Kaz had thought they were dating. I mean, they were incredibly close, teased each other often, cuddled during movie nights or when it was cold, and they'd listen to each other ramble despite not really understanding or caring what was being said. They often shared clothes and would laugh when their outfits kinda match. That's what it's like to date someone you have a genuine connection with, or so Kaz thought.

So when Chase had brought Reese into their penthouse, Kaz's heart broke. Why was there another person latched to his man's arm? "Pookie bear?!" He almost gags upon hearing it.

He'd have to talk to Chase about this when he's away from the she-beast. No, he shouldn't think about her like that, she is still just a person.

When they got called away because of a shapeshifter sighting Kaz was releaved. He didn't have to see her and Chase canoodling anymore. The team rushed to where the swam was spotted and came face to face with Rodissius.

"We just had to get you away from your cyber desk." He brags smiling at us.

"There's someone in the house." Kaz says angrily turning to Chase.

"Reese." Bree does the same.

"No. No way. She wouldn't betray me." Chase says trying to defend himself and his girlfriend.

"I think she would. After all, she is my daughter." Rodissius points out.

We all turn to the ex-superhero.

"What?!" Chase asks surprised.

"I thought I would have to work a little harder to trick the smartest man in the world."

"Come on. We have to get back before she gets that superhero list." Kaz says quickly before rushing off, the team following him. He knew she was a she-beast, he didn't even feel bad about it now.

He did feel bad though, seeing Douglas on the floor holding his eyes, gasping for air in pain. Kaz was a superhero doctor, with his patients he'd know exactly what to do but Douglas wasn't a superhero, he didn't have any powers.

And Reese had gotten the superhero list and scrambled the connection they had to said superheroes. They were in a losing battle.

Chase looks up at the team from the floor next to his bio dad. "I'll stay here with Douglas." He says standing up. "You guys head back out, try to find Reese. If it's a war they want... then we'll give 'em one."

Kaz decides to stay and help Chase, hoping once Douglas is stable, they can talk. It takes a while but Douglas is in bed sleeping, Perry was sent out to get help, which they needed and supplies.

Kaz and Chase are cleaning up the mess that Reese had done to the cyberdesk downstairs using the baby monitor Donald left for when Naomi stayed over.

Kaz sighs and looks over at Chase hurt but chooses not to say anything. Unfortunately, this alerted Chase and now he's pressuring the truth out.

"Kaz, seriously what's wrong? I know that whatever is bothering you is unrelated to this war. I want the truth." Chase had said turning to face his teammate.

"You want the truth, Chase? The truth is, I thought..." He takes a deep breath. "I thought we were dating! I know we never actually confirmed it. But like... What was that?! What was all of it?! I thought we had a mutual understanding." Tears stream from his face as he yells his thoughts. "I cradled you in my arms!" He gets up and walks into the tunnels.

"I... Kaz!" Chase, follows after him as the younger boy runs off. "Kaz, I didn't know-"

"I cared about you! I loved you! How was I meant to take all that time we had together, the dates!? As friendship? Is that a normal platonic relationship to you? God, I feel so dumb. One last giant "Kaz is a fucking idiot!"" He yells not bothering to stop or turn around, he keeps marching. He laughs bitterly. "Did it, no, did I ever even mean anything remotely close to a partner to you?"

"Kaz, listen..." Chase sighs.

"No, you listen. I don't know where or when the miscommunication happened but you didn't even let any of us know. How could you? You knew her for what? Three fucking hours. And yet you could have told me. You could have waited and told me at home and this conversation would be a lot less angry. Your dad, uncle, whatever the fuck he is, wouldn't be gravely injured. And..." His laugh is manic now as if he was running out of oxygen, which he was. "I knew it! I knew she was a she-beast. Sure I thought I was just being jealous, but I was right!"

"Kaz you need to calm down."

"Calm down? How would you feel if I had walked in claiming someone else as my partner? Oh wait, you wouldn't care!" He just kept walking.

He had never been this far into the tunnels before, all the man-made tech and stuff had stopped. Rock walls as far as the eye could see, as long as the eye didn't turn around. He didn't know where he was going but he wanted to get away from Chase. So why was he still ranting to the person he was trying to get away from?

"Kaz, please stop!" Chase cries. The boy in front of him doesn't, instead, he clenches his hands, and small flames flitters from them. Chase loses his footing for a moment out of shock but rushes ahead. "Kaz!" He reaches out for Kaz's shoulder.

Chase's hand should be slightly burning but he doesn't move it. Kaz tries his best to shrug him off but Chase only grabs tighter causing Kaz to finally stop.

"What!" Kaz yells, turning, and sending Chase a glare.

"I. Didn't. Know. You're right we never discussed it. I had thought the same but since I wasn't sure I assumed you didn't like me like that!" He rushed out, trying to get it out before he was interrupted.

"How. Could. You. NOT. KNOW?!" Kaz yells directly into his face.

Chase pulls back slightly, dropping his hand, and gulping. Kaz cringes, his flames turning off, he didn't want Chase to hate him, he's just upset.

Chase takes a moment to breathe before looking back at Kaz. "I don't have many friends outside of my family. And you know how complicated that is. I especially don't have close friends outside of my family." He takes another breath. "I cuddle with my family when watching movies, I share food with them, spend late nights talking. Did I know that you cared about me? Yes, obviously because you did everything my family would. But we hadn't kissed or said we loved each other. I'm sorry that I don't know where the line is drawn between close friends/almost family and dating. I'm sorry that I assumed wrong." Chase looks hurt, more at himself than at Kaz.

Kaz looks at him, his anger slowly dissipating but he still doesn't want Chase off the hook. "But! Three hours? You knew after three hours?!" His tears still falling, more of sadness, of not feeling worthy.

"She made it clear. I like clear communication." He says softly.

"So it's my fault?"

"No!" Chase grabs both of his shoulders. "It's mine. I like clear but I didn't make that clear. I was scared that I would scare you away. That you would think it was weird that I thought we were dating."

"But I wouldn't have." His voice almost breaks.

"I know. I'm sorry." His voice is soft but stern. "And to be fair she must have known about my relationship to... Well, relationships. I don't have the best track record. I essentially fall for whoever gives me attention." He tries to lighten the mood.

"So you don't like me back?" Kaz asks hurt. "You just liked how I treated you?"

"No!" Chase sighs. "I like you. As a friend, as more. It was gradual, so it makes more sense."

"Chase, you're not making sense." Kaz crosses his arms.

"I liked you romantically even when I thought you didn't like me that way." Chase says slowly trying to be as clear with his feelings as possible. "It's the opposite of every goddamn relationship I have ever been in. I've never been the one to admit my feelings first. And I guess I still haven't." He was angry at himself and the moment and at the fact that they were even having this conversation like this.

"And so...?" Kaz honestly wasn't following, not because what Chase was saying was confusing, no. Because he was still trying to get his breathing and emotions back to normal. He was tired and light-headed.

Chase could tell, he was practically holding the fire boy up. He gently guides Kaz to the floor and sits next to him. "And so, I'm saying that I genuinely like you. And if you'll give me time to deal with being tricked again and still want me, I'd be happy to be with you." He grabs Kaz's hand in his.

"But what about the whole not being clear thing?" Kaz asks as he closes his eyes.

"We'll work on that together. I'll ask for any clarifications I need and you can help teach me what counts as a romantic action and a general caring one." Chase says rubbing small circles into the back of Kaz's hand.

Kaz chuckles. "I guess you were right though. About how everything we did was something you'd do with family. If you truly care for someone whether dating or close friends, they should feel like family. I'm glad you see me being that close to you, even if the sentiment was misconstrued. I meant all of that as your boyfriend and I thought you knew that." Kaz is rambling but to be fair his words aren't going through a filter right now, not that they often did but this is more a stream of consciousness.

"You are family Kaz. I'd love you either way, but I'm glad that you've made it clear what kind of family you want to be. I'd much rather you be my partner." Chase says softly smiling to himself.

For some reason, the word "partner" had really stuck out to Kaz. He blushes, with an intoxicated giggle. That is until he clocked that Chase said he loves him. Kaz sits up straight and turns to him, much more alert. "W-what was that first part?"

Chase doesn't remember exactly what he said using his human memory but he checks his bionic one and smiles at the second sentence. "That you are family?" Chase asks with a smirk.

"No after that?"

"That I'm glad that-"

"Noooo! In between that. That you..."

"That I love you?" He asks quietly, leaning in. He had said it so effortlessly, like he meant it but it was no biggie.

Kaz nods blush spread across his features. "Yeah, that." He whispers. Despite thinking they were pretty far into their relationship, hearing Chase say he loves him was a surprise. And the fact that the statement seemed to flow out of him so easily made Kaz feel all warm inside.

To Kaz admitting you love someone was a strong and brave thing to do. You only do that when you know they would or had to reciprocate the feeling, like with your family. The words meant so much to Kaz because, to him, it showed the strongest of bonds. He had to be sure of it before he said it.

It was similar for Chase but instead of something he had to think about before doing it, it was easy, like second nature. Sure his family joked about it and only really said it at high emotional times. But to Chase, it's easy to say you love someone when you truly do. Like it was to accentuate his feelings as opposed to being its own statement.

Chase runs his free hand over Kaz's cheek. "I'm in love with you." This was much more of a statement. The "in" is emphasised as proof.

Kaz wanted to say it back but he was suddenly in his head. What if he said it but then later on it stopped being true? "I lo... I also... I, ugh!" He growls at his inability.

Chase smiles at him and stops him. "I know. You said it before when you were letting all your feelings out. You said you loved me. You don't have to force yourself to say it." Chase was so understanding.

"I did?" Kaz hadn't realised. In fact, he doesn't remember most of what he had said. He cringes. "I didn't say anything too bad or mean to or about you, did I?" He asks worriedly.

Chase looks at him softly. "That doesn't matter now. You got, what I'm hoping is, everything out. I'm going to focus on the meanings behind the words instead. You were a bit harsh on yourself though, I didn't like that."

"You're so kind." Kaz smiles before frowning. "Except for the whole flaunting your new girlfriend in front of me thing." Kaz pouts, he meant it as a joke but Chase still takes it to heart.

"I know, and my sorry about that. I was tricked, I'm very gullible."

Kaz laughs. He hadn't realised but he was back to normal now. His breathing was steady. "Probably not the best person to give super intelligence then."

"Well, technically I was a baby when I got my bionics so Douglas didn't know I would be like this." Chase smiles.

The mention of Douglas brought the mood down slightly but they still smiled at each other. They should probably go back to check on him, it's not the best idea to leave a patient in critical condition alone.

"We should probably..." Kaz said sadly.

"Yeah..." Chase stands up holding his hand out for Kaz to take. Which he does.

Chase carefully pulls Kaz back into mission control and heads over to the baby monitor. He could still hear Douglas sleeping, and some shuffling before an unidentified voice is heard.

Kaz freezes but Chase squeezes his hand. "It's the doctor, Perry must have come back." Chase reassures him. Kaz nods.

The voice is quiet but calm. "He'll be okay. But he might have lost his vision. We won't know until he wakes up. We should move him to the hospital."

"I don't actually live here." Perry explains. "But I can get one of his family up here in a few moments."

Chase turns to Kaz and smiles. "I should go up. I'll come back when he's safely in the ambulance." He lets go and moves over to the hyperlift with a comforting nod.

"I'll just..." Kaz looks around. "Stay I guess."

Chase walks back to Kaz and grabs his face. "Once he's safe we can relax. And I think I'd enjoy relaxing with you in my arms." His voice is soft and sweet. He leans forward placing a soft kiss on Kaz's lips. "I'll be back." He whispers before rushing off upstairs.

"You better!" Kaz mumbles touching his lips.

--------------

Unfortunately, when it comes to romance I'm like Kaz, fully in my head especially when it comes to saying you love them.

I was in a relationship with a guy for three years and probably only told him I loved him like twice and that was in the first month of our relationship. He's still a close friend.

Anyway

Love you

Bye

Drew X