Defending the Mask

Hero Subdued

Cobra did it.

He and Nani were supposed to-

But when Ben texted him, letting him know that they'd made it into the room-

Like hell was he taking that support away from them.

So, no session yesterday.

But Kai dammit, there was no way he was letting another person beat him to it.

He missed them.

He missed his son.

It had been torture to stay away. To limit themselves to texts and occasional calls to check-in.

He knew they needed time to figure things out on their own.

They needed to comfort each other.

But Kai-damn it, he wanted to be there for them too.

Wanted them to know it was okay. That despite how shit the situation was, it wasn't going to stop them, stop him, from caring about them.

He knew Jay worried about his and Nani's well-being.

Worried about their safety.

Worried about how soft he was.

How laid back.

How much he hated violence.

That didn't mean he couldn't protect Jay in other ways.

He knew how much his son got stuck in his head.

How he let worry eat him alive.

How stressed he got. How many panic attacks he tried to cover up and pretend never happened.

How he could go days without eating.

How he could- Could so many things.

He knew so much about who Jay was.

Maybe not his past, but he knew him.

Knew Jay.

So dammit if he wasn't going to go check on them.

And like fuck was he letting Hiro beat him to it.

Honestly, he was shocked the impulsive iki brah hadn't beat him to it already.

His eyes narrow.

Right.

He needed to check on the little tweaker next.

Kai if that kid wasn't main-lining amphetamines like meth.

And Lilo.

He closes his eyes.

Fucking grown-ass kids.

He rolls his eyes, later problems.

He tilts his head as he narrows his eyes.

Maybe even... Nani problems?

He shakes his head.

He pushes himself away from his desk.

He was done with waiting for the iki's to leave their room.

And despite his and Nani's conversations-

He needed this.

Maybe more than Jay did.

He pauses when he hears a knock on his office door.

Fuck, did he have an appointment?

He blinks as he looks down at his desk.

His desk that was covered in paperwork and stacks of folders.