Chapter 198 - 196: Bad Knee.

Chapter 198: Chapter 196: Bad Knee.

Rogard has always thought of himself as a lucky man; the kind of person that good things just naturally happened to.

All his life he’s been afforded the best accommodations, the fanciest food, the adoration of the prettiest women, and the admiration of those around him, so why shouldn’t he think as much?.

It’s certainly helped being rich and handsome and talented, because when you’re rich, talented, and handsome, after all, others seem to fall over themselves so much to accommodate your every whim that it seems almost effortless to get everything you want.

​But maybe he’s been wrong. Maybe luck had nothing to do with it, so much as the rich, and talented and handsome part, because there have been times lately that his luck has felt downright rotten .

​His ankle, for instance.

​It lets him down again. And right when he needs it.

Right when Montrel and Gandy bodily tear Khobi from the sparring ring for being a dirty hog –right when it’s finally his turn to face down Loac and pay him back for making such a fool of him in front of so many people –that’s when his ankle turns wrong and decides to give out on him again.

​It’s his own fault.

​He knew it wasn’t completely better but had put on a brave face and tested it anyways, because how could he sit idly by when the people around him were giving it their all and he desperately didn’t want to fall behind?

​The only silver lining is that he manages to catch himself on the fence before he falls.

​"Hey, Rogard, you good?" Khobi quits straining against Montrel just long enough to check in on him as he leans into the fence.

One look, and he knows, too.

​"I’m fine," Rogard lies, even as he blinks away tears of pain; his ankle burning and throbbing.

"I just –" He knows it won’t bear his weight but he tries it anyway, and has to grit his teeth around a cry of pain as it collapses out from under him.

" Fuck ." He can’t bring himself to look at Loac; can’t stand to see the kind of face he’s making, waiting for him in the ring.

The one day Loac graces them with his presence –his one chance –to redeem himself and this is what happens. First Khobi, and now again .

He can’t even remember the last time they fought each other like this, so there’s no way Loac remembers, either. It would’ve been his loss, though.

​He always lost to Loac back then.

​Dammit .

​"Hey Rogard, you idiot ," Montrel complains, hauling him out of the ring by the scruff of his shirt. "I thought we told you not to push it!"

It’s so undignified, and Rogard makes sure to squawk as much as is appropriate even though his heart’s not in it.

The pain in his ankle is like fire, but he refuses to cry. He always used to cry when he lost, and he doesn’t want Loac to think that he still does, even after all this time.

"You kids never did listen..."

​"...I’m not a kid," Rogard finds himself pouting, and both hates and is extremely grateful for the way Montrel ruffles his hair as he hooks an arm around him.

​"Sure you’re not," he snorts, and hoists him up enough that he can hobble away on his good leg.

"Hey, Jaga, make sure these slackers get to some actual drills sometime today!"

​"Careful Montrel, you’re almost sounding responsible!" Gandy hollers at their backs; Jaga with Khobi in a headlock to stop him trying to pounce back into the ring.

He’s dirty and scraped, and cut up pretty bad, and when he locks gazes with Rogard he stops struggling just long enough to send him a look of commiseration.

​Khobi gets it.

​But at least he got to fight Loac.

​" –Don’t worry," Montrel assures him as they stagger away, and gives him a nudge in the ribs as he looks back, like he can read his expression, too, "You’ll get your chance, too."

​Rogard does not share his optimism, and his face must say as much, because Montrel just shrugs as best he can with Rogard’s weight on him.

​"Just a hunch."

​The quickest path to the infirmary --because of course that’s where he’s headed, yet again --takes them right past one of Drogger’s favourite vantage points, and it’s testament to Rogard’s declining lucky streak that they have to go right by him.

​And he does not look pleased to see them.

​Specifically, he does not look pleased to see Rogard , and the way his expression darkens as they approach has the distinct aura of what’s he done this time ?

​"It’s his ankle again," Montrel explains automatically, as if that’s really necessary.

​"I can see that," Drogger replies stonily, and then some of the storm fades from his expression as he sighs.

Rogard doesn’t think he’s imagining the softness in his voice as he adds, "I thought you said you were fine."

​He’s worried.

​He always worries about him.

​Rogard feels a rush of affection for the man.

And then a wave of guilt, for deceiving him.

​"It was fine," Rogard insists, and withers as those grey eyes immediately see straight through him, "...Mostly."

​"... Mostly ," Drogger echoes heavily, arms crossed and fingers digging into his biceps, "You were under strict orders to rest ."

​"And let Khobi have all the fun?"

​Drogger and Montrel exchange a look.

​Both of them roll their eyes.

​"Don’t worry, Captain, I’ll get him to the infirmary," Montrel assures him, and gives him a tug to get him moving again.

Rogard resists the urge to pout; he would’ve much preferred if Drogger was the one to take him, but he knows that he can’t always drop everything to check in on him.

​"Make sure you do," Drogger tells him firmly, and Rogard jumps a little as a hand claps down on his shoulder.

Drogger gives him an even look, eyes soft, and squeezes lightly. "Be more careful, Rogard."

​"I will be, master~"

​They both know it’s a lie.

​Even Montrel could tell that.