Chapter 256 - 254: Ive Missed You.

Chapter 256: Chapter 254: Ive Missed You.

Of course he gets it.

He’s spent his whole life caring what his father thinks. Of him, his choices, his friends.

Turns out it’s an awful hard habit to break.

​"Who knows what he’d do if he found out," Rogard sighs, distractedly spinning his spoon, since Drogger is of course, right to worry, "He’d definitely come after you.

And then me. Maybe even me first."

​"He wouldn’t," Drogger scoffs, clearly aghast at the suggestion, and Rogard scoffs with him, but only because he has no idea what his father is capable of.

​"...He might. And no one would stop him," Rogard mutters, mouth turning down, "...No one ever stops him."

​His answer makes Drogger go very quiet.

​"It won’t always be like this," he says, after a long moment, and it sounds like a promise. "I’ll figure something out."

​"And if you don’t?" Rogard only asks because he’s been trying his whole life to get his father’s approval and he still hasn’t succeeded, and while he believes in Drogger more than he believes in himself sometimes, the way his father looks at commoners –even the ones who have earned the favour of kings –isn’t something that one earnest man can change.

​"I will."

​Rogard likes how he says it like there’s no other option.

Like regardless of what his father thinks, he has no intention of keeping him a secret forever.

​He wishes he could kiss him right here and now, but he supposes he can wait just a little longer.

​"...I’ll come to your office later, master."

​Drogger must hear the implication as loud and clear as Rogard intended for it to be because a light red starts to rise up into his cheeks.

​Rogard grins across at him, innocent and playful and wicked all at once.

And Drogger doesn’t even get a chance to chew him out because Ynoro chooses that moment to appear at his elbow with his uniform buttoned correctly and a stack of papers under his arm.

​"Captain, we’ve got that meeting with His Majesty," he states, all business, and Rogard is once again caught off guard by the drastic difference between this side of him and...how he usually is, "I know you didn’t want to be late –oh, Rogard, you’re still here?"

​"Not that hungry today, it would seem," Rogard lies easily, shrugging and pushing his unfinished meal away from himself to really sell it.

​"Hope you’re not coming down with anything," Ynoro comments, "There’s something going around. Stay warm."

He nods at the scarf around Rogard’s neck with approval, and with the suddenness of a match bursting into flame, his tone changes into one of alarm, "Wait, don’t tell me that sort of fabric is actually in fashion this winter?? Rogard , you’d tell me if it was, right?"

​Rogard automatically reaches up to his throat to touch the scarf there.

He’d actually forgotten he was wearing it again.

The marks Drogger left on his throat have faded –just in time for him to leave some more –but it feels nice, having something there that reminds him of him.

​Also, it’s fucking cold out.

​"Ah, it’s still very much out ," Rogard assures him.

The gods are more likely to descend to earth than this fabric ever being on trend, "It’s just been so cold, recently."

​"Oh thank the gods," Ynoro sighs, looking visibly relieved, and Drogger has to elbow him impatiently to get him moving towards that meeting that Ynoro is now about to make them late for, "I just couldn’t bear to be behind the times. Women love a man with style, after all~"

​" Our meeting , Ynoro."

​Ynoro just laughs, clapping Drogger on the shoulder to placate him; an easy, familiar gesture that Rogard finds himself suddenly, unbearably jealous of.

​It can’t be a good sign, wishing even for an instant, that he was Ynoro .

​"Coming, Captain~"

...

Xena doesn’t really expect Loac to show up. Her cousin has spent so many years ducking her invitations that she’s not sure why this time should be any different.

​But by some miracle, it is.

​"Loac," she states in surprise as the door finally swings open, eyes wide. "You came."

​Sure, he’s two hours late and he’s absolutely filthy, but he’s there , and suddenly that’s the only thing that matters.

​"Was I not supposed to?" he inquires, eyebrow raised as he waits for the servants at the door to step aside to let him in.

They both dip their heads to him as they duck aside, and that strikes Xena as quite odd.

It’s no great secret that the inhabitants of the castle tend not to afford her cousin the deference he deserved.

​"No, no, I was...just surprised," Xena assures him, ushering him towards her parlour where the table stands still dressed up and set for company.

The servants had twice tried to start clearing it –once after the first hour ticked by, and then again at the second, but she had insisted they leave it, just in case.

"I thought you...might’ve forgotten."

​"Ah, right," Loac remarks, slinging himself down into one of the seats with a sigh and making her handmaidens flinch as flecks of dirt scatter across her floor, "...I lost track of time."

​It’s more excuse than apology, but it makes Xena’s smile soften.

It was always his excuse when they were children; when he had been out playing too long and had missed or been late for something.

She wonders if it’s the same today.

​The servants start milling as she settles into her own seat across from him; ever hopeful, she had requested they prepare tea and afternoon snacks, but there seems to have been some sort of miscommunication with the kitchens because while they bring a pot of hot tea and a delicate tower of sweet treats for her, they set a tall mug of ale and a plate of what looks like some sort of bread in front of her cousin.

​She’s never seen such a thing.

It’s no longer steaming –probably on account of how long it’s been sitting, waiting –but it smells delicious.

It must be familiar to her cousin though, because while he looks surprised, he seems pleased, and eagerly takes off his gloves before reaching for one.