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Kaiser has always been violent.
Maybe not when he was a child, maybe not with that damn soccer ball that’s so worn out it may as well be gone.
No, none of that. He’s always snapped his jaws, clawing blindly at anyone that got too close to him. For fuck’s sake, those stray animals in his neighborhood were so violent. He must still have the scars from them.
Always Kaiser, never Michael.
It’s fine. No one can get that close, anyway. He knows how painful it is to let someone get close, to peel back your layers and have them see the nastiness underneath.
Yet there was him. A smile always gracing his lips, always ready to please. Especially to Kaiser, of all people.
Maybe he did purposefully pick Ness. But that isn’t a valid enough reason for him to continue clinging around like a lovesick puppy. It’s like the man is convinced that Kaiser’s attention is love, no matter what that entails.
Ness should’ve expected this. Hell, Kaiser should’ve too.
Something happened. A trigger, a shitty week, everything weighing down on his already weary shoulders. It felt like a tendril snapping.
He doesn’t know when the anger had become blinding, but he does know he hit Ness.
Blood seeps down from the man's nose as Kaiser grips the collar of his shirt firmly. The fabric strains beneath his fingers, his chest heaving. He doesn’t quite remember what all led up to striking Ness, but an odd feeling takes root in his chest.
Guilt.
It feels terrible. His grip loosens, listening to Ness’ laboured breathing. It’s rough, harsh, and almost sounds like a mockery to Kaiser’s ears. Why isn’t he moving away?
“A… aha.” The breathy laugh leaves his throat, feeling even more like taunts to Kaiser. But it makes him falter for a moment. “More.”
More? So many emotions pour into him, all too complicated despite those psychological books he shoved his nose into. How could Ness possibly tolerate so much?
“Hit me harder.”
Ness manages to demand between breaths, and Kaiser physically stiffens. This guy cannot be real. Can he? A million thoughts a minute rush into Kaiser’s head, each one even more unwelcome than the last.
“……”
Kaiser can’t manage anything out.
What do you even say to something like that? To someone who loves you so wholeheartedly they take any scrap of attention as some of the greatest affections?
Always Ness, never Alexis. You can’t get that close.