Chapter Text
“Khadgar!” Anduin limped down the corridor, attempting to catch the mage’s attention before he shifted forms and took off into the sky. He knew that the man would be back in a matter of days, but he needed to catch him before he left.
Turning around, a smile spread across Khadgar’s face as he caught sight of Anduin. “Don’t push yourself, little lion. That leg is still new for you and I don’t want you to end up on your face… again.”
“You’re terrible. It was only the once.”
“It was a bit more than once, but yes, I am.” As Anduin came to a stop, Khadgar placed his hands on his shoulders and smiled down at him. “Now, tell me what it is that has you bolting after me like a man possessed?”
The priest shifted from foot to foot, attempting to keep his balance. “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a message to our mutual friend for me.” He flushed as he held up an intricately folded square of parchment.
“So I’m a mail service now, am I?”
“Khadgar!”
Shaking his head, the mage laughed and took the parchment from Anduin, tucking it away in his belt. “Waiting until you’re out of your father’s sight, I shouldn’t be surprised.” He wrapped his arms around the priest, pulling him into a tight hug. “But you know I will.”
Anduin pressed his face to Khadgar’s shoulder, clutching at his robes as he had when he was still a child. “Thank you.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me, Anduin.” Khadgar’s voice was soft and he kissed the top of his head. “You might not be my blood, but you are my son.”
“I know.” Squeezing his eyes shut, the priest allowed himself to lean against the mage. “Be safe out there—not just for father, but for me as well.”
Khadgar sighed and squeezed Anduin. “Always, little lion. I have a family to come back to.” He paused for a moment, swallowing past the lump in his throat before he continued. “One day, when all of this is said and done and everything has been sorted, I will take you there. I think you would love Shadowmoon Valley, I know your friend certainly does.”
Tensing slightly, Anduin’s grip tightened on the mage’s robes. “Do you think father will relent?”
“I’m working on him,” the mage murmured, kissing the top of Anduin’s head once more before he took a step back. “He’s as stubborn as you are, but I think I can make him see sense.”
Anduin sighed, bowing his head. He could see his feet… or his foot, and the prosthetic that had been a gift from Moira and her people— as it turned out the Dark Iron mages were talented when it came to forging replacements for lost limbs. He could understand why, considering the mining and magma related injuries he’d read of; it was a relief to know that there were countless others who had been helped in the same way he had.
Slipping his fingers under Anduin’s chin, Khadgar raised his head until he was able to meet his gaze. “I promised you that I would do my best, and I will. In the meantime? I’ll continue to offer you my services as mail carrier.”
The priest’s lips quirked into a small smile and he nodded before he took a half step back. Khadgar did need to leave, and the sooner he allowed him to, the sooner he would be back… hopefully with a letter in return.
“Before I leave, do you need anything else? Anything at all?” Khadgar held Atiesh tightly in his hand as he watched Anduin.
“No.” Shaking his head, Anduin wrapped his arms around himself. “Nothing else.”
“Alright. If you’re certain.”
“I am, Khadgar, really.”
The mage huffed softly, a crooked smile settling on his lips. “Send for me if you need anything, Anduin.”
“I will,” he promised. “Now go. We’ll all be here when you return.”
“I’m going, I’m going.” Khadgar walked backwards for a moment. He peered over Anduin’s shoulder, his smile turning into a full grin at the sight of Varian hovering in the background, listening. “Do one thing for me,” he asked Anduin, his voice pitched so that the warrior could hear him.
“Anything.”
“Keep your father out of the pantry!”
“I heard that!” The warrior’s booming voice echoed through the corridors.
Anduin nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of his sire so close behind him. He let out a startled laugh and watched as the mage disappeared in a cloud of smoke. There was an amused caw as Khadgar flapped in place for a moment and then he was off, soaring into the bright blue sky.
“Coward! Say that to my face!”