Afternoon. Rated M for violence.


Jebediah Layton came in through the backroom. It had meant having to meander a bit in a quiet street parallel to the alley, checking and then double checking that there were no stragglers from a late lunch hour using the thoroughfare as a shortcut. In the end there had been nobody there at all when he broke the protection wards and slipped in through a window; the sound of his feet landing on the floor was covered by that of lightly falling rain.

The rain had been on and off today. He liked this because it was not an atmosphere of violence.

His eyes adjusted to the dark of the room as he quietly made his way through towards the door that would take him out to the garden. There was barking, dogs disgruntled by the resuming drizzle. Of course they had dogs.

Donovan probably had more in common with them then he did with his layabout paramour. But even curs knew better than to break a blood contract with Ira Almasy.

Wand in one hand, Layton opened the door and squinted slightly as he stepped out into the small garden. A light mist of rain gave the greenery here a melancholy halo but his manner was unaffected.

"Mr Faulkner!" the wizard exclaimed with a broad grin, looking harmless in his battered brown jacket even as he flicked his wand at the two dogs in Leon's company. The bigger canine went down without a sound but the yelp that the small Utonogan gave was grating.

A third flick to throw back their owner - expelliarmus - against the building wall. Layton glanced around the space one more time, perfunctory, stretching the tendrils of his mind in search of other presences. Nobody. He put away his wand and walked softly in Leon's direction.

He hadn’t wanted to go out in the drizzle, but Leon had been waiting for the skies to clear all morning and he was too impatient to wait any longer. Besides, the dogs had been getting antsy, and Leon wanted to be able to work with minimal interruption.

Wrapped up to protect from the cold and the rain, Leon headed outside, letting Runt and Fili have some freedom before he put their collars on to take them for a walk. He didn’t wait as long as he might have before calling Fili over, eager to start walking to ward off the cold.

“Mr Faulkner.”

Leon turned automatically, drawing breath to explain that the garden was private property. His words stopped in his throat when he saw the stranger’s wand flick twice, Fili and Runt collapsing. He reached for his wand too late; the stranger gestured again and he was thrown back, his wand pulled out of reach. An attempt at rolling when he fell did nothing to prevent his elbow jarring, and he scrambled to his feet.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.”

Leon continued towards the back entrance, ignoring the stranger’s threat. Like hell was he going to just wait for them to do whatever it was they –

His legs collapsed under him. Above him, the latch which he’d been fumbling at, fingers clumsy with panic, was still locked. Fuck. He turned back to stare at the man walking towards him, trying to will some feeling back into his legs so that if the man came any closer he could kick him.

Oh for fu-- Layton sighed irritably when the boy began to make a run for it, forcing him to draw his wand again. A simple jelly legs curse was all it took to knock Faulkner down to the earth. He didn't want to start breaking bones so soon in their acquaintanceship: the message hadn't yet been relayed.

"What did I tell you?" They never listen, not even the clever ones - hope prevailed and robbed even the best of rational thought. He walked around towards the latched door, and stopped just short of treading on Leon's hands. Layton dropped to one knee to seize him by the neck. "This isn't an option. This is going to happen, whether or not you like it, and it is going to happen because of Rick Donovan. Do you understand me?"

Of course he did. If nothing else, Leon would at least register the name of his partner. His grip tightened considerably before he released him and stood to full height. Layton undid the curse with a subtle flick of his wand - he didn't have to worry now, as he stood by the gate that would have offered freedom.

"Get up," he ordered brusquely. "I don't ask nicely the second time."

Leon glared at him, committing his face to memory as he did. He was only half paying attention to what he was being told when he heard Rick’s name.

Because of Rick Donovan.

Suddenly, breathing seemed a little more difficult. The world pulled away, Leon’s heartbeat loud in his ears, pushing against the inevitable. He’d thought he’d understood, when he talked to Rick, but he’d thought it wouldn’t happen, that if Rick ever broke the contract, he’d have enough warning.

Instead, he was going to be hurt and then murdered as a message for Rick – as a punishment for Rick. Fuck.

He realised that he was falling too late to catch himself, but what difference did a few more bruises make?

The threat seemed ridiculous. What was the man going to do if he didn’t stand that he wouldn’t do anyway? Leon pushed himself up to sitting, and then kicked out at his legs. He was too slow; the man took a step back and was out of his range. He should have spat in his face when he'd had the chance.

Layton nearly backed into the back entrance, stepping back lightly and with a sprightliness unexpected in someone of his build - he had to admire Faulkner for trying. Most of them lost the will after they realised why they were about to be hurt. The strength simply left them.

Not this one, though. He wielded his wand to force a body bind down on to Leon - flattening the other wizard's frame to the ground. Fine hairs on the back of his neck prickled pleasantly. This was the part he liked.

"I was going to give you a fair chance at a fist fight." Again, his wand, this time tugging Leon's lithe left arm away from his body: rigid and straight. "But let's try this again. I'll leave you one working fist, shall I?"

Layton raised his eyebrows mildly, stepping forward and gently testing his weight against the forearm as his boot came down on it. Oh, yes. Not too big-boned... pliable... one could almost understand why Donovan would enjoy tossing this poor boy around. Layton pushed down, sudden, clenching his jaw with the movement until he could hear it.

A sickening crack.