Work Text:
BZZZ! BZZZ!
“Aren’t you gonna pick that up, Mochi?”
This has been the SEVENTEENTH time Damon’s phone has buzzed over new text messages from several different people! Damon sighed deeply as he checked the time: 12 PM. Eh. Toshiko has a good grasp on the subject anyway.
“Fine. Let’s take a quick break,” Damon told Toshiko as he closed his notebook before checking his phone.
“Oh, thank goodness! I was starting to grow exhausted from reading historical passages,” Toshiko groaned, pulling a bottle of water from her bag. “They were giving me a headache.”
“I’ll admit that was a surprisingly challenging read.”
Checking his messages, he’d rather go back to those mind-numbing passages than what he just read from the previews. The first couple of messages were thankfully from his parents, informing him they’ll be home a bit late and that tonight’s dinner is in the fridge. Another one from Wenona, where he and his parents are expected to attend a special meeting on the first Saturday of June at a high-class restaurant–something he was aware. One from Eva reminding him about her Pokémon tourney that’s gonna go live in an hour. The other half was filled to the brim with spam messages he just deleted without a second thought.
But then there’s one that nearly made Damon drop his phone: Kai.
Kai: Hey! I know ur busy and all, but… can u pick me up at the train station? Please? It’s super urgent! (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)
Kai: It seems weird, but… I’ve been doxxed. (((＞＜)))
Damon had to reread that message just to be sure he’s not imagining things. Doxxed?
Damon: What. (・・ ) ?
Kai: Someone already broke into my apartment and one person harassed my neighbors! Poor elderly couple… (╥﹏╥)
Damon: Do you know who revealed your info?
His social circle might be smaller compared to most people, but his father knows some of his clients at his shop who work in cybersecurity in different fields, while Eva knows Cassidy has several connections who can easily track down the person responsible for leaking Kai’s personal info. Maybe after the Pokémon tournament, Damon can–
Kai: Please don’t get involved with them! They’ll ruin you and your family! ＼(º □ º l|l)/ Can u please just pick me up?! I’m scared that they’ll find me at any moment! ..・ヾ(。＞＜)シ
Damon: Fine. Be there in 10 minutes.
Kai: THANK U, DAMON!
Damon sighed deeply as he grabbed his keys and backpack from the table before slipping on his shoes. So much for his Saturday being pretty quiet overall.
Toshiko noticed Damon grabbing his belongings, and asked, “Mochi, did something come up?”
“A friend of mine needs to get picked up from the train station. Said he was doxxed.”
“How horrid! Whoever did this must be punished!” Toshiko exclaimed, slamming her bottle on the table.
“I agree, but I don’t know who did it. And whoever it was, Kai doesn’t want me to take action on them yet, unless my parents and I suffer.”
“Ooh, how super awful! Please, let me come with you, Mochi!”
“I was gonna anyway. Can’t exactly leave you alone.”
He’d rather not face the wrath of Toshiko’s parents if they found out their daughter’s tutor left her alone in the middle of a tutoring session, even if he gave a valid reason.
Besides, Toshiko made good progress with prepping for her AP exam anyway. A 10-20 minute break wouldn’t hurt anyone.
And Kai would understand why he had to bring Toshiko along. Right?
Damon: On my way. Stay put.
Kai sighed in relief that Damon is coming to pick him up as soon as possible. Last he checked, traffic wasn’t bust at this hour, and Damon informed him that he’ll arrive in ten minutes.
However, Kai stared at his black and pink duffel bag and his two dark blue carry-on luggage next to him. He managed to pack the majority of his belongings from his apartment, such as his clothes, stuffed animals (the small ones), his make-up products, and the rest of his electronics–tablet, laptop, and his Switch. The others are a lost cause and Kai hopes his insurance can cover the majority of the damage.
Kai leaned back on the bench as he checked his messages from his streamer friends and his manager from work who was surprisingly understanding with Kai’s current situation.
BZZZ! BZZZ!
Is that Damon?!
Oh, he wished it was. Instead…
Unknown number: Is this where you work?
Fuck no. HOW DID THEY FIND THE EXACT STELLADOLLA HE WORKED AT?!
Unknown number: Your manager is a sweet lady. Gushes about her two children. Wonder what her socials are like?
Don’t. He doesn’t want his manager’s life ruined! Or his co-workers; including the ones he dislikes! They don’t deserve it!
Unknown number: Hey, you think you’re smart? I know where you are.
NO!
A picture of Kai in his black hoodie, getting out of the train, dragging his carry ones and texting on his phone! H-How is this possible?!
And they’re right here in the station! The worst part: they can be anyone here! They could be a girl chatting on her phone, an old lady, or even impersonating a police officer (which would be risky)! Oh, he really wants Damon to hurry up before things gets worse!
Kai screenshots the messages from the unknown number and sent them to Damon so he’ll know once he arrives at the train station.
That is, if the stranger doesn’t go after Damon…
Please, please hurry up! Kai prays that Damon will message him soon that–
BZZZ! BZZZ!
Damon: Already at the station. Are you in the front?
Thank god, he’s here!
Kai: Yippie! ヽ(^。^)ノ
Damon: Okay. Just wait a masoisopiopfiasdaos
Hmm? That’s odd. Damon doesn’t normally type like–
“AHHHHH!”
“Toshiko!”
“What’s going on over there?!”
Suddenly, a bunch of people were crowding near the newspaper booth, taking out their phones to take photos or start filming; one person was attempting to commentate on what was occurring loudly as everyone was yelling and cheering. Kai pockets his phone and hurries towards the large crowd, only for a police officer to hold him back.
“Sir, I can’t let you through. It’s too dangerous,” the officer warned Kai.
“But my friends is in there!” Kai attempted to explain to the officer while trying to peak through the crowd, hoping to find Damon.
…Oh he did alright. Damon was pinned down by a hooded figure wielding a box cuttering aiming at his right eye. The hooded figure couldn’t go further as Damon kept kicking them in the stomach while a small girl (who Kai heard was named Toshiko by Damon) with red ribbons on her hair and wearing a pink face mask pulled back on their sleeves. They attempted to back hand Toshiko, only for her to smack their free hand with her bag.
Damon doesn’t look too injured from what Kai can see, but his eyes widened in horror as the hooded figure managed to make a small slash on Damon’s left palm!
“No, Damon!” Kai shrieked, catching the attention of the hooded figure.
They turned their attention away from Damon and Toshiko, and focused on Kai, pulling down their hood, revealing their ruffled short black hair and a black, swollen left eye.
The same one Kai punched a few weeks ago at one of his stepsister’s boyfriend, Mina’s, to be exact (she always had bad taste in boys). A piece of shit boyfriend who constantly makes Kai’s life a living hell prior to moving out of his family’s place…
God damn Nicholas Yoon Valencia!
“Well, well, well! If it isn’t my girlfriend’s dumbass stepbrother!” he cackled, pointing the box cutter at Kai, most of the crowd shrieking and some running away after seeing the box cutter coated in blood. “Funny seeing you here!”
“Nick…” Kai stuck his tongue at him. He’s already pissing that scumbag as he knows Nicholas hates being called that nickname–stating a name like ‘Nick’ isn’t a worthy name for someone as brilliant as him. Yeah, right. “How dare you attack my friend?!”
“Friend? A loser like you made a new friend? Ha! How pathetic!”
“You’re the pathetic one,” Damon replied, getting up from the ground and attempted to snatch the box cutter from Nicholas, but failing. “You decided to attack Toshiko out of nowhere!”
“Such cowardly tactics!” Toshiko added.
Kai pushed through the crowd, despite the officer’s warning, and once he made it towards the center, he slapped Nicholas’ right cheek hard, forcing him to release the box cutter and the officer taking it.
“And to top it all off, YOU had the gall to doxx me?!” Kai furiously declared, pointing at Nicholas.
The crowd gasped, with one shouting, “Arrest that jerkhead!” upon hearing Kai’s statement. Nicholas only laughed in response, as if Kai has told a joke instead of something serious.
“Really? Do you have proof?” Nicholas spat at him.
Kai pulled out his phone, ready to show it to everyone, but Nicholas snatched it from him and crushed it underneath his shoe! To everyone’s shock, Nicholas then threw down his own phone and crushed it as well! Oh, god no…!
“Ya got nothing!” Nicholas viciously exclaimed at him. “And even if you did, I’ll get ot in a snap!”
Kai gritted his teeth hard, hating that this scumbag is right. Of ALL the guys Mina had to date, it had to be one who’s part of the most powerful families in the world! And this douchebag has been arrested before, only for him to get bailed in less than a day! Hell, Nicholas could smash everyone’s phones, including the officer’s, and he would STILL be out in a week or less than a month!
Why would this be any different?
A minute later, the officer’s two-way radio made some noise and he responded to it. “Yes? Mmm… He’s here with me and causing a commotion at the train station.”
As the officer was talking on his radio, Damon pulled Kai aside and quietly showed his phone screen to him. What Kai saw on the phone nearly made him cry on the spot.
Dad: That happened to your friend? Don’t worry. Just send me the screenshots, and I’ll send this to my clients. They’ll have this piece of garbage behind bars in record time.
…And laugh too.
Eva: Nicholas Valencia? BWEH! He was the captain of my mathlete team, but got kicked out due to drugs. Also, he doxxed Kai? Man, Nick is a coward. Showed the screenshots to Cass and she’s already working her magic on stream. No, seriously. Go check it out. 10/10 content. (ᗒ⩊ᗕ)
No way.
“Hey, hey, hey! Let go of me!” Nicholas snapped at the officer, grabbing his wrists. “Do you know who I am?! I am Nicholas Valencia!”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Nicholas Valencia, you are under arrest for disturbing the peace, endangering the public, aggravated assault, and suspicion of leaking personal information online!” the officer loudly announced to the scumbag.
The crowd cheered loudly over Nicholas’ arrest, and it grew louder as the officer handcuffed him and escorted him out of the station. Finally, Kai can breathe easy again.
…Almost. Another officer enters the scene, commanding the crowd to disperse before making his way towards Kai, Damon, and Toshiko.
“Come with me,” he ordered the three. Damon was gonna say something but the officer interjected him. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of your hand, sir.” He turned his attention towards Kai. “As for you, we’re gonna go to the police station and ask some questions.”
Oh, boy. But if it means he’ll assist the cops putting Nicholas in bars for longer than a month, then he’ll do it.
“Hiroko, I’m sorry that I halted your daughter’s tutoring session,” Damon apologized to Toshiko’s mother, bowing his head. “My friend was in danger and Toshiko insisted she’d come along with me.”
“Damon, I completely understand. Please don’t worry about it too much,” Hiroko insisted, patting Damon’s black-brown hair. “You, your friend, and my daughter aren’t harmed badly, and that’s what matters at the end of the day.”
“Right, ma’am.”
This is one Saturday Damon will never forget for a long time. He was supposed to pick up Kai from the train station, only for Toshiko to suddenly get struck by a hooded figure, forcing Damon to defend her from this crazed psycho for a while, only receiving a small slash on his left palm. He’s thankful that an officer cleaned and treated his wound well with no charge (thank god). And he was pulled over by detectives for questioning about Nicholas, which he was more than happy to inform them. Same for Toshiko, though she needed a parent with her when answering with the detectives, as she’s under 18.
He can deal with Toshiko’s mother in the station. Chatting with her is always nice, even if it’s about mundane stuff such as school. What seriously irks Damon is seeing who he assumes are Nicholas’ parents, standing out at the police station with their expensive designer clothes, bags, watches, and jewelry that costs more than his entire closet. He can’t hear them, but he can already predict that they’ll find a way to bail him out soon.
Good luck with that, Damon thought, glancing at the rich parents one last time.
“Damon? Oh, my god!”
Huh? Damon glanced at his watch to check the time: 3 PM. They don’t leave work until 6 PM on a Saturday, so why were his parents here?! He didn’t message them, but they must have watched the news since Nicholas’ attack has made headlines a few hours ago.
“Shuya, Erika! You’re here!” Hiroko rejoiced, surprised to see Damon’s parents.
“Mom, Dad! What-” Damon was cut off as both his parents embraced him tightly, Erika kissing his cheek while Shuya playfully ruffled his hair. “H-Hey!”
“Sweetie, the police informed us about everything,” Erika explained. “We left the shop after we finished our last appointment.”
“We’re just happy you’re all okay.” Shuya sighed in relief. “Let’s wait for Kai, okay?”
Damon and his parents broke their embrace and joined Toshiko and her mom in the waiting area. Kai has been with the detectives much longer compared to Damon and Toshiko–probably because his address and workplace were revealed online for everyone to see! He felt awful for Kai! He doesn’t deserve to get doxxed or have his phone destroyed!
To relax for a while, Damon watched the Pokémon tourney livestream, showing the quarterfinal battle featuring Eva and some colorful commentary from Cassidy. He did watch the clip Eva sent him earlier on Cass’ opinion on the incident. One moment certainly caught his attention.
“Jeez! How many people does Nicholas needs to doxx to not feel weak?! He nearly ruined six people’s lives who are at this tourney! If you ask me, he’s today’s real loser!”
Even Damon can’t help but snicker at that comment. Nicholas is a real loser for trying to attack him and Toshiko in public.
Back at the livestream, Eva has taken down her foes’ two Pokémon, leaving them with only one left compared to Eva’s three Pokémon. The crowd at the livestream happily cheered as her opponent surrendered, giving Eva her first win. At least he’s able to view one of Eva’s battles.
He heard Toshiko gasp loudly, making Damon look up from his phone where Kai is escorted into the waiting area with two detectives. Damon got up from his seat and was immediately greeted with a hug from Kai.
“Whoa, there! Everything alright, Kai?” Damon questioned him as Kain leaned his head towards his right shoulder.
“Y-Yeah…” Kai sniffed, tears in his eyes. “They asked a lot of personal questions, which were pretty rough…”
Damon remembers Kai mentioning his family–all of whom treated Kai with zero respect and treated him as their personal ashtray. And learning one of his stepsisters is dating a Valencia scumbag?!
DISGUSTING.
“I managed to answer all of them in the end. Think the detectives are gonna question my family next,” Kai continued. “I’m just glad it’s over for now.”
“Yeah, that must’ve been a stressful day for you.” The two broke their embrace, and Damon asked him, “So, where are you gonna go now? You plan on checking in a hotel room or staying at a friend’s place for a couple of days?”
Kai didn’t say anything, nervously tugging on his hoodie collar.
“That’s what the bags are for, right?”
Still nothing. During the trip to the police station, an officer packed the two large carry-ons and a duffel bag on the trunk of the police car–all of them belonging to Kai. Both Damon and the officer tried asking Kai why he had packed a large amount, but got nothing.
“Kai, come on. At least–”
“Can I move in with you?”
“...What?”
“I was gonna ask you that when you picked me up at the train station, but…”
Stupid Nicholas.
“Of course you can stay with us.” Erika got up from her seat and approached Kai, with Shuya following suit.
“What? That fast already?!” Kai said in shock.
“You can stay as long as you need,” Shuya added. “We have a guest room upstairs that’s free, so we don’t mind.”
Kai’s eyes started to tear up as he faced Damon, hoping for his answer. With him moving to escape his family’s abuse, leaving his apartment and job due to a rich asshole…
“Sure. Welcome to the Maitsu household, Kai.”
Kai happily hugged Damon hard that both of them fell on the floor, with Kai laughing and smiling, while Damon calmly demanded, “Kai, let me go!”
“No! Just a little longer, please!”
Damon smiled as Kai continued to hug him, and everyone around him laughed, with Toshiko taking a picture of them. He’d normally tell her to delete it…
But screw that. He’d want a little reminder of this moment.