A Fools Game [Maddox]

[CARTER BARLOWE]

'Come on don't be a fool' Rushing down the streets of Knockturn Alley, Carter was looking for Maddox. When the news broke that Imani's mom had been murdered, he knew that Maddox would lose his mind. He could not blame him after, all, if something happened to Maddox he would probably do the same. Carter just didn't want Maddox to get arrested for some scumbags or worse murder himself. Carter couldn't lose him not now he...loved him.

Carter didn't mean for it to happen, it just did. Well in his mind who couldn't fall in love with Maddox? Strong witty and bounes points for him being handsome, Maddox was perfect in Carter's eyes.

Luckily he had found Maddox at the Minstery after he got a tip from a friend. It was a relief that he was at least trying to get the law to handle it but Carter knew all too well that the Ministry didn't like folks of their kind. After a week or two of beginning the law to look into her case, it seemed that Maddox was going to deal with it on his own. That meant that Carter was going to have to keep a close eye on him.

The two were at the bar serving customers. Maddox had rarely talked he understood that he was taking it hard. Carter rubbed his towel on the bar glass when he saw an eerie character walk in. Maddox had talked about this guy before. The man he knew killed her. Carter was on edge he watched his friend like a hawk at this point to the point he wasn't paying much attention to their current customers. 'Please Maddox, don't do anything stupid.' was all the went through his head as he watched on.

MADDOX DENTON // Notes:

[MADDOX DENTON]

Leena had been one of the good things in Maddox's life, and he'd kept that list short. Leena, Imani, and buggering fuck Carter too. The aurors that had pounded down Leena's door that night while Mads was babysitting had torn his life in two. He'd managed to gather up little 'Mani and some supplies in a blur before they were kicking him out so they could "investigate." Once they finally let him back in days later the place was a sty and he could barely salvage anything, let alone meaningful mementos for her daughter; it was like they were destroying evidence more than collecting it. … at least he kept some pictures of her and her mum at his place.

The next weeks had been bumming favors to look after the little cherub and pleading with the ministry to do anything. Then, when the aurors through his sobbing arse out of the office making sure he had custody of Imani. He hadn't told anyone, even Carter really. He spent more time figuring that out than sitting at the auror office; they'd started locking him out if not shoving him out at first sight a week in.

Maddox was … lost, pent up, angry as all hell and grieving. It felt like there was no one but that little girl who understood and it'd be years before he'd let her understand this horror.

Today at the bar? Fuck it, he was ready to be home. Wanted that little girl cuddled up on his chest and … whatever other comfort he could get. Carter. His unwavering tree in this sea of shit they lived in. Funny, that.

Maddox was on autopilot; pour, slide, pour, slide, wipe. It wasn't a job that took a rocket scientist. His eyes were on the bar, until they weren't. See, Mads had done his own checking when the aurors hadn't, knew who came and left the bar that night. So when he glanced up in that brief moment and saw his face? He couldn't believe it, and thought it was an illusion. That was until the man was moving through the crowd muttering about some slut and banging on the bar to get Maddox's attention.

Oh, he had it.

There wasn't any thought process behind the movement. Pour, slide, lift, smash.

And Maddox summarily fucking pounded that glass tumbler into the man's head. That would've been enough, someone would've grabbed him dazed and half conscious and took him to the aurors. But Maddox wasn't thinking rationally. Maddox was instead throwing himself over the bar, arm arched and fist coming down on the man's face as soon as he hit the ground.

There was no place for thought, only the sting of his fists and his own growls.

[CARTER BARLOWE]

The glasses would be shining by the end of the night on how hard Carter rubbed them with his bar towel. His eyes gazed following the man through the crowd. The man had made the air go cold and sour the moment he walked in. It felt as if death was following right behind him.

When the man banged on the bar the room almost went silent. Everyone knew what happened to Leena. It was in the papers but of course, it was only in a tiny section. No one cared about folks like Maddox. Leena and Carter. Ministry probably was happy it was one less unfortunate soul to take care of.

Carter had leaned his back on the bar watching Maddox. With every second, his muscles tensed up. He knew that Maddox was at a breaking point.

Like a golden snitch, Maddox smashed the man's head with the glass and was hoping to beat the man to death. Screaming erupted and it felt like chaos in the whole joint.

As soon as he saw his friend jump over he found himself running to get Maddox off of the low life. With all his strength he struggled to pull him off. "MADDOX! MADDOX! COME ON HE NOT WROTH IT!" He yelled trying to stop him. When he finally did he pulled his friend up and held him tight while others ran over to the man on the fool. "Nigel take over, I'll be back. And have some take care of the scum on the floor."

Carter pulled Maddox into the back alleyway. "What are you thinking Maddox!? You could have gotten yourself killed or locked up and then who will take care of Imani?" Carter tossed his friend in front of him holding him by his arms. Carter was angry how could Maddox be so foolish? Revenge would do nothing for Maddox if anything it would ruin little Imani life even more. "Leena wouldn't want this." Carter knew that. She wouldn't want Maddox to be locked up for someone who wasn't worth the dirt under their feet.

MADDOX DENTON // Notes:

[MADDOX DENTON]

The screams were secondary; background static to the sting in Maddox's fists and the thundering of the rage in his heart. And then there were arms on him, pulling on him as he swung and swung at the man beneath him, dragging him back and away and Maddox snarled and struggled. Then the familiar scent of Carter* was settling around him over blood and alcohol and sweat and he let himself, to some degree, be dragged back away from the prone and bloodied man on the floor. Sounds slowly filtering back in; the screams, Carter's voice.

He found himself sagging just a bit into Carter, his blood still pounding in his ears. No punishment would ever be enough for what that fucker had done to Leena but maybe, just maybe, it was enough for tonight. Of him doing the punishing. He didn't really have a choice in the matter.

Then they were in the back alley and Mads, he didn't know. He grunted, "Don't remember thinking anything." He finally said, shrugging slightly - the whole thing was a bit of a blur to be honest, but he was still satisfied with the results even if the blood dripping from his fists as he clung with a harsh grip to Carter's arms was just as hard as the other man did to him. "Fucker wasn't doing to kill me." It was a weak argument, and completely ignored the fact that he could've gotten himself locked up if he'd gone any further. Fuck. "There are people." The list was short and half of them Mads wouldn't trust worth shit with a baby. "You."

Mads found the fight draining out of him as he slowly slumped forward, adrenaline catching up with him and he laid his head on Carter's chest. The beat of his heart was calming, helped hide the tears too. "Gods, I know she wouldn't." And he sniffled, fuck, just a bit.