''...''
I stood there in the kitchen, gaze fixed directly onto the stove with the most deadpan expression my face was capable of making.
''...''
Then slowly ran my hands down my face, bloodied and decorated with various tiny cuts and bruises, all topped off with a mix of various vegetable juices that were mingling with my own bodily fluids.
''...''
And let out the deepest, longest, most tired sigh of my life.
''Mine kindred!'' Byron called out from the next room over.
''Yes father?''
''How goes the culinary process!''
''I burnt the fucking water.''
Wasn't an exaggeration by the way, on one of the stovetops was a pot of water, somehow on fucking fire, not the pot, the water.
The fucking water, was on fire.
''A most extraordinary achievement! Nothing less was expected from my kindred!''
''Thanks for the encouragement'' I pinched the bridge of my nose with a twitching eye ''Appreciate it.''
And so, with another deep sigh, my hand lowered itself back to my side again, sweeping over the kitchen with my gaze, looked like a shitshow to put it nicely.
Apart from the burning pot of water, and the crime scene of a counter, there was also a tray of a dozen loaves of ''bread'' in the oven, black as coal of course, turns out setting 300 Celsius and forgetting about it for an hour is a bad idea, the more you know I guess.
''...''
''Sigh.''
With about half the will to live currently residing in my body, just went and smacked the thing into the sink with a backhand, it stung, yes, but with my current level of controlling my strength and mental state this option was by far the safest.
Fire put itself out once it hit the sink too, why? I don't care enough to ask at this point.
''Fuck my life...'' I muttered quietly to myself, adjusting my robe slightly and walking back into the living room, where Byron was as instructed, downloading games, on both phones, one in each hand.
At least one of us was having fun.
Although he seemed deep in thought it didn't take all that long for him to notice my presence.
''Ah, mine kindred.'' My oh so kind father put the phones down, then used his hands to turn to face me. ''Is it time for feasting already?''
''...''
''I literally just told you I burnt the fucking water.''
''Ah! But that matters not! I shall eat any culinary creation of mine kindred!''
''...''
Stupid fuckin' sweetheart making my heart melt and- GAH damnit...
''That's....'' Tch- I was blushing again. ''S-stupid...you could chip a tooth or...something....''
''Hmmm, your argument is sound, the mere thought of mine kindred stressing over my wellbeing is a horrific one yes.'' He was nodding to himself as he spoke. ''But the matter of hunger is still persistent.''
''It's-''
''...''
I was silent for a moment as that blush on my face deepened...much to my nonverbal annoyance, before crossing my arms and looking away with a huff.
''It's fine....I know a good takeout place.''
''...''
Byron tilted his head.
''How does a silent murder-''
''Takeout can also mean food...Father.''
''Ah, I see! So, we are to go a restaurant yes?''
I nodded at that.
''Mhm! A most excellent suggestion.''
''...'' His gaze narrowed slightly.
''Although...''
''....Uh...although what...?''
''...''
In a set of motions that felt agonizingly slow, Byron stood up, towering over me like he usually did...except this time with a different kind of expression on his face, yet another new one...mischief.
''Mine kindred~''
His hand was placed atop my shoulder, eliciting a small wince.
''Cannot possibly leave our most humble abode in such a state~''
''...''
''Huh-''
But, like always, my confusion was ignored and my pleas unanswered, resistance futile as well, I was being dragged into the bathroom before my brain even registered what was happening....
''...Huh...''
Giving him a phone was both a curse and a blessing it seems, because on one hand while I didn't have to explain basic shit to him anymore...even though he confused words with multiple meanings but, oh well.
On the other though...it sort of amplified his existing annoying tendencies, specifically the tendency of making me look pretty, which in layman's terms meant I was currently sitting in the bathtub like an angry wet kitten, in the fetal position, while his fingers worked their way through my scalp, how in the city did he learn to wash hair this well from just videos online? Beats me, one small silver lining is that at least I wasn't naked....although I'm naked a lot around him....never really asked myself why I'm not embarrassed by that.
All of this was being done while he was humming by the way, with a look on his face that could only be described as one of unbridled joy and whimsy...rejecting him at this point would be akin to kicking a puppy..
''Meh..'' Guess getting dolled up isn't the worst thing in the world.
Again though...not like me protesting against it would accomplish anything, I literally couldn't resist this no matter how hard I tried...
...
''Annoying..'' I muttered to myself, just as Byron had finished cleaning my hair, grabbing me by my waist and lifting me out of the tub, during which I was unfortunately blushing, then beginning to dry me off with a towel.....experiencing minor difficulty on account of my clothes, he managed though, by leaving about 30 different tears with how hard he scrubbed.
Once that was done, he moved onto using a hairdryer, again, how the fuck did he learn all this so quickly- wait right I can just ask him.
''Uh, father?''
''Yes mine kindred?'' He spoke without breaking even the slightest bit of attention from drying my hair.
''...Where'd you learn to do all this stuff?''
''Ah! A wise man by the name of ''Indie Ahn'' had served as my teacher!''
''...''
No clue who that was, probably someone he found on a video site or something....whatever.
The fact I was blushing during all this was probably what annoyed me the most...tch.
.
.
.
------------Approximately 10 minutes later---------------------
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.
.
I stood there in the bathroom, staring at the mirror with Byron enthusiastically smiling behind me....taking who knows how many pictures of me, dressed in a new garb, a black cloud patterned robe, borrowed from the kurokumo clan's wardrobe, they had good taste with all due respect...
Hair was done impeccably too, honestly now that I could see both of us side by side...we actually sort of looked like father and son, although my features were much more on the feminine side and my hair much shorter than this..which...was for the best probably.
Damn thing was cascading down his shoulder.
''So uh...fa-''
SNAP
''Fath-''
SNAP
''...Father-''
SNAP
''...Are you done.''
''Mhm! Verily! 108 photos of my most beloved kindred at his most adorable of apexes have been acquired!''
''So we can go get food now right...''
''Correct!''
''...''
''Haah~'' Fuckin' finally....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
.[1]
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The door to the HamHamPangPang creaked open, nice place really...gave off this warm vibe with that golden lighting and delicious aroma permeating from the kitchen... although it was empty, save for just one guy ordering something at the counter and the person working at it....unusual considering the place's popularity.
''Is this the place of taking out mine kindred?''
''Yup, this is the place, menu's up there.'' I pointed to the large menu hanging above the counter. ''Pick whatever sounds good to you, we have the money...except for the soup...don't get the soup.''
''Mhm, very well then.''
Byron slowly walked closer to the menu in order to get a better look, endearing in all honesty, he was more of a child then I was when it came to these things, looked at it like the greatest treasure the city had to offer.
...
And yet still...
Despite all the warm lighting and atmosphere and delicious smells and the kind staff this place had...
There was this weird gnawing feeling at the back of my neck...something I haven't felt in a good while...a sense of danger...? Really the best way I could put it...could feel a bead of sweat roll down my temple too, place gave me the creeps for some reaso-
BUMP
''GAH-OW!''
Somehow, even with all the empty space in the restaurant, getting lost in my own thoughts still allowed someone to bump into me...fantastic...
Rubbing my head with a slightly annoyed mumble coming out of my lips, naturally did I look up to see who'd just bumped into me.
''A-'' Could barely even get a word out as well before being interrupted.
''Ooh~! Sorry little man!'' The person towering over me apologized, cleaning a pair of black sunglasses against an ordinary looking white shirt with a collar. Had Blonde hair and blue eyes...although it was clear to me that the lenses of those eyes looked clouded and foggy, weird marking on his neck, sort of like a scar. Had a voice that sounded a little dead too...kind of off-putting with the way he spoke.
''You were tiny so I didn't see you! My mistake, honest!'' Those sunglasses quickly slid back onto his face while speaking.
''...''
At least he was apologizing...actually I get bumped into all the time, what the hell's my problem today anyway...
''It's not that big a deal, sorry for the inconvenience.'' I went to walk past him and-
Was stopped, with him moving to the side, blocking my path.
''Hey now! Ya' didn't even let me apologize properly! Didn't nobody tell you to respect your elders kiddo~?''
''I'm not a kid, and you don't need to apologize, just get out of my way-''
''Nah nah! I'm in a damn good mood today yknow! Finally got some paid leave after 15 whole years!'' He held both palms up to my face with a toothy grin. ''So today I'm in a damn good mood!''
''Look I don't care just...let me trough-''
''Ah ah ah!'' Again....stopped, with just the wave of a finger in front of my face. ''No can do, got to ask ya some questions first!''
He crouched down slowly, clothes shuffling in the process as he assumed a wide crouch, hands on his knees.
''...What are you doing.''
''Getting down to your level! Don'cha know that's good getting kids to listen! Your daddy over there probably does it all the time, since you seem so well behaved of course.''
''He's not my-''
''Sigh''
''Make it quick..''
''There! Was that so hard!''
This whole thing was awkward...not just from the situation but..the man in front of me was...well of course he was weird, that was a given, a normal person would've just apologized and went about their day, but here he was, patting his pockets for what I could only guess was money.
After a second or two, seems like the wallet had been found, and opened, with him prodding through it and muttering under his breath, counting the bills.
''Ahhhhh~ There we go! Think about 1 000,000$ Ahn's gonna be enough to cover what your daddy there ordered!''
''...''
My eyes briefly flickered back to father, having turned towards me by this point, standing there with his arms crossed, looking mildly confused about the situation...
He was at the counter...and I, and by extension the man before me, we're near the entrance...either he was bluffing or he genuinely heard what was ordered...something made me feel as if it were the latter.
''Right...well...yeah...it probably will, thanks-'' I tentatively reached out to grab the money but- oh come on he swiped it from my reach-
''HEY ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME THE MONEY OR NOT-''
''Mhmmmmmmmmmmm~'' He waved the bills in front of my face enticingly. ''Maybe I will maybe I won't, just need you to answer a question for me before I do! It's my trademark ''Seo-Jun apologizing procedure!''
''....''
He sounded fucking insane...
''Kay then''
Gestured with my hand to emphasize.
''Go on.''
''...''
''Kiddo.''
The newly found sharp tone in his voice caught me off guard, could feel that the gaze behind those sunglasses had also hardened.
''Uh....Yes?'' Was the only answer I could muster up the courage to say...
''...''
He slowly took off his sunglasses to stare at me with those clouded blue eyes.
''You ever seen a bloodfiend before?''
''...''
Huh...?
''I-Uhm-''
''They're these reallyyyyyyyyyy'' His hands began to clean the sunglasses with a newly produced wet wipe from his pockets. ''Realllllly scary monsters yknow...the kind you make up to warn your kids to be good or else they'll get snatched by them...''
''I-I've neve-''
''See the thing is that they look human, but, it's what's on the inside that matters...and let me tell you, that's one hell of a disgusting inside they got.''
''N-never s-seen-''
''Suppose that's why they got such a pretty outside, that damn porcelain skin and red eyes...whew! Hell of a combo....''
''O-o-''
''You and your daddy over there look similar to 'em yknow.''
''...''
''...''
The slow sound of footsteps could be heard behind him, each one feeling like it shook the whole building, even with a frightful gaze that I couldn't avert from his eyes...my mind still knew it was father.
''A-A-IF YOU RUN NOW WE WON'T KI-''
''AHAHAAAAAAA GOTCHA DIDN'T I!!!!!!!!!!!''
''...''
Both my words, and father's advance, stopped at the sudden outburst from the man...who was currently in the process of laughing his ass off.
''Huh....?'' Was just about the only thing I could say right now...
''Ah!'' Once he was done laughing his ass off, the man stood up and stretched his arms languidly. ''You probably get those comments a lot! But trust me~ I know you aren't a bloodfiend, if you were you'd smell the part!''
''...''
''Hahaha! Y-You uh...really got me....I...t-totally...''
''Yup! Got ya!'' He slammed the set of bills onto a nearby table ''Sorry for the inconvenience again though! Buh Bye!''
And just like that...he stormed through those doors before I could even say anything...
I grabbed the bills quietly, pocketing them, making my way over to father, who looked like he forgot the entire situation just happened...which was for the best honestly.
''...''
My mind was seemingly hyper fixated on the fact he hadn't ordered anything before leaving.
[1] Kindly begin playing ''Echoes Invite'' on youtube from this point onward for optimal reading experience.