"It's lunchtime," Kev observed, glancing at his watch. "Are you hungry?"
Talon nodded, a hint of weariness in his eyes. "Yes," he admitted. "It's been a long morning."
Kev hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to invite your sister to join us? I promise I won't give her any diseases." He chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood.
Talon's frown deepened. "She might need some more time to cool off," he replied, his voice a low rasp. "There's food in our apartment. She won't starve. She's just... too proud to eat with us right now."
Kev shrugged, a sympathetic smile playing on his lips. "I don't quite get it, but that's fine. Let's head back to my room then. I've got a few things we can snack on."
Back in Kev's apartment, they settled on the couch, enjoying the simple lunch Kev had prepared. The player piano, now a familiar presence in the room, filled the space with a lively melody.
"This song is different," Talon observed, his sharp ears picking up the change in tempo and rhythm.
"There's a whole box of music scrolls," Kev explained, gesturing towards the collection on the piano.
Talon's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Like... old MP3s?" he asked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
"Yeah, kinda," Kev replied with a smile.
Talon eagerly flipped through the scrolls, his fingers tracing the titles and composers. He selected one and carefully inserted it into the piano, the music shifting to a hauntingly beautiful ballad.
Kev excused himself to use the bathroom, leaving Talon to explore the musical possibilities of the player piano. When he returned, a fresh cigarette between his lips, Talon was engrossed in another song, this one a lively jig that had his foot tapping along.
Kev chuckled, settling back onto the couch. "Finding something you like?" he asked, exhaling a plume of smoke.
Talon nodded, his eyes still fixed on the piano. "It's... different," he admitted, his voice a soft rasp. "But, yes, it's nice."
Kev glanced at his watch, surprised to see it was only 1 pm. "Still plenty of time before the club opens," he remarked, stretching his arms above his head. "Are you in the mood for some more games in the billiards room?"
Talon, who had been quietly observing Kev, nodded. "If you want to go, let's go," he replied, a hint of eagerness in his voice. The prospect of another distraction from the move and his sister's sullen mood was welcome.
They reached the billiards room, its doors still locked from the night before. Kev fumbled with the keys, finally unlocking the door and ushering Talon inside. The room was bathed in warm daylight, the fireplace embers glowing softly, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Kev grabbed a cue and chalked the tip, while Talon headed straight for the dartboard.
"Have you ever played 301?" Kev asked, watching Talon line up his first throw.
Talon shook his head, his gaze focused on the target.
"It's a fun game," Kev explained, approaching the dartboard. "You start with 301 points, and each dart you throw subtracts from your score. The first person to reach zero wins." He paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "But there's a catch. You have to end on a double."
Talon's brow furrowed in concentration as he processed the rules. "A double?" he echoed, his voice a low rasp.
"Yeah," Kev confirmed. "You have to hit a double ring or the bullseye to finish the game."
Talon nodded, his grip on the dart tightening. "Sounds challenging," he said, a competitive glint in his eyes.
Kev chuckled. "It is," he agreed. "But that's part of the fun."
Talon's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why not just throw until you miss a bullseye?" he asked, his voice a low rasp. "Seems like a waste of time to aim for anything else."
Kev chuckled, shaking his head. "That's not the point of the game, Talon," he explained. "301 forces you to strategize, to aim for different spots on the board depending on your score. It's about precision and calculation, not just brute force."
He paused, a playful glint in his eyes. "Besides," he added, "another good way to practice is to play lefty."
Talon laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the room. "Lefty?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Why bother?"
"You're already so good with your right hand," Kev teased, "I don't want you to get bored."
Talon scoffed, gesturing towards the dartboard. "The distance is too short," he remarked, his voice a confident rasp. "It's barely a challenge."
Kev raised an eyebrow. "That distance is pretty far, where I come from," he countered.
Talon, undeterred, switched the dart to his left hand and took aim. With a flick of his wrist, he released the projectile. It sailed through the air, missing the board entirely and embedding itself in the wall with a satisfying THUNK.
Kev chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Might want to start a bit closer if you're learning lefty," he suggested.
Talon flushed as he retrieved the errant dart from the wall. "I'll get the hang of it," he muttered, his voice a low grumble.
Kev took a step back, pulling a joint from his case. "Meditate on it for a bit," he said with a wink. "I'm going to have a smoke on the patio."
Talon nodded, his gaze returning to the dartboard.
Kev stepped out onto the patio, the cool evening air a welcome contrast to the warmth of the game room. Talon followed close behind, his movements swift and silent.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Kev inquired, exhaling a plume of smoke into the twilight air.
Talon shook his head, a weary sigh escaping his lips. "No," he admitted, his voice a raspy whisper. "The stress of the move, the fight with my sister..." He trailed off, his gaze sweeping across the sunny garden. "And the demands of this new job. It's all been a bit... overwhelming." He stretched his wings, a silent expression of his exhaustion.
"Once I fall into a routine, things will get better," he added, his voice regaining a hint of its usual confidence. "... I just need some time to adjust."
He turned to Kev, a curious glint in his piercing eyes. "And you?" he asked. "Have you had a hard time getting used to this place?"
"I'm still getting there," Kev admitted. "I know I'm showing you around and introducing you to people, but I only met those same people a few days ago myself." He took a drag from his joint, the smoke curling lazily upwards in the still air.
"Your sister seems like she'd be fun," Kev continued, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "I hope she opens up soon. I know it must suck to be dragged out here into the woods with no electricity, but it's definitely going to be worse if she doesn't want to meet me or anyone else."
A voice from the balcony above interrupted their conversation. "That's only true if you're not a total loser weirdo," the voice declared, its tone a mix of defiance and teenage angst.
Kev and Talon looked up, startled, to see Sabrina, Talon's sister, leaning over the railing, her arms crossed and a defiant expression on her face.
Kev, surprised by the sudden appearance, waved up at the balcony. "Hey there!" he called out, a friendly smile on his face.
Talon, his voice dripping with sarcasm, retorted, "Hello, sister. So good to see you out in the sunlight."
"Can it, brother," Sabrina shot back, her voice sharp. "It smells like you're smoking weed down there. Did you finally become cool, big bro?"
Talon scoffed. "You know I don't smoke," he replied, his tone exasperated.
A dramatic sigh echoed from above. "Now I have to talk to this weirdo to get some weed," Sabrina lamented, her voice a playful whine. "Brother, you're putting me in such dangerous situations. First, you bring me to a brothel, and now you ask me to approach strangers?" She laughed at her own joke, the sound carrying clearly through the still evening air.
Talon shook his head, a fond smile playing on his lips. "You're not a little kid, Sabrina," he reminded her gently. "You're free to come down if you'd like to meet Kev."
"Is there a chair down there?" Sabrina called down, her voice a mix of curiosity and defiance.
"Yes," Kev responded, a welcoming smile on his face.
"Don't you dare!" Talon shouted, leaping to his feet.
But it was too late. Sabrina, with a determined flap of her wings, descended from the balcony, her landing a bit ungraceful as she stumbled and fell into the chair next to Kev. She smoothed down her dress, revealing a pair of long, slender legs, and looked up at Kev, her expression a mix of curiosity and disdain.
"Are you a radiation victim?" she asked bluntly, her voice a raspy caw. "What are you?"
"I'm a human," Kev replied, his voice steady despite the bluntness of her question. "Nice to meet you." He extended his hand politely.
Sabrina shook it, her grip surprisingly firm for someone so delicate. "Nice to meet you, human," she echoed, a flicker of interest in her eyes. "You seem a bit more interesting than my brother over there." She shot a playful glare at Talon, who merely rolled his eyes in response.
"Can I have a hit?" Sabrina asked, her gaze fixed on Kev's joint.
Kev looked up at Talon, unsure how to proceed.
"You'd never know it by the way she acts, but she's twenty," Talon explained. "I'm not her father."
"Damn straight," Sabrina chimed in, her voice a defiant caw. She turned to Kev, her eyes wide. "Please, you weird, pale man," she said, her tone a mix of desperation and amusement. "I'm already losing my mind with boredom. I was supposed to be raiding with my guild right now… and here I am… in exile!"
Kev considered for a moment, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Play Talon in a game of darts for it," he proposed, his smile widening.
Sabrina and Talon exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. Talon laughed, a rare sound that surprised Kev. "Sure," he agreed.
"However," Kev added, "Talon has to use his left hand."
Hope flickered in Sabrina's eyes. "I'm game," she declared, a competitive fire burning within her. "Let's do it."
Talon frowned, a hint of apprehension in his gaze. He wasn't particularly skilled with his left hand, and the prospect of losing to his sister, especially in front of Kev, was less than appealing.
Kev stood up, leading the way back into the billiards room. Talon carefully lifted Sabrina and carried her inside, placing her in one of the arm chairs, facing the dartboard.
"You'll play 301," Kev stated, handing a set of darts to Sabrina. "Do you know the rules?"
"Yeah," Sabrina replied confidently. "It was a mini-game for a spring solstice costume two years ago."
Kev wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about, but her self-assuredness was contagious. He handed another set of darts to Talon, who reluctantly weighed them in his left hand.
The game was a surprisingly close one, filled with near-misses and unexpected triumphs. Talon, despite his initial struggles with his left hand, quickly adapted, his natural precision and aim shining through even with his non-dominant hand. Sabrina, though a beginner, proved to be a quick learner, her strategy and a bit of luck helping her keep pace with her brother.
The tension in the room mounted as their scores dwindled, each throw carrying the weight of victory or defeat. Finally, with a well-aimed dart that landed squarely in the double ring, Sabrina reached zero, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
"Lucky shot," Talon muttered under his breath.
Kev clapped his hands together. "A deal's a deal, Talon," he said. "Let's go back outside."
He turned to Sabrina, offering a warm smile. "Thank you for participating in my little bet," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "And congratulations on your win."
Back on the patio, Kev handed Sabrina a joint and a match. Her eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.
"Thanks," she said, tucking them discreetly into her bra.
"You're not going to smoke now?" Kev asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nah," Sabrina replied with a grin. "I'm gonna save it for when I need to go to bed. This place is gonna be so loud and weird, I'll need all the help I can get to sleep."
"The second floor is actually really quiet," Kev assured her, "as long as you keep your windows closed."
"I'll believe it when I see it, Kev," Sabrina retorted, her tone skeptical.
Talon, who had been silently observing the exchange, spoke up. "Kev only moved here a week before us," he informed his sister.
Sabrina's gaze shifted to Kev. "What's your job, then?" she asked.
"I'm Fang's assistant," Kev replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Sabrina's eyes widened. "So you know Fang, then?" she asked, leaning forward. "Is he as crazy as everyone says he is?"
Talon's feathers ruffled in disapproval. "Sabrina, watch yourself," he warned, his voice low. "That's my boss you're talking about."
Sabrina merely rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry at her brother.
"I don't know about the rumors," Kev said, his tone carefully neutral. "You could say I'm new in town."
Sabrina turned her attention back to Kev. "People say he's a killer," she whispered, her eyes wide. "If you come here and rub him the wrong way, you never leave."
Kev's smile faltered, the memory of Pedro's fate flashing through his mind. He couldn't deny a shiver of apprehension at Sabrina's words.
"Isn't that... cool!?" Sabrina continued, her voice filled with a morbid fascination. "He's like a modern-day gangster. I thought he was just a rumor, a boogeyman parents use to scare their kids."
"Most of the business is just a bar and nightclub," Kev clarified, trying to dispel the sensationalized image Sabrina had painted. "There are some private back rooms for the more... passionate customers. But Fang mostly just hangs out in the bar all night, so he can be available to the managers and staff if they need him."
Sabrina pouted, playfully swatting Kev's arm. "Stop talking," she whined. "You're ruining it for me. I was enjoying the mystique."
Talon, who had been quietly observing the interaction between his sister and Kev, couldn't resist a playful jab. "So, sister, do you finally believe me that we're living here and I do work for Mr. Fang?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
Sabrina sighed dramatically. "Yes, yes," she conceded. "Your glow-in-the-dark friend here convinced me. I've obviously gone into a coma and am now living in some weird dream world."
Talon raised an eyebrow. "Remember, you said that if I actually got a job here, and actually got an apartment here, and actually introduced you to Mr. Fang, then you wouldn't complain to me about moving."
Sabrina pointed a finger at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You haven't introduced me to Fang yet," she retorted. "So the deal's not closed."
Talon rolled his eyes, a fond smile playing on his lips. "Kids," he muttered under his breath.
"Brothers," Sabrina retorted, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Sisters," Talon countered, shaking his head in amusement.
Sabrina turned her attention back to Kev. "So, Kev," she began, her voice a mischievous chirp, "what exactly does the assistant do? Are you shaking down punks who don't pay their tab? Or maybe selling young ladies to gruff businessmen?"
"Sabrina!" Talon exclaimed, his voice a sharp reprimand.
Sabrina merely shrugged, a defiant glint in her eyes. "What? I'm just curious." She looked at Kev expectantly. "Well?"
Kev blushed, a wave of embarrassment washing over him. "I... I don't really do much," he admitted, his voice a bit hesitant. "I just hang out with Fang, keep him company, until I go to bed."
Sabrina's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. "That's my dream job, man. Getting paid to hang out with a hot wolfman all night? Sign me up!"
Kev snorted, a surprised laugh escaping his lips. He hadn't expected such an enthusiastic response from Sabrina, especially considering her earlier disdain for the club. It was a refreshing change from the cautious curiosity and veiled warnings he'd received from the other staff members.
"I need details!" Sabrina exclaimed, leaning forward eagerly. "Tell me everything! What's he like? Is he as hot as he looks? Does he have a secret lair? A hidden treasure trove? A collection of rare and exotic..."
"Sabrina!" Talon interrupted, his voice a stern reprimand. "We shouldn't be discussing work matters, especially not Mr. Fang's personal life."
Sabrina pouted. "You're such a buzzkill, brother," she grumbled, crossing her arms in defiance.
Talon sighed, a weary smile playing on his lips. "Isn't it about time we headed back upstairs?" he asked gently.
Kev glanced at his watch. It was nearing five o'clock, and he still had to shower and change before Fang arrived. "Yeah, I should probably get ready," he said, rising from the bench.
Sabrina's eyes widened in alarm. "You better not forget to bring me down tonight, brother!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of excitement and desperation.
Kev chuckled. "I'll remind Talon later, if we're not too busy," he assured her.
"I'm counting on you, Kev," Sabrina said, her voice a playful plea. "Save me from the nothingness that is life without electricity."
Kev grinned. "I'll do my best," he promised.
He turned to Talon, a warm smile on his face. "I'll see you up there," he said, heading back towards the billiards room.
Talon nodded, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. He carefully lifted Sabrina from the chair, her wings fluttering in excitement.