, Mika. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he said, a sob breaking his voice.
“Don’t cry, honey,” she soothed. “Please don’t cry.” With that, she hung up. Mika’s hand fell to his lap and he dissolved into tears.
-*-
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