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]

"They don't know that wasn't normal scorpion behaviour." Xie retorts, but there's no real bite to it - not when Kevin calls him pet names.

The kid thinks that this is even cooler. The mum smiles indulgently (now that the bug is not actually in her child's hand) and thanks Kevin, telling the kid to say thank you and bye.

"Thank you! Bye Mister! Bye Xie!" He says cheerfully, then turns to his mum as she leads him away, talking excitedly about how cool that was.

[weird_cop]

"If that kid gets stung because he thinks all scorpions are tame I'm going to feel guilty."

He pauses by a table the has some actual London stuff on it, and exchanges some words with the woman running it.

She talks in a strange pater, like a movie version of Dickensian cockney, and is wearing old, nearly antique clothing.

"'Eard how you was back," she says, after peering at them both for a second, taking in Xie's presence but not mentioning him. "Suppose you'll be feeling smug about that Chinese feller."

"Just part of the job," Kevin says as he picks up some of the things on her table: a battered A to Z, some discarded tube tickets, and a handful of assorted metalware he believes to be washed up from the banks of the Thames. "Anything unusual been happening?"

"Wouldn't tell you lot if there 'ad been."

"Of course not."

[xie_er]

"If he tries to pick up a wild scorpion like you would a pet one, he deserves to get stung" Xie shoots back, remorseless. It's not like you even get wild scorpions in the UK anyway.

Xie studies the woman as she talks, taking in her mannerisms and body language. It's a little bit bizarre to hear Yifu referred to so dismissively, but he's glad that Kevin moves the conversation on quickly enough - his feelings are less complicated than they were before, but it's still not easy to think about.

He glances down at the things Kevin sorts through but they mean nothing to him, so he focuses back on the woman. There's nothing that jumps out at him, she's just streetwise and mistrustful of cops, he's known a hundred people like her, magical and not.

"You probably get that a lot, I assume" He comments wryly.

It's a pity, really, with his face and story splashed over the papers, and with the way rumours spread, that he probably wouldn't be able to get much more information - the fact that he's working with Kevin has probably made the rounds by now, at least with the bigger players or those who keep their ear to the ground.

[weird_cop]

"Most have good reason to be mistrustful of cops," Kevin says. Another person across the aisle makes a gesture to read his barcode, and Kevin casually blanks it.

"You know how to get in touch," he tells the storeholder sincerely.

She glares at him for a second, and without any softening in her attitude she pulls out a box from under the table.

"Been keeping stuff aside for you, I have."

Kevin immediately places the few objects in his hands aside, and watches as she opens the velvet lined box. The assortment of objects inside don't look so different to the stuff on the table to normal eyes, but he does pay a few pounds for a couple of mother of pearl buttons.

"Thanks, Bertie."

"Eff off, copper."

She sounds positively friendly as he leaves.

"We got some good will by saving the city that one time," he explains as they leave.

[xie_er]

Xie knows that very well - he didn't exactly go running to the authorities when he lived on the street, and then he was taken in by a criminal. The first time he's ever had reason to trust cops was, well, Kevin.

It's interesting to watch, though, how her prickliness hides a touch of respect, how her actions show that she's perhaps not as hostile as her entire demeanour makes her appear.

"Apparently." He agrees, quietly amused but also impressed - the old woman doesn't seem like the type to have any good will for cops, it's obviously hard won.

Not that he's surprised, Kevin is good at winning people over.

[weird_cop]

A few more interactions: most stalls are ordinary crystal bullshit, but those that sell more London-y stuff have people who seem outright hostile to Kevin - or at least don't like him, but have a respect.

Kevin listens to a few rumours. Sometimes people ask him when he's going to do something about a petty seeming grievance of theirs. Others tell him just to get lost.

One man eyes Xie up directly.

"That's a familiar, isn't it?"

"He."

"Don't often see one of you with something like that."

Kevin tilts his head at him.

"I'm going to assume you mean a police officer, sir, and not ask you to elaborate."

But the man in question isn't an immediate threat and he turns away.

[xie_er]

Xie watches it all, occasionally making comments - helpful, when he can, but mostly just sarcastic.

He stares back at the man who looks at him, not that anybody could really tell what he was looking at.

"Something like that," he repeats in a disparaging tone as he turns away "Him, I would have stung."

More for the implication about Kevin than himself, though. He's no stranger to people talking about him like that when he's in animal form, for all he's rolling his eyes at it.

[weird_cop]

"And that's why I make a good UC," Kevin replies. "My ability not to start shit with even the biggest assholes."

Not that he doesn't appreciate Xie's restraint. He would like to sting the guy himself.

At one end of the hall is a larger stall, having paid for prime real estate. When Kevin strolls in to this one, the man at the sales table looks up. After he and Kevin exchange the reading and blanket gestures, he nods.

"So you are back. For what it's worth, a few of us appreciate you keeping out certain elements from the community."

Kevin shrugs. "I keep.telling people it's just my job."

The stallholder doesn't waste too much time on pleasantries. He just reaches under the counter and pulls out a lockable cash box. It unlocks with a key that a second ago was a cufflink at the man's wrist, and he brings out a wad of folded notebook paper, which he hands to Kevin.

"I almost expected your friend to ask for it, but he never did."

"This is my stuff. Thanks, Nick."

He puts the roll in his backpack with his other newly bought goods and nods goodbye.

"He keeps an eye out for me," Kevin tells Xie. "Anything new about how magic is being used. Should be some good reading."

[xie_er]

Certain elements... he's beginning to get the impression Yifu was not particularly well respected.

It's almost funny, after all the effort he put into his precious reputation.

He watches the exchange with interest - but he isn't the only one. Nearby eyes see the cashbox being opened and the wad being handed over and makes certain assumptions about the inherent value of the paper being shoved into Kevin's backpack.

"You have a lot of contacts, don't you?" Xie observes, turning slightly to give Kevin his attention rather than the rest of the world - which means that he's turned enough to see behind Kevin, to see the skinny arm darting out casually from the kid walking past.

"Behind you."

[weird_cop]

"Part of the..."

Kevin's hand darts out, and closes around the arm of the would be thief, leaving him.in the posession of a small, squirming child: much older, on inspection, than the size of the wrist would have him think.

[xie_er]

"Hey! Let go of me!" The kid yells, tugging against the hand wrapped around his arm.

He's maybe thirteen or fourteen at most, scrawny and malnourished and wearing second hand clothes obviously too big for him. Xie recognises him immediately - not because they've ever met before, but because he's been that kid.

Something about the kids face changes and the bones under Kevin's hand begin to transform, but shifting takes energy and focus - this boy doesn't look as though he's eaten much recently, and the grip on his arm has him panicking, so the change stutters to a halt before it even really begins and his face and arm return to normal.

"He's a Familiar." Xie says, shocked.

[weird_cop]

Kevin was already sighing when the realisation comes through Xie. His face softens, and he tugs the kid to the side of the aisle.

The people who turned around to see the stocky Black man assault the kid turn back when they notice that the kid in question is a bit scruffy, which makes Kevin sigh again.

With his other hand he fishes his warrant card out of his pocket, mostly for the benefit of their audience. Having asserted his strength he loosens his grip on the boy.

"Hey, that was kind of a dumb move, wasn't it?

"Have you got an adult around?"

Maybe a witch? "Anyway of telling if he's bonded?"

[xie_er]

The kid's eyes widen at the sight of the warrant card and he swears under his breath.

"I di'n't do nuffin." He says quickly, sullenly. "Sure I got an adult."

"Liar" Xie says, probably unnecessarily. He runs a practiced eye over the kid, the way he's a little ragged and slightly wild-eyed. He looks like a late bloomer, still babyfaced and smooth, but if Xie's any judge he's still of age enough.

"Can't tell for certain but I'd guess no."

[weird_cop]

"'Course you do."

Kevin's accent is not quite his own - it's a little flatter on the vowels, a little less well off. His smile though - that's the one Tony calls his 'Cbeebies smile', though at least now it's not actually derogatory when he says it.

"I know you didn't do nothin', but you reckon your adult would mind if my Familiar and me bought you lunch?"

He adds: "I ain't going to arrest you. Nor take you anywhere you don't wanna go. But MacDee's is okay, right?"

[xie_er]

Xie is impressed, in one sentence Kevin has reassured the kid, confirmed that he is aware of Familiars, confirmed that he has one and is therefore both a potential source of answers and not a threat of unwilling bonding, and offered a hot meal. If the kid knows what's good for him, he'll accept.

Of course, that's no guarantee the kid knows what's good for him, and Xie wouldn't blame him, either, for being wary of an offer this good.

The kid contemplates this for a moment, gaze flicking to study Xie with poorly concealed interest. Eventually it's the lure of food that wins out, though, and he nods.

"Reckon that would be okay."

[weird_cop]

Kevin lets go entirely and stands up, adjusting his backpack to make sure the zip is still closed, and jerks his head towards the exit.

"You nick anything off me and I'll have you," he says, a light warning than comes with a smile.

McDonalds is almost directly opposite the hall. As the walk in, Kevin points the kid towards the touch screen kiosks.

"Go and order what you want, I'm going to have a slash."

He transferred Xie gently from shoudler to hoodie pocket while crossing the road - they couldn't exactly walk into the restaurant with an arachnid in full view - but in the gents he can at least ask questions.

"You want to talk to him, or would that be crowding the kid?"

[xie_er]

"Ain't stupid." The kid mutters, shoving his hands into his pockets and trailing after Kevin towards the McDonalds.

He nods at the instruction, making a beeline for the screen and trying to figure out how much he can get away with ordering while Kevin's in the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Xie considers the question.

"It might help," he decides eventually "he might have questions and it'll be easier to answer them directly."

It'll help prove that Kevin was telling the truth about Xie being a Familiar, too. There's a risk of being recognised still, but it'll be easier to deal with in a restaurant than on the street.

Also, he's hungry.

[weird_cop]

Kevin sets Xie down by the closed door of a cubicle so he can transform in safely just in case someone walks in at the wrong time, and they head out to the main restaurant.

A white woman with a pair of blond cherubs had been eying their kid up suspiciously, and Kevin glares at her until she turns away, embarrassed. He checks the order to make sure the kid didn't take the piss too much (it's okay, he'll expense it), and adds an order for himself and Xie before ringing it up.

"I'm Kevin, by the way," he says finally. "This is Xie."

[xie_er]

He's ordered a decent sized meal and some extra nuggets, but he hasn't gone overboard. He figured he couldn't get away with it and it's not like the food keeps particularly well, so he focused on getting a good meal now instead.

He keeps shooting the woman sullen looks while he waits, but his attention is immediately diverted when Kevin returns with a second man in tow. He can't hide the way his eyes widen a little when he takes in Xie, who regards him with a coolly amused stare. He does give him a slight nod of greeting when Kevin introduces him, though.

"...Spot." the kid says belatedly.

"Shall we sit?" Xie offers, motioning to a free table in the corner. Spot nods and Xie leads him over to the table, leaving Kevin to get the food.

"I've seen you in the papers." Spot says as they sit. A flicker of annoyance crosses Xie's face but he nods.

"I imagine you have."

"Didn't know you was a familiar."

"No, they didn't mention that part." Xie agrees mildly.

"So your..uh.. that guy.. he was your witch?"

"He was. Now Kevin is. You're not bonded, are you?"

"I could be." Is the sullen response. Xie tries not to smile.

"But you're not."

[weird_cop]

Kevin rocks on his feet as he stands by the counter, actually making himself look bigger and a bit more noticeable as he does. It's counter to his usual instincts, making himself more interesting to look at than Xie, but for the most part it works and the two of them get privacy. He listens to Xie's conversation through the link, then comes over with the loaded tray, shifting his stance a bit to stop drawing attention, and sitting next to Xie in a way that shields him from the rest of the restaurant.

He apportions out the food and makes sure the boy gets to have a mouthful before he joins in the conversation.

He'll let them get the witch/Familiar stuff out of the way before he raises the more pressing questions of where is this kid sleeping?

[xie_er]

Xie gives Kevin a quick, brief smile before he turns his attention back to Spot, who's already started shoving food in his mouth.

He isn't sure what to say - he doesn't want to put any pressure on the kid to find someone when he's already going to be feeling it, and he doesn't want to lecture him about not bonding with the wrong person just because he's desperate, because he knows it'll fall on deaf ears. He also knows it won't help - Xie didn't think he'd made the wrong choice for a long, long time.

"Do you have any questions?" he goes for eventually.

"'bout what?" Spot asks through a mouthful of burger.

"About being a Familiar, about the bond. Anything you might not know..."

"I know plenty of stuff." Comes the defensive retort, and Xie sighs slightly, glancing over at Kevin. He might have been a lot like this kid, once upon a time, but that doesn't mean he has any idea how he's supposed to talk to him.

[weird_cop]

"Course you do," Kevin assures him.

"I bet you know more than me, even. I didn't know shit when I bonded with Xie."

He's got his notebook out already and ripped out a page, but it's already obvious what he's writing on it is just a list of numbers from his phone.

[xie_er]

Spot narrows his eyes, like he's trying to work out if he's being patronised or not.

"He didn't even know I had a human form when he bonded with me." Xie adds, partially to tease Kevin but also to confirm that he's telling the truth.

Spot snorts derisively and shoves some fries in his mouth.

After a moment, though, he decides to take them up on their offer, his tone a little too casual.

"Can a witch bond with you if you don't want them to?"

Xie has to force himself to remain casual in turn.

"There are ways," he admits, because he doesn't want to sugar coat it "they're difficult, and they involve a lot of power, the average witch would struggle to pull it off. They'd need to be something special. The more powerful a Familiar, the harder it is, too."

Yes, he did just call Kevin something special.

[weird_cop]

"Special compliment or special needs?" Kevin asks with a straight face, while he slurps from his drink.

"It's harder if you're already bonded, too," he adds. "The witch as to fight with your existing witch as well as your own power. But he's right - most witches probably couldn't do it unless you let them."

[xie_er]

"Special compliment." Xie replies, because as fun as it is to tease him, sometimes it's nice to be clear, as well, when Xie is being genuine. Kevin is something special as far as he's concerned.

"That's good." Spot mumbles, still feigning being casual about it, but Xie can't help but recognise the genuine relief hidden behind the words.

"Is there a witch who wants to bond with you that you don't want?" He asks. Spot shakes his head.

"There was, that's all. I got away from him." Xie studies him for a moment, but eventually nods, deciding he's telling the truth.