#Xerynn warrgott

[snarkymonkeyprime]

Enjoy the filthy smut between two dumb-dumbs.

     Kai fidgeted, silently thankful that his boss was a clothes horse and rich.  Had he had to decide on what to wear for this event, it likely would have been off a discount rack and ill-fitting at best.  Instead, Xerynn had ordered him to his personal tailor, seeing to it that Kai's tux was perfectly cut and that his shoes were Italian.

     He looked down, arching his toes up, wondering if he'd ever worn anything so shiny in the past.  

     Probably when I had to go to church that one time.  It hadn't been a fun time for anyone considering he'd been almost six and wailed the entire time.

     Xerynn cleared his throat, tapping his cane against the pavement.  "I would advise against focusing on your feet, Mr. Walker."

     He sighed and folded his arms over his chest as he straightened.  At Xerynn's raised brow, he reluctantly dropped his arms.  "Why in the world do you want me here?  Won't I be a stain on your rep?"

     The god's brow twitched.  With his free hand, he took Kai's elbow, drawing him toward the Melody.  "There is little you can do to mar my reputation, Mr. Walker," he admonished.  "You afford yourself more importance than you retain."

     "I think you just insulted me," Kai muttered, allowing himself to be led up the stairs to the main room.  Which, honestly, was par for the course these days.  Very little Xerynn said to him ruffled his feathers anymore.  The retorts were largely reflex.

      Still holding Kai's elbow, Xerynn led him into the main space, opulently decorated with cream and silver, the small waist high tables scattered about the room, Portland's elite already congregating, with glasses of alcohol in hand.  Waiters wandered with laden trays, pausing here and there and voices created a susurrus of continued noise.  Had it been more crowded they might have entered undetected but Kai doubted it.  Xerynn drew attention wherever he went, coaxed by his very nature if not his striking looks.  Little wonder then that more than one set of eyes turned their way as they entered, some appraising and others critical.

      Kai wanted to bolt.  He usually entered rooms unnoticed.  Being near someone like Xerynn was akin to being pinned under a spotlight.  He swallowed and trailed after Xerynn, his skin crawling as the gazes followed them both.

     Xerynn glanced back once and smirked.  "Worry not.  I only need you to be seen."

     Confusing.  "Why?" he prodded.  "Isn't it better if people don't know who I am?"

     The god lifted Kai's chin with the head of his cane.  "You appear to be my guest.  My very nervous, naive guest."  He raised his brows and replaced the cold metal with an equally cold hand.  "There is nothing those of power enjoy more than attempting to use what they see as a weakness."

     Understanding dawned and Kai ground his teeth.  "You want them thinking you and I -"

     Xerynn grinned then, stroking Kai's bottom lip with his thumb.  "Ah, you can catch on when prompted."

     Kai swallowed the urge to gag.  "Why?" he asked again. 

     Xerynn dropped his hand, letting it drag along Kai's arm.  Strange how when Ethan would do such gentle touches, Kai's mind would shift into overdrive until he was nearly nonsensical.  Here, he only wanted to swat at the god and march off.  But, if there was one thing he'd learned in the last year, it was that Xerynn never did things on impulse.  And listening before reacting would serve him better when it came to the god of war.

     "You will mingle.  You will demure to the attentions of these people."  He leaned in and murmured, "and you will listen."

     Kai frowned.  "You do realize you're asking me to act like a spy.  Me."  He knew his own limitations and given his perpetual anxious state, he had to wonder if maybe Xerynn's mind had snapped.

     Xerynn patted his cheek, appearing all the while as an affectionate lover.  "Not words.  Chaos.  You will work."

     Ah.  He nearly laughed.  He would have chided Xerynn for such an overly complicated method until he glanced about the room.  Calculating eyes tracked Xerynn's every gesture.  This group wasn't like most, Kai could sense that easily.  While the room dripped with money, there was an aggressive undercurrent that left him shivering.

     "Who are they?" he asked, his voice soft.

     "You do not wish them to know your name."  Xerynn eyed him in warning.  "Say nothing to them.  Pretend you are ignorant of who I am beyond the firm.  Mingle and track.  There is something here that should not be."

      Kai nodded.  He could do that.  Besides, the sooner he could find whatever it was Xerynn was after, the sooner he could likely leave.  He glanced about the room again, startled to see Ethan and Chernov walk into the open space.  

      Xerynn followed his gaze and dipped his head toward Chernov who only flipped him off in response.

      "Why are they here?"

      "Similar reasons," Xerynn intoned.  He pinched Kai's chin, lifting his gaze.  "You seek Chaos for me.  They seek else."

      Yay, work party.  He slipped out of Xerynn's touch, careful not to appear as though he was in a hurry to do so.  He smoothed the front of his tux and swallowed, shutting his eyes for a moment.  Okay.  Chaos.  I can do Chaos.  He let out a breath and schooled his expression as best he could, stepping away from Xerynn.

      He wandered about the room, occasionally acknowledging a nod or a smile from the other guests.  For the most part, Kai appeared invisible to the other guests.  Without Xerynn at his elbow, he'd effectively disappeared in their eyes.  It didn't last long, however.  Eventually, an older man cornered him, and Kai did his best to not bristle at the aggression.

      The man's eyes were unfocused, and his glass half full; by Kai's guess he was likely already on his third.  He smiled politely, skin crawling at the fumes coming off the man.  Never let it be said that wealth makes you palatable, Kai groused.

      "So."  He took a swig from his glass.  "I see Xerynn's slumming these days."

      Oh, for fuck's sake, Kai thought.  He was a split second from shoving the man away when he recalled Xerynn's warnings.  Instead, he smiled innocently and murmured, "Mr. Warrgott is very kind."  Christ, Xerynn, you owe me for this, you dickhead.

      He jumped when the man clasped his chin, tilting his head as though examining a horse.  "You're cute though.  Bet you're fun."

      Nausea swarmed in Kai's gut.  He didn't necessarily care if anyone thought Xerynn was screwing him.  He knew differently.  But this man appeared willing to find out and that alone spiked Kai's flight response.  Before he could do anything, however, a hand latched on his wrist, rescuing him.

     Blank faced, Ethan pulled Kai to his side and stated firmly, "Mr. Warrgott sent me for you, Mr. Walker."

     He didn't fight the beaming smile at Ethan's interruption.  Ethan's eyes were hard but not for Kai, that much was clear.  He turned back to his companion and said brightly, "Sorry, must go." before happily following after Ethan.  To his shock, thought, Ethan didn't take him in the direction of Xerynn but rather down a smaller hallway where signs pointed to the coat check room.

      Ethan shoved him into the small room, turning to lock the door behind him as he did.  His shoulders were hunched, once hand splayed against the door as though he struggled to control himself.

      Kai smiled.  He's probably just as irritated about being here as I am.  "There a reason you're locking us in with coats?" he teased.

      His boyfriend turned them, the dark look from before still present.  Kai's smile faltered and he prodded, "Ethan?  You okay?"  He squawked when Ethan surged into him, hands on either side of Kai's face as he kissed him, desperate and nearly painful in its suddenness. 

      Oh.  Oh, I see.  He relaxed them, eagerly returning the kiss as Ethan walked them back until Kai was pressed to the wall between two racks of coats.  He circled Ethan's wrists with his hands, tugging until he got the man's attention.  He drew those familiar hands down, thumbs stroking the backs in tandem.

      "Feel better?" he grinned.  Ethan's shift toward impulsivity was an interesting thing to watch.  He'd been so closeted for the better part of his life that he rarely did things overt.  Those first few months they were together he acted more like a confused puppy, clearly wanting to jump all over Kai but unsure of how and when.  Jumping him in a closet, though, was new.

      The hot look from before had tempered but Ethan still clearly appeared annoyed.  It passed in a breath, shifting into a searing directness Kai was far more fond of.  He reached out and touched Kai's lips, almost reverent in his gentleness.  "He shouldn't have touched you."

      In the past, Kai would have been pissed at someone acting so possessive.  But with Ethan, Kai just reveled in it.  He would never provoke the man but neither could he deny the thrill at Ethan's frustration.  Kai was sure he'd never get tired of the sight, those familiar pale blue eyes hazy with lust and ire.  Didn't mean he necessarily wanted to be groped in a coat closet with half of Portland's upper echelon milling about only a few feet away.

     Still.  He rested his arms on Ethan's shoulders, hands loosely clasped.  A boldness he didn't always feel crept over him and he cocked his head slightly, blood singing at the way Ethan's eyes never left his.  "Problem, officer?"

     Ethan scowled.  "Do you have any idea what you look like?"

     Kai fought a grin.  Instead, he blinked innocently.  "Why, whatever do you mean?" he teased.

     Ethan's fingers dug into his waist drawing a hiss.  He leaned in, resting his lips against Kai's jaw and growled, "They think you're Xerynn's."

     Kai did laugh then.  "I-it's just a ploy," he protested.  "Xerynn wanted me working tonight.  Someone's got some Chaos-something-or-other and I need to find it."  Still snickering, he watched Ethan draw back, a very obvious pout on his face.  

     I love you, you idiot, he thought with affection, his own heart stuttering at the realization.  His humor softened and he cupped Ethan's cheek, dragging a thumb against his boyfriend's neatened beard.  "It's nothing to worry about."

     Looking every inch a petulant giant, Ethan looked away.  "I kept hearing them say how . . . how surprised they were by Xerynn's new arm candy."  His throat worked as he frowned and looked steadily away from Kai.  "Like, like they thought you weren't good enough."

     Kai's heart overflowed in that moment.  He brought his other hand up to Ethan's face and forced the man to look at him, smiling at familiar want and affection in those eyes.  "Ethan, are you seriously angry that they didn't think I could get Xerynn?"

     "Maybe," he mumbled.

     You idiot, he chided, grinning.  He leaned in and kissed Ethan gently.  "Frankly, they should be wondering if something's wrong with me mentally if they think I'm here with him because anyone he actually seems to want to pursue always has a few wires missing," he retorted.  Granted, he only had Jac as an example but it was a hefty example.

     Ethan's eyes flicked to Kai and away, but beneath Kai's fingers, the man's jaw no longer jumped.  

     "Ethan," he murmured.  Eyes swung back and locked on Kai this time.  His heart jittered at the heat there.  "Ethan," he repeated.  He leaned in kissing Ethan gently.  "Were you jealous?" he teased.

     He gasped when Ethan pinned him to the wall again, startled by the sudden movement.  He didn't fight when Ethan took Kai's wrists and pinned them above his head.  

     Of course you only need one hand you goddamn behemoth, he mused as Ethan drew his empty hand down his neck.  Thank fuck.  His eyes fell shut and he lifted his chin, shivering at the blunt scrape of fingernails along his skin.  By reflex, he widened his stance and whimpered when Ethan pressed close, letting Kai know just how affected he'd been.

     "You're mine, remember?" Ethan growled, leaning in to fasten his mouth to Kai's neck.�� He dragged his teeth along Kai's skin, lips curling in response to Kai's startled yip.  "Wish I could leave a permanent mark on you.  Wish I could show them you're mine."

     Kai squirmed, growing hard and flush at the want in Ethan's voice.  It was the same for him, though.  Everywhere they went eyes followed Ethan.  Lust trailed after the man like an unending river.  And while Kai knew Ethan would always be faithful, it didn't prevent the tiny doubts that would worm into his head when they were separated for long periods.

     "I am though," he breathed.

     "Are you?"  Ethan's voice shifted, darkening.  He huffed a puff of air across Kai's dampening skin.  "Are you mine?"  He let go of Kai's wrists but when his arms began to drop he growled, "Keep them there."

     Kai shut his eyes and nodded frantically.  The whine that came out when Ethan reached for his waist might have embarrassed him once but now, he only fidgeted, his imagination filling in the next steps.

     He shifted again as air passed along his now bared stomach, Ethan having yanked his dress shirt from out of his trousers.  He bit his lip at the moan that burst in his throat when Ethan slid one hand down the back of his boxers, squeezing roughly.

     "This," Ethan hissed, fingers digging into Kai's ass, "is mine."

     "Yours," Kai gasped, hips bucking against Ethan, his dick already throbbing and seeking.  "Ethan, anyone ever tell you," he swallowed, opening his eyes to slits, a loopy grin slanting his mouth, "that you're kind of horny?"

     His boyfriend surged forward, knocking him to the wall as he brought their mouths together, a spark of pain rapidly fading under the welcome onslaught.  He would never tire of this.  Never tire of Ethan's want.  He never wanted to be without it.

     Ethan dropped his chin, dragging teeth along Kai's jaw.  "You have no idea how hot you look."  His voice thickened, ragged and strained.  "How I wanted to bend you over every surface."

     Kai scrunched his eyes shut, squirming under the filthy image.  He wasn't sure what it was that Ethan saw in him sometimes.  Ethan looked like he'd stepped out of a fashion magazine whereas Kai was lucky if his hair behaved for a day.  And yet, a man as drop-dead gorgeous as Ethan seemed utterly floored by Kai's very presence.  It was heady and Kai was fast growing addicted to the feeling.

     "Y-you'd get arrested," he teased.  "Chernov'd be pissed."  He could feel Ethan's responding pout on his skin.

     "Don't mention him when I'm trying to fuck you," he admonished.

     Kai opened his eyes halfway, feeling drunk.  Ethan's gaze was steady and hot.  "H-here?"

     Ethan's kiss was filthy, all tongue and sucking wet.  "Yes," he rasped.  "I want you.  Here.  Now.  Need you."  His fingers dug deeper into the soft flesh of his ass.  "Need to feel you."

     If he said no, Kai knew Ethan would relent.  He'd protest with his words only but let Kai lead them out.  Maybe take them home.  Maybe see if they could get an open room at a nearby hotel.

     Kai's heart thundered in his ears. He'd do anything I asked.  He'd never deny me.  That scared him more than his earlier realization about his feelings for the other man.  His hands dropped from the wall, draping over Ethan's shoulders again.  He swallowed and whispered, "I love you," before he could stop himself.

     Ethan blinked, eyes darting about Kai's face.  In a beat, he broke out into a grin.  His kiss was still eager, still desperate but sweeter somehow.  A steady press of skin and the tease of a familiar tongue.  "My heart is full of you," he murmured.  His mouth moved in soft sweeps before he rested his lips near Kai's ear.  "You paint my life in gold."

     Kai's breath caught, fingers clenching on Ethan's shoulders.  He turned then, meeting the other man's gaze.  The adoration there left him shaking.  Tears pricked his eyes and he shut them tight, struggling to contain them.  He whimpered at Ethan's mouth drifting sweetly over his shut lids.

     "Not fair," he whined.  It really wasn't.  Kai thought it a big step for him to even say those three words.  And here Ethan went and damn near spouted poetry.  You asshole, he lamented, his heart threatening to burst.

     Ethan's laughter was a low rumble in his chest.  "I lost to you so long ago, Kai.  It's only fair I score a point or two now and again."

     Kai sniffed, opening his eyes, a tear falling free as he did.  Ethan's thumb swept it away, his palm cradling Kai's cheek.  

     "Cheater," he grumped.

     Ethan grinned.  "Do I get a prize?"

     He shivered, watching as the lust from before returned, turning Ethan's pale eyes into molten pools.  He licked his lips, not missing Ethan's greedy tracking.  "I said I love you, doesn't that count?"  

     Ethan's hands dropped to his waist again, his left creeping back toward his ass.  "And I told you to keep your arms up:  strike one."

     "Oh, really?" Kai prodded, his heart kicking up.  He bit his lip, knowing it would wind up Ethan more.  "I didn't realize there were conditions."  He lifted his chin, brows following.  "Bad form, Ethan.  You're supposed to explain all the rules."

     He gasped when Ethan thrust his thigh up, pressing to Kai's still hard cock.  "Okay.  Rule number one:  arms up."  He jerked his chin toward Kai and repeated it until Kai responded.  "Good boy," he purred.

     Kai shivered, groin throbbing.  Ethan could be somewhat aggressive in bed but this was something altogether different.  And Kai wasn't about complain.  Given the endless pulse in his head and the pleasant press of their bodies, he only wanted more.

     Ethan's hand returned to his ass, squeezing rhythmically.  "Rule number two," he husked, using his right to undo Kai's bowtie, "you can't touch me."

     "You fucker," he groaned.  He loved touching Ethan.  Loved the feel of firm muscle under soft, fiery skin.  Loved the feel of sweat that gathered in his tousled hair.  

      Ethan clucked his tongue.  "No touching," he repeated, looking distinctly pleased with himself at Kai's torment.  

      "I'll get you back for that," he warned, meaning none of it.  In fact, given how turned on he was at the moment, this might be a scenario worth revisiting.  Ethan, you've ruined me, he admitted.

     Ignoring his threat, Ethan whispered, "And rule number three:  you can't make a sound."

     He glowered at that, blushing hard.  They both knew Kai was noisy in the bedroom.  In fact, Ethan seemed to think it a point of pride to see how loud he could get Kai to respond.  "You're kidding."

     Ethan dragged his thumb along Kai's swollen bottom lip.  "Punishment for letting other people look at you."  His eyes flicked from Kai's mouth to his eyes and back again.  "You make a sound, I stop."

     "You sure you want to commit to that?" Kai asked, knowing full well how lost Ethan could get in sex.  "Pretty sure your lower brain will take over if you try," he mocked.

     Kai yipped at Ethan's free hand clamping down on his groin, fingers finding the outline of his dick easily and squeezing.  "No sound," he taunted.  His grin was lazy and dangerous but his chest was rising and falling faster by the second.  

     Fuck it, Kai thought, biting his lip and nodding.

     "That's my boy," Ethan sighed, kissing him hard, pressing him to the wall, and letting Kai feel his ardor, hard and thick against his thigh.

     Kai shut his eyes, clenching his hands together to fight the urge to touch.  His arms trembled with need as Ethan's mouth moved, nipping and licking as he slowly undid his dress shirt, seemingly taking ages to unhook each button before finally exposing Kai's chest.

     He caught the rustle of fabric as Ethan knelt and bit harder on his lip at the urge to whimper when Ethan mouthed his belly.  The man was obsessed with the soft skin there.  Often getting Kai to come just from tender, never-ending ministrations.  He pressed his head to the wall, eyes screwed shut as he squirmed, wanting to watch but also knowing it would only make the torment worse.

     Ethan's tongue laved the skin above his belt and he murmured, "Nobody gets to touch you like this, do they?"

     Kai opened his mouth to answer but snapped it shut when Ethan nipped his stomach.  Instead, he pressed his lips tight and shook his head violently.

     "No one gets to see you like this.  See you unravel."

     His mouth dropped open as he began panting, struggling to keep his thoughts even.  Oh, you're such an asshole, he whined.  Still, he wanted it to keep going.  Straining to hear Ethan's next taunts.  His next commands.

     He pressed his lips tighter when the telltale burr of his zipper filled the coat closet.  Ethan's hands were sure and warm against his skin, drawing his boxers and trousers down and leaving them pooled at his ankles.  Until all that hid him from Ethan's appraising eyes was his dress shirt, open as it was.

     Christ, I'm naked in a coat closet with my boyfriend at an upscale event.  Am I a slut?  The thought almost made him giggle, giddy as he was.  Jac would approve.  It was a sign of how turned on he was that even thoughts of the rapacious assassin did nothing to dim the ache in his cock.  

     He cracked open an eye, immediately regretting it.  Ethan knelt at his feet, eyes blown wide with desire, tie loose and throat of his shirt open to reveal a flushed chest.  Ethan met his bleary gaze and held it as he turned his head just enough to press a filthy kiss to the inside of Kai's thigh, dragging his tongue upward with a flick.  His right hand splayed against the back of Kai's leg, lifting it slightly as he continued to nip and suck at bared skin.

     His arms began to fall but Kai snapped them back up when Ethan pulled up his left hand and held up a finger, wagging it back and forth slowly, one eyebrow raised.

     I will kill you.  I swear, I will kill you in messy ways.

     Ethan sucked a bruise into Kai's thigh, raising his left higher to splay his fingers along the crease of Kai's hip.  Kai bucked towards the warmth, wanting Ethan's hands on him elsewhere.  So close.  So very close.  His cock. twitched, throbbing under the soft touches, precome dribbling in response.

     Ethan's tongue dragged along his skin.  "Pretty," he murmured.

     Kai squinted at him, heaving.  He opened his mouth to chide Ethan but shut it just as quickly.  Instead, he only screwed his mouth up and rolled his eyes.

     His boyfriend chuckled, shifting closer.  "You're so pretty like this, Kai."  When Kai only shook his head, Ethan drew a finger along the underside of Kai's dick, the featherlight touch a shock, enough to draw a gasp.

    "Ah, ah," Ethan warned, dragging his finger in the opposite direction.  "Want to say something?"

     Kai shook his head harder, eyes squeezed shut.  Ethan continued his torment and Kai wanted to kick him, trembling at each light touch.  Desperate, Kai shifted his arm, pressing it to his mouth to muffle a groan.

     "I wonder if that's cheating," Ethan mused, leaning into to replace his finger with his tongue.  Kai's eyes snapped open at the first pass, his hips driving up for more.  He whimpered when Ethan pressed his ass back to the wall with an arm at his waist, eyes bright with humor at Kai's frustrated snort.

     He was immediately grateful for Ethan's pressure at his hips given how his legs buckled when the man swallowed Kai down.  He bit down on his sleeve, choking on the keen in his throat at the familiar, wet heat.  Brow twisted, his eyes cracked open and Kai regretted it instantly.

     Ethan watched him, blue eyes lit like fire, his red, spit-slick lips stretched over Kai's swollen cock as he bobbed up and down.  Shit, he wanted so badly to tangle his fingers in the man's blond-brown hair.  To tug on the damp strands.  

     He might actually be evil.  He's an evil man.

     He shuddered as Ethan pulled off with an audible pop, licking his lips.  The other man stroked Kai slow with one hand as he rose from his knees.  He worked Kai's dick even as he pressed his body against Kai's shaking form.

     "Turn around, baby," he murmured.

     Kai's eyes widened.  Dazed, he kept his mouth fastened to his arm as he turned, using the wall to brace himself given he doubted he'd be able to remain standing for much longer.  He let out a muffled whimper when Ethan's fingers dropped from his groin, struggling not to squirm.

     Intent on his torment, Ethan dragged his tongue along Kai's jaw.  There was a jangle of a belt and the shift of fabric and Kai jerked at the rigid, fiery flesh against his ass.  

     "I can't wait any longer," he husked.  "If we were home, I'd make you scream."  Kai took some solace to the fact that Ethan's voice was ragged now, strained with need.  "Love the way you sound when you beg," he rumbled, peppering Kai's neck with open kisses.

     Kai squeezed his eyes shut as two fingers prodded his ass.  A surprised giggle slipped out at the slick touch.  He craned his neck, meeting Ethan's eyes, amused at the man's typical horny preparation.

    Even with his cheeks flushed with arousal, Kai could see them brighten in a genuine blush.  He took a breath and finally unlatched his teeth from his sleeve.  Arching back, he bumped his nose against Ethan's, knowing it likely violated Ethan's self-imposed rules.

     To his surprise, Ethan pulled Kai's head back into a desperate kiss, even as he thrust his fingers deeper into Kai.  He mewled into the man's mouth, scraping his fingers against the wall in response.  Even in his haze, he had a heartbeat of clarity:  Ethan was about to fuck him against a wall in a coat check room, in downtown Portland.

     They weren't so far gone that he couldn't put a pause on it.  Get Ethan to take him home and give them proper privacy.  He could.  As if hearing his trepidation, Ethan pulled back just enough, his breath a soft whisper across Kai's bruised lips.

     Eyes so soft.  Even after all that had happened between them, Ethan still managed to gaze at him with nothing but trust and adoration.  

     What did I do in a past life to deserve you?

     This time, Kai leaned in, the position awkward and stiff, and whispered, "Fuck me."

     Ethan's hand slid into his hair, twisting curls as he growled.  "Fuck you so good," he grunted, thrusting into Kai with his fingers.  "Gotta be quiet, baby," he warned.  His voice was thick but teasing.  "Don't want to share your pretty voice."

     Kai glared but it lacked any impact given how flush his entire body was, the way he dug his fingers into the wall, wanting instead to feel flesh and muscle under him.  I hate you, he mouthed.

     Ethan licked the tip of his nose, unrepentant.  "Nuh uh; you love me."  He drew Kai's head back more, nearly painful as he fastened his mouth to Kai's and mumbled desperately, "I love you.  I can't exist without you."

     Kai trembled, once more shutting his eyes tight, as though blocking Ethan from view would stop the unending spill in his heart.  It wasn't fair.  Wasn't fair that Ethan could be this sexy and sweet.  His lips curled into a grin as he sucked Ethan's tongue, calling it a point when Ethan's grip tightened in his hair and his hand slipped out of his ass.

     Hurry hurry hurry, Kai pleaded, aching and empty.  Given their position and haste, he likely wasn't stretched as Ethan usually made him but Kai as beyond caring.  He only wanted to feel Ethan, the delicious burn of penetration, the pleasure that would chase it along his nerves.

     He cried out into Ethan's mouth as his boyfriend thrust into him, the initial invasion a surge of pain.  With a growl, Ethan tore his mouth from Kai's and pressed his lips to the back of Kai's neck, hands falling to his waist, fingers digging in.  Kai had barely a warning to brace himself before Ethan began slapping his hips forward, grunting desperately with each jerk.

     He bit his lip, wondering if they'd be functional by the end of the night.  Each stroke from Ethan left pleasure swirling in his body, a warmth that shivered like waves up and down his chest.  "Please, please," he begged, trying desperately to keep his voice down.

      "Naughty boy," Ethan retorted, driving hard into Kai.  "Weren't supposed to make a sound."  His thrusts slowed, becoming fewer but brutal, Kai's entire body jolting with each stroke.  

      Christ, Kai must look utterly debauched at this point.  He was gasping for air, sweat damp on his face and neck, pants pooled at his ankles, arching back as his boyfriend fucked into him, with long, violent strokes.  The idea drew out a broken, lewd moan and he dropped a hand to his cock, tugging hard as pleasure continued its relentless surge.

      He whined when Ethan stilled his hand.  A yelp choked his throat as Ethan thrust again, seating himself fully inside Kai before stopping.

      Panting, he glared at Ethan, struggling to move, to coax him to continue.  Ethan only grinned, squeezing Kai's hand around his cock.  He let go and pressed himself entirely to Kai's back, sliding both hands up, squeezing his chest possessively.

      "Such a naughty little boy," he purred, pulling nearly all the way out before snapping his hips forward.

      "Ethan!" he cried, belatedly sinking his teeth back into his arm.  

      Not that it mattered.  His impassioned cry was enough to unravel Ethan and he fucked into Kai in a frenzy, grunting in his ear as he rocked into his body with short, violent thrusts.  He didn't stop Kai from jerking on his cock this time, instead adding his own hand to the mix and tugging hard on abused skin.  Tears well in Kai's eyes, overcome by the sensations as Ethan continued to drive him insane.

      Sex with Ethan had never been anything less than exceptional.  But here, in this small room, locked away from prying eyes but still lacking privacy, it was as though it was the first night again.  Like Ethan wanted to make certain Kai never forgot how his body felt.  As though Ethan wanted to tattoo his pleasure so deep inside Kai he'd orgasm from memory alone.

      To Kai's relief and regret, however, It was over far too quickly.  His mouth fell open in a soundless cry as his dick pulsed, come splattering the wall in front of him.  He shivered at Ethan's satisfied groan, fingers painful on his hip as he held Kai still, pumping his release deep inside.

      Panting, Kai slumped against the wall, his heart rabbiting in his chest.  His nerves sang, sparking with each aftershock of pleasure that swept his skin.  He moaned when Ethan pulled out, his softening cock pulling free soft pop.  Kai shuddered, missing his presence already.  He grinned weakly at Ethan's soft kisses against the back of his neck.  With his cheek pressed to the wall, he eyed Ethan awkwardly.  "Feel better?" he rasped.  He certainly did.  He hadn't realized how tense this place had made him until Ethan had literally expunged it from his body.

    Ethan guided Kai around to face him, clearly ignoring their nakedness and the general mess they'd created.  He looped his arms around Kai's waist, burying his face in Kai's neck with a happy sigh.  "Always better after I get to touch you," he mused.  He patted Kai's bare ass, pinching it lightly.  "Even better when I can get inside you."

     Kai's face burst into flame.  "Ethan," he whined, "you didn't have to do that in a coat closet though!  Just because you get jealous over idiots."  He grumbled at the squeeze to his waist.  "You're ridiculous," he chided, still warm that Ethan wanted him so badly he'd willingly do something so brazen.

     The admonishment meant little given how Ethan only nuzzled into Kai's neck, sighing blissfully.  "Can we go home now?"

     He certainly wanted to, if only to clean up and not feel so inappropriate.  But, he had yet to do what was expected for the night.  "I still have to work," he protested.  And he still had no idea what it was he was looking for or where it might be.  

     Wait.  He frowned, glancing around the room, realizing there was something here.  Sensing Chaos was always a strange affair.  Occasionally it blared like a klaxon and other times, it took ages for Kai to pinpoint the source.  So no wonder he hadn't noted the strange undercurrent until now.  It thrummed in a low tone, only noticeable in the quiet that had enveloped them after sex.

     "Hang on."  He pushed Ethan away, hastily pulling his trousers back up and fastening the zipper.  His shirt hung open as he crept along the edge of the room, his senses pinging like radar.  He stopped beside a fur coat, noting the way the texture appeared to ripple, drifting from soft animal fur to a strange thickened material.  Under his fingers, the texture jittered from soft to the odd give, a sure sign of Chaos.  He dug into the pockets of the garment until he pulled out a silver letter opener.

      Chaos curled along the hilt of it, threads of magic that twisted and warped.  "It was never even out there!" he snapped.  Goddamn it.  It was a waste to even wander around the main room.  And Kai would never had had a reason to come in here had Ethan not - he froze.

      He turned to stare at Ethan who watched him, curious.  

      "Oh, that asshole!" he yelped.

      "Huh?"

      Kai squeezed his eyes shut, realizing that this had been Xerynn's goal.  "Oh, my god," he gasped, "I hate him so much."  He clapped his right hand over the hilt, wincing when the gateway in his palm stretched open to swallow the traces of Chaos easily.  Like cold oil, it spread along his arm, fading into the odd link he carried with the Chaos realm.  The familiar yet unwelcome feeling dispersed slowly, receding and leaving the room clear, the coat once more the warm sable it had started as.  Once done, he returned the letter opener to its place, wishing instead he could fling it in the face of a certain god.  

      "Kai?"  Ethan had come to his side and was rubbing his back, brow furrowed in concern.  "You all right?  Was it a bad one?"

      He turned to meet Ethan's calm, warm eyes.  He kissed Ethan softly and shook his head.  "It's fine.  Hardly anything."  He pulled his shirt closed, redoing the buttons.  "I think we can go now, though."  As he tucked his shirt back in, he scowled.  And I need to avoid even looking at Xerynn.  He still wasn't entirely certain of the breadth of Xerynn and Destiny's knowledge but given what had happened, he was sure he didn't want to confirm any of it.

      Ethan helped him redo his bowtie and with a soft pat to his head, led the way out of the coat room.  Thankfully, no one appeared to have realized the room was unusable for the short while they'd been inside.  Even so, Kai wanted very much to get the hell out before anyone else accosted him.  His job now complete, there wasn't even a reason for him to alert Xerynn.  Especially if this was what the god had intended in the first place.

     As they neared the door, he glanced to his right and stumbled to a stop when Xerynn lifted a glass in his direction.  At Kai's glare, the god only grinned, turning away in clear dismissal.

     I hate you.  He jumped when Ethan took his hand, lacing their fingers together.  He sighed then, his tension melting almost instantly.  He perched up on his toes and kissed Ethan, murmuring, "Take me home."

      Ethan grinned and looped his arm around Kai's shoulder, pulling him away from hollow wealth behind them and into the cool night air.  

     He took a deep breath, shutting his eyes for a moment.  The thickness of the gala behind them faded and Kai was once more reminded of how lucky he was to have met Ethan.  Hard to believe that working for a god would have led him here.  With a glance to the man at his side, he realized that all in all, he might actually need to thank Xerynn one day.  He shuddered at the idea, screwing up his face in distaste.

     I'd rather people think we fucked than do that, he admitted.  Instead, he squeezed Ethan's hand, smiling when the man lifted it and kissed the back of it.

     Still, he would carry the burden of knowing he owed such an insufferable person that great a debt to his grave if this was his reward.

[snarkymonkeyprime]

Not their first meeting but their first meeting.

     Even with all that Kai had experienced over the last year, he still had difficulty in believing in a sixth sense concept.  Even so, as soon as he stepped into Xerynn’s waiting room, he froze.  The air itself held a sticky chill.  He caught Natalie’s eye and her lips turned downward just enough.

     Okay, whatever it is, it’s bad.  Natalie was a robot on a bad day; that she expressed even a modicum of discomfort further shoved Kai to the edge.

     He crept toward her desk, muscles twitchy and tight.  “Uh, he busy?”

     Her brown eyes flicked from the heavy doors to Kai.  Not addressing Kai, she reached over and pressed a button on her desk.  “Mr. Warrgott, Mr. Walker is here.”  She didn’t wait for a response, only withdrew her hand and returned to her computer.  “Be my guest.”  Her smoky, quiet voice betrayed nothing.

     Kai himself was the first to admit he was a nervous person.  And now, given the atmosphere and Natalie’s attitude, he nearly gave in to the desire to bolt the other direction.  Instead, he shuffled forward and as his hand hovered over the ornate knob, it turned.

     He jumped back then, well away from the door’s path as it swung open, quiet.

     His eyes widened.  He wasn’t hard to recognize.  Granted, he was no longer pointing a gun or covered in blood but the arm in the sling hinted at what had happened a week ago.

     “I thought you died!” he yelped.

     The man first looked at Natalie, smirking before turning his attention on Kai.

     Which Kai desperately wished he hadn’t.  He clenched his hands tight, hoping to hide the quake that erupted.  When he’d seen the assassin, he’d looked damn near dead.  Bloody and gasping on Xerynn’s front door.  He hadn’t exactly worried about Xerynn after depositing the man in the living room but all the same, he’d wondered what had happened.

     “Ah, my savior,” the man purred.

     Kai stiffened.  His heart thudded painfully in his throat.  That was not a pretty voice.  The accent couldn’t bury the burn that lived there.  “Not even close,” he rasped. 

     A dark light burst in the man’s hazel eyes.  “True.  I’ve our mutual employer to thank for that.”

     Kai frowned.  Employer?  His eyes snapped wide.  “Wait.  Xerynn hired you?”

    The man leaned close, his expensive cologne staining Kai’s senses.  “He knows a good thing when he sees it,” he mused.  He moved away, eyeing Kai.  “Usually.”

     Had it been anyone else, Kai likely would have erupted.  Here, though, he only wanted to escape to Xerynn’s office and slam the door.  He did not like this man.  There was no Chaos in or around him but he cut through Kai’s gut worse than any Chaos pool he’d run up against. 

     “I liked you better when you were dying,” he muttered, going pale when the words registered.

     The shark grin only soured his stomach further.  “Most do.”  Still grinning, he pressed two fingers to his forehead and flicked them toward Kai in a false salute.  He turned on his heel and walked toward the main door, slipping out like smoke.

     Kai’s legs nearly buckled when the lock clicked.  “Fuck,” he breathed.  He reddened and waved toward Natalie.  “Sorry.”

     She offered a brief smile.  “He’s waiting,” she reminded him.

     Kai nodded and wobbled into Xerynn’s office, half-worried he’d find the god a bloody mess.  Not surprising, Xerynn was waiting, hands clasped and glasses perched delicately on the bridge of his nose.

     “You hired him,” he stated.

     Xerynn’s dark eyes narrowed and he shrugged.  “He was correct in one manner; I know a good thing when I see it.”  He sat back and smoothed his shirt front.  “That he failed in his directive hardly matters.  Guinevere is persistent but flawed; she naturally would not think to warn any weapon of hers of my nature.”

     “So now he’s your weapon.”

     Xerynn smirked.  “Ah, you are learning quickly.”

     Kai shivered and took a seat.  “Yay, lucky me,” he muttered.

     The god peered at him.  “Never fear, Mr. Walker.  I highly doubt there will be much interaction between you and Mr. Sayer on the day-to-day.”  He eyed Kai over the rim of his glasses.  “He is not to harm you, I made that very clear.”

     Kai nodded absently and then froze.  “What, did he ask if he could?” he squawked.

     He never liked when Xerynn laughed, even if it was just a chuckle.  “Merely implied that he believed himself the only employee I required at present.”  His humor vanished.  “I do not believe he yet understands what I am.  Be wary of that, Mr. Walker.”

     He frowned.  “Why?”

     Xerynn stood, holding manila file.  “Fragile things are easily broken under unexpected force.”

     Kai sighed and rubbed his face.  “Got it.  He’s already crazy enough, let’s not make him crazier.”

     “As long as we are in agreement,” Xerynn replied.  “Now.  Shall we?”

     He nodded, shoving the unexpected arrival of one Mr. Sayer as far back as he could.  He slouched in the chair, stuffing his hands into his hoodie.  “Ready when you are, oh Shameless One.”

     Xerynn squinted at him. 

[snarkymonkeyprime]

Here is the - more or less - new opening to HHNF (there's a connecting bit missing but oh well; I work in oddball segments).

     Kai squinted, cup raised to his mouth.  He'd seen this barista before.  The only alternative thing he'd ever seen her do was the tiny stud at the side of her nose.  Since when the hell had she started wearing horns?  

     I mean, it is Portland.  Probably some batshit trend I missed.  He took a sip of his coffee.  To be fair, he rarely understood what was the popular theme of the week.  Not hard to believe weird plastic horns would pass him by.

     He shifted to move, glancing at her again only to see . . . no horns.  He didn't realize he'd been staring until the barista gave him a nervous smile.  

     "Is your coffee all right?"

     The horns flashed back into his view and Kai nearly dropped his cup.  "Oh!  Uh, no, it's great.  Sorry.  Monday.  Brain slow," he explained weakly.

      She smiled and nodded, turning back to her espresso machine.

     Kai turned and hurried out of the coffee shop.  Something wrong with his eyes, maybe?  There's no way he saw horns appear and disappear on the barista.  He took a healthy drink of his coffee, wincing at the burn before shaking his head.  He was a terrible morning person so maybe it was just the stress of another work week.

     "That has to be it," he murmured.

     He let the matter fall to the back of his mind as he stepped onto the MAX, heading for his office.  By the time the train dropped him off in front of his building, he'd finished his coffee and the oddity of the shop receded to the back of his mind.

     He stepped into the building and crossed the wide entry way, heading for the elevators.  He nodded to a few familiar faces before freezing.

     I'm insane.  I have to be.  To his left, standing in front of the second pending elevator, wearing his usual top notch business attire was Kai's friend and coworker, Keiji Tanaka.  Keiji was always impeccably dressed, not a hair out of place.  Typical Keiji.  Typical marketing professional.  Except . . . except for the small addition of the thick, bone-white horn protruding about four inches from his forehead. 

     "Oh, c'mon," Kai bemoaned.

     Keiji looked at him and laughed.  "What?  You usually wait until the end of the day to start complaining."

     Kai stared at the horn, noting the puckering of skin around its base.  So not pasted on?  But it wasn't there the Friday before.  And given Keiji's fastidious obsession with his appearance, it didn't seem like a trend he'd be willing to attempt.  Kai squinted, trying to get a better look.  Something was carved into it but given the distance, Kai had a hard time discerning what.  But it looked real.  Very real.

     Unlike with the barista, this horn didn't appear to flicker in and out of view.  Which meant what exactly?

     Keiji was still smiling but given Kai's silence, the expression was starting to strain.  "Uh, Kai?  You good?"

     He snapped to, then, physically shaking himself.  He laughed weakly as he walked between two others to stand by Keiji.  "Uh, yeah.  Sorry.  Just, uh, left my earbuds at home again."

     The lie seemed to placate Keiji and his tension abated.  He patted Kai on the shoulder.  "That's why I keep a spare pair in my desk."  He wagged a finger at Kai.  "I keep telling you to buy shit in pairs.  This is the exact reason why."

     "Right," Kai murmured, his eyes flicking back to the horn.  This close, he could just make out a kanji character.  Not that it told him why he was seeing a massive horn out of his friend's head.

     Keiji gave him a faint frown.  "You doing okay?  You seem a little spooked over forgetting something."

     He waved a hand, unsettled that this horn wasn't vanishing.  "You know me.  One thing goes wrong and suddenly the rest of the day is fucked."  Which wasn't exactly untrue.  Kai had the bad luck of Murphy's Law in spades half the time.  Maybe that was why he was seeing things?

     God I hope so.  My insurance won't cover me going insane right now.

     He managed to keep his glances to a minimum as he and Keiji rode up to the tenth floor.  Marketing sat next to Accounting so their desks weren't far from one another but far enough that Kai wouldn't spend the next eight hours staring at Keiji for longer than was healthy.

     Safe at his desk, he held his head in his hands, trying to fathom what the hell was happening.  The weirdness at the coffee shop was one thing.  But at work?  He held one hand over his mouth and scanned the desks around him.  He bit into the flesh of one finger to keep from yelping when he saw what appeared to be a satyr where Tom usually sat and a gray-skinned thing where the assistant controller sat.

     He squeezed his eyes shut and cracked one open, praying it was just his eyes playing tricks.  He pillowed his head on his arms atop his desk when it proved the opposite.  

     Shit.  Shitshitshitshit.  He jumped at the hand on his shoulder.

(missing scene; for now XD)

      Kai followed Glenn into the conference room, startled to only see one man.  He appeared to be around Kai's age but the dark eyes belied that.  Those same eyes followed Kai as he took a seat at the far end of the table, setting down his laptop and swinging it open; anything to distract him from the man's piercing gaze.

     "Ah, Mr. Warrgott.  Thank you for joining us today."  Glenn chuckled, his nerves visceral in the shake of his tone.  "I was quite surprised to learn your client had retained you; I thought you focused on criminal cases?"

     Mr. Warrgott smiled and Kai shivered.  "I focus on those cases that serve a purpose," he intoned, his voice deep and low but carrying.  "In this particular instance, my client saw fit to protest against your firm due to failure to perform."

     Kai glanced up from his laptop to find Mr. Warrgott watching him again.  He paled and refocused on his screen as he searched for the invoices Glenn had wanted.

     "Who is this?" 

     Glenn shifted and glanced at Kai.  "Oh.  One of our senior accountants.  You, uh, had said you wanted the breakdown of charges, yes?"  

     "Hm."  He paused and then spoke again.  "You."

      Kai jerked, snapping his head up.  "What?"  He flushed at Glenn's glare.  "Er, sir?"

      Mr. Warrgott's lips twitched.  "Your name."

      "Oh.  Uh, Kai Walker.  Um, sir?"  Shit, he'd spoken with wealthy investors and government authorities with less nervousness.  What was it about this one man that set him entirely on edge?  He pointed at his laptop.  "I'm, uh, just the projector."  He stretched out and grabbed the HDMI cable, jamming it into his computer, his desktop blooming up to his left on the flat screen bolted to the wall.  "Just pretend I'm not here."

      "Exactly," Glenn stated.  He smiled at Mr. Warrgott.  "I assure you and your client that we have done exactly as we were contracted to do."  He coughed, squirming in his seat.  "I have to ask, why is your client not present?"

      Warrgott still watched Kai, one elbow on the arm of his chair, jaw resting against splayed fingers.  "Unnecessary.  I speak for her."

      "Right.  Yes."  Glenn coughed again and fixed Kai with a stare.  "The invoices?"

      "Huh?  Oh!"  Kai clicked through folders until he found the invoices in question and began opening them up on screen.  As Glenn walked Warrgott through the myriad invoices, Kai risked another glance at the other man.  

      He wasn't watching Kai this time but neither did he seem to be watching Glenn's walkthrough.  The dark eyes were fastened on the screen but his attention appeared elsewhere.  Kai made use of the time to take in the other man's appearance.

      He was clearly older than Kai but likely not by much.  Tall, broad shouldered, impeccably dressed in a suit that likely cost more than Kai's rent for half a year.  Handsome, with thick dark brows and a generous mouth on a narrow face.  His pale skin wasn't an unhealthy pallor but more akin to cut marble.  The only oddity beyond the nearly black eyes was that he wore his bone-white hair in a long braid that draped over his left shoulder.

      Kai scrunched his nose, wondering why a lawyer would deign to wear such an old-fashioned look.

      "For that reason," Warrgott mused.  He glanced at Kai and smiled, sending another shiver down Kai's spine.  "You should guard your thoughts better, Mr. Walker."

      Kai froze, eyes flicking to Glenn but his controller seemed completely unaware of the conversation as he rambled on about hours and complicated research.

      "Huh?" he squeaked.

      Warrgott ignored him and drummed his fingers atop the conference table.  "You do realize my client received the fines regardless, yes?"

      Glenn halted and clasped his hands.  "Well, yes, but that doesn't mean we didn't do our jobs reviewing her financials."  He laughed shakily.  "H-how the government responds isn't anything we can control, Mr. Warrgott.  We performed as the contract demanded."

      The lawyer laced his fingers together, dropping his clasped hands to his lap.  "Remains to be seen," Warrgott drawled.  "Mr. Walker.  What is your impression?"

      Kai wanted very badly to sink into the floor given the death glare Glenn leveled his way.  "Er, I wasn't involved, Mr. Warrgott.  I don't work with our audit team."

      "Wasn't what I asked," Warrgott intoned.  He tilted his head, meeting Kai's eyes.  For a heartbeat, crimson flared in the deep eyes.  "I asked for your impression."

      Kai swallowed, his heart thudding.  Shit.  He swallowed again and rested his fingers on his keyboard.  "Personally, I think your client just doesn't want to pay us."  He squeezed his eyes shut once the words registered.  One day, just one day, he wanted to control his damn mouth.

      To his relief, Warrgott only arched a thick eyebrow.  "Fair insight."  He rose then, smoothing his shirtfront and buttoning his jacket as he did.  "I believe I have seen enough."

     Glenn rose too, his brow furrowed.  "If there's anything more I can provide -"

     Warrgott lifted a hand.  "My office will be in touch."  He turned in a short arc, pinning Kai with a look.  "Mr. Walker."  A card appeared in his hand.  "I recommend you call in to my office and speak with my assistant, Ms. Lusk.  Mention Servitors."

     Confused, Kai took the card out of reflex.  "Servitors?"

     "Uh, Mr. Warrgott, not to be rude, but Kai is a current employee and -"

     The lawyer smirked.  "That matters why?"

     Glenn paled.  "I-I'll see you out, sir."

     Kai watched the pair leave the conference room before looking at the card in his hand.  It wasn't a typical business card.  All it said was Xerynn Warrgott with a phone number.  No address.  No title.

     "That man is a weirdo," he muttered, stuffing the card into his pocket.  He collected his laptop and headed out of the conference room, stopping when Glenn appeared, glowering.

      "Your outburst better not have repercussions," he warned.  He shoved a stubby gray finger in Kai's face.  "Xerynn Warrgott is a dangerous lawyer.  If you cost this firm money, you're out; understood?"

      Outburst?  Kai bit his tongue as he struggled not to respond immediately.  He swallowed his irritation and merely nodded.  As Glenn marched off, Kai muttered, "Anyone ever tell you that you look like a gargoyle?"  He sighed and lifted his laptop, striking his forehead against it.  Christ, of all the days to start losing his mind.

      He let his laptop hang from one hand as he shuffled back to his desk.  He glanced through Marketing and found Keiji, horn still on full display.  He gave up then and headed to his friend's desk before stealing a chair from an empty cubicle and dropping his head on Keiji's desk.

      His friend patted him on the shoulder.  "I see you're having your usual source of fun."

      Kai shifted and perched his chin on Keiji's desk, craning to squint at his friend.  Yep, still has a horn.  "Does it hurt?" he blurted, before his eyes went wide.  

      Keiji frowned and then laughed.  "Why would it?"

      Kai froze.  "Wait.  You really do have a horn?"

      Keiji's frown returned.  "Well, yeah?  I know some people disguise it but that's just useless time wasted."  He picked up a folder off his desk, glancing through it before turning to Kai again.  "All this time, did you never notice or something?"  He looked about ready to laugh so Kai just nodded violently.  His friend did laugh then.  "Christ, Kai; I know you can be absentminded but that's got to be the worst I've ever seen."

      He smiled weakly at that, his head spinning.  Was he honestly having a conversation with one of his best friends about a goddamn horn in his forehead?  Hand shaky, he pointed at the dim kanji.  "What's that say?"

     Keiji's eyes flicked upward.  "What's what - oh!"  He reached up and tapped the horn.  "Family name.  My siblings and I did it when my dad passed."  He chuckled and slapped Kai's shoulder again.  "Shit, I still can't believe you never noticed all this time."

     "Y-yeah.  I practically have to be hit in the face with things sometimes," Kai lied.  So, if Keiji's horn was real, did that mean Glenn really was a gargoyle?  He groaned, rubbing his eyes.  "Why is this day so fucked up?"

     "I think you need a day off," Keiji teased.  He nudged Kai.  "Tell them you're sick or something."

     "I am sick," Kai sighed.  My mind has taken a walk off the map but maybe the map was wrong?  He ran his hand through his hair and sat up, giving Keiji a weak smile.  "Sorry.  Glenn was his usual asshole self."  A thought sparked and he dug through his pants, pulling out Xerynn's business card.  "And this really aggressive lawyer gave me his card," he stated, holding it out to Keiji.

     Keiji took the card and flipped it back and forth.  "Looks like he's also a dick; there's nothing on it."

     "Huh?"  He took the card back, still seeing Xerynn's name and number in bold print.  "But . . ." he stopped.  

     Mention Servitors.

     "I guess I didn't notice," he murmured lamely.

     "You really need a day off," Keiji teased.  

     Kai shoved the card back into his pocket and stood up.  "I think I'll take an early lunch.  See you."

     He stopped by his desk long enough to drop off his laptop and grab his messenger bag.  Thankfully, Glenn was nowhere around so Kai would receive yet another eye stink look from his boss for not being a dutiful drone.

     He rubbed his face as he rode the elevator down, trying in vain to understand what the hell was happening.  Keiji really had a horn.  Glenn was a gargoyle.  His hands shook and he clasped them together as he took a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut.  "I have to be dreaming.  Or maybe it's a stroke," he murmured.  

     He'd almost welcome a stroke given deep in his heart, he knew he wasn't crazy.  As though an iron chest had been cracked open.  A peek of secret held in shadows.  A tiny, long dormant part of his mind welcomed this chaos.  As though it craved it.

     Kai shook his head violently, clasping his hands to his head.  "What the hell am I thinking?" he rasped.  He needed to calm down.  He'd take a walk outside, maybe grab another coffee.  Or a drink, he admitted, ignoring the fact that it wasn't even eleven yet.

[snarkymonkeyprime]

And extended version of a side story (only because the actual book is 100% Kai POV but I want to write the other scenes too) of Jack taunting Ethan.

     Jac grinned, tilting his head as he met Ethan’s eyes.  “Detective Oakes, correct?”

     Ethan drew in a deep breath through his nose and out again, his jaw working.  He remembered Kai mentioning Jac but beyond a general dislike, he knew nothing of the man.  But he understood Kai’s dislike.  The aura of the man reeked of antagonism.  “If we’ve met, I don’t remember you.”

     If possible, the man’s grin broadened.  “Oh, not to worry.  I know plenty about you.”  

     “Do you?” Ethan asked, his tone flat.  He held still as Jac shifted, pacing like a panther just outside Ethan’s range.

     The other man looked toward the ceiling, the lights glinting off the silver ring in his left ear.  “Hm.  Detective.  Only child.  Wealthy family.  Deceased mother -“

     “What the fuck do you want?” Ethan snapped, unsettled.  His mother’s death wasn’t secret but Jac knowing only spoke of the man’s use in Xerynn’s organization.  Nothing remotely good.

     Jac clucked his tongue, shaking his head.  “Manners, Detective.”  He stepped closer to Ethan, pressing a hand to his chest.  “I wonder,” he murmured, “does our darling Kai know all about you?”

     A cold sweat trickled down Ethan’s back.  “What are you talking about?”

     He leaned in and whispered, “Does he know what you’ve done for dear old Daddy?”

     Ethan wrapped a fist in Jac’s shirt, jaw clenched.

     The other man grinned, unfazed by the reaction.  “I’ll take that as a no, then.  Well.”  Even confined by Ethan’s fist, he appeared distinctly in control.  “It begs the question:  does Daddy know what you’ve done with the enemy?”

     Ethan bared his teeth and wrapped both hands in Jac’s shirt, slamming him into the wall.  To his annoyance, Jac barely reacted.  “Stay away from him.”

     Jac laughed.  “From who?  Daddy . . . or darling?”

     He swung, catching Jac in the jaw.  The other man grunted and stumbled but when he straightened, his grin had only broadened, even as blood gathered at his split lip.

     “Your badge doesn’t hide the fact that you are just like me, Detective.”  He pressed a thumb to his lip, smearing blood along his lips.  “You simply feel more justified.  Untouchable in your delusion.”  He licked his thumb, cleaning it of blood.  “At least I know I’m a killer.”

     “And you feel you’re somehow better than me?”

     The other man laughed, genuinely amused even as a dark edge filtered through.  “Oh, hardly.”  He smirked.  “More, I wonder if you’d be able to go to the same lengths for sweet Kai as you did for daddy.”  He ran a hand through his hair, sighing performatively.  “You were Daddy’s eager little weapon; would you do the same for your darling?”  

     It crawled in Ethan’s skin, the way Jac spoke.  He knew he had no claim on Kai any longer; every time the other man entered his mind he flashed to the betrayal in Kai’s eyes when his father spoke of Ethan’s initial mission.  But, that didn’t mean he’d let Jac speak so casually either.

     “Stop using him that way,” Ethan spat.

     Jac’s eyes narrowed, his lips twisting.  “Should I use him like you did then?”  He preened at Ethan’s growl.  “Tell me, Detective: did he feel good?  Obedient?  Did he beg?  Beg so sweetly for your dick?  Did he scream as you fucked him?”

     Icy rage swept over Ethan, fogging his vision.  His hands wrapped around the other man’s throat, squeezing desperately.  He knew it a result of guilt.  His anger toward himself.  Sleeping with Kai had never been his father’s direction.  But Ethan . . . he’d fallen hard and fast for the older man.  To hear Jac talk about him like he was little more than a fuck-toy burned like a fire-poker in his back.

      Had it been like any other mission for his father’s group, he’d only have stayed around Kai until he learned what he needed about Xerynn.  Kai meant nothing to him initially.  Shadow an employee, hand over the information, call it good.  And then he’d met Kai.  He’d been completely charmed by the awkward, sarcastic man.  

     He swore when Jac’s foot connected with the inside of his thigh, dislodging him.  The man moved impossibly fast, spinning to throw a foot into Ethan’s chest and knocking him back against the wall.  He grabbed him by the chin, forcing Ethan’s head back in a painful arch. 

     “Tell me; when you fucked him over,” Jac hissed, “did he scream then?”

     “I’ll kill you,” Ethan rasped.

     The other man shoved him to the left, throwing Ethan off his feet and he landed with a grunt on his ass, hands slammed into the carpet.

     Jac loomed over him, all humor gone from his face.  Only a blank slate and empty hazel eyes.  “Better men than you have tried.”  His grin returned, nearly manic.  “Give our darling a kiss, won’t you, Detective?”

**

     Xerynn looked up as Jac entered the office, the other man toying with his shirt sleeves as he did.  He noted with some frustration the tear in his lip.  A leash would only encourage you, unfortunately.  “I see you have been your usual thorny self.”

    The assassin grinned, unbuttoning his sleeves and rolling them up his forearms.  The thin stenciled tattoo on his left arm on full display now.  He reached up and gathered his hair, pulling it back into a messy bun before dropping himself into the seat in front of Xerynn’s desk.  

     “Kai’s little pet.  Certain he’s useful?”

    Ah.  Xerynn resumed focus on the legal brief in front of him.  “Detective Oakes was a minor player in Guinevere’s delusional plans.  He means nothing.”  He glanced up, catching Jac’s eye.  “He can do nothing any longer.”

     “A favor for Kai then?”

     Xerynn arched a brow.  “My, someone is being helpful this morning.”  He sat back, resting his right arm on the desk, cheek perched on slender fingers.  “Very unlike you to even think of anything beyond yourself or your genitals.”

     Jac grinned.  “I know my priorities.”  His grin lost its amusement, shifting into the bladed weapon Xerynn was familiar with.  “I’m to watch out for your assets.  I don’t need unnecessary complications in order to do that.”  He lifted his brows.  “So?”

     He could say this for Jac, the man was very good at what he did.  He smiled.  “Detective Oakes is like any other human I have run across.  He has a distinct weakness.  That weakness is our Mr. Walker.”  He drummed his left hand across the desk.  “As such, I have no doubt he will be more effective going forward.”

     “Unlike you to trust a human.”

     Xerynn’s brow furrowed.  “Oh, you misunderstand.  It is far from trust I’ve granted him.  Nothing more than a stay of execution.  He steps outside his line again, and he will have very little to worry him any longer.”

     Jac nodded, leaning back.  “Understood.”

[snarkymonkeyprime]

@magic-ramen a tease. :p

"You think yourself the epitome of death, hm?"

Jac grinned. "Something like that." He leaned forward in his chair and winked. "You forgetting? We've discussed this before. Why else would you have hired me?"

Xerynn's eyes narrowed. "The best of the best," he murmured, ignoring Jac's interruption. He grinned, jaw splitting wide.

"Trust me, I am better."

[snarkymonkeyprime]

When I’m doing puzzles, I tend to let ideas for HHNF run through my head uninterrupted.  Which led to this:

Kai let out a heavy sigh and slouched in the chair across from Xerynn.  He didn’t know quite why he kept having this argument with the god.  Well, he somewhat did.  He was stubborn to a fault.  And it simply seemed odd that a long-lived creature like Xerynn could be so indifferent to humanity.  “You’re like a misanthropic Gandalf,” he muttered.

Xerynn’s eyebrows went up but his face remained impassive.  “Was that meant as an insult?”

“It’d be nice if you took it that way.”

“Ah.  Well, do try harder next time.”

[snarkymonkeyprime]

Xerynn doesn’t care for Jac’s inability to understand his place in the world.

Also, this was a prompt of “jealousy” from @magic-ramen after she’d had a shitty day (sorry it took so long, babe!)  <3<3<3

Any other day, Xerynn likely would have ignored the news report.  Besides, it was information he’d already been well aware of.  He’d known the moment Lillian had died.  And how.  That her death was reported, however, was more of consequence.

Xerynn never did concern himself with being known. Given the fragile nature of mortals, they tended to make their own conclusions regarding why a defense attorney from Portland also appeared to be criminally connected and eerily similar to supposed paternal relations.  However, that did not mean he enjoyed the attention.  It was nothing to sway the minds of police but given the option, he would much rather not have to expend the energy to do so.

He scowled at the article on his laptop.  And when that attention came from tools better used in other situations, he grew doubly irritated.

He tapped a button under his desk.

“Yes?”

“Ms. Lusk,” he began, “do contact Mr. Sayer and inform him he’s required at my office.  Sooner rather than later,” he finished.

“Certainly, Mr. Warrgott.”

He sat back, tapping his index fingers against his lips. He would never have this kind of complication with Natalie.  Nor Kai, bizarre as that was to admit.  His brow furrowed.  For as much of a mouth as that man had on him, he held enough sense to know not to cross Xerynn in a way that created impact.  It was abundantly clear, however, that his latest acquisition had not yet come to that realization.

He lifted his chin, glancing toward the ornate doors of his office. Across Portland, he could sense Jac’s intention towards his office, proving that Natalie was once again prompt.  The emotions there were the same as he’d felt the first day he’d noted the assassin; arrogance, confidence, desire, violence.

Initially, he’d found it amusing that Jac still wore the veil and refused to see Xerynn’s godhood.  The idea that someone as steeped in blood and violence, who’s inclination rarely wavered from sadism, could refuse to believe in old, primal gods was charming in its way.

Now it was frustrating.

Less than half an hour later, Jac sauntered into his office, unbuttoning his peacoat as he moved.  “You rang?”

“Sit.”

Jac paused, one eyebrow lifted.  He smirked as he slipped out of his coat, turning to hang it on the coatrack near the door.  “Uh, oh; someone’s in trouble,” he teased.

Not rising to the comment, he turned his laptop, aiming the article at Jac.  “It appears that Ms. Rogers met with an accident last night.”

Jac didn’t look at the article, only kept his gaze with Xerynn’s, grinning all the while.  “Aw, what a shame.  She seemed awfully friendly with you the night before.  My condolences.”

The laptop shut with a thud.  “I do recall you seemed quite focused on her as well that night. Perhaps I should be extending the same,” he drawled.  He steepled his fingers.  “Shame indeed; she was quite useful.”

“Was she?”  Jac shrugged. “She was a pop culture blogger; she was probably at the gala because she’d shagged someone more important.”

Xerynn smiled then, the air around them growing still as his power curled along the windows and the shuttered door.  “That so?”  He pushed back, rising.  Jac’s eyes stayed on him but the smile had faded.  Xerynn smoothed his suit coat and slowly moved out from behind his desk. He stopped within arm’s length of Jac, hands folded neatly before him.  “Jac.”  His power shifted, surging through the room, lights flickering around them.  “Jac, Jac, Jac,” he chided.

The assassin’s brow furrowed but he stayed quiet.

Xerynn stepped close and lifted Jac’s chin.  “I’d suggest marking your territory elsewhere in the future.  Dare to piss on my property again and you’ll lack the ability to do so.”  He let go and lifted his brows, the lamp behind him popping, the expensive porcelain shattering and tumbling to the floor. “Have we an accord?”

Jac craned around Xerynn, frowning at the broken lamp. “Guess they don’t make them like they used to, hm?”

Oh, I see.  You believe you still retain control. Xerynn grinned then, lips drawing back, teeth bared.  Before him, Jac tensed as he shifted back.

“If I deign to employ another, you will accept that.”  His grin grew, reshaping his jaw as it widened.  “If, by chance, you decide your opinion matters more?”  He leaned down, teeth splitting from his jaw, razor-sharp and brilliant.  His voice boomed through the room, pictures rattling against the wall, glass trophies sending shards tumbling to the floor.

“I’d advise you to retain said opinions unless I require them.” He read confusion in Jac’s eyes as the man obviously struggled to reconcile with Xerynn’s horrific appearance.

“She . . . was useless,” he managed, voice rough.  

“Do recall that I required her there.”  The skin around his jaw split farther, bone elongating, the rage of war twisting his visage into that of a charred dragon.  Darkness crowded around them as he pulled Jac into his realm, drawing him into that same darkness he appeared to crave so much.  “You insult me with your petty actions,” he stated, words hissing out with strings of fire and smoke.

Again, he read the discomfiture in Jac’s mortal eyes.  The man wanted so badly to believe he retained all control.  That he alone directed his life and path.  That life and death were so neat and tidy in his blood-soaked world.

Xerynn laughed then, the sound a clash of stone and steel.  “You are more the fool, Jac Sayer,” he warned.  “Understand that I alone now own your soul.  That I decide when you will move.  When you will speak.”  He leaned close, those hazel eyes muddy with desperate turmoil.  “You are a tool, Mr. Sayer.  You will stay sheathed until I decide.”

With a snap, the light returned and they were once more standing in his office, pictures hanging neatly, trophies gleaming under bright lights.  

Jac blinked, frowning as he tried not to glance around.  But even so, Xerynn heard his rapid heart.  The swirl of thoughts as he tried to rationalize what he’d experienced.

Shame.  You would be so much more useful without the veil. A failing, certainly.  One that Xerynn hoped would correct itself sooner, rather than later.  He could force the tearing of the veil but unfortunately, it often left mortals more useless given it tended to overwhelm their fragile minds.  Jac’s was already poisoned enough of its own; no need to encourage further degradation.

He shifted in his chair, clearing his throat as he smoothed his shirt sleeves.  “So.  Done with my punishment?” he rasped.

Xerynn’s eyes narrowed. Still so haughty.  Had it been Kai, he would have left it there and ordered him out.  For all his insolence, Kai was by far the most accomplished Servitor he’d retained.  He allowed the man a long lead.  Jac, however, clearly needed more restraint.

“If I find that you have allowed your baser thoughts to interfere with my business again, our working relationship will be severed.”  

Jac laughed then.  “Oh, please.  You’d never find anyone half as good as me.”  He preened and winked at Xerynn.  “I’m one-of-a-kind.”

Mortals and their egos.  So trying. Xerynn didn’t rise to the comment. He watched as Jac removed a gun from a well-used under-arm holster, checking the clip and letting it hang loose from his hand.  He tilted his head at the action.  “Is that meant to frighten me?”

Jac’s amusement tempered, his mouth struggling to hold his cocky grin.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he purred, lifting the gun slightly.

Xerynn’s hand snapped out, grabbing Jac’s wrist and yanking the man to his feet, the gun falling with a thud to the floor in the process.  “You think yourself untouchable?” he mused.

The assassin swallowed but continued his attempt of controlling the situation.  “You wouldn’t have employed me otherwise,” he pointed out.

Xerynn tutted sharply.  “You, my boy, are not the marvel you consider yourself.” He began to walk, pushing Jac back, the man struggling to keep his feet as Xerynn clasped his wrist.  The bones beneath his fingers creaked and he knew, with a single additional squeeze, he could shatter that fragile framework.  He could rid himself of Jac in a moment, reduce him to nothing but skin and organs.

But the man was useful.  He was violent and effective.  And there was no doubt the man was pleasurable to use.  Recalling that, he shifted his grip to Jac’s neck as he slammed him into the door to his office.  The sudden boom would likely require an apology gift for Ms. Lusk.  A small matter.

He leaned in, whispering low, Jac’s pulse rapid and hot under his fingers.  “You are unique, Mr. Sayer,” he began.  “But there will always be another:  stronger, faster, far more obedient.”  He tightened his fingers, the air bubbling under his grip.  “Do not encourage me to locate them.”

Xerynn straightened, careful to retain his grip on Jac’s throat.  He recognized swirls of anger and arousal in the deep hazel.  He smirked then, amused again that even near death, the man’s mind remained on its singular track.

Even as he struggled to remain conscious, Jac lifted his chin, smug as ever.  “If you tried to get rid of me,” he forced out, “I’d only kill the idiot you wasted time on.”

It was almost amusing, in truth.  That Jac thought himself so highly prized.  Xerynn certainly hadn’t dissuaded him from the idea in the beginning; after all, he needed a confident assassin in his employ.  To do otherwise would be asking to be questioned by authorities at every turn.  But now it grew tiresome.  Mortals and their afflictions had long been a bore for Xerynn.  And he certainly didn’t need to deal with the jealous moods of a killer.

Xerynn didn’t smile. “And who is to say you would even be alive to attempt it?”

For the first time, he saw the assassin’s confidence slip.  A shadow of uncertainty across his face.  Enough to know the words hit home.

“Tell me, Jac,” Xerynn hissed, feeding his power outward.  “What is it that you see?”  He tightened his fingers around Jac’s throat, knowing he could crush the man in a breath if he wished.  It would be simpler, to be fair.  Jac was rapidly proving to be more trouble than he was worth.  Yet, it was rare for Xerynn to find such an exquisite weapon amongst the mortals.  He loathed washing his hands of such a find so quickly.

Jac’s swallow moved rigidly past his fingers.  “A reliable client.”  The words were barely there but Xerynn heard them all the same.  

“Client.”  Xerynn grinned.  He caught a thread of doubt in Jac’s eyes, his power once more manifesting in that moment.  His fingers brightened, gleaming like steel.  Threads of crimson began to bead along Jac’s neck, dripping along paling skin.

“Oh, my dear boy,” he breathed, “I am so much more.”  Skin split further under his bladed fingers, runnels of fluid warm and sticky against them. “I am what you crave.  Without me, you are nothing.”  He leaned in, licking Jac’s ear, catching the strain of his heart and air.  “Were I to be undone, your very existence would lack purpose.”  He pitched his voice lower.  “Do not believe you know what I require.  You will never kill without my direction.  Do so again, and yours will be the last blood you feel through your fingers.”

The beat of the heart under his fingers slowed, growing sluggish.  The blood was thicker now, leaving the man’s crisp, white shirt sodden and dark.  He let go then, snapping his fingers.

Jac’s neck was whole again, his shirt unmarred.  The assassin grabbed for his throat, eyes wide.  He stared at Xerynn, once more struggling to understand.

Xerynn raised an eyebrow. “Have we an accord?” he asked again, voice low and cold.

The man swallowed and straightened, holding Xerynn’s gaze.  “Understood,” he remarked, the arrogance long gone from his voice.  He tugged on the collar of his shirt, a fine tremor on his fingers.  “Anything more, Mr. Warrgott?”

Xerynn smirked then. He reached out and stroked Jac’s cheek, cupping his chin.  “I have no targets for you as of now.”  He swiped the warm, lower lip with his thumb.  “Be at my home in one hour; I have a better use for you tonight.”

The cocky light returned and Jac opened his mouth, sucking Xerynn’s thumb in.  “Of course, Mr. Warrgott,” he purred.  “I’m at your disposal.”

“You would do well to remember that, Mr. Sayer.”

[snarkymonkeyprime]

DIALOGUE X2.  Fuck, these two are FUN.

    “I would suggest you get started.”  He pointed a pen at Dek.  “Be sure to bring your pet with you.”

    Kai could feel Dek stiffen beside him but the demon said nothing.  Regardless, Kai put a hand on Dek’s arm, squeezing once.  “Yeah, of course.  Say, one other thing.”  He dug through his jeans pulling out the receipt from Dek’s wardrobe.  “In the meantime, I’m submitting my first expense report.

    Xerynn lifted a brow as he examined the receipt. “And why is this necessary?”

    “If you want me being his caretaker, you’re gonna cover the cost.”  Kai grinned and pushed Dek toward the door.  “Thanks, bossman!”  The door shut behind him before he could hear any new protests from his new employer.

    “I am not your pet,” Dek growled.

    “Yeah, I know; but he’s being a dickhead so now he gets to pay for you.”  Kai grinned again, pleased when Dek gave him a small one return.  “I have to get something for this so making him mad seems to work.”

    “Possibly not a great start to needle the God of War,” he advised.

    “One thing you’ll learn about me, Dek, is that I rarely make good decisions.”

[snarkymonkeyprime]

*pets Kai*  I have missed him so much.

    Kai shivered.  “So you would kill him?” he husked.

    Xerynn snorted.  “Easily,” he repeated.  “But he is not an ordinary human.  Neither are you. I cannot risk his death causing further disruption.”  He lifted his pen. “Do. Your. Job.”

    Great. Part of him wasn’t all that surprised.  Xerynn appeared notoriously hands-off when it came to Chaos and Servitors. And honestly, what he said made some sense. If killing Adam -- which Kai was trying desperately to avoid -- unleashed worse from Chaos, it would still be Kai’s responsibility to take care of it. He understood so little of his new role that he wasn’t certain he could fix anything that broke if Adam died suddenly.  And maybe, he could talk Adam down from this. The guy appeared broken and lost; maybe Kai could reach him through the madness he suffered from.

    He took a deep breath, shoulders rising and falling slow.  He could keep pushing, he supposed. Keep begging for Xerynn’s aid in this.  Just do something and take it all away and then Kai could go back to a normal life.

    But did he even have a normal life any longer? Was anything normal for him? He lived with a ghost and a demon. Had a black shadow cat that ate wrenches and coughed up mangled metal.  He could see a world that had only existed in Hollywood up until a month ago.  He could cross to -- if only briefly -- a world that shouldn’t even exist.

    What did he have that was normal?  What could Xerynn possibly return to him by doing something as cowardly as killing someone without explanation?

    Matter settled, Kai nodded.  “Right. On it.”

    Xerynn gave a mildly surprised look.  “Hm. Just like that?”

    Kai gave a faint smirk.  “If I don’t do it, who will?”

    “Admittedly, there are other Servitors so --”

    “Xerynn, don’t ruin my moment!”  He pointed to the god. “I’m going to stop Adam without murdering him.  I’m going to set this right.”

    For once, Xerynn appeared genuinely amused rather than taunting.  “I see. Very well. Do keep me apprised of your task.” He returned to his paperwork and added, “And do try not to die; I dislike the hiring process.”

    Kai left the office without saying anything, only muttered under his breath, “I’d die just to piss you off, honestly.���

[snarkymonkeyprime]

It's all fun and games until someone gets stabbed.

[snarkymonkeyprime]

    “Why aren’t you worried?”

    “Should I be?”

    Kai gestured.  “You read me the riot act about how you need to keep Chaos at bay but I’m telling you, something isn’t right.”  He held up a finger.  “On top of which, thanks very fucking much for all the insight before I went hunting this morning.  Super awesome to suddenly find myself in Chaos.”

    Xerynn’s black eyes ribboned red.  “Pardon?”

    Kai made to repeat the claim but stopped.  “You didn’t know?”

    A frown.  “I will admit I have not kept abreast of your kind’s . . . properties.”

    “Stop talking to me like I’m a goddamn tool!”

    Xerynn tilted his head.  “But you are.  A very effective and necessary tool.”  He pushed Kai’s chin up with the head of his cane.  “However, there will always be another of you to leash so I warn you to hold your tongue, Mr. Walker.”

     That was it.  He wrenched away from Xerynn.  “Fuck you!  Fuck you and this ‘you don’t need to know’ garbage!”  He seethed, his shoulders trembling.  “Next time you want me to do something, at least try to know what the fuck you’re after!”

    Xerynn’s cane lowered and his eyebrows rose.  “Feel better?”

    Kai pursed his lips and grumbled.  “A little.”

[snarkymonkeyprime]

     Outside, Xerynn halted and turned on his heel, blocking Kai.  “You are fast becoming the most troublesome Servitor I have ever had the misfortune to interact with.”

    Kai could only see that as a win.

[snarkymonkeyprime]

I might be boozy

Xerynn leaned back, eyeing this prize sprawled in blood-soaked bandages, bleeding his last on a couch worth more than a house’s down payment. “You are *beats* from dying.”

Bloodstained teeth and gleaming dark eyes. “I’ve always...made deals...with devils.”

“Devils?” Xerynn stepped close and hovered above this interloper and tilted the man’s chin, lip curling at the whine of pain. “My boy, you have no idea who stands before you.”

The eyes could not follow Xerynn as well as they did. The gaze jiddered and shook, dancing away like a broken-winged bird. “You...were enticing.”

Xerynn raised a brow and let go of the man’s chin. “So you wished to place a bullet in in my heart?”

The man, still nameless, grinned his rictus amusement. “I wanted...to see...if you could...bleed.”

Making a decision, Xerynn gripped the man’s throat, the air barely threading past his fingers. “I can save you,” he hissed. “I can grant you a life enviable by all.” The pulse weakened under his fingers. “But you will be *mine*.” He leaned in, lips brushing blood-dampened hair. “My tool. My weapon. But in the end,” he purred, “mine*.”

The man’s mouth opened wordlessly, lips bluing.

“Will you agree?” He stroked the man’s throat, smirking at the gasping shudder as air thundered back. “Be mine to command?”

A bloodied hand grabbed his wrist, pressing his hand to the wide gash. Blood dampened his fingers, oozing and cooling. “I...am yours...to...command.”

Xerynn grinned, his power rolling out in fiery waves of torment. “You will be my crowning achievement,” he growled as power surged and lightbulbs around them shattered.

[snarkymonkeyprime]

@magic-ramen, Happy Birthday, you old slag.

     By the time his car exploded, Xerynn was alternately impressed and annoyed with his would-be assassin.  He could handle the destroyed personal property.  A slight nuisance to purchase new items but not time consuming.  However, two police officers in his offices for most of the day wore down what little patience he carried for the human race.  After assurances that he would consider personal protection, the officers finally left and he scowled.

    To humor Ms. Lusk, he’d drawn the shades in his office and the dark afternoon fit his current mood perfectly.  The suit and car were a loss; easily replaced all the same.  Frankly, he needn’t bother with such pedestrian methods of location but he enjoyed the process regardless.  

    Not entirely what absorbed his thoughts, however.  His focus remained entirely with his lethal shadow.  To his annoyance, he might have to take steps to squash this persistent character.

     “Shame,” he murmured, tapping the arm of his chair as he sat back.  “One does not always discover such an exquisite weapon among the mortal races.”  Not for the first time did he consider extending an offer to the fellow.  Xerynn employed more than his share of mercenaries; one more would only benefit his far-reaching touch.

     Still, he had no desire to field yet more prying questions from the local police.  Human minds were fragile enough to believe him merely lucky rather than a god.  He could walk among them as a blaze of brutal light and they would continue to believe him one of their ilk.

     The door to his office opened to reveal Ms. Lusk in her coat, purse in hand.

     “Mr. Warrgott?  Would you like me to arm the security system?”

     Delightful creature, he mused.  He was quite pleased he’d granted her immortality so many years ago.  Though she clearly felt differently.  He had little desire to retrain a mortal every decade or so, however.

     “No, Ms. Lusk.  I will take care of it.”

     Her lips turned down just slightly.  “It is not trouble, sir.”

     Xerynn smirked.  “Head home, Ms. Lusk.  I still have business here.”

     She looked as thought she wanted to say more but she firmed her jaw and nodded.  “Good night, sir.”  The heavy door shut behind her and once more, Xerynn was alone.

     Security system.  How quaint.  He could sense the mortals that swarmed the building at the moment.  Each heartbeat battered lightly against his senses.  Had he wished, he could dive deeper and hear every thought.  Every impulse, both dark and light.  That anyone or anything could surprise him was a lark.

    And beyond it all, he sensed him.

     Xerynn’s smile sharpened.  Ignoring the mortal murmur around him, he followed this, now familiar, thread.  Sped along its dark lines to the source.  There was no hate there.  No, in fact it was sheer pleasure.  Delight in the blood it hunted for.  Eagerness to see it spill.

     The god shivered in echo of that want.  “My, you are an interesting weapon,” he mused.  

     He was not far.  A few blocks away.  Xerynn had agents in that very area.  With a thought, he could send one of his many minions to eliminate the man.  Though, he had a strong intuition that it would take more than one tool to eliminate this hunter.

     His eyes narrowed.  So much death followed this one.  The soul practically dripped with gore.  

     He grinned.  He tugged the link he now held with the killer, fed it with urges dark and hot.  

     “Perhaps we shall play a little longer,” he purred, as the hunter moved.

[snarkymonkeyprime]

“I would prefer you keep your fraternization with the local constabulary to a minimum.”  Xerynn shifted his cane to rap on the roof of the car idling on the street.  “These diversions are trying.”

“Okay, Dickens.”  That earned him a flash of red which Kai took as a win.  “You heard him though; he doesn’t think I did anything.  In fact, he could probably help --” he stopped when the cane’s silver lion head knocked him in the chin.

“If you wish to imply this group of fools are actually competent at their chosen profession, please do not waste my time.”  Xerynn pulled his cane back as Geoffrey opened the rear door.  “They are human, Mr. Walker.  As such, they are limited by their very nature.”

Kai frowned.  And yet, your staff is made up of them.  Though, given the reality of Ms. Lusk’s immortality, he had to wonder if the same fate had struck Geoffrey.  He squinted at the bald-headed driver but like so many times before, the man ignored him.  Still staring, he muttered, “So what does that make me?”

“You are an abomination,” Xerynn pointed out as he slid into his car.  He peered at Kai, one hand on the door frame.  “Albeit a resourceful one.”  He disappeared into the dark confines and the door shut with a quiet click.  Geoffrey slid into the front seat without a word, driving off in a low purr.

Kai scrunched up his face as the car disappeared into the mid-morning traffic.

“I swear, I’m putting laxative in his coffee tomorrow,” he muttered, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets and stalking down the street.  “Maybe it’ll finally work part of that stick out his ass.”

[snarkymonkeyprime]

I’m hoping this is a sign I’m ready to return to the book.

“Don’t you ever, I don’t know, feel bad?”

Not looking up, Xerynn asked, “About?”

He frowned.  “The whole gun-selling-slash-get-out-of-jail-free-card thing you’ve got going.”

The scritch of the pen filled the air for a moment.  “Why would I?” Xerynn remarked.  He peered at Kai over his glasses, pen hovering.  “I see nothing wrong.”

“You see nothing wrong about selling weapons and actively helping criminals walk free.”

The pen clicked against the wooden desk.  “No.  I do not.”  Xerynn leaned back, fingers steepled.  “Again, why would I?”

“Because empathy?”

“Does the rain feel empathy when it drowns a flooded village?  Does a hurricane weep when it tears apart wooden structures?”  He lifted a dark brow.  “I am my nature, Mr. Walker.  Why would I regret my very purpose?”

A shiver darted down Kai’s back.  “You feel nothing?”

“That surprises you.”  He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.  “I have not lied to you, Mr. Walker; I am War.  I am destruction and chaos in its most violent form.”  He rested his elbow on the arm of his chair and leaned against his curled fingers.  “That I wear a suit changes nothing; I follow my nature no matter its results.”

“That sounds like a lack of free will.”

“So it might.”  He smirked.  “However, free will is a mortal affliction.  Contentedly following my nature serves much the same purpose.”

“Wow, Xerynn.  That was . . . surprisingly helpful; if disturbing.”  Kai frowned.  “Wait.  You’re never helpful.  Does this mean I’m dying?  Am I dead?”

Xerynn’s faint humor vanished.  “Clever you are not.”

“And now you sound like Yoda.”