Chapter 435: Other Reasons.

Chapter 435: Chapter 435: Other Reasons.

The atmosphere in Drogger’s office that morning hadn’t been particularly cheery to begin with, but the moment the door closes behind Rogard it turns decidedly frosty.

Not that Loac cares; slurping up his food and messily enjoying every mouthful while Vogrid looks on with his legs crossed, arms folded, and his nose turned up in disgust.

​"...I’d offer you some, but I don’t want to," Loac states dryly, catching his eyes on him. Predictably, Vogrid just scoffs and looks away, disinterested.

He shrugs. More for him.

​It’s fucking good , too. He’ll have to make sure Khobi makes it again someday.

​"Yo, Vogrid," he remarks conversationally, obnoxiously scraping out the pot to make sure he gets every last drop and celebrating when he finds a bit of meat he’d missed on his last helping.

And then even when the bowl’s empty he keeps going, deliberately winding the tension in Vogrid’s shoulders tighter with every grating scrape.

​" What ."

​Unperturbed by the irritated tone, Loac savours his last mouthful. "...S’just something Drogger mentioned the other day."

​"I didn’t take you for the type to listen to gossip," Vogrid retorts haughtily. Loac’s expression doesn’t shift.

They both know that Drogger isn’t the type to gossip.

​"...You remember Binny, right?" he continues casually, ignoring the way Vogrid’s eyebrow twitches as his spoon screeches against the walls of his empty bowl.

When they were younger, he would’ve snatched the bowl away from him and told him to mind his manners. None of that here today.

Loac wonders how long he’d have to keep it up before he snapped. "...From when we were kids?"

​Vogrid’s lips thin. "I remember."

​’Course you do.

​Loac wishes he had some ale. Or maybe some bread.

Those would’ve gone real good with the stew. Khobi’s gonna be so pissed if he complains that it didn’t come with any, so he makes a mental note to tell him so.

​"...You heard he was recommended for the guard?"

​"I did."

​Almost uncomfortably full, Loac sets his plate back down on the tray; careful not to spill a drop on Drogger’s floor.

Prince or not, he doesn’t wanna find out what’ll happen if he does.

He probably shouldn’t have eaten as much as he did, but it’s hard not to when Khobi’s cooking is so good.

Hopefully Rogard keeps Drogger occupied for a while yet; he could do with a nap and it’d be better to slip one in before he gets back.

​"...Drogger said you were the one who put his name forward," he remarks conversationally, sinking down into his chair and stretching out to get a little more comfortable. In contrast, Vogrid stiffens.

​"And what of it?" he inquires, eyes narrowing. Loac just shrugs. He doesn’t really care either way; unlike some, he doesn’t make a habit of getting in other peoples’ business.

​(It’d be nice if they’d do him the same courtesy.)

​"...Just thought it was interesting, is all."

​He doesn’t ask why and Vogrid doesn’t offer an explanation.

And even if that wasn’t classic Vogrid, he doesn’t need to explain himself. Binny’s always been handy with a blade; matter of fact, Loac probably should’ve recommended him himself. Oops.

​"...And even knowing that, you didn’t reject it?" Vogrid says after a long moment, and Loac cracks an eye to find him resolutely staring down an empty wall, expression pinched.

​"Why would I do that?" Loac snorts with an eye roll. It’s a little insulting that Vogrid would think he’d be that petty, even though he can be.

"He’ll make a better guard than half those jokers."

​Vogrid raises an eyebrow at that. "I was under the impression they were your friends." Loac makes a sound that’s neither here nor there.

​"...Doesn’t mean they’re not jokers," he snorts, shrugging as he spares a sidelong glance across the room at him, "’Sides, I always liked Binny.

Me an’ him always got along." The old nickname makes Vogrid’s eye twitch. "...Not as good as you an’ him though.

Guy seriously thought the sun shone out your ass."

​Vogrid’s expression darkens.

​"Not me," Loac makes sure to clarify, "I always knew you had a stick up there instead."

​"...He didn’t put me up to it, if that’s what you’re implying," Vogrid says flatly, ignoring that last comment. It wasn’t. Binny wouldn’t do something like that.

It’s one of the reasons he and Loac got along when they were kids. "...He doesn’t know I recommended him." The admission seems to pain him, or maybe he just doesn’t like asking Loac for favours.

Because sometimes you had to read between the lines with Vogrid, and Loac’s pretty sure he’s just asked him not to tell. Hard to know, though.

​Binny would know.

​"Dunno why you wouldn’t tell him that sort of thing," Loac scoffs, head lolling back so he can stare up at the roof.

It’d be better if he could see the sky. Napping in the sun is the best, but it’s something he’s found himself doing less of these days.

He’s got other things to do instead. Better things, would you believe.

​Vogrid scoffs; a derisive snort of disbelief. "Are you really in any position to lecture me about words left unsaid?"

​Just like that, Loac’s eyes snap away from the ceiling and across the room to lock with Vogrid’s icy green.

​Does he –

​But before he can demand just what exactly that’s supposed to mean , the door swings open and a decidedly less grim-looking Drogger strides back into the room.

It’s short lived though; he reads the tension in the room and his good mood evaporates instantaneously.

​"Glad to see you two are getting along," he remarks dryly, deliberately striding between them to block the icy daggers they’re glaring at one another.

It does little to dissolve the tension but serves as an unwelcome reminder that they still have work to do. "Shall we get back to it?"

​" Let’s ," Vogrid grimaces, at the same time as Loac complains, " –I didn’t even get a nap."

​"...This is why we never got along," Vogrid mutters, but under his breath so Drogger won’t have a reason to snap at him.

​"Aw, c’mon," Loac snorts, stretching out and then dropping into a slouch because he knows it’ll piss him off, "...I’m sure there’s other reasons."