Chapter Text
The hot summer sun felt amazing on his skin as Kars made his way to the local farmers market. His parents had asked him to pick some things up after his classes, a small way to pay them back for the free place to stay while in college. He didn’t mind either way, an excuse to be out in the sun was always one he’d take, his short amount of fabric helping the sun hit him just right. A cropped black top with dark, denim shorts and simple, purple flip flops, his hair braided and then curled into a thick bun on the back of his head, free curls still framing his face that was freshly done with purple eyeshadow and matching lipstick. He wasn’t going anywhere fancy, and he honestly wasn’t a social person so it’s not like he was trying to draw others to him, he simply enjoyed the expression of clothing and makeup, he only wished he could have worn his head wrap, but it was all too hot for that.
Kars examined some of the fresh fruit on sale, trying to find what was listed on the slightly crinkled post-it note that his mother had given him. His thoughts were quickly derailed by the sudden shout of a voice that sounded so familiar yet not at all like any he knew. “Santana!” That name sounded so strangely close to his heart as well, as if it held meaning to him that he didn’t understand. Turning to meet the sudden yell, Kars believed he might have felt his heart stop completely.
A white-haired man stood at one of the stands, talking with a puzzled and worried expression on his face, which had a birthmark that formed an X from right between his eyes, which were a striking blue on his darker skin. He had small, gold rings in his ears and a matching golden nose ring. His hair was tightly curled and a natural white, slicked out of face by an orange bandana. Next to him was a small boy, he looked about 10 at the oldest, hanging onto his hand. He looked nothing like the man, with light, dirty-blond hair and green eyes, along with a slightly lighter complexion than the adult with him. The only similar feature was his birthmark, a square spiral that Kars almost mistook for face paint.
The man sighed in defeat, slightly chewing his bottom lip as he nudged the boy holding his hand. “Come on, he couldn’t have run off far.” He spoke, although his words seemed to be more of a comfort to himself. Kars was so busy staring at the man, he hadn’t realized the boy with him was staring back at Kars, a realization that hit both adults as they looked down at the boy and then back up, locking eyes with each other. Kars had never had a crush, even when he was young, he denied everyone who ever tried to make advances on him, but for the first time, his heart fluttered as if it was about to fly out of chest and he didn’t know what to do.
Kars quickly turned back around to look down at the fruit stand in front of him, lucky the lady tending was talking to another customer. He had no idea how long he had been staring at that man. As he tried to calm his racing thoughts, a hand came down on his shoulder suddenly and he cocked his head back at the motion.
“Uh, sorry to interrupt.” The man chuckled a bit nervously, and Kars felt a feeling he was sure he both had never and had once felt before. Something about his smile, teeth showing and that light chuckle that followed made Kars wish he could hear it again, play it on repeat like sweet music to his ears. “I’m looking for a young boy with curly, long red hair. Did you, maybe, see him anywhere around here?” Kars swallowed slightly, that must have been the boy he was calling out to, ‘Santana.’ He shook his head with an apology, the man slightly slumping in response. As he thanked him and went to walk off, Kars called out without even thinking. It felt so out of character for him, to suddenly want to call out to someone, a stranger of all things as well.
“I can… help look for the boy.” He tried to put on a smile that didn’t scream nervous or odd as he quickly slipped the list in his hands back into his pocket, crossing his arms to try and keep up the usual stone-face he always had. The man lit up, a smile Kars could only think of as adorable spread across his face and he swore it looked like he was going to cry tears of joy then and there. After a very, very relieved thank you, he explained the boys' looks and they went on their search.
Kars checked under the clothed tables of the market, as the white-haired man had said Santana ( Which he had been told was, in fact, the boy's name. ) liked to hide in small and darker spaces, and that he probably ran under a table or into an empty crate to hide. Why? The man didn’t say. When Kars asked, he just sighed like a father who just got done pulling his kids up from the stupidest choice ever. Actually, Kars was sure he was their father with the way he acted, although they must not have been biologically his, or at least not from the same mother. They did all have those birthmarks, as Santana apparently had one under his left eye, although much smaller than the others birthmarks.
Kars flipped up a handmade, white table cloth and was met with a pair of eyes staring back at him. They were an unnatural red, although Kars couldn’t exactly speak with his purple curls. Santana was crouched under the table, hands hugging knees that were clearly scraped from running and playing around and red, curly hair slightly fuzzed from movement. The two stared at each other in silence before the boy quickly started to try and run, Kars reacted with instinct he didn’t know he had and grabbed the boy by the waist to hold him to his chest with his arm, the boy starting to thrash around like anyone would when being grabbed by a stranger. Kars called out for the man, a loud “I FOUND HIM!” and footsteps came quickly, the boy quickly going from scared to pouty.
He was younger than his brother, with the lighter complexion of the three. As the man plucked him from Kars arm and held him up like a cat, his father pouted back at him with knitted brows. “I told you, don’t run off like that.” The man shook his head, quickly shining a smile as he was clearly more focused on the fact his child was safe. Kars couldn’t help but smile at the scene that felt oddly familiar as he stood up straight, fixing his shirt slightly. “He seems like a handful.”
The man laughed brightly, bringing the boy to sit on his shoulders. Santana quickly planted his hands in the white curls, glaring at Kars from over his fathers head as if he had committed some sort of crime against him. “He can be.” He replied, stepping closer as his other boy looked up at his younger sibling, the two now looking at each other as if they were talking with their minds. “Thank you so much, uh…” He reached a hand out, the realization on his face that he hadn’t asked the name of the man who just ran around trying to find his child was almost embarrassingly clear.
“Kars.” He shook the others’ hand, his touch tensing slightly around Kars. He repeated his name under his breath, face contorting in some type of confusion. Kars was used to people doing a double take of his name, it wasn’t exactly a name you heard everyday. Even his parents didn’t know why they named him that, they said it just came to them like a gift from the heavens. “I like that name.” He smiled a smile so sweet Kars was sure his teeth were rotting.
“Esidisi. That’s Wamuu and… Well, you know Santana now.” Santana huffed from above, burying his nose in Esidisis hair. Kars felt his heart bleed, as if he had been stabbed by the sharpest knife. They were names, names so unique that there was no chance he had heard them before, so why did they hurt to hear? Kars exhaled softly through his nose as their hands finally unlocked, trying hard to ignore the unwanted ache in him.
The short conversation was quickly cut by his children, the red-head started to whine in huffs and Wamuu clearly getting tired of standing there idly as well. As they waved their goodbyes, Esidisi quickly wrote down his number to give to Kars. When he handed it to him, he gave a wink and a quick finger gun before walking off, assuring his boys that they’d be getting a snack soon if they waited just a bit longer. Although the goofy exchange was probably meant to be friendly, Kars couldn’t help the heat sneaking onto his cheeks, something he mentally slapped himself for.
As the white-haired man disappeared into the crowd, he looked down at the number before softly shoving it in his pocket and exchanging it for his post-it list. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt the need to keep a close hold on that number.