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“I’m not quite sure if you went in there with a plan, but let’s say you did” He took a breath. “It was fucking stupid” Kayden pointed, waving it so close to Kartein but never making contact. You couldn’t say he looked angry, more so bewildered.
The pair perched on the ledge of the sofa, overlooking Jiwoo. He was wrapped up tightly in a blanket on the floor and from the way his mouth hung slightly open, they felt safe he wouldn’t overhear. Every now and then, he’d murmur something incohesive and sigh which the men would stop and listen to before continuing.
“I did have a plan. The plan - you have to admit - worked”
“The plan was?”
“Well, to get Astra’s attention away from South Korea” Kartein looked proud as he spoke. He tilted his head, glancing at Kayden’s apprentice. “It would have been bad for your Jiwoo if I let things escalate” Spoken like a brag. Kayden scowled.
“It would have been bad for you either way. You’re selfish, Kartein, so let’s not pretend you care about the state of the country”
This was true, in part.
“I don’t, per say” Kartein took a moment to think. “...It’s a matter of personal comfort. I find this place convenient”
“More convenient than your big, fancy house?” Kayden scoffed.
“There’s stores here, more than there were by my-”
“Stores you don’t go to”
“I do. Sometimes. With Jiwoo”
Jiwoo murmured quietly beneath them. The men watched him, in case he woke up, but he dug his face deeper in the pillow and smiled lightly. When they were sure he was still asleep, Kayden spoke again.
“When you want the fancy snacks” Kayden held his head higher than usual and glared. “It’s got nothing to do with the country”
“Yes, it does” This wasn’t entirely a lie. From the many happenings of the country, Kartein undeniably found it interesting the way everyone in this country ticked. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen before. Genuine compassion, proper friendship. Both concepts he thought were stupid, wholly unreliable, but to observe them - he couldn’t deny - was interesting.
“You risked your life for a convenience store, is this what you’re actually trying to argue?” Kayden raised a paw and tapped the side of his head. “This here, my head, do you think it’s empty?”
Yes was the honest answer, but Kartein refrained.
“You’re missing my point”
“Then explain it to me,” Kayden said. “Make me understand, because you could’ve died and I need to know why”
He was making far too much eye contact, Kartein thought. Kartein turned away but only for a moment, finding his eyes drawn back.
“Not sure why you need to know-”
“I just do,” Kayden hissed. “I just need to know, so tell me. If you think I’m stupid, fine, explain it to me like I’m stupid”
“It…” Kartein started, thought and sighed. No. No, he didn’t want to talk anymore. “You shouldn’t be so loud, you’ll wake Jiwoo”
“Don’t make this about Jiwoo”
Kayden sat back on the sofa which would be a ridiculous sight in any other circumstance. Kartein watched him for what seemed like an eternity, deliberating. He thought, maybe, he could share. Maybe he could be honest. His mouth opened on its own, but his mind caught him.
“We should get some sleep” Is what he said. He felt a pang in his chest that he ignored. Kayden didn’t reply, so Kartein wandered to the other couch. What was he even trying to hide? Kayden already knew. How could he not? The issue was stating the obvious which he couldn’t bring himself to do. He couldn’t care, not out loud.
We should get some sleep, Kartein thought, what a joke.