Post by Thea on Feb 13, 2020 3:03:16 GMT -5
“The Internet,” Jua and Leo said at the same time. While the males said it at the same time, they had different connotations to it. Jua said it helpfully, thoughtfully, holding up his pinky as if counting it off one of few ways to research what they needed to. Leo’s utterance was that of the sarcastic kind, casting Jailean a “duh” look. “Then there are encyclopedias,” Jua said after a few moments, raising his ring finger. Then with his other hand he pointed at Leo in an accusatory way. “You would think that you would be nicer to someone who just patched you up. Ass.”
Leo only gave Jua a look, in no mood to say or do anything. He was just so … tired. In a fit of self-perceived weakness all he wanted to do was just give up. Seriously, if what they were thinking was true, how could Leo defeat a demon? Shifters were powerful; in many ways if not every race, he felt that shifters were superior to humans. Demons though … demons were a whole other category. If he were to go against Taji again, who was to say that he would make it? He would die, and his pride wouldn’t be … not necessarily in danger, because Taji was a just and kind ruler. But they more than likely wouldn’t miss him and might even want his death.
Leo hefted a sigh, bending his head as his fingers pinched where the inner corners of his eyes met his nose in hopes of relieving a building headache. Then he heard a whisper in his ear. Almost like his mother in the tone of chastisement, but it was there, insistent. “The pride is their home, too.”
Of course, ‘their’ meaning the only two individuals that have become a … family to him. He knew that Jailean was getting used to being in the pride before Taji forced her to go with Leo. And Jua came with him, even though his mate and cub were behind Taji. They had a home in the community. They were accepted. It was only right, if not to liberate the pride from a demon, to clear it out so that Jua and Jai could go back home.
His mood wasn’t anywhere close to being lifted, but his resolve had gotten stronger. He looked up at Jua, who was giving him a weird look, to Jai as she was speaking. “I will let the implication of my skills not being good enough slide,” Leo retorted, half in a joking manner. “But Taji is my grandpa. He’s old. Definitely not in his prime anymore. When I took over alphaship, I wasn’t so lenient as I was with Harrison. Not only did I beat him severely, I didn’t even give him a chance to breathe before I tossed him out of the pack. It was a mix of me being an arrogant ass and him not being what he used to be. He might have needed help from the demon, sure, but I don’t think it’s because I’m ‘that good’ or he was ‘that bad’. It might have been what he saw as his only option to get back into what was home to him since birth.”
Leo looked at Jua, whose exaggerated gasp was what caught the man’s attention. “Shut the fuck up,” Leo growled. “I admit, I’ve grown a little since then. It’s not uncommon for a man.”
“Did you just call yourself a man?” Jua retaliated, his hand going up to cover the perfect “O” his mouth had become.
“You’re twisting my words and you know it.” Then he couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “We’ll get started on the research bright and early tomorrow.”
Leo only gave Jua a look, in no mood to say or do anything. He was just so … tired. In a fit of self-perceived weakness all he wanted to do was just give up. Seriously, if what they were thinking was true, how could Leo defeat a demon? Shifters were powerful; in many ways if not every race, he felt that shifters were superior to humans. Demons though … demons were a whole other category. If he were to go against Taji again, who was to say that he would make it? He would die, and his pride wouldn’t be … not necessarily in danger, because Taji was a just and kind ruler. But they more than likely wouldn’t miss him and might even want his death.
Leo hefted a sigh, bending his head as his fingers pinched where the inner corners of his eyes met his nose in hopes of relieving a building headache. Then he heard a whisper in his ear. Almost like his mother in the tone of chastisement, but it was there, insistent. “The pride is their home, too.”
Of course, ‘their’ meaning the only two individuals that have become a … family to him. He knew that Jailean was getting used to being in the pride before Taji forced her to go with Leo. And Jua came with him, even though his mate and cub were behind Taji. They had a home in the community. They were accepted. It was only right, if not to liberate the pride from a demon, to clear it out so that Jua and Jai could go back home.
His mood wasn’t anywhere close to being lifted, but his resolve had gotten stronger. He looked up at Jua, who was giving him a weird look, to Jai as she was speaking. “I will let the implication of my skills not being good enough slide,” Leo retorted, half in a joking manner. “But Taji is my grandpa. He’s old. Definitely not in his prime anymore. When I took over alphaship, I wasn’t so lenient as I was with Harrison. Not only did I beat him severely, I didn’t even give him a chance to breathe before I tossed him out of the pack. It was a mix of me being an arrogant ass and him not being what he used to be. He might have needed help from the demon, sure, but I don’t think it’s because I’m ‘that good’ or he was ‘that bad’. It might have been what he saw as his only option to get back into what was home to him since birth.”
Leo looked at Jua, whose exaggerated gasp was what caught the man’s attention. “Shut the fuck up,” Leo growled. “I admit, I’ve grown a little since then. It’s not uncommon for a man.”
“Did you just call yourself a man?” Jua retaliated, his hand going up to cover the perfect “O” his mouth had become.
“You’re twisting my words and you know it.” Then he couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “We’ll get started on the research bright and early tomorrow.”