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Not for a Submissive.

[ And one of his pieces, which seemed to be moving towards the edge, swept back in to take Wrathion's piece from the side. ]

For him.

[Ah. Clever.

He frowns, leaning forward to consult the move. One claw taps against his cup, and his reply is full of confused innocence.]

You are going to have to be more specific.

Now who's being coy.

[ Anduin's brow arches lightly. ]

Hellboy. Either you're looking for him currently, or you intend to.

[Wrathion shrugs both of his shoulders, moving his center piece away from the confrontation forming at the middle of the board.]

I don't suspect I would have much trouble, if I was. He rather stands out, don't you think?

[The smile that follows is not genuine.]

[ Anduin slides his piece in the center forward, taking the opening presented. ]

He does, yes.

[ Half-human, Jacob had said. Likely someone who'd grown up in the world of men, and Light only knew how he'd been treated by those he met. Who saw only the appearance of a monster. ]

I've already had to ask at least two people not to pursue him on my account. Khadgar was somewhat more understanding.

[ Tim Stoker, less so. But the man had his reasons. ]

Is that so? Popular, aren't we.

[Obviously, Wrathion understands what Anduin is getting at here. But he is not about to change his mind. Aside from the fact that Anduin was far too valuable to him for many reasons, Hellboy was clearly someone who needed tabs kept on him.

City magical interference or not.

Another piece, far off in the corner, is moved forward.]

How many visitors did you have, I wonder?

I wasn't exactly keeping count as they came in.

[ Anduin huffs, pressing up another piece to join the foremost advance down the center. Quietly, he recalls what he can from the moment Wrathion left. ]

Anders and Khadgar offered some potions to help me recover, as I said. Ramir and Gilia brought food, Jacob helped me get cleaned up. There may have been a few others besides.

[ Hm. When he says it out loud... ]

...More than I expected.

[The piece on the left turns to shift its path. A careful dance with the one at the other end of the board.]

Precisely the amount I might have expected.

[It is both a genuine response and a deflection at the same time. After all, Anduin being likable was not necessarily new information to anyone. But it's the easiest way to affirm that he's not about to be talked out of whatever he is doing.

He eyeballs his empty cup and sets it down in favor of folding his arms again.]

As I said -- the last time I saw you in such a state, it was considered a miracle that you had managed to recover. It is only natural for others to desire some sort of action in response.

Having lived through both, I can tell you definitively which was worse.

[ One piece near the end shifts course, preparing for whatever clever maneuver Wrathion thinks he's about to pull, before Anduin leans closer. ]

It's not the same. Not remotely.

[Some part of him can guess, even without the visual cues from the king. After all, while he hadn't been in Anduin's shoes before ... he had certainly been in Hellboy's. That is a sobering thought on its own.

Thinking about it makes his spine crawl uncomfortably. Enough that he goes quiet to focus on staring at the board rather than making a move.]

Perhaps not.

[The difference was that he'd tried to make amends with Ramir after the fact -- to some small degree. But he quickly finds that he needs another distraction, and instead stands with the intent of going to pour more tea for himself, effectively pausing the game.]

[ He debates leaving it there for now. Then something in his jaw sets. He rises to his feet, trailing just behind and standing at the threshold of the kitchen while Wrathion retrieves the teapot. ]

Do you know how long it took before I could move on my own, after the bell?

[ It doesn't require an answer. The implication is enough. ]

Physically, what it took to recover after that night was a drop in the bucket, compared to the bell. I was pain, yes, but it wasn't anything I couldn't survive, and hadn't before.

You don't need to convince me. I was there.

[His tone is even, perhaps a bit too detached from the whole affair. This is messy. Engaging with this is messy. Technically, he'd only been there for one of those recoveries.

Pouring his tea gives him something to do, but it does not stop his mind from ticking. That is really the crux of it all, isn't it? The concern (if it could be called that, as Wrathion was still struggling to grapple with his own emotions at the same time) was no longer for Anduin's ability to physically withstand the challenges in front of him.

But the rest...]

Then what?

[ A hand goes to the counter as he watches the tea pour, before his eyes lift to Wrathion's face in profile, as unreadable as ever. ]

What are you so afraid of?

[The teapot settles back down and Wrathion turns to Anduin, looking less amused now that he's come for him so directly. But they're in the thick of this now, which means he continues to carefully school his expression.]

That is an interesting question to be asking me. How did you settle on 'fear', exactly?

I asked myself what's the thing you'd try the most to hide.

[ A weakness. Anduin sighs, before pressing in just a step closer. No further. No need to make him feel more cornered than he already likely does. ]

Not that you aren't forever trying to hide whatever it is you're actually feeling, and it's not as if I don't understand why. I do. But I'm not going to use this against you, or try hurt you with it. I just want to understand. Help me understand.

[Wrathion sips his tea in consideration, but does not withdraw from the conversation just yet. The gears are obviously turning. He hadn't prepared for such a direct conversion about his fears surrounding Anduin's relentless pursuit of self-destruction.

Maybe like, somethin adjacent to that. But not this.]

And what if I don't think you are ready to understand?

[As soon as it is out of his mouth, he sighs in disgust with himself. It isn't that he wants to talk about it -- but trying to avoid it this way just makes him sound like.

Well. A cultist.]

Nevermind. Just sit, and I will...attempt to explain.

[ His brow furrows in confusion at first, before it seems like Wrathion might finally relent. That's more than he'd hoped for, really.

So, he hops up onto the counter, hands folded between his knees as he watches the dragon hopefully, waiting for whatever came next.

Regardless of what it is? He's listening. ]

[He had thought he might go back to the board and give him a bit of space -- but somehow, it is just like Anduin to immediately act at the slightest hint of acquiescence. So he shakes his head and creates the distance himself, retreating to the opposite wall in order to lean upon it.

Where does he begin, here? It has all become a complicated web stemming from one source -- so perhaps it is best to start with that.]

You are right. It is time we discussed what I have been doing for the past while. Before my time here.

[This is Anduin's last chance to opt out of that conversation while he is in recovery -- or for him to relocate.]

[ And as he might have expected, there's no sign of backing down. Anduin looks to him, expectantly, but with the patience he knows must be employed where Wrathion is concerned.

He'll say what he means to say, when he means to say it, and no more than that. So. At the very least, he has his undivided attention. ]

[Exactly as expected. But the time was more for Wrathion to tug out the information he'd been compartmentalizing in order to focus on delivering it in a way that answered Anduin's ultimate question.

Within reason.]

As you know, I've spent much of my time focusing my energy on how to deal with the problem of the Black Empire. Well, despite my predisposed and famed resilience -- I was noticed.

[He says this in a way that is resigned to how this is going to color the rest of the information he gives Anduin. But it should be given -- he knows, in his heart, that he's been avoiding this because it reveals too much about the pair of them.]

Since then, N'zoth has spent a great amount of his energy and forces upon me. I fear this is part of the reason he's turned his eyes upon Stormwind. Like it or not, you and I share...a history.

[That's a nice, sanitized way to put it.]

And you are rather unfortunately prone to self-sacrifice.

[As recently demonstrated.]

That's why you came to Stormwind.

[ Why else risk coming to the heart of a kingdom so predisposed to hating his kind, who'd suffered so much at the hands of the black dragonflight? Why else risk the wrath of someone he knew he'd wronged so entirely?

It was in fact a tremendous risk he'd taken, all with the same cavalier attitude that he'd have expected from the Black Prince. But this throws all of that into context, doesn't it? ]

You knew his eyes would be upon me after...after what he saw in you.

[Wrathion does not bother to confirm or deny. Anduin is smart enough to figure it out, or he would not have voiced it. He's correct, of course -- and he is not excited to admit it openly. Examining all of this openly is more than enough reflection for him.]

I have seen...traces of similar forces at work here. I do not believe the two are related -- but that does not mean they cannot be wielded in the same way.

[He pauses for a sip of tea here.]

The Old Gods, and N'zoth in particular, grow in power as instability manifests around them. So you may perhaps understand why I have such little concern for your physical state. You are easily one of the best mortal healers I am acquainted with, after all.

[But the rest...well.]

Then what is it?

[ His fingers shift, lightly gripping the edge of the counter, as he stares at Wrathion. Drinking his tea as though that would somehow temper the edge. ]

Whatever comes, I can bear it.

That. You don't need to bear it. In fact, history dictates that you should not bear it.

[Wrathion points directly at Anduin in accusation, as if he's just made his point for him.]

You feel. Immensely. It is part of who you are.

Of course I feel, Wrathion.

[ If anything he looks more confused than ever. ]

You say that as thought it's an option. I can't help feeling any more than you can.

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