Where Shadows Lurk and Darkness Dwells

7

London,

Term of the Pike - Hunter's Moon

Heron's Pace, Sojourn of the Nightshade, at the Dragonfly Pass

Run 308 after the First Cataclism

A shadow fell over the table, its bulk obscuring the book's page. It soon retreated, like clouds chasing the wind across the sky, accompanied by the sound of a chair's legs scraping the wooden floors. Someone sat heavily on it, their stretched legs under the table touching Hong Li's. Only then did he raise his eyes, a look of sheer annoyance inside them.

It changed instantly, at the sight of Kwan Daejin sprawled before him, arms crossed over his chest bunching the lapels of his leather jacket and dragging the plunging neckline of the loose, white vest he was wearing even further down. Exposing the jutting collarbone and quite a bit of flesh, its warm hue a caress for Hong Li's eyes. He pursed his lips, determined to not give away the troubled emotions wrecking his usual dignity. Was he doing it on purpose, showing up dressed like this, provocative and unattainable in his narrowed eyes and overall forbidding posture? Was Kwan Daejin intent on really driving him mad?

All because Hong Li had one day decided to become a Watchman, instead on chasing monsters for a living?

He offered Daejin a bored look, long-fingered hands hastily gathering the books and notes to him, away from the Huntsman's reach. Silence sat with them, broken by the scratching of fountain pens on paper. Apparently, Daejin meant to just sit across the table and glare at him, something Hong Li had familiarised himself with over the close to twenty Runs they'd known each other. Better to ignore him, though the temptation to sneak glances of him was just too big. Adjusting his seat, he pored over his notebook and kept scribbling - though what he penned down was no longer the results of the research he'd been pursuing since coming to the British Library early in the morning. Now, what he wrote in a messy calligraphy, were the characters that composed the name of the man sitting across from him.

Daejin shuffled in his chair, retreating his legs, using them to propel himself closer to the table. Arms still crossed, but elbows now resting on the polished wooden surface, he leaned over, disturbing the neat stack of books Hong Li had been using as a wall to hide behind. He continued to ignore the other man's antics, though sweat ran down the back of his neck. Kwan Daejin's presence at this table could only mean one thing - and it wasn't rekindling their former fling.

"Where was the other Watchman?" the Huntsman asked, and the unexpected question took Hong Li by surprise.

Other Watchman? What was he on about? He'd expected a silent approach, Daejin staring him down until he felt so uncomfortable he'd have to leave, which would be the Huntsman's exact plan. And once out on the streets, he'd hammer him with countless questions and demands, until Daejin got all the answers he wanted and dragged all sorts of promises out of him. Because no matter what, Kwan Daejin was well aware of how far Hong Li was willing to go to please him.So what was this, now? What other Watchman? Pulling himself together, Hong Li placed the pen on the notebook, a drop of ink staining the lower half of the blank page.

"I'm sorry, you kind of lost me."

Daejin threw him a scathing look. Reaching a bitten-nailed hand forward, he clasped short, slim fingers around the spine of a book, and grabbed it, the gesture so quick Hong Li failed to stop him. His own hand hung midway between them, clutching only air. With an amused smirk, Daejin mumbled the book's title between his teeth.