tampered | Ongoing, closed

Ongoing, closed

When; Thursday the 23rd, early evening
Rating; PG-13 (for starters)
Characters; Ken (

bladed_siberian), Umi (

soulofocean), Mara (

cry_reaper) and [ maybe ] Aya (

onceaweiss)
Summary; Ken gets to celebrate his birthday with those who love him, against all odds.
Log; Just one day before Christmas Eve and it'd already felt like a close call. Umi still couldn't believe the cruel joke The City had played on them this once, so much they'd barely made it. Gratefully Clef's expertise in potions was yet to fail. Ken was rid of the terrible effects of whatever affected him, at least temporarily. As long as he continued to take the potion the Master Mage of Cephiro had devised specifically for his needs, he'd be himself.

He'd get to enjoy his birthday and Christmas.

Or at least have a good chance to try. That was all that mattered. Umi smiled to herself as she helped serve the table. Ken had been clear about not wanting a big thing, so she and Aya had agreed a small dinner with the family would do. If after that he and Mara wished for some alone time, she was ready to grab the redhead and vanish from their place for the rest of the evening. She knew those two might have a lot to talk about...

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He might be feeling a little more himself, but since he'd returned to the apartment, he'd mostly felt like staying in his room. Avoidance, perhaps, maybe something else. He wasn't sure. He'd been warned that he should do his best to keep control of his temper thanks to the nature of his temporary fix, but his temper was a big part of him. Keeping it leashed made him feel vaguely disconnected from himself.

The sound of activity in the apartment proper pulled his attention away from his brooding and while he pondered just going back to bed, he'd promised Umi he'd be there for his birthday. Sighing softly, he pushed himself up for the chair he'd been perching in since he woke up and peered out the cracked open door.

The sight that would greet Ken's eyes would a very cozy and warm one: a table set with red Christmas candles and plates for four people, a floral centerpiece from the Koneko, and finally, Umi giving the place the last retouches so that it'd be perfect for a family dinner.

...Maybe it was her sixth sense for those she cared about, maybe that she'd been on edge and alert since all that had happened. But noticing the crack on Ken's door, Umi's smiled grew warmer. "You're allowed to come have a look, you know?"

It took him another long moment of silence before he slipped out of his room. It hadn't really been that long since he'd gotten back, but things just felt... odd to him. He was careful to keep from looking too hard at Umi since every time he did, he couldn't help but see how he'd hurt her.

Knowing he was more than likely frowning, he did his best to try and smile for her. He owed her that much, at the very least.

"... it looks nice, Umi."

"That's the whole point! It has to look its nicest for you." Oh, Umi understood. It wasn't a switch. Ken had gone through hell, all over again, and she certainly didn't expect him to be all cheerful. But it counted for a lot that he was already himself again in time for today.

She'd do her best to make it as good for him as possible, but she wasn't going to push it. "I even cooked a bit. Your own recipe. It turned out alright too."

At least she trusted the dessert to be Ken's favorite.

The smile twitched a little at that; a shadow of one of his usual ones. Glancing towards the kitchen, he tilted his head a bit before he actually stepped out of his doorway and into the main room of the apartment.

".. smells pretty good. No fire this time, huh?"

His teasing sounds a little hollow, but again, he's trying.

"Not even a spark. Who knew, huh? I may be getting the hang of it!" Umi's own usual cheer sounded a bit dampened, but there was a lot of gratefulness to it and that certainly made up for the lack. Or so the Water Knight hoped. She felt more encouraged when Ken actually came out of his room to have a look.

"So how old are you getting, big guy? I think you caught up with Aya..." She'd bought extra candles to put on his birthday cake, in case she'd guessed wrong.

There was a knock at the door as Mara stood on the other side, nervously shifting on her feet. The swelling had only subsided a little and her right eye was still hard to see through, but she had managed to cover some of the horrendous bruise color with make-up and she had fixed a smile on her face. Ken was better, for now, and it was his birthday, something worth celebrating in her mind.

Smoothing down her skirt and removing her jacket she waited for someone to let her in.

Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door. His eyes narrowed for a moment before he glanced back at the door to his room.

"...It's okay. I'll get it." The gesture didn't go unnoticed. Something inside Umi ached a bit. She wondered how Ken would take it. Not that it'd come as much of a surprise, that Mara would be here for his birthday. Umi trusted things would go okay for her and Ken, even after everything that'd happened on Sunday. "That must be Mara."

And with one last reassuring look for Ken she went to open the door, a smile on her face for the older girl as she did so.

"Hey Mara, welcome." She greeted her. "Please come in."

"Thanks, Umi."

Mara entered and looked around, her eyes finally reaching the person she was most anxious to see. Setting her jacket and the package she'd brought aside, she headed towards Ken without any fear, the smile still on her face.

"Happy Birthday, dearest."

His eyes were locked on her face and the damage he knew she'd worked best to hide. Guilt washed over him but he did his best to keep it from slipping into his expression. If he hadn't already promised to be there for this, he'd already have retreated back into his room.

Before he could think, he'd reached up to gently touch the damage he'd caused.

".... I'm so sorry."

For what her involuntary catch of breath lasted Umi had to suppress the impulse to hug Ken close. It was quite the effort, considering what was going on before her eyes, but she refrained and instead stepped back a little to give Ken and Mara some space.

Masking her nervousness by continuing to set the table, she decided to let the couple talk things out for a bit. Hopefully this would do them both some good.

She held his gaze for a moment before reaching up herself to take his hand in hers, turning her head so she could press a kiss to his palm. Holding it close she whispered, "I know, Ken, but it's going to be okay. You're alright now, and we'll find out who did this to you."

Mara took a few steps forward to close the gap so she could wrap her arms around him in a brief hug. "And in the meantime we can have a nice dinner and enjoy the evening."

Sighing, he tucked his arms around her, returning the hug, but he didn't let her go too quickly. Leaning down a little, he settled his cheek carefully against the crown of her head, nodding absently.

"... yeah."

Umi knew when to quietly step out of a room when she was a bit of a third wheel. It reassured her beyond words, to see Ken's first encounter with Mara after the events of Sunday had gone this well. Then again she'd hoped and trusted they would.

"I think I'll go fetch the appetizers." She excused herself very softly. "Be right back."

Then she vanished into the kitchen, closing the door behind her and leaning against it with a heavy sigh. If the evening continued to go this well... yeah. At least she could have the pleasure of knowing they'd beaten The City at its own game.

It wouldn't spoil today for them.

[ooc: You guys feel free to continue without her for a while!]

Mara stayed right where she was, happy that he wasn't pulling away, that he wasn't trying to hide from her. She chuckled a little when Umi ducked out, looking up at Ken.

"I think she means us to spend a little time alone."

Oh, he was trying to hide, but right now, he needed her. Smiling faintly, he nodded again, his gaze following Umi as she left the room before he looked down to meet Mara's gaze.

"She's not very subtle, is she?"

"No she isn't." Mara smiled, and reached up to touch the side of his face. "But I don't mind. I've been so worried about you, I'm glad I can see you."

His hand moved to curl around hers, pressing it a little closer to his cheek before he moved to lay a kiss across her knuckles.

"I'm glad, too.... I really am sorry for hurting you."

"You couldn't help it, and it's not too bad."

Mara gave Ken a slight tug towards the living room sofa so they could sit down for a little bit.

"I'll be good as new soon, you won't even notice."

At first, he almost looked like he wanted to step back to his room, but he let her move him towards the sofa, settling on it with a soft grunt.

"Trust me, I'll know. That's enough."

She saw that look and as soon as he was seated, she snuggled right up to him, laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. But it really isn't your fault, someone's done this to you. It could have been worse."

She almost winced, of course it could have been worse and was for those people he'd killed.

Ken pursed his lips at that, sighing softly.

"... worse, huh?"

"Bad choice of words, forget I mentioned it." She played with his shirt a little in a fit of sudden nervousness. "So what do you want to do after dinner? I know Umi has a dessert planned, but if you want we can go back to my place, have a drink..."

The feel of her hand messing with his shirt pulled his attention away from his brooding thoughts. Hugging her a little closer, he leaned his head against hers.

"... I can't. I really need to stay around here in case something happens and Aya needs to sedate me or something."

He'd been told his limits and that the temporary solution was just that; temporary. A major swing in mood, especially dealing with frustration or anger could easily send him back into another berserk state and that wouldn't end up well for anyone.

"I understand." She relaxes against him, just enjoying being with him. "And if you don't want me to stay, either, I understand."

But she hoped he'd ask her to, she was still half certain he'd disappear if she wasn't with him.

".... I want you to. If you want. I understand if you wouldn't want to, since I-"

His voice drifted off as he closed his eyes, trying to keep from thinking about it again.

"No! I want to." She gave him a squeeze, "I don't want to leave you, and I'm not afraid."

Not really, although she was worried. She didn't know a lot about how he was restored for these next few days, and she didn't really trust magic all that much.

Ken didn't question her faith, but he did squeeze a little tighter, as if he were clinging to her now.

"... good. Thank you."

"We'll fix it, we'll find a way. I won't lose you to something like this." Returning the squeeze, she shook a little in her anger and fear. She was far too attached to him and the idea of losing him... it brought up feelings she wasn't ready to confront yet.

When Umi estimates it's polite, she emerges from the kitchen once again -- or, to be precise, first pokes her head out to take a look around the room. Yes, things seem to be going well. At least Ken looks a bit more comfortable than before.

"Alright, here." She brings a plate with several hors d'oeuvres and sets it down on the table. "This for starters. Then we can get to the actual dinner."

Usually Ken would have a little more decorum with someone else in the room, but he stayed tucked close to Mara, his arms still tight around her as he glanced up at Umi. He was starting to realize just how much he cared for Mara, and it scared him.

"... you've really done too much, Umi."

Looking over her shoulder at the table, Mara smiled in agreement, "Really, it looks splendid." But she didn't move, she wasn't sure she wanted to until Ken was ready and his grip hadn't changed a bit.

"Never too much. It's your birthday." Like Umi would mind seeing Ken and Mara still all cuddly. Quite the contrary. It was an excellent outcome for a meeting Umi'd been quite nervous about. They could stay there clinging to each other for the rest of the evening and the Water Knight couldn't be happier about it. "Besides, I planned ahead. Guys tend to eat a lot."

So if they wouldn't come to the feast, the feast would go to them. Umi took the plate and made it available for the couple on the couch were they still lingered. "Care to taste these?"

He watched Umi move with a wary gaze. It wasn't really because it was her, per se, but right now, he was more than a little wary of anyone right now, especially people he knew he hurt. By sheer force of will, he forced himself to loosen the grip he had on Mara. In fact, he even pulled away a little, but there was no mistaking the way he moved so he could keep touching her somehow.

Mara took it as an encouraging sign and she leaned forward to take one of the treats and pop it into her mouth. Swallowing, she smiled at Umi, "That's wonderful, Umi, they're very good."

Leaning back again, she set her hand on, Ken's knee, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze.

"Hey, that's good news! Maybe it just takes a little pressure, you know? For me to cook stuff that's kind of edible." Good sign indeed. Though Umi still felt that seeing Ken so on edge grated at least it was a healthy change from what they'd witnessed before, when whatever had grabbed a hold of him got started. A change to be grateful for.

"You never really answered me, big guy. Twenty six, is it?"

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Ongoing, closed

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