Kev arrived back at his apartment, surprised to find Talon waiting patiently by the door.
"Flying up is a nice shortcut, huh?" Kev remarked with a grin.
Talon nodded, a rare smile playing on his beak. "I'm already considering it for emergency situations," he admitted, his voice a low rasp.
Kev unlocked the door and ushered Talon inside.
"Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," Kev offered, gesturing towards the kitchen. "It might be another long night."
Talon's eyes lit up at the sight of the food. "Thank you," he said, his voice a grateful whisper.
Kev disappeared into the bedroom, emerging a few minutes later in a stylish gray suit with subtle silver accents. He'd carefully styled his hair, the gel holding it in place with a polished sheen. He checked his reflection in the new bathroom mirror, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He was ready for whatever the night might bring.
Kev emerged from his bedroom, finding two beastmen had raided his pantry. Horns, perched on the couch, was devouring a sandwich with gusto, while Talon, standing at the counter, nibbled on a piece of fruit.
Kev sighed, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Howdy, Horns," he greeted, settling into an armchair and lighting a cigarette.
Horns, his mouth full, mumbled a cheerful, "Howdy, Kev." He swallowed, then added, "First day of the new schedule tonight. Gonna try to make sure it all runs smoothly. Lots of new blood on the roster."
Kev's curiosity piqued. "New blood?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow. "What's the occasion?"
"Training," Horns said simply, between bites of his sandwich. "Gotta get those new hires up to speed."
Talon, having finished his snack, dusted his hands off and tossed the remnants in the trash. "Mr. Horns," he said, his voice a respectful rasp, "I'm leaving Kev in your care for now so I can get cleaned up too." He glanced at his watch. "I'll be back in twenty minutes." With a curt nod, Talon exited the apartment.
Horns leaned back on the couch, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That one's a bit uptight, isn't he?" he remarked, a chuckle rumbling in his chest.
Kev sat down at the piano, his fingers lightly tracing the keys. "Yeah," he agreed, a soft smile playing on his lips. "His sister is pretty intense too. Kinda reminds me of Reepia, in a way."
Horns grinned. "Now there's a pair," he said, shaking his head in amusement. "Fire and ice." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large bag of what looked like high-quality marijuana. "Brought you some more of Ralph's finest," he said, tossing the bag onto the coffee table. "I'll roll you some while we wait."
Kev's eyes widened in surprise. "Thanks, Horns," he said, genuinely touched by the gesture. He selected a lively tune on the player piano, its cheerful melody filling the apartment with a sense of warmth and anticipation.
Horns paused mid-roll, his eyebrows furrowing. "Speaking of Cindy," he said, his voice a low rumble, "she might stop by later to have a word with Talon. About that... incident yesterday."
Kev's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah, yesterday…" he echoed, a nervous tremor in his voice.
Horns looked up, his gaze meeting Kev's with a questioning intensity. "Please don't tell me Talon attacked another cleaner," he said, his tone laced with a hint of dread.
"Worse," Kev admitted. "He pinned Vlad against a wall when he was pulling someone's tooth."
Horns groaned, dropping the half-rolled joint onto the coffee table. "Why would he do that?" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"We heard a woman scream," Kev explained, his voice still a bit shaky from the memory. "Talon didn't hesitate. He just kicked in the door and pulled Vlad off the lady. It all happened so fast."
Horns listened intently, his expression growing increasingly grim. "I'll talk to Lanon about it," he said, his voice a low rumble. "I don't know how he's going to react, but I'll try to smooth things over."
"Talon doesn't really understand that the mansion is pretty safe during the day," Kev observed, a hint of worry in his voice. "He's a bit... overzealous."
Horns nodded in agreement. "He's just doing his job, I guess," he replied with a shrug. "A bit too enthusiastically, perhaps, but his heart's in the right place."
Kev hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Should I tell Fang to... you know, tell him to tone it down a bit?"
Horns shook his head. "Just tell Fang what happened," he advised. "Let him decide what he thinks about it. Talon is his employee, after all."
"Well," Horns announced, rising from the couch with a groan. "Come take your joints, I've got to get going."
Kev collected the expertly rolled joints and carefully placed them in his cigarette case. "Thanks, Horns," he said with a grateful smile. "For everything."
Horns smiled and looked down at the much smaller man. "Anytime, Kev." He glanced at his watch, then opened the apartment door. Standing on the threshold was Talon, his feathers neatly preened and his expression composed.
"There's the fun guy," Horns remarked with a chuckle, nodding towards Talon. "I'll leave you two to it. Enjoy dinner, Kev."
Talon stepped into the apartment as Horns left, closing the door behind him. The eagleman looked refreshed after his shower, his sharp features accentuated by a fresh black suit that fit him impeccably.
Kev, humming a tune as he tidied up the kitchen, couldn't help but steal glances at Talon, who was now absorbed in the history book Horns had brought earlier. The eagleman's intense focus, his brow furrowed in concentration, was a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor. It was almost endearing, seeing him so engrossed in something other than security protocols and combat strategies.
Just as Kev was finishing up, a knock echoed through the apartment. He glanced at his watch - it was barely past 5:30. A flutter of anticipation filled his chest as he crossed the room and opened the door.
Talon jumped up quickly and pulled open the door. "Mr. Fang."
Fang stood on the threshold, his presence radiating a warmth that instantly dispelled any of Kev's lingering anxieties. He was dressed in a charcoal gray suit, its tailored lines accentuating his broad shoulders and powerful build. His amber eyes sparkled with a mix of affection and amusement as he took in the scene before him.
"Ready for dinner, Kev?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the apartment.
Kev's eyes lit up at the sight of Fang. "You look great tonight," he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. He reached up and gently adjusted Fang's tie, his fingers lingering on the wolfman's warm fur.
Fang chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down Kev's spine. He captured Kev's hand in his own, his gaze falling on the silver cufflinks adorning Kev's wrist. A tenderness softened his features as he brought Kev's hand to his lips, nuzzling his face into the human's palm.
"Let's go," he murmured, his voice a husky whisper.
Hand in hand, they left the apartment and made their way down the grand staircase, the sounds of the bustling club growing louder with each step. The barroom was already filled with patrons, their laughter and chatter creating a vibrant symphony of energy.
Fang led Kev through the forming crowd, his imposing presence parting the sea of bodies as they approached their usual spot in the VIP section.
Kev and Fang settled into the familiar comfort of the VIP booth, their presence drawing curious glances from the surrounding patrons. The club pulsed with a vibrant energy, the air thick with the mingled scents of perfume, alcohol, and anticipation.
Kev, lighting a cigarette, leaned closer to Fang, his voice a quite amidst the din. "So, what was all that business with Lanon about last night?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Fang's expression turned serious, a shadow crossing his handsome features. "Unfortunately, it was... important," he replied, his voice a low rumble. "Sorry, my little assistant."
Just then, a new waitress approached their table, another feline, her movements graceful and efficient. She placed a Bloody Mary in front of Fang and a Cape Cod before Kev, her smile warm and welcoming.
"Good evening, gentlemen," she purred. "I'm Luna, and I'll be taking care of you tonight. Rebecca has the night off."
Fang, his focus already shifting back to the business at hand, barked his order without acknowledging Luna's introduction. "Steak and eggs, rare and runny," he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Kev, ever the polite one, smiled at Luna. "I'll have the salmon and rice, please," he requested, his voice a gentle contrast to Fang's gruffness.
Luna nodded, her gaze lingering on Kev for a moment before she spoke. "I'll be sure to check back in every once in a while," she purred, her voice a soft melody. "Anything else I can get for you?"
"Bring Fang a cup of coffee too, black," Kev added, glancing at his boss.
Luna's eyes flicked towards Fang, a hint of apprehension in their depths. She nodded quickly and hurried away, leaving Kev and Fang alone once more.
"So," Kev began, leaning closer to Fang, "any plans for the night?"
Fang's brow furrowed in concentration. "I need to make sure things run smoothly with the new schedule and the new hires," he replied, his voice a low rumble. "It's going to be a busy night."
Kev took a leisurely sip of his Cape Cod. "Talon moved in today," he remarked casually, exhaling a plume of smoke.
Fang glanced over at the eagleman, who stood stoically by the velvet rope, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. "Good," he grunted, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
Kev hesitated for a moment, then continued, "He seems to be having a bit of a hard time adjusting to daytime security."
Fang's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" he demanded, his gaze sharpening.
"He's just a bit... on edge," Kev explained, choosing his words carefully. "He seems to think something bad is going to happen."
Fang took a sip of his Bloody Mary, a sly grin spreading across his face. "That's why I hired him, Kev," he replied. "He's vigilant, alert.. exactly what we need right now, with the city breathing down our necks and the mafia deal looming."
Kev took another sip of his cocktail, a thoughtful expression on his face. "He ruffled a few feathers earlier today," he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Fang's grin widened. "Whose feathers?" he asked.
Kev proceeded to recount the incident in the billiards room yesterday, describing Talon's overzealous reaction to the cleaner's presence and his subsequent apology to Max.
Fang's smile faded, replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Can't say I haven't been surprised by them popping up using those secret passages," he mused, shaking his head. "It's a necessary evil, I suppose…" He paused, his gaze meeting Kev's. "But that doesn't sound like a big issue, Kev. Talon apologized, and Cindy knows."
Kev hesitated for a moment, then continued, his voice a bit hesitant. "There was also... an incident with Vlad." He proceeded to tell Fang about Talon's outburst in the medical bay, his concern for Kev's safety, and Vlad's subsequent reprimand.
As Kev finished his story, Fang burst into laughter, a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the VIP booth.
"That bat is a bit creepy," Fang chuckled, his laughter rumbling through his chest. "I can't blame Talon for that one." His grin widened, a playful glint in his amber eyes. "Though Lanon, on the other hand, might be a bit miffed about it. I'll have to make sure they come to some sort of understanding."
Kev shifted in his seat, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "Maybe you should tell Talon to... relax a bit," he suggested tentatively. "He seems a little too eager to jump into action."
Fang's arm tightened around Kev's shoulders, pulling him closer. "I'll do no such thing," he declared, his voice low and confident "Hearing these stories just confirms that I hired the perfect person for the job."
Kev's gaze shifted towards Talon, who stood stoically by the velvet rope, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. "I met Talon's sister today, too," Kev remarked, a playful smile playing on his lips. "I don't know what you'll think of her, but I think she's a riot."
Fang turned his attention back to the bustling barroom, his keen eyes observing the patrons as they filed in. "That's good," he replied, his voice a low rumble. "I'm glad she's warming up to you."
"She has no filter, though," Kev warned, a hint of amusement in his voice. "So don't be offended if she says something... unexpected."
Fang chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the booth. "I don't have thin skin, Kev," he assured him. "I can handle a bit of... sass."
Kev grinned. "Of course," he replied.
Just then, Reepia emerged from the kitchen, a steaming platter of food balanced precariously on one arm. Her expression was a thundercloud, her eyes narrowed in a fierce glare directed at Fang from across the dining room.
"You!" she barked, her voice a raspy growl that cut through the ambient noise of the club. "You overgrown, irresponsible mutt!"