The Casual Distraction of the Book Nerd [Nerd-Boy]

[Deleted]

Kodi had no idea what was going on in Gryph's mind. He wished he did. He wished he knew what he could do to make him the smiling, joking goof he had been not five minutes earlier. But it was honestly, probably better that he didn't know - otherwise he would likely be sent off to juvie for what he'd do to the asshole that had made Gryphon this way.

So he just stood there in front of his boyfriend, feeling useless and concerned and a little bit frustrated at himself for not being better at this shit. Kodi peeked around the corner, making sure his boss wasn't nearby to ask what was going on, but they seemed to be alone.

When the older boy finally did speak, Kodi focused his attention entirely back on him. He let Gryph pull him into his embrace, letting his own arms loop loosely around the boy's lower back. "So... It was Nick?" he mumbled into Gryphon's shoulder. That definitely explained the timing. "Must be a pretty shitty relationship for you t'react the way you did..." The dentokinetic suddenly became very wary of the seemingly alright guy. "Sh... Should I ask what happened, or....?" Kodi didn't want to push Gryph for answers, but he wanted to offer a listening ear if that's what the older boy needed.

He glanced around the corner again, wondering if Nick was still around, and pulled away just enough to tug Gryphon towards the back of the store. "C'mon, I can take my break now," he suggested, leading the winged meta gently towards the break room. Fortunately, it was empty. It wasn't a lot, just a room with a couch and a few chairs and a small refrigerator. Kodi flopped down onto the couch and focused himself back on the upset boy. "I don't really know Nick all that well," he admitted. "He's been workin' here longer than I have, though. I thought he seemed alright, but... Well, obviously that ain't the case." There was no reason for him to not believe Gryph. Just because someone seemed alright didn't mean they were.

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

Gryph did not need Kodi to be sent off to jail, no thank you. He was helping Gryphon more than he probably realized, he couldn't suddenly poof.

He nodded slowly, "Yeah..." If he hadn't been on the verge of breaking down, which wasn't normal for the older boy, he probably would've snorted in response to Kodi's comment about the state of their relationship. Yeah, pretty shitty didn't exactly cover all of it. Instead, he just closed his eyes and grimaced slightly, "It's not... I dunno... I don't like his company." Don't like his company, his damn company gave him brui hurt him, and in more ways than one. He didn't want Kodi to be around Nick, but what could he do? Demand that he gave up his job? That was stupid.

He tilted his head slightly, "I...I don't think you'll wanna hear it." He was trying to be honest, without having to discuss details. Maybe... maybe later. When it was a private conversation, and not one in the middle of a book store.

Gryph was usually pretty quiet, but this was a different kind of quiet. Not a 'there's nothing that needs to be said' quiet, more a 'I have so much to say but I can't and won't form the words' kind of quiet. He let himself be lead into the empty room, following in Kodi's actions as well, sitting on the couch next to him. He smiled, but it was a knowing smile, of course he seemed alright... "If he wasn't so smart, he probably would've become an actor. He's good at coverin' his ass and improvisin' when he needs to, like when he-" Nope, stop talking. For someone who didn't say much, Gryph was good at almost blabbing. He scraped a hand through his hair and breathed, "...he... he's not a good person, I can say that much." Details were difficult... they always would be.

[Deleted]

Kodi snorted a little, shaking his head at Gryphon's vague responses. "I can tell," he replied, wanting to prod for more information due to his burning curiosity, but managing not to demand too many answers from the older boy. That Gryph "didn't like Nick's company" seemed awfully mild compared to how he'd reacted to seeing the other boy, so Kodi knew there was a lot he wasn't telling.

His eyes narrowed a bit and his expression became more serious, more somber. "I dunno what happened, but I doubt there's much you could tell me that I couldn't handle," he replied, albeit a little warily. "I been through shit too, y'know, so I can relate."

But he understood that the older boy wouldn't want to talk where they might be overheard, which was why Kodi led Gryphon to the other room. He settled his hand on his boyfriend's thigh, rubbing up and down its length in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. Kodi listened silently as he spoke, trying to make sense of the little information he was given. "Well.... He sounds like a shit person t'me," he mumbled. "What were you... Friends or somethin'?" A manipulative sort of friendship, maybe? He didn't know. "I mean, you don't gotta worry 'bout me, I can take care of myself, but I don't want you... You know, freakin' out every time you come in here." There was a worried crease in his brow that had settled in place for the past several minutes.

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

The winged boy bit his lip - he really was being obvious. In nothing more than the fact that there was something he was avoiding saying. He didn't usually... well, at least, he didn't like being vague. If you were vague, it made people suspicious, and then they jump to assumptions... usually caused some kind of drama. When he didn't like, want or need it. But it was difficult to be honest about something which upset him so much.

Well... well, while it wasn't deadly serious... Gryph knew it was pretty bad. It definitely wasn't something he went around telling people - Kodi might not have even found out about Gryphon's connection to Nick if he hadn't just run into him. And... he knew Kodi had been through a lot, but that made him even more cautious to tell him. It wasn't fair... and there were people who had been through a lot worse, he didn't deserve to have the attention put on it. He didn't want to have the attention put on it... "I know..." He almost felt like he was overreacting.

Gryph breathed a little more evenly, "We were... pretty good friends, at one point..." Breathe, breathe... He looked over at Kodi and frowned. No... no, he was fine, "I'm fine, seriously. I'll... get used to it. It's fine. Don't worry about me." But he decided, he needed to be less cryptic. As much as he hated reminding himself of it all... but he probably wouldn't say everything. Just the bare necessities. "...we used t'be, y'know... boyfriends." Or, at least, going out. Nick said that they were boyfriends, but it'd only been two months. Then again, he and Kodi... whatever, he was getting distracted, "He wasn't exactly... carin'. Well, he was at first, but then..." He was rambling. He took a breath, "He seemed alright, and then he wasn't, and then he broke it off. It was two years ago, y'know... he was the last person I'd kissed, before... you." He bit his lip so hard right then, not sure what else to say, or if that was enough. He avoided making eye contact with Kodi for God knows what reason, and sighed. He was missing out a lot of the worst stuff, but... it was a lot, to have this piled back on him again. It'd taken him so longer to realize that it wasn't his fault, that it was Nick and... the moment he recognized him, he felt like he'd done something wrong again. By just being there. And he hated it, and he never wanted to feel like that again.

[Deleted]

Grrrr.... Kodi wished he was better at this shit. Better at comforting people, making them feel like they could tell him what was bothering them and what he could do to help. Well... Okay, he didn't really want to help anyone other than Gryphon, but still. That explained why he sucked at it, at least - not experience. But he could see the pain and hesitation on his boyfriend's features, and it made his heart twist in his chest. He tried to comfort him by giving him soft, supportive touches, but he didn't know how much that was even helping.

He was quiet at first, hoping it would help Gryphon talk. But only a few seconds in, Kodi's jealousy flared, and he instantly hackled up, obviously put-off by this information. "Boyfriends?" he growled, not upset at Gryph, just at the situation. "An... An ex is makin' you act like this?" Something seriously fucked up must have happened. Kodi had no previous serious relationships himself, but even he knew someone shouldn't cringe away from the past like Gryphon had when he saw Nick. He went quiet again, but his fists were clenched, even as he tried to relax and pull his arm around the older boy and hold him against his shoulder. "Hell, I must not've been the most welcome first kiss you had after a bad relationship..." he mumbled, wondering not for the first time what Gryph had ever seen in him. Shit... Was he being a bad boyfriend too, and Gryphon wasn't telling him?

"..... Should I beat him up?" he asked, only half-joking. "'Cause I will. Ain't no one gonna make my... Make you feel that way without me doin' somethin' about it." His arm tightened around Gryph's shoulders, and Kodi started to stand, as though prepared to march right out there and land a heavy fist over Nick's face. Even not knowing all the details, he was mad. Gryphon didn't deserve to feel this way. Not at all. And causing the person who'd made him feel this way pain was the only way he knew how to handle situations.

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

Gryphon wished there was something Kodi could do to help this situation, his memories, his panic and frustration and fear and anger and everything - he wished there was something that the other boy could do to stop it. Or that there was something Gryphon himself could do to stop it, but... there wasn't. As far as he knew, he was just gonna have to ride this out until a solution revealed itself.

He should've known that it would strike a chord. Gryph looked over at Kodi and how he was acting - this was why he was being so vague about it. If Kodi was just angered at the fact that they had been boyfriends, knowing the more serious details behind it was clearly going to have a bold effect. He was truly glad of the fact that Kodi cared so much... but he could risk it.

He heard Kodi mumble as the younger boy pulled him close, and Gryphon shook his head slightly, "I kissed you, didn't I?" He said softly, pecking his shoulder, "Believe me, I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want it." Gryph knew about making his boundaries clear, and the importance of communication when it came to a close relationship. And he was lacking in communication when it came to this conversation, but this was situation specific. And... and he'd tell him at some point, right?

It was tempting, the idea of seeing Nick's face pummeled. But... Gryph didn't deal with situations using violence (not unless he was truly angry and had lost his sense). And... what he remembered of Nick was starting to take effect. The idea that... it wasn't so bad. Nick had just being trying to care for him, protect him. He didn't mean any harm, it was an accident... so he couldn't have any harm come to him, either. Gryphon frowned and stood in front of Kodi - it wasn't like any of the other times where he'd stopped Kodi from being violent, when his features had been harsh. This times, they were somber, soft, borderlining on nonchalant, "Don't. Please, you don't need to..." He sighed, "...I know as well as anyone that what Nick did when we were together was... not good. But please don't cause any more violence, Kodi." Any more violence. That was probably the biggest hint he was gonna get.

Gryph hugged himself, trying to pull his mind out of its sadder state, the same state he'd been trying to get rid of over the two-ish years, and looked at Kodi, "...sorry." Sorry for what? This was ridiculous and he knew it, yet his real voice wouldn't take a stand.

[Deleted]

Kodi sighed, looking down at the floor. He wasn't going to say it aloud, but maybe Gryph was just... Really shitty at picking boyfriends. First this asshole that had obviously traumatized him to some extent, and now Kodi, who was another mess entirely. Granted, he didn't want to ever hurt Gryph, but what if he somehow did anyway? He couldn't tell the future. Fuck... "Yeah, I guess you did," he mumbled with a small, sideways smile, raising a hand to brush a strand of hair behind Gryphon's ear. "I kept tryin' t'get you t'fuck me, though... But I'm... Glad you didn't give in until you wanted to." Even if it had been torture at the time, Kodi wasn't upset about it - he likely wouldn't have stuck around to get to know Gryph past the sex if they'd hooked up right away.

Unfortunately, Kodi did try to solve his problems with violence, which was likely why his problems never seemed to get better. He was all set to beat this guy's face in and probably lose his job, but Gryph blocked him off, and the dentokinetic faltered, features torn. "He hurt you," he protested. "He hurt you a lot. You can't hide that from me." The violence comment only made him angrier. "What did he do t'you? Did he abuse you? Did he hit you? Is that why you cringed away from him?!" Kodi's canines started to elongate until they passed over his bottom lip, matching the snarl that had taken over his face.

"Don't fuckin' apologize for him," he growled. All thoughts that Nick was a decent guy had completely fled Kodi's mind. "He'll be beggin' for you t'forgive him after I'm done knockin' his teeth of of his face!" Bristling, he brushed past Gryphon, completely set on the next course of action.

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

Nick seemed nice, he seemed like a good guy, and they were close friends before all that happened. Gryphon never could've predicted what lay underneath. And Kodi... well, everyone had their issues. For some people, it was more evident. But you had to look past that sometimes, to ignore it. Gryph did that when he met Kodi, and he was glad of it, to no end. He may not 'pick' the best people to be his boyfriends, in some people's books, but he did it for the right reasons.

Gryph smiled gently and looked down, chuckling lightly, "There's more t'life than fuckin'." He mumbled, shaking his head at his own words.

But the mood had changed very rapidly, and Gryphon tried to catch up with it. He was trying to think of the right words to say, but after that 'violence' comment slipped out, he kinda... froze. If he said anything other than 'yes' right now, he would be distinctly lying. And he didn't want to lie, but if he danced around it, it would be obvious too. So he just sighed and bit his lips, looking up at the ceiling and trying to work out how to calm Kodi down, because yes, his history with Nick was bad, and yes, that man roaming around out there may well be one of the only people he could definitively say he despised (along within his dad).

But he had nothing. No words, no actions of any use. He usually did pretty terribly when it can to conflict and thinking fast, as much as he tried and sometimes succeeded. Today was a bad day.

He tensed at those final words, and faught with whatever was blocking him from moving to do something. He turned to the younger boy, "Kodiak Oubre, for God's sake, stop!" Gryph bolted over to the door and stood in front of it. What he was about to do was... possibly stupid.

"Okay, I am not goin' t'repeat this again because I never wanted to in the first place, but you might as well know, especially seein' as you want t'smash his head in." He panted slightly as he spoke, "A short while after I got together with Nick, he started restrictin' everythin' I did. You say you're a jealous type? He was worse, so much worse. I couldn't go anywhere without him, or without his permission. If I did anythin' wrong, he did somethin' about it. My friends told me it was madness, but it was my first damn relationship! And I was about as naive as a six year old, I told them it was fine, and it was normal, and that it was fine because it was only because he cared.

"I let him boss me about and take rule of me and my actions. At one point, someone finally convinced me t'go against his will - an act've rebellion or whatever. But half an hour doin' somethin' "wrong" killed me, I couldn't bear the thought that I was lettin' him down. I went back t'my dorm, and..." Surprisingly, this was the first time he stumbled. He felt an eye prickle and took a big breath, before continuing, "He hit me." It wasn't the first time, but it was one of the worst, "Punched me right across the face. Told me things I didn't expect t'hear anyone tell me. I was worthless, pathetic, stupid. It hurt, so bad." Gryphon knew this would be making an awful reaction, "Kodi, when you hurt other people, I see that. I see him hittin' me, I see him hurtin'... other people. I know he's a bastard, and he doesn't deserve t'be protected, but for fuck's sake," his breaths heaved, and he looked earnestly into Kodi's eyes (or at least, tried to), "Don't let me see him in you. Because you're nothin' like him, and you shouldn't... I hate him. Detest him. I don't wanna start hating you, I can't, I... I," He swallowed, "I need you."

[Deleted]

Kodi's vision had set into the sort of blood-rage that overcame him sometimes, when he was particularly pissed of at someone or something for one reason or another. Very little would change this track of mind - once he'd set his predatory senses on his victim, people best get out of his way unless they wanted to get hurt too. So when Gryphon blocked him off again, Kodi snarled, showing off the lines of his teeth, all of which had sharpened now. "Get out of the way!" he growled; his vision was red, blurred. His hands had curled into fists; it was only a matter of time before he had to hit something, or someone. Not Gryphon, though - never Gryphon. If he had to, he'd hit a wall. But he had to do something!

He paused only to let Gryph explain himself more, but what he was saying wasn't helping the situation at all. "For fuck's sake, you're not makin' me want t'put a hole in his face any less!" he hissed, kohl-lined eyes narrowed and sparkling with rage.

It only intensified more when Gryphon confirmed what Kodi had asked, that this fucker, this worthless piece of shit, had dared to lay a hand on him. On his sweet, kind, too-understanding Gryph. Kodi shook with hardly contained fury, his teeth growing sharper and more shark-like with each growing moment. I'll kill him, he thought. He didn't say it aloud for fear of frightening his boyfriend. But he would. Nick was a dead man walking. "I'll make him pay for every word an' hand he laid against you," he said quietly, his voice hardly a rasping whisper. He began to walk forward again, intent on pushing the older boy out of the way to go and find that excuse for a person when Gryph began speaking again.

At first Kodi didn't hear what he was saying - it was just noise, not important, wasn't going to change his mind on what he was going to do. But a few words slipped past his deaf ears and he halted, eyes widening and slowly swiveling to rest on Gryphon's face. He was breathing hard, probably red in the cheeks, the image of a predator about to slay its next victim. But.... No. He couldn't... What Gryphon was saying...

Kodi's head reeled back, and after a few moments of standing still, he let out a choking, feral sound, spinning away from the door and throwing his fist against the lockers in the room. He didn't even register if he hurt his hand, though it wouldn't be a surprise if his knuckles split from the impact. "What do you want me t'do!?" he demanded, his voice rasping and pained. "I can't just... Just... Act like nothin' happened...!" He turned back to Gryphon, looking more uncertain than furious now, but his teeth were still sharp and his breathing hard.

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

Gryphon knew it was a rash decision to make - he was going out on a limb and doing something that would either stop him in his tracks... or make him even more furious. But it wasn't like he had the time to decide whether or not it was a good idea. He had mere seconds, and he had no other plan of what do to. And as much as it hurt him to be reminded of all of it, if that was what he had to do to stop Kodi's violence, then so be it.

What else could he say though? There was no bigger lie in that moment than to say something like 'oh, it's okay, I'm fine' to the feral boy. Gryph could imagine him scoffing and snarling, retorting about how it was wrong and unfair, which was completely true. The avian boy always gave it less attention than it needed, and time didn't make it any less important.

He tried to ignore the anger in Kodi's eyes, the fire that pushed behind him, making him act as he did. He honestly had perfectly good reason to be angry - Gryphon would be the same way if Kodi had turned around and told him something similar - but not so seriously. He would've been angry enough to want to give the person a piece of his mind, maybe, but not a hit from his fist. And he didn't want to be the cause of more pain, even if it was to the person who had hurt him so much. Returning the favour wasn't winning, it was just showing that he was as bad as Nick, and that... that wasn't true. Kodi was not as bad as Nick, he never would be.

He flinched at the harsh words, and seeing Kodi in such a volatile state was doing nothing to help his own emotions, which were peaking as he tried to hold Kodi back as well as calm him down, without lying to him or making him feel worse (he wasn't doing a brilliant job, but this was increasingly painful and difficult).

Gryphon tensed as the enraged boy seemed set on going past him, ready to stand his ground... when nothing came. He looked again, and... and it was that same Kodi from in the halls of the dorms that one day, ages back. Maybe even worse. But it cut into him like nothing else. Gryph panted too, trying not to think about Nick too much, or what Kodi must've been thinking, of him, what happened to him, and in general, he was trying to stay strong and not just break down on the spot.

He jolted at the sound of strong contact and his eyesight jumped to Kodi's hand, strongly concerned for his physical well-being as well now, and not just what he was thinking and feeling inside. But, unlike Kodi, Gryphon was frozen on the spot. He had a couple of tears on his cheeks, which he swiped away as soon as his eyes caught on Kodi's. Those sharpened teeth. Gryph shook his head, no, no, he told himself, don't be...

...don't be scared. Was he... scared of Kodi? No, he couldn't. No, he wouldn't let himself be so weak and selfish as to be scared of his own boyfriend, especially seeing as it was his words, his actions that had caused him to be acting like this. He would not be scared. He took a shaky breath and rubbed his face, shaking his head again, "...I-I don't know." He knew he was almost crying, and he didn't want to cry, no, "I-It's not like..." This was the wrong thing to say, "It's not like I've acted like nothin's happened." He said. He wanted to step forward and close the distance between them, calm him with comforting words, conceal him in an embrace or something, but he couldn't bring himself to move. His other hand went to his face, and he covered his eyes, "Please, Kodi, please... please." He mumbled, "I've spent... a long time dealin' with this." He coughed and sniffed a little, feeling a few loose tears free themselves and drip down. "I know... I know it's hard t'hide it, but please... don't do anythin'. Please."

He looked up with red eyes. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to just have this day start all over again. Or, at least, for his ability to become something of teleportation, so he could just hide.

[Deleted]

That was where the two boys differed. Gryphon was too kind, too soft-hearted to ever hurt anyone, even if they'd done bad to him; Kodi admired it, in some ways, but it also... Frustrated him. The way he saw things, fists spoke a lot faster and louder than words sometimes, and some people were too thick to get through anyway. Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do. Maybe Gryph's ways were better. But... It was damn satisfying to hear that dull thud, if nothing else.

But this was why Gryphon deserved so much better than him. All Kodi was doing was making the damn thing worse, and he didn't even know it. He was too blind do see how much he was upsetting his lover, how much worse he was hurting this ridiculous person he had the pleasure to call his boyfriend. All he wanted was revenge for something he hadn't even experienced.

He hadn't felt this angry in a long time. Not since that letter he'd gotten from his parents, at least. Maybe even more than that. Because this wasn't his past he was getting worked up over, but that of the person who he cared more about than anyone else. His actions, though awful, dangerous, and frightening, were all done for his affections for Gryphon. He was just doing it all wrong.

It was the tears on Gryph's face that finally broke him. Kodi went slack with horror, realizing he'd done this, he'd caused the older boy to get even more upset than he'd been already. "G-Gryph," he stammered, ignoring the throbbing, stabbing pain that he suddenly felt in his hand as he threw his arms around the taller boy, burying Gryph's head against his own chest and nestling his face into the winged meta's hair. "Fuck, I-I'm sorry, I d-didn't mean t'make you cry...!"

He felt his teeth start to retract back to their normal shape as he clung to his boyfriend, trembling with horror as he finally fell down from that dangerous high. "I don't want t'just do nothin'," he mumbled into the back of Gryphon's head. "I-I can't stand the thought of... Of someone hurtin' you... You're a fuckin' angel, you can't... No..." Kodi fell off into incomprehensible mumbles, wondering how the hell he'd even ended up in this situation.

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

It wasn't like Gryphon didn't have the physical capability to hit someone, and hard, and it wasn't like... he hadn't done it before. And he would possibly do it again, he didn't know, it depended on the situation - but it wasn't his solution for everything. He knew Kodi wasn't exactly a gentle soul, but... well, Gryph felt greedy, selfish. Here he was, getting extremely worked up by himself, whilst his boyfriend was in need of attention, or at least, some help in calming down. So Gryphon had to calm down first.

But he couldn't. Of course he couldn't.

At the sound of his name, he twitched. His face made an frown and he hid it with both hands, trying to make himself breathe and stop and... he curled into Kodi, the moment the opportunity arose. He couldn't cope right now, with his conscience telling him what to do, his mind reminding him of everything and his body failing to keep up with everything. He shook his head slightly, trying to form the words to deny what Kodi was saying, because it wasn't (entirely) his fault, but he just... he...

Gryph's body convulsed a little as he tried to suppress his tears and everything, as much as he wanted to just let it all go. He curled up a little more, "...I'm no angel." He croaked, "J-Just 'cause I got w-wings, doesn't make me..." He trailed off and swallowed, "...you don't know how a-angry I've got, s-sometimes. About this, about... h-him..." He pushed himself up a little and wrapped his arms around Kodi, "I l-love that you care so much. 'Cause I haven't told anyone else about him, n-not even Phen, no-one." He breathed, "But he won't hurt me again." He leaned his head against Kodi's, giving a small, watery smile, "'Cause I got you." It was the intimacy of his and Nick's relationship which made it worse to remember, and worse to burden at the time. Kodi... he had Kodi. And Kodi had him. They had each other. It would be alright.

And Gryphon was going to avoid contact with Nick at all costs. And was going to avoid getting Kodi into contact with him. Which would be difficult, considering. He could feel the residue of some of his tears still on his face, but he didn't care. He just left them there, and let himself take the comfort he needed from just... being close to someone.

[Deleted]

No... Gryphon shouldn't feel guilty for making Kodi react the way he did. He was the victim here, not the dentokinetic. Kodi was glad, in a way, that he'd told him, so he knew just what Nick was like - but he was just so, so mad. He would be fine, though. He just needed to make sure Gryph would be, too.

"Fuck..." he whispered, holding more tightly to the older boy as he trembled in Kodi's arms. "I shouldn't have... I'm such a..." He growled and shook his head uselessly. "You're a much better person than I'll ever be, and don't say it's not true, because it is," he mumbled. "You deserve t'be angry. There's... Nothin' wrong with that. He's an asshole." Kodi blinked and looked down as Gryph straightened, scuffing his foot on the floor. "... Sorry I exploded, though..." he replied quietly. "I'm glad you told me, but... I ain't good with helpin' people with shit like this..." His eyes lifted as Gryph leaned in, and he allowed a small smile to touch his lips. "I ain't goin' anywhere," he promised. "An' I'm gonna make sure that fucker never touches you again."

He stayed quite for another moment or two, just mulling in his thoughts, before he sighed and slowly pulled himself away to look at his hand. "Ah, fuck, not again," he grumbled, scowling. Two of his knuckles had smashed through the skin, leaving a bloodier mess than he wanted to deal with. "I gotta clean this out before I go back out there, or else my boss'll be askin' questions..."

[Gryphon Matsuoka]

Gryph tried to let his mind go blank, just listening to Kodi's words and blanking out everything else that was making him act in the way he was. Of course, his first reaction to what Kodi had said about being a good person was to deny it, but he refused that before Gryphon could even suggest it. Kodi wasn't perfect - no-one was, Gryph wasn't, himself. The idea of someone being perfect was a desire that was out of reach and which would feel unnatural if someone ever ran into it. So he couldn't expect Kodi to be perfect, he didn't want Kodi to be perfect! ...but he didn't want him to believe he was as terrible as he seemed to think.

Nick was an asshole. He was a million things, and an asshole was most definitely one of them.

Gryph shook his head slightly, "It's..." Was it alright? "...it's okay." Even if he didn't show the intensity of his emotions quite like Kodi did, he knew the frustration of all of this first hand. But he smiled, letting it all settle at the back of his mind again. He'd be fine, "...good." He said, contentedly.

When Kodi pulled away, Gryph did the same, sighing and wiping his face again, just in case. Once he caught sight of Kodi's hand, he frowned again, "Fuck, how d'you even manage t'do that..." He was more concerned for Kodi's well being than any blood or anything else. He glanced at the door, wondering if anyone had heard anything of what had been happening beforehand. He was going to say he would help, but that much could be expected. But he didn't know where anything was, so he kind of stood there uselessly.

[Deleted]

If only Gryph knew all that Kodi had done... He wondered if he would even want to be with him. He knew Oriel struggled with the same feelings with Phoenix; they both had histories that neither wanted to delve into that much, for their own sake as much as those they cared about.

It wasn't alright, but Kodi sighed and accepted what Gryph said, wishing he could do or say something that would make this all better and so they could forget about his outburst. Rather than helping, he still felt like he'd made the whole ordeal worse. And, worst of all, he couldn't promise what he would or wouldn't do the next time he saw Nick.

He bit his lip and glanced away from Gryph as he wiped away his tears, fidgeting uncomfortably. "Fuck if I know," he grunted, starting to head over to the sink. Kodi winced as he ran lukewarm water over the injury. "Better than smashin' someone's face in, though..." He trailed off. Once the wound was washed out, he grabbed a roll of bandages from the first aid kit and wrapped it several times around his hand, taping it off once it seemed alright. "I... I better get back t'work," he sighed, catching Gryph's fingers lightly. "Are you gonna be okay?"