Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 5)

"Good." Gaius glanced between Zander and his brother expectantly, and Tomhas rose, tapping Zander's shoulder.
"Good to see you looking better," he said with a small smile. "Hope you're up and about in time for the ride home!"
"So do I." Gaius didn't relish the thought of riding home with his leg the way it was. It hurt on the way here; he wasn't looking forward to the trip back.

Zander also stood up and nodded to him, silently agreeing with the sentiment. He already seemed like a grouch; how much more so would he be if he was in pain the entire two weeks?

"I'll be down for lunch," Sara told Tomhas as she saw them to the door, then lowered her voice. "I'm sorry about him. He's been a bit...tenser than usual."
"No deafer, though." Gaius gave her a weary look.

Zander snorted, smirking as he walked through the door first. He sobered a bit as turned back towards the three of them, though.

"See you soon." Sara smiled apologetically to them and wrinkled her nose at Gaius, then closed the door. Tomhas gazed at the closed door, sighing.

Zander looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

Tomhas looked back at him and stepped away from the door. "He's always like that to people he doesn't like or doesn't know, but I know he likes you. Sara's probably right."

(Have you heard "Overwhelmed" by Ryan Mack? It just came on my playlist and I think? It may have Tomhas vibes?)

"He likes me, eh?" Zander mused. It certainly didn't seem like it. Which was fine; he didn't need to be liked. As long as Gaius didn't try to get in his way, they wouldn't have any problems. But he'd already thrown him out of his Keep before they even got there -- not exactly something you generally did to people you liked.

(I just heard it actually! I like the lyrics a lot but the energy isn't quite right. I'm gonna come back to that one for sure though)

"Like is maybe a strong word. He believes you don't pose an immediate threat to him and he likes that you're nice to Ky. Sound more accurate?"

(Valid!)

"Hah!" Zander smirked. "I can live with that."

Tomhas nodded, smiling slightly. "Most people can. Gaius is a tough nut to crack, for sure. I'm still not sure how Sara did it."

"Mmm..." Zander considered it for a moment. "She must make him feel safe. Everyone one's gotta have someone they can let their guard down around. It's human nature."

Nature he'd squashed, no doubt. He was the one that guarded people when they let their own defenses down. He rarely did it himself. But it was dangerous for him to. Perhaps if he'd had a spouse, things would be different. But his life was too dangerous for that, too. It was best to have Derik to trust, even though he couldn't put all his burden on even him. It wasn't his baby brother's job to carry the heaviness of Zander's soul.

(not me, just now remembering that Aerik is Zander's best friend in cannon and is absolutely who Zander trauma dumps on so I should not have said he was going to go fight with him haha oops)

(Awww man)

"Yeah." Tomhas nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that makes sense. But to get him to the point where he feels safe--ever--is no easy task, take it from me. I mean, the man has his entire Keep on lockdown all day, every day." Not that he could blame him.

(I actually may take that back, if you don't mind? lol like he'd still have mentioned the Munens but be on friendly terms with them not skeptical. Make it easier in my brain lol)

"I understand," Zander said with a nod. "One day you get burned one too many times, and there's no going back from it."

He was forcing himself to more or less trust Tomhas and Gaius, because he didn't have a better alternative to keep Ky safe. And because she seemed happy here. Well, she had. Before the attack. He didn't want to take her newfound family from her. And he didn't have a safer place in mind than Gaius's fortress, since it seemed that he had Ky's best interest in mind.

But he wasn't about to share his secrets with either of them. At least not any secrets that didn't directly pertain to the shared goal of protecting Ky.

(Sure, no worries!)

"Exactly." Tomhas didn't lock his entire Keep down, but he did lock his doors. Like Zander said, being burned a few times too many led to habitual behavior. He wondered how much Zander knew about his family, and if he thought it wouldn't be good for Ky to stay. Though he'd have brought that up already if that was the case.