Home: A Family In Need.
“I can smell that candy on your breath from over here.”
The voice chimed in from the shadows out of nowhere, seemingly surrounding what had been the pudged up blond who had still been licking a bit of taffy that was stubbornly stuck within a fang. Jack paused the futile attempts to wedge the gooey treat free and glanced around, ears perked in alert.
As a mystical feline of a far off book would have done, shadows evaporated from a figure that had rested himself within the doorway, arms folded over tight leathers and adorned weaponry. The crimson hue peered at Jack with a collected gaze, his face still forever hidden behind long bangs and a damaged mask.
“Kit!” Jack all but squeaked in excitement, dropping the bucket of candy that had been resting on his lap, wrappers everywhere around him. He hadn’t even taken Darnath’s warnings in not eating too much candy and inwardly he knew he would regret it -- but not for the moment!
Upon the nickname used, Lokitan nodded his head lightly in greeting, letting dark lashes fall over the reddened eye. “You must have been out Trick or Treating, hn?”
“Dar took me! It was a lot of fun, stole a lot of candy, some people even turned us into little cursed creatures while we were trying to run away. Care for some?”
“You know I don’t eat sweets...” The Rogue ever so subtly shifted his frame, but it was enough to keep the Mage’s attention completely. “Still a kid at heart, you’ll never grow up, hn?”
“Well... Not on Halloween or Christmas, no. If you keep being this serious all the time, you’re going to die before you even hit four.”
“Three is enough... I can barely stomach the idea of nine.” The shadowed dragon that still continued to watch smirked faintly and shook his head -- the hand that was nothing more than infinite-coloured claws waved Jackary off in a teasing fashion. “Eternity is simply not my thing anymore.”
Jackary stared for a long moment, the words allowed his decorated audits to fall back in thought. Lips parted, wanting to say something, but he pursed his lips instead, wetting them to stall. “Something’s on your mind.... You don’t ever venture out of your War Table unless you’re on an issued mission or something is wrong.”
Caught red-handed, Lokitan blinked briefly, lofting his pierced brow before a soft sigh escaped. His body even slouched against the door frame. “Never could keep anything from you, hn?”
“Is this about your ex?” Straight to the point, the Mage shifted almost uncomfortably at the topic, for what good as he at relationship advice? “I saw him in Silvermoon.. I mean I know you got my letter, but have you, like... y’know... Seen him?”
“Mm....” Loki’s attention lowered to the floor a moment to gather his thoughts, even daring to chew absently at the scar along his hidden lip.The smaller male found himself doing everything he could to avoid eye contact with the Emerald across the room.
Jack wilted further upon watching the quiet male, daring to finally take a few steps towards him. “Oh, Kit...” What else was he to do? What else could he say? The dragon stopped near his cousin, refusing to touch him just yet as hands rubbed together, fidgeting at the awkward tension suddenly filling his home.
Lokitan was quick to shake his head, refusing to lift his gaze in quiet fear that the hurt feeling that twisted his stomach would show in the thin-slitted hues. “It’s fine.”
“Not if you’re showing up at my house at three in the morning.”
“It’s different now, Jack. We’re both different... Not the same foolish drakes we used to be. He’s got his own concerns, I have my own damned army to--”
“Stop.” Jack narrowed his eye and reached over, finally snagging the tiny Rogue firmly into his arms. Nuzzling at his family, more so atop the dark locks of hair, a faint whimper dared to escape. “Have you told him?”
“No,” came the soft answer from the normally stoic man. Arms finally lifted to hug firmly onto the taller dragon, allowing Loki to simply hide against Jack’s chest. “I’m not sure I can...”
Jack frowned a bit more, nodding lightly before hands began to soothe along the familiar leather of his cousin. “I understand... Well uh! We have a guest bedroom, if you like? I’m sure Dar ‘n Az wouldn’t mind you staying the night?”
There was no answer for the moment, instead all Loki could give was a small nod. It had been along time since Jack had babied his younger cousin or taken care of him and it had likely been a sight to see him coddle a male over a foot shorter than he was.
“Mm! I can force-feed you candy!”
“That’s disgusting.”