KAI

Stupid. 

Stupid Laura. 

That woman is officially out of her mind. A certified animal. What was I thinking bringing her? I thought we were bonding. I fucking thought we were getting somewhere but we are back to square one. I thought she understood the rules of this world when she told me she learned everything it is to learn about Earth, but no, she clearly didn't.

Agreed those men were criminals but it wasn't her job to give their judgement. She killed those men. I can't think of worse ways to die. She moved faster than the speed of light and in a matter of seconds she killed three men. I didn't see it happen until it was done. The sight of her holding the heart lives freely in my head. The head and spine she ripped out is just too much for me. I just hope the cops don't come looking for her because I'm sure they're going to suffer the same fate and there's nothing I can do about it.

She asked why I obeyed the men when I could have easily stopped it, but I made a vow. I cannot interfere. I shouldn't interfere. I will not interfere in human affairs. I'm here to protect the planet from inhuman threats and right now, Laura is a threat.

I have been following her since she threw her temper tantrum and walked away. She doesn't know anything but I can see from here that she still finds everything fascinating. I don't understand her. I don't think I ever will. One minute she's on a killing spree and the next she's watching kids playing at the park. The same park she went to yesterday, somehow she found the place.

She's leaning against a big tree, watching, observing. Seeing her like this makes me feel something. Something I've never felt before. I'm not human and my real form isn't close to this but Ma'Lya created my sister and I to adapt to any environment we hear, which includes taking on their form. I don't have a heart or feelings. I'm not human but I'm acting like one. I'm not supposed to have emotions or feelings but Laura touched me yesterday and felt my emotions. Have I spent so much time here that I'm becoming one of them?

My thoughts cut short when a rain drops on my nose, I look up to see the sky changing. That didn't give me a sign at all. I look at Laura, she walks away from the shield the tree is creating and stretches her hand out to catch a drop or that's what I think she's doing. Her lips curl up in a... Smile? Is that a smile or am I seeing things? No. No, no, no, no, I'm definitely seeing things. Laura? Smiling? I–

I feel it before hearing her scream. What the hell? I rush to where she's holding her wrist. "Hey, what's wrong?"

It's just drizzling but it's enough. I watch as it drops on Laura's palm and see it drill through it. She screams again and at the same time more drops on her hair, her bare shoulder and I see her skin peeling off like an effect of acid rain. She should have just worn the long sleeve dress like I told her to, but no, she wanted to dress like Zazie.

What is going on?

I wrap my arms around her and teleport us away from there, not giving a damn who sees us. When we arrive at my room, I scoop her up in a bridal style before laying her on my bed. The hole is still visible on her palm with no appearance of healing. Her shoulder isn't healing either. I've never seen or heard anything like this before.

"W...what was that?" She manages to ask.

I sit opposite her in the bed, looking at her as she swallows hard. She's sweating profusely. I move my hand to touch her forehead and she's running temperature. 

"It affected me. Why did it affect me?" Even on her sick bed, she demands.

"What's going on, Kaia? Why did it affect her?" My station is underground but the AI can still hear from anywhere.

"Kaia? Your sister is here?"

"I believe the rain is affecting her body."

"Tell me something I don't fucking know. I can see it's affecting her. Why is it affecting her is the fucking question?"

"She's a full blooded Dihipian and all Dihipians are weakened by Earth's rain. El-Laura-El has never been to this part of the Solar system. She isn't familiar with The sun and Moon. Her body is still adjusting to the climate." Kaia 2.0 explains but gives me much.

"Who is that?" Laura asks.

"Who? Kaia? She's an AI." I shrug.

"What's an AI?" 

Yeah, she really wants to learn everything.

"Artificial intelligence. She's an artificial consciousness. When will she start healing, Kaia?"

"I'm already healing, Kai." Laura answers before Kaia can.

"I asked you to tell me everything it is to know about her, why didn't you tell me this?"

"I didn't know this about Dihipians."

Next time I see my sister, I'll tell her to give the AI another upgrade, it clearly needs it.

My eyes find Laura again. She doesn't look pale anymore and the sweat isn't as bad as before. I reach to feel her temperature, it's going down and her wounds are closing.

"You're healing, great! Now we know rain affects you, so no more going into the rain," I tell her and she nods. 

Fuck she looks so vulnerable now and being weak doesn't look good on her. My eyes stay on her and hers doesn't leave mine. Her eyes soften and it's like she's analysing me or something.

"Are you hungry?" She hasn't eaten anything since we had breakfast and it's pancakes. She hates it by the way.

She nods.

"Okay, I'll see what we have in the kitchen or… or we can order"–I throw my hand out before wiping it behind me–"If you want, we can order." 

I doubt we have anything worth cooking in this house. Zazie and Lee prefer to eat out, and I don't cook.

"Either one is okay," she says.

"All right," I stand up and point at the door, saying, "I'll get on it then." I turn my heels and begin walking towards the door.

"Kai, wait!" I stop before I can touch the doorknob, I don't look at her as she begins to talk. "Can you take me with you? I don't know where this is. It doesn't look like my sleeping quarters."

"It's my room," I reply and turn back. "Sure, I'll take you. Can you walk or do you need me too...?"

She nods and begins to move before I can help her up. I use the opportunity to look at her palm to see it's almost healed and her shoulder is closing. Wow, that is impressive. Laura gets on her feet and I watch her eyes turn before she staggers back. I rush to her and catch her before she can fall back on the bed. I scoop her up in my arms and carry her out of my room.

Laura wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her head against my chest, getting comfortable. "Your house is big. You haven't shown me around." She comments and she's right, I haven't even shown her around my house.

"I'll show you around when you're all healed up, right now we need to get you fed and healed up." I enter the living room and drop her on the nearest three-seater. "I'll go order for pizza. Stay here." I say before going to the kitchen to get my home phone. I swipe it off the counter and quickly place an order for five boxes of pizza. Zazie and Lee aren't working today but I haven't seen any of them since I woke up this morning, they are probably still scared of Laura. I would be too, I mean I'm fucking terrified of her.

After placing the order, I stroll down the hall to Lee's room, I know this is where they're both hiding. I rap my knuckles against the door and wait for a response.

"Kai? Is that you?" Lee asks in a shaken tone.

"Come on, mate. Open the door, it's me."

"Come in and don't bother if she's with you." I don't miss the way he emphasises the she.

I turn the knob and let myself in. Not in the least surprised to see the body of them hiding under the duvet. I shake my head and approach the bed. "You think this is going to stop her from coming for you? What are you, five-year olds?" I drag the heavy material off their bodies.

Zazie is the first to act, moving upward until she's leaning against the headboard. "She hasn't found us yet, so it's a progress."

"From what?"

"Whom?"

I shake my head and wave her off. "I ordered pizza, are you guys hungry?"

"I haven't eaten anything since your psycho girlfriend showed up and almost killed me. You should be begging me to eat, not asking if I'm hungry." She scowls. "Where is she? Is she still here?"

"Yeah, she's in the living room–" they both groan. Zazie moving her legs up until she's hugging them to her chest and Lee crawling back under the duvet. "Guys, come on! She's actually really nice if you get to know her."

"Really?" Lee removes the duvet off him and moves to sit beside Zazie. "She's really nice? Was she being nice when she almost killed Zazie or you?"

"I–" try to defend myself but they are not having it.

"And don't let me get started on that voodoo sleep shit you used on me, Kai. What are you?"

I've been friends with these two their entire life, Zazie longer because she's older, and they never question that I don't age. I assumed they knew I was human but hearing her say this is making me confused.

"I already told you last night that she wouldn't hurt you, either of you anymore. You can either come downstairs and meet her properly or die of hunger. See if I care." I do care. I fucking care a lot but I really want them to meet her.

"Just like that? What has she done to you? My Kai wouldn't turn his back on me!" Zazie is definitely not having it.

I sigh and face Lee for help, but the asshole is team Zazie for life. "Fine! Don't come." I shake my head before walking away.

"Are you certain she wouldn't hurt us?" Zazie asks behind me.

"She won't. I promise." That is enough convincing for today. With that, I open the door and walk out.

I get back to the living room to see Laura watching TV, a movie. "Is that pretty woman?" I recognize the infamous Julia Roberts costume, people around here wear it for Halloween.

"Yes. I was getting bored and it was on, so I decided to watch. I don't understand the concept though," she says.

"You just started watching it. I think you'll enjoy it," I sit on the couch opposite her. "Listen, Laura about what happened yesterday with my friends, I–" she cut me off.

"It won't happen again. I promise you, I won't touch your Earthling friends again." She vows without taking her eyes off the television.

"Human friends and thank you for saying that. They're both coming down, I'd like it if you can be civil with them." My way of asking her not to do anything silly.

"They already fear me, I don't have to do anything anymore."

She's all about putting fear in people because it makes her stronger. Still working on learning all her powers.

Zazie and Lee walk into the living room, it doesn't take a genius to figure out they're terrified. Laura turns her head to look at them, they both freeze when they notice her looking at them.

"We all got off on the wrong foot yesterday, so I'll do the introductions again. Guys this is Laura," I point at her, "Laura, that's Zazie and Lee."

"Nice to meet you, Zazie and Lee." She says in a genuine tone, which is surprising and at the same way suspicious. She stretches her hands to shake them and I see the colour drain from Zazie's face literally.

Oh, Laura.

*****

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