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Warnings: m/m, Benn Trilett/Tahn Dorn, 100% writing this out of spite, no I did not spell Benjamin wrong. That is how the author spells it in Tahn.
...
With his leg healed it was time for him to go. He had lingered too long already and there was no telling when Samis would come. Make no mistake his former master would come. No matter what anyone else said. He would come not for the Triletts but for Tahn. Tahn intended to be as far away from here as possible. He would lead Samis away and have his final fight between them.
The hardest part of leaving was the realization he would not see Lord Trilett again. Benn Trilett had become a confidant for the damaged assassin. No matter how busy he was he always made time to speak with Tahn every day. It made him feel wanted and like he wanted to stay at times.
Tahn knew he shouldn't get close to the man. Knew that he should have pushed him away every time he tried to get close. After the third time though Tahn couldn't bring himself to. Benn was a good man and seemed genuinely interested in both Tahn's mental and physical health.
Tahn's favorite spot had been by the pond well after full dark. There he could see the stars shining perfectly and was unlikely to be disturbed. When his leg was still healing it was one of the few spots he could get to unaided. Now he was going to leave it all behind in order to protect the family he nearly destroyed.
Now he was saddling Smoke his grey horse who had been with him for years. It was one of the few things that Samis gave him that he appreciated. His sword was tied into the hilt and prepared to be drawn.
Leading Smoke by the reigns he headed towards the gates. At this hour there would only be one person on duty. It would just be one of the new hires who would be happy to see the back of him.
Then the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Tahn continued on mistrust clear in his body language. Footsteps too heavy to be one of the children or the Lady Trilett. Turning his head he saw it was Benn and he was jogging to catch up with Tahn.
Sighing Tahn slowed his gait he allowed Benn to catch up to him. It only took a few minutes for him to come up to Tahn's shoulder. Tahn didn't stop in his walk towards the gate.
Tahn said not looking at the man, "You can't stop me. I'm leaving tonight."
Benn didn't show any surprise at his sudden statement. Instead, he said his voice a low baritone, "I didn't say I was going to stop you. Though I would have preferred that you left in the daytime."
"If I had done that the children would have tried to stop me," he said carefully.
Benn asked still as calm as before, "And I wouldn't? You don't have to leave Tahn. You are welcome to stay here even uninjured."
Tahn said with a shake of his head, "I can't stay. Samis will never stop hunting me and as long as I'm here you will be in danger."
"Tahn," sighed Benn, "Samis is ill. Even if he comes after you we can stop him. Please stay."
He didn't answer just continued walking. They were almost at the gate. The guard saluted him and Benn before he noted the horse. There was a subtle widening of the man's eyes before his face became like a stone. He suspected that the man was trying to judge if he was allowed to leave.
Coldly Tahn said, "Open the gate. I'll be leaving tonight."
The guard looked to Benn but the Lord's gaze was fixed on Tahn. He saw the man's hand reaching for him. There was an ever so slight flinch at the movement but Tahn didn't move. The hand slowly came to land on his shoulder. The pressure was firm and grounding.
Benn said still in that calming baritone that made him want to obey, "Tahn please look at me."
Against his better instinct he did. Soft blue eyes clashed on grey. Tahn's killer instincts screamed at him to get on Smoke and leave. To not let this man dissuade him from leaving. But something in him couldn't do it. Maybe it was the knowing look in blue eyes. Or maybe it was because he was so tired. Tired of running from Samis. He wanted what most people wanted. A place to belong.
Shoulders slumped showing his exhaustion as he asked, "Why?"
"Why what, Tahn?"
"Why do you care so much?"
There was a flash of pain in Benn's eyes and he tried to pull away. Only for Benn's grip to tighten slightly. Just enough to keep him there.
Then Benn said stepping closer into Tahn's personal space, "Because as I have said repeatedly you deserve a home. Please let me give you that."
Tahn looked at Smoke and the gate his eyes lingering on his escape. Did he really want to escape? Sighing he released Smoke's reigns and the guard took them. Benn turned him away from the gate and gave him a gentle push.
Together they walked back across the grounds. When he tried to reenter the guardhouse where he had been staying Benn's hand tightened on his shoulder. This caused him to glance at Benn questioning.
"You're staying with me tonight. If I leave you alone I'm afraid you'd slip off in the night."
Tahn snorted, "You think I can't slip out of a room with you in it?"
For the first time that night, Benn smiled, "Well you can certainly try."