As the sermon cameto an end and most of the attendees left to ponder on their guilt,Brother Magnus Dexblik, Holy Priest of The Light, tapped a stack ofpamphlets on the podium. He glanced up, scanning the rows of emptychairs. Well, mostly empty. In the backmost row, Gaztonne sat, foldedback over the chair in which he resided, absolutely asleep; and dueto the odd, upside-down position of his head, snoring rather loudly.The priest sighed. That wasn’t who he had hoped to seelingering behind.
Magnus gathered hisbelongings, heading through the chairs towards the door, but pausedat Gaz’s seat. His nose crinkled in derision—what a failed attemptat goblin life. One thick leg lifted from the floor, shoving againstthe chair such that it fell backward with a loud clatter and astartled noise from the once-sleeping rogue, who now scrambled aboutthe polished tile floor in confusion. As he gathered himself Gaz shota humored look at the priest, standing and brushing himself off witha sniff.
“What was thatfor?” he asked with a snicker.
“Go sleep in thebunkhouse—HQ is not an inn, you trash,” Magnus spat.
“But this is theonly place I can get any sleep,” Gaztonne said with a creepy grin.“Your preachin’s like a lullaby, calm an’ so booooooooooooring.”
He’d hardly finisheddroning his last word before a fist met his cheek in a swift punch,sending him stumbling back into the chairs while laughing. Magnusdidn’t bother speaking further to the rogue—he wasn’t worth theeffort. Nobody was. This world was full of useless, unworthy garbage.
Haughty stridesbrought Magnus to the door, which he threw open unceremoniouslybefore beginning the trek down the long hall that led to the exits.Fuming would be an understatement—oh, how he despised the mafia andall its despicable underlings and their lack of morals, gratitude,common courtesy. Oh, how he hated them. ALL of them!
“Priesty!”
Well, maybe not allof them.
Dr. Bazlee, theFamily general care and surgeon, came running down the hall, stoppingshort in front of Magnus. The redheaded mage’s shoes squeaked againstthe tile, but its recently-polished nature didn’t lend much fortraction, and he slid right into Magnus with a soft thud. The prieststood firm, catching the man with one arm before he could fall.Bazlee laughed into his chest.
“Sorry, woah. Thatwas fun!” He was released and backed up a step, peering up atMagnus with brows knit in apparent worry.
“Looks like Imissed it, huh? I’m sorry, I was gonna come, really, I know Ipromised; but I went to put my shoes on an’ whaddya know, they werefull'a pudding! Figure it wasone of ol’ Dice’s little pranks, but it took a while to clean n'bythe time I’d got it done, someone came in with a knife wound from abarfight an'—“
Magnusstared quietly as the doctor babbled on with his excuses, lips pulledtaut in a strict scowl. Eventually he reached up, placing his fingersagainst the man’s lips, which cut himshort as he blinked down atthe hand.
“It’salright, really,” Magnus said, smiling. “No need to apologize;you’ve done nothing wrong.”
Bazleegrinned, looping an arm behind the larger man and leading him downthe hall to the exit.
“Lemmemake it up to ya, huh, Priesty? Spaghetti at my place, yeah?Meatballs an’ the whole deal.”
“Soundslovely, doctor,” Magnus responded, his own arm resting itself overthe other’s shoulders.
“An’th’ Gearburns specialfor dessert, right?” Bazlee tossed a devious sideways glance at thepriest, playful grin tugging at his lips. Magnus returned the lookwith a smirk, brows raised.
“Ifyou’re certain,” he said, red-violet eyes taking in the face he’dmissed during the sermon. The only face that he cared about besidehis own and perhaps The Boss's… such a devilishly handsome face.
Hepaused in his steps, Bazlee halting too and giving him an inquiringglance. The glance was short-lived, however, melting away into apleased closing of eyes as he reciprocated a kiss that pressed itselfinto his lips suddenly.
Exaggeratedkissy noises and a snicker from behind them broke the moment early.
“Geta rooooooom,” Gaz called down the hall from the doorway of the roomin which the sermon had been held. “HQ is not an inn,you grossies.”
