Kev, his internal clock slowly growing attuned to the club's rhythm, woke with a yawn. He completed his usual morning rituals, a comforting routine, clearing his head of the dream where Fang hunted llamas like old royalty hunted foxes. The hot shower invigorated him, washing away the remnants of sleep and leaving him feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.
Back in the kitchen, he expertly brewed a pot of coffee, the rich aroma filling the apartment with a comforting warmth. He poured himself a cup, added a generous spoon of sugar, and stood by the window, watching the sunrise over the quiet grounds.
Just as he was about to refresh his cup, a familiar knock echoed through the apartment. He opened the door to find Horns, looking surprisingly chipper despite the hour.
"Morning, Kev!" Horns greeted him with a wide grin, balancing two plates of food in his massive hands. "Brought you some breakfast."
He lumbered into the apartment and plopped down on the couch, setting the plates on the coffee table. The enticing smell of bacon and eggs filled the air, making Kev's stomach rumble.
"How was the night?" Kev asked, sitting down.
Horns, already shoveling food into his mouth, gestured towards the second plate. "It was... eventful," he mumbled between bites.
Kev chuckled, grabbing a piece of toast from the plate. "Eventful how?" he inquired, taking a bite.
"Well," Horns began, swallowing a mouthful of eggs, "for starters, please don't let Fang gamble anymore." He chuckled. "He has a tendency to bet big, and sometimes his pride gets the better of him."
He gestured towards the second plate. "You gonna have anything else off this?"
Kev shook his head. "Have at it," he said, pushing the plate towards Horns.
Horns wasted no time, devouring the remaining food with gusto. "Those stakes really weren't that high," Kev remarked, recalling the previous night's events. "Pedro said it himself, he could have asked for a million dollars. A dance was no big deal."
Horns finished the last of the food and lit a joint, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Humans are so strange," he mused, a thoughtful look on his face.
"What do you mean?" Kev asked, genuinely curious.
Horns took a long drag from his joint, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Fang asked for the clothes off Pedro's back, that's just some stuff. But a dance, in front of everyone?" he explained, emphasizing the word with a dramatic flourish. "You may see that as reasonable, but for Fang, it was an insult."
Kev frowned, trying to understand the nuances of beastmen culture. "Well, what happened after I left?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Horns leaned back on the couch, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Fang had a little 'chat' with Pedro," he said, his voice laced with a hint of dark humor. "And then... Well, let's just say Fang did what Fang does."
Kev shuddered, a chill running down his spine. "I think I'll skip pool games from now on," he said, his voice a bit shaky.
Horns chuckled, his deep voice rumbling through the apartment. "Better skip darts too," he advised. "And maybe stay away from the shuffleboard table."
Kev sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I just thought it might be fun, you know? Get Fang away from the bar for a bit too…" he lamented. "Seems like I cause trouble even when I'm just trying to play a game."
Horns, pondered for a moment. "Tell you what," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I can pull some strings and get you a private pool room set up somewhere in the mansion. If we don't let anyone else in, then no one can make bets with you."
Kev's face lit up. "That would be amazing!" he exclaimed. "But... playing against other people is one of the best parts of pool."
"Well, you can at least practice a bit each night," Horns suggested. "And if you get good enough, maybe you can venture back into the public room and show those sharks what you're made of."
Kev nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "It's better than nothing," he agreed.
"I'll talk to Cindy and see what we can arrange," Horns promised, rising from the couch. "In the meantime, try to stay out of trouble, alright?"
Kev chuckled. "I'll do my best," he replied, a newfound sense of optimism filling him.
"Anything else I can get for you when I come back for opening?" Horns asked, gathering the empty plates from the coffee table.
Kev paused, considering his needs. "A razor, actually," he said. "I'm starting to get a bit scruffy."
Horns' brow furrowed. "Razor… like a blade? You'll need to ask Lanon about that," he replied, his tone serious.
Kev was puzzled. "Why?" he asked. "It's just a razor."
"Any sort of blade needs to be licensed and tracked," Horns explained. "I thought it was a thing everywhere… Just find Lanon at some point and ask him. He should be able to get you what you need."
"Weird," Kev muttered, shaking his head. "But whatever. If it's not out of your way, could you also grab me some more coffee? I'm running low, and Reepia is kind of intense to talk to first thing in the morning." He chuckled nervously, remembering the head chef's fiery temper.
Horns grinned. "No worries, Kev," he said, his voice reassuring. "I'll do a food run before I head home. Anything else you need?"
Kev shook his head. "I think I'm good for now. Thanks, Horns."
"Get some good sleep," Kev reminded him as Horns headed towards the door.
"Later, buddy," Horns replied with a wave, disappearing down the hallway.
Kev had barely settled back onto the couch when another knock sounded at the door. He opened it to find Fang, looking disheveled and wild-eyed. His sleeves were rolled up, his shirt half-buttoned, and his hair tousled. In his hands, he held a plate piled high with steaming food.
"Good morning, Kev," Fang greeted him, a sheepish grin on his face as he glanced between his plate and his precious assistant. "I completely forgot to bring you a plate..."
Kev chuckled, waving a piece of toast in the air. "Horns beat you to it," he replied.
Fang's tail wagged. "I really don't pay that moose enough," he muttered, settling onto the couch beside Kev. He dug into the food with gusto, the savory aroma filling the small apartment.
"How was your night?" he asked between bites, his gaze finally meeting Kev's.
"Oh, I got a little sleep…" Kev admitted. He wanted to ask about Pedro but it didn't seem like the right time, Fang looked so tired. It could wait . "Knowing you are down there, protecting me, helps."
Fang's tail gave an involuntary wag, a blush warming his cheeks. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Kev,"
"How was the rest of your night?" Kev inquired.
Fang swallowed a mouthful of food, a satisfied grin on his face. "Good," he replied. "The free meal was a big success. Everyone seemed to appreciate it." He gestured towards his now empty plate. "As you can see."
Kev laughed. "yes indeed," he said, shaking his head in amusement. "So… what's on the agenda for tonight?"
Fang's eyes lit up. "I'm bringing you out," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "There's going to be an auction and I think you'll have a good time."
Kev's eyebrows rose in surprise. "An auction?" he echoed. "What kind of auction?"
"All sorts of things," Fang replied with a mischievous grin. "Art, jewelry, rare artifacts... even experiences."
"That does sound like it could be fun," Kev said, imagining what beastmen antiques looked like.
Fang's smile widened. "Wonderful," he said, leaning closer to Kev. "It's a date then."
Kev, emboldened by Fang's declaration, leaned in and kissed him softly. Fang's tail wagged in delight, a happy sigh escaping his chest. Kev pulled back,, and lit a cigarette. Kev wanted to push this conversation off, he had even just resolved not to bring it up, but he couldn't help it. There were still so many things he didn't know and Pedro's fate kept flickering in his mind, even during their brief kiss…
"Fang," he began, his voice laced with curiosity, "I heard you had a chat with Pedro last night after I went to bed. I thought you had him kicked out."
Fang's tail stopped wagging, and a shadow crossed his face. He leaned back on the couch, his expression unreadable. "Don't worry about that, Kev," he said, his voice a low rumble.
"But what happened?" Kev pressed, his concern growing. "He was a bit sneaky, but he didn't hurt anyone."
Fang stood up abruptly, his movements stiff and deliberate. He walked to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water, his back turned to Kev. "It's not a problem anymore. You shouldn't worry yourself," he said, his voice clipped.
He turned back to face Kev, his expression carefully neutral. "Talon and I came to an agreement," he revealed. "He's going to be working tonight. A trial run of sorts to see how things go, before he decides whether to move here with his sister."
"That's good," Kev said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "I bet Rex will be happy to have him around."
"He's not working for Rex," Fang corrected, his voice firm. "I hired him personally."
"What do you want him to do, then?"
Fang finished his water, placing the empty glass on the counter with a decisive clink. "He'll be... a bodyguard," he explained, his gaze meeting Kev's. "Someone to keep an eye on you, make sure you're safe."
Kev's smile faltered. "I don't want a babysitter, Fang," he protested, a hint of defiance in his voice.
Fang's expression softened, a hint of concern in his eyes. "He won't be following you around day and night, Kev," he assured him, his voice a low rumble. "Just... when the situation calls for it. After the Berry incident, I realized the security team isn't equipped to handle your specific... security needs."
Kev scoffed, a wry smile playing on his lips. "My security needs?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow.
Fang nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes," he confirmed, his voice firm. "Remember what you said? They tried to abduct you to get to me. If I had known you were taken, there would have been hell to pay." He paused, his jaw clenching slightly. "I'm hoping Talon will be able to act in my stead, to protect you when I can't be there."
Kev's expression softened, a hint of relief in his eyes. "I'm glad you're able to help Talon and his sister," he said sincerely. "But I hope it doesn't feel like he's... stalking me."
Fang's growl deepened, a possessive edge to his voice. "If that eagle steps out of line, even for a second, he'll be out on his ass," he declared, his eyes flashing with a warning glint. "I won't have anyone making you uncomfortable, Kev. Not in this house."
Kev reached out, his hand gently resting on Fang's arm. "I trust you, Fang," he said softly. "We'll see how the trial period goes. If it doesn't work out, we can always reconsider."
Fang nodded, his gaze softening as he met Kev's. "Talon's first night is tonight. He'll be discreet, I promise. But if you feel uncomfortable at any point, just let me know."
Fang stood up, stretching his powerful frame. "I have to go," he said, a hint of reluctance in his voice. "The staff is leaving, and I need to meet with Dale, Lanon, and Reepia to go over the night's numbers."
"Before you go," Kev interjected, "could you tell Lanon I need to talk to him if he's not too busy?"
Fang raised an eyebrow. "What for?" he asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Horns said he could help me get some grooming supplies," Kev explained.
"Sure thing," Fang replied with a smile. "I'll let him know." He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Kev's forehead. "I'll be back tonight, so we can eat before the auction."
With a final squeeze of Kev's hand, Fang left the apartment, the door closing softly behind him.
Kev settled back onto the couch, a sense of calm washing over him. He rolled a joint, lit it, and inhaled deeply, letting the smoke fill his lungs and ease the lingering tension from the night before. As he exhaled, his thoughts drifted to Pedro. He hoped the llama man was okay, despite his earlier bravado. Fang's anger had been palpable, and Kev couldn't help but worry about the consequences of Pedro's actions.
He also pondered Talon's new role as his bodyguard. While he appreciated Fang's concern for his safety, he wasn't entirely thrilled about the idea of having someone constantly watching over him. He hoped Talon would be discreet, as Fang had promised, and not make him feel like he was being monitored every moment of the day.
Kev, feeling the familiar restlessness creep in, dumped the remnants of his cold coffee into the sink. He grabbed his silver cigarette case and headed outside, seeking solace in the fresh air and the calming ritual of a smoke.
Stepping onto the patio, he was greeted by the familiar warmth of the morning sun. The air hung heavy with the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass, a stark contrast to the smoky atmosphere of the club's interior. The pool shimmered invitingly, its turquoise waters beckoning him to take a refreshing dip.
Kev settled onto a lounge chair, basking in the warmth of the morning sun. He closed his eyes, letting the gentle breeze and the sounds of nature wash over him. It was a rare moment of peace, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the club.