Infernal Incarnation: Asmodeus to Ari

Chapter 9

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    As Laura drove away from where she'd left Ari, she let out the shriek of excitement she had been working so hard on keeping in.  The last few moments of interaction with Ari left her heart beating out of her chest.  Laura sent up a silent prayer to really anyone that was there, on the other side, or just listening in.  Please watch over me and protect my heart.  I can't handle another situation like the last time I thought the person I was with was my 'big love'.  Please let Ari truly be everything they seem to be.  Laura placed her hand over her heart, smiling to herself as she made her way back to the office.  Looks like Gus is gonna get that giddy gossip girl talk over dinner he was wanting.  Just like that, Laura was even more grateful for Gus.  She would have to remember to thank him for signing her up for duty and pushing her out of her comfort zone. 

    Ari walked into their parents house, taking in all the familiar sights and smells.  There was definitely fresh goulash being made in the kitchen.  The aromatic and enticing aroma wafted all around the house, making Ari's mouth water.  "Mom?  Dad?  Kate?  Anyone home?" Ari called out. 

        "In here, biscuit head", called out Kate with a laugh.  

        "Welcome home, bubbles",  responded Ari as they walked into the living room and found their mom and sister sat on the oversized couches facing one another. 

        "Hello to you, too, mother." Ari said flatly, pressing their lips together almost as if to keep themself from saying anything else.  Instead of sitting down, they preferred to stay standing, ready to flee at a moments notice.  It was always hard being around their mom, the unreadable and aloof matriarch.  She had her good times, too.  Still, more than anything,  Ari couldn't get past feeling like their mom was constantly cold and indifferent at best, or cold and judgemental at worst.  Silently mulling over their mothers lack of emotional bonds with her own children, Ari suddenly thought to themself,  Maybe that's why I always found it so hard to connect to people that I have been intimate with on an emotional level.  Ari made a quick mental note to bring that up in therapy, along with their newfound fascination with how easy it is to be around Laura.

        "Oh, Ari, you know I hate it when you take that tone."  Ari's mother responded with a frown.  

    Naomi was never one for smart assed comments,  and her kids absolutely loved to make them.  Of course she wanted to greet Ari, but she was waiting for them and their sister to finish their exchange.  But, like always, her kids misconstrued her constraint for her lack of caring.  That has always been a point of contention between her and her children.  She was always very practical and didn't like emotions getting involved in much of anything.  Emotions were messy and she had learned a long time ago that it was better to leave them out of everything.  Even though her kids had called her out numerous times for being 'sterile' or 'unfeeling',  nothing could be further from the truth.  Naomi simply could no longer allow herself to be consumed by her emotions. 

        "Yes, mother, but there is very little in this life that you -do- like. So, how is one to know what is on your good list for the day, mm?"  Ari gave a strained smile and rolled their neck trying to get a good pop out.  Tonight was already turning into a long night.  Not knowing whether to make a move to sit on the couch with their sister, or turn to leave the two of them to talk; Ari just slowly shifted their weight back and forth uncomfortably, but stood in the same place. 

    Just when Ari was ready to make an excuse to leave, Kate hugged them, thanking them for coming and reminding them that it's been torture not being able to be around her sibling for the better part of a year.  Ari reciprocated but could still feel their irritation rising, simply by being in their mother's presence.  

        "I'm so glad you could make it, kids.  We are about to have some deee-licious food, if I don't say so myself!"  belted out Roman as he came around the corner carrying the freshly finished pasta and wiggling his eyebrows, successfully breaking the tension in the room.  "Follow the chef to the dining room and we will begin our dinner post haste!"

    Ari always really appreciated their dad, he was the more empathetic of their two parents and Ari felt there wasn't anything that they could not talk to their dad about.  Roman had always been the parent that Ari and Kate went to when they needed advice, help, or even just a sympathetic ear.  Roman was usually a very good natured fellow with not a lot to say, and he was usually pretty quiet, as well.  That is, until he notices that one of his kids are about to bail because Naomi just would not let her guard down.  

    I swear she won't be happy until she pushes them both away to the point to where they won't ever want to come home to visit.  Roman thought to himself.  Quickly gathering the rest of the food, he walked into the dining area where Kate, Ari and Naomi were already sat and waiting.  Kate and Ari were in the middle of an animated discussion going over something about differing religious perspectives as Naomi watched, but pretended not to.  Haha!  I know that every family is a little disfunctional but we could top the charts or make the Guinness book of world records for the fastest time to fall apart when visiting.  

        "Alright everyone!  This is everything, shall we say grace before we dig in?"  Roman asked facing his children with a smirk and a playful glint in his eyes. 

        "Aha, I think we're all good on that front, pops.  Ari here was just telling me that they are exploring different avenues and wanting to learn about different faiths, apart from Christianity.  So, it's best we hold off on praying until we know what they're going to follow" Kate responded just as playfully before sticking her tongue out at her sibling.  

        "Yeah, yeah, yeah, very funny, Kate.  I didn't say that I was just gonna up and convert to a different religion, I was just saying that lately different faiths and beliefs have just been kind of brought up, and one of the ones I heard about today was interesting.  That is all." 

    Both kids had heard their mother's sharp inhale through her teeth signaling her disapproval, but knew that there wouldn't be much more to it than that. 

        "Well",  said Naomi with a huff,  "let's just hope that you don't abandon your beliefs and turn into some sort of faithless heathen." pursing her lips together tightly before picking up her silverware.  "Although, if this is any indication of how -fine- a job we did raising you, maybe we should have been more diligent about attending church.  I just never thought that one of my kids would want to embarrass our family like that."

        "Oh, here we go again!" Ari roared.  "We are nothing if not never ending sources of embarrassment to you, mother!  Isn't that right?!"

    Again Roman was caught between wanting to step in to diffuse the situation and not wanting to get involved in another spat between Naomi and their kids.   Aw, f**k it...  "HEY!" Roman suddenly shouted, getting everyone's attention.  "Can we PLEASE just eat ONE meal in peace?"

    Ari and Kate hung their heads, hating having upset the one parent they -did- like. "Sorry, dad" they grumbled in unison.  The rest of the dinner would be held in mostly an uncomfortable silence on Naomi's part while Ari and Kate were chatting back and forth about her time away from home, her studies, and her potential interests in different careers with occasional injections from Roman.  There were even a few laughs.  After everyone was finished eating, Ari stood to help Roman collect the serving dishes that were in the middle of the table as their mom and Kate went to unpack Kate's things from the car.  

    Roman noticed Ari was happier than normal, even though it would have gone unnoticed by someone who had not known the differences in Ari's quiet states.  "Is there a reason for your happier than normal silence, Ari?"  Roman asked with an inquisitive smile, his eyes sparkling with hope that Ari had finally found someone to try to have a serious relationship with.  Roman had long since given up on the notion that Ari would be one to settle down and have kids and the whole picket fence dream.  Yet, Roman still held out hope that one day Ari would meet someone that would make them at least consider being in a stable long-ish term relationship.

    Ari laughed, despite themself and looked back at their father with a sly grin.  "How do you always seem to know when there's a 'temperature difference' in my silence, huh?"

        "Caso que no te he conocido desde que naciste, pues?" (Well, haven't I known you since you were born?)  Roman looked at Ari with a knowing smile, then pulled them into a hug.  "I have always known when you are happy, when you are sad, when something has offended or bothered you... your silence... it is not always so silent".  Ramon gave Ari's temple a quick kiss before releasing them,  "Now, tell me.... your happy silence, is it a secret?  Or can you tell your dear old dad some good news?" Ramon asked, wiggling his eyebrows and nudging Ari's ribs playfully.

        "You know, it's not really a secret... but... I just don't know what it is yet, and I want to explore it further before contándote (telling you). Okay, pop?  Deal?"

    Roman made a big display of groaning his displeasure at not being let in just yet but still respected Ari's need for time and space to figure things out.  It wasn't often that Ari had kept to themself, so the fact that they wanted to do so now piqued Roman's curiosity and made him even more convinced that Ari would come to him with good news of a real romantic interest. 

    After Roman and Ari finished with cleaning and putting away the dishes, Kate and Naomi were just finishing up bringing in the rest of Kate's bags to be put away later.  Kate had motioned to Ari to give her another hug, as she knew that they were about to bolt out of there just as soon as they could.  Giving a knowing smile, Ari obliged Kate in a hug, but also took a moment to ask her if she would be willing to give them a ride home.  Kate just whispered a quick confirmation back to Ari as she saw their parents approaching hand in hand. 

        "Does anyone want a coffee, or an espresso?  It's good for the digestion!"  Roman asked everyone while pointing his thumb as if he were about to be making his way back to the kitchen from the foyer.  

    Ari and Kate both shook their heads in response before Kate spoke up.  "I actually thought I could give Ari a ride home and see where they're staying now.  If that's alright?"  

        "Of course, mija, but make sure that you're driving safe and that you aren't out too late." Roman responded a bit dejectedly. 

        "Make sure that you also have your pepper spray on you"  added Naomi, "Lord knows what downtown is like these days."  She meant no harm, but of course the tone she used in addition to her word choice left Ari feeling slightly judged. 

        "Wow, mother... first of all, I live in uptown, not downtown.  Second of all, it was good enough for you and dad back in the day, if I remember correctly."  Said Ari, no longer wanting to mince words or bite their tongue.  "Oh, no, wait... you and dad lived in South Dallas, actually.  I think uptown is a far cry from where you remember living previously."  

    Naomi took a deep breath as she flattened her mouth into the thinnest line possible.  She hadn't meant it as an insult, but like always, she was misunderstood.  That's fine, pardon the f**k out of me for worrying about the safety of my children.  Someone notify the press and get me the worst mother of the year award nomination,  Naomi thought to herself as she huffed, then turned on her heel to leave Ari, Kate and their father still standing in the foyer. 

        "Ari... you know that is not what she meant."  Roman started. 

        "No, pops!  You cannot keep defending her... she has had long enough to figure out better ways of saying things that don't make her sound like a complete asshole."  Ari said as they rubbed their hands over their face, feeling exhausted from the exchange. 

        "I know, Ari,  I'm just saying... cut her a little slack.  I know it sounds like she's shitting on you, but she really just wants the two of you to be safe."  Roman pulled Kate and Ari into a hug, taking a deep breath, and sending up a silent prayer.  Please let my family learn to better communicate with one another... or at least, let them see their mother's heart and not take offense when she doesn't say things the right way.  

    Kate could feel Ari's shoulders slump in defeat and her fathers deep sigh signaled that he, too, would need a bit of a pick me up.  "Alright, daddy.  I'll be back to have an espresso with you after I drop off Ari. Deal?"  Kate asked with a smile and holding out her pinky.

        "Deal, mija"  Roman answered, taking her pinky and wrapping it with his own.  "Pinky promises aren't to be broken, lest your pinky be broken same as the promise.  Entiendes (do you understand)?

    Laughing and pushing her hair back behind her ear, Kate agreed.  Then turned to take Ari back to their apartment.  Once the two of them were in her car and pulling away from their parent's house, Kate looked over at her sibling and let a small smirk play at her lips.  She had overheard her father asking Ari what they were so happy about when she and her mother were busying themselves with bringing in her things.  

        "So... Ari." Kate started, looking over at her sibling with a sly smile and mischief in her eyes.  "I know you didn't tell papa, but I won't give up so easily... What are you so happy about, huh?  Do you have a new girlfriend or what?"

        "Ahaha! Always right to the point, I see.  It's nice to see that your first year in college hasn't changed your mannerisms."  Ari let out a full belly laugh at their sister's blunt question, then started to try to explain the happiness that they were feeling. 

         "Well... there -is- this one woman..."