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Out of all the accommodations in The Black Shores, Rinascita, and all the smaller towns and cities in between, Rover was partial to the condo that was given to him while he was in the bustling city of Jinzhou. The condominium was high up, on the second-to-top floor with a nice balcony, and was incredibly spacious compared to even some of the houses offered as accommodations in other places Rover had been after his work in Jinzhou was done. Whenever he went back to Jinzhou for relaxation, to buy goods for his next journey, or simply to just relax with close friends. The condo was always a welcome thing to come back to.
Today was a day very similar to any other visit back to Jinzhou. Rover had first entered the city at around nine in the morning and was at the market buying groceries for his next few meals and snacks. It was at that moment he overheard some Midnight Rangers talking to their families about a nearby issue of Tacet Discords getting out of control.
Rover's ears instantly perked up at that information, when he heard that it was still an issue, however, he sighed and put down the piece of produce he was holding into his basket, went and paid, went back to his condo and barely had time to set his stuff down before his terminal buzzed from where it sat on the counter. The arbiter instantly knew what was going to be asked of him so, the call didn't last very long before he grabbed his sword and headed out toward where he was told to go just a few seconds prior.
Finally out of that prison. For being so high security, Scar got out of it considerably easily. It still took a few months, but the knowledge that only three people had broken out of there in the past only to get caught easily, was still quite impressive. Due to still being one of, if not the, most wanted criminal in Huanglong, he couldn't go on his usual escapades and chaotic adventures quite yet, he had to lay low until the news of his escape and search died down.
But the question of where to hide was a bigger problem to Scar than being searched for itself was. What type of a place would take him? He was still a criminal who, whenever the guards discovered his escape, would have a massive bounty on his head in a matter of minutes. Where would he go? Who wouldn’t turn him in?
Then, he had an idea, the issue of whether it would work or not was not at the forefront of his mind at the moment, right now, all he cared about was getting somewhere the guards wouldn't think of. That was all Scar needed at this moment in time.
Getting into Jinzhou wasn’t an issue for Scar at all, the walls, even if they succeeded at keeping the city safe from TDs, the walls weren’t great at keeping Scar from sneaking in. Now that he was in, the bigger part of his plan arose. Finding Rover's place of residence. After listening and looking around, he figured out it was a condo. Perfect, that part was solved, now, the other issue was, which condo was it? The condo building was not the tallest in Jinzhou but also far from the smallest one.
After a lot of peaking in windows and door peepholes, after what felt like hours the Fractsidus member finally found Rovers room. Scars gloved hands reached into his pocket and grabbed a lockpick, using it to get into the room a few milliseconds before a couple walked around the corner.
After a long day of fighting TDs, a hot shower was much needed for Rover’s sore arms and legs from all the running and swinging he had to do. The moment he got home he went to his small closet grabbed some clean pajamas and went to the bathroom to shower. After taking out the large hair extension from the back of his head and removing the rest of his clothes, he turned on the water for a long, hot shower.
While he was in there, he thought he heard noises in the main entryway of the condo, but, he figured it may have been Abby doing…well, whatever it is that Abby does in her free time. Maybe she was stealing snacks with the clanks he heard from the kitchen Rover thought, shrugging off the noises and going back to washing the dirt and grime off of his legs.
Rover's kitchen was rather…poorly stocked and organized in Scars' opinion. Pots were in different cabinets all over, boxes of food were in the corners of counters rather than the pantry or pot-ridden cabinets, and clean dishes were just sitting on the drying rack rather than being put away…Safe to say, Scar was slightly less impressed with Rover than he usually was.
Scar at first, shrugged this off and figured it was just Rover not being home enough to properly clean, but, when he opened the fridge, even with the clear grocery shopping Rover just did, judging from the bags on the counter, Rover still didn't have a lot, even for just one person, it still seemed poor. The tall man let out a tired sigh if he was going to stay here, he’d have to insist Rover would go to the store more frequently rather than just mostly relying on takeout or restaurant food.
After finding enough food to atleast make a two-person dinner, Scar began to cook chicken alfredo with steamed-salted broccoli…which Scar was surprised was still fresh. After it was cooked and ready to eat, Scar noticed Rover was still not out of the shower, knowing that Rover would be in there for a while to try to relax and mentally go through the day's events, Scar decided to go to the living room.
Once he got into the room, Scar took off his coat and all of his upper layers and was just down to a simple t-shirt and his normal pants. He went to a small box and found throw blankets and pillows inside for the couch, he got out one of each for himself and laid down on the couch. It was then he realized just how tired he was, more than likely from all the running he had to do to ensure no guards saw him during his escape and while in Jinzhou. Sneaking around was tiring. Scar's eyes soon closed and he fell into the first relaxing sleep he’d had ever since he was thrown behind bars, the quiet sound of a fan and the shower from the bathroom served as white noise to Scar's sleepy brain and he soon fell asleep quicker then he would have thought.
The shower took longer than Rover originally thought. When he got out of the steaming shower, he looked out the small bathroom window and saw the orange and yellows in the sky. The sun was already setting outside. Rover let out a slight chuckle at how long he was probably spaced out in there. He got his towel dried his short, messy hair, and soon put on some comfortable pajamas that were rather fluffy and soft.
He walked out of the bathroom and smelled food coming from the kitchen. He walked in and looked around, weird when Abby was nowhere to be found, Rover then began to get a little bit nervous about who or what was in his house, making food. While the food did look amazing, Rover couldn't be sure it wasn't poisoned by some random person. He went back out to the hallway for a closer look, in there, he saw boots that were not his and multiple red and white articles of clothing on the coat rack. On top of that, the lock was broken. Now, Rover was on full alert. Not only was there someone who had made food in his condo, they were still here and had the gall to still be in his condo.
Rover was now patrolling around the house like Dreadmane would stalk its prey, his movements were slow and light, and his eyes were glued to every part of the house as though he was an owl with its head on a swivel. Everything else looked normal around the house…even cleaner in some spaces, but nothing was missing. The motives of whatever intruder Rover had here, were rather odd.
Then, he found the intruder. Scar. Asleep on his couch.
When Scar's eyes opened, he expected to see the dark-colored ceiling or the window to the balcony, perhaps. The criminal did not, however, expect to see a shining sword pointed at him and a pair of Bellini-yellow-colored eyes staring sharply at him. Scars eyes blinked at the sudden sight, trying to get the sleep out of them.
“Rover~ Good evening~!”
Rover's words to Scar were not as warm as Scar's were
“What are you doing here? Why are you on my couch? Aren’t you meant to be in prison?”
Scar sighed at the overwhelming amount of questions, he expected them, sure, but part of him wished Rover would just thank him for making dinner, eat together with him, and let Scar go back to sleep.
“I got out, Rover. Being in there is tiring, y'know?”
The hero of Jinzhou didn’t seem pleased with Scar's answer,
“Why are you in my home?”
Scar shrugged at Rover's question, he thought it would’ve been obvious to the other.
“You're the only one who won't turn me in, my lamb~”
Rover rolled his eyes at the nickname,
“Whose to say I won't call some security and have you thrown right back into a cell?”
Scar paused, not quite having an answer to Rover's hypothetical, sarcastic question,
“...Because I made us dinner?” Scar's voice was slightly more unsure than normal as he spoke
The other glanced back at the kitchen and then looked back, sword still pointed at the other's neck,
“Why did you even bother with that?”
Scar smiled at the other's words,
“Your kitchen isn't well stocked, lamb. Someone needed to make do with whatever was in there rather than whatever the restaurants were serving tonight.”
The raven-haired scoffed at the Overseers words, as though he was trying to flatter him.
“How do I know you’re not trying to poison me?”
Scar stood up and walked to the kitchen, going up to the pot of chicken alfredo, getting a bowl from the cabinet he just organized, he put some into one and then an equal amount into another bowl. One for Scar and one for Rover. He grabbed the one for himself and ate a few bites of it, looking Rover in the eyes.
“Lamb, if it was poisoned, I’d be keeling over right now, wouldn't I?”
Rover looked Scar up and down, he knew he shouldn't be trusting what Scar was doing or what he was up to, but, Rover was tired and hungry as it was.
“...I guess I’ll eat with you. Don’t try anything funny.”
Scar didn't say a word, just enjoyed the food he’d made with Rover, who, at first, hesitantly picked at it, but now ate normally across from Scar, leaning against the island.
“I’d assume you like it?” Scar asked
Rover didn’t want to give Scar the satisfaction of letting him know he liked the others' cooking, but, again, it was too late to argue or tell a white lie.
“.... It's alright, I suppose.” Which was not technically lying on Rover's part
Scar smiled as he went to clean his now empty bowl at the sink Rover was leaning next to, “I’m glad. You used to enjoy my cooking.”
Rover seemed curious about what Scar just said, “We used to know each other? Are you trying to lie to me or something? I doubt even past me would spend much time with you. I feel like I’d lose my mind.”
Scar looked at Rover, a soft blush on his cheeks that he brushed off after a few seconds, “You…well…I suppose that's a story for another day, hm? One where you’re not so irritated with me being in your house.”
Rover chuckled, “When will that be, hm?”
The other shrugged, putting the now-washed and dried bowl away in the cabinet, “You have a terrible source of organization, my little lamb.” He said, trying to change the subject
Scar said, attempting to change the subject.
Rover’s tacet mark-decorated hand reached up to put his bowl away too, “I’m just never here enough to bother…”
He hesitated on saying his next sentence, “...Thank you for cleaning up, I suppose.”
Scar ruffled Rover's hair with his hand, likely warm due to his forte.
“Of course, my little lamb. Someone here has to take care of you. Nobody else is doing very well at that…” He said, the last part bitter.
Rover said nothing before walking back into the living room, sitting on the couch away from Scars' blanket and pillow. Scar soon walked in too and sat beside him, clearly not very aware…or ignoring, the space Rover was trying to make between the two.
“You seem curious about something Rover.” Scar pointed out, seeing the pondering look that was spread on Rover's face
“Why…are you here?”
Scar seemed slightly puzzled at Rover's question, “I told you~! I escaped that damned prison and came here since I knew you'd keep me safe.”
“Why do you think I’d keep you safe? Why do you trust me with that?” Rover asked
“Because you’re a forgiving person, Rover. You are now and you were before.” Scar's voice was always soft when he talked about the Rover he knew before Rover lost his memories and forgot everything and everyone, “You always have had a big heart, and anything that I did, no matter how heinous of a crime, the first thing you used to do was make sure I was safe.”
Rover was surprised by not only Scars words but also how genuine his tone sounded, “...Were we close? You're not lying to me for the sake of my sympathy, are you?”
Scar shook his head, “....I’ll show you tomorrow.” He said, laying down again on the pillow he’d laid out, stretching out, and putting his legs on Rover's lap.
“Why are you laying on me?” Rover said, trying to move Scar's unbudging legs off his lap
“Would you rather I lay my head on your lap, my lamb?”
Rover paused and thought of a way to get Scar to move his legs off of him, “I’m more the shepherd now, aren’t I? I think that since you’re in my home, you’d be the lamb.”
Scar blushed almost as red as his hair was, “...Yeah, I guess so….” Scar paused and then switched how he was laying, “Then, my dear shepherd, can this lamb lay his head in your lap?”
Rover didn’t expect that type of response from Scar, he thought he’d just be flustered and shut up for a while
With beet-red cheeks, Rover's voice was flustered, “Uhm…I guess you can…”
Scar smiled softly and put his head on Rover's lap, getting comfortable before falling back asleep.
Rover, on the other hand, had a harder time falling asleep, Scar's hair felt soft against his legs was nice, sure, but he also didn’t know what to do. Did he fall asleep? Did he stay awake? Did he touch Scars' hair? Did he go to his bed? What did he do? Rover took a deep breath and decided that Scar wouldn’t try anything, atleast not now. Rover could tell just by the sound of his slow breathing and how relaxed he looked that Scar was deeply asleep, so, maybe sleeping too wouldn't be so bad.
Rover slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep with Scars' head in his lap. A wanted, dangerous criminal and Jinzhous great hero sleeping comfortably on a couch.
Scar woke up early as usual, this time though, not because guards ordered him to, no, instead the answer was a lot more to Scar's liking. It was because the sun was shining in through the balcony window. Scar looked over at Rover's face, the man was still asleep.
Scar got up, ruffling the other's hair. He walked into the kitchen and began trying to figure out what was even in the kitchen was available to cook, as he was doing that, Rover must’ve woken up by that time. Scar heard the other's tired footsteps behind him and turned to greet him,
“Good morning, my dear shepherd,” Scar said, ruffling his hair for the second time that morning. “Your kitchen is even more sad than it was yesterday…not even any box cereal or pancake mix, hm?”
Rover shook his head, smoothing his hair out, “No, I must’ve forgotten to buy some yesterday. I kinda rushed through the store.”
Scar hummed, “...How about I just make coffee for now?”
Rover nodded to the idea, getting out the bag of coffee grounds from the pantry.
After the coffee was fully brewed, Rover remembered Scar's words from yesterday, “Last night, you said you’d show me something today.” He said, reminding Scar of his words
Scar sipped his coffee before putting it down and responding, “I did say that, hm?”
Rover looked into Scar's heterochromatic eyes, giving him his full attention, “Yeah, can I see what you wanted to show me?”
The villain pondered for a moment, “Do you want the thing that will cause more questions or do you want the more…easy to answer things?”
The hero thought about his answer, glancing at his coffee before looking back to him, “Give me the harder-to-swallow information first, Scar.”
Scar excused himself from the table, getting up, and stepping into one of his card portals. After about ten minutes, right when Rover thought he may be running away from the question and the answers Rover craved to know, Scar reappeared with a box in his hand. Scar sat back down with Rover, sliding him the box,
“Open it.” the bearer said, his voice seemingly uncharacteristically worried.
Rover did as Scar said, his movements were slow and hesitant, like he thought a spider or a poison dart would jump out of the box and all of this nice act was a ploy.
However, none of that happened, instead, inside the box was a necklace with a dark-colored chain, and at the bottom of the chain was a ring, decorated with garnet, one big one in the center and tinier pieces of garnet decorating the area around it like a flowers leaves would. Rover looked at the inside of the ring, engraved on the inside was the phrase “My loving shepherd”.
Rover had to do multiple double-takes at the necklace before looking up, seeing Scar's head on the table, buried in his arms, as though he didn’t want to be seen.
Rover got up, necklace in hand, and walked over to where Scar sat and crouched down to be at his height, his words soft, “Were we married?”
“....Engaged.”
That broke Rover's heart even more, knowing that they were however close to being married and he had lost his memories before what would be most people's happiest days.
Rover thought for a moment before putting the necklace on, tapping Scar's shoulder to let him see, Scar looked at Rover wearing the necklace and hugged him, pushing the both of them to the floor, Scar didn't let go though.
Rover lifted his head, “I may not be ready to go through with the wedding yet, but, how about we try and…get to know each other? Yknow, like how we were back then?”
Scar looked at him, leaning into his touch, “Are you sure? Even if you’re still the same person, you have different… perceptions of me than past you did,” Scar chuckled at his own words, “Are you sure, you, hero of Jinzhou, The Black Shores, and Rinascita and more to come, want to get close to me?”
Rover nodded, “I’m sure.”
Scar smiled, “Then I suppose I can stay here while everyone is hunting for me like I’m a dog?”
Rover laughed, “I think it’d be quite rude if I turned you down on that, but,” The man thought before adding, “What about when I’m gone doing other things? I may be gone for long periods.”
Scar shrugged, “Someone has to take care of this house. And, my shepherd, it's not like Fractsidus will ever leave you alone~ I’ll just have to join in more often on their escapades too.”
Rover smiled, standing up, although that was difficult since Scar wouldn't let go of him, “...Are you going to let go?”
“No.” He shook his head
Rover sighed and wrapped his arms around him, “You're quite clingy, aren't you?”
“I’m simply happy you want me around again…I…I’m happy I get the chance to earn your love, even if it's for a second time.”
Rover leaned in, resting on his shoulder, “If this is how to pacify you, I should’ve thought of this sooner.”
“...Only you can do this to me, Rover. You know that, don’t you? Anyone else who’d try…well, it seems I may need to remind them I’m an engaged man.”
The two shared a laugh together and stayed in each other's arms, enjoying each other's presence for the first time in months.
Scar paused and then said softly, “Is it too early for a first kiss?”
The other touched the white-haired man's cheek, “Normally, I’d say yes, but, considering my heart is beating way too fast to be healthy at that question…I suppose I’ll allow it.”
Scar smiled a wide smile and instantly pulled Rover in for a loving kiss, the likes of which would more than likely only have small breaks and keep going all-day
It seems the clingy lamb finally found its loving shepherd and the lamb wasn’t going to leave the shepherd's side any time soon.