Oh, oh, oh it's magic (Xie and Kevin)

[xie_er]

Zhao Jing used to be a nobody, born into influence and wealth but always in the shadow of those around him. In magical circles he was even worse, a barely-remembered witch that didn't have enough power for any familiar to even consider looking twice at him.

Somehow, though, after many years (and a few suspicious deaths), he's managed to climb his way to the CEO of Five Lakes, his power - of both kinds - growing exponentially.

The previous CEO was surrounded by some unfortunate rumorus before his death, so Zhao Jing has been focused on repairing the reputation of he company and solidifying his support, mundane and magical, which means it is far too delicate a moment for Xie to be in the spotlight, even if he was promised he'd be allowed to stop hiding when the position was in Zhao Jing's hands.

He just has to wait a little longer, that's all, and it's not like it's difficult to only appear in his animal form whenever Zhao Jing is in public, just uncomfortable, and the last thing they need is for somebody to recognise Xie for any of the things he's done to help his witch get where he is today, when his position is still so precarious...

He tells himself all the excuses he's heard from Yifu, repeats them in his head like a mantra as he sits through all the meetings and negotiations, a little black cat and Zhao Jing's feet, watching the men and women he's speaking to for anything Yifu can use. He hangs around when Zhao Jing steps out the room, listens to what they say behind his back - that's his job with normal people, to be a pair of ears they don't realise are there. Even paranoid types who scan for bugs would miss him, which he finds funny, privately, because he is a bug of a sort.

Not that he's allowed to take his original animal form - a scorpion would be out of place if anybody caught sight of him, and Yifu doesn't like the idea of him hiding in pockets or anything like that. He says it's dangerous, that something could happen to him, but Xie privately thinks he just finds the form creepy. Even around other magical people, the cat is preferred - his job with them is to be a reminder that Zhao Jing has a familiar, and a relatively powerful one at that.

It's hard for familiars to change the form they can take, but he did it, for Yifu.

He tells people the cat is called Scorpion, and that somebody else named him - which is technically true, Xie does mean scorpion, and his parents named him - and that he's vaguely embarrassed to have such a fiercely named cat.

(He doesn't tell magical people anything at all, they know Xie isn't a pet so they're less likely to ask, at most they will wonder why his familiar always stays in animal form. Zhao Jing just tells them he's shy. He isn't, he doesn't care about people seeing him, but it's easier to do the things Yifu wants him to do when nobody knows what he looks like)

Xie hadn't always known he was powerful - when Yifu had taken him in he'd been told he wasn't much, but that maybe he could be useful. Later, when some witch had made an offhand comment about it, the story had become that Yifu recognised his power and took him in before anybody else could steal him away, that he just wanted to protect Xie from the people who would use him for his power. Xie was already so far gone by that point that he accepted it, that he told himself he was lucky he had Yifu to protect him, to guide him.

It's funny how easy it is to lie to yourself.

When the meetings are over for the day he finally shifts back to human form, spending a few minutes stretching out the kinks that come from forcing himself into a form that isn't quite his, especially with how much he's had to do it over the last few weeks, and then going in search of something to eat. He could probably just head back to his own apartment since he doesn't think Yifu needs anything else from him, not today, but the outsiders have all left and everybody in Yifu's manor at least knows Xie, even if they don't know that Xie and Scorpion are one and the same, so it's safe to be around them.

He likes to spend as much time here as he can get away with, likes to remind Yifu he can be useful in other ways... and maybe he likes to keep an eye on this new apprentice Yifu has taken on. He doesn't understand why he needs anybody else when he has Xie, but the last time he'd questioned somebody new in the house Yifu hadn't spoken to him for a week, so he doesn't voice that thought out loud - he just watches the guy suspiciously every chance he gets, and wonders how easy he would be to get rid of.

He's halfway to the kitchen when something makes him stop. A tug of power, the vague echo of chanting, there's a ritual happening and something about it is drawing him close. He frowns, confused, and follows the pull...

Comments

[xie_er]

Xie gives him a disapproving once over, wishing he had some authority in the situation to make Kevin go and change because they were going to an exhibition, would it kill him to dress a little smarter?

He supposes, on reflection, that it's just going to look like Xie dragged him there against his will (ironically) and nobody's going to look twice at them. They'll probably think they're a couple, as though Xie would ever go on a date with someone wearing sweatpants.

He has to immediately cut off that train of thought before it gets any weirder than it already is. Luckily the necklace question is a distraction.

"Yes."

It's a lie, though. It took him effort, it really did, he found himself moving to lift the cord at least half a dozen times as he was dressing, but he always stopped himself. He just couldn't do it. He hadn't taken it off for longer than the space of a shower or a swim since Yifu gave it to him, the idea of just leaving it behind for a few hours is too much. He feels like he's betraying Yifu enough already, he can't bring himself to do that.

[weird_cop]

Kevin beams defiantly under the disapproving glare, content to be the brat for once. Its only an exhibition right? Not out for dinner or anything.

He trusts Xie's word and the magic of the bond a little more than he should, really. But he's got no reason to mistrust him, and surely Xie's not so stupid as to wear something that powerful out where someone could find it.

He grabs his phone and the car keys from where they've been sitting unused and heads out, leaving the safe house with only the yale locked.





The old courthouse isn't busy, and Kevin finds it comforting in a way - the building does have a thread of power running through it, and as they show their tickets and are shown in, he takes a moment to step back and scan the room, using both cop sight and actual Sight to appraise the space.

[xie_er]

Xie honestly expected more push back, he's genuinely surprised he's gotten away with it - and he staunchly ignores the wriggle of guilt in his stomach as he follows Kevin out the house with the necklace still on. It's the bond, he tells himself, he doesn't actually feel bad about lying.

Xie does a similar scan when they arrive, though less magical in nature, taking in the exits and even letting his gaze run over the people casually, checking for any familiar faces. At first, he doesn't see anything that sets his alarm bells ringing, so he's content to just enjoy the exhibition. He's not going to entirely relax, he knows there's a hit out on him, on both of them, but Yifu doesn't even know they're here, he can enjoy himself a little and still keep an eye out just in case, right?

He'd called Du Pusa on the way, she told him she'd tried to talk to Yifu and he'd done the kindly old benefactor routine, acting all concerned (her words, Xie doesn't call her on her mistrust of him, even though he wants to) but refusing to withdaw the hit on Xie because he 'had to be careful'. She did, begrudgingly, admit that he'd said if Xie could break the bond and get back to him, of course he'd be welcomed back, no hard feelings.

(She'd scoffed at that, as though she didn't think Yifu should be the one with hard feelings, Xie hadn't called her on that, either)

He'd have to kill Kevin, of course, so there weren't any loose ends. Du Pusa actually didn't have a problem with that, but Xie... it made sense, logically, but it left a bad taste in his mouth.

Her suggestion was just to let whoever might come after them kill Kevin and then kill them and come home. A couple of weeks ago he would have agreed with her. Now... he'd just made a noncommittal noise and told her he'll call her again when he can and to stay out of trouble.

(He was pointedly vague about whether he meant Yifu or the law)

He isn't sure how to feel about the conversation, so instead he just makes a beeline to the nearest hanfu and puts it out of his mind.

[weird_cop]

Kevin trails behind Xie, hands in his pockets, looking for all the world like an indulgent boyfriend who's out to tolerate an afternoon with someone way more enthusiastic than he is.

The indifference means he can hang back and gives him an excuse to be looking around as they proceed. And they do get to see a few interesting pieces before things get interesting.

It's not even the Sight that helps him, just sheer old fashioned copper instinct.

[xie_er]

It's one of the more secluded corners of the courthouse where they have, according to the exhibition brochure, a display of ancient musical instruments, including a pipa.

Xie should have fucking known. The exhibition was sponsored by one of the shell corporations he knows Yifu has ties to, it was practically hand-fucking-picked to appeal to him - right down to that display in the conveniently quiet part of the building.

That all occurs to him later, though, right now he's already enamoured by the pipa by the time he notices that they're, somehow, the only ones in this space - until they're not. Until a familiar (to him) figure steps out of the shadows and the first knife-like blast of magical energy is already shooting towards Kevin.

[weird_cop]

Kevin's instinct kicks in immediately and he throws himself - not towards the attacker or away from the magic knife - but in front of Xie, whom he still thinks of as his charge to protect. His training from Zhao comes next as he throws his own power out to deflect and counter the attack.

Only he doesn't have to hold back now, doesn't need to pretend to be a promising apprentice; he can use every ounce of the power he's been cultivating in secret, at least come partway to matching what they have.

[xie_er]

Xie's eyes widen in surprise as Kevin moves to cover him - does he think they're going to try and take him? Is that it? Surely it can't be to try and protect him, surely...

(Not when it's his stupid fault they're even here)

The attacker clearly isn't expecting the level of power that comes his way and it knocks him off his feet, though he manages to catch himself and flip back up, his next attack coming stronger, responding to the power being shown. Xie knows him, knows he's a formidable opponent and is just getting started, he just wasn't expecting Kevin to wield that kind of power based on what Zhao knew about him. Xie wasn't expecting that kind of power, but despite the obvious strength he's still expecting the familiar pull, the drain of his power as the fight goes on.

But it doesn't seem to be coming...

"You're a brave man putting that one at your back." the assassin hisses, trying to distract, to sew doubt.

"Zhao Jing wants him alive, you know..." He adds. He has no intention of actually taking him alive, Xie can see it all over his face, he'll claim it's an accident but he's killing Xie today if he can manage it. It's just another mind game, another way to make Kevin think he's still loyal to Zhao Jing.

...which he is. Obviously. Of course he is. He's loyal to his Yifu.

He is.

[weird_cop]

"You don't have to say anything, mate."

He knows this trick, was taught it at Zhao's feet. Words as a weapon as sharp as knives. A verbal hit is still a hit. What the people who utilise this technique don't realise, is he's had worse than that every night since he was in uniform.

"But it may harm your defence if you do not say, when questioned, something you later rely on in court."

He draws one hand back, bending at the elbow and reaching into his pocket. The assassin, obviously thinking he's going for a throwing weapon, launches another burst of magic which Kevin mostly blocks. Mostly.

It practically burns his other hand off but he grits his teeth and pulls out his warrant card, which he holds up in front of him like a talisman.

"Anything you do say may be given in frigging evidence, you idiot."

Then he spins and throws himself bodily at Xie, wraps his injured hand under one arm and across his body, and with the warrant card in front of him he makes two sweeps of a gesture as he barrels forward and pushes Xie up against...

...through the wall.

And then he brings his mouth to Xie's ear and murmurs:

"Scorpion."

It's not an order. It's more like a plea.

[xie_er]

Xie reaches for knives that aren't there and winces at the sizzle of flesh and why the fuck isn't Kevin using his power right now. He almost wants to shove it at him but he doesn't know how and that's ridiculous, it's stupid, he should be standing back and letting this happen just like Du Pusa suggested, except...

Suddenly he's being shoved backwards against the wall, or where the wall should be and Kevin is murmuring in his ear and if he wasn't in shock right now it would certainly be doing something.

The thing it does instead is cause his higher brain functions to basically step aside and his usual ability to even think about resisting an order all but disappears. It might have been more of a plea, but it shoots straight to the heart of him and he's shifting form practically before he's even registered that's what he's being asked.

[weird_cop]

Kevin catches Xie as he changes and slips him into the empty bumbag which he's wearing just for this very purpose - but genuinely hadn't expected to use.

"Sorry," he manages, at the indignity of it.

The portal - which brought them into an office - didn't buy much time but Kevin sprints for the fire escape ahead of them, racing into the car park where he sees the Focus, windows smashed and tires slashed.

He fumbles for his phone while running in the other direction. Not being able to unlock it with a thumbprint proves a problem but eventually he's screaming into it:

"I need a vehicle here right the fuck now!"

All the time he's muttering down the link:

"Sorrysorrysorrysorry."

He fucked up so badly.

[xie_er]

The indignity of it might be something he complains about later, but right now they've got more pressing things on their mind - like the fact that the angry yell and crash of magic against the wall behind them suggests that the assassin is still very much after them, and they are not nearly far enough away.

And now he's in a small, dark space with absolutely no idea what's going on beyond a litany of apologies in his head and what the fuck is he apologising for? This is Xie's fault. It was a trap and he was the idiot who sprang it.

"Focus on not dying." He shoots back, the guilt and helplessness making him irritable.

A wall of magical fire roars up to block their path and someone steps out of it with a smirk - apparently Zhao has sent more than one assassin to try and corner them.

"Just the traitor?" The woman asks with a raised eyebrow, her hand wreathed in more magical flame as she holds it aloft "Oh, did little Xie-er ditch you already?" She mock-pouts.

[weird_cop]

"Right."

Right, yes. Focus.

Kevin skids to a halt at the fire wall, stepping backwards in order to ready himself, shifting his weight like he's preparing for a physical fight. Traitor is an interesting choice of words. Does this mean she doesn't know exactly what he is?

"Oh I haven't seen him since the gallery," Kevin says, in that West London accent that's not his. "Your friend was saying there's a bounty out for him as well?"

He waits for her to fire the first shot, if you will, but throws up a shield as soon as the fire is released, bouncing it right back where it came from.

"What's the bigger sum? Me, or the pretty boy? Because one of you is going to go home disappointed."

[xie_er]

"Probably already halfway back to Zhao with his tail between his legs." The woman laughs meanly, flinging the fire at him. When it bounces back she has to jump out of the way with a yell of irritation.

Bitch you're just jealous you weren't the one fucking him Xie thinks - he does not send that thought over the link.

"If money's any indication, he wants you dead a lot more than he wants his pet back," she says, more fire gathering in her hands as she speaks "but that's probably because he doesn't need a bounty on Xie, that spoiled brat will go crawling back as soon as his fancy shampoo runs out."

For all that she's calling him a pet and making references to tails, Xie is fairly certain she doesn't actually know he's a Familiar. He doesn't know what story Yifu has told, but he suspects he's just accused him and Kevin of running off together. Probably with 'Scorpion'.

He'll be wanting to keep his secrets unless he can avoid it, still.

[weird_cop]

Kevin shrugs, like he doesn't give a damn one way or the other where Xie has ended up.

"Sounds like he's finally figured out what I'm worth," he remarks.

A shield like the one he used won't work twice, but now she's fired once he doesn't need to hold back - he throws out two jabs of magic right at the hand reloading her fireball, even as he slips to the side, keeping himself moving.

As he thinks, he releases he has one more resource he can draw on, and opens his eyes up through the link.

"What am I dealing with here?"

[xie_er]

She dodges to the side, the fire dissipating in her hands and she growls.

"A bitch." Xie responds, but then he actually offers something more helpful "Elemental fire powers. Keep dodging, she can manage about ten hits after her wall trick and then she's out of juice and resorts to knives. She's not very good with them"

While Xie is explaining, she's already recharged and flung two more fireballs his way.

[weird_cop]

Kevin feints to one side to draw those fireballs and then dodges to the other, flicking his own power at one to once again hurtle it back in her direction.

"That's three then. Four if you count the one I cancelled."

He switches technique again, makes a gesture that pulls out some of the power in the building behind her, just enough to hit her with a blast of energy from that direction.

That's his strategy, to keep her guessing about what he's actually capable of, and what he might pull next.

[xie_er]

"Four, she'll have still used the energy to build it." Xie confirms.

She gets knocked down by the energy, her fifth fireball falling uselessly from her hands but her sixth being flung out towards him.

She scrambles to her feet, obviously off balance and struggling to keep up with his attacks, but she manages to get four more attacks of her own out before she reaches for her knives. Behind her, the wall starts to flicker and die down.

[weird_cop]

"I hope she's as bad at these as you say," Kevin says, as his' eyes glance up and he sees the first assassin finally running towards them.

He makes another gesture, and this pulls the man towards them, but only to sweep him sideways into the woman, just as a Landrover comes speeding down the street towards them, slowing down just enough for Kevin to yank open the rear door and throw himself inside as Tony speeds off again.

"What the fuck, Kev?"

[xie_er]

There's conflicting yells from both assassins as they're flung into one another, and a knife clatters off the back bumper as the car drives away, but that's all they manage before it's out of range.

Xie assumes from the sudden lack of fighting and the sound of Tony's voice that they're in the clear, but he stays where he is until Kevin tells him otherwise. Mostly because he isn't sure what'll be waiting for him when he shifts back, to be honest.

"Tell him he can yell later, you need to get your hand looked at"

[weird_cop]

"It's fine," Kevin replies, despite all evidence to the contrary, he can do both. Do you want to come out?"

Meanwhile Tony is showing off his multitasking skills by yelling at Kevin while managing to hit seventy in a built up area.

"Oh," he says, "let's go on a educational field trip to a museum while some master fucking magic assassins have a hit out on us. Let's put our lives and the operation in danger because of a bet on a fucking chess match. You should have known he would pull something like this. You're the fucking frog, Sefton."

"He can hear you, Tony."

"I don't care." Costain raises his voice like it matters. "I don't fucking care you little squirt. My best friend nearly got killed and I'm going to take you to the zoo and drop you in the fucking mongoose enclosure."

[xie_er]

Xie is about to say yes, mostly so he can yell at Tony for blaming Kevin when it wasn't his fault, but then-

You should have known he would pull something like this.

Xie is blaming himself, yes, and he probably wouldn't have even really had the heart to object if Tony had blamed him for being an idiot.

He would have still done it, sure, but it wouldn't have been as convincing.

But he's not blaming him for making a stupid, dangerous mistake. He's blaming him for... for planning this. Like Xie wanted this to happen.

He doesn't say anything.

He shouldn't be surprised. He's given them no reason to trust him, doesn't even want them to trust him, of course they're going to think he planned this.

[weird_cop]

Kevin puts his hand over his bumbag, protectively as Tony rails, and lets him go for a moment or two before he says:

"It was a trap, Costain."

"No fucking shit."

"No, for frig's sake, listen. It was a trap, but it wasn't for me. If you want set a trap for Kevin Sefton you put Tom Daley on a street corner wearing nothing but speedoes and a Chelsea scarf, with a sign that says 'learn the mystical secrets of the universe.' You don't send him a flyer for an exhibit on Chinese fashion. I sprung the trap, but I wasn't who it was baited for."

It seems obvious to him - if Xie had been in on it, he would have set it better.

[xie_er]

Putting aside the utter ridiculousness of Kevin's suggested trap is honestly difficult, because Xie would really like to mock him for it, but he needs to focus on the fact that Kevin trusts him.

He agreed to let him go outside, he believed him about the necklace, he doesn't jump to assuming the worst... it's clearly not naivety, or even just the pure logic that his explanation would suggest, Xie doesn't know how he's so sure but he is.

Kevin trusts him... and he doesn't deserve it. He would have run, if he could. He is wearing the necklace. As reassuring as it is to know there's one person who believes he wouldn't have planned this, it only makes his guilt worse.

How is it that he feels guilty for betraying Yifu and betraying Kevin at the same time?

"I'm sorry"

[weird_cop]

"I was an idiot," Kevin says, and he says it out loud and through the link at the same time, adding "I'm sorry too."

And Tony agrees.

"Yeah, but we let you. Any one of us could have presented the case to keep you locked up.

"So if it wasn't him, how the Hell did they find you and set a trap so specifically?"

"Can we figure that out when I've had some medical attention?"

That prompts Costain to look over at Kevin's hand, and swear again.

[xie_er]

"Stop apologising." He shouldn't be apologising and Xie can barely stand to hear it any more. He isn't responsible for any of this.

Except, of course, he kind of is, because he's the one who took Xie in the first place. So why can't he hold on to that fact and actually blame him?

He'd quite like to know the answer to Tony's question too, but the medical thing is a little more pressing.

"Don't you know any healing magic?"