As they descended the stairs, Kev nodded politely to the cleaners they passed, but he could sense their curious gazes lingering on Talon. The eagleman's presence, a stark contrast to the usual daytime staff, clearly raised their interest.
Kev led Talon through the maze of corridors, his confidence growing with each step. He was starting to feel more at home in this subterranean world, its hidden passages and secret rooms no longer as intimidating as they had been on his first visit. Talon was silent, his eyes taking in every detail of their short walk, desperately trying to map out the expansive club layout in his head.
Finally, they reached Cindy's office, its cheerful pink door a welcome sight in the dimly lit basement.
Kev knocked gently on the door, a polite gesture even though he'd heard Max's invitation. He pushed the door open, revealing the foxman leaning back in his chair, juggling a few cleaning rags with impressive dexterity.
"Welcome, Kev," Max greeted, his bushy tail swishing playfully.
Talon stepped into the office, his presence immediately filling the small space with a sense of quiet intensity.
"Max, this is Talon," Kev introduced them. "He's moving in tomorrow with his sister. I'm sure Cindy or Horns must have let you know."
Max straightened in his chair, his playful demeanor replaced by a more serious expression. He and Talon exchanged a long, silent look, each assessing the other with a practiced eye.
"Welcome, Talon," Max finally said, extending a hand. "It's good to put a face to a name. I hope you're not a troublemaker like this human here." He shot Kev a playful glare.
Talon's wings twitched slightly, a subtle sign of his unease. "I apologize for any burden I may have caused you," he replied, his voice a low rasp.
Max burst into laughter, his booming voice echoing through the small office. "Don't worry about it, Talon," he assured him. "Everyone is a handful around here."
Max leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. "Honestly," he admitted, "the day shift runs so smoothly that a bit of excitement is a good thing. Keeps people sharp."
Kev, sensing an opportunity, seized the moment. "Speaking of excitement," he said with a grin, "we were wondering if we could see Talon's apartment."
Max's smile widened. "Sure," he replied, rising from his chair. "I was actually heading up there soon to check on the progress anyway. Let's go."
They left Cindy's office and made their way back upstairs, the familiar sounds of the club's preparations growing louder with each step. As they reached the grand staircase, Talon stopped abruptly, a hesitant look on his face.
"My sister... she's in a wheelchair," he explained, his voice a soft rasp. "I'm sorry, but I think she needs to be on the first floor. It would be difficult for her to navigate the stairs every day."
Max chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Why don't these kids explore?" he muttered under his breath. He gestured towards the grand staircase. "We have an elevator, Talon," he explained. "Your sister will be fine."
Talon's eyes widened in surprise. "Without electricity?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"I was surprised too," Kev chimed in, a smile playing on his lips. "It's quite impressive, actually."
Talon's expression relaxed slightly. "That should be fine then," he said, a relieved sigh escaping his lips.
Max grinned. "She'll be fine," he assured Talon. "Just hope she likes reading. The library's right next door to her new apartment."
Max led them up to the second floor and down a new hallway, one Kev hadn't explored yet. The air hummed with the sounds of construction - the bzzzzt-bzzzzt of saws, the rhythmic pounding of hammers, the muffled voices of workers. They stopped in front of an open doorway, revealing a spacious two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment bathed in the warm glow of afternoon sunlight.
The living area was noticeably larger than Kev's, with ample space for a comfortable seating arrangement and a dining table. A team of beastmen, their fur, scales, and feathers dusted with sawdust, were busy transforming the kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen countertops were being lowered, and the island had been removed to create a more open floor plan. In the bathroom, the shower was being converted into a spacious walk-in stall. The floors throughout the apartment had already been replaced with gleaming hardwood, their rich tones adding a touch of warmth to the space.
Kev walked over to the large windows, his gaze drawn to the view. The apartment overlooked the west side of the mansion, its expansive backyard stretching out below. He realized that his private billiards room must be located directly beneath them.
Kev watched as Talon meticulously inspected every corner of the apartment, a flicker of hope replacing the usual stoicism in his eyes. Finally, he turned to Max, a grateful smile spreading across his beak.
"It's perfect," Talon said, his voice a soft rasp. "Thank you."
Max nodded. "We're still working on furnishing it," he explained. "Do you have any specific requests?"
Talon hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the empty rooms. "We won't be bringing much with us from our old apartment," he admitted. "If you could just get us... beds… that would be a tremendous help."
"Consider it done," Max replied. "Anything else?"
Talon shook his head. "No, that's all we need. I... I owe you one, Max."
Max waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it, Talon," he said with a warm smile. "We'll get you a few other things to make this place feel less... empty. You'll have to do your own grocery shopping, though." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And try to remember, there are no fridges here."
Talon nodded, a grateful smile playing on his lips.
Max led them out of the apartment and pointed to a nearby door. "That's the elevator," he explained. "We chose this room specifically for its proximity."
Talon opened the elevator door and peered inside, his sharp eyes taking in the intricate mechanisms and polished brass accents. A look of surprise crossed his face.
"Mr. Max," he said, turning back to the foxman, "I'll be here every day moving forward. If you need anything from me, don't hesitate to ask."
Max chuckled, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I'm not the needing sort, Talon," he replied. "I'm the doing sort." He clapped a hand on the eagleman's shoulder. "But I appreciate the offer. We'll talk again tomorrow, when it's time to move in."
With a final wave, Max turned and strode down the hallway, his footsteps echoing in the quiet mansion.
"Max seems like a very reliable man," Talon remarked, his voice a low rasp.
Kev nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's a good guy," he replied, a smile playing on his lips. He glanced at his watch, a frown creasing his brow. "It's only one o'clock," he sighed. "We've still got six more hours to kill before Fang wakes up."
Talon tapped his knees. "What next?" he asked, his gaze scanning the hallway.
Kev shrugged. "Break time," he declared, heading towards the back door. "I'm going to have a smoke in the backyard."
Talon followed him outside, his sharp eyes taking in the sun-drenched garden. "It looks much different during the day," he observed, his voice a hushed whisper.
As Kev settled onto the familiar bench beneath the oak tree, Talon began pacing the manicured lawn, his keen eyes scanning the surroundings with a practiced vigilance. The contrast between the eagleman's relaxed posture and his ever-alert gaze was a curious juxtaposition, a testament to his years of training and experience.
"How long have you been a guard, Talon?" Kev inquired, breaking the comfortable silence.
Talon paused, his gaze momentarily fixed on a butterfly flitting among the flowers. "This is my first time as a bodyguard," he replied, his voice a low rasp. "But my previous job involved something of a similar nature."
Kev sensed a reluctance to delve deeper into his past, so he wisely chose not to probe further. "Did you think you'd get a job offer from Fang when you fought in the pit?" he asked instead.
"No," Talon replied. "I wanted the prize money. Even when he did offer me the job, I thought my... situation would be disqualifying."
Kev stretched his legs out in front of him, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. "Well, now you can cook me lunches," he joked.
Talon's frown deepened. "I'm not a cook," he retorted, his tone a bit sharp.
Kev laughed, realizing he'd inadvertently touched a nerve. "I'm just kidding, Talon," he assured him. "Don't worry, I won't be expecting any gourmet meals from you."
Talon relaxed slightly, his gaze returning to the garden. "Why don't you share a schedule with Fang?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued. "Wouldn't it be easier to assist him if you were both awake at the same time?"
Kev sighed, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I wanted to," he admitted, "but Fang resisted… He said he didn't want to disrupt my natural rhythm, or something like that." He shrugged. "I'm not going to push him on something so small, I'm still so new here... But I do wish he'd sleep a bit more. He's always so tired."
Kev finished his cigarette, stubbing it out in the ashtray on the bench. The silence between him and Talon stretched, punctuated only by the sounds of nature and the distant hum of the city.
"Hey, Talon," Kev finally said, breaking the silence. "Would you be up for a game of pool?"
Talon looked at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "I've never played before," he admitted, his voice a soft rasp.
Kev grinned. "Perfect," he said, rising from the bench. "I'm not very good either, so we'll be evenly matched."
He led Talon back inside, their footsteps echoing in the quiet mansion. They reached the private billiards room, and Kev unlocked the door with his newly acquired key. The room was bathed in a soft, inviting glow, the new furniture had arrived, adding a touch of luxury to the space. Kev grabbed a cue and chalked the tip, while Talon watched with a curious expression.
"It's pretty simple," Kev explained, demonstrating how to hold the cue and aim for the balls. "You just need to get your balls in the pockets before your opponent does."
Talon nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. He took the cue from Kev and attempted a shot, but the ball veered off course, missing the pocket entirely.
They played a few more rounds, Kev patiently explaining the rules to eight-ball and offering tips along the way. Despite his initial enthusiasm, Talon struggled to grasp the game's nuances, his powerful talons proving to be more of a hindrance than a help when it came to delicate shots.
Kev, with his newfound confidence and practice from the previous night, easily won the game. Talon, his feathers ruffled in frustration, set his cue down with a sigh.
"Don't worry, Talon," Kev said with a reassuring smile. "Pool takes practice. It's kind of an awkward thing to get used to…" He gestured towards the dartboard on the far wall. "How about we try something else? Maybe darts?"
Talon, eager to redeem himself, nodded eagerly. They moved to the dartboard, and Kev handed Talon a set of darts. The eagleman's grip was firm, his sharp eyes focused on the target. With a swift flick of his wrist, he threw the first dart, hitting the bullseye with pinpoint accuracy.
Kev's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Wow," he breathed.
Talon shrugged, a hint of pride in his eyes. "I've had a lot of practice," he admitted, his voice a soft rasp. "Target practice was part of my training."
Kev watched in amazement as Talon continued to hit the bullseye with almost every throw. It was a stark contrast to his own clumsy attempts earlier that day. He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy, mixed with a grudging admiration for the eagleman's skill.
Kev chuckled nervously, trying to mask his surprise. "Maybe you should carry some darts around for protection," he joked, gesturing towards Talon's impressive aim. "They seem to be more effective than your claws."
Talon's gaze lingered on the darts, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Do you mind if I keep throwing these?" he asked, his voice a low rasp. "I find the rhythm... soothing."
"Not at all," Kev replied with a smile. "Feel free to play as long as you like." He moved towards the French doors that led to the patio, craving a breath of fresh air and a chance to indulge in another smoke.
"Where are you going?" Talon asked, his sharp eyes following Kev's movements.
"Just outside for a quick smoke," Kev explained, gesturing towards the patio. "Want to join me?"
Talon hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, it's my job," he said, setting the darts down and following Kev outside.