[uncledaddy]

Randy exhaled sharply, smoke framing his face as his eyes misted with tears. "She didn't deserve this. Neither did the rest a' my family." He held his head in his hands, cigarette ground between pointed teeth until it was rendered unusable. He spat it into what remained of his beer. "An' they don't deserve to be put at risk by this thing I done got into with you, either."

[Red Lion]

With a sigh Kurt pulled out his handkerchief and wiped Randy's eyes, "No, they don't and I wouldn't attack any of them unless they came after me first, but you mustn't blame yourself for your mother's loss, while it was your actions that set the events in motion it is cowardly to attack a man's family because you are not man enough to face your enemy directly, that is not on you," he was surprised at how easy it was, to sit and wipe Randy's tears, for a moment he couldn't even remember why he hated him so...he attributed it to the late evening, the long week and seeing Randy VIII in such a wretched state.

[uncledaddy]

Randy reached one hand toward Kurt's, instinctively moving to hold it to his cheek for comfort. He froze, realizing what he was doing, and the hand seemed to tremble slightly before retreating back into his hair. He sniffed, blinking away the last of the tears, and gazed across the table at Kurt. It was clear that he didn't care how much Kurt disliked him or wanted him dead. He didn't seem to mind those things at all, and in that moment he was very grateful for his company. He supposed he should have been surprised by Kurt's response, but perhaps due to his emotional state (or so he later told himself), it seemed quite natural and at the time he didn't bother to question it.

[Red Lion]

Sensing that Randy wanted to be touched Kurt let the very tips of his calloused fingers skim his cheek, not knowing exactly why he wanted to do that or why he was even in this room at all anymore....

[uncledaddy]

Randy shut his eyes briefly and tilted his head to better meet with Kurt's fingers in a show of appreciation. Somehow, that interaction had managed to comfort him more than all of the hugging and talking he'd done with his father or brothers in the past few weeks...

[Red Lion]

Kurt stilled, letting his hand remain on Randy's cheek for a minute. Then he snatched it away as though he'd been burned, "No...no that isn't right...I shouldn't....I should go," he said, drawing a shaky breath.

[uncledaddy]

Randy looked at him and gave a single nod. Of course... Kurt shouldn't be comforting him. Kurt shouldn't even be sitting in his kitchen. Thank you, his thoughts seemed to say nonetheless as they extended within Kurt's realm of perception without coming in the form of distinct words.

[Red Lion]

Kurt stood, frozen for an instant, his unwavering gaze fixed on Randy as he subconsciously received the thought, then, as though he were a bird taking flight...he burst out of the room and was gone.

[uncledaddy]

Randy didn't leave his chair. For a long time he sat contemplating everything that had happened, and then at last he stood slowly and went upstairs to get dressed.

[Red Lion]

Kurt was half way home before he let himself acknowledge what had happened. How could he have offered Randy comfort? Why was he compelled to do that? Why had it felt so....right?

[uncledaddy]

The following day, Randy VIII was back at work. He still wasn't in a cheerful mood, but he went about his business as usual. He didn't stop in to see Kurt, though a routine spray and trap check did bring him within visual range of his station.

[Red Lion]

Kurt was outside patrolling the street wen he caught sight of Randy...without thinking he raised a hand to acknowledge him...

[uncledaddy]

Randy returned the gesture, finding it a bit strange but assuming that any perceived "niceness" on Kurt's part was nothing more than a temporary effect of what had happened the previous day. Randy supposed he shouldn't have been too surprised by this, knowing what he did about Kurt, and continued his circle about the building he'd been checking.

[Red Lion]

Kurt also went about his day as always, trying very hard not to think about Randy VIII or his current feelings...

[uncledaddy]

Things continued to be relatively quiet for the next several weeks after that. Randy VIII was still adjusting after the loss of his mother and, though he hadn't mentioned it to Kurt, his first experience with having ever actually killed anyone. He was in little mood to fight, but went back to keeping watch from a distance. He knew that things were far from over, though, and little by little he started working his way back to "normal".

[Red Lion]

Kurt let Randy go, allowing him time to heal but eventually things started to return to normal and the day came when Randy got to close for comfort and Kurt bared his teeth at him.