Rabble: End Game (Villainous Things #5)

17. Kai

CHAPTER 17

KAI

Gay for Lizard Dick: Uhhh… are we doing masks on or off for when the paps from SNZ get here? Because I may have left my Lycra at home…

The Mafia Queen: Never fear, Baby Hulk. Wolfy has ensured the reporters will be legally gagged within an inch of their lives.

The Mafia Queen: And yes, I mean that literally.

I wonder if I could get a restraining order against this family?

Well, not all of them…

The one exception to the no-Suarez rule tapped lightly on the infirmary door before entering. “Hey, K-pop. I grabbed some of your clothes so you don’t have to make the walk of shame back to our hut in your bathing suit.” Violentia cleared her throat, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. “I couldn’t find any of your underwear, so I guess you’ll have to go commando for a few minutes. Haha…”

I wasn’t laughing. In fact, I could feel my cheeks heat at the reminder my stupid pregnancy brain made me forget to pack the most basic of basic things.

“Commando’s fine,” I snipped, snatching the bundle before offering her a grateful smile. “Thank you for bringing clothes, Vi-Vi. Seriously. You didn’t have to.”

She gave me a funny look. “Why wouldn’t I? You needed clothes, so I brought you some.”

As easy as that.

For a moment, I let myself pretend Vi was my girlfriend and that having my needs met like this was the usual.

They kind of are with her.

Sigh.

Lord, I’ve seen what you’ve done for others…

“Fuck,” she muttered, searching my face. “I fucked up, didn’t I? I’m sorry, Kai. Picking up on social cues isn’t really my strong suit.”

“What? No!” I squawked, feeling terrible that my baggage was spilling out to negatively affect her. “I’m just… Thank you for bringing me clothes. That was super thoughtful.”

Way more than anyone else around here would have done for me.

I’d had absolutely no interest in traveling to this humid island in the first place—not only because I needed a goddamn break from these superpowered maniacs, but because my doctor had specifically advised against me flying so late in my pregnancy.

But try telling that to Xander.

True to form, my bossy bestie had completely disregarded what I—and the actual medical professional—wanted and proceeded to pack my bags anyway .

Not literally, of course.

Not that he’d have remembered underwear either.

“Okay, I’ll go wait outside while you change.” Vi interrupted my salty thoughts as she opened the infirmary door and stepped outside. “Then, we can stop at the hut so you can drop off your bathing suit and grab anything else you need.”

Like a plane ticket outta here?

Something settled in me at the clear command and her take-charge attitude. At first, it had weirded me out how much Violentia and Xander acted like—and resembled—each other, but I’d quickly discovered they couldn’t be more different.

Yes, bestie had heroically saved me from falling to my death in Dead Man’s Ravine, but he otherwise acted like I was expendable—especially since Butch now took up any attention that wasn’t focused on sea turtles. While I knew a lot of this detachment had to do with his personal history of rejection, Xander didn't need to project that trauma on me.

He’s in therapy, for chrissake!

In sharp contrast, Vi seemed to go out of her way to make sure I was comfortable, which seemed so contradictory to everything I’d heard about her violent superpowers.

I wish she’d tell me more about them…

Snapping back to reality, I remembered Vi had told me to get changed. Not wanting to keep her waiting, I ripped off the scratchy hospital gown and sighed in relief as I pulled the soft, stretchy leopard print dress over my head instead.

Now, get me the fuck outta here.

At this point, I was beyond ready to leave. I’d spent almost 24 hours in this tiny room, staring at the puke green walls while the reason I ended up here in the first place replayed on an endless loop in my bored brain.

Why the hell doesn’t the infirmary have wi-fi?

And what the ever-loving fuck did I see on the beach yesterday?!

With how an entire gaggle of powerful supes had invaded my personal space, you would think a little paranormal light show wouldn’t faze me, but watching creepy Theo trade out his corporeal form for a tangled ball of Christmas lights had not been on my bingo card for the year.

Are more of them like that under there?

Are they ALL like that?!

Shiver…

“My favorite dress,” Vi announced as I joined her outside the infirmary. Her mesmerizing amber eyes swept over me in approval.

Shiver… in a good way.

“You bought it for me,” I reminded her, squirming in what was definitely a silly little show of preening pleasure.

I’m such a dork.

“Mmm… I did,” she murmured, so low and throaty, I panicked about my lack of underwear all over again.

Don’t sploosh in front of your bestie, Kai.

Wait…

Are we besties?

“C’mon.” Violentia grabbed my hand. “Let’s get you back to the hut so you can freshen up and relax, Princess. ”

Vi froze. I froze. And then I squeezed my legs together with the power of 10,000 Kegels.

Don’t sploosh, don’t sploosh, don’t sploosh…

“Sorry,” my bestie laughed awkwardly as we started walking along the palm tree-shaded path. “I don’t know where that came from.”

“You can call me princess!” I blurted out—too loud in the early morning air. “I mean… who wouldn’t want princess treatment?”

Especially from you.

Vi gave me another odd look, but before she could comment, we heard voices on the trail ahead.

“Duuuudes… I can’t believe you had me out at the bar all night. Zig is gonna punish my ass… At least, I hope he does— ayooooo!”

“Sounds like a good time to me, brat.”

“I’m not that bratty! Not like that creepy alien of yours.”

“He is pretty creepy, huh? So hot. Do you think Theo has Mandalorian armor like Ziggy does? I want my own Space Daddy.”

“Keep moving, sluts.”

What in the multiverse is this?

Vi was sniffing the air like a bloodhound before a sly smile curled her lips. “We Suarez siblings just can’t keep away from those Salahs, huh?”

“What?!” I hiss-whispered, ecstatic we’d stumbled upon some juicy gossip. “Are Micah and the twins cheating on Ziggy and Theo with each other? Wait…” My blood ran cold as my fears were realized. “Is… Ziggy an alien like Theo? ”

How many of these Christmas light motherfuckers are there?

Vi squeezed my hand reassuringly. “He is. He’s Theo’s son, actually, but he doesn’t seem like the type to scare normies for fun. He probably saves that for primal playtime with Micah.” She cocked her head and deeply inhaled. “And nothing that scandalous is happening. None of these Gen Z sluts smell like sex—just a shit ton of lust.”

WHAT?

This time, my blood turned to solid ice in my veins. Forget the Gen Zers. I was in a permanent state of lust around Violentia, so if she could smell it, I was doomed.

RIP underwear.

If I had any.

Vi released my hand and stopped walking, gripping me by the shoulders so we faced each other.

“Don’t worry about them, Kai,” she soothed, clearly misinterpreting the reason for my obvious panic. “The inventus bond is strong. It makes it so your entire world revolves around your person—or persons, in the twins’ cases. It’s as if every atom in your body is intrinsically linked with another’s, and you can even taste their emotions.” She huffed out a laugh. “There’s no way Ziggy and Theo aren’t aware these horny idiots are all worked up for each other.”

What about THIS horny idiot?!

When I still gaped at her, she added, uncharacteristically hesitant, “Haven’t you ever, you know… had a crush on a friend before?”

I’m just gonna go throw myself in the ocean now, thanks.

Then, no one will hear me sploosh .

“I have,” I croaked. “But I don’t think it’s mutual.”

Case in point.

Her brow furrowed, but I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. I wiggled out of her hold and pounded down the path—past the gaggle of half-drunk supes—as fast as my pregnant ass could move, and I didn’t stop until I’d reached the hut.

Just leave this horny idiot in peace.

The truth was, I didn’t want to be left in peace and, of course, Vi knew that as I heard the door softly open a few minutes later.

She gets me.

It’s the worst.

For some stupid reason, the fact there was someone around who cared made me get teary all over again, so I buried myself under the covers to hide my out-of-control hormones.

She can probably smell my tears…

I felt the bed dip as she sat down. “Hey, K-pop. I’m sorry if I upset you. Sometimes, I forget how different we are because we’re so alike in so many ways.”

Oh, gawd!

Now, the sniffling had begun, and a traitorous whimper escaped as Vi began to rub my back through the comforter.

Here come the waterworks!

“And I’m sorry to hear you have an unrequited crush. I know exactly how that feels, and it’s torture. To see her all the time—to see her upset and not know if it’s my place to comfort her… ”

The hand rubbing my back abruptly disappeared, and I wailed in despair.

Comfort me!

Respectfully.

Or… disrespectfully…

Vi inhaled again before releasing a slow breath. “What do you need right now, Kai? Do you want me to run you a bath? Or would you like me to leave?—”

“No!” I flipped the covers back, uncaring that my leaking eyeballs were now exposed. “No. Please stay. You… Just having you around comforts me.”

Ugh.

I am so lame.

Vi closed her eyes and released a shuddering breath, and for a moment, I thought I’d fucked up somehow. But when she opened them again, her gaze was so intense—so attentive— I gasped.

“Taking care of you is one of my favorite things to do,” she stated with more seriousness than I’d ever seen from her. “And this crush of yours is a dumbass, because if you were my girl, I’d make sure you damn well knew it. Every. Single. Day.”

LORD, I’VE BEEN PATIENT!

“I-I’d like that,” I idiotically stuttered, as if she was offering it to me as an option and not just trying to make me feel better. “If I was your girl, I would never take your attention for granted.”

I’d gladly be your princess .

Violentia stared at me for a long moment before rising to stand. “If you’ll be all set for a few minutes, I’m… I need to go for a quick walk.”

I gaped up at her. If there was one thing I’d learned to count on these past several months, it was Vi’s constant presence. It wasn’t like I was suffering at the moment—no more than normal—but I’d expected her to stay with me regardless.

She told me she’d be there for me this week…

I want her here.

Clearly, I’d just done something to upset her, so all I did was nod.

I don’t have any right to ask her to stay.

Vi nodded stiffly in return and averted her gaze before gliding across the room and out the door.

I wish I did, though.

I wish she was mine.