Belaphorde spent his hours walking. Kaigo’s nonsense talk and obscene mind had gotten on his nerves. It irritated him that Kaigo had correctly observed that Belaphorde acts neglectful and cold towards Vigo, and what made it even worse is Belaphorde knew it was true. Kaigo and Vigo had become fast friends while Belaphorde struggled to exist. He walked out along a pier and sat down on a large rock. It was warm from soaking up the sun all day. Belaphorde took a deep breath. The salty ocean breeze cleared his lungs and mind. The waves hit the rocks in a slow rhythm. An ancient rhythm. Droplets stained his face. Belaphorde reached out and grazed the water with his finger tips. He had never touched an ocean before. He’d been so close, yet it might as well have been miles away for the child of the Outskirts. He reached out and noticed that he felt nothing. He touched his face, yet his fingertips remained numb. He felt the pressure on his cheek; he knew it was his fingers, yet there was a disconnect; the last joint was not his. He took note of this new fact and continued to let them dip in the sea.

Time passed. People walked by. The sun got lower until it touched the horizon line between the sea and sky. He barely noticed when Kaigo showed up.

“Hey loser. You out here doing some classic brooding by the ocean? Just kidding. It’s time to go meet your in-laws. Please remember that I want to make a good impression. I care about my folks, and I want them to meet my saviour.”

Belaphorde scoffed but accepted Kaigo’s outstretched hand as he stood up and followed Kaigo to the car.

"Man, you are soaked. Good thing I was going to force you into some nicer clothes anyway.”

Belaphored dried himself off with his shirt and put on the linen dress pants and button shirt combo Kaigo had picked out for him.

“I know you don’t like having expensive things forced upon you, but would you accept this clock as a little makeup gift from me? The look is incomplete without some kind of accessory.” Kaigo held out a box with a wrist watch with a thick leather band and Monet water lilies painted on the background of the clockface. He was ready to put the box away since he expected the Guide to turn him down even though he had spent the better half of an hour picking out the clock.

“I’ll gladly wear it. Thank you.” Belaphorde answered in monotone and put on the piece of mechanical artwork with no fuss. Kaigo didn’t know how to react to this unusual mood, so he threw up his hands and said, “Great. Cool. Let’s get a move on!”

It was a short trip. Nothing is far away when within Kaliedo. They drowe up to the courtyard of an apartment complex. Fountains, benches, and palm trees decorated the park. Belaphorde noted the presetine chess table with clocks on it standing by the shade. Many times had he played with the uncles at the library or watched them move weathered pisces on the communal play board. Once they had stepped out, the driver took the car away, and the boys went into the reception room.

“Good day, sirs. How can I help you today?” A young lady greeted them behind a sleek desk decorated with a basket of fruit with a little sign stating “take one” and a smiley face.

“Hey. I’m here to visit Adele.”

“Yes, she did leave a note that there would be a visitor by your description at this time. She asked that I’d be discrete. You must be a surprise of some kind to her husband. I’ve unlocked elevator C for you; just step in and press the green button, and you will arrive at your destination.”

Kaigo thanked the receptionist, and the two boys went into the hallway of elevators behind the reception. Belaphorde had to question if these were normal living arrangements in Kaleido.

“Are we a surprise?" Bel wondered idly as the numbers lit up on the dashboard.

“A little bit. But do not worry. Me and mom have this planned out.”

With a ding noise, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened up to a grand apartment. Polished tiled floor. Freshly cut flowers. A spiralling wooden staircase with gold railing.

“Darling, you are home!” A lady with a red dress and pinned-up chestnut hair greeted Kaigo and kissed his cheeks.

“Hey Adele, it’s so good to see you! How have you been?” Kaigo matched the woman’s exaggerated tone.

“We have been doing great. Though what’s happened to the city, oh, it’s so dreadful I can’t even look at the news.”

“Yeah, it sure is a mess out there. Now let me introduce you to the man who saved my life and will save all of Kaleido.”

“Belaphorde!” Adele hugged Bel as he attempted to act in a casual manner, unusure of what to do with his hands.

“How could I not know about you? One of my favourite radio shows mentioned you as the supporting pillar of the Guaridan squad. Apparently you have not accepted a single interview or had pictures taken for the press. The speculations were so wild I didn't know what to expect!”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Belaphorde took a step back and simled politely at the lady. “It’s nice to meet you, ma'am.”

“Ma’am? Oh dear. Kaigo, why have you never acted so well behaved? I’ve never heard you call anyone, ma’am!”

They continued with light small talk as the boys took off their shoes and were led into the livingroom. Massive windows let in the meagre dusklight through rustic curtains of jute. A large laughing Buddha statue stood next to a TV with a set of vintage-looking speakers. A woman with a raspy voice sang her heart out, accompanied by nothing more than a banjo through the sound system.

“You never told me we would have company tonight. Is it Gerde or Zulema that have you squealing in the hallway?” A playful voice called from behind the leather sofa.

“Oh, Jāzeps, it’s even better. Our child has come home to have dinner with us.”

“Adorinda has come to visit?”

Kaigo swaggered up to the TV. “Nope! It’s the other one! It’s good to see you, dad. It’s been too long.” His tooth smile went up to his ears.

“What is the meaning of this?" The man stood up and scrutinised Kaigo through his thick round glasses.

“Calm down, sweety. Katida - I mean, Kaigo is here to reconnect. I know you didn't leave on the best of terms, but can we please have one dinner together? Like a family. I got your favourite clams on the menu.” Adele sauntered over to her husband and gave him a reassuring hug. She took his hands and guided him in a graceful dancing turn to face Belaphorde.

“Belaphorde, meet my super duper husband, Jāzeps. Do forgive him if he’s a little grumpy. It takes a little while for him to open up.”

Bel stepped towards the man and offered his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Jāzeps was a tall and imposing man, despite his white polo shirt and wizard beard. His eyes narrowed as he tentatively accepted the handshake. “A pleasure.” Belaphorde could feel Jāzeps looking down on him. “So who are you that Katida brings you over? Perhaps she has finally come to her senses.”

Kaigo let out an uncharacteristic, nervous laugh. “Please don’t be like that, dad. I’m a man; my name is Kaigo. This is old news. I want us to be civil towards each other. For mother. For the family.”

“What are you trying to pull?”

“Hear them out, sweety.” Adele’s voice was meek.

“Since I got your attention, I thought I’d properly introduce Belaphorde. Mom, Dad, meet my saviour and husband.” He made a ta-daa motion and gripped Bel’s hand.

“Oh my gosh. I had heard rumors. You are actually married?” Adele dropped her jaw.

“Legally married,” Belaphorde stated.

Jāzeps stroked his beard in thought. “So that’s how it is. Katida has finally stopped with her silly games and found herself a husband. This is surprising news indeed.”

“No dad. I’m gay. We are husbands. I really don’t want you to act like a villain. And for the last time, it’s Kaigo! No one here is named Katida!”

“Silince! I am your father! I have seen you grow up. There’s not a manly thing about you. Clearly, you are a confused girl playing at some rebellious nonsense. Coming home with a husband only proves it. Just admit that I’m right, and we can end this charade, Katida.”

“It’s Kaigo! This is my husband! I am gay!”

“Like hell you are!”

Adele gasped. “Sweety… “ She was on the verge of tears. “I don’t understand what I did wrong for my child to hate her body so. I want to love and support you, so please be reasonable when talking with your father.”

“Mom. You don’t believe me?” Kaigo clutched his chest.

“I don’t know what to believe, dear. I just want us to be happy.”

“Enough.” Jāzeps pointed his finger at Kaigo. “Admit that you are only joking. There’s no one with a silly name like "Kaigo." You don’t fool anyone with your ridiculous make-up and weird clothes. You don’t act one ounce of a man. Having a man by your side only proves it. You apologise to your mother right now.”

Belaphorde didn't know what to do, so he stood silently by Kaigo’s side. Kaigo then touched his cheek and forced his tongue into Bel’s mouth.

“Stop that. Stop that vile behaviour, right now!” Jāzeps demanded.

With a loud plop, Kaigo leaned back his head. A string of saliva hung between their mouths. He snickered and wiped his mouth. “Sorry. I just love this man so much.”

“Out!” It was Adele who snapped and screamed hysterically until the two boys were in the elevator. Through the years she could lie to herself enough to accept her daughter's behaviour, but two men making out in her living room was a sin she could not look away from. She cried, and Jāzeps held her tight.

Once the doors closed, Kaigo laughed hysterically. It had gone better than he envisioned it.

“Did you see that? Funniest shit I’ve done in my life!”

Belaphorde was confused, stunned, and hurt. “Funny? You call what happened “funny”?”

“Mom wanted it to work out so badly. The two of them really put the “phobic” in “homophobic”!” Kaigo fished out his phone, which had a cord going to a microphone attached to his collar. “I got so much great stuff to work with. These people will be capital R ruined when me and the buds are done.”

Bit by bit, Belaphorde pieced together what had transpired. “You told me you cared about them. You told me to be on my best behaviour. It was all an act.”

“You did great, Belaphorde. Listening back, no one can say we were anything but completely reasonable and attacked all unprovoked. Adele really had her hopes up when she saw you.”

They walked out into the dark park. Kaigo clicked in the number to his driver on his phone while whistling a victory tune.

Belaphorde was fuming. He hated how he had almost begun to open up Kaigo only to be used for his sick idea of a revenge plot. He looked down at the raked gravel driveway. "I never should have agreed to the marriage."

"Hm? Why? You got riches, security, someone who looks after you and your old man. Sure you can't stand my guts but have I not been accommodating to your nonsense and endless vague thoughts? This little act tonight would not have been half as fun if I had told you before hand. No need to get all mad and trash talk the marriage for it."

Belaphorde pressed on. "You used me for your own amusement. Others see me as your gay little trophy Guide. It's worse than if I were your woman! I agreed to the deal because, at the moment, I saw it as a way of becoming more equal. Everyone else seems to clearly understand that I'm your pet. Even you seem to think you can use me as you like."

"Oh, come on, you are exaggerating. Look, I'll make it up to you. You tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you. You acted great during my prank; maybe I should have told you before hand, but it's no big deal."

Belaphorde stepped out into the dark towards the gate. "You know it hurts to think that I almost wanted to open up to you. I've already lost the one thing I wanted."

Kaigo sighed. "Alright. Walk away. Have a think. Come back when you're ready."

Belaphorde walked out past the walled-off apartment complex and into the night streets of Kaleido. His mind was made up. There was only one stop he wanted to go to before leaving the city to walk his own path. The cathedral.