Lightbringer | Kai Parker Fanfic

Nine

"Here you go," he says, placing a steaming mug of coffee in front of me.

"Thanks."

"Sure." He sits down across from me and starts sipping his juice.

"Why are you smiling like an idiot?"

"Nothing," he says, still smiling. "Though I do like it better when we spend the morning over breakfast rather than fighting your punch bag in the forest."

"It's for your own good," I say, pointing my fork at him.

"I know. Thank you."

"Sure. I mean, I can't just let you go around, dancing with vampires and werewolves, with only your magic to defend yourself. This is basically charity."

"Right," he mocks. "Still, thank you. And thank you for staying over. Liv probably won't say it but it means a lot."

"What are friends for?" I say and Lucas smiles. And in that smile, I feel like I know why despite every oath of loyalty toward the clan and the family, my dad never spoke of Luke's. Maybe it's just history repeating itself, since Lucas, Olivia and I are also college friends, but I feel like this friendship will only grow and grow over time. Even if we don't keep in touch, even if we end up borderline adversaries on certain cases. Right now, I feel like if twenty years from now, I come to Lucas and ask him to let me hide my gone-astray-killing-machine-of-a-son in a prison instead of taking him out the old Lightbringer way, he'll just help me and mention it to no one. Just like my dad did.

Liv comes in, looking exactly like I always imagined her to look when it is this early in the morning. She sits down, failing at holding back a yawn, and seems very unhappy to be here. Her breakfast is ready for her and she sips her coffee in silence for a while.

"You said Luke called you?" she asks all of a sudden, squinting.

Her brother and I share a glance before I answer, "Yeah. I mean he didn't say what was wrong exactly but he did say you needed a friend. Right, Lucas?"

"Right." He nods and we avoid sharing a glance this time. A white lie can't hurt.

"So what, you guys just– pick up the phone and talk about how bad I need a friend."

Luke cocks his head, sensing the explosion coming. He places a hand over her wrist and locks eyes with her.

"Hey. You were a mess last night and you didn't wanna talk to me. I was worried, so I called your friend."

"You mean you called our friend, 'cause there is just so much that we share." Again, her brother and I share a cautious glance before she adds, "Do you think I haven't noticed you two parenting me around? You're together all the time or talking over the phone or texting... I mean you two look like you're married already, is there something I should know?"

"Are you... seriously, seriously suggesting that I should come out?"

"You did it once," she shrugs. "Anyway, I'm spending the day with Tyler; I don't wanna see your faces right now." She then clears her throat and leaves for the bathroom without another word.

"Is that your morning routine?" I ask after a minute, ready to laugh.

"I– She tends to be... cranky in the morning."

"Wow."

"Don't judge; I'm pretty sure you have a couple flaws as well."

I chuckle, happy to be here right now anyway, and say "If you weren't gay, I think I would end up marrying you, Lucas Parker."