Dawn arrived, painting the sky with soft hues of pink and orange. Kev groaned as he pulled himself from the comfortable bed. It was more difficult this morning as he thought of being turned down once more… At least Fang got to spend time with his old friend. Kev showered, dressed in comfortable clothes, and brewed a pot of coffee, the aroma filling his apartment with a welcoming warmth.
Remembering Horns's early morning visits, Kev prepared a plate of food for the mooseman, arranging a bagel, some fruit, and a slice of cheese on a plate. He opened the windows to let in the fresh air and lit a few scented candles, their gentle fragrance adding a touch of serenity to the space.
Just as he was settling down with his own cup of coffee, a knock echoed through the apartment. He opened the door to find Horns, red eyed, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.
"Morning, Kev," Horns greeted him with a slur, stepping inside and placing the water pipe and Kev's bag of weed oil on the coffee table.
His eyes lit up at the sight of the prepared plate. "Thanks, buddy," he said, grabbing the food and digging in.
Kev chuckled, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "How was the night after I left?" he asked, taking a seat opposite Horns.
"Good," Horns replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Oh, Ralph is always a good time. We had a few laughs… reminisced about the old days..."
Kev took a sip of his coffee. "Ralph was telling a story last night," he began hesitantly, "about a time when Fang took a swing at you."
Horns's cheeks flushed slightly, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, about that..." he mumbled, his voice a low rumble. "I didn't mean to hit him back so hard."
"Oh," Kev said, surprised. "I didn't hear that part of the story."
Horns sighed, shaking his head. "The boss was going nuts, beating on some cat who'd insulted him," he explained. "I had to pull him off, but he was seeing red. He got me with a lucky hook, so I... well, I headbutted him… The boss was out of it for a day," Horns continued, a hint of concern in his voice, "but he recovered. Not the best birthday present, though."
Horns then glanced at the bag of weed oil on the table. "I had a bit of this last night," he confessed "Hope you don't mind."
Kev waved a dismissive hand. "Not at all," he replied with a smile. "You've been more than kind to me, Horns. If you like it, have at it."
"If you say so," Horns said with a grin. He packed and took a deep inhale from the water pipe. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, a contented sigh escaping his lips. "I'll leave this here then," he said, gesturing towards the bong. "I'll take it back when I wake up."
"No worries," Kev replied, appreciating the gesture. "Thanks again, Horns."
Horns's gaze shifted to the bags on the counter from the evening before. "Did you try on those swimming trunks yet?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Kev's cheeks flushed slightly as he remembered the forgotten item. "Not yet," he admitted, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. "I completely forgot about them."
"Well, make sure you do today," Horns urged. "It's a scorcher out there, and that pool is begging to be used."
"I will," Kev promised. "Oh, and Horns?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you grab me some toilet paper while you're at the market?" Kev asked, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "I'm running low."
Horns chuckled. "Sure thing, Kev," he replied. "I like the good stuff too. Soft and fluffy."
Horns slapped his knees, stood, and with a final wave, left the apartment, leaving Kev to his own devices.
Kev, feeling the effects of the potent oil, carefully stashed the water pipe and the remaining herbs in his kitchen counter, away from prying eyes. He then returned to the kitchen, filled the kettle with more water, and set it on the stove to boil.
As he waited for the water to heat, he selected a new music scroll from the box and inserted it into the player piano. A lively waltz filled the apartment, its cheerful melody that helped wake him up. He was anticipating Cindy and Max's now customary morning visit.
He grabbed a cleaning cloth and meticulously wiped down the coffee table and couch, ensuring everything was spotless for his guest. He was just finishing up when a gentle knock echoed through the apartment.
Kev set the cleaning cloth aside and made his way to the door, a welcoming smile on his face.
Cindy, as usual, wasted no time in making herself at home. She bustled into the kitchen, her practiced hands reaching for the teapot and cups. Max, on the other hand, settled onto the couch with a relaxed sigh.
"Didn't give me any surprises yesterday, Kev," he remarked with a playful grin. "Thought something might have been wrong."
Kev chuckled, shaking his head. "Just a quiet day," he replied. "Cant expect me to be exciting all the time."
Just then, Cindy emerged from the kitchen, the water pipe clutched in her hand. A disapproving frown creased her brow. "These stinky things should be locked up," she scolded, her voice a gentle reprimand. "Max, please get Kev a safe."
Max, who had been enjoying the music, straightened up with a start. "Right away, ma'am," he replied, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He shot Kev a knowing wink before disappearing into the hallway. "Exciting."
Cindy placed the water pipe on the counter, then returned with a tray of steaming teacups. She handed one to Kev, her smile warm and inviting.
"You boys and your fun," she said, shaking her head affectionately. "Just remember to be smart about it, too."
She took a sip of her tea, her foot tapping along to the cheerful waltz emanating from the player piano.
Kev blushed slightly, a mix of embarrassment and a feeling of his personal space being violated. He appreciated Cindy's efforts to improve his living quarters, but he also wished she'd given him a heads-up before just barging in.
"How was your evening with Ralph?" Cindy asked, sipping her tea.
"He seemed good," Kev replied, taking a sip of his tea. "We played some pool, and he and Fang laughed a lot together. I'm glad they had a chance to hang out."
Cindy nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. "So, Ralph used to work here, right?" Kev asked, remembering the familiarity between Ralph and the other managers. "He seems to know everyone."
A fond smile touched Cindy's lips. "Yes, he did," she confirmed. "He was the manager of the bar, kitchen, and entertainment when the club first opened. Fang had to split those responsibilities among three different managers after Ralph left."
"He must have been a hard worker," Kev observed, impressed.
"He was," Cindy agreed. "It hurt to lose him, but Fang has no hard feelings now. They've both moved on, and their friendship has endured."
Just as Kev was about to ask Cindy more about Ralph, Max returned, accompanied by a hippopotamus cleaner carrying a heavy safe.
"Bedroom closet, right corner," Cindy directed, her voice brisk and efficient.
The hippo nodded and, with surprising agility for his size, maneuvered the safe through the apartment and into Kev's bedroom. He emerged a few minutes later, wiping his brow with a handkerchief. "All done, madam," he reported to Cindy with a respectful bow.
"Thank you, Bartholomew," Cindy replied with a warm smile.
Max clapped a hand on the hippo's back, unable to reach his shoulder "Good work," he said, his voice filled with approval.
As Bartholomew left the apartment, Cindy turned to Kev and Max. "Well, I believe we must take our leave as well," she announced, rising from the couch. "Duty calls."
Max nodded, his gaze shifting to the safe. "Combination's on the door," he reminded Kev. "Don't forget it."
With a final wave, Cindy and Max left the apartment, leaving Kev alone once more.
Kev chuckled to himself as he spotted the safe tucked away in the corner of his closet. A small key dangled from its handle. "Easy enough combination to remember," Kev thought, a smile playing on his lips. He added the key to his growing keychain, its weight a comforting reminder of the support and care he'd received from the club's staff.
Heeding Cindy's earlier warning, Kev carefully placed the water pipe and the bag of weed oil inside the safe, securing it with the key. He wasn't quite ready to experiment with the potent concentrate again, and he didn't want to risk anyone else stumbling upon it.
He glanced out the window, the afternoon sun still blazing in the sky. The heat was stifling, and the pool's shimmering waters beckoned him with a siren's call. With a surge of anticipation, he retrieved the swimsuit from the bag that Horns had brought him the previous day.
It was a simple pair of blue swim trunks, surprisingly stylish and well-fitting. He quickly changed, grabbing a towel from the linen closet, and headed out to the pool, eager to escape the heat and enjoy a moment of relaxation.
As Kev emerged from the mansion, his bare feet sinking into the soft grass, he caught a few curious glances from the cleaning crew working nearby. Their surprise was understandable; he was a stark contrast to their usual surroundings, his pale skin and lean physique a far cry from the fur-covered or scaled bodies they were accustomed to.
Kev, finally unphazed by their stares, continued towards the pool, a sense of liberation washing over him. The day's summer heat, even this early in the morning, was relentless, and the prospect of a refreshing swim was too tempting to resist. He reached the poolside and tossed his towel and cigarette case onto a nearby lounge chair.
He sat on the edge, dangling his feet in the cool water, a contented sigh escaping his lips. The contrast between the scorching air and the refreshing water was exhilarating. Then, with a playful grin, he pushed himself off the edge and plunged into the pool.
The cool water enveloped him, a welcome respite from the oppressive heat. He surfaced with a gasp, his hair slicked back against his head. He floated on his back, his limbs spread wide, letting the water carry him wherever it willed. The sun beat down on his face, its warmth a gentle caress against his skin. For the first time since his arrival, without Fang close, Kev felt truly at peace.
The gentle rocking of the water and the warmth of the sun lulled Kev into a peaceful state of semi-consciousness. He drifted along the surface of the pool, his thoughts drifting lazily like clouds in a summer sky. A faint sound, a rustling in the bushes perhaps, reached his ears, but he dismissed it as a trick of his imagination.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over him, blocking out the sun. Kev's eyes snapped open, and he looked up in surprise to see Talon descending towards him from the sky. The eagleman, his powerful wings outstretched, was flying right at him.
"Talon!" Kev yelled, startled by the unexpected sight.
Talon, realizing his mistake a moment too late, attempted to pull up, his wings beating furiously against the air. But it was too late. With a resounding splash, he crashed into Kev, sending both of them tumbling beneath the surface.
They emerged a few seconds later, gasping for air and sputtering water. Kev, his hair plastered to his forehead, glared at Talon. "What the hell, Talon?!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and annoyance.
From the balcony above, a burst of laughter echoed through the garden. Kev looked up to see Sabrina leaning over the railing, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Did you save the human from drowning, brother?" she called down, her voice a playful chirp.
Talon sputtered, spitting out a mouthful of chlorinated water. "I'm going to get you for this, sister!" he yelled up at the balcony, his voice echoing across the quiet garden. He then turned to Kev, a sheepish expression on his face.
"I'm so sorry about this, Kev," he rasped quickly. "Sabrina saw you... well, she said you were drowning, and I'd just woken up and..." He trailed off, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I... I'm sorry."
Talon climbed out of the pool, his wet feathers clinging to his muscular frame. He shook himself vigorously, sending a spray of water droplets in all directions.
"My pants are soaked," he grumbled, his voice a low rasp. "Ugh, I don't have any more pajamas until I do laundry next week."
Kev, still chuckling at the unexpected turn of events, offered a solution. "There's a laundry chute in the mansion," he explained. "Just toss your clothes in, and Cindy's crew will take care of them for you."
Talon's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" he asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Yeah," Kev confirmed. "It's pretty convenient."
Talon quickly stripped off his wet pants, revealing a pair of long, tight-fitting black briefs. He wrung the water out of his pants, then hung them over a nearby chair to dry.
"It's hot already," he remarked, fanning himself with his wings. He looked up at the balcony, his gaze settling on his sister. "Sabrina, are you coming?" he called out.
"Hold your horses, brother," Sabrina replied, her voice a playful chirp. "I'll be right down."