we built this city on broken glass

It was no small task to attempt to keep his mind fixated upon those pages in front of him. The continued sounds of some horrendous child's song all but blasted from the downstairs television, competing, it seemed, for the world record in decibel levels with Malia and her new set of speakers and recently discovered love of music. It had been a mistake to ever show the woman that particular avenue of technology, of that the stallion remained sure. Still, he supposed, with Nadya eagerly chatting away on her phone to her step-mother and the children engrossed in that show the pack was largely occupied in one way or another and hardly needed his intervention. Frost content to continue to attempt savour what small amount of peace could be achieved by his closed study door. He had been in a decidedly bad mood those past few weeks, even by his own irritable standards. Even Nadya had taken to affording him that space despite his staunch refusal to admit what had been bothering him. Frost himself distinctly undecided just what about that situation had irked him the most. His own stupidity or how easily he'd allowed himself to be used all over again. Perhaps he merely loathed the manner in which he had almost come to enjoy that purpose the Hunter had provided him- only to learn that Alexander had been just like the others all along. Minus the abuse. Perhaps he should be thankful for that alone. Had he really expected Alexander to be different? Why had he? It was if his own lifetime had taught him nothing.

His girlfriend reamined content to believe that mood came from some perceived anxiousness over that return to Iceland they had made only a few weeks ago and yet even that success was veritably sullied by his continued refusal to go anywhere near the East side of town he had once spent half his time in. As if somehow ignoring Alexander and anything even remotely connected to the man might somehow appease that discontent he still felt over the situation. A discontent he had no real right to feel. After all, Alexander had done nothing more then maintain that bussiness relationship. A soft snort echoed from the man at the realization of how far his thoughts had strayed. Frost doggedly returning his attention to that book he had long since ceased to enjoy reading and yet remained determined to finish all the same. The dull, distant sound of someone knocking at the door momentarily saw him pause. Nadya was unlikely to have heard it and truly he had no desire for Malia to answer it lest she assault someone as she had done the last several times. His own form rose from his desk, bare feet padding across the landing and down the stairs just in time to see that little hispanic toddler run for the door and struggle to pry the handle open. Frost managing to catch Micah's wrist as he did and yet not before that door was thrust open. The little boys wide grin hardly faltered as he looked between the stallion and the now visible Hunter leaning in the doorway. Frost glancing from Alexander and back down the the child. Those accented words uttered sharply to the boy.

"Get inside."

It was harsher than he intended. Harsher then he truly meant and yet the presence of that very Hunter had readily seen those armoured barricades slam down around the stallion all over again. Even those children, it seemed, hardly spared from them. Micah's lower lip had already beginning to wobble with the threat of tears and yet the boy did as he was bid all the same, clutching that tiny horse toy to his chest as he hurried away. Frost's features softening slightly as he watched the boy go and yet that momentary glimpse of something more...gentle was all but lost as those violet eyes flickered back to Alexander. The equine shifted slightly forward then, enough to close that front door and leave the men mercifully alone on that front step. Those uttered words the fell from the Hunter's lips were hardly missed. Indeed, they had managed to ensnare the often apathetic stallions attention entirely though he remained distinctly silent in that moment. Frost himself a stark contrast from the noise and life of that house he had stepped out of. The man a decidedly quiet being in every sense of the word. His gaze lingered upon Alexanders own as he leant back against the house then- as if mulling over those very words.

"Conscript?"

One eye arched slightly upward, as if the choice of that singular word alone was somehow meaningful- and perhaps it was. Yet, Alexander hardly seemed as if he was here to arrest him and force him back into the regiment he held a decidedly tumultuous relationship with. Still, the idea that he might simply choose to re-align himself with that cavalry unit and submit to some servitude with some hapless rider was almost laughable- and he suspected Alexander knew it. Frost hardly foolish enough not to believe there was something more to this and yet Alexanders mere presence was veritable salt to those metaphorical wounds the stallions prickly exterior was attempting to hide the existence off altogether. That very bond that existed between the pair having taken no small amount of damage those weeks ago. Even if the war horse remained determined to conceal it behind those frosted words and cold attitude he so often presented the world at large. His voice offered the Hunter that same cool indifference once more, those tones lacking any true emotion in any sense as his arms folded across his chest. Matching that placid tone Alexander had presented him. The white-haired man the very picture of an unruly colt in human skin in those moments.

"Your more a fool then I took you for if you think I am about to rejoin that Unit so they can stick some bumbling idiot on my back and I can march at the end of a horse line before getting myself torn to pieces beneath some incompetent General's orders."

There was not a man amongst those Hunter ranks that could stay on his back if he desired it otherwise. They had tried before. They had failed before and they would again. Alexander aside. Alexander had proven to be the exception to a great deal of things Frost thought he had known- once. The stallions words near dared the man to argue though why he seemed so content to pick a fight with the age-old hunter he hardly knew. It was simply....easier then voicing the truth of that perceived rejection that stung at him still. That snowy hair fell over those violet eyes as he regarded the man before him levelly once more. His tone as calm and cool as ever, presenting little more than those frosted barricades again.

"Did the Council think you'd somehow be able to convince me to come back? You made it clear enough you didn't need anything further from me. So why are you really here?"

If this was the Council's ploy- then it was a poor one. Frost largely oblivious to those change in Council ranks and Alexanders own new appointment.

FrosT