I behaved myself and gave X’rahdis some space for over a whole week. I didn’t visit him again, didn’t hang around at our usual meet up spot near the tavern and didn’t contact him in any other way. It’s not that I don’t have anything to do in the meantime. Paperwork, customers, lists, appointments… I had chosen this life all those years ago and so far have not regretted it.

But after that week I at least checked the training grounds of the Arena if X’rahdis showed up. After full three more days he did and I just watched from afar how he fared. He looked better again. His leg not bothering him anymore, or maybe he just didn’t show it like so often.

I thought about his angry reaction when I had cancelled the fights for him. To be honest, I had expected he would thank me for this favour but of course the loss of control was the only thing he could see. In a way I understood him. Ul’dah’s is a beast with a great maw that will swallow you when you don’t learn to pull its teeth. And even then it might still take a bite.

         *“You don’t own me, Demjin.”*

Of course I did not and I just hoped X’rahdis had not seen how this sentence… this accusation had struck me. I don’t want to own anyone. And definitely don’t want to be owned ever again.

I subconsciously touched the scar on my chin as my feet carried me towards the quiet middleclass neighboorhood. I found my mind had wandered quite often to X’rahdis these past days. Too often. And mostly to his body but also to our last conversation and the realization that I know so very little about him.

He was still owing me an answer.

I was lucky the lower door was still unlocked at this late hour and so I just entered the apartement building where he lived. I heard noises up the stairs, a door closing and then a Highlander lad crossed paths with me on the stairs. I knew him from somewhere and for a strange long second our eyes locked as if he had the same thoughts. He was at my age, tall, handsome… I had seen him in the arena a couple of times, I remembered as he passed me. What was he doing here?

I shortly looked back but he just went down the stairs with a light step and was gone.

My ears moved contemplating and felt something in my gut I couldn’t name. With a shrug I went up until X’rahdis’s door and knocked.

He was still awake, as I had assumed, and that grump that crept into his face the second he recognized me was hilarious.

“Don’t you dare crushing my foot again.” I said dryly and already pushed said foot forward like a statement, so that he wouldn’t be able to close the door on me again.

He wore comfortable long dark pants and a red top, his hair looking a bit disheveled as if he had just woken up or… wait.

“How sad you haven’t forgotten my adress by now.” he said casually but at least let me enter without any discussion.

His appartement looked like last time: Boring.

But I immediatly recognized an unfamiliar scent lingering here. Like a cologne or perfume. Was that from the highlander guy I just met on the stairs here? And if so, why did it bother me?

“Checking on one of your investments, hm?” came from the tall Miqo’te in an amused tone as he went to at least clear the couch table of some glasses and a plate and put them in the tiny kitchen sink while I kept standing near the door, eyeing him curiously. By Azeyma, how I have missed hearing his voice.

“Yeah, like I said. You better kick some asses in the arena again before becoming too lazy. I saw you at least picked up your training again. Who was that guy I saw on the stairs? Did you have a visitor?” I just casually added the questions, my hands in my pockets and doing two slow steps more into the room.

“Believe it or not, you’re not the only one caring about me.” X’rahdis said as he returned from the pathetic kitchen corner.

Caring. Without even thinking about it, my gaze quickly searched his face and body for… signs. Then I just casually looked over the couch but it looked as ever, just a folded blanket on one corner. Wait… the bedroom? That unknown feeling pulsed in my guts again and I grimaced it away, turning to X’rahdis once more and smirked. ”Oh of course. The arena buddies patting themselves on the backs. Did he bring you some salves for your bruises?” I chuckled, stood before the taller man and observed his face that had been a beaten and blue thing just a couple of days ago. But he definitely looked better again. More alive.

“Maybe. And you? What do you wanna bring me this time? Plan C?” His orange eyes lit up a bit. That confidence and sass back. Wonderful.