Rumbling

A whine escaped his lips as Kai pulled back. "What are you--" His words cut off as Kai pulled his shirt off and Jasper smiled. Hands found the other's body, caressing his skin as Kai lowered himself back down. "I missed you too." Jasper breathed, relaxing against the pillows as Kai's lips found other parts of his body. He squirmed, his nails dragging red lines across the other's back.

Jasper quickly pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the side. "I want your lips again. Give me your lips." Jasper practically begged as a hand found Kai's brown locks, yanking his head upwards until their lips found each other's again. Jasper wrapped his legs around Kai's waist, holding him there as his kiss became more bruising and rough.

Maybe once in his youth he'd been similar - hell, he'd gotten himself into plenty of trouble when he'd been young, brash, bold and outright arrogant. But life had sobred him up, dealt him more than a few pains to make him rethink that attitude. Forced to face the bloody reality of the life he'd led - now Cain just wanted to protect his pack, the people he cared about.

When he was presented with a little baggie of twinkling powder, like a galaxy captured in the palm of a hand - Cain just rose a brow, amusement written on the alpha's face. "Ain't done that kind of shit since I was young and stupid - and ain't about to do it with a stranger." Cain declined the offer. "Your shit might be good kid, but after that shitty introduction - I need warmin' up first." Cain chuckled, finally grabbing a second glass and pouring them both a shot of the smooth whiskey.

"Seems like you're the leading expert on shit." Cain replied dryly as he watched the kid.

Cain had seen his fair share of idiotic children thinking themselves invincible with youth - hell, he'd been one of those kids. But those without an understanding to jump out of the hole when they'd dug themselves a gave, would just end up buried.

"It's fine." Jasper said, knowing that he could be a bit dramatic at times. He didn't want to worry about it anymore. Not now that the pixie was in his system, flowing through his veins and allowing him to feel lighter.

"Come here." He insisted as he wrapped his arms around Kai and pulled him upwards -- their faces close to one another's again. He wanted more touch. Kisses. Tongues that warred with each other. Even without Pixie, he wanted that with Kai. But the drug allowed him to feel everything so much more.

Without another word, Jasper grabbed Kai's face in between his hands and pulled him close until his lips crushed against the other's.

When they parted, Kai's heart was pounding and he didn't move far. He simply slipped his shirt off over his head and threw it away before leaning down and pushing Jasper's shirt up. Kai kissed his abs between his thighs and slipped his tongue over the hard muscle there. "I fucking missed you tiger." Kai mumbled against his hips as he shoved Jaspers shirt up over his head. "I missed you so much." He mouthed the words against his chest and nipped at Jasper's nipple. "Don't you ever let me leave for that long again."

He listened, patience grating with each word, unimpressed by the little magic trick, as if that was supposed to be anything other than pointless to the alpha. He didn't care about money, magic, empty words.

But he supposed that pompous, pathetic excuse for an apology was as close as Cain would get from the prick. And the alpha had no real interest in watching even one of his wolves die just to tear this waste of air limb from limb.

With the subtlest of shifts in Cain's face, the tension in the bar seemed to evaporate - wolves returning to their conversations, their drinks and games of pool, noise once again filling the Roadhouse.

Sper, you need to get out more.

Darling, get out of bed. The sun is out! What about the plants? You need to take care of them like I taught you.

Honey! You're almost late for work. Get up, get up.

Jasper groaned as he ran a hand over his face. He rarely entertained her words anymore. Or, at least, he tried not to. In the past, he'd have full conversations with her. Now, all he wanted her to do was shut the fuck up and leave him alone.

"Raspberry, honey, blueberry... oh! Chocolate chip?" Jasper wasn't even sure they had all the ingredients. He'd not checked what was stocked in the kitchen in over a week. "We might need to go to the market." He muttered and then let out a sigh. His body continued to tingle -- the fog in his mind finally lifting some. He dipped his face down towards the other's head and pressed his lips against the top of his skull.

Heathcliff’s petty once-over didn’t get the message across and even triggered an uncalled for reaction in return. It was supposed to intimidate or at least shame a little but instead the young man next to him preened under it like a peacock, thoroughly enjoying the attention even though Heathcliff’s sharp, ice-cold eyes haven’t had an ounce of any sort of lustful appreciation in them for whatever handsomeness Kai was imagining about himself. Was Kai an objectively handsome man? Yes, of course he was. But did that move a paranoid, always on guard and very picky Heathcliff any? No, not at all. There were too many species out there using their beauty and charm to manipulate, get what they wanted or even feed and harm. Heathcliff was no fool. He will not fall for such basic tricks. Even the offer of paying for a drink was enough to rouse Heathcliff’s suspicion, despite it sometimes being customary and therefore perfectly normal to do so when people joined together in a conversation. Tricking the customers by having a drink potentially watered down to save up on the ale was only one of many doubts Heathcliff had. The drink could’ve also been spiked or magicked. Or just unsanitary because of how the bar kept its contents or handled the glasses it came in. But one did not acquire the mind of a strategist if they did not think many steps ahead for every possible situation. And for that, one needed to have a mind full of mistrust. Heathcliff’s eyes narrowed at the glass that was slid towards him but it remained uncertain if the look was for the drink or for Kai’s words. “No parent in the world would name a child that.” He said flatly, although he knew well enough that Kai was trying to rile him up. It didn’t seem intentional though, but rather just this young man’s character flaw. Heathcliff briefly wondered just how many times Kai’s mouth had gotten him into an awkward, potentially violent situation and why a lesson hadn’t been learned yet. Perhaps, so far, he’d somehow managed to go without a beating for that rude mouth of his. What luck, if so.

“You may call me Heathcliff.” He wasn’t sure if the name would ring a bell. Heathcliff hadn’t exactly advertised that he was currently the owner of the largest casino in the area. He preferred to remain an unknown while he kept himself very well informed. “And I would like to talk business with you.” He finally picked up his drink, bringing it under his nose for a sniff, not sipping yet.

"Heathcliff. Fancy." Malakai cooed as he sat back a bit and placed his drink back down on the bar. He smiled at the other man. It wasn't that he was trying to use his looks to his advantage. He hadn't gotten the vibe from Heathcliff. But a smile could do a lot of things for a lot of people. If nothing else, Kai would learn what it would do for Heath and if nothing changed, that was still worthy information to have. Yes, Kai came off as a dumb pretty boy but he liked it that way. If that's all people every thought of him, they were bound to underestimate him. One of his eye brows popped up a bit. "Business?" Kai sat forward a bit. "Now we are talking. You in the Pixie business or do one of the other fun little pills or powered tickle your fancy?" He asked with genuine curiosity.

Every wolf pair of eyes in the bar turned, each glowing their various shades of blue and yellow denoting their position in the Nepenthe pack. The bar turned an eerie kind of quiet, just the low rumble of a packed house full of hungry wolves.

The bartender made no move to pour anything, his eyes looking to his alpha, every wolf hanging on the tension of Cain's decision. They all felt it - some fucking idiot had disrespected him twice. A damn death sentence.

"You got ten seconds to walk away, before this bar turns into a bloodbath." Cain growled low. The only warning the kid would get before he was torn limb from limb by every wolf in the bar.

Sure, a witch could probably take out a couple of them before succumbing to the sheer overwhelming force and number. But that threat didn't deter any of the wolves, pack loyalty was everything.

About the only thing that would save him was walking away or an apology.

His bottom lip quivered as the tears continued to pour. "Everyone leaves me, Kai. Everyone hates me. I mean, not Mireia but--" A lot of Fae and those that knew his parents. People at work. Customers. His boss. Jasper was too much -- and also not enough, for so many people.

"Okay." He whispered against his boyfriend's lips. He believed him. He did. But sometimes Jasper's mind played tricks on him -- just like he did to others with his magic. Except, it wasn't fun when his mind fucked with him. "How much more do you have? The Pixie. Do you need more money?" As he asked, his body finally began to relax into the bed. His mind dulled out -- pushing away the past -- as his skin began to tingle. "I have more mermaid scales. We can get some kochba from those."

The alpha didn't respond, just headed inside the Roadhouse with a glare at the two she-wolves who'd caused him drama. He'd have words with them later. Cain didn't care what his wolves got up to in their free time, what they chose to do recreationally. He only cared when it brought trouble to Nepenthe, when it cause trouble inside his bar.

A sigh escaped his lips as Kai pressed into him -- fingers tangling in his hair as he drew closer. He whined as their lips met, his mind slowly trudging through the mud to come back to the present. Jasper wrapped his arms around Kai's waist and pulled him closer. "You were gone for so long." He whimpered. "Why were you gone so long?" Tears bubbled at the corners of his eyes. "She wouldn't leave me alone. And dad--" Jasper cried against Kai's lips.

You killed him. They all say you did.

Jasper, my baby boy, don't listen to them. Remember what mommy taught you.

The up and down look was odd and highly unnecessary, in Heathcliff’s not so humble opinion, especially in the way it had transpired. Time was taken for it to be done and even though it were just a second, it was a second too long while in a one-on-one conversation waiting for a response to something you’ve asked. Heathcliff returned the once over, albeit out of reciprocally petty reasons. Fine, if you want to assess me, I will assess you too. See how you like the taste of your own medicine.   It was a relief to know that he wasn’t the one being spoken to though. But being called a ‘pretty boy’... Heathcliff was most certainly not a boy and he had never once in his life considered himself pretty. Was this man having some visual issues or just an episode poor judgement? Or maybe this was a colloquial term? A slang, if you will? An attempt to ease any tensions and appear friendly? How very much in poor taste, then. Well, at least he’d gotten the other’s full attention now. Apparently he did not have it before.  It was also a relief that Heathcliff did not have to taste the unidentified drink offered at first but would instead get another one, hopefully of his own choice. He regarded the outstretched hand for a second, an offering of a vulnerable moment a handshake always is with a stranger, before he reluctantly received it, giving it one firm tug before immediately letting go. Physical contact had never been Heathcliff’s preferred way of interacting. “Pale rye ale, half a pint.” He ordered, arms returning to cross over slim yet broad chest. “And don’t water it down. I will know.” A look shooting daggers was directed at the bartender, sharp razor-thin pupils warning.

Jasper allowed his boyfriend to roll him onto his back. Once he did, his eyes lifted to meet the other's. Even with Malakiah there, Jasper's mind was distant. Off in its own world being suffocated by the traumas he'd endured at a young age. He was alone. And yet, he wasn't. Not now.

Dead

Or just paralysed from the neck down, if Cain was feeling generous.

See how he used that fancy magic when he needed someone to wipe the drool from his face.

Patience wearing thin - Cain simply lifted like the boy weighed nothing, the grip on his throat never loosening as he just carried him by the neck to the bar doors, and tossed.

Sending him sprawling into the dusty dirt road outside, finally able to choke down some air. "Fuck off kid." Cain said gruff and callous over his shoulder as he headed back inside. The Alpha's interest in such an interaction was zero.

Heathcliff could not guess who this ‘Jesus Christ’ was. It certainly wasn’t him. An odd idea to call him by some other man’s name as a way to express surprise. Especially at the way Heathcliff looked. Was there something wrong with his glamour? He would always make sure to change his appearance significantly when he was outside of Myre Grove. Hardly any outsiders had seen his true face or caught a glimpse of his majestic, inconvenient wings. Hair glamoured so short that it was almost making his considerably smaller, rounded ears feel cold, green gone from his eyes and replaced by a deep, dark hue that almost swallowed his pupils whole and not a hint of wings in sight, his back now perfectly capable of resting against the chair he was occupying. Some facial features were kept, not making him entirely unrecognizable but a guess that he was a fae would be as good as any. Bets could certainly be made on which species he belonged to, though Kai would’ve won them all since he was made aware that this was the mysterious, lowkey Myre Casino owner he was meeting today. Perhaps that was what the other was referring to - that Heathcliff wasn’t looking like himself. The offered drink was regarded with a subdued expression of mild distaste. He did not want the unknown liquid inside but he also loathed to be rude and refuse the offered beverage. “Pray tell, how have I exactly ‘gone to shit?’” Unless Kai was referring to the blood storm they’ve had some time ago. Truth be told, it had given Heathcliff much trouble. The caves weren’t exactly hole-proof and the many underground waters swelling with the blood had somewhat penetrated the Grove and even found their way into Heathcliff’s home, whose protection came in second to keeping the casino afloat. He hadn’t been able to use his baths for days now. But Heathcliff was a pro at averting crisis. If this one still troubled him, it could hardly be divined from his expression or behavior today. 

This conversation though might look ridiculously foretelling a few days later, when things would really go to shit. It was a calm before the storm, before Heathcliff reached the point of boiling with Jasper and his antics and before the dots have connected Kai to his employee. Heathcliff hadn’t made it a habit to look into his workers’ personal lives, if it did not affect his business much. So at this point in time, shit was yet to go down. At this point, shit was fine, with nothing but potential business to discuss.