Kev and Talon walked back through the quiet corridors, the earlier tension from the medical bay slowly dissipating. "Let's head back to your place for that lunch," Kev said, his stomach rumbling. "Horns should be gone by now."
Talon nodded, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings as they moved. Once they were back in the relative privacy of the east wing corridor, Talon spoke, his voice a low rasp. "Rex mentioned something happened last night. He then... informed me for nearly twenty minutes that it's my job to protect you and that if anything happens to you, he's going to take it."
Kev winced. "Ouch. Twenty minutes of Rex is too much for anyone."
"He seemed agitated," Talon observed, his brow furrowed.
"Last night was crazy," Kev agreed as they began to ascend the stairs to the second floor. "We went for a walk in the park, and when we returned to the car, Perry was getting beat up. Rex stepped in and saved him, though."
Talon's interest was immediately piqued. "So you saw him fight? What were his weaknesses?"
Kev laughed, shaking his head. "He was moving too fast for me to see. He took on like five or six guys, though. Scratched them up and sent them packing."
"Were they big?" Talon pressed, his analytical mind clearly dissecting the scenario.
Kev shook his head again. "Everyone is big compared to me," he said with a wry smile.
Talon considered this for a moment. "Ms. Reepia is your size," he remarked. "She scared me."
Kev chuckled. "Me too."
They reached Talon's apartment, the eagleman still peppering Kev with questions about Rex's fighting style as he unlocked the door. "So, did he favor a particular limb for striking? Any noticeable tells before he attacked?"
As the door swung open, Kev saw Horns still sprawled on the couch, a low snore rumbling from his massive chest.
Sabrina looked up from a brightly colored magazine she was flipping through. "Took you two long enough," she said, her voice a playful chirp. "Did Gus need to do a cavity search?"
Kev chuckled nervously. "No, we just, uh..." He hesitated, not wanting to bring up visiting Perry in the medical bay, thinking it might upset her. "We just got distracted talking about last night. I saw Rex fight."
"Who?" Sabrina asked, her head tilting with curiosity.
"Hot tiger guy," Kev replied with a smirk.
Sabrina rolled closer, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, go on then!"
Talon walked past them and picked up a sandwich that was sitting on the counter. "I still haven't seen his skills yet," he said, his voice a low rasp as he took a bite. "They are quite legendary."
Horns mumbled from the couch, his voice thick with sleep, "He's undefeated."
"Oh, that is so hot," Sabrina declared dramatically. "Brother, why do you have to get your butt kicked so often?"
Talon pulled the sandwich out of his mouth, a frown creasing his brow. "I do not."
Kev picked up the other sandwich from the counter and stood next to Talon, taking a bite. "Talon is really vigilant," he said, defending the eagleman. "And he's not an asshole like Rex is."
Talon took another bite of his sandwich and said, "Thanks."
After they finished their meal, Horns sat up on the couch, looking a bit more alert. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his familiar pouch.
"Horns," Kev said quickly, "they don't smoke in here."
Sabrina's eyes lit up. "You can smoke as long as you share it with me," she declared, wheeling her chair closer.
Horns looked around the apartment, then at Talon, who was meticulously wiping crumbs from his suit. "You don't smoke, Talon?" Horns asked, raising an eyebrow. "It might help you relax."
Talon shook his head. "No."
Sabrina sighed dramatically. "Brother is so pure."
Kev stood up. "Come on," he said, gesturing towards the balcony. "Balcony isn't far."
They gathered on the small balcony, the city sounds a distant hum below. Horns lit the joint, the familiar scent mingling with the afternoon air. "That food hit the spot, Sabrina," he said, a contented rumble in his voice. "Thanks." He passed the joint to her.
Sabrina took a hit, her eyes sparkling. "You're so scary," she said to Horns, a playful grin on her face. "Fear must make me cook better." She passed the joint to Kev.
Kev took a hit, the smoke smooth and relaxing. "It's only two," he remarked, exhaling slowly. "Anyone up for a game of pool?" He passed the joint back to Horns.
Horns took a thoughtful drag. "It's been a while," he mused. "I never get the chance to play now." He passed the joint to Sabrina.
Sabrina took another hit. "I wonder if hot tiger guy is good at pool," she said, her gaze distant and dreamy.
Kev groaned. "Oh God, please stop with that."
They finished the joint, the remnants of its sweet smoke dissipating in the afternoon breeze. "We're heading down to play some games in the private pool room," Kev announced to Talon, who was still engrossed in his book.
Talon nodded, not looking up.
Kev, Horns, and Sabrina made their way to the elevator. As they stepped inside, Sabrina piped up, "Does Horns count as two people? This elevator says it can only hold ten."
Horns chuckled. "Good thing there are only five of us then, right?" he said, playfully nudging Sabrina's wheelchair with his foot.
They reached the private billiards room. Kev unlocked the door with his key, and they spread out, each drawn to a different corner of the inviting space. Sabrina pulled a brightly colored magazine from a pocket on her wheelchair and began flipping through its glossy pages. Talon, who had silently followed, immediately gravitated towards the dartboard, selecting a set of darts with a practiced eye. Kev and Horns, meanwhile, chose cues from the rack and began chalking the tips.
"This is a nice table," Horns commented, running a massive hand over the smooth green felt. He walked around it, his gaze appreciative, then picked up the brush.
"Max picked it out, I think," Kev said.
Horns brushed the tabletop meticulously. "I bet that fox comes up here and plays a rack or two every day now," he rumbled, a knowing grin on his face. He then looked over at the bookshelf nestled in the corner. "That's a door, right?"
"Yeah," Kev replied. "Secret doors are pretty cool."
"I can spot them now," Horns said, his voice laced with a hint of pride. "Don't remember them all, but there's one in almost every room."
"Really? That's crazy," Kev said. "How many books does one house need?"
Horns laughed and put the brush away. "Not all of them are bookshelves; it would get too suspicious. Who wants a bookshelf in the bathroom?"
Kev frowned, a flicker of unease crossing his features as he wondered why they would need secret doors in the bathrooms.
Horns, oblivious to Kev's momentary discomfort, expertly racked the balls. "Let's just warm up with a rack each before we play," he suggested.
Kev nodded, still slightly preoccupied by the thought of hidden bathroom doors. "Uhh, okay. Do you want to break?"
Horns raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Uh, sure, I'll go first." He centered the white cue ball and took aim, leaning low over the table. With a powerful thrust of his long arm, he broke, the cue ball smacking into the others with a resounding crack. Three balls immediately disappeared into pockets. Horns continued his run, pocketing ball after ball with an effortless precision that belied his earlier claims of being rusty. Finally, after sinking several more, he attempted a long, full-table shot and missed, leaving only six balls remaining.
"Ugh, it's been so long," Horns grumbled, shaking his head as he walked over to the couch and sat down.
"That was really good, Horns!" Kev exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
Horns sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "That was a great break, and I just lost it on a simple shot. Didn't even need to bounce it or anything."
Kev stood at the table and took aim. "Horns," he said, glancing over at the mooseman, "I don't think we can even play against each other. You'd kill me." He focused and made his shot, pocketing one of the remaining balls.
"Maybe when I first started here," Horns said, a nostalgic look in his eyes, "but not anymore."
Kev lined up his next shot, but missed, the cue ball rolling harmlessly past its target. "How long have you been working here?" he asked, turning to Horns.
Horns counted on his fingers, his brow furrowed in concentration, before letting out a hearty laugh. "Hell if I know." He chuckled again. "I've been here for about twenty years now."
"That's a long time," Kev said, watching as Horns, despite his earlier complaint, stood up, walked back to the table, and effortlessly took aim at the remaining balls. "How'd you learn to play pool?"
Horns grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Oh, I learned here," he said, sinking a ball into a side pocket. "Trying to win money for drinks." Another ball disappeared. "I found out about this place when I was younger. Snuck in when I was underage." The cue ball clicked against another, sending it into a corner. "For some reason, they never carded me, so it wasn't really sneaking, I guess." Two more balls sank into separate pockets with practiced ease. Horns lined up the last one. "And there are a lot of good players in the city." The final ball landed softly in the pocket.
Horns stood and began racking the balls again, a satisfied look on his face.
"These are just kid games, anyways," Talon said from across the room, his voice a dry rasp as he pulled three darts, all clustered tightly in the bullseye, from the board.
They continued to play, Horns patiently giving Kev pointers, his earlier rustiness replaced by the practiced ease of a seasoned player. Sabrina, never one to be left out, coaxed Talon into a game of darts, gleefully insisting he play with his left hand. The room filled with their playful banter and the rhythmic click of billiard balls.
Around five o'clock, Kev glanced at his watch and reluctantly set his cue down. "I should probably head back and get ready for the night," he said, a hint of regret in his voice.
Horns sighed, stretching his massive frame. "Me too, I guess," he conceded, his day off drawing to a close.
Talon, having just won another round of lefty darts against a surprisingly competitive Sabrina, turned to his sister. "Sister, I need to go to work now."
Sabrina sighed dramatically. "Bring me back to the tower if you must," she declared. "I will be done braiding my feathers for escape soon."
Talon chuckled, shaking his head at her theatrics. "I'll be over soon, Kev," he said, his gaze shifting to the human. "Mr. Horns, please keep an eye on him until I get there."
Horns rolled his eyes playfully. "I'll be sure to," he rumbled, a knowing grin on his face.
They exited the pool room, Kev carefully locking the door behind them. At the hallway intersection, they went their separate ways – Kev and Horns heading towards Kev's apartment, while Talon and Sabrina made their way to the elevator, Sabrina already outlining her next grand escape plan.
As they reached Kev's apartment, Kev's brow furrowed. "So, about last night," he began, his voice low and serious. "It was really crazy."
Horns sighed, running a massive hand through his already rumpled fur. "My first day off, and shit goes down," he grumbled. "Am I lucky or unlucky?"
"A bit of both, maybe," Kev said with a small smile. "But, when Fang said he wanted to talk to you in his office last night…"
Horns's face looked grim. "Don't remind me," he muttered, a shiver running down his spine. "I need to get ready." He quickly disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of the shower starting moments later.
Kev tidied up the living room a little, then set about making a fresh pot of coffee, the rich aroma a welcome comfort. He went into his bedroom and picked out the clothes he wanted to wear for the evening – a sleek, dark suit Marybelle had tailored for him. Marybelle really is amazing, he thought, admiring the craftsmanship.
He walked back out of his room to see Horns, clad only in his trousers, pouring himself a cup of coffee. His fur was still damp from the shower. "You know, you're really the best, Kev," Horns said, his voice a warm rumble.
Kev grinned, grabbing a mug for himself. "You too, buddy."
Horns sipped his coffee, his expression turning more serious. "No, really," he said. "If you didn't drag me away last night, I probably would have headbutted Fang again."
Kev chuckled. "Come on, you two woulda figured it out."
Horns laughed, a deep, hearty sound. "Yeah, after we both were black and blue."
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Kev, expecting Talon, was surprised to see Cindy standing on the threshold. She was dressed in a very nice, if plain, dark blue dress that fell just below her knees. A simple string of pearls adorned her neck, and she carried a small, elegant handbag. She looked both refined and slightly out of place in Kev's doorway.