At High Tide 6

I woke up to my door handle being jiggled. I frowned, realizing I was alone in the bed and that meant Kaleo had left me. A sudden beating on the door made me yelp in surprise and fear, but that only made it grow worse. Keoni shouted my name, demanding that I open the door before things went silent. I almost screamed when in the next instant a loud thud hit the door.

"Go away!" I yelled. Another loud thud and then the sound of a cellphone ringing and Keoni's voice, sounding perfectly normal. I shuddered at how easily that switch could flip. I heard him cuss before stomping through the boat and finally over my head. I sat there in my bed, holding my legs tightly to my chest and ignoring the pain in my hips. I hated how scared I was in that moment. I wasn't afraid of anything usually, but I was afraid of Keoni. Of what he wanted from me and how he'd get it. A few mintues later another knock came at my door and I instantly froze up.

"Braden? If you're awake, I'm going to go make breakfast now," Kaleo called through the door.

"Kaleo!" I cried before starting towards the door. My legs got caught up in the sheets though and I fell hard to the floor. I groaned a bit before crawling over to unlock the door.

"Are you alright?" he asked apparently not having heard me. I sat back on my heels, rubbing my nose a bit from the face plant off the bed.

"He came for me..." I whispered, not knowing what else to say. Kaleo pushed the door the rest of the way open.

"Braden?" he asked again as he looked inside the room before spotting me on the ground. "What happened?" I whimpered a little and brushed the little bit of blood from my nose.

"He came, Kaleo..." I said softly. "He came this morning... But then the phone rang.. And he left.. And then you came.. And I fell outta bed trying to get to the door... And... and.." He smiled a little and slowly knelt down beside me, wincing slightly.

"Well, everything's alright now. You want anything special for breakfast?" he asked, pushing my hair back and moving closer to examine my nose. I whimpered a little more.

"You went to him... And he still came after me, Kaleo," I whined. "Don't do this anymore! Sacrificing yourself isn't saving me... and it hurts to know that you're in pain because of me and it's still all for nothing!" He wrapped his arms around me.

"Ssh, calm down, Braden. He's not here and I'm fine. Just a little sore, that's all." I wrapped my own arms around him, burying my face in his shoulder.

"I don't want you to do it anymore..." I said firmly. "It's not helping. I don't want you to be hurt when it's not helping."

"Alright," he said, rubbing my back soothingly. "Just calm down. Everything's alright, I promise." I sighed and let myself relax in his arms. He wasn't going to offer himself anymore and that was all I could ask for. I didn't think either of us were going to get out of bending to Keoni's whims though.

"Can... you make pancakes with just the egg whites?" I asked softly and he smiled some.

"Yes, of course. I think I have a recipe that will work well with only whites." I smiled myself and pulled away from him to stand up a bit shakily. I still had plenty of adrenaline in my veins, but I was also more sore than I was the day before when I woke up. I reached my hand down to him, offering to help him up now that I was standing. He grabbed my hand and used it and the bed to get up with as little problem as possible. "Great, now, do you want anything else besides pancakes?" he asked, carefully taking a few steps forward.

"Pancakes are fine..." I replied, frowning at how limited his movement was.

"Mmm, I feel like I should make something else too, though," he said, putting a hand out to the next wall and using it to keep himself up. My frown only grew deeper and I shook my head.

"No.. You don't. If I could cook, I wouldn't even let you cook that much!" I said, feeling the anger at Keoni's lack of care for his friend beginning to boil. Kaleo dropped a quick kiss on my head.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I just have to find a seat for a little while. Once I get breakfast finished of course." I scowled.

"And thus why just pancakes is fine," I reiterated. "The sooner you sit your sore ass down, the happier I will be." He sighed and shook his head some.

"Yes, yes, I get it," he said as we started up the stairs. I frowned a bit more and looked down, feeling like I might have stepped on his toes some.

"I'm sorry... I just... I feel bad that you're hurting and even worse that it's for me..." I muttered, sliding my hands into my pockets.

"I know," he said, grabbing the edge of the staircase and using it to help him climb up the last few stairs. The sight bothered me much more than I would have liked to admit and I bit my lip some to stop from apologizing again. It brought back that feeling that I'd had before, the one I didn't want to admit to fully, the one that made me not want to be alone. I hated this. I hated all of this and I felt like things kept getting worse for Kaleo because I was here. I made my way over to the kitchen area, sitting down silently at the table and absently running my thumbnail across my wrist. Kaleo made his way over to the kitchen as well and started getting out what he would need before chuckling some at the sight of his friends passed out in the living room.

"Looks like they had a good time over there," he commented. I turned my head to glance at the tangle of limbs on the couch and floor.

"Surprised they didn't hear Keoni this morning," I muttered.

"We did," Laoni said, sitting up some and rubbing his eyes. I jumped a little, startled that anyone had been awake. "What the hell was that all about anyway, Braden?"

"The door was locked," I muttered, returning my eyes to the table as my thumb flicked over my wrist faster and with a bit more force.

"Shut up and go take a shower or something while I make breakfast," Kaleo told him. "I don't need to be sitting next to you when you reek," he added. "That goes for the rest of them too if they're up."

"Davey, Aaron, you heard him," Laoni said, pushing the other two. "Go take a shower." Begrudgingly the other two got up and made their way downstairs, wobbling horribly. "Now, do either of you care to explain Keo's behaviour this morning? Or are we going to start off the day keeping secrets?"

"You know he can be a real ass in the morning. Who knows what set him off," Kaleo said, mixing up the different ingredients. Laoni sighed as I just kept scraping at my wrist.

"Leo... I'm tired of pretending to be blind," Laoni said with a heavy sigh. "Can't you tell me what is really going on with you?" Kaleo sighed heavily and turned to take the mixture to the griddle, having to slide the bowl so he could keep hold of the counter.

"If you don't want to be blind then don't be," he said.

"Then tell me the truth!" Laoni snapped in exasperation. "You were limping yesterday and didn't even put on a wetsuit, knowing how cold the water is in the morning. Today you can barely stand. I know giggle boy here didn't do it because you are far too happy around him and it's not fake! And Keo's... Keo's been getting weird lately. Even for him..." Kaleo paused for a minute and looked over at his friend. He turned that glance at me and made a quick sign for help. I sighed a little bit.

"If you want truth, Laoni... Might help to put what you already think you know on the table," I said, ignoring the burn in my wrist as my nail started breaking skin. "It's a lot harder to volunteer information that is more sensitive in nature." Laoni sighed deeply.

"Well, let's start with I know you aren't into girls, Leo," Laoni said. "We all actually know that, but since you never said anything we didn't bring it up. The thing that I can't figure out though, is why Keoni has been growing angrier as of late. He jumps on our cases for just standing too close to you. David and Aaron are both growing more wary of being around Keo and that's not a good sign. And then you have giggle boy here. Even he becomes edgier around Keo and yesterday... Well, let's just say the events were highly suspicious..." Kaleo sighed some and rubbed his forehead, slumping a little against the counter.

"Keoni thinks if I stand near any other guy I'm screwing him," he said softly, not arguing the point of his sexuality.

"Are you and Keo dating?" Laoni asked in slight surprise. I guess some things weren't as obvious as others. Kaleo sighed even heavier than before.

"No. Keo's not my boyfriend. He's not even gay or so he keeps telling me." I could almost feel the confusion that came from Laoni at that statement.

"Then why the hell is he so damn jealous?" Laoni asked, seemingly annoyed. "And is he taking it out on giggle boy? Because if he's jealous of you standing next to another guy, then you and Braden getting along so well has to be worse..." I froze up, doubting that Kaleo would answer that and knowing that I couldn't. I'd only been able to admit the rape to Kaleo because he'd already known, but Laoni was trying to puzzle out the picture still. Kaleo glanced at me for a moment.

"I've been sleeping Keoni for years," he muttered, lowering his head a bit. "Not dating. Just sex."

"Okay," Laoni said as if Kaleo had just said he liked chocolate over strawberry ice cream. "So Keo's possessive over you and won't let you sleep with anyone else, but sleeps with everyone. I can understand why you'd be frustrated by that. It's not healthy for you to be in a relationship like that. Even if it's not a relationship." I breathed a small sigh of relief that I was being forgotten again. I didn't want to be brought into this.

"It needs to end, Leo. I get that Keo's really scary right now, but you can't keep laying down for someone who doesn't want to treat you right. I'd say the same whether you were gay or straight, so don't think for a moment that I'm condemning you. Who you choose to sleep with should give you the same respect you give them. Period." I sighed deeply when Kaleo didn't respond, just nodding his head absently, realizing his head was too low for him to read Laoni's lips.

"Kaleo!" I said loudly to get his attention. As soon as he looked over at me, I quickly signed what Laoni had said, frowning at him for acting like his friends wouldn't accept him. They were his real friends if they were willing to accept him no matter what. As he read my signs, his eyes widened some, but then he looked back at Laoni and sighed.

"I'm legally deaf, Laoni.." he muttered. "From that wipe out that sent me to the hospital a couple years back..."

"Well that explains a lot," Laoni replied with a slight laugh. "And why you and giggle boy get on so well. He figured it out pretty quick, didn't he?"

"I had a friend back home who was nearly completely deaf," I replied. "I learned sign language just to talk to him, so I suppose it was only natural I'd figure out Kaleo had a hearing problem."

"Well good, but how the hell did you fool us for the last several years, Leo?" Laoni asked.

"I got real good at reading lips... a lot of people who are interpreters or teachers for sign talk while they sign... so I picked both skills up at once," he said, turning halfway to flip over some of the pancakes.

"And then you have people like me who sign when they talk out of habit..." I muttered and started scraping my nail over my wrist again. Kaleo was getting his secrets out to his friends, where they needed to be and he was being accepted still. It was all good for him. Very good for him. Kaleo pulled the pancakes off the griddle and put them on a plate. As he limped over to the table, he studied me.

"I think it's your turn, Braden..." he murmured. "If you're up to it." My eyes flicked up to his face for a moment, before turning my eyes back down to the table.

"Braden?" Laoni echoed. "You can't be serious, Leo... Keo wouldn't... would he?" Kaleo sighed some.

"Tell me what you think and I'll tell  you if he wouldn't or not." I flinched a little, feeling the burn of shame creeping up my neck.

"Keo wouldn't try to sleep with his own brother, would he?" Laoni asked and I cringed. I wouldn't have slept with Keoni. I never would have slept with him, but I didn't get a choice in it. Kaleo sighed.

"He would do more than try if he wants it bad enough," he replied. I screwed my eyes shut, flashes of memory making me shudder and my teeth clench.

"Braden?" I heard Laoni ask, his hand touching my shoulder. I flinched hard enough to jerk my shoulder away from him. "Leo... Keo didn't, did he? Tell me this reaction is something Keo didn't do..." My hands clenched tighter, digging my nails into my palms and breaking the skin with how tight my grip was. I had a feeling I should get someone to go after my medicine, but I didn't want to take it. I'd been trying to avoid taking it.

"Braden, calm down," Kaleo said, sitting down in the chair beside me. "It's alright, firecracker. He's not even here. Laoni, give us some space." I shook my head with small jerky motions.

"Can't..." I muttered, forcing myself to raise my head enough for him to read my lips. "Bookbag... front pocket... prescription..." I said raising my voice for Laoni. He'd need to run down to get it since Kaleo could barely move.

"Laoni, go get Braden's bookbag," Kaleo said. "He's getting it." I nodded, again with the short jerky motions. My muscles were constricting and I couldn't manage to force them to relax. That was what the prescription was for, but my aunt had found a way to help ease the stress before I'd get to the point that I'd have to take it. It was just this time I hadn't had time to get a new piercing.

"Sorry..." I muttered as I heard Laoni set my bag on the table. "I can't... open... it..." I added. I could hear someone going into my bag and the sound of the prescription bottle rattling before I felt a pill in what was left of my clenched palm.

"Here you go, firecracker," I heard Kaleo say and raised my hand to take the pill. I chewed it slowly, knowing that it would react faster if I did though the taste made me shudder with repulsion.

"Thanks..." I muttered before trying to force my body to relax. Thankfully my facial muscles were always the first to relax and I sighed, glancing over at Kaleo. "Sorry again... I... tried to tell you... yesterday, but I just... I have trouble dealing with.. emotional stress..." I said softly.

"It's alright," he said, rubbing my forearm. "Are you going to be okay now?" I nodded already feeling a bit looser.

"For a day at least..." I replied with a heavy sigh. "Laoni... to answer your question first... Yes, Keoni did," I said, staring at Kaleo. I couldn't look at him just yet, waiting to hear that expected denial. Kaleo nodded a bit and Laoni sighed heavily.

"We've got to go to the police... we can't let him get away with this..."

"With what proof?" I asked softly. "It's still my word against his... And he can easily say that I'm lashing out at him for something..." Kaleo sighed.

"He does have a point," he said. "He said, she said situations never go so well with the police..." Laoni sighed and got up, pacing a bit even as David came back upstairs still drying his hair with a towel.

"So did we find out why Keo was trying to break down Braden's door this morning?" he asked, glancing between the three of us.

"Yeah... He wanted a piece of him," Laoni replied with enough anger to surprise me. I hadn't thought one of my brother's friends would get angry for me. "It kind of makes me sick to think something like that could have gone on without us knowing... And he'd just smile and pretend he hadn't done something so.. so..."

"Shameful..." I supplied before leaning into Kaleo to hide my own shame in his shoulder. He shushed me some and rubbed my back.

"It's not your fault," he assured me.

"Doesn't really surprise me," David said with a shrug. "You remember Nana, right? She told me that after we broke up last year she went on a date with Keo and he'd kept pressuring her until she finally stopped saying no and just didn't say anything. Apparently, he's been getting more and more pushy with the girls who actually go out with him."

"He's been getting that way more and more," Kaleo agreed. "But then, he's never been the type to take no for an answer." I shuddered slightly.

"Hey... Laoni... Are there any piercing places around?" I asked, looking up at him. His eyebrow went up in confusion at the random subject change.

"There... are? But why?" he asked.

"It's... how I deal with this kind of stress so that I don't have to take those pills," I replied softly.

"I guess that explains why you have so many... where do you have left to pierce though?" Kaleo asked, pushing my hair back so that he could see the small studs through my eyebrow.

"I... actually have one piercing for each time my mother died and was brought back," I muttered. "But... it does help. It's healthier than cutting anyhow. But... I have another eyebrow, nose, up to three more lip rings to finish the snake bites... um.. there's still plenty of room on my ears... Or I could go... lower..." I added with a slight blush. Kaleo smiled some.

"And which of those appeal to you most, Braden?" he asked. "Need some company? I bet if we work at it, we can even get Aaron to get a hole or two." I felt my face heat up a little more as the thought to go lower crossed my mind. The pain would certainly help.

Lower... But you choose where... please? I signed quickly. "And you shouldn't force anyone to get pierced... Should be their idea after you give them all the pros to getting it of course." Kaleo smiled some.

"It wouldn't be forcing. He tried to go get a piercing before and backed out in the chair. If we're there he might actually do it this time," he said, ruffling my hair some. And I'll choose when we get there, he added silently.

"Well.. Since we have something to do today," Laoni said, clapping his hands together. "Let's have some of those pancakes Leo whipped up." I smiled a bit and nodded.

"Let's... They did smell good..." I said as I turned in my seat.

"Did?" Kaleo said in surprise. "They still smell good." He put a few pancakes on the plates he had set out. "If you want toppings, get them yourself."

"Is there any honey?" I asked though I didn't make a move to get up. My legs were always the last part of me to relax again and I generally had really bad balance for a bit afterwards.

"Top shelf of the cabinet by the fridge," Kaleo said, pointing over to the correct cabinet. "Go fetch, Laoni," he said, giving his friend a grin. Laoni rolled his eyes and got the honey down before opening the fridge to get butter and syrup.

"Any other weird requests while I'm in here?" he asked, glancing around.

"Whipped cream!" Aaron called as he came up the stairs. "Always great on pancakes," he added as he quickly came over to find a seat at the table.

"Mmm, top shelf in the fridge," Kaleo informed as he put some jam on his own. Laoni got it all and the milk from the fridge and brought it over to the table before grabbing some glasses.

"So, Aaron, Braden is wanting to get a new piercing or two," David said as we all slathered our pancakes with our various choices of toppings. "You game to try again and go with him?" Aaron paused, looking over at me with a little panic.

"You guys aren't going to leave me there alone again, are you?" he asked. "'Cause if you do, I'll never forgive you."

"That was Keoni's doing, Aaron..." Laoni said. "He wanted to go do something else instead of wait for you. And you know how he is..."

"I'm thinking I might get one too, so we'll probably be hanging around for a while at the place," Kaleo said, cutting off a piece of pancake and popping it in his mouth. I turned my eyes to him, my eyebrow going up some.

"Where?" I asked, totally curious now. Piercing was kind of like a drug to me, so I was more than a little interested to know where the guy I liked wanted to be pierced.

"Mmm, haven't decided..." he said. "Any ideas, oh master of piercings?" he asked with a bit of a smile. I hummed a little, flicking my lip ring a little with the tip of my tongue.

"I'd say tongue... but then you wouldn't be able to use it for a couple of weeks," I said, ignoring the slight choking of Aaron on his pancakes. He hadn't been privy yet to what everyone else already knew. "I'd go ear... Unless you have something more exotic in mind..."

"I think I understand why you call him 'firecracker' now, Leo..." Laoni said softly. Kaleo smiled some.

"Hmmm, it is definitely a tempting choice... I'll have to think about it." He turned his eyes to Aaron. "And what about you, White Bread?" he asked curiously. I watched the red head blush a bit and giggled.

"Well... Last time I was looking at nipple rings because my girl at the time wanted them," he replied softly. "But I like how the eyebrow piercings look on Braden... So I'm contemplating going that route since I've changed girlfriends."

"Mmm, face metal..." Kaleo said thoughtfully. "Just don't get one of those bull nose ring things. Those are ugly as hell." I laughed softly and quickly finished my breakfast.

"You guys will have to excuse me, since my bookbag is already up here, I'll just get dressed here," I said, turning my chair around some. My legs would move for me, but I could still feel the weakness in them from the cramping and knew I'd fall if I tried to walk.

"Hey... Giggle Boy... Where'd you get that bruise on your back?" Aaron asked as I bent over to dig through my bag. "Did you hit something when you wiped out yesterday?" Kaleo frowned some before looking over at me.

Do you want me to tell him for you? he signed and I nodded a bit as I fished out a short sleeve button down that would go with the shorts I had on. I didn't really want to talk about what Keoni had done to me even if they already knew. It was painful enough to think about. Kaleo turned back to Aaron who was looking confused.

"Keoni attacked him," he informed. "When we were up here after surfing yesterday."

"Like... beat him up for being such a natural at surfing?" Aaron asked softly. "'Cause Keo's never been all that gracious about not being the best out there..."

"Like attacked him 'cause he wanted to fuck something," Kaleo corrected. "He was in the shower... I guess Keoni couldn't resist..." he muttered, looking over at me. I was staring at the shirt in my hands, forcing myself to keep breathing as I heard Aaron sputter a bit.

"We were right here! Why didn't we hear anything?" Aaron asked, growing angry and slamming his hands on the table. I flinched a bit and forced myself to sit up some.

"'Cause he shoved a washcloth in my mouth," I muttered. "Is the bruise that bad?" I asked, craning my neck to try and see.

"It looks bad, but since you haven't mentioned it at all or seemed pained when you move, it's probably one of those that look worse than it feels..." Kaleo supplied. "Or have you been hiding your discomfort?" I shrugged a little.

"Doesn't hurt as much as other things," I replied before pulling my shirt on to cover it up.

"Like your nose?" Laoni asked and I blushed a bit, my hand coming up to my face to rub said part of my anatomy.

"I fell out of bed this morning and landed on my face..." I muttered, blushing more.

"I'd make a joke about bed surfing but.. that'd probably lead to more vulgar jokes from the peanut gallery," Kaleo said, glancing over at his friends who were trying and failing to look innocent. "You know you would," he said blandly before they all lost their composure and started laughing.

"Mmm, Leo... I want to ask for clarity so I don't assume and you don't have to answer," Laoni said as he stopped laughing. "But are you and Braden trying to get together despite Keoni's possessiveness? I have a bad feeling that it extends to Braden now too considering the change in his attitude yesterday after Aaron put his arm around his shoulders." Kaleo sighed some and rubbed his forehead.

"It... It'd be nice..." he finally murmured. "But it's complicated too..." I sighed a bit myself and looked away.

"If Keo is the complication," Laoni said. "Then forget it. I already told you that you deserve better. And giggle boy there probably would agree with me." Kaleo looked down at his plate and I sighed again. "Leo! It doesn't matter how much you care about Keoni! You know he won't return those feelings and that makes the entire thing bad for you. It's not even that healthy for Keoni." Kaleo just ignored it, getting up and going to the sink to wash his dishes.

"Let it go, Laoni..." I muttered. "I'm just not the same as someone he cares about like he does Keoni. It's fine... If he wants something with me, he'll decide that too." The native islander just sighed and shook his head.

"Keo's fucking you both up and there ain't a thing the rest of us can do, is there?" he asked, mainly to himself. I did still feel inexplicably hurt though by Kaleo's response. I had thought we were moving forward, but I was apparently the only one who thought that way. I was just another friend with benefits in the end.

"I'm going to take a shower," Kaleo informed as he put the clean dishes away and then slowly made his way towards the stairs. I got up, collecting the empty plates to finish washing what was left. I couldn't seem to shake the hurt. He'd called me his firecracker after all. I'd thought that it had meant something, but I was apparently wrong. My feelings weren't enough to get past my brother even with his lack of feeling and abusive behaviour.

"Braden... You okay?" Laoni asked, leaning on the counter beside me. I nodded absently, but didn't look up at him. "He'll come around you know. He's just stuck in the past and it's hard sometimes to move beyond it, even when you want to."

"I know..." I muttered, turning away to put the clean dishes up.

"Have you ever had a crush before?" Laoni asked and I turned my head towards him.

"Yes... But not quite like this..." I replied honestly after a moment. "I didn't pursue those crushes, didn't put myself out there. It's a bit of a bitter pill to think Keoni's cruelty is worth more..."

"Don't think of it like that, Braden," Laoni said, moving to put a hand on my shoulder. "Leo and Keo just have a longer history. It's hard to shake." I shrugged a little.

"Not my business, now is it?" I replied softly. "I think I'm going to get some fresh air. Excuse me..." I pulled away, making my way outside as quickly as I could considering my ass still hurt from the night before and I was trying to hide it still despite everyone knowing. I slipped out into the warm morning sun and went up to the bow to wait for everyone to be ready to go.

"Let's go, Giggle Boy!" Laoni called as he and the others came up the stairs onto the deck. I nodded and started making my way to the gangplank so we could head out. Kaleo was the last to get to the truck, but that just meant he got the window seat behind the driver. I sat quietly in the middle with my hands in my lap, my nail running over my wrist again. It was a bad habit I had picked up when my mother started truly getting sick. It was all I could do while I sat around doctors' offices. Kaleo tapped me on the leg to grab my attention.

Sorry, he signed quickly.

Don't worry about it, I signed back. I was just being stupid. Kaleo frowned at that.

No, you're not. You're right, but I don't want to give in to that yet. It's been so long and he's been my first everything. I can't just push that aside so fast... I narrowed my eyes some, the hurt spreading.

He's not your first everything! I signed quickly, my hands starting to shake a little. But I said it's fine, so it's fine! Just don't call me  your firecracker if you don't mean it! I dropped my hands back into my lap, my thumb flicking over my wrist in quick, hard swipes and digging at the damaged skin without care. The pain felt good. He frowned and reached over to grab my hand, turning it over gently before frowning even more at the sight of my damaged skin.

I'll try harder... I promise. Please stop scratching yourself.

"I can't help it..." I muttered. "It's a stress habit..."

"What's a stress habit?" Laoni asked, glancing back in the rearview at us.

"I'm gonna guess tearing his wrist up," David replied beside me. "You shouldn't do it anyhow, Braden. It's not healthy."

I've decided on what piercing you should get, Kaleo signed, drawing my attention back to him. Get one of those Prince Albert ones. I'll even help you take care of it... if you want me to, of course. I sighed a little.

Of course I want you to... I just let a small phrasing go to my head and forgot reality... I signed back. Prince Albert sounds fun though... and painful...

I'll sit by you if you need me to, he told me.

"Hey! Come on you two, let us in on the secret!" Aaron said, turning around to pout at us.

"No," Kaleo replied lightly. I sighed a bit.

I want you to, not need you to, I signed back. "And we're discussing my piercing."

"Oh and what piercing are you going to get, Giggle Boy?" Laoni asked.

"One that none of you guys will ever see," I replied with a smirk. I cracked up as all three of them immediately cringed, covering their privates. Kaleo smiled some.

"Teasing the straight boys, Firecracker?" he asked. I nodded, still laughing a bit.

"They're afraid of a little penis piercing..." I said, reaching over to grab his hand so that I could scratch at my wrist.  His smile grew some.

"Well, most guys are," he pointed out. "Hey David, are you getting any holes?" Kaleo asked.

"Other than my girlfriend's?" he asked back with a wide grin. "Maybe..."

"That 'maybe' better be referring to a piercing and not another girl or I'm gonna tell Ali," Laoni said. Kaleo grinned widely himself.

"And you, Laoni?" he asked curiously. "Holes for you? Maybe a little ink or something?" he suggested. Laoni hummed a bit as he thought about it.

"I kind of do like that tribal work around Braden's arm," he said. "Maybe if I can find something similar I might get some ink." I blushed a little, knowing he wouldn't find anything quite like my tribal Celtic knotwork on my arm. I had drawn it myself after all.

"Get Firecracker to draw it on you and the tattoist put it on permanently," Kaleo suggested. "He drew that one after all," he added, pointing to my armband. My blush darkened some as Laoni glanced back in the rearview again.

"That true, Firecracker?" he asked and I nodded. "Think you could draw me something a little more me?" I shrugged a little.

"I could draw something that I think is you... But you'd have to approve it," I replied softly.

"At least you'll know exactly what it'll look like," Kaleo commented. Before I could point out that it'd be different for Laoni, the truck came to a stop outside of shop that had neon lights advertising tattoos and piercings.

"I wish I had my drawing pad," I muttered as we piled out of the truck. I had to let go of Kaleo's hand since he wasn't a fan of PDA so I just hovered in the middle of the group as we made our way inside.