Kev sighed, a wave of mingled relief and anxiety washing over him. His secret was out there now, or at least, Horns knew. And Fang… Fang hadn't seemed to want to hide Kev's otherworldly origins from his Chief of Staff. Kev was still thankful that, despite the utter strangeness of it all, no one was treating his situation like a joke.
He put the player piano on, the cheerful notes of a jaunty tune filling the apartment, and set a kettle on the stove. He tidied up a bit, fluffing the couch cushions Horns had flattened and wiping down the coffee table. When he was in his bedroom, making his bed, a knock sounded at the door.
Kev opened it to find Max standing there. The foxman looked decidedly worse for wear, his usually neat fur slightly disheveled, and dark circles under his sharp eyes. Kev hadn't seen Max look like this before.
"Max, hey," Kev said, welcoming him in.
Max nodded, his movements a little sluggish. "Please tell me you have coffee," he said, his voice raspy.
Kev laughed. "I've got a kettle on. Go sit."
As Kev prepared the coffee, pouring the steaming water over fresh grounds, he asked, "Why are you doing three shifts in a row, Max?"
Max yawned, a wide, jaw-cracking sound. "Day shift is really slow," he replied, his words slightly slurred with fatigue. "I'm only here for the workers to report to at the start and end of their shifts. As long as you don't cause me any issues," he shot Kev a weary but playful glance, "I can survive."
Kev handed Max a mug of coffee. "Don't jinx us," he said with a grin.
Max took a deep, grateful sip of the coffee and sank back onto the couch. Kev sat in the armchair opposite him. "Is that really all you do every day?" Kev asked.
Max shook his head, taking another restorative gulp of coffee. "Of course not, kid. Cindy usually has a list of things left over from night shift. But since I worked last night, I already knew what needed doing when the day crew got here." Max took another sip and grinned, a flicker of his usual slyness returning. "I might have also told them there might be a surprise if no one bothers me today."
Kev raised an eyebrow. "Blackmailing them with parking spots now?"
Max finished his coffee and put the mug down before letting out another loud yawn. "We won't know if it will be approved until Fang wakes up," he said, stretching his arms wide, "so it's not technically blackmail."
Kev said, "Well, Horns isn't sleeping here today. If you don't want to be bothered, you can hang out up here today."
Max grinned, a tired but appreciative look in his eyes. "Don't tempt me," he said, rubbing his face. "If I fell asleep now, my sleep cycle will be all messed up... Better if I just push through..."
Kev leaned forward slightly. "A nap wouldn't hurt," he suggested gently. "I could get you up around lunchtime."
Max looked between the door and the couch, a visible struggle playing out on his tired features. "Well," he finally said, his voice laced with exhaustion, "the only one needing anything during the day is usually you... so..." Max yawned again, a long, drawn-out sound that seemed to sap the last of his energy. "I'm not imposing, am I?"
Kev smiled. "Of course not," he replied. "Let me just grab a few things, and I'll be back in a few hours." He walked over and shut the blinds, plunging the room into a dim, soothing twilight. He picked up his cigarette case and his guitar. Kev looked over to see Max, who had already curled up on the couch, his breathing already evening out into the soft rhythm of sleep. Kev smiled faintly and quietly let himself out of the apartment.
Kev strolled through the club, the morning sunlight warming the quiet interior. The usual nighttime thrum was replaced by a peaceful hush, broken only by the distant, rhythmic swish of brooms and the soft murmur of cleaners going about their duties. He passed several housekeepers, who all offered him polite nods. The respect was still a little surprising, a subtle shift from his first few uncertain days.
He let himself out into the bright backyard, the air already promising another warm day. The pool shimmered invitingly, and the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers hung sweetly in the air. Kev made his way to his favorite bench under the sprawling oak tree, its shade a welcome respite. He settled onto the cool iron, pulling out his cigarette case and lighting a smoke.
As he inhaled, a small, amused smile touched his lips. His apartment, his supposed private sanctuary, was quickly becoming the unofficial crash pad for his sleepy, overworked colleagues. First Horns, now Max. It was a bit silly, but he didn't really mind. In a strange way, it made him feel more connected, more a part of the quirky, loyal family that was Club Fang. And if it meant people like Horns and Max got some much-needed rest, then it was a small price to pay.
Kev played his guitar for a bit, the melodies weaving through the quiet morning air, a stark contrast to the usual vibrant chaos of the club. He was lost in a familiar tune, his fingers dancing across the strings, when a voice from the second story called down to him.
"Hey, skinny! Where's your bathing suit?"
Kev looked up to see Sabrina gazing down at him from an open hallway window. She lifted her large sunglasses and grinned at Kev, her expression full of playful mischief.
Kev waved and yelled up, "No swimming for me today! Forgot my trunks in my room."
Sabrina sighed dramatically, the sound carrying clearly through the still air. "Well, go get them, lazy!" she called back.
Kev sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Max is sleeping on my couch," he explained, his voice a bit louder now. "And I don't want to wake him up."
Sabrina gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in mock shock. "Ooooo!" she yelled down, her voice echoing across the backyard. "Another man asleep in your room? Such a naughty human!"
Kev yelled back, a playful grin spreading across his face, "Sounds like you're jealous!"
Sabrina let out a peal of laughter, her voice bright and clear. "Isn't Fang going to be the jealous one soon?" she shouted back, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Kev sighed and mumbled to himself, "It's not like I wouldn't rather it be Fang in my room."
Just then, Talon appeared in the window next to Sabrina. He looked down at the scene below, his sharp eyes assessing the situation. "Good morning, Kev," he said, his voice a low, even rasp that carried surprisingly well. "What are you two yelling about?"
Sabrina, with a dramatic flourish, declared, "The human is being naughty!"
Kev yelled up, "Max is taking a nap in my room! He's been working for over 24 hours straight!"
Talon nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Mr. Max has been very kind to us, Sabrina," he said, his voice a gentle reprimand.
Sabrina tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Then shouldn't you be the one he's sleeping with instead of the human?" she teased.
Kev sighed, a wave of exasperation washing over him. "I'm not sleeping with Max, Sabrina!" he yelled back, his voice laced with a hint of frustration.
Sabrina pointed her beak up into the air, a haughty gesture. "Ugh, you are so boring," she declared.
Talon shook his head, a faint smile playing on his beak. "Come up when you're done smoking," he said to Kev. "I'm going to change out of these swimming trunks then."
"You better have something for us to do, Kev!" Sabrina called out, her voice echoing across the backyard as Talon began to wheel her away from the window.
"I'll be up in a few, Talon!" Kev yelled back, watching as the two figures disappeared from view.
Kev packed up his guitar, the familiar weight of the case a comforting presence. He walked back into the club, the cool, dim interior a stark contrast to the bright, sun-drenched backyard. He worked his way through the winding hallways and rooms, his footsteps echoing softly on the polished floors, until he was back up on the quiet second floor. He walked down the carpeted hallway until he stood in front of Talon and Sabrina's door. Kev knocked.
After a moment, Talon opened the door. He was shirtless, his dark feathers gleaming faintly in the soft light from the hallway, his well-muscled chest and arms exposed. Kev blinked, momentarily surprised by the casual display. Talon, however, seemed completely unfazed. He welcomed Kev in with a nod.
Kev stepped inside, putting his guitar case down near the wall, and took a seat by the coffee table. Talon said, "Make yourself at home," before he went into his room to finish changing.
Kev waited for a few minutes, his gaze falling on the now-familiar "A Brief History of Dala'Bon" that sat on the table. He picked it up, idly flipping through the pages. His eyes quickly landed on a section detailing the geography of the world. He saw it clearly then – Dala'Bon was located on the mammal continent. A flush crept up his neck as he reprimanded himself for missing such a basic, crucial piece of information about his new home. It explained so much about the club's clientele, about Fang, about the casual references he hadn't quite understood.
Kev was still pondering how Fang's distant relative had managed to become president of the entire unified continent, and why Fang, a mammal, remained here on what was apparently the mammal continent, when Talon re-entered the living room. The eagleman was now dressed in comfortable, casual daytime clothes – a simple dark shirt and loose-fitting pants – his feathers neatly smoothed.
Sitting on the couch, Talon asked Kev, "Is there anything you need to do today?" his voice its usual low rasp.
Kev stretched, the movement pulling at the muscles in his back. "I just want to swing by Vlad's again to get a shave at some point," he replied, "but nothing other than that."
Talon nodded. "Sabrina asked about the show last night," he mentioned, a subtle shift in his tone that Kev couldn't quite decipher.
Kev raised an eyebrow. "Her too? I didn't think either of you would be the opera types."
Talon shrugged, his gaze distant for a moment. "We were brought along to see shows often before we moved to this city. I didn't appreciate them when I was younger."
Just then, Sabrina rolled out into the living room, clad in her usual comfortable attire of a large tee-shirt and leggings. "They are boring," she declared, her voice a cheerful chirp, "but anything is better than sitting in the dark trying to read by firelight."