Claws (mxm)

Behind Closed Doors

The moment he walked inside the door Mina knew that he wasn't going to have any quiet time to study that evening. His uncle was standing in the living room, his attention turning to him right as Palace stalked past and into the kitchen.

"Hey Mina. How was your interview?" He asked as Jared appeared from the stairs.

Smiling, Mina walked over, getting a pat on the head that he wasn't quite used to yet, before replying. "It went well, Jamie, and hi uncle Jared." He said.

Jared wasn't very happy about him coming to stay with them. It wasn't that they didn't get along... although they barely knew each other. There was no extra room in the house, especially because Palace's brother had finally returned and was using the only spare room, which was the furthest away from Jared's, and the only one downstairs.

That left Mina sleeping on the couch. He didn't really mind, but he definitely knew that it was inconvenient for them to suddenly have a house guest so he hoped that he could save up some of his salary to get himself a small studio apartment or at least rent from someone to get himself out of his uncles' hair.

When he got a nod from Jared, he nodded back slightly and hurried to the kitchen. Food was cooking, but he didn't want to eat theirs. Instead, he went to the pantry and pulled out one of the boxes of cereal he'd bought for himself before coming. It was just basic generic stuff, but each penny he could save would add up in the end.

Hopefully my stomach can handle this. It didn't do too well last time.

Once he had his meal ready, he excused himself to the sofa, but found Palace's giant wolf already spread out on it.

I suppose I'll just hang outside for now.

He stepped out quietly, finding an uncomfortable wicker chair to settle in and began eating his cold dinner. His breath ghosted in the air, drifting upward until his eyes caught a pair of bright gold ones staring right back at him.

"Hey Knight, did Jared kick you out again?" He asked, a small smile on his lips as they began to shiver a little.

The hawk, which was perched on the edge of their fence, tilted its head and ruffled its feathers.

"I know you've said that you've chilled out, but clearly you need to relax a little more." He said, chuckling a little before taking another bite. He wasn't really sure how far Knight had pushed Jared, but the shifter didn't seem to be bothered by his words.

When he looked back at the hawk it was hopping toward him, coming into the light a few moments later.

"Ah, you tried to give him a mouse?" He asked, noting the dead creature hanging from his beak.

The hawk shook its head, then tilted it back to swallow the small animal whole.

"Why don't you try simple things? Have you just sat next to him while watching a show? Cooked him a regular dinner? Cleaned some of the house so that he doesn't have to after work?" He asked.

Of course, he knew that Knight worked, too, but wasn't quite sure what he did. He definitely brought home decent money, since he'd heard him talking about it with Jamie.

Glancing over his shoulder when he noticed one of the lights behind him dim, Mina saw Palace and Jamie move toward the stairs. Palace was still in his wolf form and was nipping at Jamie's backside a little through his tan work pants. The action made Jamie jump a little, but the smile on his face brought one to Mina's as the two disappeared up the stairs.

Movement in the corner of his eye brought his attention back to Knight, who's hawk now had its beak nearly pressed against the glass.

Moving his eyes back up, he saw Jared walk into the living room, flicking off the light in the kitchen before he looked directly over at them. Mina caught his breath, but when Jared didn't scowl or really do anything but stand there, he slowly got himself up out of his seat and walked over to the door handle with his half-eaten bowl of mushy cereal.