Chapter 223 - 221: Watch.

Chapter 223: Chapter 221: Watch.

​" Hey, that’s not what’s happening ."

​...It’s a little bit what’s happening.

Rogard’s been paying close attention. Although, credit to Khobi, he’s making Loac work for it.

And beating him too some of the time. Which is more than can be said for his own track record against Loac.

​The bickering continues all the way to the training grounds, by which point Khobi isn’t so much slung around Rogard as being physically restrained by him.

It’s no mean feat; Khobi was already ridiculously strong to begin with, and it seems his time spent training with real soldiers has only made him stronger.

​When they arrive, Loac is already there, lounging on the steps looking disinterested in the world around him; soldiers greeting each other and taking the opportunity to catch up before Drogger calls them to arms.

A couple come over to their little band, interested in hearing what their plans are for the coming days, and whether or not they’re headed out on assignment any time soon.

One of the taverns down in the city has started serving imported ale, and every soldier and his mistress wants to get a taste before it dries up for the winter.

​No one goes up to Loac.

​And no one else seems to notice.

​Rogard supposes it’s not his business. Loac has always done as he likes.

​Montrel and Khobi are making their usual din, and it draws the attention of the other soldiers as they troop down into the training grounds.

Drogger and Ynoro are in uniform and in intense discussion at the bottom of the stairs, a wad of papers being passed between them.

Ynoro, usually so nonplussed, looks a little perplexed, although he makes some effort to conceal as much as they pass them by.

​Drogger looks good .

​"You’re all on time," Drogger observes stonily, eyebrows raised as at the miracle, "...I guess there’s a first time for everything."

Rogard’s certain that his eyes drift to him as he says that, and feels his cheeks start to colour.

There’s nothing for him to burn his mouth on this time.

​(Except maybe Drogger’s skin.)

​He pushes the thought away.

With difficulty.

​Okay, so maybe he’s never been the actor he thought he was, but he’s fucked and been fucked before and he’s certain he used to be able to play it cooler than this.

​"Morning, Rogard," Drogger greets somewhat unnecessarily, for the second time today.

The first time had been with a kiss, and an offhand comment about the state of his hair.

​Whose fault was it that it was like that ?

​Whose fault ?

​"Good morning, master~" Rogard chirps back cheerfully, and can’t help the way he self-consciously smoothes back his hair. It still isn’t sitting right.

​Drogger’s eyes track the movement.

So Rogard does it again, and is quite satisfied when he coughs, and looks away.

It’s nice to know he’s not the only one who’s affected.

​It’s less nice to find Khobi staring at him wearing a weird look.

​He’s the only one though, and Rogard’s not sure if that makes it more or less troubling.

​...

​It’s totally not like Khobi missed having Rogard to train with, but he’s certainly glad to have him back.

The other soldiers are fun and all and knock him around a fair amonut, but there’s always been something different about when he gets to square up against Rogard, and that hasn’t changed in his time off.

He’s still a little unsteady on his feet though; enough that Khobi doesn’t even have to go all out to beat him this time, but it’s by no means an easy fight and he still manages to bully most of the other soldiers around the sparring ring like he hasn’t been away a day.

​Mural makes him sit out the hand to hand combat though, much to the disgust of everyone who had lost to him on his first day back; all having been really looking forward to watching him get cracked over Jaga’s knee like dry kindling.

​They watch it happen to Khobi instead though, and seem content enough with that.

​Soldiers are awfully fickle like that.

​He’s glad he’d kept his bulky furs.

They made it harder to move but the extra padding was necessary when fighting Jaga. He gets his ass handed to him several times a week by the guy and he’s pretty confident –and grateful –that he’s never even used his full strength.

​On account of him probably being able to break him in half.

​He doesn’t win or lose so much as Jaga decides that they’ve both done enough damage to each other for one day, so he’s already aching and warm by the time Loac steps in to take his turn.

He’s the logical opponent; he’s currently the only one who hasn’t tapped out. Unarmed combat is no one’s favourite –it’s nowhere near as glamorous as swordplay, and usually ends up being messier and more painful –but Drogger insists, so they comply.

​(Half of it is about knowing how to take a punch, or so Montrel likes to say.)

​Khobi doesn’t mind being his opponent. He prefers sparring for sure, but he’s punched –and been punched by –Loac a bunch of times before. In this ring, too.

​It’s always dead even. Even though Loac’s got a heavy lead over him in turns of overall win percentage, one on one and fist on fist, they’re practically tied.

​Hot despite the cool air out, Khobi sheds a couple of his bulkiest layers. It’ll hurt more if he gets hit this way, but he’ll need to be able to move better if he stands any chance of winning this one.

​Loac’s looking warmed up, too.

Montrel didn’t hold back. Unlike Jaga, he rarely shows restraint. Particularly when it comes to Loac.

​He spits out a mouthful of blood, and runs his tongue across his teeth to check if any of them are loose.

Arms folded, Khobi waits impatiently for him to finish, fighting the subconscious urge to mirror him. Jaga did get him pretty hard.

Some of the soldiers –the ones who haven’t shipped themselves or been shipped off to the infirmary, are settling in on the sidelines.

It’s always like this whenever Khobi and Loac are facing each other down; even the soldiers Khobi doesn’t know and the ones who don’t like him take it in turns to come and watch.