Meeting the Family (Cole)

[Taeyeon Kai]

Down Time

It was a sunny Saturday at the Kai residence in Pilot Ridge. Taeyeon, the youngest human member in the house, woke to the sun streaming in through her basement window, highlighting the golden threads on her crimson comforter and the small puppy nestled at her feet. She smiled when she moved her feet, waking said puppy.

"Good morning, Kuma," she said happily, laughing when the wriggling bundle of soft fur pounced on her lap and began to lick her chin. She gazed lovingly into his dark brown eyes and ruffled his ears. "Ready to have some company today?" Kuma barked, much like the little bear he was named for, and Tae got out of bed and got dressed.

Putting her mahogany hair in a messy braid, she walked up the stairs and smiled at her aunt and uncle. Rei was in the kitchen, while Michael was fiddling with the sound system in the living room. "Good morning, everyone!"

"Good morning, honey," Rei answered, smiling at her sister's daughter as the Corgi puppy ran into the kitchen and out the doggy door into the backyard. "Did you sleep well?"

Tae nodded as Michael sighed in frustration and gave up on the system. He walked into the kitchen, kissed his wife, and sipped his coffee as he looked over the rim of his glasses at his niece. While Rei was beautiful with her raven black hair and blue-grey eyes, Michael was a handsome sort with his chocolate hair and matching eyes. They went well together, and Tae loved the both of them with all her heart.

"So who's this boy we're meeting today?"

Tae smiled at her uncle. "His name is Cole Kessler, he's a meta like Robbie, but he's a sweetheart, and he can be a little goofy at times. Please be nice to him; I really like him."

"We'll be polite to this boy, Taeyeon," Rei interrupted her husband when he made move to argue. "You have our word. Now, go play with Kuma, sarai, so he's not so hyper when Cole comes over. You know how he gets."

Tae grinned at her nickname and gave her aunt a hug and her uncle a kiss on the cheek before she bounded outside, looking for the little Pembroke Corgi. "Kuma! Let's play!" she called out, throwing his ball as she enjoyed the sunshine.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole's Saturday morning had been spent watching highlights from last week's NASCAR race. He missed sitting in the living room with his dad watching the race. It was weird to most people, but Cole didn't understand why. You were freely watching guys go nearly 200mph. Yeah, so what if they drove in a circle, people didn't understand how much technical knowledge they had to do. Nor did they understand how hot it got in the cars or how strong you had to be mentally for a five hundred mile race. That was his morning, though.

Now, he was getting ready to see Taeyeon, his new girlfriend. As he opened the door to the bathroom, steam flooded into the dorm. It reminded him of the movie scenes that were all overused: Guy comes walking through a door and to add suspense his body is shrouding in smoke, mist, fog, or steam.

His shower had truly relaxed him to the point that he wanted to go back to bed. He couldn't do that, though, he was meeting Tae's family. If he missed that, Tae would either kill him or break it off with him, and he didn't like either of those scenarios. As he sat on his bed, he unrolled his socks and slid them on. After that he reached for his jeans and slid them on up to his knees, something he's picked up from his dad. He grabbed his cowboy boots and pulled them onto his feet and hidden in the leg of his pants. Grabbing the white tank top from beside him, he draped it over his torso and stood up.

He tucked it into the waist line of his jeans as he pulled them the rest of the way up. Seamlessly, he pulled his dress shirt from the closet and put it on. He buttoned the bottom four buttons and tucked it into his pants as well. He checked himself over in the mirror and nodded in approval. He hadn't dressed up this much since he went to his great-grandfather's funeral. But that was indeed too long ago. As he started out the door, he realized he forgot something. He stepped back into the dorm and grabbed his western hat off of the rack.

He walked over to his car and slid in through the open window. As he fired it up and let the horses run, a chill ran up his back. The vibration of the motor did plenty to calm him in times of need, but he was as calm as he could be right now. He hit the highway and headed to the Kai residence. His car's roar would no doubt give him away as he approached, but they already knew he was coming.

After what seemed like an hour but was merely twenty minutes of driving, he pulled into Taeyeon's driveway. He slowly made his way to the house, trying not to gun it and disturb the beautifully peaceful setting. As he came to a stop in front of the house, the roaring engine ceased and he pulled out some cologne to spray himself twice. He sat still momentarily to allow the smell to soak into his clothes before finally stepping out of the firebreather.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae laughed and played fetch with Kuma to pass the time, waiting for Cole to arrive at her house. The puppy did his best to keep her entertained, but her thoughts were elsewhere as she sat under the big tree in the backyard. What if her guardians didn’t like him? What if he said something and they took it the wrong way? All these what if’s swam in her brain, almost consuming her to the point that she almost missed the roar of a familiar vehicle.

When Kuma started barking, she ran through the house and out the front door. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. “Cole!” she exclaimed, running down the steps and down the driveway to fly into his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, letting his scent swirl in a scented cloud around her head. It had only been a couple of days, but she had missed him. “I’m so happy to see you!” she told him after she pulled back from the kiss, smiling happily at him. “C’mon, let’s meet my family!”

She skipped back inside the house, leaving the front door open for him to follow. Aunt Rei and Uncle Michael smiled at her, standing by the kitchen door as they waited to meet Cole. “Cole, this is my Aunt Rei and my Uncle Michael. Oji, Oba, this is Cole Kessler…my boyfriend.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole's mouth was caught with hers before he could say anything in return to her. Her bullrush pinned him between her beautiful body and his machine. Her scent intoxicated him as her hair seemed to stick to his nose, leaving him no escape as it filled his nostrils. As she pulled back and spoke Cole smiled, "I'm happy to see you, too, Tae. I've missed you so much......, even if it has only been a few days."

As she led him to meet her guardians, Cole began to worry. His worries soon manifested when she introduced him and it was his turn to speak. He wasn't sure to let his accent fly or not. He wanted them to like and approve of him, not think he was some hickish, inbred, redneck, farmhand, country boy who was obsessed with their niece.

On the other hand, he didn't want to hide it from them, and they find out from someone else. That would only lead to suspicions about what else he might have been hiding. After contemplating it for a moment, he decided to go with his gut and let his accent show, "Howdy, it's a pleasure to meet y'all. Taeyeon has told me so much about you. And I for one am glad to have the honor of meeting you both." He mentally kicked himself for saying so much to begin a conversation. Especially with his accent flowing freely.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae looked at her guardians, hoping to get a good reaction from them when they saw Cole. In her eyes, she thought he was quite handsome looking like a cowboy coming to take her away on a handsome stallion, but to her family, he may look like something else. Rei looked over Cole with a critical eye, while Michael had set his coffee down and pushed his glasses up with his finger.

Rei chuckled, a soft sound that warmed Taeyeon. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Cole,” she replied warmly, smiling gently. “I’m Rei, and this is my husband Michael. We’ve heard a lot of good things about you.”

“Indeed we have, son,” Michael added, grinning at his niece. “Tae hasn’t been able to stop talking about you. We understand you’re a meta, yes? What are your powers?”

Tae blushed. “Oji!” she reprimanded, her face coloring. In that moment, the doggy door swished and in ran the tri-colored puppy, yapping cutely and jumping on Cole’s leg, his butt wriggling because he had no tail. Tae smiled at her little dog. “And this is Kuma, which means little bear in Japanese. He likes you.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole smiled as they welcomed him warmly. Rei introduced herself and her husband, Michael, as well. Cole shook Rei's hand first as she was the closest, "Well, I'm glad I've given her only good things to say about me, then. I try to be the best man that I can. Something my father crammed into my skull." Cole said with a light chuckle.

As Michael spoke, and Taeyeon reprimanded him, Cole calmed her, "It's okay, Tae. I don't mind telling people about it if they ask. That is, IF they ask. Most people nowadays just expect you to either tell or show them. If they don't ask I don't tell. Anyway," Cole said as he turned to Michael to answer him, "At first they didn't have a name for it. Then after a few tests and other things they just decided to classify me as an Electrokinetic. Makes it easier on them, I suppose."

Cole's eyes found their way around the main room of the house. He noticed the tools and other stuff laying around and new someone had been working on something, he wasn't sure what though. He was about to ask, but before he could, his leg was pounced upon by a puppy. He knelt down on a knee and gently stroked his hand across the small pup's back, "What is it, boy, huh? You wanna play?" Cole interacted with the dog as he did all others. This young puppy reminded him of Hoss, his old Labrador. For some reason, any and all dogs enjoyed Cole's company, "I've never met a dog that didn't like me. Doesn't look like that's gonna change. I'm not complaining either." He laughed as he stood back up. He looked at them waiting for another question.

[Taeyeon Kai]

“A true polite soul you are, Cole. I am glad my niece found you,” Rei replied to his compliment, her smile growing wider. She looked to her husband when Cole explained what he was, and watched the growing wonder on Michael’s face. She chuckled; her husband was an explorer at heart, always wanting to grow his collection of knowledge. “Would you like something to eat, Cole? I can make us something for lunch.”

Meanwhile, Tae watched the interaction between her puppy and her boyfriend. “I played with him before you showed up, but he’s a little ball of energy, so we can go outside while Oba makes lunch for us, if you want, Cole,” she told him, leaning down and capturing the Corgi in her arms. Kuma wriggled, maneuvering so that her arms cradled him like a newborn baby, and settled with a content sigh against her chest. The Kai family laughed as Tae walked to the back door, showing Cole the screened-in porch and the big backyard.

“Well, here it is,” she told him, putting Kuma on the ground. With a yip, he ran down the stairs and ran in circles on the emerald grass, waiting for the two humans to play with him.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole was hungry, sure, and he smiled as Rei offered to make lunch for him as well as the others. "I could go for some grub. Absolutely, Aunt Rei. And I'm glad that she found me to." Cole said as he hugged her neck, and followed her out to the porch.

As they stepped out back, Cole reminded himself that Tae had said something about Kuma, "All dogs are a ball of energy. Even when they get older, though not as often, they have their hyperactive days." Cole slightly frowned as he remembered Hoss. He missed his little big guy so much. He hadn't seen him since the day he left home.

After the explanation of dogs and their energy, Cole wrapped his arms around her, squeezing tightly before letting her go and turning her to face him, "Not gonna lie, I was worried your family wouldn't like me for a moment. I was afraid they'd think I was weird after hearing my accent. Glad to know my fears were misplaced." He laughed as he pulled her lips to his for a tender kiss. "You know, now I'm gonna have to take you to my hometown for sure."

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae leaned her body up into his, her arms winding around his neck as she kissed him back. She would never get tired of kissing him, it seemed. After she pulled back, she smiled up at him and snuggled closer, laying her head on his heart and listening to its rhythm. “I would like that,” she said softly, squeezing her arms around him gently as she enjoyed the moment.

Barking drew Tae’s attention to her tiny dog, laughing as his body wriggled when her eyes met his. “You wanna play, Kuma? Do ya?” she asked in a sweet voice, noticing the little green ball in his mouth. He yipped and ran in circles, making her laugh as she walked down into the yard. He dropped the ball at her feet and shot off across the yard, his little body bouncing on the grass like a bunny. She laughed and threw the ball, chasing the puppy as he caught it and went running.

“Come back here, you little squirt!” she teased as she ran across the yard, her joy a physical thing to see. She collapsed on the grass under the tree and giggled when Kuma came and plopped into her lap. She looked back up at Cole, her eyes glowing with happiness.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole smiled as she approved of his idea. He laughed as she cahsed Kuma across the yard falling to the ground under the tree. He slowly stepped off the porch and walked her way. Her eyes, the way they shown in the light, they enticed him..., entranced him. Hopefully, by now, she knew that he would do anything she wished.

Cole knelt down next to her, placing his free hand on Kuma's back. "I actually do have a reason to go home here in about a week." He told her quietly, "I've already got clearance from Hammel. They're gonna let me go on the terms that I'm back by the next week's Monday classes. If you wanna come along, you're welcome to, baby."

He shifted his body so that he was sitting next to her. The grass provided enough cushion that it didn't cause his butt to go numb. Then he laid back and propped his head on his arm. He looked into her eyes, just wanting to get lost in her. Everything about her reminded him of why he cared for her so much. He stayed silent momentarily, then spoke again, "Plus, I would really like you to go with me."

[Taeyeon Kai]

When he walked toward her, everything in Taeyeon quivered at the sheer grace of him. He was tall, lean, and dressed as he was, she had quite a fantasy going on with that cowboy hat of his and the way she could ride his body like she rode her horses. She chuckled mentally when he sat beside her, petting the puppy in her lap. By the time he touched Kuma, the dog was happily snoozing away on her legs. When he spoke of a reason to go home, she looked up at him, a hint of worry in her eyes.

“Is something wrong back home?” she asked him quietly, mostly to not wake up the puppy. “I can’t go if something’s wrong, Cole. I mean, I would love to go, but if something’s there that you need to take care of, my presence would be more of a burden than a help, do you know what I mean?

“And what did I tell you about calling me baby? Sheesh, didn’t you learn last time?” She laughed gently, flicking the brim of his cowboy hat up away from his face. She leaned down and kissed his forehead, then sat back up and continued petting Kuma in her lap.

[Cole Kessler]

Cole laughed as she reiterated what happened in the parking lot the other night, "I'm sorry, sweetheart, it's habitual." He laughed as she kissed his forehead. He thought when she asked him if something was wrong. He'd not realized that his tone had made it seem so. Then again, he didn't want to think something couldn't go wrong once they were already there.

He readjusted his cowboy hat so that she could kiss him without having it bump her head when she did so. He looked at her body, the light from the sun reflected off of her skin bring to it a seeming glow. Cole's eyes were locked on her shoulder, but he spoke to her, "No, nothin's wrong. My old bandmembers want to do a reunion show. With me being lead vocalist and lead guitar, I kinda have to be there." Cole explained his reason to her.

It wasn't the only reason though, "Plus, Mom and Dad want me to bring you down for a visit. Not to mention I owe you a tractor ride, dear." Cole laughed as he remembered his promise to her from their date night. He kept his promises, especially the one's he would make to her.

[Taeyeon Kai]

Taeyeon mulled over his request for a moment, listening as Kuma started snoring lightly. She would need time off school, that was for sure. She would also need to ask her guardians if she could go. Michael was very big on staying in school and getting good grades, but her aunt would be all up for her niece to visit her boyfriend’s family, regardless of being in school. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, her thick mass of mahogany hair pressing against the bark of the tree as the breeze stirred.

“I’ll have to ask for permission, both from Oba and Oji, and from school, if I want to go anywhere,” she said softly, opening her eyes on a lazy sigh. “Oji will probably say no, since he wants me to stay in school and get good grades to get into a good college. Oba will probably say yes, since she’s a free spirit like myself and she’ll want me to have some adventure. So we’ll see if I can go anywhere.”

[Cole Kessler]

Cole knew what her answer would be before she even spoke. He should've known she'd have to ask permission from her Aunt and Uncle, not to mention her school. He did breathe a sigh of relief when he realized she hadn't said no straight off. "I knew you'd have to ask, that's why I told you about it. I didn't want to leave and you not know where I was going."

He grabbed his hat and removed it from his head, "Let's see, where can I put this so it don't get dirty?" He'd already made up his mind, but just wanted to play around a little. He looked at his girlfriend, "Ah, here we go." He said as he placed it on Taeyeon's head, tilting it forward a bit so that it didn't touch the tree.

He shifted his body again, laying perpendicular to Taeyeon's legs. Remaining on his back, he placed his head on her thigh, just below Kuma's make-shift bed in her lap. He looked up into the tree above them. The sunlight provided a nice glow to the leaves, but the real beauty was his cowboy hat wearing girlfriend looking back at him. He couldn't remember when he last felt this happy but he knew he never wanted this to end.

He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply as the breeze picked up. The smell of the food cooking inside filled the air around them. As he opened his eyes, Cole spoke, "Somethin's smellin' delicious."

[Taeyeon Kai]

Tae laughed when he put his hat on her head, tilting it over her eyes so it provided some shade. She settled back against the tree, closing her eyes as her fingers now combed through Cole’s hair and Kuma’s fur, calming both her boys as she enjoyed the day. She was calm, content, and happy, which hadn’t happened for a while. Not even with her meditation did she feel so…complete with the world.

Cole spoke again and she leaned forward, thumbing up the brim of the hat to look at the back porch. The window was open, letting the smell of her aunt’s cooking fill the air, and she took an experimental sniff. When the information processed in her head, she smiled. “Aunt Rei’s making some chili dogs. She always likes making food for visitors. Normally she makes something like sandwiches and such, but she must really like you if she’s making something hot.” She looked down at him tenderly, smiling as she leaned down and kissed his forehead again.