#:chat

CW: VIOLENCE.

there’s really no need for their sordid meeting to take place under the cover of darkness -- stregobor knows they are coming.  but kaz has always liked to stalk his prey.  watch them sweat.  play with them, like an overgrown cat with a mouse.  it’s twisted, and sick, but he likes the taste of their fear, and to see it reflected in their eyes as they realize death has come for them, and he will show them neither mercy nor restraint.  

and stregobor deserves it more than any other monstrous man he’s killed.  his stomach clenches in anticipation, the twin swords strapped to his back seeming to thrum with hunger as he waits for her.  he will not do this without her.  when it comes to the final strike, he will let her take it.

he knows what it’s like to need that revenge.  he knows how desperately the soul craves it.  what has been done to her -- it is worse than anything the most foul creature he has ever been contracted to kill could dream of doing.  beasts kill for hunger. for survival. to protect their own.  they don’t perform sick, twisted experiments on others for their own perverse enjoyment.  

yes, he’s rather looking forward to this contract.  he pushes off of the wall at her approach, cat-eyes reflecting the light of his torch eerily, a hungry gleam in their golden depths.  

it’s the first night they’ve had anything resembling FOOD. her culinary expertise turned what were piss-poor rations of turnip and whatever small mammal oghren had managed to kill (he suspected nug, but he tried VERY hard not to think about it) into something that was actually EDIBLE, and he leaned back against the log she was sitting on. 

the report is making his vision BLUR.  the headache behind his eyes is less from withdrawals now, and more from STRESS and STRAIN than anything else.  keeping the peace, managing the troops, supply runs...he’s back to his old habits of not sleeping.  he rubs a tired hand against his stubble-covered jaw, lamenting that he’s not even had time for the SIMPLEST of personal care.  he sits back in the chair with a groan.  he should eat.  he should rest.  he should write rylen or his family.  he should find elena.  he should sleep. 

he’s half-way to making up his mind to do just that when the door to the tower slams open with a BANG.  he starts, halfway to rising with his hand on his sword as reflex, before realizing that it’s elena.  the tension in his shoulders eases somewhat, but only for a moment.  it returns in FULL FORCE at the look on her face -- red, anxious, and nervous.  has something happened?  

had leliana’s agents finally found that apostate who called himself solas?  

‘elena, what --’ but the words get caught in his mouth as she interrupts him with words that make his blood turn to ice in his veins.  

‘we should -- we need to talk.’

there’s something in the WAY she says it that makes him stand up straight, the mask of the commander slipping onto his face as cullen rutherford tries his best to STILL the beating of his heart.  has she realized that he is UNFIT to be her partner?  has she decided to accept one of the ADVANTAGEOUS proposals from some distant well-to-do lord who could give her a far-better future than he ever could? had something happened to her cousin?  

For Ben/Kadyn

True to his word, Bryce didn’t show up at Ben’s door, nor did he stick around to make sure the client received his gift. It was the hardest thing he had ever done, and the tear stains on the note proved it. 

He left a simple box with a note that said his name as well as a small message. There was a picture frame in the box, that housed three photos. One was of Bryce and Kadyn, and they appeared to be smiling wide and laughing at some joke. It was one of Bryce’s favorites. The other was of Ben and him in Australia, looking as if they didn’t have a care in the world. The last was of all three of them in bed. Bryce had snapped a quick picture of all of them looking comfortable and cozy. 

The note was small compared to what he usually did, but it was the best Bryce could muster, it read:

What I feel for you two is the reason why I have to go. I’ve left the city, and I don’t know if or when I’ll be back. It’s not fair, but it had to be done. I’m hoping that if you ever see me again, I’ll be the wolf all three of us wanted me to be. Perhaps then, we can try again. 

Until then….

I love you, Ben and Kadyn, and I always will until the day I die. Thank you.

-Bryce

Ben didn’t have time to really react, but one thing was sure, he was not about to let his wolf leave Covaire without saying goodbye... and he needed to make things right for Bryce. The boy needed to know this was alright with him, that the Aussie didn’t see it as running away. When Bryce had decided to leave the house, did had been what he had expected after a couple months, but then it had continued and he’d seen how much the boy had been struggling... but what had he been supposed to do when Bryce had refused his help?!

He might have texted some obscenities to Galadrielle... if that girl left with his wolf without letting him say bye, he would strangle her. He didn’t know if it was luck, or if she had even read his messages, but he caught them right outside the city. This felt like Jonathan all over again, but at least, this was something Bryce had decided by himself and not a decision he’d made for him.

He didn’t try to hide his emotions, or the tears in his eyes, he was so damn proud! But he needed to focus, because this wasn’t about keeping Bryce here, but sending him off to a much better life on a high note.

“I’m proud of you Bryce Cooper. You’re finally rising from your ashes. And this is what I’ve always wanted you to be. A strong wolf that knows of life and has seen the world. When we meet again, you better be a beta or I WILL spank you.” The boy laughed and Ben just hugged him tightly. This had to be the closest emotionally and physically they had been since February 2018. He continued, still holding him. “Even if I can’t be in love with you. I still love you my little wolf and I know you’ll do amazing.” He needed to let this sink in for the boy, before kissing him.

It squeezed his heart to see the wolf holding on so hard to that sob. “I-If you’re ever outside of this place, we should meet up. H-How about that cave in Australia? Y-You know…somewhere only we know? I’d like that a lot”.

Then the boy had wiped his own tears, and they’d both nodded at each other. Things would be alright, for the both of them. Bryce gave his last goodbye and Ben thanked Galadrielle and the vampire for their help. But this was where things would get complicated.

Kadyn.

He’d made the decision to run after Bryce, because finding Kadyn first would’ve most likely resulted in the former being already gone. He went back home, expecting his wolf to be confused by the photos and unable to read the letter left behind. And obviously, Kadyn would know something was wrong because he smelled a lot like Bryce.

“Let’s sit down, my love... we need to talk.”

‘and might be lord tyrion is a BETTER man than me, but i cannot fathom anyone would lay with him for his SILVER tongue; i could hardly stand to be in his presence without being near-overcome by the desire to toss him out of the skiff. tell me, does the man ever cease his prattling?’