Zeke knew it too well. The pain of having nowhere to belong, the loneliness it brings to someone, he doesn't want anyone in his household, anyone he cares about to carry that burden.
"Magnus, I know that our past is something that we can never remove from our lives and we cannot escape from it but I do know that right now the future is up to you, and you will never be alone again. This household, our group—family, shall always be with you and support you no matter who you were or what you've done in the past."
Magnus wiped his eyes filled with tears of happiness, "it is unbefitting of myself as a knight, and as your farmhand to be dumping all of my baggage to you boss, but thank you for listening and understanding my position, from now on I shall always maintain honesty to you and everyone here."
Magnus said promising to Zeke and to himself."
"Okay that's enough of that sad stuff," Magnus said returning back to his usual self, "let's get back at the situation at hand, I believe we will need somewhere for Avin to settle in if he's gonna stay with us, somewhere nearer than the town if we ever needed his help."
Zeke glanced worriedly at Magnus one more time then sighed, "yes that's true isn't it, but I am a loss as to where we are going to settle him. The house is already full with all five of us here, I don't actually know where else to put him."
"Well, remember how I am the construction manager here? I could commission the guild to help us renovate the house and add more room to it," Magnus said, "this way, he can still live with the five of us."
"That's actually a brilliant idea Magnus, I'm just disappointed I haven't thought of it myself when I'm the actual farmer of this homestead," Zeke said scratching his head, "still, that is all fine and dandy, but how can we pay for all these? We don't even have the money from the crops yet."
Zeke said flopping his back on the sofa in fatigue from all the events of the day, but a farmer's life is the life he'd chosen and it's ever so fulfilling.
"We can apply for a loan. We could always pay it in our own time, the only drawback is we can't apply for any other commission as long as the debt is still unrepaid. This I believe is a fair business trade and as the farmer it is one of its perks, so make sure to use it boss," Magnus explained while thinking about something else.
"The construction is also supposed to be pretty fast since we're basically the top priority which I'm hoping you don't abuse boss," Magnus warned while glancing at Zeke hitting his shoulder playfully, "but as always, everything is up to your decisions."
"Hm. Definitely something to really think about, but knowing that Avin barely has anything with him coming here, I doubt he has any money to spend for a room in town. So, we really have to submit the commission first thing tomorrow," Zeke said, "for the meantime, while the construction is still ongoing I don't really know where we can let Avin stay."
"He can take my room for now and I'll sleep here in the living room," Magnus suggested, "that way we can keep an eye on him since everyone including myself still doesn't fully understanding the reason he came here."
"But, I can't possibly allow you to sleep in the living room! If anything, I brought him here so I should be the one to take the couch," replied Zeke.
"Oh no you won't boss, let me sleep in the couch, I suggested this and frankly he was my friend this was the only thing I could do for him after everything that he has done for me from the past and even though we parted abruptly I still consider him as one. Please boss," Magnus' pleading tone is hard to resist, but what he's saying actually make sense they were friends before so it's only right for him to do this.
"Alright if that's your wish," Zeke sighed, "I just didn't expect we will have to renovate this soon, I guess these kinds of things are to bound to happen but I wanted to focus on our farm first."
"Don't worry about that boss, our first wave of shipment should garner us a lot of money, and like I said we can take our time with the loan, you can decide to pay everything in one go or to fix our farm first, everything is entirely up to you," Magnus encouraged, "okay, I should prepare the paperwork for the commission tomorrow before the two of them comes back I just need a final word from you so we can officially start the construction."
"You can proceed, it's almost going to be evening soon so make sure to come back before supper, I'll ask Hawke to help me with the food so you don't have to rush yourself," Zeke said.
"Are you sure about Hawke helping you prepare dinner?" Magnus said unsure of the whole idea, "I mean you know how he can get."
"Yeah, but this would've happen sooner or later and we have to bridge this gap before we could ever be in a position where teamwork is crucial," Zeke said defeatedly, "I'll make him like me somehow, and even if he doesn't I will make it work."
Zeke has never interacted with Hawke personally ever since his first day of dungeon delving, he kind of just let him do as he want with their communication with each other as brief as hi and hellos, still he was determined to change that. Whatever Hawke's problem with him, he has to face them now.
"If you say so," Magnus said as he heave himself off of the couch, "alright, I'm off boss, later!"
"Don't take too long!" And with that Magnus has left.
"Okay, time to settle things with Hawke and finally find a common ground," Zeke said psyching himself as he stood up and stretched, "hope he's not sleeping."
It took more than enough time for Zeke to get upstairs and gather enough courage to face his least sociable farmhand, he doesn't even have the slightest idea what goes on in that head of his.
Standing in front of the door of the said man, Zeke knocked three times.
"Hope he's in a sociable mood," Zeke whispered to himself.
It didn't take a whole ten seconds before the door swung open revealing the handsome man inside. He stood there with droopy eyes without any shirt on, waiting for Zeke to say something.
Zeke could not help but stare, the man has a lean build with athletic muscle and broad shoulder, Hawke also had some slight muscle definition on his abdomen, his pinkish nipples situated from his wide chest really stood out from his dark feather coloration. From all the techy stuff that Hawke do it's hard to imagine how this man has this kind of build. Hawke shifting his weight from his other foot made Zeke realize he was staring for far too long, he shook his head and glanced back at Hawke's golden eyes."
"Uh... hello Hawke! Hope I didn't wake you up from sleeping," Zeke said while fidgeting with both of his hands.
"You just did, but that's besides the point, what can I help you with boss?" Hawke said in a monotone voice while yawning profusely.
"Such a good start," Zeke thought to himself sighing in his head.
"I was just wondering, since everyone is out right now, would you be able to help me out with the dinner tonight?" Zeke asked while smiling awkwardly, "just you know, if you're free and I know this is asking a lot so I understand if you decline I—"
"Sure, got nothin' else to do anyway," Hawke said, "hang on lemme just put my shirt on."
"Wh—" Zeke could not even give a reply before Hawke shut the door on his face. Twenty seconds later the door opened again.
"Let's go," Hawke said looking at Zeke while already walking towards the stairs.
Zeke just stood there mouth open, still confused about Hawke compliance, "I appreciate the help but are you sure about the help? I really didn't wanna bother, I would understand if you needed more rest."
"You would know if I didn't wanna be bothered," Hawke said stopping himself before going down the stairs, "I'm in a helping mood so if you really don't want my help I could go back inside and continue sleeping, it's really your choice."
Hawke leaned his back on the railing as he crossed both his arms, waiting for Zeke.
"Alright, alright I apologize," Zeke smiled, "c'mon let's prep up that dinner."
Hearing this, Hawke nodded then continued going down the steps while Zeke followed behind him.