Kaza stood at the threshold, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the men standing before him. His eyes, usually warm and playful, were now sharp with a glint of something deeper, something unreadable.
"He belongs to you now? What nonsense is this?" The blond man spat out, clearly displeased by Kaza's refusal. His companion, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, shifted uneasily.
"I'm afraid it's not negotiable," Kaza replied coolly, his tone brooking no argument. "The boy is under my care now. He stumbled onto my property, and I have taken responsibility for him."
The blond man's eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into," he growled. "That kid is trouble, a little thief who owes us a hefty debt. We have every right to take him back."
Kaza's lips curled into a faint smirk, his gaze unwavering. "And yet here he is, under my roof," he said smoothly. "It seems he's found himself a new home."
The tension in the air crackled, the men clearly weighing their options. Kaza, however, remained unfazed, his confidence unshaken.
"Listen here, you pompous—" the burly man started, but Kaza held up a hand, silencing him.
"I have no interest in your threats or your debts," Kaza interrupted, his voice low but commanding. "The boy stays with me. That is final."
With a frustrated growl, the blond man turned on his heel, his companion following suit. "You'll regret this," he muttered darkly as they strode away, disappearing into the night.
Kaza watched them go, his expression unreadable. Once they were out of sight, he let out a slow breath, the tension leaving his shoulders. He turned back to the house, his mind already drifting back to the boy asleep in the guest room.
Entering the room, he found Mesabi still curled up on the bed, his face peaceful in sleep. Kaza approached quietly, his eyes softening as he looked down at the boy.
"You're safe now, Mesabi," he murmured, his voice gentle. "No one will harm you here."
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from the boy's forehead, his touch feather-light. Mesabi stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
Kaza's heart clenched at the sight, a pang of something unfamiliar stirring within him. It was a feeling he couldn't quite name, a mix of protectiveness and... something else.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Kaza straightened up, his resolve hardening once more. "You'll stay here until I decide what to do with you," he said quietly, more to himself than to the sleeping boy.
As he turned to leave, a small glint caught his eye. Mesabi's collar, the one Kaza had placed around his neck, shimmered in the dim light of the room.
A flicker of something dark crossed Kaza's features, a shadow of a promise. He reached out, his fingers trailing along the smooth metal of the collar.
"You belong to me now, Mesabi," he whispered, his voice low and tinged with a dangerous edge. "And I always get what belongs to me."
With one last lingering look at the sleeping boy, Kaza left the room, the click of the door echoing in the silence.
Outside, the night was still, the air heavy with the weight of his decision. But Kaza paid it no mind, his mind already racing with plans and possibilities.
For better or for worse, Mesabi was now a part of his world. And Kaza intended to keep it that way, no matter the cost.
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