head over heels

54 ~ the cat is out of the bag (literally)

They didn't have practice the next morning, for which Evan was infinitely grateful. However, getting himself, and a pitiful Kei out of bed to go to class was quite possibly the last thing Evan wanted to be doing.

He wanted to stay here, with Kei, alone together all day.

But alas, reality was a complete and utter bitch.

There was also the looming weight of Theo's threat ahead of them. It was horribly nerve wracking. It was the first thing he thought about as he woke up. He tried to focus on Kei's arms around him, but really, it was obvious enough by now that Evan just couldn't turn his brain off.

He rolled around so that he was facing his boyfriend, whose eyes were closed in sleep.

Tiredly, he checked the time. Seven thirty.

Gently, he prodded Kei's shoulder. The boy groaned, his eyes fluttering open. Evan noticed the bruising on his face had darkened overnight, leaving him with a few patchy, mottled bluish purple bruises under his eye and over his jaw.

Evan sighed.

"Hey," Kei groaned, slowly shifting so that his head rested on the pillow beside Evans.

"Hey," Evan murmured, letting out a tiny grumble into the crook of Kei's neck. "M'tired already."

Sleepily, Kei nodded.

"Yeah," was all he could reply.

"You wanna do the thing today?" Evan murmured.

Kei nodded again. "Better get it over with huh."

"Ugh."

Kei made a similar noise of tired frustration, burying his face in his hands.

"Should I just tell them?"

Evan ran a gentle hand over Kei's shoulder. "You don't have to, you know that right, I can just leave the team like—"

Kei batted him away, grabbing his face in his hands. "No, we're doing this."

"But—"

"You're not the only one stuck under his thumb now Evan," Kei murmured, "We are not letting him win." He looked stubborn, with that look on his face he always had when he was determined to learn some volleyball move.

Slowly, Evan nodded, "Okay, but—"

"No buts," Kei blurted out, slapping a hand over Evans mouth, "We're doing this."

"Fine—" Evan groaned, voice muffled through Kei's hand.

Then, Kei released him and slowly sat up, wincing slightly. "Should we just post the picture first?"

Evan blinked. "Huh."

Kei turned to him, "The picture he has, should we just post it?"

"Kei, a lot of people follow you—"

"I know," Kei mumbled, "So, mission accomplished."

Evan could see the way his brow furrowed in fear, but Kei pulled out his phone. "Seriously—" Evan cut in, "R-right now?"

"I'll overthink it if we wait," Kei mumbled.

"Don't you think you should tell Hugo and Luke first?" Evan uttered.

That made Kei falter. "Oh. Shit."

"I'll tell them about me first if you want," Evan offered again, "Remember, test dummy."

Slowly, Kei shrugged, dragging himself up so that he sat cross legged on the bed beside Evan, blanket pulled up over his bare shoulders. From here, Evan could see the bruises on his skin, over his stomach and ribs. They were dark and painful looking.