To be perfectly honest, as Hawke awaited Arthur's response, he partially hoped that the man would graciously decline. Being rejected in front of his brother might be an embarrassing tale around the office . . . but every nerve in the blond's body screamed that he'd just placed himself in a potentially dangerous situation. One that he hoped he could handle while pretending to court the very man he was investigating without earning suspicion. Arthur's shock was well-hidden behind a smile that would have had Hawke's genuine intentions in any other given situation, but the man's hesitance was clearly written in the moment of silence between the three that stretched just a second too long. In fact, by now Hawke expected Arthur's next words to be an outright dismissal, maybe even a mockery at the blond's forwardness.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#5900b3"> "I believe to give you proper thanks, I should be the one paying for dinner, right?"</span>So sure of himself, and almost convincing. Unbidden, Hawke's emotions were playing tricks on him, given the other's flirtatious tone. But he couldn't allow himself to think like that for even the slightest second. He was being played and he knew it.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Your presence would be thanks enough, but if you insist,"</span>he shot back teasingly.<i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">What the Hell am I saying?</span></i>That was the best question he'd asked himself all evening.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#5900b3">"I'll see you there around seven?"</span>The bastard had even winked. It was Hawke's turn to stand in silence for a moment, watching that sly grin back out the doorway.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Oh, I wouldn't dare miss it,"</span>he smirked at the other, watching him take his leave. It seemed Arthur's impostor indeed<i>had</i>gotten away from the Auror twice now. But the third time was a charm, as they say.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>What did I just do? </i></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>
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</i></span>​</div><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"What did you just do?"</span>Theo's mind was a veritable mess of confusion, the demands of the imperius charm rolling and twisting with his mind's own true desires. His desire to tell his brother of the horrors that thesnake had just inflicted upon him . . . upon them both. He knew very damned well Hyp could best him in a duel with his eyes closed. But his brother wouldn't dare raise his wand against him. Hyp would rather die first. Which meant, if it came down to blood versus blood, he would be the one murder his own kin . . . while Hyperion had done nothing their entire lives but protect Theo from the world. From their father's hatred of magic to the pain of losing their mother. Even during the Battle of Hogwarts, if not for Hyp he would have died.<br/><br/>And now he'd been spelled into a ticking time bomb.<br/><br/>The only way to keep his brother alive, he'd decided, would be to keep Hyp away from Arthur.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"You can't just go asking out the nearest thing with legs,"</span>he protested, though Theo's mind strained to let out the one sentence that the imperius demanded he couldn't. The one sentence that could save his brother's life.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Well, technically speaking, that chair over there is the nearest thing with legs, Theo."</span>Normally his brother's sarcastic attitude would grate on his nerves, but he needed to make sure Hyp stayed away from the Leaky Cauldron. And why, what in Merlin's name had drawn his brother to the very man who seemed determined to cause his death?<br/><br/>He needed to go find those files. He needed to find the bird with the brown stripe on its forehead.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"But the case. You're busy enough as it is. I know you want to be the Auror that captures Albiorix at last. This isn't a good time to be trying to get into anyone's pants."</span>Hyperion turned to him as they descended the stairs out of the house, and Theo noted that he hadn't seen him this tired in a very long time. The flirtatious confidence from moments before was gone completely. This didn't seem like a man who believed he'd just landed himself a date for the evening. Rather, Hawke looked as if he were preparing to march off to war.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I have my reasons. And I'm not incredibly excited about this either, but you just have to trust me on this, alright?"</span>With the curse in the back of his mind screaming to him about files and birds, Theo could barely argue with Hawke in this moment, too busy battling with himself. He needed to get away from Hyp. He needed to keep him safe. He needed to locate those files. His idiot brother could not be allowed to set foot in the Leaky Cauldron this evening.<br/><br/>Unseen as Hawke had turned around, Theo clutched his own head, continuing to follow the older blond outside and into the street. The dark mark was gone. The muggles had been obliviated. It was as if no one had died here this evening, the only evidence of the act being the words carved accusingly into the wall of a dead man's bedroom.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I could use some help when we get back to the office, locating the house in the picture." </span>As much as Theo wanted to go with his brother, the dark magic whirling in his mind demanded another action altogether.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"Actually, I'm exhausted. I'm not used to missing out on sleep like you are. So, if you don't mind, I think I'm going to head home for some rest."</span>Hyp turned back to him, preparing to apparate, with a soft look in his eyes that told Theo he would accept his excuse. His brother checked their surroundings and saw that no one else remained in the streets to witness his act of affection before pulling Theo into a tight embrace.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "It's alright. You go on. I can't have my apprentice too tired to pour coffee, now, can I?"</span>Theo didn't want to let his brother go as Hyperion pulled away, but the curse forced him to step back.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">"Yeah. I'll see you soon." </span><br/><br/>CRACK. His brother disappeared back to the office.<br/><br/>CRACK. Theo, too, abandoned the streets of London for the Ministry. He needed to locate those files as soon as possible.<br/><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><br/>
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