Xal stared at the man in front of him, satisfaction blooming as he had seemingly agreed to let him be his bodyguard. Whoever this was, it wasn't the Kian he'd met three days ago. This one was way too fucking considerate and caring. He suspected that Kian was the type to be grumpy and old the moment he woke up, then, after some time, become this elegant version for a few minutes, and for the rest of the day, revert to the spoiled-brat version.
He could deal with that.
"But on the other hand," he listened as Kian continued, "when you're with me, I want you to be on my side a hundred and nin- a hundred percent, and you have to listen to me no matter what. If I say hide, you hide. If I say run, you run." Kian's expression had shifted to a serious and stern tone now.
"Got it, princess." Xal nodded, his eyes widening slightly at the word that had just slipped out.
Princess?
He did not intentionally give a nickname to Kian, and he needed to set some boundaries. He was going to be his employer, after all. Not one of his friends.
✦ ✦ ✦
Kian stared in disbelief. "Exactly WHERE do I look like a princess?" He gestured up and down his body.
"If you call me that one more time, I will bury you alive and file a report to the police that you're missing."
Xal laughed. For the first time in front of Kian, he actually laughed, full and genuine, and proceeded to fake-wipe his eyes.
For a split second, recognition found its way into his mind. Just like her, Kian's presence seemed to have a way of lifting the heaviness of the moment. Right now, it felt like everything was going to be okay. Like he was on the right track to find Khem. Xal was hesitant to accept that relief, but it was there as an option, and deep down, he knew it was only a matter of time before he got used to this newfound comfort around Kian.
"Sure, whatever you say," A pause. "Ojou sama."
"Oh, would you cut it off!? You are making my skin crawl…ugh." Kian rubbed his arms aggressively, trying to scrape the words off of him.
"You know Japanese?"
"Enough to know what you said, Bakaniki." Kian retorted.
"Now we're getting somewhere! Bakaniki… not bad. Keep trying." Xal laughed again, lighter this time.
"Keep trying for what?" Confused, he asked.
To make me flustered with a nickname the same way I flustered you, princess. Feeling his lip quirk into a smile, he thought quietly but just shrugged at Kian, acting like he didn't know what he was talking about.
"Tell me, when do I start?" Xal asked, the humor fading as he shifted back to business.
"Hmm… I guess next Monday onwards. Because I wasn't planning on letting you join and already planned this week out."
He scrunched his eyebrows. "Wait, what was that?" He interrupted, noticing something off in that sentence.
"What was what?"
"You said, 'Because I wasn't planning on letting you join.' That's not even remotely close to 'Because I didn't think you would join,' which you clearly indicated last night."
That seemed to hit the right nerve, making him freeze like a deer in front of the headlights.
"I… did not say that. Let me make that contract for you." Kian tried to slide off like an eel, but he was faster, getting up from his seat and blocking his path.
"Explain." He demanded. Only then did Kian seem to realize the difference in their build, even though they were almost the same height. Xal was broader, with solid, lean muscle, from years of gym work and bodyguard training.
"Would you believe me if I said that English isn't my first language?" His lips quaked into an awkward smile as he asked.
Xal glared, waiting for the truth.