Fumie - 26-1-2020 at 05:56 AM
Devyn - 28-1-2020 at 11:27 AM
Devyn laughed again watching Minna scrunch up her face at Koi for the umteenth time that night, his teasing obviously annoying the shit out of her.
But it was all love. Between she and Koi, it had been all love since Thanksgiving. They were texting again, they'd studied together during finals, and
they'd even caught lunch together once or twice in the last couple weeks of the semester. And it had been all love since she and Minna stepped in the
door today. Christmas with the Kidds, part two! It was new and improved. No Shemar. No drama. And Minna was here.
She hadn't gone home for break and Devyn couldn't very well leave her in their tiny ass dorm room with the tabletop Christmas tree. She was family. So
Devyn brought her home. She'd met Carter and Athena and they had plans to finally link up with Dhonny and Miyu on New Year's Eve for Koi's birthday.
Wow...Devyn was happy. For the first time in almost a year, she was happy. And for the first time in WAY longer than that, Christmas actually felt
like Christmas and she'd only found herself in her feelings about her mom once today. Not since she got here though.
“Leave my girl alone, kid-,†Devyn let her shoulder nudge his from their position next to one another on the floor. The three of them had been “helping†Eri with some murder
mystery subscription box, but in her brilliance of course, they had mostly been moving clues around so she could do the real detective work. Instead
of focus, Koi had jokes...like always.
“You probably don’t think so, but your mom is a style icon. It’s not everyday my muse has dinner with one of hers.†Devyn
laughed again offering Minna a wink. Was she just a little star struck when they got here? Sure, but she’d relaxed into the evening. They all
had. Did that mean Koi was letting it go? Of course not.
Koi - 29-1-2020 at 04:44 PM
Koi snickered as Eri's hand swatted at him, catching his hand as he snatched it from whatever the hell a "Catch A Killer" box was supposed to be.
Well, damn. He couldn't touch it? That was probably for the best. The subscription box was an early Christmas gift from Zori and Koi's mom
and was morbid as hell. But, it made Eri's little nostrils flare the cute ass way they did when she was really concentrating on something, so he dug
it. Plus, her distraction gave Koi a reason to share the brotherly love between her and his brand new sister, Minna. She was officially adopted into
the Kidd, which usually happened when his mom met his friends.
"Koi. I will pour red wine down the back of your suit..." Minna said between her teeth when it looked like his attention was about to switch from Eri
and back to her. Her voice was barely audible over the Marvin Gaye Christmas song playing over the brownstone's intercom system in the family room.
Koi could tell she was purposefully trying to keep her growl quiet enough that it couldn't be overheard by Eri...who heard anyway, a small smile
flitting across her lips as she played with her death in a box kit.
"Ah, ah. I don't think Fumie Hamada-Kidd would appreciate red wine on the suit she picked out..." He tsk-ed, shaking a finger at Minna, which she
promptly swatted, nearly hitting Devyn who was sitting between them in the process. He laughed, watching Minna playfully cut her eyes at him after
he'd made fun of her obsession with his mother for the millionth time that day. Koi couldn't help it! It was...weird! His moms was his moms...not some
IG style influencer with almost as many follows as Kylie Jenner. Well, Minna was one of the millions that almost worshiped the digital ground his
mother's Manolo Blahniks walked on. She'd nearly lost her shit when his mom answered the door and Koi'd had even caught her trying to sneak into his
Mom's closet (the fuck). But he guessed he got it. Koi was still trying to live down the nervous fucking laugh that'd escaped him when he met Steph
Curry a year ago. It was something like a snort...and a cough? Whatever...
"Devyn...get your friend..." He said warily adjusting the collar of his blazer as Minna evil-eyed him over her glass of red wine. She giggled next to him, her focus on Eri (per usual), her legs curled
under her on one of the faux chinchilla fur rugs they'd spread on the floor underneath them. The foursome had been there, listening to Christmas
music, drinking wine (everyone except he and of course, Eri) and eating Christmas beignets (compliments of Zori) since Devyn and Minna had arrived,
both draped in white and looking amazing...especially Devyn. He'd barely been able to keep his eyes of her and the dress that hugged all of the curves
he'd been so familiar with not too long ago. But that wasn't them anymore. This was the new them. Friends. They'd been keeping it
platonic and...it was good. They were good. No more tears. No unnecessary fights. They were making it work and Koi was...content, he guessed? Because
he knew...it could be worse. It could've been months ago. When they were barely talking. Barely looking at each other. He couldn't be there
again...and he was glad they wouldn't have to be.
"So, you're gonna hold that whole plate hostage or can I get a beignet, Dev?" He chuckled, probably drawing a little too close to her as he reached
over her to get the plate of pastries.
Fumie - 30-1-2020 at 05:01 PM
Fumie was so grateful. Usually around this time of year, despite the tropical climate of their location, their home was characteristically cold. Sure,
she'd had their old house decorated for the season, but the love she felt this year had never been present. Fumie and Shemar were never home on
Christmas day (although them being anywhere together was a recipe for disaster). Their family hadn't celebrated with traditions in...God knew how
long. Sure, there were gifts, but what were things without the people you wanted to enjoy them with? In her selfishness, Fumie had denied her children
a proper Christmas for years now, but not this year. This year was different. Better.
Fumie smiled to herself, the arm around Zori's waist pulling her body closer to his on the couch they shared. Her legs were tucked under her as she leaned into him while they watched the kids play with some murder subscription kit Eri had asked for. They had
been through so much in the last 12 months, but they had survived it all and Fumie had no problem admitting that it was mostly because of Zori. Even
before he literally saved Koi's life, he'd saved hers. And he had been more of a father to Eri in the last year than her actual father could ever hope
for. He was her family's reason for being and she loved him for it.
The other reason for their survival, specifically Koi and Eri's, was also here. And she'd brought a friend. "Minna the Muse" was the newest addition
to Koi's friend group and she was a perfect addition to the night. Devyn had warned her that Minna was a bit of a fan when she called to make sure it
was okay to bring a plus one and Minna had showed it, but she was a sweet girl. A little overzealous when she found out Fumie'd received an Ivy Park
box, but sweet none the less. Koi had been torturing Minna with the fact that she saw Fumie as more than just her friend's mom all night, but they all
seemed to be having fun with it. And Devyn was keeping the peace; like she usually did.
Fumie watched as Devyn brushed her thumb over Koi's lips to get the powered sugar from his third beignet off of his face. They had been like that all
night. Sickeningly sweet with one another. Unable to go two minutes without finding an excuse to touch. They were the way they had been before his
attempt...which was...good? She hoped. She knew there was so much between them at this point, but she wanted Devyn for her son. She knew Devyn was
good for him...she just wanted to be sure this time that he was good for her too.
"What do you think that is?" she looked up at Zo, her words just above a whisper as she nodded to Koi and his ex-girlfriend. She still worried. Life
was good, but she was still a mother that worried constantly. It was nice to have someone that would worry with her. Someone that cared. That's what
family did.
Zori - 31-1-2020 at 12:39 PM
Between the Stevie Wonder that had just started up in the background, a stomach full of Christmas dinner (his Mama’s gumbo had been a hit), and
Fumie tucked underneath his arm, her arms wrapped around his waist as she leaned into him, Zori was ten seconds from a Christmas evening nap. Which he
knew Fumie wasn’t about to let him do considering the day wasn’t quite over. The kids (meaning Koi, Eri, Devyn, and Devyn’s
roommate, Minna) still hadn’t opened presents. They hadn’t taken their family photo, which Fumie told him in so many words was going to
quickly become a tradition...along with the matching colors and clothes. This year, it was an “all white affair†(Fumie’s words,
not Zori’s), even though he’d chosen to accent his with a little...okay, a lot of black. Because a man his size in all white? Either he’d look like a bodybuilding angel or a WWE wrestler...and neither of those
were a choice. Especially not on Christmas. For Zori, sweatpants and a Saints shirt was good enough for him. But for Fumie’s Christmas,
he’d do anything. Hell, for Fumie...he’d do anything. Which was why he was sitting on the couch, in more expensive ass shit, watching
what was now his life figure out some murder mystery game in the middle of the family room. He wouldn’t switch back to sweatpants...not for the
world.
“I can’t even tell you…†He answered Fumie’s question as she watched Koi and Devyn interact on the floor. She was
right though. Koi and Devyn had been...attached...all day. From the way Koi’s hug had lingered when Devyn and Minna had arrived, to the
“looking too long†eye contact they were holding right now. It’d been a day full of hopefulness for Fumie...and wariness for Zori.
Did he want them to be happy? Of course. He wanted Devyn for Koi. She made him completely happy and the happier she made Koi, the better it made Zori
feel. Because since he’d become a part of the family in the most unconventional way possible, that was what he’d wanted. Something
normal. Something sane. For all of them...Eri, Koi, and especially Fumie. Eri was well on her way, meeting new friends. Doing well in school. Opening
up in therapy. Fumie was opening like a flower that’d been closed too long and had its first taste of sunlight. And Koi? He was...beyond good.
He was clean. Focused. But...he was lonely. And not just lonely, he missed Devyn. Zori got it. But like he’d had a glimpse into the future, he
knew what it would be if Koi and Devyn rushed in too soon...too fast. Devyn was a good one...but that day in the hospital after Koi’s suicide
attempt gave Zori a view of a side he knew Koi hadn’t seen yet. In order to truly love Devyn, Koi needed to see it...and all the other things
he’d been too blind to see when he was wrapped up, understandably, in his own shit.
“...but they’re...figuring it out, I think.†He said quietly, nuzzling the top of Fumie’s head. She looked up at him, her
lips meeting his as a smile curled the corners of her mouth. He loved Fumie. She was the missing piece from a heart that had almost gone too damn hard
to receive her. But...he knew the truth. She could meddle a little. Even though she wanted the best for Koi...that wasn’t going to help. He and
Devyn...needed some time. Needed a little space.
“As long as you let them figure it out, baby. Mind ya business…†He said playfully, nuzzling her again.
Devyn - 1-2-2020 at 03:04 PM
Devyn giggled a little as Koi lifted his face to her hand so she could brush powdered sugar from his lips. As if Zori wasn't perfect enough, he was a
fucking chef. His gumbo at dinner had earned a spot in her top five favorite dishes of all time and these beginets were so light, they might have been
floating if she wasn't popping them in her mouth so fast. Koi might have been doing the same if she hadn't absentmindedly put herself between
he and the sweets. It was a total accident...really!
Like they had done most of the evening, Devyn felt her cheeks warm as her eyes connected with his and their stares lingered, each of them saying
things they wouldn't dare say with words. Everytime they did this she could feel their past drawing her closer to him and she had to resist the urge
to kiss him. It was...strange. To feel so normal with him, so relaxed...and simultaneously tense because she knew she couldn't do it. She could not
let herself be pulled back in by him because they were in a better place. "Better" didn't mean they should be together. In all honesty, she didn't
know what it meant.
But that didn't stop her ever so subtle flirt, licking the sugar from her finger and smirking as she watched his gaze shift from innocent fun to
thoughts a little more indecent. Why was she like this? Why couldn't she help herself when it came to him? And why was it so OBVIOUS to everyone?! Eri
cleared her throat, Her eyes narrowing as they shifted between Devyn and her brother.
"Whenever you two are done making out, we're working a case-," Devyn laughed then, Eri's usual annoyance with the two of them, much cuter now
that things were feeling more normal...really with all of them. Sure, she and Koi had been a little touchy, but Eri was nothing like she had been when
Koi went to The Sanctuary. The two of them had also been joined at the hip like they used to be before...This was just so much better. But Devyn
needed to keep reminding herself better didn't mean they should be back together.
"I'm sorry, sugar-," Devyn stopped, correcting herself, "I mean, detective. We're focused!" And that might have been true, if Koi's hadn't taken new
position, his body moving closer to hers as he looked at the clues over her shoulder. Devyn did the best she could not to react, but she bit her
bottom lip to quell her smile as one of his arms reached around her to move a clue before he let it rest on her hip.
It was going to be a long night if they kept playing this game...and she wasn't talking about Eri's murder mystery.
Koi - 17-2-2020 at 04:59 PM
Maybe it was wrong of Koi to feel the way he did, but he was happy. And could anyone really blame him? After turning shit completely upside
down the way he had, was it wrong for him to enjoy how normal shit felt? His tilting world had balanced out in the best way and he knew it... This
was what real normal felt like. This was what it felt like to have a Christmas with minimal drama. No empty house with just he and Eri and
whatever Ipo had left for them in the oven. No side pieces calling the house, looking for his unfaithful sperm donor. And no being surrounded by gifts
he didn't ask for from parents who barely knew him...and feeling alone. That wasn't his life anymore. He had a family now that had been through more
with him in the past year than he wanted to recall. They'd saved his life. And for them to get some type of peace from all that shit? He was more than
happy to bask in it...especially with Devyn beside him.
Things had been...good with them. Texting regularly. Catching a meal between classes. And she and Minna had been regulars at he and Enzo's apartment.
It was good...but the vibe they'd been on all day? That was even better. Great, even...considering Koi'd been closer than he should've been the entire
day. Which, considering he and Devyn had already discussed their shit, was a fucking issue. One Devyn wasn't helping him solve. Especially not as she
licked the powered sugar from her finger that she'd just rubbed from his lips. The playful smile faded from his lips, replaced by a far less friendly
one that broadcast every unfriendly thought that ran through his head...to everyone in the room. He'd barely pulled his bottom lip from between his
teeth before his DAMN gremlin of a little sister called them on their shit.
"Sorry...damn..." He sucked his teeth as he pulled himself a little closer to Devyn, his chest pressing against her back as he reached around her to
move what-the-fuck-ever was sitting next to Devyn's thigh, his arm resting on her hip as she leaned back slightly, her body pressing into his.
Apparently, in some deep recess in Koi's head, he knew this...among other things he done that night (including letting his hand linger a little too
long on that space right between her back and the curve of her ass before dinner) were dead ass wrong. He knew it. Because this wasn't in the plan.
They were...friends. Good friends. Friends that had nothing to do with the friendship that had him in between her thighs the last Christmas they'd
spent together...his fingertips gripping her, pulling her to him. Her body almost shaking while his tongue made circles on her...
"Koi?! Hello?" His hand snapped away from her thigh, coming up to rub his curls as his Eri glowered in his direction.
"Could you STOP MOVING the clues!? I've got them where I can reach them and you keep...UGH! Nevermind..." Eri sighed in exasperation, her eyes rolling
at he and Devyn...whose cheek lifted in a grin.
"Oh, so shit's funny?" He whispered in her ear, his hand returned to her thigh as he pulled himself closer to her. She giggled again, turning to look
at him over her shoulder. Her eyes met his...and he was beyond glad that his parents couldn't see her face...because if they saw the inappropriate ass
way her eyes met his...he'd have a hard time explaining it. His lips curled into a smirk as he chuckled quietly...his hand sliding a little lower than
it should've in a room with more than just she and him in it. It lingered on the curve of her ass for a second, ready to tighten his grip like he use
to when they were together...until a clapping of hands and his mother's voice made them both pull away from each other...a guilty, but completely
satisfied smile on both of their lips.
"Okay! Crime solved or not, it's time for presents!"
Fumie - 18-2-2020 at 01:44 PM
Zori's words echoed in her head as she watched her son move closer to Devyn and further annoy his sister by aimlessly moving clues as an excuse to
touch her. Mind your business...He knew better than that. Fumie wasn't going to leave it alone. Especially because her kids were her
business, weren't they? What else was she here for if not to make sure they were as happy as possible without hurting themselves or others. Eri had
never been a problem in that way but...Koi. Koi had always wanted what Koi wanted and even though he was on this journey to be better...he was
stumbling now...with her.
Fumie watched her oldest whisper something to Devyn that elicited a giggle and even though she couldn't see Devyn's face as they looked at one
another, she could see Koi's. She could also see his hand trail a lot lower than it should have been in the family room. Fumie cleared her throat,
pulling away from Zo and standing quickly as her hands clasped together to get their attention, shifting everyone's focus a little. It was time for
gifts!
"Ooh! Zori has to open his first!" Eri sprung up to retrieve a small red velvet box trimmed in gold from under the tree. Fumie giggled a bit at her
baby's excitement, sitting back down next to Zo for her front row seat to the action. This was she and Eri's joint gift to him and Fumie wouldn't lie;
it was pretty perfect. Zori smiled as Eri presented him with the box and they all watched as he opened it...only to see confusion coat his usually
stoic expression. He looked at Eri, then Fumie surely hoping one of them would explain why he was looking at...his keys. "Look-," Eri shifted the key
set in his hand so that the one to the brownstone was visible. On it was a new little key topper shaped like a house.
"Zo, you have been...everything to this family over the past year. We've been through a lot and you have never once hesitated to be here. Eri
and I thought it was way past time that we stopped hesitating and invited you and Papa to be where you belong. At home. With us. Your
family-," Fumie leaned into him then, her lips meeting his quickly before she finished.
"We want you to move in if you're ready..."
Zori - 19-2-2020 at 05:05 PM
With Fumie absentmindedly drawing small circles in the palm of his right hand and his left hand propped up on the arm of the couch, barely holding his
heavy head, Zori was in that bliss right before sleep took over. That is, until Fumie's body shifted next to him, her hands clapping him fully awake.
A signal that meant it was apparently time for gifts, which for Zori was more of a spectator sport. When he was younger and pockets were tighter and
it was just him and his Momma, there weren't many gifts under the tree. And even after he'd grown up and set out on his own, Christmases were the
same. Just him and Papa. But now? Pockets were different and family carried a new, complicated, but beautiful definition. Zori couldn't lie. He was
blessed. He knew that without a doubt...but that didn't change how abnormal a large, flocked tree overflowing with gifts was on Christmas.
But he wasn't one to weigh the day down with old memories that needed to be replaced by new and better ones. He smiled a little as Eri sprung to her
feet, urging Fumie to let Zori open his gift first.
"Nah, Eri...it's okay, baby..." He started to object, his voice low. He didn't have to go first. Matter of fact, Fumie had been talking about the
"rainy day" trip to Salvador, Brazil that she'd financed for Koi and a couple of friends and Zori was positive she couldn't wait to see his face when
he opened the present. But Eri wasn't hearing it as she ignored his quiet resistance, her hands already grasping a tiny, red velvet box that had been
sitting under the tree. His surprise barely registered as she hurried back to him, his gaze shifting from Eri to Fumie, whose face wasn't surprised at
all.
"Thank you..." He said, taking the box from Eri, searching faces in the room for some sort of explanation of the box he held in his hand. Even Koi
looked confused, his body shifting on the floor to get a better look.
Zori couldn't help the look of confusion that mimicked Koi's as it spread across his face, the small box opening in his hands to reveal a set of keys.
His keys...
"Uh..." He looked up, his chuckle voicing how perplexed he was, his face doing the job his words weren't. Eri giggled a little, pointing to the
obvious...a little, leather topper on the key to Fumie's brownstone. He smiled a little, ready to comment on the topper and the obviousness of how
"Fumie" of a gift it was...until Fumie started talking. About what he meant to her family in the past year...how he'd been there. And how...
...how it was way past time that Eri and Fumie invited he and Papa be where they belonged...to come home. With them.
At those words, Zori looked at Fumie...and felt his entire body warm. Like blushing...but without the discomfort of embarrassment. No, this warmth was
different. It rose...until it hit the very corners of his eyes. And if he hadn't been careful, it would've spilled over onto his smiling cheeks. His
eyes closed as he leaned into Fumie's kiss, her body pressing quickly to him as she invited him into her home. Their home...if he'd have
them.
"Wow." His lips barely moved as he pulled his keys from the box, his fingers wrapping around them tightly.
"Of course..." He said, looking back up at Fumie, his smile wide.
"...of course I will."
Devyn - 20-2-2020 at 02:58 AM
The both of them were circling the drain and dangerously close to falling into the bubble they usually created for themselves when they were together.
Devyn didn't know how to stop it. She never had. Even when they were in high school, the reason she'd been so attached to Koi was because he knew how
to make her feel like the only person that mattered in a room full of people, even when he wasn't talking to her. Like now.
Devyn relaxed into him as he held her, his hand absentmindedly drifting against her thigh after pretending to participate in solving this case with
Eri. Neither of them were really paying attention and Eri knew it. She had called them on it before and she was calling him on it again now, reaching
her wit's end with him and his interference with her "investigation". Devyn smiled as he was reprimanded, trying her best not to laugh at the
complete level of DONE Eri was...really with the two of them. Oh so shit's funny?
Devyn allowed a giggle to escape as she looked back at him, her eyes again saying so much more than they should have been to a friend...especially as
that friend's hand fell to the curve of her ass. Devyn knew what came next, that squeeze that said where this was all going once he got her behind a
closed door...and her lips drifting closer to his felt magnetic before - Okay! Crime solved or not, it's time for presents! Devyn jumped as
Fumie clapped, creating distance between she and Koi...something she'd probably done on purpose.
Eri's attention turned easily to ensuring Zori got his gift first. Devyn's eyes drifted to Minna, watching her sip her wine as a quiet spectator.
She'd been nervous about gifts, which was understandable. Devyn's gift to Eri, the only gift she'd brought by the way, was a set visit for the next
season of Mindhunter, which they had binged over the summer. It was personal. Minna didn't know these folks and being a little bit of a stranger
during an intimate holiday was bound to be a little awkward, but Minna had to understand that her presence was the present here! Devyn had explained
that before they'd come and she planning to keep that same energy though gift giving. What she wasn't planning on...this moment.
Eri had been excited about Zori going first because they were asking Zo to move in. Awwww! Devyn's hands had crossed over her heart as she tried to
contain her happiness for them. The ask was super cute (much cuter than the last proposal that involved the Kidd family) and he was saying yes. Things
were really moving on for the Kidd's and it was super great to see...or so she thought.
Devyn's hand left her chest and reached to cover Koi's. He let her, for a second, but he pulled away from her for the first time that day and she felt
it. Her head turned to him and Koi's face didn't mirror the excitement of his mom and sister...was he? What was happening? Her hand tried to turn his
face to hers, but he again pulled away, making the distance between them feel more than physical now...uh oh.
Koi - 20-2-2020 at 04:30 PM
Even though he was sure his Moms had peeped his hand on Devyn's ass, it almost physically hurt to let her go. Koi was just...he missed her. Friendship
was cool and all, but there was always going to be that side of Devyn that Koi didn't have access to when they were "just friends"...and he didn't
mean his hand on her ass. Fuck all that. It was deeper than that. The glances without a single word exchanged between them. Her fingertips causing
little shocks to run up and down his arm every time she playfully pushed him away. Her smile reminding him that he could stare at her lips for the
rest of his life and be okay. That. Those thoughts were dangerous. Friends weren't supposed to think about their friends that way. Maybe he
was confused about that shit in high school, but he wasn't now. Lines had been drawn so they didn't have to be crossed...even if they were toeing said
lines with a vengeance.
Eri's voice drew his attention away from Devyn for a moment, even though they still found a way to connect, his arm brushing against hers. From the
excitement in his little babe's voice, there was something extra special about this "gift for Zori" and Koi couldn't help but smirk a little at how
she nearly tripped over Koi's legs on her way to the tree. He couldn't help but wonder what it was, his anxiousness almost praying that his Moms and
Eri hadn't stolen his idea. Season tickets for the Saints. Sure, Zori wasn't about to be able to hit every game, but at least he wouldn't
have to worry about tickets when he did make it home to New Orleans. Koi couldn't lie, his gift was a good one. It wasn't easy buying for a man that
lived his life simply.
But Koi was sure it wasn't season tickets as Eri handed Zori a small velvet box, her smile growing as he opened the box. Confusion covered his face
for a moment, Eri's whispering making him smile a little through the confusion. And then, Koi's mother spoke.
We want you to move in if you're ready-
Whoa. Hold up...what? The sounds of being pleasantly shocked went through the room, gasps coming from Minna and Devyn as they waited for Zori's
reply...which was unsurprisingly "yes". And the "aw's" and the hugging...and the kissing followed and Koi...
Well Koi just sat there, frozen as his made sense of what had just gone down. Zori moving in? That wasn't his concern. Not at all. Koi had known the
day would come when the relationship forming between his mother and Zori went to the next level. Everything pointed to Zori moving out of his place
and moving in. But Koi couldn't help but wonder where he'd been when Eri and Fumie decided that today was the day to ask him. Where had he been? Why
hadn't Koi been in on what the little key topper would mean when Zori opened the box?
Koi forced a smile that was coming off more like a grimace...and he felt a hand on his. Devyn's hand. He closed his eyes for a second at her touch.
Something that should've been so reassuring...was...he didn't know. He had to...get out of there. He had to go. Brushing her off, he shifted into his
own space, his jaw clenching as he rolled his eyes and stood to his feet.
"I'm...bathroom." He muttered, stalking off towards the little guest bathroom on the next floor.
