[G] [P] 734.06.04 | Reclaimed

As usual, the journey to Telgar was a long one. It was unpleasant and boring to begin with but now he had a wife and daughter to contend with as well. At least his wife served as a bed warmer at every inn they stopped at along the way. The child simply cried when hungry or wanted more attention and that wasn’t something Gabrin was very good at giving and only put in as much effort and energy as was required to suitably convince all the travel companions that he was a wonderful father and his own father wouldn’t have a thing to complain about. Then again, it was likely his father was still grumbling about the way his youngest son was once again wandering off. Gabrin knew, however, that Lord Jaebrin liked having one less son to look after and keep an eye on in case there was a sudden desire to be not only the next in line for the title but at the start of it.

Still, it would be worth it in the end when Telgar was once more in sight and all the fun toys were his once more to play with. One of his favourites came in the form of Khoemi, his now brother-in-law, that liked to pretend he didn’t enjoy himself on the night they shared together. It was always fun to pick on the man with heavy flirting and trying to corner him alone. In fact, Gabrin had returned to Telgar more or less solely for Khoemi and picking up the game of seducing the man. There were a few other reasons but they paled in comparison to the flirting.

Once they arrived, Gabrin gave all the proper greetings and respect to the main branch of the family as he left the servants and his wife to move their belongings back into the rooms that had been his for most of his life. It was almost sad how Telgar felt more like home than High Reaches but such was the way of life for a third son. At least Telgar was fun and had some interesting drama to go with it!

As soon as he could, Gabrin excused himself so he could go run an important message to someone else. His return would have been announced and the rumours would have spread to everyone within the Hold long before his caravan came up the path but Gabrin knew the exact timing still wouldn’t be known and his knock at the door would be a surprise.

Well, if he knocked, that was.

Gabrin let himself into the room that he knew Khoemi spent a lot of his time in and peered around for the man. When he wasn’t spotted in the main room, Gabrin silently moved through it and peeked in through another door. Khoemi was spotted instantly and a smirk played over Gabrin’s lips as he stepped inside, pleased that the annoying wife was nowhere to be seen. “Hey, babe. I’m here to reclaim what’s mine.”

Minor Lord Khoemi
Gabrin’s cat.

---

’Merooooow!’

The sound of the blasted animal’s yowl echoed through the room and Khoemi turned to give the creature a disdainful look. The hairy, loud smelly animal had been a thorn in his side ever since he’d managed to be rid of the even bigger thorn that was the animal’s actual owner. The man’s nose scrunched up, and he returned his attention to flicking through the large wardrobe in which his best clothes were hanging. If it weren’t for the fact that his wife, Serraquil, had just about burst into tears the one time Khoemi had (not really) joked about kicking Daisy or Sunflower or whatever it was the stupid animal was called to the curb, the blasted mongrel would have been drowned already.

‘purr’, Khoemi’s nose returned to its scrunched up way as the cat came to twin around his ankles, before dashing out of the room with another yowl. Dismissing the stupid creature with a disgusted look, Khoemi pulled a shirt he favoured from the hanger it was on and tugged it on over his head with precise movements; there was no desire to wrinkle it! He had an important meeting to attend to in about an hour, and he needed to look particularly presentable! A particularly well timed deal was to be made with a merchant, and Khoemi had no desire to be late or mussed up when he met with the other man. If the agreement went to plan, he would be able to buy Serraquil a whole new wardrobe, and hire a nurse to take over looking after the children. Nodding to himself at his reflection, Khoemi was reaching for a brush to tidy his hair back into place, when a particularly unpleasant sight caught his attention.

Khoemi’s shoulders stiffened, followed by his entire posture, as beautiful hazel eyes narrowed into furious slits. “Gabrin.” The single word was spoken with a light, neutral voice that was completely at odds with the furious look on the baby face of Khoemi. “Come to collect your cat?” Taking his furious gaze off the reflection of Gabrin’s face, Khoemi finished the motion of picking up his hair brush and swept his hair back with a few casual sweeps before placing it back on the bench and turning to face the other man. “Serraquil has enjoyed its company, though it seemed less thrilled by the children.” A slightly malicious smirk twisted one corner of Khoemi’s lips. His two year old son had, at one point, decided the cat would look better minus a rather large fistful of hair… then that it would appreciate a bath. Khoerhi had come out with more than a few scratch marks, but Khoemi considered his child’s battle wounds worth it.

The cat had vanished for two months.

“Among other things,” Gabrin smirked as he watched the body language of his dear friend – Khoemi would be quick to argue that label – and meandered further into the room. He kept watch of the other man but his gaze still swept around the room as if looking for anything else he had kept with Khoemi for safe keeping in his absence. It was so hard to trust Lords and Ladies and the games they played; some things simply couldn’t be left unguarded. “But my Buttercup is near the top of the list of things I most desire to have back in my possession.”

Gabrin finally turned his full attention onto the large fluff ball of a feline that sat smugly in the centre of the bed. “There’s my girl,” he cooed and sat down beside the cat. Buttercup gave another yowl before slowly inching her way back to the man that had abandoned her for what seemed like forever. As soon as his gentle touch was felt, Buttercup was putty in his hands yet again and flopped onto her side purring. “I missed you, Buttercup. I know Khoemi was a perfect gentleman and saw to your well-being for me.” Gabrin didn’t really care for the woman he married; she was just convenient as both a way to keep his father happy and a way to mess further with Khoemi’s mind. His child was expected of him but he didn’t do much fathering to it. His cat, however, was his baby. He loved the fat thing and knew Khoemi wasn’t fond of her. It was actually why he was chosen to keep an eye on Buttercup while he was back at High Reaches. It would annoy Khoemi and his annoying wife would make sure Buttercup was cared for.

Content that his cat wasn’t about to run off on him and he’d have to track her down throughout the Hold, Gabrin honed in on his next target. “Look at you playing dress up for my return.” He teased the man, knowing it wasn’t for him that Khoemi was doing his best to look respectable for. That only encouraged Gabrin to mess with him a bit more. He brazenly ran his hands from Khoemi’s shoulders down his arms to make it appear like he was helping to straighten the shirt and avoid anything being out of place. “It looks better on the hanger, but we’ll get you out of it soon enough.” A lazy grin appeared and he leaned in close to an ear.

“You’re at the top of my list, Emmy. I claimed you that night and I intend to keep you.”

Khoemi’s expression twisted into a sneer at Gabrin’s smirk, the young man’s shoulders once more stiffening in fury. He detested the obnoxious, infuriating bastard of a man that had just made himself comfortable on Khoemi’s bed, as if he had a right to it! Turning his heated glare back onto the mirror, Khoemi missed the change in direction of Gabrin’s attention, and almost jumped when his own gaze realised the man was right behind him.

Khoemi jerked away when Gabrin’s hands ran down his arms, face flushing hotly – in rage! – as he turned rapidly on his heel, glaring up at his fellow lordling, and resisting just barely from throwing a punch in the smug bastard’s face; his fists clenched and relaxed at a rapid pace by his sides. “Go hang yourself,” Khoemi spat, lips twisting into a snarl as he jerked away, stepping back a step to further the distance between himself and the other man. He was quite sure his heart was going to burst from his chest, and his breath was coming in short little puffs through his nose.

“I have a meeting to attend, get your cat and get out of my rooms.”

Gabrin grinned at the man’s antics, enjoying every single reaction and comment that came from Khoemi. The man was far too precious in his denial and confusion that clearly stemmed from it. “How abouuuuut,” Gabrin drew out the word as he stepped away as well only to end up flopping back down onto the bed his cat had claimed not too long before him. “No.”

Completely taking over the bed, Gabrin sprawled on his back, his head resting properly on a pillow. He was, however, polite enough not to get his boots on the bed and left his feet hanging over the edge. Nothing good ever came from crumbs, pebbles, or dirt in between the sheets! Made for rather uncomfortable sleep and sex. “Join me, Khoemi. It’s so much quieter in here than it is out there. My return – and that of my charming wife – has caused quite the stir out there.” He didn’t mind; Gabrin loved being the centre of attention but even he could enjoy time away from the crowd, especially with a lover with him.

He wasn’t even looking for much out of Khoemi now. Gabrin only wanted to see what he would do and how much he would put up with now that they were reunited after such a stretch of time apart. “You know I’m far easier to deal with when you give me my way, even if only a little.” Gabrin patted a spot of bed beside him, encouraging Khoemi to at least sit near him.

Khoemi’s nose scrunched up in disgust as he watched Gabrin sprawl himself across the bed Khoemi happened to share with his wife. The man’s eyebrows furrowed and he glared angrily at Gabrin, before turning stiffly to the mirror that was located safely against a far wall, and set about fixing his clothing. He could still feel the bastard’s hands and his skin wouldn’t stop crawling from the sensation! Khoemi rolled his shoulders, glaring at Gabrin over his shoulder through the mirror.

“There had been hope you would have grown up by now,” Khoemi sneered, eyes steering away from Gabrin’s reflection to his own, making sure everything was as it should be before turning back to snort disdainfully at the invitation that was offered him. “Dream on, Gabrin. I have better things to do than frolic in your fantasies.” Rolling his eyes, and aiming a half-hearted kick at the cat when it walked too close, Khoemi turned on his heel and made his way with solid steps to the doorway.

“Do make sure you’re gone before my lady gets home.” Straightening his jacket one last time, Khoemi strode out the door and across the foyer room. He didn’t so much as pause or glance over his shoulder as he opened the door and exited his rooms. If Gabrin were so comfortable letting himself in, the bastard could let himself out, too! Khoemi sneered at a drudge who shied away in fear, as he made sure he was well out of sight of his room before the bastard man came out the door.

“Son of a wherry fucked whore!”