#kyro & daphne | 002.

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closed / @evnoia / 4th of july celebrations

It had been a long day spent down at the green, a sense of community that Kyro always appreciated about Denver. He’d spent the majority of the afternoon running around after his little sister, telling her endless stories and promising to stay until the fireworks were over. Of course, she herself hadn’t even made it that long and now Kyro was weaving through the crowd with his sleeping younger sister still somehow clinging to his neck. He let out a chuckle when he spotted his mother and the rest of his family from their position across the grass field. But before he made a move towards them, he came to a stop, eyes narrowing in on a newly familiar face. “Daphne?” He hadn’t gotten around to texting her yet, it had only been a couple of days. But he’d planned on it. “I almost didn’t recognize you without the angry ranting,” he teased, adjusting the position of his little sister.

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He wants to ask her so much more, but before long the fireworks are in full display. Though he's hopeful he'll get the chance to discover as much as possible about her now that she plans on sticking around. He’s more focused on her than anything else that’s going on around them, so much so that when she glanced over at him, he’s already staring. Kyro let’s out a quiet laugh, his smile a little coy as he breaths out, “yeah. Beautiful.” And it’s so painfully obvious he isn’t talking about the visuals in the sky above them.

“Oh yeah, she’ll be pissed. I’m fully expecting her to not speak to me for at least a whole day.” He debates waking her, knowing how excited she was to see the fireworks with him. The thought jolts him with a pang of guilt. He holds off for now, waiting to see if the noise may wake her naturally. “Do you have any siblings ? ” He asks, letting his arm fall behind her, the palm of his hand finding the small of her back.

There's nothing that comes to mind that could have made Daphne's day more perfect. Though she's nervous to return to his family, still unable to shake the nagging feeling that she's intruding despite his best efforts to reassure her otherwise, she'd be shocked to find anything that can bring her down from where she stands at Kyro's side with her hand tight around his and heart racing. Taking a seat on the bench, she flattens out her clothes as he speaks. "My mom and I never really did anything when I was younger, but once I could, I would always spend it with friends — parades, concerts; whatever was going on that we were interested in that year." She doesn't intend to bring down the mood with tales of her mother crying at a quiet dinner table because she failed to predict her father not bothering to come home for another dinner he'd promised to be present for.

She's about to return the question ( even though the answer seems obvious ) when the first bang of a fireworks interrupts her. Immediately, her eyes are drawn to the sky, lips parting in awe at the display. "Hey—" She starts to ask, glancing over at him. Her voice is barely above a whisper, any louder feeling unnatural in the quiet around them. "Aren't they pretty? Your sister's going to be so sad she missed them."

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The time they had together seemed to go both quickly and slowly all at once, and before Kyro knew it, they'd played games and ate and had made their way back towards his family for the fireworks. Unfortunately his younger sister still seemed to be fast asleep, and he didn't quite have the heart to wake her when she looked so peaceful. He guided Daphne to a nearby bench, still wanting to have a little time alone with her. His smile widened as he sat at the edge of the table, hand patting the spot beside him. "So, how do you usually spend the 4th ? " He questioned, curious to know more about her, about her life. He was sure he could listen to Daphne speak for hours, which he thought was a good thing considering it seemed like she could talk for that amount of time. He'd never been so enamoured by someone so quickly, and he wasn't quite sure how to navigate it. When the sound of the first firework setting off echoed, he glanced toward the beginning of the display. His smile was bright, yet still the colourful show in the sky wasn't enough to stop him from turning his gaze back to her.

Only a week. The very thought makes the butterflies in her chest stumble along their newly established paths. Being around Kyro already feels so familiar that they already had their route around her ribcage mapped out, occasionally brushing so close to her heart that she's sure he'd be able to hear it beating over the crowd. She'd already memorised its pace in the moments when she's just as sure her eyes tell him everything he needed to know if he couldn't hear its pounding anyway. "Just wait until you've known me for years, they'll be making a film about all the things you've invented and discovered." She teases, swinging their hands between them a little.

Kyro isn't the first to express to her a welcome feeling of home to Denver, and she's sure he won't be the last either. She had always believed she'd live out her years forever in New York, but these days she's been starting to consider what a life here would look like. She's a little embarrassed to admit even to herself that she'd hoped he'd be part of it. "Have you just come back, then? Sounds like you've been jetting off around the world." She asks with a smile, curiosity getting the better of her. The idea of seeing him as soon as tomorrow has her beaming. "I would love to! Lunch would be great. You can also suggest the best place for lunch, because I'm not too clued up on that yet either." Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she unintentionally leaves the effect his admission has on her in full view. Nervous eyes that only momentarily glance up at his, palm in his that fidgets until it's clear she's trying to lace her fingers through — she's flustered. "I don't think you need to worry about that at all." She confesses, simple but clear, unsuccessfully suppressing her smile.

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Kyro takes a quick glance down to the watch on his wrist to get a grasp of the time and then looks back at her with a smile. “I think they’re set to start in about two hours, so we have plenty of time. But you’re gonna come back and watch them with us, right ? I mean you haven’t officially met the most important person yet.” He was suddenly very thankful that his sister had fallen asleep, because now he can use it as an excuse to spend more time with Daphne. Besides, Leona would be furious if she thought she was being left out of the grand introductions.

He makes a move to weave through the crowd, and without much thought instinct causes him to reach out and find her hand with his. Before he realizes it may be a little too bold of a move, it’s too late, and he doesn’t dare retreat. “So we don’t get separated,” he insists with a somewhat shy laugh, bringing their interlocked hands up into view before dropping them back down. It was a little scary, honestly, in the best possible way, how much he felt like he always knew her despite that not being entirely true. Her company was easy, their conversation effortless. He felt calm in her presence. “So, what do you want to do first ? Get some food, play some games— I don’t really drink but I’m happy to make an exception if you want one.”

He listens to her speak, ready to protest at any given moment. He’s not usually a pushy person, but on this he won’t take no for an answer. No one should be alone on a night like this, and truthfully the idea of spending time with her is more exciting than he knows it should be at this point. He doesn’t know her, not really… but it feels like he’s known her a lifetime. “Mind ? I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t invite you to join us. Though they can be slightly overwhelming at times— in the best way, obviously.” He teases, aware that they can’t hear him but he’s not taking any chances. “So maybe just a quick introduction and then you and I can go enjoy some of the festivities.” Warm eyes study her for a moment longer, a breath released not long after. “Come on,” he insists, cocking his head towards them before he begins to move, sister still gripped around his neck. He slows to make sure Daphne is following beside. He doesn’t need to even think about it, he knows they’re going to love her. Is fully aware of the fact that after this introduction she’ll be brought up in just about every conversation, and he can’t says he’s mad about that. “Everyone, this is my friend Daphne,” he begins to say, suppressing laughter at the way none of them hide their interest. “Daphne, this is everyone. My mom…” he points her out, and of course she gets up to give Daphne a warm hug, and then Kyro proceeds to introduce her one-by-one, exhausted himself by the end of it. “We’re gonna head off, but I’ll be back for the fireworks incase the little monster wakes up.” Kyro kisses his sisters cheek and gently passes her to their mother, before turning back to Daphne with an apologetic smile. “You ready ?”

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It’s a simple act, the way she squeezes his hand, yet it seems to provide him with a feeling he hasn’t felt in a really long time. His heart flutters, knees weak. He was a believer in fate in the way he knew he was destined to follow in his fathers footsteps, but fate of the romantic kind he once would have laughed at. Yet it feels like he’s meant to know her, that they were meant to meet. It doesn’t feel like coincidence. And truthfully it makes him feel a little silly to even think in such a way, but he’s too preoccupied by her to truly care how wild the idea may be. “Oh, I don’t doubt it. I’ve known you what, a week ? And I already feel infinitely wiser.” He just manages to stop his smile from splitting his face as he speaks, the sound of her giggle practically melting him in place.

He tries not too read too much into her words, but he’s almost certain she’s including him in her list of compelling reasons. Kyro was quiet for a moment, before he nodded as if to confirm he knew. “Denver definitely has a way of making people wanna stick around. It’s why I always come back. I don’t think it matters where I am in the world, it always feels like one foot is still here.” Denver was home, it was family biological and chosen. It was the one place in the world he felt he could be truly be himself. “I’m free tomorrow. Do you, uh, maybe wanna grab some lunch ? I can give you a little rundown of the best places to apartment hunt and we can figure out your budget. I can’t have you eating out of ice-cream tubs for much longer. You need bowls and spoons and a freezer so you don’t have to make sporadic trips to the convenience store in the middle of the night. Selfishly, I kinda wanna be the only random dude grabbing your sprinkles off the top shelf.” His admission comes with a huffed out laugh, a twinkle in his eye.

“My dad used to say that, actually.” Kyro smiled fondly, the words sending him back to a time when he was just a little kid who thought the only think boxers did was throw punches. “He taught me footwork before he ever taught me how to throw a punch. He always said good footwork was the key to success. Turns out he was right.” His smile grew at the sight of her scrunched nose, his mood remaining upbeat despite the subject. Sometimes talking about his dad felt heavy, but the lightness of Daphne seemed to ease that. She truly was like a breath of fresh air to him, her presence impactful despite the short amount of time she’d been around.

With a nod, he manoeuvred them through the crowd, in no real rush to reach the ring toss game. Simply walking with her was nice in itself. “So, are you still in a hotel or have you managed to find somewhere to stay ? ” He was unsure how long she actually planned to be in town, but selfishly he hoped it was for the foreseeable. “I’ve lived in my fair share of apartments, so I’m happy to help you look. Unless you don’t plan on being here long enough for that. Which would be a shame, by the way.”

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Kyro can’t stop his smile from spreading, something that seems to be a common occurrence when he’s around the girl he’s only actually met once before. There’s something about her that’s very contagious, and something tells him he was meant to meet her. “Oh, the plastic cups. That’s a completely justifiable thing to be mad at, actually. You have my full support there.” Nodding, he presses his cheek to his sisters head and gives a quick glance. “She is cute, but don’t let that fool you. I’m pretty sure she’s already planned world domination at six years old. I’m just glad she likes me, I’ll be spared. I think.” There’s a quiet chuckle, playfully wide eyes. Leona sure was something. When he hears that Daphne is alone, there is a small part of him that feels relieved. But he does his best to hide that fact. “The whole clan.” Kyro points towards them, cheeks slightly a flush when he realizes they’re all staring at the sight of him and Daphne. “We take holidays very seriously. That’s my mom and step-dad, and that’s my step-mom. They do a good job at getting us all together. Blended family, you know ? But we can’t have you spending the 4th alone, so if you want you can come spend it with us. Or me, more specifically.” Of course he won’t subject her to sitting there for ages having to answer questions from all ends. He hopes to give his sister to his mom and maybe spend some time alone with her.

It happens almost instantly, the return of a smile to his face. It feels strange for someone you’ve only met once before to seem so familiar, yet Daphne seems to have that effect. “Oh yeah ? What lucky person was in the receiving end of that ? Or was it another inanimate object ? ” Kyro chuckles softly, and finds himself glad of the fact that his younger sister is currently asleep because he knows for a fact she’d have something to say, something that would embarrass him. “I did warn her not to hype up on sugar too early, told her it would make her crash, but she didn’t listen. She never does. But now she’s gonna miss the fireworks and she’s gonna kick my ass for it.” He always likes to joke that Leona is the only person that can, despite the fact that she’s only six years old and not even a quarter of his height. Her feistiness more than made up for it. “Are you alone ? ” He asks, looking around to see if there’s anyone around her. It doesn’t seem like there is. He oddly hopes there isn’t. “Meeting up with someone ? ”

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“My dad used to say that, actually.” Kyro smiled fondly, the words sending him back to a time when he was just a little kid who thought the only think boxers did was throw punches. “He taught me footwork before he ever taught me how to throw a punch. He always said good footwork was the key to success. Turns out he was right.” His smile grew at the sight of her scrunched nose, his mood remaining upbeat despite the subject. Sometimes talking about his dad felt heavy, but the lightness of Daphne seemed to ease that. She truly was like a breath of fresh air to him, her presence impactful despite the short amount of time she’d been around.

With a nod, he manoeuvred them through the crowd, in no real rush to reach the ring toss game. Simply walking with her was nice in itself. “So, are you still in a hotel or have you managed to find somewhere to stay ? ” He was unsure how long she actually planned to be in town, but selfishly he hoped it was for the foreseeable. “I’ve lived in my fair share of apartments, so I’m happy to help you look. Unless you don’t plan on being here long enough for that. Which would be a shame, by the way.”

Kyro didn’t want to be presumptuous, or to rush into something just incase he was perceiving things wrong. But being around Daphne felt so easy, so comfortable. It felt awful ridiculous to admit he’d never felt this way around someone so quickly before, but he liked it. “Of course I want you too.” He smiles at the thought of her interacting with Leona, and while slightly nervous he’s almost certain that his little sister will find her amazing. “Yeah, you better prepare for that. I’d say the more over the top you go, the better. She likes dramatic.”

“Soft drinks it is, then.” He lets out a breath, one that’s a little shaky. Kyro isn’t one to get nervous often— he’s so used to having to be focused, ready, unafraid. But the girl he met not too long ago seems to have breath-stealing effect on him, and he doesn’t hate it. “That sounds like a good plan,” he smiles, slows his walk to simply enjoy the moment, the unexpected closeness as they walk hand in hand through the crowds. “There’s the shoot-a-hoop, though I may have an unfair height advantage for that one,” he teases, crouching down to her size for a moment, loud laugh bubbling. Though he’s sure she’d probably still be able to beat him. He was athletic, sure, but his skills were mainly in the boxing ring. “Rings toss ? ”

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Kyro didn’t want to be presumptuous, or to rush into something just incase he was perceiving things wrong. But being around Daphne felt so easy, so comfortable. It felt awful ridiculous to admit he’d never felt this way around someone so quickly before, but he liked it. “Of course I want you too.” He smiles at the thought of her interacting with Leona, and while slightly nervous he’s almost certain that his little sister will find her amazing. “Yeah, you better prepare for that. I’d say the more over the top you go, the better. She likes dramatic.”

“Soft drinks it is, then.” He lets out a breath, one that’s a little shaky. Kyro isn’t one to get nervous often— he’s so used to having to be focused, ready, unafraid. But the girl he met not too long ago seems to have breath-stealing effect on him, and he doesn’t hate it. “That sounds like a good plan,” he smiles, slows his walk to simply enjoy the moment, the unexpected closeness as they walk hand in hand through the crowds. “There’s the shoot-a-hoop, though I may have an unfair height advantage for that one,” he teases, crouching down to her size for a moment, loud laugh bubbling. Though he’s sure she’d probably still be able to beat him. He was athletic, sure, but his skills were mainly in the boxing ring. “Rings toss ? ”

Kyro takes a quick glance down to the watch on his wrist to get a grasp of the time and then looks back at her with a smile. “I think they’re set to start in about two hours, so we have plenty of time. But you’re gonna come back and watch them with us, right ? I mean you haven’t officially met the most important person yet.” He was suddenly very thankful that his sister had fallen asleep, because now he can use it as an excuse to spend more time with Daphne. Besides, Leona would be furious if she thought she was being left out of the grand introductions.

He makes a move to weave through the crowd, and without much thought instinct causes him to reach out and find her hand with his. Before he realizes it may be a little too bold of a move, it’s too late, and he doesn’t dare retreat. “So we don’t get separated,” he insists with a somewhat shy laugh, bringing their interlocked hands up into view before dropping them back down. It was a little scary, honestly, in the best possible way, how much he felt like he always knew her despite that not being entirely true. Her company was easy, their conversation effortless. He felt calm in her presence. “So, what do you want to do first ? Get some food, play some games— I don’t really drink but I’m happy to make an exception if you want one.”

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It happens almost instantly, the return of a smile to his face. It feels strange for someone you’ve only met once before to seem so familiar, yet Daphne seems to have that effect. “Oh yeah ? What lucky person was in the receiving end of that ? Or was it another inanimate object ? ” Kyro chuckles softly, and finds himself glad of the fact that his younger sister is currently asleep because he knows for a fact she’d have something to say, something that would embarrass him. “I did warn her not to hype up on sugar too early, told her it would make her crash, but she didn’t listen. She never does. But now she’s gonna miss the fireworks and she’s gonna kick my ass for it.” He always likes to joke that Leona is the only person that can, despite the fact that she’s only six years old and not even a quarter of his height. Her feistiness more than made up for it. “Are you alone ? ” He asks, looking around to see if there’s anyone around her. It doesn’t seem like there is. He oddly hopes there isn’t. “Meeting up with someone ? ”

closed / @evnoia / 4th of july celebrations

It had been a long day spent down at the green, a sense of community that Kyro always appreciated about Denver. He’d spent the majority of the afternoon running around after his little sister, telling her endless stories and promising to stay until the fireworks were over. Of course, she herself hadn’t even made it that long and now Kyro was weaving through the crowd with his sleeping younger sister still somehow clinging to his neck. He let out a chuckle when he spotted his mother and the rest of his family from their position across the grass field. But before he made a move towards them, he came to a stop, eyes narrowing in on a newly familiar face. “Daphne?” He hadn’t gotten around to texting her yet, it had only been a couple of days. But he’d planned on it. “I almost didn’t recognize you without the angry ranting,” he teased, adjusting the position of his little sister.

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He listens to her speak, ready to protest at any given moment. He’s not usually a pushy person, but on this he won’t take no for an answer. No one should be alone on a night like this, and truthfully the idea of spending time with her is more exciting than he knows it should be at this point. He doesn’t know her, not really… but it feels like he’s known her a lifetime. “Mind ? I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t invite you to join us. Though they can be slightly overwhelming at times— in the best way, obviously.” He teases, aware that they can’t hear him but he’s not taking any chances. “So maybe just a quick introduction and then you and I can go enjoy some of the festivities.” Warm eyes study her for a moment longer, a breath released not long after. “Come on,” he insists, cocking his head towards them before he begins to move, sister still gripped around his neck. He slows to make sure Daphne is following beside. He doesn’t need to even think about it, he knows they’re going to love her. Is fully aware of the fact that after this introduction she’ll be brought up in just about every conversation, and he can’t says he’s mad about that. “Everyone, this is my friend Daphne,” he begins to say, suppressing laughter at the way none of them hide their interest. “Daphne, this is everyone. My mom…” he points her out, and of course she gets up to give Daphne a warm hug, and then Kyro proceeds to introduce her one-by-one, exhausted himself by the end of it. “We’re gonna head off, but I’ll be back for the fireworks incase the little monster wakes up.” Kyro kisses his sisters cheek and gently passes her to their mother, before turning back to Daphne with an apologetic smile. “You ready ?”

Kyro can’t stop his smile from spreading, something that seems to be a common occurrence when he’s around the girl he’s only actually met once before. There’s something about her that’s very contagious, and something tells him he was meant to meet her. “Oh, the plastic cups. That’s a completely justifiable thing to be mad at, actually. You have my full support there.” Nodding, he presses his cheek to his sisters head and gives a quick glance. “She is cute, but don’t let that fool you. I’m pretty sure she’s already planned world domination at six years old. I’m just glad she likes me, I’ll be spared. I think.” There’s a quiet chuckle, playfully wide eyes. Leona sure was something. When he hears that Daphne is alone, there is a small part of him that feels relieved. But he does his best to hide that fact. “The whole clan.” Kyro points towards them, cheeks slightly a flush when he realizes they’re all staring at the sight of him and Daphne. “We take holidays very seriously. That’s my mom and step-dad, and that’s my step-mom. They do a good job at getting us all together. Blended family, you know ? But we can’t have you spending the 4th alone, so if you want you can come spend it with us. Or me, more specifically.” Of course he won’t subject her to sitting there for ages having to answer questions from all ends. He hopes to give his sister to his mom and maybe spend some time alone with her.