(Perspective switch!)


Teo's eyes darted back and forth, watching everyone at the table. Markovech was staring down, digging his claws into his palm. Teo couldn't bear to listen to his parents talk to him like this. Lev wasn't much help, seemingly shut down at the moment. And Nakko being a little shit wasn't great either. He could tell he was screwing with Markovech's older brother, from the way they looked at one another. From the time that he had started hunting with him, working under Arnakos as an "exorcist", he knew he hated anything that wasn't human. That included Markovech, even if he was the nicest guy alive. What a racist. Markovech looked over to Teo, with pleading eyes. He wanted to leave, but Teo remembered the promise he made to him beforehand.

"Don't let me leave until dessert has been served" Was what Markovech had asked. Teo simply chuckled and obliged in the moment, while he had no idea why then, he certainly knew now.

Teo rested his hand on Markovech's, loosening his grip on the fork.

"Relax..." He muttered. "You'll be fine buddy. I gotcha" He sighed in response and fixed his posture. His parents had got the message at least somewhat and stopped tormenting him, now chatting happily with Nakko.

"So you kill for a living?" Markovech's mother asked.

"You've got more of a stomach than Marky' here." His father stated with a smile.

"Oh, it's nothing much, few beheaded bloodsuckers here, couple silver knifed lycanthropes there, put a few nightmares in the mix, maybe one or two idiots that get in the way, really, it's nothing!" Nakko said with a grin, his eyes turned to Markovech. "And he does some stuff..." Markovech's eyes lit up. "...Just not enough"

"Hey!" Teo barked at him, defending his friend. "He does plenty! We'd never have had Tevurma village turn over to Arnakos' religon if he wasn't there to heal the leader!" Markovech smiled warmly at Teo.

"We wouldn't have had to heal him if he wasn't such a pussy and just killed the fucker that wounded him." He responded, narrowing his eyes.

Lev sighed, opening his eye. "Can't you two just shut it?" Teo glared at him, then glanced back at his friend, who was nodding in agreement. He decided to pipe down, but Markovech's parents had other ideas.

"You shouldn't have to be defended by a dwarf, Markovech!" His father growled. "You're part of a proud, devil family, act like it!" Markovech looked at him, then proceeded to turn back to his plate, looking at Teo sympathetically.

"I completely agree with you." Nakko turned to Markovech's father. "He's nothing like you at all, you guys are such good parents, clearly he's defected..." His eyes betrayed dark intentions behind his words. Teo was fuming, listening to Nakko's arrogant words. He looked at Naravius, to see him just as pissed. He stood up and left the table, fists clenched.

"Where are you going, honey?" His father asked. "You left your food."

"Taking a quick moment." He held out a hand to stop his girlfriend, Sabbath looked at him in protest, but stayed. He walked out the back door. A few minutes passed, everyone was quiet, the only sound heard was the scraping of forks on plates.

Nakko turned to the parents. "You want me to check on him?~" He asked, still wearing that smile, which felt off at the moment. "I'll just be a minute."

"Please do, he should be back by now" Markovech's mother responded. He headed to the back door, with a little too much spring in his step for Teo's liking, he stepped out, and closed the door behind him.

Teo felt weird vibes from him as he left, an unexpected pit in his stomach making him lose his appetite. Whatever was about to happen, probably wasn't good.