Nathaniel sat on the couch, reading Mr. Rachet's book. He was 10 pages in and the main character, Harry, was already ambushed by goblins while bringing supplies to his army encampment. There wasn't much mystery to the book yet, but plenty of action. He'd be okay with that, action was good.
Connor collapsed next to him, opening a book of his own. He looked at Nathaniel, "We'll read until Cole comes back, then we have fighting time. Sounds good?"
Nathaniel tilted his head, it would do good to learn how to fight. He could survive a tussle with dirty tricks, but he had little confidence in his fighting skills. He nodded, dropping a hand off the couch to let Rockie nuzzle it. Rockie's head was now almost bigger than Nathaniel's hand. He had grown.
Someone knocked on the door. Connor groaned, closing his book, "Who wants us at 8:30 in the morning?" He walked to the front door, opening it, but blocking Nathaniel's view, Nathaniel shrugged, returning to his book. The chances of it being for him were nonexistent. Unless it was Tobin with his stache.
"What can I do for you sir?" Connor asked, his voice carefree, flippant. Rockie stood up, padding to stand next to Connor, the cat let out a small hiss. Nathaniel straightened, putting his book down. Rockie never hissed. Something was up.
"Step out of the way boy. We've come for what is ours." Nathaniel tensed as he recognized Wasp's voice. He almost giggled, Wasp didn't seem like the type to knock on the front door.
Connor feigned surprise, "Did Cole forget to return your equipment. He is the type to forget to do that." He shifted to let Wasp see into the house, but not Nathaniel on the couch. He gestured for Nathaniel to go into his side room.
Nathaniel slid off the couch, walking in a crouch to his room, closing the door, and peaking out of the slit he made. Connor stepped away from the door, letting Wasp walk in. Connor stuck his hand into his pocket, pulling out his brass knuckles. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, his bite scabs would hurt if Connor had to start fighting.
"So, what are you looking for?"Connor asked, his voice not showing any suspicion or tenseness. Connor was impressive, just letting Wasp in like that.
Wasp looked around the room, his eyes settling on the two books lying open next to each other. Nathaniel winced, he would know Connor wasn't home alone. Rockie walked by Connor, ears back as he watched Wasp.
Wasp walked out of Nathaniel's sight, Connor putting his armed hand into his pocket as he followed him, his back to the front door. Nathaniel resisted the urge to move to see better, he didn't want Wasp's attention moving towards this door.
"I'm looking for a treasure, it's been hidden from me." Wasp's voice was confident, he wasn't buying Connor's friendly demeanor. Nathaniel felt his hands starting to shake, the Manticore saw him as a treasure? That would make his attention never leave. This wasn't something Nathaniel could just ride out. It was harder than that. He looked at the wall in front of his peaking slit. There was a painting of a sunrise there. Nathaniel nodded to himself, it was just Wasp here. Connor would be okay.
More men entered the house, their steps silent as they passed Nathaniel's vision, stalking Connor. Nathaniel flinched as he counted 5 new men, he cursed himself for jinxing Connor. Rockie hissed louder, the hiss becoming a yowl.
"I didn't know you invited more friends." Connor said, his voice still unworried. Nathaniel bit his lip, wondering if Connor was bluffing. He couldn't take on 6 people at once. He may be good at fighting, but he was a lot younger than these trained men.
Connor sighed, "Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" He walked back into Nathaniel's sight, losing the front door, "You're here for my younger brother." He grinned, "Peter's not here and I don't want him to know you came knocking, so I'll have to deal with you before he gets back." He crouched and scratched under Rockie's chin. He looked at the men, "So, how's this gonna go down?"
Wasp laughed, "Seems you share your older brother's arrogance. Let's see if you can back it up." The men rushed at Connor, pulling out knives. Nathaniel let out a breath as he realized they hadn't come with guns. That didn't help much, but it made fighting in close quarters easier. The first man reached Connor.
Connor stood up, grabbing the man's arm and throwing him over his shoulder before blocking the next man's arm and punching him with his brass knuckles. His moves became faster as the men surrounded him. Nathaniel couldn't see Connor except for the flashing of gold every few seconds and the flash of black hair here and there. Rockie yowled, jumping onto the back of one of the men, raking his claws down the man's back before jumping onto another and biting into his shoulder.
A hand grabbed Nathaniel's. Nathaniel gulped down his shriek, whirling to see Ollie shushing him. The little boy tugged on his hand, gesturing to the open window he must've come through. Nathaniel nodded, following him. He glanced back at the closed door, hoping Connor and Rockie would be okay. They should be alright. Connor was strong.
Nathaniel just hoped he wasn't too tired from yesterday's fight.
Ollie looked back at him as they ran through the mansion's front yard, "He'll be fine," He whispered. Ollie then turned, running to where the statue lions lay, on their sides and unmoving. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, Wasp had a mage with him. Connor had to know.
Nathaniel turned to Ollie, "We have to warn Connor there's a mage."
The boy shook his head, pressing his hands in the grass. His eyes glowed green before the grass began to grow, it ringed the lions. The two lions leapt to life, growing in size as they charged to the mansion. Ollie waved his hand, a vine opened the front door before the lions crashed through it. Inside Connor jumped, grabbing the chandelier and swinging out of the reach of the man with a maniacal laugh. Three men lay unmoving on the floor. Connor let go of the chandelier, as he fell he grinned, the lions running past him into the library. Seconds later they dragged out a struggling woman. They dragged her by her purple hood. She hurled some magic at them, but vines grew along the lions and blocked them. Nathaniel watched Ollie, steadying the young boy as he swayed. He was young, this much magic had to be dangerous.
Connor had landed next to Wasp, "I think it's time for you to leave. My witch has plenty more magic, what are you going to do now that we have your mage?"