Kai Anderson Home Isn’t Always A Safe Space
@kthice for lace divider 🤍
CW: Swearing, family issues, abusive dad, fighting, bleeding, hand injury, heavy angst ig, fluff ending
INFO: (PRE-CULT KAI) You want to meet Kai's parents but soon learn that it was a mistake to come. (not proofread)
The both of you were situated comfortably on your beaten up couch. His laptop opened on his lap, slightly askew. You’re currently curled up against him, a blanket draped over you and him as you watch some random action movie he insisted on putting on.
His arm, which is curled around your middle, is holding you closer to him. His thumb is running small, absentminded circles against the curve of your waist. You nuzzle your head further onto his shoulder, letting out a content sigh once you figure you’re close enough.
You and him constantly hang out at your place. He told you that his home is not a pleasant place to be, mainly because his parents fight all day every day ever since his dad was paralyzed. And also because he's ashamed that he lives in parents basement.
Therefore, that means that your place is a safe haven for him. Something away from the constant chaos. So, he practically lives at your apartment. You wake up with him, and go to sleep with him. You’ve never minded his company, you love him and you want him around.
But recently, you’ve been wanting to meet his parents, as well as see his room. It's where he grew up and you want your relationship to eventually grow more serious and you figure this is an important step.
You shift closer to him and mumble nervously, “I want to meet your parents Kai.” You feel him stiffen next to you, and you immediately want to take back your words. “Uhh,” he starts, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. “That’s not a good idea babe.” He replies. You sigh before continuing, “I just feel like it’s an important step for us, as a couple.”
You stare at him with pleading eyes and you can see his composure cracking. He runs a hand through his hair, staring off into the distance. It’s a few good minutes before he responds. “Okay.. Fine but you have to promise me that if it gets too intense we’ll leave, okay?” He cups your face, his thumbs caressing your cheeks.
You nod with a bright smile, “Pinky promise!” You hold out your pinky and he links it with his.
It’s the day of the dinner with his parents. You’re sitting at your vanity getting ready. He’s behind you pacing back and forth, rambling about how his dad is a lunatic. You can practically feel the anxiety radiating off of him. You stand up from your chair and walk over to him.
You wrap your arms around his neck and give him a tight hug. He melts in your embrace and nuzzles his head into the curve of your neck. “Ready to go?” he asks, his voice muffled. You nod and place a kiss to the corner of his mouth, “Yeah.” He holds your hand and guides you out the house and to your car.
The drive over is quiet. His hand rests on your thigh but you can tell his mind is racing. You start to feel guilty, I mean, your the reason he’s so anxious. You reach over and run your fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. “Are you still sure?” You ask. His grip tightens around the steering wheel and he nods.
Eventually you reach his house, and you feel nervous butterflies flutter around in your stomach. He gives your thigh one last squeeze before getting out of the car and coming around and opening your car door. You both walk up to the door, hand in hand. You nervously fix your clothes, waiting for the door to open.
What you’re assuming is his mom opens the door. She smiles at you both, “Hi, Mrs. Anderson.” You say, trying to hide the tremble in your voice. She smiles fondly back at you. Kai doesn’t say anything yet, he just squeezes your hand a bit tighter.
She steps out of the way, making space for you both to enter the house. The smell of the food is great, you hear the sound of a television playing quite loudly in the distance. “Dinner will be done in just a second.” She tells you, heading back towards the kitchen. You and Kai sit down beside each other at the dining table. You hear the sound of a motor near the stairs. You turn to Kai curiously, wanting to know what's happening. He just looks down at your interlocked hands. His throat bobbing nervously. You're honestly confused, in your years of dating Kai he’s never once been this quiet, or this nervous.
His dad comes down the stairs in a stair lift. He then switches to his wheelchair. A scowl set on his face, he looks grumpy as hell. Well shit. He takes place across the table. His fingers tap impatiently against the wooden table. “Julie! Where the hell is the food!” He yells angrily, it makes you jump in your seat. Kai glares at his father furiously. You were starting to understand why he wouldn’t want to come. Julie, his mother, brings out what looks to be burritos. That made you a little happier because that’s your favourite food. Julie places down the plates in front of everybody, you give her a quiet thank you.
She places down the plate with the burrito in front of his dad. You think all is well until a few seconds later his dad yells, slamming his fist down on the table. The table jumps. You pause, your hand trembling slightly. Kai can feel you tremble and he scolds his dad. “Jesus! Calm the hell dow-” Before he can finish, his dad raises his voice toward Julie. “Is there spice in this!?” He growls. Julie hangs her head low, avoiding his gaze. “It’s mild..” She starts but isn’t able to finish because he throws the plate at the wall, shattering it instantly on impact. You flinch, moving closer to Kai. You glance at Kai and his eyes are glossy. Your heart aches for him. This is a hostile and depressing environment to be in just for a dinner, you couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live here growing up. His dad rolls towards Julie and they start fighting, yelling at each other. Kai stands up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floors. He joins the argument, standing in
front of his mom, attempting to act as her shield. You stand as well, instead moving towards the broken ceramic plate pieces on the floor.
You bend down, starting to pick up the sharp shards attempting to help Julie.
You’re almost done cleaning it up until- “Shit!” Blood drips from your hand, landing on the kitchen tile. Kai immediately snaps his head to your direction and he runs over to you. He cradles your bleeding hand lifting your fingers to see the cut. “Baby..” He whispers, his eyes bloodshot from holding back tears. He helps you up. Guiding you out the house. He looks back at his dad and musters the rest of his strength to say, “You’re a weak, weak man. You should’ve died in that accident.” You both then walk out of the house afterwards. The car ride back is saddening, for one you’re in pain, and he keeps apologizing profusely. Every minute he mutters an apology, he sounds angry. But, not to you. At himself. You reach over and hold his hand with your uninjured one. He looks over at you and gives you a shaky smile.
Once you reach home, he ushers you inside, straight to the bathroom. You sit on top of the closed toilet seat and he grabs the first aid kit from underneath the counter. You both don’t say anything, for a while. That is until he says sorry again and then you speak up. “Kai… If anything it’s my fault, okay? He quickly shakes his head but you continue speaking before he can say anything, “Im okay, alright? But, I don’t want you to ever go back, it’s horrible there. So… Would you want to move in, officially?” You ask nervously. He pauses cleaning your cut for a second looking up at you with wide, hopeful eyes. “Really?” He asks. You nod in response. “Of course.” He smiles, wrapping a bandage around your hand and then immediately pulling you into a hug. He pulls back and kisses you, but it’s mostly teeth since you’re both smiling like idiots.
“I love you.” He tells you, cupping your face with such adoration. “I love you too.” You respond.
