Prince Clyde was sitting in the living room of his mansion with Apollo sitting right across from him. His hands were holding his forehead as he tried consider ways to end their meeting quickly. They had both been talking for the past few hours over how to take care of the city beast problem and yet the conversation had somehow detoured into other terrains that Clyde did not want to talk about. He knew that inviting the man over to request help was a bad idea and would lead into things he did not want to discuss.
"So where is the man who's taken all your attention lately?" Apollo asked with a smile on his face as he could not stop himself from wondering what the man looked like.
"Gunner's not here." Prince Clyde spoke as he knew Apollo would become interested in Gunner the moment he'd find out about him.
"Oh? Do I not get to meet this so called Hound of Abaron? You know word about that guy gets around quickly in this city since he's yours." The look in Apollo's eyes was one of curiosity and interest.
"He does not belong to anyone." Clyde stated as he and Gunner had never made any firm decision on where they stood with one another in his eyes. The man could come and leave as he pleased was how he had come to see Gunner. Whenever he thought about Gunner he felt the man was not able to be uncontrolled just like the wild beasts that plagued the city streets. It was not that he held no feelings for Gunner but instead it was simply that he enjoyed the fact that the man was so free at heart.
"So you're not official?" Apollo was surprised by the thought that Clyde had yet to tie the man to him considering how widely known it was that Gunner was loyal to Clyde like his own personal dog. Staring across the room at Clyde he could not help but feel even more intrigued to know that about them. "That's so.. unlike you."
"Don't touch him, Apollo." Prince Clyde's eyes filled with anger as he could sense that Apollo was getting ideas in his head. He did not want the man to get involved in things that he had no business with.
"Why would I touch him? I haven't even seen him yet." Apollo shook his hand in the air lightly as if he was shaking off the very idea of getting involved. His long pink hair that stretched halfway down his back fell in front of his face as he leaned forward as if to imply that he was serious. The look in his purple color eyes, however, sung a different tune.
Standing up from his seat slowly the long tail that Apollo had twisted about in the air behind him. It was a long tail that had a bit of long hair-like fur at the end of it and it was colored just as the hair on his head. His ears which were pointed like an elf seemed to flinch as his face got a sudden look as if a light bulb had gone off in his head at a sudden idea.
"Maybe I will come by another day and get to meet this mystery man?" Apollo suddenly said in a questioning tone as if he was testing Prince Clyde's determination to hide the man from him.
Prince Clyde could see the hint of something in Apollo's eyes that he did not like. Rage was boiling in his chest as he bit back his emotions. It felt as though he was talking to a brick wall. His hand was clenched so tight in his lap that he felt his own nails digging into the palm of his hand so hard that it bled. It was a scent that he could smell as if there was suddenly iron in the air below his nose. Loosening up his fist the wound quickly sealed itself shut and healed. Instant healing was one of his demonic traits that he was forced to live with.
"Sure, why not?" Prince Clyde forced a smile to his face as he stood up as well to walk Apollo to the mansion's door. Following behind the man he only wanted to slam the man's head against the wall and end his life on the spot but he had to force himself to act with gratitude for the aid he had promised him for the sake of the city. If he wanted to build the city up from the ashes it had become he would need the help from Apollo.
When they reached the door Apollo turned to look at Clyde with a friendly smile. Reaching his hand up to clasp Prince Clyde on the shoulder the prince glared at him with a look as though he had just gotten bit by a mad animal. It was clear to anyone watching the scene that both of the men hated each other and only communicated for the simple reason of business and family connections. They had known each other for years and yet they were like fire and ice towards each other.
"I'll be sure to visit again, soon." Apollo's face darkened even though he was smiling. It was clear to Prince Clyde that the man did not really want to return for a friendly visit in the least.
"You be sure to do that." Prince Clyde responded with the same darkened smile. It seemed as though the entire room in front of the exit had gone cold as they both stood there completing their goodbyes with false masks of gratitude and trust. Neither one of them wanted to drag out any further so it did not take long for Apollo to exit the mansion and hear Prince Clyde slam the door shut behind him. As he walked down from the mansion he could smell the scent of someone coming in the distance that he was not familiar with and yet could smell all over the prince and the mansion.
With his teeth bared while he smiled excitedly he had a sudden curious thought come to mind.