We Are Bulletproof

Aleka was at the Portland Airport waiting for his dad to come to get him. He had this crazy idea that he was going to fly to his dad and see what's really going on between him and his mom. He was not a kid anymore he could handle it. But if his dad was here living a new life with a new family things where happening shit was going down!

Aleka had a wild mind but he lived a pretty wild life so it was to be expected, right? He got off the airplane sunglasses on it was so bright why was it so bright? It was a little cold out and he didn't have a jacket so he made his way to the shops to find a jacket. Waling into the Columbia store he found a $320.00 coat. Men's Bean Bluff Interchange Jacket. He didn't think the number really matter put it on the charge card. His dad should have been here to get him already if he wasn't alone he wouldn't have done this. Once he purchased the coat he put it on and found he way out of here, or food maybe food first. He was sitting in a diner eating when he got the call, he didn't know if he wanted to answer just yet or not.

"Yeah," He said.

Trash Bat

"Where the hell are you?"

Kaleo could see over everybody's head and his son was conspicuously missing. What the hell? He had been told this airport. Where else could the kid disappear off to? He'd been warned that Aleka was slippery these days. Probably had something to do with Dad traipsing all over the world. It was part of his work, though! And it wasn't like he didn't take Aleka with him half the time. Most kids would've killed for a life like Aleka's.

Then he saw the charge on his account and made his way toward the store, still on the phone. Narrowing in on his sights, he saw his cocky brat of a boy eating alone in his expensive jacket, acting like he was some kind of celebrity.

Kaleo went straight up to the window and pressed his face against it, warping his expression into his most menacing monster sneer.

"What are you doing, Aleka?"

"In the food court eating, I felt sick after all those long island iced teas." His dad didn't sound too happy he really shouldn't have answered his phone. Soon enough the old man appeared his face pressed against the window.

"Come in and eat with me." He smiled as he stuffed a fry in his mouth. He wasn't done eating so he wasn't ready to leave it would be a long ride to this shit hole town his dad was working at. Why would he be here for this long for a job?  Aleka just didn't think it all added up they were not telling him something. And he was going to find out what it was if they liked it out not.

He is a spoiled only child that gets everything he wants if he asks the right parent at the right time. He was good at getting his way he is a smooth talker.

His kid was no fun. Who raised this guy, anyway? This was all her doing because no kid of Kaleo's would just sit there looking so smarmy and undeterred by his father's attempt at being a horror villain cliche. Moving away from the window, Kaleo sighed and entered the restaurant. He hung up the phone and put it away before folding his tall self into the seat across from Aleka. He regarded his son, the fruit of his loins, his baby boy. And then he reached out and flicked him hard in the forehead, regardless of the hangover. (Or, perhaps, because of it.)

"Who said you're old enough for that shit, hm? And don't think I don't know what you did. My phone tracks what that card spends."

"Och!"He rubbed his forehead, "She didn't tell me it was for adults. I think she wanted to get me, drunk dad." He was playing the victim thinking it would get his dad to lighten up on him. It's not like he went around drinking all the time first class on a plane.

He admired his father and looked up to him and wanted to just like him but even better. Aleka was a little cocky he had a big head he knew he was good looking he knew he had a good living and he knew others were aware of his status. He's a big shot back in his town.

"I was cold, I didn't know it was going to be so cold here and I didn't have my luggage so I got this." Aleka showed off his super coat with pride it was so warm and it looked tight! He was looking lit for the airport. He liked the attention and he parents knew it. He always acted out to get them to notice him he had to be the best at everything. He wouldn't be where he was without his parents and their support.

Scared a little that he was going to get flicked again he scooted back in his seat. He had a little fear in his eyes this time. He couldn't help but feel like he messed up big time and his parents weren't just to forgive him for this one.

This was this first time he just up and left without telling his parents he was pretty open with them they trusted one another but Aleka was having trouble trusting his dad right now.

"And you didn't want that, too? Huh? I don't believe you."

Mostly because Kaleo also liked his alcohol, too. He was a social drinker more than anything else. Maybe a drink or two when he was frustrated or needed a night cap. But he wasn't like a fucking alcoholic or anything. He thought his boy would have learned better between himself and the wife. God, he missed her, though. Wait until she heard what they'd assigned him to up here. She'd laugh so hard. He missed her laugh.

She's coming soon.

He wished they weren't here but some part of him was also glad. He just didn't want the dangerous part of his job to rear its ugly head. After all, he worked undercover for a reason. Dragging his wife and boy into it was not on the list of shit he wanted to do here.

"Glad you're so warm but you're not staying here long, keiki. You shouldn't have come here."

"I mean." He shrugged not wanting to lie. "Wait? Why are you saying that? You act like I am going right back home. I thought mom was coming too?" The next flight right?"

The way his dad said you shouldn't be here was ominous and that was the very reason he was there. "Why shouldn't I be? Hmm? I am so tired of you guys lying to me and treating me like a kid." He folded his arms now upset he felt like he was being attacked. No hug or I missed you son! Just you shouldn't be here! Aleka was being a brat and he knew it.

"She is," Kaleo said in a measured tone. Which wasn't ideal either, but talking that woman out of anything was damn near impossible when she took it in her head to do something. Plus, Kaleo got the feeling she suspected something. (He was pretty sure she thought he was cheating on her but look, it wasn't anything like that. And that was exactly how he ended up assigned to a man, which was... well, it'd be a surprise for sure but he didn't think she'd ever believe that his heart had ever gone to the Other Side.)

"And you are still a kid," Kaleo said, skipping over the lying part. "Besides, you think that's ever gonna change? I'll be treating you like you're in diapers when you're 40, son."

Being an only child Aleka was pretty open with his parents there were things he kept to himself but he looked up to them and to them for advice. So when it came to his family and falling apart he was going to be in the middle of it. Right, smack dab in the middle.

Aleka munched on another french fry. "Really? Dad." This was too much he needed to stop with the diapers thing. 

He was no longer drunk from the flight but he did have a killer headache. That flick didn't help at all.

He wondered when his momma would be in town and how long he had with his dad before she got here. He had a different relationship with both his parents and it was clear he and his dad got along.

(Are we waiting for Mom?)

(Her comp is down we can play it out a little longer)

"Yep, really. You're my baby son, my makamae keiki." Kaleo reached out and he gave his "precious son's" cheek a none-too-gentle squeeze like an auntie might give. Then he reached out to do it to the other side, too.

"Look at that big smile. Now that's the son I wanted to greet me!"

Not the surly one that thought he was too big for his breeches. Kaleo was aware that growing up was a thing and in reality, he wasn't one to stand in the way of that. At the same time, he wanted his son to know that he was loved--no matter what--and even this latest escapade hadn't changed that.

"But Aleka, there's something I need you to know while you're here." His expression morphed into something more stern and serious, his gaze locked on Aleka's.

His father focusing a smile on his face made him smile and he waved his dad's hands away. Looking around to make sure no one saw what just took place. Aleka had an image to keep up and daddy was smudging that. A table across the way had two young ladies at it and they were giggling. That must have seen!

He wanted to disappear now but the only way to leave they would see them and he was sure his dad would make a bigger sense if he showed any embarrassment. He tried his hardest not to look at the table. It was hard so he looked down instead that might just make him look around now to play it cool!

The fake phone call! He pulled his phone out and acted like he answered a call, "Oh, hey momma," He looked at his dad with a raised eyebrow. "What's that? I can't hear you!" He kept playing on playing along. " I lost the call but we should see when her flight is landing."

He was avoiding what his dad wanted to say. They needed to get out of there before he dad brought up diapers again. He had a big ego and getting laughed at made him feel bad. He didn't it made him feel at all. He got up promptly hoping his dad would follow with no problems.

Kaleo raised his brow. He hadn't heard Aleka's phone ring or buzz but okay. He played along with the ruse patiently while his son spoke in a one-sided conversation with his mother. At least, up until the past where he claimed to have lost the call and he hung up. Kaleo smirked as the little brat abruptly got up, leading their adventure to find Mom amongst the waves of people in the airport.

"I know that wasn't her, by the way," Kaleo said after a moment of walking, tone oh-so-casual. "Where do you think you're going now? You ran here to see me, didn't you? So what did you want?" He reached out and grasped the top of his son's head. "You miss Daddy after all this time?"

"Hmm," Aleka answered with rather than admitting it or denying it. It was funny how his dad played along for a moment. But once he grabbed his head Aleka stopped. Almost annoyed that his dad was trying to talk here and now.

"It's not funny, what are you doing here for so long? It's like I don't have a dad anymore! All you do is work." He was upset and he had a right to be he was going through a lot le was a teen that needed his dad.

It was like a buzz of the airport stopped all his focus was on his father and the reason to why he was here. Why did he fly all the way here to see his dad? When all he was getting was jokes. Aleka wanted his dad back and his old life. he wanted to be a child again and have his family back when everything was happy.

"Well, you see... I got remarried," he said. "Which I tried to tell you back there, but you didn't want to hear about it."

As far as Aleka was concerned, the lie was the truth from now on. At least, until Kaleo's work was done here in Hazleton. If even his son believed the lie, nobody could use the truth against him. The conversation with his wife, though... Kaleo's heart shrank at the thought of it. She obviously already thought something was up but to "confirm" it was the worst thing she wanted to hear...

Kaleo ran a hand over his own face and sighed.

"I was going to wait to tell you but since you want the truth, there it is." Except it wasn't. Ah, the work of an undercover investigator...

That's when a silent ring pierced his ears and then all of a sudden he heard the sounds around him again and he felt like a tinny ant in this huge world and he just got stepped on.

"SAY WHAT AGAIN?" Aleka shouted this as loud as he could not caring who heard them. "You better be playing with me. You can't just get remarried. Does Makuahine know?" He wanted to punch his dad in the face so bad he better be lying to him. See he knew something was up his dad was a freaking cheater and he did have another family he worst fear came true. He was his father's pride and joy well at least he thought he was.

Now he really wished his Makuahine was here he wanted to hug her she must be hurt from all this. Did she know the whole time and not tell him? Was she hiding this from him? How long has his family been broken? and He didn't know? Aleka felt sick to his stomach.

"I remarried." He put up a hand peaceably. "But listen, there's more to it than you know. I promise I love your mother more than anything else in the world. But this had to be done."

He knew it wouldn't make any sense to Aleka and he didn't blame the kid for being pissed. Honestly, some part of Kaleo was proud of him being pissed. He loved his mother way too much to let his "deadbeat" dad run off and cheat on his mother. Things would be hella easier if he could just explain everything but it was too dangerous right now. All he had to do was get this job over with as quickly as possible, get his family away from the chaos, and then... they could know everything.

Just pure disbelief filled his face how causal his said it, "Are they here with you?" Aleka looked around ready to fight.

"Things just don't have to be don't in life dad! Or should I even call you that do you not love me?" His voice got high pitched as the emotions set in. His whole life was coming down on him right now. He almost wished he was drunk again like he was back on the plane.

What was the point of living if his parents couldn't even do it?

"...They're in Hazleton," he said reluctantly, not wanting to tell his son the worst part of the job. He swore, his boss did these things to him on purpose. She could be a real bitch and she was probably eating this shit up.

"And wait a damn minute," Kaleo said, immediately moving forward and grabbing his son's arm and pulling him into a fierce bear's hug. "Don't you dare question my love for you. I love you, kaʻu wahi keiki." He moved back so he could look him in the eyes. "That will never be in question."

And it was true; Aleka could kill somebody and Kaleo would still love him. Nothing changed a man's love for his son, not in Kaleo's eyes.

(*My child)

They're! He thought as he was brought into a hug he didn't even try to fight it off his dad is a lot stronger than him. He didn't hug him back either Aleka didn't believe him at all not right now. His whole life felt like a lie right now this sucked big time way did his dad have to go mess things up!

In no way did he think it was his fault that if he stayed home and left things be everyone would be happier. His dad was a bad man that's what he was ripping his family apart for this another woman? How can a happy family go to this?

"Now I want to go home and not with you. I hate you right now! I want mom!" He sounded like a spoiled child right now and he didn't care. He took his phone out to call his mom fighting off tears. The kid hated to cry it was like showing his weakness.

Kaleo didn't take it personally that Aleka didn't want to hug him back. Poor kid was learning an awful lot right now and he probably had no idea how to process it. Kaleo just hoped it didn't mean he was going to do something stupid while at the same time knowing damn well that he would. That was how kids learned how to work things out and become adults. It was rocky but... Kaleo had faith that Aleka would eventually understand.

"Mom's coming soon," Kaleo said, not altogether excited about having to tell her everything that was happening, either. He finally let go of Aleka and watched him take out his phone.

"You might want to save some of it for when she's actually here. She might not like what she's going to hear, either."

"How could you do this?" He held his hands out by his side still holding his phone in one hand. His eyes here filling with water and he was angry and sad at the same time.

"I'm not telling her anything you are!" From they his dad was talking his they were both in the dark.

"Who are you anymore?" He yelled threateningly at his own father. He didn't know how to get this emotion out that driving him to see red.

"I'm who I've always been."

Kaleo raised a brow at his son. Nothing about him actually changed. It was just that Aleka didn't know what Kaleo really did for a living. That was the whole point of working incognito. Now his wife and kid were in town--that made things pretty damn tricky. And he couldn't exactly tell Aleka to stop calling him 'Dad' or that would spark even more anger.

How did he calm Aleka down at this age? It wasn't the same as when he'd been just an infant, when all he had to do was cradle him and dance around, singing silly songs and making faces at him. It wasn't as easy as tickling him or blowing raspberries on his belly. Babies were so easy to take care of. It was when they grew older, into thinking adults, that things got real hard.

"Aleka, seriously. I'm the same old Dad I've always been, all right? You'll see when I can tell you everything." He tried to put as much meaning into his tone and his expression as possible but it didn't seem like Aleka was catching it at all. He was too wrapped up in his own kid angst that he couldn't see beyond it.

"Start explaining then?" He folded his arms with the shittiest look on his face. Nothing his dad could say right now would change the way he felt. It was like he flew into the twilight zone and this was so bad show.

They were getting a lot of looks while Aleka shouted and made a show. The thing is if I was a bystander I wouldn't get mixed up in the two of them. They were both very tall and very fix so they are a scary bunch to break up. Nina, his mother she is a though on though she would jump in and put them both in there place right quick!

The crowd did keep a big opening around the two watching to see if they would start to swing. Aleka wouldn't hit his dad even if he wanted to it was his dad!

"Get me out of here! NOW!"

Aleka grabbed his bags it was hard to get the backpack on over his big puffy jacket that he had to have! He was really fighting off the tears now. He felt like he just lost his family...

"Aleka!"

Aleka was weaving and winding his way through the crowds of people to get away from him. Even with people giving him a wide berth on account of his size and booming voice as he called out his son's name, there were a lot of people staring and in the way. Kaleo took care not to shove or trip anyone but he was still quick.

He grasped Aleka by the arm before he could wriggle his way free again.

"Where the hell do you think you're going? Your mother's the one who told me to look after you. Especially with you pulling the kind of crap you did."

"Away from this I need to be alone right now and there are 100's of people here." He had the empty look on his face now he didn't want to show emotion anymore he wanted to alone!

"When will she be here?" He knew well enough his dad didn't know much more then him they had just met up then this snowballed. How could this turn out so bad when all he was trying to do was bring his family together?

The holidays were coming and his dad and mom were just busy and Aleka felt so alone. School and sports and friends just didn't fill the void he wanted his family back. Just looking through his dad he stood there just wanting to give up now.

They needed a private moment so they went to the car the walk through the airport was quite and throw the parking lot. Once they got to his dad's rental he tossed his bags in the truck and go in the back seat. Slouching in the seat with his arms fooled and his jacket was puffed over his face. He was tall so his knees are touching the back seat but right now he didn't care.

In the heat of the car, Kaleo sat down and thrummed his fingers against the steering wheel. Aleka looked like he was ready to hide from the entire world and like this was the last place he wanted to be. Yet this was where he had run to when he wanted to get away from his mother. One or both of them always seemed to come up a villain in Aleka's eyes.

Kaleo sighed and stopped drumming his fingers to the tune of an old 80s song.

"It's not as bad as you're thinking, Aleka. It's just a thing for my job, that's all. I'm telling you, I still very much love your mother and nothing's changing that."

"Sure that's what you say now, Until she texts you sweet nothings when you come back home." He had a smug look on his face looking at his dad in the rearview mirror.

"I've seen a change in you and don't you act like it's my teenage angst. My life was fine until this."

He had no idea what his dad really did but he could only imagine it was some kind of business deal. His dad making nice to get a good offer in.

"So does mom know?"

(Rin will jump in after your response to if she knows or not)

"Ah, yeah. She." He rolled his eyes slightly, thinking of the insufferable man he'd been paired off with. Although resistant at first, Kaleo took it in stride, as he did most things. Might as roll with it and have some fun at his partner's expense. The problem was that... well, it was true. His wife didn't know and she already seemed worried that Kaleo was distancing himself from herself and the family as a whole. Kaleo ran a thumb over an eyelid and let out a small groan.

"No, mom doesn't know."

(EDIT: Closing this but let me know if you guys want to start a new thread taking place right after this.)