⍟ Broken Strings {A Chaos Theory x Male Reader Story - Yasmina}

𝟷. 𝙱𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜

"So, you just risked getting caught for no reason?" Yaz raises a brow.

"Hardly a risk..." Kenji pauses, "Cause I'm stealthy."

"You know, this place kinda reminds me of our sweet pad back at Camp C... Shame there's no slide though."

Sammy giggles at this.

"But, being cooped up in this container for over a week has really got me feeling straight-up like my old man. Like some sort of... ex-Kon." He snaps his fingers at the pun.

Ben let's out an awkward chuckle and Y/N just sighs, head in his hands.

"Isn't it a little soon to be making jokes about your deceased father?" Darius asks carefully.

Kenji scoffs, "Nah! I mean, he was already kinda dead to me anyway..."

Ben gasps and Darius shakes his head.

"Oh, Kenji..." Sammy frowns.

Kenji clears his throat, "Okay. Well, uh, I'm gonna grab some food." He heads for the door.

"So," Yaz looks around, "Anyone... gonna address that?"

"On it." Y/N jumps up, following after Kenji.

He steps into the food container, quietly shutting the door behind him.

"Hey," He watches as Kenji grabs a couple heads of lettuce, "Do we have any lettuce?" He teases, trying to ease into the conversation.

Kenji laughs loudly, "Good one, Strings! See, you get comedy."

"Do we have any lettuce?" He echoes with a chuckle.

"Hey," Y/N clears his throat, not any better at talking about feelings than he was when they had all first met, "You're good... right?"

"Of course!" Kenji beams, "Cool! Even cooler than cool!"

"Just call me the Arctic."

"Awesome..." Y/N's mouth flattens into a confused line, "And, you know, if you ever needed to talk about anything... I'm here. Right?"

"I know uh, it's not really the easiest thing, but uh, I don't want you to feel like you don't have anyone to talk to."

"Everyone knows how much I love to do things the easy way." Kenji focuses back on the lettuce with a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Kenj, I didn't mean--"

"No, no," Kenji cuts him off, "I know. I got you."

"Kenji, when my dad--"

"Y/N, you don't have to--" Kenji stops him again.

"I know." Y/N smiles, "I want to. If not for you, then for me."

Kenji nods, picking through the wilted lettuce.

"When my dad died," Y/N goes on, "We weren't on good terms. We never were. I was only 11, but I swore I wouldn't go to his funeral. And I didn't. As much as my mom begged me to."

"He wasn't-- He wasn't a good guy. But he was my dad, and he did what he thought was best for me. Maybe out of love... or maybe out of obligation. Either way, I loved my dad, Kenji. And I regret not going to his funeral every day. Even now."

"All I'm saying is," He sighs, "I know your dad isn't my dad, and you're not me, but... not forgiving him now, isn't gonna make it hurt any less."

"So, y'know," He clears his throat, "Uh, do with that what you will." He pats Kenji on the shoulder.

"Yeah, thanks." Kenji nods, tossing the lettuce back into the crate, "These are all wilted. I'm gonna go get more."

"Do you want me to come w--"