Chapter Text
February 7th, 2017
Turtle Mountain State Forest, North Dakota, USA
A young transgender man with a brown leather flat cap on tucked his tongue up as he tried to put the oil filter back on the jeep, making sure it threaded on correctly. He smiled sadly as it stopped turning, meaning it was on, getting out from under it. He used to repair this kind of car all the time, back in the days before. It was his passion, his purpose - and he loved his purpose. But the memories of the past when he fulfilled it were bittersweet ones, tasting of honey and ghost peppers. “That should do it…” The 26-year-old noted softly, taking off his hat and wiping the sweat off his forehead. “You’re far from finished but it’s a-”
“COUSIN KAI!!” Kai Haez looked towards the sound, spotting a much older British man with a beanie and a younger boy with an olive green fishing cap and a giant grin on his face. Kai smiled a bit, walking over to greet the boy.
“Hey, Junior!!” The Indonesian hugged the boy tight, picking him up with a grunt. “Ugh!! Stop growing!!” He protested dramatically, the boy giggling. John Price Jr. wiggled free from his cousin, looking up at him as he squatted down.
“Nevah!!!” He taunted, Kai letting out a hearty laugh to hide the pain in his heart. It had been a while since he’d seen kids John’s age, but it didn’t get any less easier. It never would.
“Kasirah’s inside. Go and play.” He directed, guiding John towards the small cottage by the large barnhouse Kai had turned into a garage. John did as told, as Kai looked up at the boy’s father. Wrinkles mapped out his face, cheeks held up by graying mutton chops. “I know what you’re about to say.” Kai noted as his mood noticeably soured.
“Haez we need to talk.” The older man was retired after the death of his team and Makarov. It still affected him to this day, of how he could have fixed things. Price stood up tall and walked over to the shorter male. He wasn’t there when Makarov tortured the boy, since he was in the gulag but that still didn’t mean that he, like Captain MacTavish, didn't blame himself. He recruited the boy onto the team, with the others. The others who he felt let them die. At least he could save MacTavish, he would have broken down completely if that man died.
“There it is.” Kai groaned, going to his blue toolbox and grabbing a rag. “Price, I’m trying to leave this life for a reason. I can’t raise Kasi and the twins like this.” The younger man argued, narrowing his hazel gray eyes. Amber flickered in them like lightning, the storm settling in his irises. “You know that- you should know that! You have Junior for Poseidon’s sake!”
“I know, but we have to talk about the future. Elizabeth is still mourning Roach, and I'm not going to force myself to talk to her.” He sighed, taking off his beanie and running his hand through his balding head. Stress and the military does that to a man. Kai frowned, wiping his hands and setting the dirty dishcloth aside.
“You want to turn the 141 into an actual unit.” He grabbed a blue button down, putting it on over his dirty, sweat stained, gray tank top. For better or worse, Kai looked decent for his age. He had some stress lines here and there and scars that made his torso look like something straight out of a transphobic horror movie but he was doing okay physically. Not as bad as some veterans. “That’s not gonna fly with anyone and you know it. And to put them under Shephard’s rule- After they’re not going to do anything because he technically ‘didn’t do anything’?” Kai was getting more upset than he needed to be, but he was justified. He nearly lost Captain MacTavish, his older brother figure. He did lose Sgt. Riley, someone whom he considered an uncle! Kai didn’t want to go through with it all again - never. And he hoped Price would never become a captain like his father. Or join at all. He didn’t want Kasirah, his eldest daughter, to join. He didn’t want his twins, Chun and Xue, to join. His husband, Weicheng, was 100% with him on all opinions on it. Kai knew Price was mourning. They all were. But this wasn’t the way to honor them. “It’s a shit idea, Price.”
“I-” The man took a deep breath “It’s the only way the team can survive…” He was trying to explain his reasoning, he was shit at explain his reasoning other then missions. That was always a problem he can’t seem to overcome. “It’s the only way I can think of to keep their memory alive.” He took a deep breath, and clench his fist. He wanted to keep his team members' memories alive.
“You know, there’s this thing called an altar-” Kai sarced, rolling his eyes as he tried to hold back how he really felt about it. “I’m not joining anything. 141 died a year ago. It’s gone, it’s over , John!!” He turned to Price with a scowl. “And to ignorantly revive it- when it doesn’t want reviving- It’s the most- Most-” His brain struggled to grab the right word. One of the side effects of getting upset with Autism and ADHD. Kai clenched his hands, shaking as he struggled to find it. He eventually found the word, but in another language. “ Idioot ! Yes!! It’s the most idioot thing to come out of that brick-built head of yours!!” He snapped at Price, face flushed with agitation. His knuckles were even whiter, if that was possible, from being clenched so tightly.
“Haez.” Price tried to calm the Indo man down, “I’m not into, that-” He tried to remember the word. “witchcraft like you and Star. I don’t know how to do an- whatever you said. I’m trying my best.” He tried to convince Kai of his reason.
“Don’t-” He raised his hand and looked away, shutting his eyes tightly to fight the inevitable tears banging on his gates. The memory of his fallen friend tore apart his heart and chest, as he swallowed back the bile that came with their bubbling, charred body. “Don’t you even.” He looked up at Price eventually, hurt and anger in his eyes. “You can’t expect me to support this. After Simon, after Gary, after Star- after David.”
Price sighed, of course he wouldn’t expect Kai to want to help. Not after everything, not after he made an altar for all the members that have passed. “Of course…” Price sighed, why would Kai want to help? “I apologize, at least Nikolai will help.” Price went to get his son. Kai froze, as he went to leave. Nikolai? He was….
“Nik’s alive?” He softly asked, looking over.
Price nodded “Of course. He doesn’t do ground work.” Price reminded Kai. Kai looked over, clearing his throat. Nik was a good friend of his. And while Nik was good with planes, he wasn’t so good with cars or trucks. Not like how Kai was. He was their ‘Otter’ for a reason.
“No- I- I suppose he doesn’t.” Kai agreed, eyes darting to the ground. He looked up at Price, then walked past him. “Earl grey?” He asked, fixing his flat cap.
“That’ll be nice.” He nodded, as he stood next to Kai.