Kit bites his lower lip as he murmurs, “He was very convincing, and they said I was drugged.”
The atmosphere in the room changes almost immediately, and I watch as both O and Salem move to the new kid’s chair. Their food is abandoned as they shift into a fat, happy bear and a large sharp-eyed bird who sit in front of his chair and on the cushion behind him protectively. X definitely claps this time, and I turn my gaze away from the fur and feathers to arch a brow. They just grin, reaching over to place their hand on mine and squeeze.
“Oh, shit! I’m sorry!” Kit says as he looks at the two shifted demons in a panic. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
Slash leans forward, his hands clasped and elbows on his knees as he eyes the three of them. “You were in distress.”
“Arein distress,” Zav mutters as his tails swish around him. “Youarein distress. The animals feel it.”
Clenching and unclenching his fists, Kit looks at Jasper pleadingly. “I swear I wasn’t trying to make anyone upset. I just… it’s important that people understand that situation accurately, even when I don’twantto discuss it.”
“That’s a trauma response; I read about it,” Zavida says as he lets go of his tails to push his glasses up. “People must have tried to blame you for the situation and now youhaveto ensure they know what really happened. Otherwise, you spiral, right?”
Xerxes clucks their tongue. “Oh, KK. That’s just awful.”
My love is spot-on, as always, though they know a lot about being blamed for shit that is out of their control. “It’s very damaging to have those who are supposed to protect you accuse you of being responsible for your trauma. I assume it’s no different if it’s birth parents, foster parents, or even medical personnel.”
Kit nods, biting on his lower lip for a moment before he speaks. “At first, the nurses were the only ones who believed me. Well, one nurse they brought in from a bigger hospital who had training, I guess. The others, including the police and social workers and stuff… they didn’t.”
“Was the guy rich? Popular? Royal? What?” Jasper demands and I squint to see threads of his dragon emerging.
“I…” Kit swallows, digging his fingers into Salem’s furry ruff before he responds. “Middle class, but you know. Popular. Good family. Basketball. Smart. Funny. It was one of those ‘I should have known better’ moments every… one… goes through when bad things like that happen.”
That was an interesting pause—I wonder what he was going to say originally?
“They believed him and not you,” Slash says with a low snarl. “With no evidence to support his side?”
Shrugging, KK says softly, “Evidence doesn’t matter whenyoudon’t matter in comparison up there. Hell’s not perfect, I’m sure, but neither is up there. It’s just as much about power and money and all that shit. Anyway… we should… I mean, should I do something so they go back to normal?”
Panda Salem tosses his enormous head, making an annoyed sound, then he turns and puts his chin on the kid’s knee.
“I think that’s a ‘no’,” X says with a smirk. They look at Crow Oriel, who hops closer to Kit’s head, his eyes glittering with malice. “And so is that look the bird just gave me. Get used to them being all Animal Planet until your aura calms down, KK.”
“How are we supposed to discuss this shit if they’re like that?” Jasper groans and Zav moves quickly, dropping to the floor next to him to press against his leg comfortingly. That gets his attention, and he sighs as the tails brush his hand. “For fuck’s sake… okay. We’ll do it with those two being clocked out, and the rest of you can explain it to them later.”
“Thank you,” Kit says to the dragon in a soft voice. “For, um… not being you for a little bit.”
Jasper blinks, his eyes flashing with the shadows of his animal for a moment, then nods. “You’re welcome, shrimp.”
I honestly don’t even know who the fuck that is sitting there, but the contrast is making my head spin.
Bad News
Kit/Kat
It took a bit to get Salem and Oriel calmed down, but once we did, the rest of the dinner/meeting went remarkably well. I wish I could figure out what made Jasper act so uncharacteristically decent so I can replicate it today—however; I fear it will remain a mystery. He was subdued in the bathroom when we got up, and behaved at breakfast, though the occasional snarky retort reared its head. I suppose I can’t complain, though if I could, I’m not sure my current companion is the one to do it to.
“I hope they get back to us soon,” I murmur to the hulking shark shifter as we take seats at the back of the Intro to Demons class. “I’d like to know what Morgana and her guys think about everything we laid out.”
He nods brusquely, watching as I unload my stuff onto the desk so I can take notes. Slash has been quiet since the whole ‘animals popping out’ deal last night, and I’m not sure why. I guess it would be frustrating to have a shifter animal that can’t really emerge unless there are specific conditions—which might explain his withdrawn behavior. Dottie chitters as she gets comfortable, and he finally says, “Yes, I am also eager to get their take on the provided intel.”
Damn, dude. Way to make me feel like I’m bothering you.
I wrinkle my nose at my tablet screen, not wanting to seem like a whiny brat by commenting on his reticence. If he wants to be a super stern guy again, it’s not my job to police his behavior. Plus, it’s possible I’m just being overly sensitive, and given my issues, that option is more likely than Slash actuallydeciding to be mute today. At least, I think it is, and I don’t have the spoons to fight with my brain on it inthisclass.
“Good morning, my gorgeous students!” Lillabet calls as she wiggles her way to the front of the lecture hall in her skin-tight pencil skirt and tank top. She’s gotten less and less dressed as the semester has ticked by, and I worry that by the time we hit the break for Yule, she’ll be fucking naked.
Slash grunts as he shifts in his chair, his lip curling up in disgust. He doesn’t give a fuck that she’s a professor, and I kind of love him for it.
