Chapter Text
Kai was distracted while sparring with Wyldfyre, thinking about how he was going to approach Arin. The hard part was not scaring the teen away, as Arin by now seemed to have a habit of lashing out.
Kai walked away from his spar with Wyldfyre with a some burns, as he was bad at paying attention. Wyldfyre had headed down to visit Heatwave while Kai headed to his room.
Kai threw his sword in the corner, slumping onto his chair. He looked at his notes and the books he'd grabbed. Kai knew that "confronting" Arin was a gamble, as the teens temper was unpredictable by now. But Kai wanted to help him and knowing if he had any mental illness could help to understand him and maybe be able to hold a normal conversation with him.
Kai picked up his notebook and once again read through it, thinking. Should I ask someone else to do this? Zane maybe? He is better at this than me. Hell, if Jay was here, he would have been more useful! Kai sighed, running a hand down his face. This was the best idea Kai had to help Arin.
Kai stood up. He could take a shower first, then talk to Arin. Kai had enough of a headache already.
—
Kai returned to his room ten minutes later, closing his door behind him. He glanced over at the notes and picked the notebook up. He'd made a habit out of reading through the book and now it was almost imprinted in his head. Kai sighed, putting on a clean shirt, then grabbed the notebook and left his room.
The halls of the monastery was quiet, even though it was in the middle of the day. Kai guessed the others were doing something else, somewhere else. He almost walked into Nya when he turned a corner. "Hey!" She complained. "Sorry sis." Kai apologized and Nya noticed the notebook in his hand.
"You can write?" She asked jokingly and Kai rolled his eyes. "Of course I can." Nya laughed. "What are you doing?" She asked curiously. "I was going to the library." Kai lied. "I was going to help Sora with some project. Also, what's up with you lately? You didn't read at all before, now Zane has seen you in the library multiple times in the past week." Nya asked, her hands on her hips.
"I guess I found reading more fun than I previously thought." Kai said, rubbing his neck. "Are those burns?" Nya asked, gesturing at his arm with a worried expression. "I sparred with Wyldfyre, I was not paying attention." Kai admitted sheepishly. "Nothing serious."
Nya hummed, not fully looking convinced. "Okay, but head by Zane later to check them anyways." Kai nodded, not bothering to argue, knowing he'd never win. Nya nodded. "Alright, see you around bro." Nya said, walking off. "Yeah, see y'a sis!" Kai called after her, then continued walking.
He hadn't realized Zane had actually noticed Kai spending more time in the library. Not like Kai was really bothered by it, he had started enjoying reading more than before, just that what he read was more interesting than fun.
After reading about mental issues for almost a whole week, you almost had to start finding reading interesting. Kai walked, his notebook held tightly in his hand. He wasn't worried that Arin wouldn't answer, he was worried that he would. If Kai found out something that could change their perspective of Arin, then he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to keep that a secret from the others. It would just continue to bug him the longer time went on.
Kai eventually reached Arin and Sora's room. He knew Sora wasn't there, thanks to Nyas explanation of where she was going. Kai opened the door, peeking inside to see if Arin was even there.
Arin was sitting cross legged on his bed, leaning against the wall. Kai saw that he was mostly staring into space, as he was looking at his hands, which were in his lap, with tired eyes.
Kai knocked on the side of the doorframe, Arin's head snapping up and towards the door. "Hello." Kai said, feeling awkward. Arin said, nothing looking away. Kai frowned. "Can I come in? Or do you want to be alone?" He asked, not wanting to force Arin to be in his company.
Arin was silent for a moment, then shrugged, leaving the decision to Kai. Kai closed the door behind him, carefully walking up to Arin and sitting down at the end of the teens bed. Arin jumped slightly, which made Kai's frown deepen.
"Why are you here?" Arin asked quietly, without meeting his eyes. "I wanted to check up on you, as well as ask you some things if thats okay?" Kai asked the dark haired teen. "What questions?" Arin mumbled and Kai gripped his notebook harder. "I guess about your, health?" Kai said. "I am just curious."
Arin looked away with his whole head again. "Why? Why do you want to know?" He questioned. "I am curious and trying to help. I am aware that you don't want help Arin, but you will not get better if you don't." Kai argued and Arin wrapped his arms around his body. "I am my better self, I am stronger." Arin snapped back, his anger flaring up. The problem was, Kai's anger was doing the same thing.
"Are you though? Better self? No offense Arin, but haven't you had a mental breakdown that almost ended with a concussion? You didn't have that before!" Kai snapped, Arin's head snapping back towards him.
"I did!" Arin yelled, standing up, to Kai surprise.
"I did have breakdowns! Multiple times! Both before and after the fucking merge! You just weren't around to see them!"
Kai could have sworn that Arin's eyes had a golden shimmer in them for a moment before it disappeared. Arin sunk down on the bed again, putting his legs close to his chest. Kai was silently standing, looking at Arin.
Kai, who hadn't even realized he had stood up, sat down next to Arin, who, again, flinched. "If what you are saying is true, then you need to talk to someone, thats part of why you have the breakdowns then, because that the only way you can get what's you are hiding inside, out." Kai said, wanting to place and hand on Arin's shoulder, but deciding against it. "If you talk to me, then I can try to help."
Arin was silent for a moment, before looking up again. "Fine."