Chapter 494 - 495: Stranger .

Chapter 494: Chapter 495: Stranger .

In having been ambushed, he’d almost completely forgotten about wanting to send a round over to the Captains, so Khobi finds himself lingering at the bar a little longer than he’d originally intended while he goes through the process again of trying to catch a barmaid’s eye. Once again, it doesn’t prove too difficult of a task, but before he manages to make his return to his companions, he begins to get the sense that he’s being watched. In a crowded room it’s not so strange for eyes to wander, but there’s something about the weight of certain gazes that feels intentional; something that makes the hair on the back of Khobi’s neck prickle. Strangely, this doesn’t feel malicious --just there --just a set of heavy eyes marking his presence there at the bar and lingering, and when Khobi turns to scan the tavern for its source, the man he finds peering back at him makes no effort to disguise that he’d been watching.

In fact, he seems pleased that he noticed, and the moment Khobi’s eyes touch down on him, the Captain of Nahja pushes off the wall and starts moving through the crowd towards the bar; or rather, it feels a little as if the crowd moves for him.

Like how rivers eventually flow to the sea, the current of drunkards leads them here, so Khobi waits.

"...I’ll have one of whatever he’s having," the guy tells the nearest barmaid the moment he draws up next to Khobi. How a space opened up so easily when the bar had been packed fit to bursting only moments ago, Khobi has no idea. Perhaps it’s a Captain thing. He doesn’t know that many, but all the ones he does carry themselves with a certain gravity that seems to affect them differently than the world around them. The guy even throws in a sly wink with his order that has every barmaid in the vicinity --and a couple of the bartenders --double-taking.

Honestly? A reasonable reaction.

"...It’s you," Khobi states dimly by way of greeting.

"It’s me," the Captain replies easily, feline smile curling up his face as he leans on the bar, "Although to be honest, I don’t believe we’ve ever been officially introduced."

Ah.

No, they haven’t, have they?

Flexing at each other from a distance can hardly be called an introduction, is it?

"...Khobi Frost," Khobi offers, figuring he owes him this much at least. Khojin had been on good terms with the guy, after all, "Nice to uh, meet you, I guess?"

"Oh, believe me," the guy replies lightly; the airy cadence of his voice matching the foggy memories of the drunk theatrics of the Captain Khobi remembers ogling that night down the plains. And been ogled by, for that matter. Still being ogled by, it would seem; if the way the Captain’s sharp eyes dip is anything to go by, tracing him head to toe and back again in the blink of an eye. "The pleasure is all mine~" The playful lilt to his voice causes Khobi to raise an eyebrow, but the Captain’s smile remains curled in place, like it was intentional.

In a way Khobi’s kinda glad he’s stumbled upon the guy --or been hunted out, more likely --at the very least he owes him his thanks for getting his family here safe and sound.

"All part of the service," the Captain replies with a small shrug, when Khobi does just that. Because of where they are he doesn’t explicitly state what it is he’s thankful for, but he gets the feeling that he knows. He seems like a sharp guy, after all. Almost concerningly so. "It was no trouble at all~ Apart from the bandits and spies and everything. Nothing we couldn’t handle." He pauses, head cocked as he considers him, "...But that doesn’t mean I won’t let you buy me a drink for my efforts."

With a shrug, Khobi obligingly pushes a couple of coins across the bar. It’s the least he can do for the guy, really.

"Better late than never," the guy chuckles, as an ale comes sliding down to meet him, and flashes him a wink that Khobi would be stupid to interpret as anything other than flirtatious as he glances at the full mug already in his hand, "...Will you let me buy your next one? I never did get around to buying you one last time I was here."

There’s something about the guy’s tone that gives Khobi the distinct impression that he wouldn’t mind picking up where they left off the last time he was here, and the Captain must glean something from his hesitation because he chuckles wryly as he hooks his drink up off the bar.

"Ah," he hums, eyebrow raised as he shoots him a knowing sidelong look, "...That is, unless you’re spoken for...?" A little taken aback by his candour and his directness, Khobi mulls over the phrase; doesn’t have enough time to properly digest or provide an answer to it because that’s when Loac materialises at his side, slinging an arm around his shoulder and setting himself firmly between the pair of them.

"Hey, what’s takin’ so long?" he complains, barging right up in Khobi’s space; close enough that they’re practically cheek to cheek.

"... I see ," the guy says evenly; a look of understanding crossing his expression as he raises his drink in greeting, "Long time to see, Loac~"

"...Who are you?" Loac deadpans smoothly, and the Captain chuckles, like he’s entirely unsurprised by the lukewarm reception.

"Fun as always," the Captain grins airily, and then raises both hands in surrender, "Sorry, sorry, didn’t mean to step on any toes." Despite his amicable tone, Loac’s glare doesn’t ease up. If anything, it darkens.

"... So stop stepping ."

"Hey, what’s gotten into you?" Khobi scoffs, giving Loac a light nudge and a glare to tell him to stop being such a dick. He’s not sure what to make of the cool way Loac’s eyeing the guy.

"Ah well~" The Captain slaps a couple of gold down on the counter and two cold ales slide over. Khobi immediately starts to protest but the guy dismisses him with a wave. "No, no, I said I’d buy. Have a round on me." Some of his earlier flirtatiousness has waned, but not all of it.

"It’s gross when you act nice," Loac growls, eyes narrowed and the arm around Khobi’s shoulders slipping to loop around his waist. Clearly he doesn’t trust the gesture. For some reason.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," the Captain remarks lightly, hand pressed over his chest like he’s aghast at the insinuation, "I’m always this nice~"

Immediately, Khobi feels like he’s missing something.

"Do you two...know each other or something?" he inquires suspiciously, glancing from one to the other, and then back.

"You could say that we’re...loosely acquainted," the Captain offers cheerfully, eyes twinkling mischievously, and where most men would falter under Loac’s icy expression, he meets it with a measure of amusement. Honestly, Khobi’s a little impressed. "Enjoy your night, Khobi Frost. And if you change your mind about that drink ..." He flashes Khobi a meaningful wink, and gives him a light once-over as he hefts up his drink, voice dipping as he leans forward to add, eyes gleaming, "...Feel free to bring Loac."

Khobi almost chokes on his drink, but there’s no misinterpreting the slower, heavier way he checks him out as he backs off to let the crowd swallow him up. Nor of the way he does the same to Loac.