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]

"Only that he's incredibly annoying but he knows what he's doing. He's a very good magical healer." He explains, trying to think if anything else about Kexing was really relevant. "You've met him before, a couple of times, he taught you how to heal yourself magically, at least how to heal a physical injury."

He's not sure if this is something that can be healed the traditional way, but he's hoping Kexing has some answers anyway.

[weird_cop]

"You healed me this afternoon, Kev," Tony puts in indicating the blood on his shirt. "We stopped a robbery together but I managed to get a knife in the arm."

Kevin takes a breath, looking down at his hands as if wondering where the magic was hiding.

"So do you think I might be able to heal my memory?"

[xie_er]

"I don't know." Xie admits "It's not really an injury, I think somebody stole your memories... but Kexing is the best person I can think of to ask about it."

He glances over, frowning thoughtfully.

"You could try, maybe... you just need to meditate, to channel your energy to the right place to fix what's wrong..." He knows the ability is inside him, it's just whether he has what he needs to unlock it. Or if it will even work. He doesn't even know if Kevin has enough energy of his own right now, if he should maybe explain the whole Familiar thing...

[weird_cop]

Tony is watching this in the rear view, wondering whether to put something in.

"It can't hurt," he says. "And Kexing should be able to help with meditation if you can't remember how. But... cards on the table, I think Xie is right. This is a bit of a long shot."

[xie_er]

Xie nods - he does know how to meditate, but Kexing can explain it better, it's not like he uses it the same way as a witch would after all.

"At the very least he can confirm if it's something that can be healed," he offers "but I think we're going to need to find who did this and get your memories back."

[weird_cop]

"No worries about that, mate," Tony adds, sounding like he's making a promise.

"Be quicker with your memories 'cause you're the specialist, but we'll get them eventually."

Kevin nods, wishing he could share his confidence, but reaches for Xie's hand.

"Thank you," he says.

[xie_er]

Xie takes his hand immediately, squeezing it reassuringly.

"He's right, you know, we'll figure this out." He says. Honestly, he wishes he could share Tony's confidence too, but he has to believe they can fix this.

When they arrive at Kexing and Zishu's place, the two of them are waiting at the door just like last time. Kexing looks unperturbed, but at least has the decency to not look smug.

"Your little scorpion tells me you're having some memory issues." He announces when they get out the car

[weird_cop]

"Xie," Kevin mutters, amused, coming to entirely the wrong conclusion about the nickname.

Tony nods, standing aside so Kevin can come through but taking it on himself to explain:

"Kevin fell victim to some sort of kidnapping," he says. "Left him a bit Memento. We were hoping you could take a look? If it's not too much trouble."

He's not that confident, but he reasons it's worth a try.

"Kevin, this is Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu."

[xie_er]

It takes Xie a second to work out why Kevin says his name, but he smiles a little awkwardly when he does - it's easy enough to nod and agree and let Kevin think that yes, the nickname is translation based. It is partially true, after all. It's just... the rest of the truth that he feels awkward about.

"It's nice to meet you, again." Zishu says, his expression sympathetic "Let's go inside and Lao Wen can see if there's anything he can do."

"Even if you can't fix it, if you can tell us anything about what might have caused it, that would help." Xie adds

[weird_cop]

As they go inside, Tony adds his own information, so everyone has the full picture.

"My colleague noticed some magic fuel in one of his ears. We've seen... stuff removed from minds before, but nothing that leaked magic. And it's not like how we've usually seen memory spells play out, the ones that stop you remembering. It's like the memories aren't there."

Kevin rubs his neck, feeling somehow... out of place that he doesn't have anything to contribute.

[xie_er]

Kexing listens to the explanation, nodding slightly.

"Kevin, why don't you take a seat and I'll have a look." Kexing motions for him to sit once they're in the living area. Just like last time, Zishu offers them all tea and goes to make it. Xie finds the similarities weirdly jarring, thinking about how much as changed since last time - how much he's gained since then, how much is now in jeopardy if they can't work out how to get Kevin's memories back.

After a while of checking various things and asking questions, Kexing sits back with a frown.

"I know of a potion that can excise specific memories, I'm not sure if it would have the 'leaking' effect you described as I assume that's only visible to those with your particular gift?" He asks, glancing at Tony questioningly. Despite the look, Xie nods - he couldn't see it, so he knows that's the case.

"That's usually taken by choice, but perhaps somebody adapted it somehow..." He's mostly thinking out loud, trying to work out what could have caused this.

[weird_cop]

Kevin nods along, thinking of what Xie said about only them being able to see magic. He's piecing stuff together, he thinks. Though there's so much he doesn't know, and he wishes he could suggest literally anything.

"Potion?" he asks, looking at Xie. Could someone have made him drink something? Forced it down his throat? The idea makes him feel slightly nauseous.

"Does that mean antidote, do you think?"

Is it that simple?

[xie_er]

"This potion, do you know how it's made?" Xie asks - he doesn't like the idea of somebody forcing Kevin to drink something either, but he can't help but be a little hopeful; a potion is something he can help with.

Kexing snorts, flicking open his fan and waving it idly.

"It's a speciality of Ghost Valley," He says with a smirk - which is a yes, but a very obnoxious one.

"And?" Xie presses.

Kexing regards him coolly for a moment, like he's weighing up whether or not to share this particularly secret with Xie. Xie stares back, holding his gaze - not backing down, but keeping himself from pushing further too.

Eventually, the witch nods, reeling off a list of ingredients. Seven types of poisonous insect and -

"Orange daylily?" Xie repeats sharply "That's the main ingredient in Drunk like a Dream... given the effects of that potion, it would make sense that it could unlock the memories sealed by this one... if that's really the cause of this issue, even with the possible modifications, I may be able to brew an antidote..."

[weird_cop]

Kevin watches the interactions between Xie and Kexing with his teeth tucking into his lower lip. He's not sure what the history is that's making Kexing reluctant, but he's deeply impressed by Xie's determination.

He's also impressed by Xie's show of expertise, the implication he might be able to save Kevin's memories. He reaches out impulsively and squeezes his hand.

"Thank you so much," he says to Kexing.

[xie_er]

Xie takes his hand and squeezes it back, unable to keep the soft smile from his face. He's just glad there's a possibility he might be able to do something.

Zishu eyes their joined hands and hides his smirk with a sip of tea. Kexing doesn't bother to hide his at all. The two of them exchange looks, silent for a moment as the conversation passes between them. Kexing looks back at Kevin when he speaks and his smirk fades slightly, he shakes his head.

"Don't thank me yet, this is only a theory."

[weird_cop]

"Leave it out," Tony mutters quietly when they smirk at each other. "You can ask for the gossip later."

Kevin, though, watches them look at each other, convinced there's a conversation happening but not sure how. He turns that thoughtful expression on Xie for a second but doesn't say anything.

Now he says:

"Thank you for trying to help, anyway. You didn't have to even see us."

[xie_er]

"Oh, we will." Kexing says with relish. Xie rolls his eyes and resists the urge to sigh. Or stab him.

He glances at Kevin when he looks at him, almost reaching out through the link to ask what, before wondering if maybe that is what, if he's seeing the two of them communicate without words and thinking about Xie speaking in his head before they arrived.

He tells himself, again, one thing at a time.

Kexing inclines his head.

"I know, but I'm a great philanthropist," he says grandly. Zishu snorts and rolls his eyes. Kexing valiantly ignores him.

"I will investigate the options, if it is some variation of the soup of oblivion, there's only so many people who have that knowledge..." he offers.

"I'll work on an antidote in the meantime." Xie confirms - even if it turns out to not be what they need, he'll feel like he's doing something "and we'll try and track down who did this, as well."

[weird_cop]

"If its one of our lot, we'll have him," Tony adds. "but we thought we'd give it a try. We're as grateful as ever.

"But as an extra favour," he turns specifically to Kexing, "you got a sec to remind Kevin of some basic techniques? Meditation and that."

[xie_er]

"Of course," Kexing says, standing and motioning Kevin to follow him "come through to the other room, it's easier without other people around."

He doesn't imagine it will take much to get him back up to speed, he just needs to remind him what he already knows, but it's still better done without too many distractions.

[weird_cop]

Kevin squeezes Xie's hand again as he stands and follows Kexing through.

He'd been right - it doesn't take much at all. Kevin's got the muscle memory, and the learned skill, so when he reaches into himself he finds that pool of power waiting for him.

Tony, meanwhile, enjoys his tea, makes small talk, and slips into his undercover charm, apparently talking about nothing while actually listening to everything.

[xie_er]

Zishu grills Xie under the guise of small talk - Xie sees right through it, but with everything Kexing and Zishu have done for them he's willing to give some information, even if the man is unbearably smug about everything he learns.

He does have some contact information that might help them with their wayward teenage Familiar problem as well, which Xie tucks away in his pocket with a quiet thank you.

When Kevin and Kexing return from the other room and it's time to leave, Xie thanks them both again and then, once they're outside, asks Tony if they need to go to the station or if they can just go home.

He'd really like a chance to just sit down with Kevin and actually talk about the things he doesn't remember right now.

[weird_cop]

"I'll take you home," Tony says, half an eye on Kevin to check on his wellbeing.

"Get some sleep. Order take out."

He knows they're both going to want to have information, to feel useful, but that will be better when there is information to share.

"Call me if anything comes up."

Kevin is, he finds, very tired and very hungry, and only one of those things can be fixed by napping in the car.

[xie_er]

Xie orders takeout on the way home, because it's a good suggestion and he really doesn't intend to make Kevin cook after everything he's been through.

When they pull up, he shakes Kevin awake gently, apologetically, and gets him inside, suggesting he take a shower and get into something comfortable while they wait for the food to arrive.

[weird_cop]

"Okay," Kevin agrees, feeling self conscious about how compliant he's become, not being able to make his own decisions.

He can at least figure out how the shower works, and while it takes him a little while to figure out which clothes are his, he gets dressed in sweatpants and heads downstairs to find Xie.

"Which one of us plays guitar?"

[xie_er]

Xie is in the kitchen, plating up the food that's just arrived - he didn't even think about just ordering for them, since he knows what kind of things Kevin likes, he thought it would just be easier that way.

"Me," he says, bringing the plates to the table "at least, the guitars are mine, if you can play you never told me about it." He amends with a slight smile.