Talon, ever vigilant, reacted instinctively. He stepped in front of Reepia, his wings spreading slightly in a protective gesture. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What do you think you're doing?"
Reepia, undeterred by Talon's imposing presence, glared up at him. "Out of my way, bird-brain!" she snarled, her voice a furious growl. Without warning, she stomped on Talon's foot and delivered a swift kick to his shin.
Talon, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, yelped in pain and stumbled backward, his wings flapping wildly as he tried to regain his balance. He lost his footing and tumbled to the floor, his feathers ruffled and his dignity momentarily shattered.
Reepia, her anger momentarily sated, marched towards the table and held the platter of food aloft. She glared at Fang, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Where," she demanded, her voice a menacing hiss, "and what did you eat last night, Fang?"
Kev, startled by the sudden outburst, watched in stunned silence as Reepia held the plate of steak and eggs, her gaze fixed on Fang with an intensity that could melt steel.
Fang's eyes darted nervously from side to side, a rare display of unease from the usually composed wolfman. "I ate here, Reepia," he stammered, his voice a strained rumble. "You made me food, remember?"
Reepia's laughter echoed through the VIP section, a sharp, mocking sound that cut through the sounds of the customers. "You are an awful liar, dog," she retorted, her eyes narrowing. "Now tell me the truth."
"Lower your voice, Reepia," Fang hissed, his ears flattening against his head. "We have customers." He cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Reepia's laughter intensified, drawing curious glances from nearby patrons. "I've been making you the same five food items every night for years, Fang," she said, her voice a triumphant cackle. "You skipped your pork chops last night, puppy. Stop trying to hide it from me."
Kev sipped his drink, his gaze flitting between Fang and Reepia. He remembered the head chef's warning that morning: Don't say anything while I'm questioning him. He watched as Fang squirmed under Reepia's relentless interrogation, the usually unflappable wolfman visibly cracking under the pressure.
"It would be such a shame," Reepia continued, her voice a sweet, menacing purr, "if I suddenly realized this steak wasn't cooked to your liking. I'd have to take it back to the kitchen, and you'd have to wait even longer to eat."
Fang's growl reverberated through the booth, a low, menacing rumble that silenced the nearby conversations. "You wouldn't dare," he warned, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.
Reepia's grin widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She leaned closer to the plate, inspecting the steak with a critical eye. "Oh, dear," she said, her voice a feigned concern. "You asked for rare, but this looks like it might be more medium-rare."
Fang's patience snapped. "No!" he barked
Reepia raised an eyebrow, her smile turning predatory. "Spill it, mutt," she challenged, her voice a low purr.
Fang, defeated, slumped back in his seat with a resigned sigh. "Fine," he grumbled. "I got a burger and fries at a diner last night. Happy now?"
Reepia's teeth flashed triumphantly and she placed the plate in front of Fang with a flourish. "You're getting veggies with your second meal tonight," she declared, her voice firm. "You know you shouldn't be eating fried food."
Fang's growl returned, but it lacked its earlier intensity. "I can do what I want, Reepia," he muttered, though his tone was more playful than threatening.
"That's what you always say, pup," she replied.
Talon, still nursing his bruised shin, hobbled over to the table, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. He placed a hand on Reepia's shoulder.
"Who's this?" he asked, his voice a low rasp. "Is she bothering you?"
Reepia shrugged off Talon's hand with a growl. "Get your feathers off me!" she snapped.
Kev quickly intervened, sensing another potential conflict brewing. "Talon, this is Reepia, the kitchen manager," he introduced, gesturing towards the feisty rat woman.
Talon stepped back, a hint of apprehension in his eyes. "Good to meet you, Ms. Reepia," he said, his voice carefully neutral. He winced slightly, rubbing his shin where Reepia had kicked him earlier.
Reepia turned her attention to Talon, her gaze sharp and unwavering. "Don't get in a cook's way when they're in the restaurant," she warned, her voice a stern admonishment.
Talon nodded, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. "Noted," he replied, his tone subdued.
"Be happy it's not broken," Reepia added with a sly grin. She tapped one of her boots on the floor, a metallic clunk echoing through the booth.
Talon straightened his posture, his wings rustling slightly. "Do you have a daytime manager I should meet?" he inquired, his voice a low rasp. "I seem to be making a rather... unfavorable first impressions on my own."
Reepia let out a hearty laugh, her sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "I'm the matriarch of the kitchen, bird-boy," she declared. "Just me and my crew of misfits."
"I like that you're not soft," she continued, her voice a low purr. "Or a complainer. If I'd done that to the human, he'd be on the ground still, and the wolf would be all worked up." She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Then, her tone turned serious. "But make sure you don't let that human get hurt, Talon," she warned. "Fang would shame us all by crying like a little girl."
Fang growled, his ears flattening against his head. "Get back to the kitchen, Reepia," he barked, his voice a low rumble.
Reepia chuckled, unfazed by his anger. "Veggies!" she yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared into the crowd.
Fang devoured his steak and eggs with his usual gusto, the sounds of his enthusiastic eating momentarily filling the otherwise quiet booth. Kev, savoring his salmon and rice, couldn't help but marvel at the chef's culinary skills. The fish was perfectly cooked, its flaky texture complementing the fluffy rice and the vibrant medley of vegetables.
As they finished their meals, Luna appeared, her movements graceful and efficient. She cleared their plates and placed a steaming cup of black coffee in front of Fang.
Kev, leaned closer to Fang. "Reepia seems to be the one who's really in charge around here," he observed, a playful smile on his face.
Fang chuckled, a deep rumble that vibrated through the booth. "She's certainly a force to be reckoned with," he admitted, taking a sip of his coffee. "I wouldn't be surprised if she could beat Rex in a fight… unless he was going all out from the start."
Kev's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way," he protested. "Rex is twice her size!"
"Reepia fights dirty," Fang explained with a knowing grin. "She goes for the throat, literally and figuratively."
Kev chuckled, remembering the swift kick Reepia had delivered to Talon's shin. "She certainly got the best of Talon," he remarked. "And he's always on guard."
"That's her advantage," Fang said, swirling his coffee thoughtfully. "She knows she's underestimated... I think Talon even said something similar to you after his fight in the pit, didn't he? 'If you're smaller, you must be decisive.'"
Kev nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. He glanced over at Talon, who was now engaged in a conversation with Cindy near the entrance to the VIP section. The eagleman's posture was rigid, his wings slightly ruffled, as he listened intently to the head of housekeeping.
A moment later, Talon nodded curtly and stepped aside, allowing Cindy to pass. She approached their table with a determined stride, her usually gentle demeanor replaced by a steely resolve.
Talon followed Cindy to the table, his posture rigid and alert. Cindy gracefully took a seat, while Talon remained standing, his gaze low, on the table.
"Good evening, Fang," Cindy greeted, her voice a melodic purr. She turned to Kev with a warm smile. "And good evening to you as well, Kev."
"Hello, Cindy," Kev replied, returning her smile.
Cindy's gaze shifted back to Fang, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "You've chosen a fine gift for your assistant, Fang," she complimented, her voice soft. "Those cufflinks are exquisite."
Fang's grin widened, and he affectionately rubbed Kev's shoulder. "Kev picked the design," he said, his voice filled with pride.
Cindy nodded approvingly. "He has good taste," she acknowledged. But then, her expression turned serious. "However," she continued, her gaze shifting to Talon, "the other one... needs a touch of training."
Talon's wings twitched slightly, his posture becoming even more rigid.
"Talon is doing what I hired him to do, Cindy," Fang interjected, his voice a low rumble. "If I gave him this position and then heard he was lazing around, I'd fire him. He's sharp, active, and can protect the mansion while I sleep."
Cindy looked at Kev, a knowing glint in her eyes. "The mansion, you say…"
"Regardless," she continued, her tone firm, "I would still like to suggest that Talon think twice before manhandling my workers. Poor Jubilee was already in pain from getting a tooth removed when Talon scared her so badly she didn't sleep all day. I've had to put her on laundry folding tonight so she can take a nap."
"It was a misunderstanding, Ms. Cindy," Talon said, his voice a low rasp.
"Madam Cindy, if you please," she corrected him, her tone firm.
Talon's gaze flickered to the floor, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. "Madam Cindy," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
Cindy studied him for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "He has potential," she finally said, turning to Fang with a knowing smile. "But he needs a bit of... refinement."
She looked at Kev, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "And you, dear," she said, her voice gentle, "please try to keep him from throttling my staff."
She then turned back to Fang, her tone shifting to a more maternal one. "Don't drink too much tonight, pup," she admonished. "You're working."
With a final nod, Cindy rose from her seat and gracefully exited the booth. "Have a good night, gentlemen," she said, her voice a melodic farewell.
As she walked away, Dale caught her eye and raised his glass in a silent toast. Cindy returned the gesture with a warm smile, a silent communication passing between them.
Kev watched her go, a mix of admiration and apprehension swirling within him. Cindy, despite her gentle demeanor, was clearly a force to be reckoned with, a woman who commanded respect and loyalty from those around her. And a woman who… had no qualms about severe punishment.
Talon, his posture still rigid, remained standing. He seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the spot where Cindy had just been sitting.
"She's... intimidating," he finally admitted, his voice a hushed whisper.
Kev chuckled softly. "She is," he agreed. "But she's also one of the kindest people I've met here." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "She just has a unique way of showing it."
"I'll keep that in mind," Talon replied. He relaxed slightly, his wings no longer held so tightly against his back.
Fang, who had been observing the exchange with quiet amusement, cleared his throat. "Well, Talon," he said, his voice a low rumble, "it seems you've made quite an impression on the staff already."
"I didn't mean to cause any trouble, Mr. Fang," he said. "I was just trying to do my job."
Fang chuckled, a reassuring hand resting on Talon's shoulder. "I know, Talon," he said, his tone gentle. "And I appreciate your vigilance. But remember, the other staff are not a threat."
He paused, his gaze meeting Talon's. "You're still new here," he continued, "and there's a lot to learn."
Talon nodded, a grateful look in his eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Fang," he replied.
As the crowd in the bar swelled and the energy intensified, Kev and Fang settled into a comfortable rhythm of conversation and shared glances. The warmth of Fang's presence beside him, the subtle scent of his cologne mingling with the smoky air, created a sense of intimacy that Kev found both exhilarating and reassuring. It was a small moment, but Kev was beginning to feel like he might be upset if this did turn out to only be an elaborate dream.