sortinghat_logs | It's not gay if we fight monsters

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It's not gay if we fight monsters

WHO: Murdoc Donoghue and Peter Banks
TONE: Awkward, Snarky and Adventure filled
RATING: TBA
WHEN: THE FUTURE. Whenever Peter gets back from his holidays.
WHERE: The Forbidden Forest
WHAT: Something is going on in the forest, so the two manliest teachers ~~who happened to be there~~ are sent to deal with it.
STATUS: Ongoing

It's a brisk evening at Hogwarts as Murdoc makes his way across the grounds toward the Forbidden Forest. He's been informed of strange goings on from within the forest, presumably the fault of one of the beasts that lurk inside. As the resident Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, he's been asked to investigate the fishy business. It's unlikely that it could be caused by dark witches or wizards, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Not to mention he's been moping around the castle or hiding up in his quarters since a few important life changes occured. He's been moodier than ever and even more difficult to deal with, sending him into the forests seemed like a rational idea. Not that he'd be alone, of course. Who better to send as teamwork than the young, enthusiatic flying teacher with a knack for care of magical creatures? Naturally, it only serves as a benefit to the plan that the young man is insufferably cheerful and unlikely to be put down by the foul mood of the older professor.

Murdoc has his wand held close, later it will be used as a light source, but for now it is unneeded. On his shoulder he carries what looks to be a light and almost empty bag, while truthfully he's placed an extension charm on it. He's not the sort to wander off into the Forbidden Forest unprepared, so he's packed at least two bottles of booze.

He's aware that he's meant to be meeting with someone on the outskirts of the forest, but he has no idea who. God, he hopes they aren't irritating.

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It doesn't take Peter long to calm the unicorns down and he leaves right after. He looks exasperated when he tracks down where Murdoc is. Congratulations for getting him other than cheery.

"What the ever-loving hell, man? Fine. Maybe I was teasing a little more than I should have and I'm sorry for that but!"

Murdoc is currently sulking against a tree. His arms are folded across his chest and he's glaring at the ground as if it's at fault somehow.

He looks up and at Peter as he speaks, unintentionally giving him an extreme deer in the headlights expression.

"Don't blame me! You were the one actin' like a child!"

"A little teasing isn't something to get that worked up over! I wasn't entirely teasing anyway--"

Oh. Wait. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned that. Oh well. Moving on. "I do apologize for taking that a little far. But you need to be more mindful around the unicorns."

"It's annoyin' an' I don't care for it."

Excuse him while he focuses on that part of the sentence. "What do you mean you weren't entirely teasing?"

He looks a combination of angry, frustrated, confused and a little bit hopeful.

"I'll try to tone it down a tad in the future."

Peter pauses for a minute or two and then shrugs. "Honestly? You're attractive and intriguing. You'd be even more so if you smiled."

"You're damn right you will." He nods to solidify the firmness of his tone. He doesn't even know why he's reacting to negatively. If the other man is really trying his hand at flirting, he should feel flattered. Yet, ever the unsure one, he can only imagine he's being strung along.

The suspicious look remains as Peter talks and he raises a hand to fiddle idly with the cuffs of his jacket. "You're too young for me, lad."

"Too young? I'm twenty! And Rhydderch must be nearly twice your age." Peter can't help but be just a little insulted. Younger doesn't mean less skill, and he's certainly skilled! His chin lifts in defiance and he crosses his arms in front of his chest, unintentionally displaying the bruises again.

"Twenty is nearly half of my age! What does that clown in a professor's robes have to do with ANYTHIN', Peter? Honestly!"

He stares at him, then the bruises, then back up at him. His expression changes as it hits him.

"....What DOES Rhydderch have to do with this?"

"He offered some help with my difficulty properly absorbing things I read. A potion." Peter actually rubs at one of the bruises idly, a little bit of confusion and uncertainty creeping into the casual tone.

"I suppose the potion misfired a bit. I'm not entirely clear on how I ended up on my back instead. Things got a bit fuzzy after I drank it."

"You...had sex with the potions master. Who is....three times your age. Alright..."

He starts clenching and unclenching his fists, not sure why he suddenly feels so angry and, dare he say, jealous. Something was certainly off about Rhydderch, anybody with half a brain could see that. So why did people keep flocking to him? Murdoc didn't find his dark humor all that arousing, he didn't see why anyone else should.

He takes a short sharp breath and releases it slowly before muttering in a haughty tone. "And I suppose I'm just second on your list, aren't I?"

"What? No! You're right at the top with Sybille. I really don't know what happened with him. I only went because he offered a solution to a stubborn problem that's been plaguing me since my school days. The last thing I clearly remember about that night is drinking the bloody potion. I find the man off-putting and frustrating."

Peter doesn't mention that the off-putting feeling has been mostly since the potion, but he's a little upset that Murdoc would assume he'd pursue someone just because he can't get the person he wants. Of course, it also doesn't occur to him that most people wouldn't admit to wanting two people at once so easily.

Something about what Peter says makes Murdoc's head snap up. He isn't pussy footing around any more, he's up in his personal bubble with a sterner expression than usual. In fact, if Peter is able to read expressions, he would notice the concern in his eyes as he tries to meet Peter's.

"So he took advantage of you? Is that what you're implyin'? He slipped you somethin'?!"

He had noticed what he said about the top of the list, and his heart had fluttered a little despite himself. He swallowed down that feeling as soon as he mentioned Sybille. There would be time to discuss that later, for now he was going to hear every detail and decide how he feels about this.

The concern he spots makes Peter's smile soften for a moment, but the questions make him uncomfortable. "I don't know. It's possible the potion went off. I don't remember clear enough to say who started it even. Everything is a jumble of images and sensation that doesn't make any sense."

Murdoc reaches out to grab one of Peter's arms, dragging it out so he can inspect it better. He scowls at the bruises and gives Peter a worried look.

"Did he beat you? Do you remember that?"

Peter doesn't protest being grabbed, but gets much more uncomfortable. "I already said. I don't-- I remember something that might be a chimera and I'm fairly certain that if Rhydderch had an actual one we'd know by now. The potion was supposed to make words on a page seem to come to life. It must have been off and caused wild hallucinations instead. He's responsible for the bruises. But he might have been defending himself. And before you even ask! No. I don't know how it ended with sex. It was probably the potion."

He looks to the side, really not wanting to think of it anymore. "The only part that I don't understand at all is that I'm almost positive he hadn't had any of that potion himself."

Murdoc takes a deep breath and releases it through his teeth, tutting softly. He drops the hand after inspecting the bruises as he sees fit and keeps his eyes locked on Peter's, as if waiting for the cage to drop and for him to confess to joking around.

Despite himself, he lifts a hand to the other's face and brushes a thumb over the cheek that would surely bruise. His expression turns stern again and he drops the hand, turning his nose up and away from the other man.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from him."

Peter has been nothing but honest, and a little to his own surprise he finds the gaze steadying. That hidden tenderness he sort of expected coming out, those fingers against his sore cheek, makes him sigh just a little bit. Eyes still closed from where they fluttered shut, he chuckles a little.

"Don't worry. I'm never going back to his quarters for any reason."

“Good.”

Murdoc takes a step ahead, pretending as if he’s done with the conversation. As if the flutter of his heart and the rare show of affection were meaningless. They have a job to attend to and fussing around won’t get it done. He flicks and dusts at the arm of his jacket, despite the fact that he looks just as neat and precise as he did when he walked into the forest. He keeps his back to Peter, worrying his lip a little. He wanted to dismiss it, why does his mind keep dwelling on it? He’ll wind up involved in a lot more trouble than he bargained for if he panders to a silly boy’s feelings.

Guilt suddenly wells up in his chest, coupled with a yearning for contact. He suddenly feels overwhelmingly lonely, despite being in the company of someone so strangely endearing. He pushes it down and stifles it, clearing his throat and peering over his shoulder at Peter.

“Did the unicorns tell you anythin’?”

As if Peter seems to sense that longing, he steps forward and sets his hand on Murdoc's shoulder for a few moments. He wants to help the other man, dig out what's hiding beneath the gruff surface, but he has to admit he's not entirely sure how. The man is so prickly, even in the face of his persistence. Still, the question reminds him of the task at hand and he straightens.

"After a fashion. They're nervous and all clumped together. Even the stallions. Whatever's here is a threat to them. And it'll be deeper. They feel safe enough here so it hasn't gotten this far."

Murdoc knows he should shrug that hand off. What is he touching him for? Does he want something? Is he going to punch him back? He stares at the hand in confusion for a long moment, but his shoulders don't seem to be moving at all. He's just letting the hand stay there.

He shakes his head and sighs quietly before looking ahead again. "Then I suppose we've got walkin' to do." The most awkward walk he's been on in a long time.

"That we do."

And if Peter is tense or uncertain about anything, he doesn't show it. His walk is easy and alert, very in tune with the forest, and surprisingly quiet for a man with his boundless energy. He does keep an eye on Murdoc though, shooting him repeated glances like he's trying to figure something out.

Murdoc is the opposite of Peter right now. He only nods at Peter's response, staring ahead and letting the conversation die.

He's obviously tense and he honestly doesn't know what to do with his hands. First he lets them drop to his side and twitches his fingers, then he's fidgeting with his cuffs and collar. Now that it's quiet, he has more time to consider what Peter said. Boy, did he always make things so damn awkward? Murdoc is afraid to look at him right now, lest he makes the situation even worse.

Finally, he lifts his gaze to catch Peter glancing at him and returns it with a slightly bewildered look. "..Yes?"

"I'll admit that you're a bit of a puzzle." Peter shrugs, still casual and his attention half on the forest around him. "But that will clear itself up as I get to know you."

There's no doubt in his mind that it will happen. They just need time after all.

Murdoc scoffs at that, because he's not flattered or a little bit smitten right now. Not at all. He is Murdoc Donoghue, Man of Action. Lone Wolf. Smooth.

"You're a strange boy."

"I get told that a lot." He laughs a little, seemingly enjoying everything. "Apparently it grows on people."

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