One of the major difficulties Bane had experienced in his relationship with Shinsou was learning to distinguish between him pretending to be naïve just to get women off their guard, pretending to be naïve because he couldn’t be bothered to think, pretending to be outrageously naïve because he didn’t actually understand what was going on and really being genuinely naïve. The Telgradian was renowned for being amazingly clever, and quite clearly was so, but not all the time. This obviously worried him. Shinsou preferred women to be puzzled by him rather than contemptuous. It was sort of a safety net.
On this occasion, though, something was different. Bane knew the story about Rhovani, or part of it, and Shinsou had always struck him as a man without any sort of idea of sexuality or experience beyond that of his woeful past. Yet here the burly ranger witnessed a man crawling out from underneath his shell. As the cold air swirled and dived around them, he carefully observed his counterpart. A smile on the corner of his lips, a devilish glint in his eyes, and a swagger and pomp that he had never seen in the lad all bled through that boyish exterior.
This just wasn’t the Shinsou Vaan Osiris he knew. Or, maybe it was, and he just didn’t realise it.
Well, stone me down. I wish this Council of Five were here to see this. If they need proof he ain’t the same guy who led the rebellion, this is about as stone-wall as it gets.
Shinsou himself had felt her touch and already a feeling of warmth permeated through his body. A strange nervous tickle crept in his stomach, reaching up into his throat, and the blood ran to his cheeks. Parts of his mind screamed at other parts of his mind.
“Bloody hell, it’s cold,” He said, very calmly, as he swayed a little to one side. “I wouldn’t want to be held responsible for you being diddled to death by alleyway Jack after a bout of hypothermia before we hit the next bar. I mean, officially we’re now your bodyguards for the night. Right Bane?”
“Whatever.” The ranger said impatiently.
“Exactly.” Shinsou either misheard or ignored his associate. “We’re behind schedule, so let’s go. Now, I need to know if you can keep up, Kara. When we hit the tavern, we hit it hard and we don’t look back.”
He realised as soon as he said it.
Christ...what is wrong with you?
-
The Drum and Monkey Inn
-
Shinsou had gone looking for trouble. It was a second Radasanthian Dream for him, and one each for his associates Bane and Kara who coolly watched events unfold from the comfort of the bar. The former emperor of Telgradia, with golden eyes locked firmly on his prey, held the cold edge of the cup against his lips. His eyes flitted back towards Kara, who met his blurred gaze. She smiled warmly, and it hit him like an arrow in the chest.
“Gotta do it now, Shinsou. Let’s see what you’re made of!” Bane roared, interrupting the moment and grinning as he necked half of his nuclear strength ale and wiped a cuff across his beard, scouring foam from the hairs.
“Here goes!”