The first month of Auror Training had been hectic and intense. She was always stressed, it seemed, and Brett was waiting for a day to catch up on some much missed sleep. While in school and over the short summer break, Brett had spent most of her free time napping. Those days seemed so far off now, and she thought of them with immense fondness.

Once she was at home, she was usually catching up on sleep. It seemed she and her roommates were rarely all at home at the same time, and she missed girl time with Grace and Fauna, and missed being able to goof off with Dax. She hadn't been able to spend any quality time with him since she had dragged him off to help her look for a present for her brother- and that had been almost two weeks ago.

It was mid morning now, and she couldn't stop yawning. She'd had two cups of coffee already, and they didn't seem to be putting that extra pep in her step that she needed.

Brett had gone to fill up her mug for the third time, and to get a fresh cup for Radley, when she saw Dax by the coffee pot. She smiled, and caught him by the wrist. "Let's catch a break, yeah?" she said, standing so that she could speak quietly into his ear. A quick look around showed nobody near by, and Brett dragged Dax into the broom closet of the break room, locking the door with a quick charm behind her.

It wasn't the first time that Brett and Dax ended up snogging in an inappropriate location. She would do it at home if she ever had the energy when she wasn't at the office.

It had not occurred to Brett, however, that not returning with Radley's coffee in a timely manner might not be the best way to be discrete with her current activity of choice... And when the broom closet door popped open, and she caught sight of Auror Radley standing there looking less than pleased, Brett stepped back from Dax with a panic stricken expression.

"We were practicing CPR, I swear!" she suddenly exclaimed, grabbing Dax by the arm again and throwing him expertly down to the floor. Brett dropped to her knees and pounded on his chest. "Excellent non-magical medical skill to have, after all," she said, looking up at Archer.

Archer liked his coffee.  In fact, that was an underestimation: Archer loved his coffee. He wanted coffee like it was no one’s business, and this experience of not having it in his hand within seven minutes of asking for it was pretty much unacceptable in the office.  At least when Adon wasn’t watching and couldn’t jump in and stand up for the newbies. 

Maybe it was because he didn’t start his training in this office, or maybe it was just because he really disliked anyone having any semblance of a good time, but tradition stated the rookies got the coffee.  First year trainees were particular targets, so when Abraham didn’t have it back to him, Archer glanced at his pocket watch, making sure he was not misjudging the passage of time before he pushed himself up from his desk, grumbling under his breath.

He easily looked over the top of the cubicles and saw his mug sitting near the coffee.  But there was no Abraham, and it was not being delivered to him.  Frowning, he took out his wand and silently brought the coffee cup to his free hand, grasping the handle.  He took a sip and looked around the office, trying to spot the short haired, short tempered, and ultimately (if she didn’t learn some respect) short-lived career, Abraham. 

Walking out of his cubicle, he followed her path toward the coffee machine, trying to find where she might have gone… and then he heard it – rustling in the closet.  Raising an eyebrow, Archer did not think anyone had business being in there, and without a second thought, pulled the door open – spotting the offenders. 

Abraham and the bad Fayette.  Of course, Archer was biased.  But he didn’t care. 

Outside of quirking an eyebrow as Abraham started to go off, Archer’s face did not change. He took a sip of coffee, letting her throw him on the ground and start beating his chest – just a few good, strong pumps for good measure. 

“Both of you,” he ordered, “Up.”  He inclined his chin sharply before looking back down at them.  There was no amusement written on his face. 

Dax had been enjoying this, he really had. Auror training was tough but...well, it wasn't fun, but it was fulfilling. Possibly because he didn't get asked to fetch coffee as much as the girls did. Sexism had its advantages, sometimes. He had to get it more than Dion did, though. Which was total dragondung!

Still, nothing got his stress levels down like a good round of snogging. And it really had been fun, up until he'd gotten thrown to the closet floor and punched repeatedly. It wasn't entire unexpected - this was Brett, after all - but he still hadn't been ready for it and the air blasted from his lungs in two huge gusts.

He looked at Radley in a panic, trying to suck air back into his lungs and drawing his red robes around himself.  Of course it was Radley! It couldn't be someone with a sense of humor, like Trevelyan. Or someone who would have just shrugged and yelled at them, like Pratt.

Dax struggled to his feet, trying to pull a card from Dion's deck and looking as dignified as possible. This being Dax, he mostly just wound up looking like his lunch hadn't agreed with him. "Sir."

Brett quickly hopped to her feet, casting one glance at Dax, and the other at Auror Radley. He wasn't even smiling. How do you catch someone making out in a closet and not find it the least bit amusing? Brett quickly adjusted her robes, tugging her shirt down and fixing the belt about her waist.

All that Dax could manage to muster was the word "sir", and she sighed, glaring at him. Really, Dax needed to get better at this thinking on his feet thing.

"He survived!" she chirruped brightly at Auror Radley. "That CPR sure does come in handy, yeah?" She took half a step to the side, wondering whether or not she could easily escape and let Dax take the blame, but it didn't seem likely. "See you found the coffee," she added, motioning to the mug in his hand. "Was waiting on a pot to brew, that's why it took so long." Lies, lots of lies. And Brett was not a particularly good liar. But it was just instinct after being caught in such a compromising position. She wasn't sure which was worse- being caught by Auror Radley or when they got caught by Professor Austerlitz.

"Seems to be all done now," Brett commented, taking another small step to the side. "Guess I'll fill up my mug and get back to work then. Lots of paper to push and what not." She pushed a hand through her hair, and gave Radley a hopeful and enthusiastic smile. "Forms aren't going to fill themselves out. Sorry about the coffee."

Of the two delinquents standing in front of him, Archer did not know which was worse.  Fayette looked constipated and was tugging his robes around him like he didn't have anything on underneath, and he could practically feel the wheels turning in Abraham's head.  She didn't take responsiblity for messing up, Archer already knew that, and he wasn't going to let her get away with this. 

Thankfully, he filled up a pretty substantial portion of the door and she would have to push by him to actually leave.  "Imagine that," he replied dryly to her assertion that he was living.  He'd probably wish he hadn't after Archer was done with the pair of them.

At least Fayette knew to eep his mouth shut though.  The constant stream of noise come from Abraham amused him, but he would never let on.  Instead of smiling, he took a sip of his coffee.  "Coffee's bad," he added.  Small sentences were the way to go in this.  The more she talked, the more she pushed herself back into a hole.  So, he'd let her talk.

"Abraham," he cut her off, leaving Fayette to stand there like a sick to his stomach puppy while he dealt with this first.  The good thing was, it didn't seem like Fayette could - or would - walk away if he had the chance.  Abraham was already trying to sneak out. "Give me your wand."  He put his hand out and looked at her, waiting for her to produce it.

"Now."

Dax almost elbowed Brett in the side. He too was predisposed to blabber when caught like this; even as he stood silently he had to stop his moth from opening and spilling excuse after excuse down the front of Archer's robes. She lost her keys in her mouth and I had to help her get them out! We just fell down and landed like that, and figured it was a sign!

On the whole, it was better he'd remained silent. He still struggled with the excuses, his lip bitten, as Archer tried Brett's coffee. Somehow he didn't doubt it was bad; Dax wouldn't trust Brett near a stove or coffee machine, just as he wouldn't trust himself near one. If Fauna and Dion could light the kitchen on fire, he and Brett would probably burn it down. Or cook something that attacked the diners.

Maybe Radley was lucky her coffee was just bland.

Then Archer demanded Brett's wand; Dax opened his mouth, scowling. "Oh, come on, Chief," he said, in a tone that was almost pleading. "You can't tell us you and Raynor haven't snogged in here!"

Brett blinked at Archer. Give him her wand? She looked to Dax, who immediately piped up to say that there was no way that Radley and Raynor hadn't made out in the broom closet... Or, more than likely, in other places. "They don't need to use the broom closet," Brett said to Dax. "Raynor has a private office after all."

Reaching into her robes, she pulled out her wand. "Don't you think that's a bit of an overreaction?" she asked. "I mean- I was just a little late with the coffee. I was coming back with it. I just got... a little side tracked." Brett cast another sideways glance at Dax. Side tracked was a good word for it, wasn't it?

"I think maybe we should just all go back to work and forget this ever happened, yeah?" Brett suggested. "Stop wasting time dawdling around arguig about who snogged whom and where... It's certainly one of our business if you've been snoggig Auror Raynor in her office or in broom closets. Same as it isn't any of your business if Dax and I might've had a quick kiss on Level Two."

"Tell you what, since the coffee isn't any good I could pop into Diagon and bring back a real nice coffee and a box of pastries. Sounds a fair punishment to me... Dax, give me a few sickles, we'll split the cost to make it fair." She stuck her free hand into one of Dax's pockets to fetch the coins.

Archer was not amused. 

Before he was hiding the fact he could have been amused, but as soon as Fayatte opened his mouth, Archer's neutral face took on a darker quality.  His fingers twitched, as did the corner of his eye, and then Abraham chimed in.

She did not know when to shut up. Narrowing his eyes, Archer could not believe the level of disrespect for not only him in this situation - but their job.  They were trainees, they were supposed to dedicate their time to knowing what they needed to do - and taking responsibility.  Abraham was all about throwing that responsibility out of the window - and lying about it on top of it.

Deception was not a good habit to get into - not in their line of work and Archer's hand dropped to his side.  He let her make a fool of herself, she certainly wasn't going anywhere, and waited.  He had time, clearly, and this was a lesson well worth teaching.  If she thought she could throw around language like that - and Fayette was going to go along with it - they were mistaken. 

He silently took his wand out of his pocket and summoned Abraham's wand without a word.  He caught it in his hand and remained stony faced.  "Hands to yourself, Abraham."  He commanded coolly. 

"I don't think," his voice was sharp, cutting through the clearly tense air, and its tone was dark, "this is something I want either of you to forget.  It is my business who you are messing about in closets with and when you're doing it.  You're supposedly the elite - I can see the selection was off with the both of you." 

He looked them over, lip curling in disgust.  "I'm not the one wasting time making an ass of myself, talking to a senior auror like a peer," he added, giving Abraham a sharp look.  "If you want to take your dragging knuckles over to the hitwizards, that's fine - because you obviously can't think before you act - or speak."  It was perhaps harsh, but she needed to hear it.

"My business is to make sure that if you pass this training program, which is a big if right now, based on your attitude and actions in the office, you won't.  I need to make sure when you go out there, you won't kill anyone or destroy the reputation the auror office holds.  Not only are you disobedient, but you're cowardly and looking for the easy way out.  Poor marks in my book, Abraham.  And resorting to bringing up the irrelevant personal lives of well-established aurors is not only cheap, but disgraceful." 

He looked over at Fayette, "And if you think it's okay to start your trap, you can trudge right over to the hitwizard office with her.  You two will make fantastic roommates in St. Mungo's, especially with the mettle I see right now." 

Holding up Abraham's wand in his hand, along with his own, he considered.  "You won't get this back until I think you can handle it." 

He glanced over at Fayette, "And if you know what's good for you, you'll hand over yours without making me use mine again."  Out went the hand, and he expected a speedier return this time.

"'ey!" He said, as Brett started rifling around in his pockets. He swatted her hand away, closing his pocket again pointedly. "It's not like I have any-" He started, when Archer chose to speak up again. Dax stared at him - first in stunned silence and then increasingly in almost disguised annoyance. Dax couldn't help but feel he was looking at Dion's future in Archer; no sense of humor, taking things far too seriously and overall being a massive, overswollen p-

"And if you know what's good for you, you'll hand over yours without making me use mine again."  Archer finished, and held his hand out for Dax's wand.

After a few moments of hesitation, accompanied by a scowl, Dax thrust his wand out to Archer, slapping it in the Auror's hand with more force than was strictly necessary. He still didn't see what the huge deal was. They'd been missed for what, 5 minutes? He'd seen Trevelyan waste more time than that annoying Eleor and he was damn sure Archer didn't get his panties twisted over that.

"My wand, as requested, t'es con," He said, in a tone so official he might as well have thrown Archer a salute.

Brett didn't want to show Dax or Archer that the senior auror's words had cut her to the bone. She'd wanted to be an auror ever since she could remember. She'd busted her ass in school to get the right grades, had managed to finally get out of Hogwarts alive, with all limbs in tact, and get into training- and she thought that she was going to do a pretty good job of things.

That Archer would say maybe she wasn't elite, and perhaps she was the sort of person that would kill someone or destroy the reputation of the auror office... Well, it kind of hurt her feelings. She was better than hitwizard material. Being an auror was what her whole life had been based on.

... And Brett was many things, but a coward wasn't one of them. Disobedient, immature, and perhaps a little bit brash- yes. But not a coward. Brett tilted her chin, clenching her teeth, showing the harsh angle of her jaw. Brett wasn't angry with Auror Radley- he was just doing his job- but she was annoyed that he would be so... insulting. But even her agitation wasn't long lived when she caught sight of her elder brother lurking behind the senior auror, shaking his head at her- clearly disappointed.

That hurt the most. Brett idolized her big brother and was excited to be an auror alongside him. That he would give her such a disapproving look, and then walk away without so much as an encouraging smile.... well, it sucked.

She'd be damned if she complained out loud to Radley again, or asked for her wand back. She could make do without just fine- and she would prove to him, and to her brother, that she wasn't a fuck up. Mistakes were made every day, and this was one of them. From now on, she'd just make sure to stick to Dax-snogging off hours.

Brett narrowed her eyes at Auror Radley- but said nothing else. (She would complain to Dax about it all later on.)

Archer accepted the wand and glared at Dax.  He was being a smartass.  While Abraham looked like she was at least comprehending what Archer was saying, Dax looked like he didn’t deserve a word of any of this.  Like he was innocent.  Well it took two to tango, and he was certainly doing some kind of tango in that closet. 

Worst of all, Fayette looked angry- there was no masking the emotions on that kid, and Archer shook his head.  “Part of the job is respect – and obedience to your superiors,” Archer clamped his hand tightly around Dax’s wand, retracting it.  "Make this a repeat and I'll personally see to your disciplinary hearing."  He left it at that, leveling the young man a look. 

Arrogance was one thing, but defiance was another. He did what Archer asked, but not without asserting, through smacking his hand and looking so angry he didn’t think he deserved it. 

“Abraham,” he addressed her again, standing ramrod, looking like a proud, but stricken puppy, “your task this week is to go into the training arena and polish and clean all of the equipment.  You’ll find the polish and rags in the cabinet.”  Yes, she’d be doing it by hand, “Don’t think to even ask for help.”

He turned his attention to Fayette, “You’re going to be reorganizing the records room.  First by year, then numerically according to file number.”  He looked over both of them, “I wouldn’t waste time now.”

Brett slumped and looked genuinely regretful; that tempered Dax's resolve and annoyance somewhat. Aside from the fact it was weird to see Brett actually seem regretful in this sort of situation, it always helped him stand up to authority if his friends were doing it with him...

It didn't make him actually regret the snogging, however, but his hackles did ease a bit and he let his shoulders slump somewhat. His punishment was...technically, he wasn't sure which one was worse, his or Brett's. Part of him wanted he and Brett to get a joint punishment, but he at least logically understood Archer's choice there.

Not that a bit of light snogging in the armory didn't have a certain appeal.

"Understood, sir," he said, slightly more seriously. Archer was still being an over serious dolt, but for now it was easier to get rid of him than argue.

Brett wasn't sure whose punishment was worse. Dax's didn't involve any real physical labor, but the idea of the number of records... that was daunting. But it could be interesting if he got a chance to look over records, she had a feeling there was some neat stuff tucked away in the files of the ministry. Then again, her punishment likely would last half as long and wouldn't be quite as redundant.

She hated cleaning, though. Any chances of her cleaning at work and then again at home were minimal- perhaps even on existant. Good thing Dion could compensate for that.

Brett had noticed, though, that Archer simply stated she couldn't ask for help. She wondered, then, if she was allowed to accept it if it was offered. She gave Dax a defeated look, then sighed quietly.

"Yes sir." She knew that this was going to be on top of any other duties handed to her by other aurors. She could just imagine others coming along to ask her to do things for them, distracting her from the task at hand. Brett was determined that she would get it done, though, and prove to Archer she was indeed capable of following the rules.

"Excuse me, Auror Radley," she said quietly- he was still standing in the doorway, and he was far from a small man. He was right- no reason to waste time. The quicker she started, the sooner she would be finished.

Pleased that the tranees were suitably shut up for the time being, Archer shoved all three wands into the inner pocket of his auror robes and waited, for just a moment, before he stepped out of the way. 

Even if they talked behind his back - as he knew all trainees were predisposed to do - he had done it, everyone he knew had done that - they were at least understanding to the face of a superior, you addressed them with their appropriate title.  He waved his hand to show them the way out and was only satisifed once he heard the broom closet door shut.  For good measure, he took out his own wand and locked it. 

They wouldn't be able to get in unless they had wands - which they didn't, or the keys - and Tamis had those . So good luck to them! 

Watching them walk, Archer sighed, going back to his cubicle.  He hated being the bad guy, but it was necessary sometimes.  And frankly, outside of Trevelyan, he was probably the best one to get caught by.  Raynor would have fired them on the spot for that kind of behavior, particularly the way they talked to a superior, and Eddie would have hexed them into next week, Adon probably would have lit them on fire...

He shrugged and opened his desk drawer, throwing the wands into the back and locking the drawer.  Those weren't coming out for a few days... at the least. 

Dax was, thankfully, wise enough to wait until Archer was out of earshot to say anything. He stepped out of the supply closet and stood there awkwardly with Brett, hands crossed behind his back. He rocked on his heels and nodded as the other Auror left with their wands, trying not to look annoyed or say anything...even though ever fiber of his being vibrated with the need to punch something, and it  only got worse the longer he held it in.

When Archer was gone he growled and scowled darkly, folding his arms over his chest. "What a prick," he said, with feeling, looking down at Brett. "Just wait til Dion hears about this. I'll get lectured all damn night. Just 'cause he's not getting any..."

He ran a hand through his hair and let his breath out, shaking his head. "Ugh. All those damn files? That'll take me forever," he whined.