Chapter Fourteen
Spiro
“What are you wearing?” I asked Kaos when he appeared in the living room.
“Clothes.” He spread his arms and twirled once.
I eyed his outfit with due scepticism. As usual, he had one of his oversized hoodies on, but instead of just socks, he also had black skinny jeans and a thin leather jacket. At least his knee-high boots looked suitable for the weather.
I put all four tentacles on my hips. “I can see that. But we’re going out, so you need something warmer.”
“That’s all I got. But the socks under these bad boys have a Christmas tree pattern if that helps.” The grin he offered me was infectious, but I shook my head.
How was I to survive this day without him on his back and me giving him all the orgasms he very nicely begged for?
“How did you not freeze to death on your way here from the airport?”
“I took a cab.”
“Right. We’re planning to take a walk; you’ll be cold.”
“You’ll keep me warm.” He grinned.
I scooped him up and twirled him around. “Yes, but we’re getting you a proper coat.”
“Only if it matches my style.”
“I’m sure they have black clothes in Chicago. Actually, I know just the store for you.”
“Well, then show me.”
“You and your sassy mouth.” Oh how I love it. My hearts staccatoed at the thought as panic flooded my veins.
I set Kaos on the ground, and he was out the door like a toy I’d wound up with a key.
My brain has been spiraling into dangerous territory since Kaos burst into my life.
I’d had dreams of him in my house in Greece, doing puzzles on the living room carpet, smiling at me when I entered.
I had to keep repeating to myself that what I had with Kaos, no matter how good, was a holiday fling, nothing else.
“Are you coming?” He yelled through the open door.
“With you? Always.” I smirked.
He giggled, stomping in the snow on the side of the pathway I’d been shoveling all morning when he’d been asleep.
I put on the herringbone woollen coat designed to let my upper tentacles have separate sleeves.
The lower ones, I wrapped around my waist. I could only shift my legs; my other tentacles couldn’t transform, so I wasn’t able to look fully human.
It used to upset me as a child, but a lot had changed since then.
Both of my brothers and I could shift, but to different extents.
With time and mixed marriages, some abilities were being lost on species; others skipped a generation or two, only to reappear much stronger.
We took the UP-N then L’s Blue, then Red Lines to get to downtown Chicago.
Kaos stayed glued to my side, but in an unsettled way rather than affectionate like he would be at home.
Instead of his usual chatter, he remained quiet, keeping his hands in his pockets unless he was pulling his knitted hat lower on his head.
“Are you okay?” I asked when we stepped out of the subway and walked toward where North Michigan Avenue met the Chicago River.
He looked around as if he were a burglar on the loose, and nodded. “Are you not cold in your tentacles?”
“You know I adapt to the outside temperature. What’s up, Kaos? You can talk to me.” I reached for his hand, and he stared at it with wonder before he took it. The trembling in his icy fingers didn’t stop, even as they grew warmer during our walk.
We took the Michigan Avenue Bridge’s steps up to the street and looked across the river at the Wrigley Building.
Kaos pointed at it. “This is a building and tower that were built in the French Renaissance-style architecture.” He opened his phone to skim his travel notes. “That means we should walk this way.”
“Stand here. I can see the tower and the river from this angle.” I let go of his hand, stepped back and pulled out my phone.
Looking at him through the lens, I marvelled at his beauty: his cheeks were pinched by the cold air, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, and his smile was mysteriously small.
I took a picture and tried not to think that soon it would be a token of a great memory, not the beginning of something bigger.
I needed the remaining time I had with Kaos to be as carefree as possible without spoiling it with what-ifs.
I blew him a kiss and he giggled. Then I snapped several more pictures of his gorgeous smile before I linked our hands together to walk wherever he’d choose.
As we got lost in the holiday crowds of the city, Kaos regained his chatter. He’d spent the previous evening researching the route and places he wanted to stop by. He talked about the snow and read interesting facts about them as we passed by.
I’d been very wrong about Kaos the day he’d knocked on the door, and from what little he’d told me about his family, they didn’t know who he really was.
It had only been nine days since then, but Kaos had been helping me in the kitchen, making sure the house was in order before dinner, and doing tiny things that brought a smile to my face, like pouring my favorite juice when I was too busy cooking to do it myself.
All the while, he’d been posting about food and planning more trips to the city.
He was a ball of energy and utilised that not only to be productive, but to participate in my routines as well.
I was so used to living alone, I’d never thought anyone could so effortlessly be a part of my day and make every minute so much better.
We stopped at the Water Tower Place shopping center, and Kaos glanced at his notes.
“There are about seventy stores inside.” He looked up.
“Including the one I want to take you to.” I pulled him closer to me and felt how cold he was despite holding him as we walked. “I did some of my research as well, and I know you’ll find a coat in here.”
We entered the department store, took the escalator to the first floor, and passed by various stores ranging from sparkly jewellery and perfume to lingerie.
“It’s warm here.” Kaos loosened his scarf. He still had his big woolen hat on, and his tail was still tucked up into his hoodie.
“You can take your hat off.”
Kaos shook his head.
I had suspicions as to why he was so adamant about keeping it down over his ears throughout our trip. I wasn’t a violent person on a bad day, but anyone who’d hurt Kaos would not be happy if our paths ever crossed.
“Would it help if I let my tentacles out?”
Kaos nodded, his bottom lip quivering.
I shed my coat and wrapped all four tentacles around him, right there in the middle of the mall. The feeling of being constricted in clothes was gone, and Kaos was touching me. How was it possible that I missed the feel of him? I’d held his hand on the way here, for fucks’s sake.
I knelt to envelop him in my embrace. While my breathing relaxed, Kaos’s hitched.
He was glancing around frantically. Sure, several people stared at me, but that was normal when a 6’ 4” burgundy-skinned guy with many wiggly limbs walked into a store. But I knew there was more to it.
Kaos wrapped one of my tentacles over his waist, slid his hat off, and ruffled his hair. His ears had been flattened against his head, but now they sprang up to their full glory.
“Freaks!” someone yelled.
“That’s unnatural!” came another voice.
I would have ignored the blatant call for attention, but Kaos froze next to me. His body went rigid, and he tucked his tail closer to himself as if he tried to make himself smaller.
“Don’t mind them.” I stepped in front of Kaos and took his hands. “They’re idiots.”
“I shouldn’t have taken my hat off.” Kaos’s bottom lip trembled.
“Abomination!” the first idiot yelled again.
I glared over Kaos’s head, I flipped him the bird and stood up to my full height of 6’ 4” which complemented my sturdy build. I let my tentacles float around me like snakes ready to attack. My grandma taught me that move when I was a kid, and it worked like a charm to this day.
I walked slowly, but they remained frozen anyway. “Now apologize.”
“I’m sorry.” They both said in unison. Up close, I judged their age as a teenager and a man in his forties. The latter should know better. The former hopefully would after today.
“Not to me.” I nodded at Kaos, and both scumbags glanced at each other.
“We’re sorry,” they said to Kaos.
“You can be scared, but don’t hate what you don’t understand. I’d never hurt you for no reason, so why would you verbally abuse me or him?” I tucked Kaos close to me.
“It won’t happen again,” the younger one said, and I caught the older guy glaring at him. Well, I couldn’t change the world in a day.
“Good.” I reclaimed Kaos’s hand, and we passed by them, joining the crowd of cryptids that had gathered in what seemed to be support for us.
I was always aware of the privilege that being tall and muscled gave me over bullies and bigots, but it was only when I held a trembling Kaos in my arms that I truly understood the magnitude of it.
A thought struck me. What if I kept him safe forever with me? He’d never have to know the fear of being left alone and getting picked on by someone bigger.
But he was not mine. Or was he?
“Hold your head high, my kitten. I got you.” I tilted his head up with a finger under his chin.
His eyes gleamed with tears; his pink cheeks held salty droplets sliding down. I scooped one with my thumb and licked it.
His cheeks and neck were covered in fluff, but it disappeared in a blink. Was I seeing things?
Kaos offered me a small smile. “That was badass.”
“I only told them to apologize.”
Kaos giggled, his face lighting up.
The joyous sound was the most beautiful music to my ears. My precious kitten should never be afraid. Not on my watch.
Our destination was right around the corner. The BlackHorns brand was famous for their cryptid clothes and tailoring services. They would definitely have a coat Kaos would like.
“This is the store I told you about.” I touched him above his tail, directing him inside.
“I know it, but doesn’t it carry only fancy stuff?” Kaos took the place in, scanning the shirts, suits, and dresses.