Back in his apartment, Kev glanced at his watch. It was nearing 5 pm, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the room. The anticipation for the evening's events, the auction. What kind of auction would interest Fang? It couldn't be something simple like old cars and nick-nacks, could it?
He decided to take a quick shower and change into one of his outfits. He selected a sleek black suit with subtle silver pinstripes, a perfect amount of elegance without over shadowing Fang's usual flair. He carefully styled his hair with the gel Horns had provided, achieving a polished look that complemented his new attire. As a final touch, he fastened the silver watch around his wrist, its intricate gears and hands a testament to Fang's thoughtfulness.
He reheated the leftover coffee, knowing Horns would appreciate a cup after his long day of preparations. He then retrieved the bag of premium herbs Ralph had sent over, its pungent aroma filling the air with a sweet, earthy scent. He carefully ground a small amount and rolled a joint, his movements practiced and efficient.
Just as he was lighting the joint, a knock echoed through the apartment. He opened the door to find Horns, a weary smile on his face.
"Evening, Kev," Horns greeted him, stepping into the apartment and collapsing onto the couch with a sigh of relief.
"Here you go," Kev said, handing Horns a steaming mug of coffee.
Horns gratefully accepted the cup, exchanging it for the bag of coffee beans he'd brought. "Thanks, Kev," he mumbled, taking a long sip. He then handed Kev a small bag of groceries. "Mostly fruits, deli meat, and some more bagels, like you asked," he explained.
"Thanks, Horns," Kev replied, placing the bag on the counter.
Horns's keen nose caught the scent of the premium herb Kev had been preparing. "That's Ralph's shit, right," he remarked, his eyes widening slightly.
"Yeah," Kev confirmed, a smile playing on his lips. "Want some?"
Horns nodded eagerly, and Kev gestured towards the counter where he'd been rolling the joint. Horns, with surprising dexterity for his large hands, quickly took over the task, expertly crafting a perfect cone.
"So," Horns asked, lighting the joint and taking a deep drag, "how was your day?"
"No big drama," Kev replied, settling onto the couch beside Horns. "Just... still feeling a bit bad about Pedro."
"Pedro?" Horns echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Oh, the llama. Don't worry too much about him, Kev. That sort of thing isn't exactly rare around here."
He paused, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Talon's starting tonight," he added, changing the subject.
"Yeah," Kev said, a hint of apprehension in his voice. "I hope I get along with him."
Horns shrugged. "No need to get along with the bird," he replied, his tone nonchalant. "He works for the boss, and that's the most important thing at the end of the day."
He took another drag from the joint, his gaze fixed on the swirling smoke. "Besides," he added with a chuckle, "he's not exactly the social type."
"Did you meet him?" Kev asked, curious about Horns's interaction with the enigmatic eagleman.
"He came around last night after you left," Horns explained, taking another puff of the joint. "Accepted Fang's offer. I had to give him the lowdown on his job requirements, make sure he understood what he was getting into. Paperwork, signatures… the dull stuff. He just stared mostly."
Kev's brow furrowed with a hint of worry. "Is he going to be following me around all day?" he questioned, picturing the intimidating figure of Talon lurking in the shadows.
"Uhhh, I guess you'd have to ask Fang," Horns replied.
"I know he's doing a trial run," Kev persisted, "but what will he actually be doing if he's hired on?"
Horns expertly rolled a couple more joints, his large hands moving with surprising dexterity. He passed one to Kev, who accepted it with a grateful smile.
"He'll be daytime security, essentially," Horns explained, lighting his now second joint and taking a deep drag. "Fang's paranoid about daytime security. He wants Talon to make sure there are no... issues while he's asleep."
"It seems pretty peaceful here during the day," Kev observed, taking a drag from the joint.
Horns finished rolling the remaining joints, pushing the extras toward Kev. "it is," he agreed, a thoughtful look on his face. "But I'm sure Talon will want to keep it that way. His sister will be living here too, after all."
Kev carefully placed the additional joints in his cigarette case, a smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks for the weed, Kev," Horns said, his voice a low rumble. "I gotta go do roll call now. The club's about to wake up."
He stood up, stretching his massive frame. "See you later, buddy," he said with a wave, heading towards the door.
Kev savored the remaining puffs of the joint, letting the mellow high wash over him as he relaxed on the couch. Anticipation simmered beneath his calm exterior. He couldn't deny the thrill of excitement that coursed through him at the thought of spending the evening with Fang.
The apartment was quiet, the only sounds were the ticking of the clock on the wall and the faintest hint of sound from the floors below. As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the room, Kev found himself glancing at his watch more and more frequently.
Just as he was contemplating heading downstairs to find Fang, a soft knock echoed through the apartment. He jumped up, a smile spreading across his face. "That must be him," he thought, his heart fluttering with anticipation. He quickly crossed the room and opened the door.
Talon stood in the doorway, his sharp blue eyes piercing the dim light of the hallway. He was dressed in the standard security team uniform, a crisp white shirt contrasting sharply against the flat-black tailored suit. Despite his imposing presence, there was a hint of awkwardness in his demeanor, a subtle twitching of his wings that betrayed his nervousness.
"Mr. Fang has requested you join him for dinner," Talon announced, his voice a raspy whisper that echoed in the quiet hallway.
Kev smiled, wanting to put the eagle at ease, if they were going to be spending a lot of time together it was best to try to establish an easy going rapport. "Hello, Talon," he greeted, his voice friendly. "It's good to see you again."
Talon seemed taken aback by Kev's casual greeting. A brief ruffle of his feathers, and he quickly averted his gaze. "Mr. Fang is waiting for you downstairs, Mr. Kev," he said, his voice a bit stiff.
Kev chuckled, sensing Talon's discomfort. "I know that, Talon," he replied, his tone light and teasing. "No need to be so formal with me. I'm just the assistant."
Talon's frown deepened. "The assistant… Right…" he said. "Let's get you down to see Mr. Fang."
Kev glanced back at his apartment, a fleeting sense of regret washing over him. He'd been enjoying the solitude, the chance to relax and gather his thoughts before the evening's festivities but duty called, and he was eager to see Fang again. He grabbed his cigarette case, once again filled with Horn's artisan joints, and he felt as prepared as he could be for whatever the night threw at him.
"Alright, let's go, Talon," Kev said, stepping out into the hallway.
It only took a few steps for Kev to feel uncomfortable. Talon walked behind him and some ancient part of Kev's brain could feel the bird-of-prey's eyes locked on the back of his neck. And yet, it was a bit silly, he had yet to encounter a single customer on the second floor, they seemed to know that this area was for employees only.
Looking over his shoulder Kev saw Talon, who was walking with his arms and legs both looking so stiff he might as well be doing the robot. Was it nerves? Kev remembered his first few days, he didn't leave his room, barely said a word and had no idea how to navigate. It was probably the same for this eagle, even if he was a deadly fighter, trying to navigate your first day at work is always strange.
"You can walk beside me, Talon," Kev offered, gesturing towards the empty space beside him. "Fang won't mind. Just… don't try to dance with me."
Talon's frown deepened, his brow furrowed in concentration. "If I'm next to you," he explained, his voice a raspy whisper, "and someone is behind you, then they are behind me too."
Kev sighed, realizing the logic behind Talon's positioning. "I guess that makes sense," he conceded, though a part of him still longed for a more casual, friendly interaction.
The rest of the walk passed in silence, Kev acutely aware of Talon's unwavering gaze on his back. It was an unsettling feeling, a constant reminder of his vulnerability and the ever-present threat of danger. Down the stairs and through the crowd, it was like having a tail.
They finally reached the VIP table in the barroom, where Fang was waiting, a warm smile on his face. He had on a dark green tuxedo with a subtle pattern of leaves, embossed in soft gold flakes, that caught the light.
Kev slid into the booth beside Fang, a sense of relief washing over him as he escaped Talon's watchful gaze. He watched as the eagleman exchanged a few hushed words with Twitch, the ferret bouncer. Twitch glanced towards Fang, a silent question in his eyes, and Fang nodded subtly in response. Twitch then disappeared into the crowd, leaving Talon standing guard at the velvet rope, his sharp eyes scanning the room.
Just then, Rebecca arrived with their food, a steaming plate of grilled chicken and asparagus for Kev and, as usual, the steak and eggs for Fang.
"Enjoy," she said with a warm smile, placing the dishes on the table.
"Eat," Fang commanded, his voice a gentle growl.
Kev and Fang dug into their meals, the savory aromas mingling in the air. Kev savored the tender chicken and the crisp asparagus, while Fang devoured his stew with gusto. The comfortable silence between them was punctuated only by the clinking of silverware and the occasional satisfied sigh.
Fang finished his drink in one swift gulp, setting the empty glass down with a decisive clink. "Come on, Kev," he urged, a hint of excitement in his voice. "We don't want to be late."
Kev, still savoring his meal, reluctantly put down his fork. "Alright, alright," he said with a chuckle, rising from his seat.
As they walked against the stream of bodies, towards the entrance, Kev couldn't help but be thankful for Fang's affection. Without his protective aura the small human would probably be lost in the stampede. Even the smallest of them, like Reepia, the rat-woman chef, were just as big as Kev. But, these things didn't matter, nor did kev's slow acceptance that this was not a coma dream, when Fang was near.
As they stepped out into the cool night air, Perry, the owl man driver, was already waiting by the car, its engine purring softly. He held the door open for them. Talon strode past and, after a quick few words, took Perry's place. The driver didn't seem to mind and just nodded towards Fang as he twirled the keys and walked to the driver's seat.
As Fang settled into the back seat next to Kev he said, "I do hope there is something you like tonight. This auction house gets quite interesting pieces."
"Do they auction historical artifacts," Talon asked, trying to get into the back seat next to Fang.
Kev felt second hand embarrassment for the poor eagle man. Even if it was his first day, the idea that the three of them would sit in the back seat together for any car ride was a bit laughable. Fang himself looked shocked that someone would dare enter his private space so boldly.
"You sit in the front," he barked quickly.
Talon blinked a few times and said, "but… Mr. Fang. What if something happens while we are driving?"
"Then you'll deal with it from the front seat," Fang said, slamming the door shut.
The car glided smoothly down the long, wooded driveway, its headlights cutting through the darkness like twin beams of light. A steady stream of vehicles, their occupants eager to partake in the club's nocturnal delights, flowed in the opposite direction, their headlights creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.
As they approached the security checkpoint, the car slowed to a crawl. Rex, his muscular frame silhouetted against the brightly lit guardhouse, stepped forward and leaned down to the driver's window.
"Evening, boys," Rex greeted, his voice a rocky purr that echoed through the still night air. He peered into the backseat, his predatory gaze settling on Fang. "Where are you off to tonight, boss?"
Fang leaned forward, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "An auction," he replied simply.
"If you see anything that would make a good punching bag, mind grabbing it?" Rex grinned, and kneaded his hands together, his sharp claws extending and retracting. "The guys broke the last one we had so we need something new to scratch."
Then, his attention turned to Talon, who sat silently in the passenger seat, his sharp eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Hey, Talon," Rex purred, his voice laced with a playful challenge, "if you fuck up tonight, I can always take over as the human's personal bodyguard."
Talon glanced at Rex, his jaw clenched.
Rex chuckled, enjoying the eagleman's discomfort. "Cat got your tongue?" he taunted.
Fang's patience snapped. "Will that be all, Rex?" he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble.
Rex, sensing the shift in Fang's demeanor, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Just making sure you're all safe, boss," he said, patting the hood of the car playfully. "We'll be waiting for your return."
With a final nod, Rex stepped back, allowing the car to pass through the checkpoint. As they drove away, Kev couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The tension between Rex and Talon was palpable, a simmering rivalry that threatened to boil over at any moment. He wondered if Fang was aware of the underlying animosity between his two most trusted employees, or if he chose to ignore it, trusting in their professionalism to keep things under control.
The car sped through the moonlit streets, the city's vibrant energy pulsating around them. Kev, his eyes wide with wonder, watched as the towering skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights whizzed past. The city seemed even more expansive and luminous tonight, its energy amplified by the anticipation of the upcoming auction. Flashing video screens, traffic lights that had too many colors, blaring horns, steaming food stalls, blaring music… It was overwhelming.
"Anything you need before we get there, Kev?" Fang inquired, his voice a low rumble in the quiet confines of the car.
Kev hesitated, then admitted, "I'm running a bit low on cigarettes, but I can ask Horns for some tomorrow."
Fang chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Perry," he called out to the driver, "pull over at the next corner."
The owl man nodded, expertly maneuvering the car to the curb. Fang leaned forward, handing Talon a bill. "A pack of smokes," he instructed, "and whatever else you might want with the change."
Talon, his expression impassive, took the money and stepped out of the car. He disappeared into a nearby convenience store, emerging moments later with a pack of cigarettes and a small bag of sour candies. He popped a few into his mouth, a rare display of indulgence, before returning to the car.
"Getting close, boss," Perry announced, his voice a soft hoot as he merged back into traffic. The anticipation in the car was palpable, a mix of excitement and nervous energy. Kev couldn't help but wonder what awaited them at the auction, what secrets and treasures would be revealed in the heart of the night.