Malik felt unbelievably tired when he he went up to the door and knocked. As he waited he ran his hand along his jaw, feeling the familiar stubble of a day old shave. He was so tired. It had taken a bit longer to get home than it had to actually get out to the Rift and now Malik just wanted to sleep. He couldn’t though because whenever he closed his eyes phantoms were projected on his eyelids. It was either that last glimpse he’d had of Altair or the day they’d crossed the fence. They’d been all happy to almost be home, just a few more days when Parker had noticed them.
Five of them standing in the distance like pure white sentinels against the gray-yellow sand and dirt. Their forms had been a bit hazy in the heat but they all knew what they were looking at: Rifters. Even from the distance Malik could make out their white hoods and red sashes which stood out against the background and he repressed a shiver. They’d been following them the entire time and only now had they decided to show themselves, just like the brothers had said.
“Fuck me,” Night had muttered staring at them. “Lets go before they decide to climb the fence,” and they’d left.
That had been five days ago and now Malik was back in the capital of his own home and fighting his body’s urge to become horizontal. He’d been glad to be home when he first reached it and had showered off two weeks of filth and sand and dirt and shaved off the beard he was cultivating. That had been yesterday though and he hadn’t slept last night.
Finally the door in front of him opened and Salai’s curious eyes met his striking immediately into worry. “Hello Salai,” he said softly swaying a little from fatigue. Not only had he not slept last night but he hadn’t slept very well at all on the way back or since they’d left the Rift. “Is Leo home?” Salai nodded, “May I come in?” again Salai nodded and quickly pulled him inside, ushering him to the living room where Leo was as well as two people Malik recognized and disliked at least one of them with a passion.
Salai cleared his throat loudly and drew everyone’s attention. “Haven’t you taught that pet of yours not to interrupt?” one of them asked and Malik glared at him.
“This pet is announcing Leo’s best friend’s presence, so kindly keep your thoughts to yourself Lorenzo,” he spat, even though he had nothing against the man the other pissed him off enough for the both of them.
“Malik please,” Leo jumped to his feet to went to him, “I am sorry Lorenzo, please excuse my friend, he’s just returned from a very long trip.”
“Oh he has?” William asked raising his brows at him, “It must have been quite a trip if he wasn’t even there for his friend’s grand opening,” he sneered and Malik refrained the urge to punch him in the face. William Montferrat was one of the most well known kennel owners in the entire trade. He owned more kennels than anyone and Malik enjoyed destroying his the most, and it had nothing to do with the fact that his parents had originally sold him to a Montferrat kennel.
“If you’ll excuse me gentlemen,” and Leo dragged him away. “Malik what is the matter with you?” he hissed once they were out of ear shot, “Those men are my guests and my patrons.”
“I’m sorry Leo,” he said tiredly, and for a moment Leo seemed to be about to smile, “but I could care less.” Leo’s brow furrowed with an upset frown.
“What’s gotten into you?” he demanded softly.
“I’m tired,” he sighed.
“Then go home and sleep,” Leo said almost scolding him. Then Malik’s face fell, “Malik? Is something wrong?” and he gave a little startled yelp when Malik hugged him tightly. “Malik?” he asked now sounding very worried when Malik pressed his face into his shoulder
“I’m glad to be home,” Malik said wondering why his words tasted so incredibly sour.
Clipped (20a/?)
Five of them standing in the distance like pure white sentinels against the gray-yellow sand and dirt. Their forms had been a bit hazy in the heat but they all knew what they were looking at: Rifters. Even from the distance Malik could make out their white hoods and red sashes which stood out against the background and he repressed a shiver. They’d been following them the entire time and only now had they decided to show themselves, just like the brothers had said.
“Fuck me,” Night had muttered staring at them. “Lets go before they decide to climb the fence,” and they’d left.
That had been five days ago and now Malik was back in the capital of his own home and fighting his body’s urge to become horizontal. He’d been glad to be home when he first reached it and had showered off two weeks of filth and sand and dirt and shaved off the beard he was cultivating. That had been yesterday though and he hadn’t slept last night.
Finally the door in front of him opened and Salai’s curious eyes met his striking immediately into worry. “Hello Salai,” he said softly swaying a little from fatigue. Not only had he not slept last night but he hadn’t slept very well at all on the way back or since they’d left the Rift. “Is Leo home?” Salai nodded, “May I come in?” again Salai nodded and quickly pulled him inside, ushering him to the living room where Leo was as well as two people Malik recognized and disliked at least one of them with a passion.
Salai cleared his throat loudly and drew everyone’s attention. “Haven’t you taught that pet of yours not to interrupt?” one of them asked and Malik glared at him.
“This pet is announcing Leo’s best friend’s presence, so kindly keep your thoughts to yourself Lorenzo,” he spat, even though he had nothing against the man the other pissed him off enough for the both of them.
“Malik please,” Leo jumped to his feet to went to him, “I am sorry Lorenzo, please excuse my friend, he’s just returned from a very long trip.”
“Oh he has?” William asked raising his brows at him, “It must have been quite a trip if he wasn’t even there for his friend’s grand opening,” he sneered and Malik refrained the urge to punch him in the face. William Montferrat was one of the most well known kennel owners in the entire trade. He owned more kennels than anyone and Malik enjoyed destroying his the most, and it had nothing to do with the fact that his parents had originally sold him to a Montferrat kennel.
“If you’ll excuse me gentlemen,” and Leo dragged him away. “Malik what is the matter with you?” he hissed once they were out of ear shot, “Those men are my guests and my patrons.”
“I’m sorry Leo,” he said tiredly, and for a moment Leo seemed to be about to smile, “but I could care less.” Leo’s brow furrowed with an upset frown.
“What’s gotten into you?” he demanded softly.
“I’m tired,” he sighed.
“Then go home and sleep,” Leo said almost scolding him. Then Malik’s face fell, “Malik? Is something wrong?” and he gave a little startled yelp when Malik hugged him tightly. “Malik?” he asked now sounding very worried when Malik pressed his face into his shoulder
“I’m glad to be home,” Malik said wondering why his words tasted so incredibly sour.