nathanielgrayson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nathanielgrayson) wrote2023-07-29 10:50 pm
nathanielgrayson) wrote2023-07-29 10:50 pm
Entry tags:
One of Those Faces
Who: Nathaniel
When: While Jason and Khemrys are on their honeymoon
What: Nat learns he's not immune to his past
It wasn't that Nathaniel wanted to be minding the shop; he usually enjoyed being in the calming space of Khem's shop, and even more so now that he carried Gunnora's blessing and could sense the comforting energy of her mark above the door. But Beryl had been trying to come in to work when she really needed to be resting, and while he'd rather be looking after her, volunteering to go in himself was the only thing he could think of that might conceivably convince her to stay home. He just hoped she was ok alone...
He pushed all those thoughts firmly back in his mind and focused on his work. The last thing he needed was to somehow project his own conflicted emotions at Beryl; he wasn't sure just how their bond worked yet, but he had learned enough about shielding during his time with Anita to do his part in protecting her from more upset right now. At least Daniel would be coming back from lunch soon and he could go back home to be with Beryl.
He felt the energy almost at the same time as he heard the bell on the door, and he slipped a polite, neutral mask onto his face despite the immediate, inward cringe. "Deputy McKinnon, it's good to see you again," he lied.
The deputy's smile was equally sincere as he stared down Nathaniel. "Well, you're not normally behind the counter. Where's Khemrys?"
Nathaniel took a deep breath, noting that the deputy wasn't alone today: another uniformed officer was with him. He didn't know what that was about, but he was sure he didn't like it. "I'm sorry, she's not in today."
"I didn't ask if she was in, I asked where she was."
Nathaniel's smile drifted into a zen state as it freed itself from his reeling mind. "Not here." He felt the deputy's companion's eyes settle on him as the deputy seethed. "I'll let her know you stopped by, though," he continued quickly. "I can still ring you up if there's anything you want while you're here."
"Look here, you little-"
Before Deputy McKinnon could finish, his companion gave a low chuckle. "No fucking way," he drawled, his head cocked slightly to the side with a malicious grin spreading across his face. "Look at you, all grown up."
Nathaniel blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift due to the stranger's interjection. "I'm...sorry?"
The stranger leaned against the counter, still leering at him and he felt himself take an involuntary step back. "Dave," the man chuckled to the deputy without taking his eyes off Nathaniel, "you any idea what you've got here? This used to be one of Z's."
Nathaniel froze at that. He vaguely noticed the satisfied smirk from the deputy as he too turned to stare at Nathaniel. He could feel his mouth hang open in shock as he fought to make any sort of sound, preferably a believable denial.
"Yeah, I don't go for all that, but Z made it worth our while to cut his loose if there was a bust. And this one..." The stranger laughed again, an ugly sound that sent a shudder down Nathaniel's spine. "The mouth on this one could make you forget he was a he."
"Well," Deputy McKinnon laughed, "Isn't that interesting?"
"I don't-" Nathaniel attempted to protest, barely audibly. He didn't remember this guy, but then he'd blocked out a lot from those days. And most of the time, even if he was somehow sober (which was rare), all he noticed was the uniform anyway...
His gaze fell, avoiding the two men in front of him. "That was a long time ago."
"Yeah, now you're just a fang-bait stripper like your friend. Or maybe that club really does some shady shit on the side. Maybe we need to look in on that, huh Brad?"
The stranger smirked at Nathaniel. "Maybe your new boss likes to make deals, too. Don't think I'd mind that at all."
Nathaniel felt his amulet from Gunnora settle warmly against his chest. He took a slow breath, soaking in its warmth as he calmly raised his eyes to meet theirs. His voice was soft but even "This shop does not tolerate abuse of its employees in any way. If you don't want to buy one of Khemrys's teas or balms, I'll have to ask you to leave."
Deputy McKinnon squared his shoulders. "No one's abusing anyone. Looks to me like old acquaintances just...catching up." His smile widened, making Nathaniel's skin crawl despite Gunnora's comforting warmth. "I think I have enough at home for now. I'll stop by again soon for refills. Make sure you tell Khemrys that; I've been worried seeing her missing from the shop again."
Nathaniel stared blankly after them as they laughed and left the shop, and for some time after. But by the time Daniel returned from lunch, he was his usual, smiling self. So much so that it was easy for anyone to miss the slight tremor in his hands.
When: While Jason and Khemrys are on their honeymoon
What: Nat learns he's not immune to his past
It wasn't that Nathaniel wanted to be minding the shop; he usually enjoyed being in the calming space of Khem's shop, and even more so now that he carried Gunnora's blessing and could sense the comforting energy of her mark above the door. But Beryl had been trying to come in to work when she really needed to be resting, and while he'd rather be looking after her, volunteering to go in himself was the only thing he could think of that might conceivably convince her to stay home. He just hoped she was ok alone...
He pushed all those thoughts firmly back in his mind and focused on his work. The last thing he needed was to somehow project his own conflicted emotions at Beryl; he wasn't sure just how their bond worked yet, but he had learned enough about shielding during his time with Anita to do his part in protecting her from more upset right now. At least Daniel would be coming back from lunch soon and he could go back home to be with Beryl.
He felt the energy almost at the same time as he heard the bell on the door, and he slipped a polite, neutral mask onto his face despite the immediate, inward cringe. "Deputy McKinnon, it's good to see you again," he lied.
The deputy's smile was equally sincere as he stared down Nathaniel. "Well, you're not normally behind the counter. Where's Khemrys?"
Nathaniel took a deep breath, noting that the deputy wasn't alone today: another uniformed officer was with him. He didn't know what that was about, but he was sure he didn't like it. "I'm sorry, she's not in today."
"I didn't ask if she was in, I asked where she was."
Nathaniel's smile drifted into a zen state as it freed itself from his reeling mind. "Not here." He felt the deputy's companion's eyes settle on him as the deputy seethed. "I'll let her know you stopped by, though," he continued quickly. "I can still ring you up if there's anything you want while you're here."
"Look here, you little-"
Before Deputy McKinnon could finish, his companion gave a low chuckle. "No fucking way," he drawled, his head cocked slightly to the side with a malicious grin spreading across his face. "Look at you, all grown up."
Nathaniel blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift due to the stranger's interjection. "I'm...sorry?"
The stranger leaned against the counter, still leering at him and he felt himself take an involuntary step back. "Dave," the man chuckled to the deputy without taking his eyes off Nathaniel, "you any idea what you've got here? This used to be one of Z's."
Nathaniel froze at that. He vaguely noticed the satisfied smirk from the deputy as he too turned to stare at Nathaniel. He could feel his mouth hang open in shock as he fought to make any sort of sound, preferably a believable denial.
"Yeah, I don't go for all that, but Z made it worth our while to cut his loose if there was a bust. And this one..." The stranger laughed again, an ugly sound that sent a shudder down Nathaniel's spine. "The mouth on this one could make you forget he was a he."
"Well," Deputy McKinnon laughed, "Isn't that interesting?"
"I don't-" Nathaniel attempted to protest, barely audibly. He didn't remember this guy, but then he'd blocked out a lot from those days. And most of the time, even if he was somehow sober (which was rare), all he noticed was the uniform anyway...
His gaze fell, avoiding the two men in front of him. "That was a long time ago."
"Yeah, now you're just a fang-bait stripper like your friend. Or maybe that club really does some shady shit on the side. Maybe we need to look in on that, huh Brad?"
The stranger smirked at Nathaniel. "Maybe your new boss likes to make deals, too. Don't think I'd mind that at all."
Nathaniel felt his amulet from Gunnora settle warmly against his chest. He took a slow breath, soaking in its warmth as he calmly raised his eyes to meet theirs. His voice was soft but even "This shop does not tolerate abuse of its employees in any way. If you don't want to buy one of Khemrys's teas or balms, I'll have to ask you to leave."
Deputy McKinnon squared his shoulders. "No one's abusing anyone. Looks to me like old acquaintances just...catching up." His smile widened, making Nathaniel's skin crawl despite Gunnora's comforting warmth. "I think I have enough at home for now. I'll stop by again soon for refills. Make sure you tell Khemrys that; I've been worried seeing her missing from the shop again."
Nathaniel stared blankly after them as they laughed and left the shop, and for some time after. But by the time Daniel returned from lunch, he was his usual, smiling self. So much so that it was easy for anyone to miss the slight tremor in his hands.