The Neko and the Wolf - 12. Friendship Renewed

The neko sat in a tree outside the west wing of the palace, his eyes glancing every so often at a window. Six months… it felt so long. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in all that time, forced to sleep on his own, both balcony and door guarded by Darius and Maia.

He could see a camera poking out of a bush, but Finley didn’t even bat an eye any more. He was sick of it all. The cameras had ruined everything for him, and he would not give them what they wanted.

Zaddis was supposed to be out soon, his house arrest ended. He would have asked Vincent when, but by this point, Finley doubted the half elf wanted anything to do with him. Kicked out of the Guard, called out as a wolf who would need rehabilitation… everything that happened to Zaddis was the neko’s fault.

For his part, Zaddis held no ill will towards the prince. he'd never really wanted to be a Royal Guard... and all the ridicule was worth it to keep most of the heat off the neko he still loved so. Stepping barefoot out onto the west lawn, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air. Six months... Six months since he'd been allowed outside unsupervised. Curling his toes in the grass never felt better. Out of the door behind him came a massive tan and grey dog, bounding happily around him, Zaddis grinning as he ruffled its ears. Mo had been one of his only friends while he was locked away in his quarters, and he was sure the large dog was happy to be outside with him as he was.

Picking up a stick stowed behind some bushes, he threw it and the dog took off after it in the direction of the tree. Glancing up, he caught sight of Finley and froze for a moment before giving a small half-smile and waving a little as Mo returned with his stick.

His heart clenched a bit at the wave, Finley raising his hand cautiously. He looked down at the large dog warily, grateful that he had no stirrings. Yet he was still worried about the dog; he was still a neko after all.

Lifting his leg, the neko balanced carefully on his branch, his eyes glancing over at where Darius stood. The guard frowned at Zaddis, and the dog, but remained where he was, a silent protector.

Tossing the stick a few more times, Zaddis approached Darius. The two had never exactly been friends, barely even friendly, but Darius was one of the few, like Maia, who knew that he'd taken the fall for Finley.

"Hey Darius... how you been? Don’t worry about Mo... i'll clean it up if he makes any messes... know if Miranda is alright? Dad... told me what happened at Fin... the prince's birthday... with Riardin..."

Finley’s tail bristled as he overheard, the neko reminded of the elf raping his friend. The prince had felt murderous when he learned what happened behind closed doors, and the fact that when tried, Riardin had gotten away free, simply because he was the son of a lord, did nothing to make the neko feel better.

“She’s still a little shook. Hasn’t gone back to work yet; we aren’t sure she’s entirely safe yet. It’s never a good idea to have a cook angry at you, especially one that knows how to trigger every single allergy you have…”

Darius shrugged, his eyes narrowing as he finally noticed the camera.

“Excuse me for a moment…”

The neko strode toward the bushes, a human darting away with a yelp.

Sighing deeply, Zaddis shook his head. That bastard had completely gaslighted her... and what's worse, because he had "witnesses" who corroborated his story, the queen had believed him over Miranda... he wasn't surprised she was still torn up over it.

Watching Darius chase off the photographer, he looked up to Finley before offering him the stick.

"My lord... would you like to give it a toss? He's very well behaved around nekos..."

Finley rolled his eyes, the neko dropping one handed from the branch to grab the stick. Frowning at the dog, the prince hurled the stick after Darius, the barking dog helping to encourage the cameraman to run faster.

“So it’s lord now. Technically it’s highness. But if you call me that, I’ll have to throw you in the pond,” Finley said, watching the dog chase after the stick. “You get to touch the slobber.”

Chuckling softly, Zaddis just shook his head.

"Just trying to be respectful... don't want to seem like i'm being too informal..."

Reaching down as Mo returned, he took the stick and threw it again.

"Heard you're a big star at court... everyone seems to love the new prince... good to see the tabloids didn't stick..."

“Oh yes, they eat it all up. Oh my gods, look at the adorable neko making people fix roads or pay fines… Queen Erin does all the important stuff. Wonder what they’ll say about me the first time I have to sit in judgment of a murderer. Fuck, wish I had sat for Riardin…”

His eyes narrowed, a darkness coming over the prince.

Frowning, Zaddis just nodded.

"He'll get his... one way or another... fucking scumbag..."

Sighing deeply, he sat down at the base of the tree.

"Fin... I wanted to apologize... my thoughtlessness could have cost you a lot... and then i disobeyed a direct order... I'm sorry for everything..."

“What? No, I should be apologising. I got you kicked out of the Guards, banned from ever serving again, fuck, you had to go through so much shit just because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Zaddis, none of this was your fault. Well, okay, maybe some…”

Finley’s face burned as he remembered the newspaper he had tucked away in a drawer. A paper he looked at nearly every night until the image had been seared in his mind.

“My point is, you shouldn’t have taken all the blame on your own. It was unfair.”

The side of the half elf’s mouth curled up slightly.

"You're right... it was unfair... but life seldomly is fair... and you know what?" looking up at him, he offered a full smile, "I’d go through it again and again, just to make sure you're okay... cause that's what you do for the people you..." love, "care about..."

“I never want you to go through anything like this ever again,” Finley said firmly. “I… I missed you Zaddis. Not just when you would hold me at night, I missed being around you.”

He glanced around warily, before leaning closer to the half elf.

“You would not believe how stuffy these people are. Darius keeps freaking out when I throw myself out of trees. I mean, he’s a neko too, he should know better…”

This got a laugh out of him.

"He is really stuffy, isn't he?"

Sighing softly, the werewolf kicked at a stone carefully.

"I missed you too Fin... more than you know... but I made my bed and I'm going to lay in it... until the day I can lay in yours again... if you'll have me..."

“I don’t think Vincent will let me be around you now. I’m a bad influence on you,” Finley smirked. “But if you helped me study… I mean, Lord Aerin wants me to learn the tax code. It would go easier if I had someone to motivate me.”

Smiling, Zaddis shrugged, "You could always ask him... he'd probably be more willing to go with it that way..."

Looking up as Darius returned, Zaddis held his hands up, smirking at the dark skinned neko.

"Im behaving, we're just talking."

“Good,” the neko said, watching them closely. “Your Highness, perhaps we should head inside. There are probably more people hiding around here.”

Finley let out a heavy sigh, looking at Zaddis.

“How much would it piss off the queen if I invited you to dinner?” he asked with a sudden smirk. “After all, she did take my only friend away for six months. We have a lot to catch up on.”

The half elf let out a chuckling sigh.

“Probably quite a bit... but you ARE the prince... I couldn't exactly deny your request if you asked..."

He glanced at Darius with a frown.

"But Darius is right... you should probably head back inside. I'm going to play with Mo for a bit longer before I head back inside."

Finley nodded reluctantly, staring at the half elf. He looked over at Darius, then let out an exasperated breath.

“Fuck it.”

Stepping forward, the prince wrapped his arms around Zaddis, holding the werewolf tightly.

“I know you can’t come to my room, but we’ll figure something out, okay? I’ll petition the queen to allow you more freedoms,” he breathed into Zaddis’ ear.

Frowning, Zaddis reluctantly returned the hug, eyeing Darius for a moment, before closing his eyes.

"Don't get yourself in trouble... okay?"

Sighing deeply, he smiled.

"Gods you've gotten bigger... stronger too... you've been taking your self-defense classes I take it."

“Kind of have to, they stole my best guard,” Finley chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked uncertainly, letting the half elf go.

He hesitated again, staring at Zaddis, drinking in the sight of his friend finally out of his home.

“I care for you too Zaddis. I just want you to know that.”

Finley could see wetness welling up in the werewolf's eyes, Zaddis nodding in response.

"Yeah... I'll see you tomorrow... my prince..."

With a sigh, he reluctantly let him go back towards the palace.

Darius guided the prince back inside, Finley taking a deep breath as he was once again subjugated to the stuffiness of the palace. It was truly a rich person’s problem. Here he was a former orphan granted the chance to live like… as a king, for the rest of his life. He really shouldn’t be complaining.

And yet, it had been a month since his last true outing, to see the cranberry fields of Ythin. An eye opening experience for sure, but the freedom it had seemed to bring, as illusory as one of Zaddis’ spells, was so short lived. He needed more.

“Before dinner, I would like to see Lord Vincent,” he said, glancing at Darius.

Nodding, Darius spoke up.

"I'll give him a call... where would you like him to meet you sir?"

"I thought he was in his office?"

Checking his watch, Finley frowned, realizing it was nearly six in the evening. Dinner would be ready any minute. He'd need to make any visit quick.

"Where is he? I don't want to interrupt him if he's doing something important."

“His office is a likely place... come, I know a shortcut through one of the back halls..."

Leading him through an old servants’ passage, they arrived there in record time, Vincent looking up as they entered.

“Oh, Prince Finley, Darius, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Lord Vincent," Finley lowered his head briefly. "I… er, I noticed that Zaddis is off his arrest. I know that I fu- that I messed up a lot when I first moved in, and probably drove him to do things he never should have done. I understand if you don't want us near each other, but I would appreciate a second chance. He was… is, one of my closest friends in the palace."

Sighing deeply, the older elf removed his glasses and looked to him, "Darius, please step outside... I wish to speak to the prince privately..."

Nodding, the neko turned for the door.

"Yes sir... just call when you are finished..."

Once he was gone, Vincent leaned back in his chair and motioned for Finley to sit.

"My son has endured much criticism in the last few months... admittedly, some from me... but I'm not blind... I've seen how he looks at you... and vice versa... my wife was a wolf... I know how they can be... he did what he did out of love, regardless of it being reciprocated or not..."

The elf leaned forward, an almost pleading look in his eye.

"My prince... do not hurt my son... please."

It wasn't a no... more like a tentative yes.

“I… I wish I could say I’d never hurt him, but I already did. And I am sincerely sorry for that. I will do what I can to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I am… aware of his feelings, but I cannot reciprocate, not yet. I have too many issues to work through myself, and I wouldn’t want him to suffer because of my faults.”

Finley let out a deep breath, lowering his head.

“Thank you Lord Vincent. Your faith in me means a lot.”

Vincent nodded slowly.

"Very well my prince... I will speak with the queen. Enough time has passed, and cooler heads will prevail. I don't believe there will be any issues with the two of you spending time together..."

Bowing his head respectfully, the prince turned to leave, letting out a relieved sigh. He hadn’t been sure about talking to Vincent at all, but now Finley was glad he had.

“Oh, one more thing. Are you aware of neko traditions? Specifically regarding the Silent Day?”

The elf gave a somewhat noncommittal nod.

“Vaguely, I'm afraid the specifics escape me though. Perhaps it could give you an opportunity to educate me."

“It’s a day when nekos across the land take a vow of silence and remain hidden. It’s coming soon, and I don’t want people to worry about my participation. A single day to remember the deaths of my people, and then I will return to business as usual. I’m sure Darius and Maia have already put in their request for the day off,” Finley said.

“Yes, I've seen that they have. I do not believe it will be an issue, but thank you for the heads up beforehand..."

It was more in case Zaddis tried to see him. In two days, Finley would be shut off from the world, performing a silent ritual that would last all day. He didn’t want Zaddis to worry about him.

Leaving the office behind, Finley followed Darius through the palace halls to the dining room, finding several places set. He took his place at the far end of the table, the seat reserved for the prince, trying to figure out why so many places were set.

“Darius, did I miss something today? Are we entertaining dignitaries?”

The older neko nodded with a grimace.

"Yes... that bastard Riardin and his father... as well as a few other Astaran nobles... if you... maybe felt ill tonight sir... I could arrange for dinner to be brought to your room..."

“Ugh… I can’t,” Finley sighed quietly. “I can’t just hide every time someone does something I don’t like.”

His claws poked out of his fingers, the prince tapping on the table as he looked at several place cards. Standing up suddenly, he grabbed a card and replaced it with a blank one, scribbling a name onto it before setting it in the seat to his left. Another card went to his right, the neko smirking as he set about scooting plates and chairs a little closer to make room.

“Darius, would you mind letting Lord Vincent and the Honourable Zaddis that they have been invited to dine with the prince tonight?”

Smirking slightly, the guard just nodded.

"Troublemaker..."

He stepped out to do as asked.

Several minutes later, people began to filter in, Zaddis and Vincent among them, the older half-elf looking rather surprised in a slightly rumpled button-up with his hair still damp from being quickly combed. Looking at Finley, he raised a brow questioningly as he and his father were shown to their seats.

“If anyone asks, you are here as my guests. I’m not exactly sure what’s being discussed,” Finley admitted. “Lord Vincent, if this was out of line, I apologize, but this seemed the lesser of two evils.”

He looked at Zaddis with a small smile, clearing his throat as he took his seat.

“Sorry, I didn’t think I could handle Riardin on my own. You can hold me back, right?”

Zaddis smirked as he sat down.

"Only if I get to black his eye again if he starts shit..."

This got a stern look from Vincent, but the elf said nothing, looking instead to Finley with a soft sigh.

“It’s fine my prince... you honor us with your invitation…”

“I’m sure the queen has been doing her best to keep you two apart. It’s probably why you weren’t invited, but what would I be without my emotional support wolf? I know he’s near the other end of the table, so hopefully there will be no need for us to leap over the table,” Finley said with a small grimace. “Anyway…”

"Anyway..." taking his seat, Zaddis people watched as more streamed in, including Riardin and his father, the full-blooded elf sneering at him and Finley as he took his seat near the queen.

Sighing deeply, Zaddis just grumbled, "gods I hate that prick..."

“Have you tried shitting in his garden? I’d do it but I don’t have a wolf… form… er, sorry Lord Vincent…” Finley winced as the elf frowned at him.

Plates of food were brought out moments later, the smell of food filling the room as quiet conversations erupted around the table.