The man who answered the door looked angry before even spying Seren or the binder.

“Hey. You need to pay your debt.” Wilbur said bluntly. Seren winced and waited for the retaliation which came swift. The door slammed and Wilbur lay dazed on the ground. Nose bleeding.

“So. I have some pointers for the next one.” Seren said, walking over to him. They knelt down and pulled out a handkerchief. “Here, it’s laundered. I haven’t needed to mop up any blood with it in a while.”

“What do you mean? This is common?!” Wilbur asked, sitting up and feeling his bruised and slightly more crooked nose.

“Way more common if you’re going to have an attitude about it when you collect.” Seren said. “Tilt your head back.” Wilbur held the handkerchief to his nose and leaned back.

“So whadd’ya do?” Wilbur asked, his voice becoming nasally.

“You be meaner.” Seren said and showed a flash of the Caestus rings. Wilbur’s eyes widened.

“Dose are illegal!” He whispered.

“But very effective at doing their job. You don’t tell or you’re going to find out just how effective. Clear?”

Wilbur nodded frantically. More blood dripping.

“Can we go do da hosbiddle now?” He asked. Seren stood up.

“Nope. No ‘hosbiddle’ until the jobs done. All of it.” They said and rang the doorbell.

“Bud my nose! I dink i’s broken!” Wilbur pleaded.

“I’ve completed the job with a busted ankle, three cracked ribs, and broken arm respectively. Walk it off champ.” Seren said callously. The door opened and the man looked even angrier.

“That may have been a good lesson for him but I’m afraid I still have a job to do.” Seren said. “Now. I hear a few ingts rattling around in your pants pocket. How about you hand this over and let this all be over?”

“Fae trash.” The man growled and tried to slam the door but Seren stepped in and stopped it.

“I don’t think you understand.” They said with a sigh. “Give them to me. Or I will take them by force.” Seren let their magic flow, cracking a vase by the door and wilting its bouquet.

“Fine! Take them!” The man shouted and threw the ingts at Seren. A few hit their face. Seren held out their hand and let the ingts rise to their grip.

“Thank you. See you soon.” They turned but paused before leaving altogether. “I hope the next time we meet, you’ll be more polite.” Seren let the door slam behind them and knelt back down next to their cousin.

“They wanna be tough, you have to be tougher.” Seren said. They wrote down the amount in the binder and felt their face where a few of the ingts had bruised them.

“He called you drash.” Wilbur said quietly.

“I’ve been called wayyyy worse than just fae trash. That’s almost become a beloved nickname for me.” Seren laughed weakly. Putting the binder and payment away in their bag and then helping Wilbur to his feet.

“Doh, now we go do da hosdibble?” Wilbur asked still holding his nose.

“Nope. We still have the rest of the list to finish.” Seren said, a hint of sympathy starting to form. “But nosebleeds don’t normally last for too long. You should be fine in a bit. Let’s just focus on the next house. You’ll do better on that one. I’m sure.”

“I sdill hafda do da colleggding?” Wilbur huffed in pure disbelief.

“Hey, at least you have me to help you.” Seren said, helping Wilbur down the walk and back to the street. “When I started I didn’t have anyone to help me. I got knocked down like that a lot and still had to get back up and try again. You’re lucky.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I don feel very luggy.” Wilbur said. “Is id gonna bruise?”

“Ha. Mate, it’s broken. You’re gonna be bruised and sore for a while.” Seren said, “And not to scare you but your nose will probably be a bit crooked for the rest of your life too.”

“Dis is da worst day of my life.” Wilbur sulked. Seren tried to feel sympathetic but this pity party was starting to drag on.

“All right. Enough of this feeling bad nonsense. Let’s just get on with it.” Seren said, opening the binder to look where they were heading next.

“The.” Seren stopped. “You picked one from the Winter district.”

“Yeah. Is id in da wrong place?” Wilbur moped.

“Yes but I also don’t like going into the Winter district much.” Seren said. “But you’re taking this one so why don’t I give you the binder and meet you in the Autumn district? I’ll grab us lunch and we can take a little fifteen minute break.”

“Only fifdeen?” Wilbur whined. “Waid you’re nod coming? Whad if I need you?”

“Figure it out. You failed twice. Don't fail again.” Seren handed him the binder and put their hands in their pockets. Enjoying the way Wilbur’s face drained of color.

“Whad if I ged punched again?” He asked.

“Then get back up.” Seren shrugged. “This job isn’t for the weak.”

“I’m nod weak.” Wilbur stood up suddenly and Seren smiled manipulatively.

“Prove it.” They challenged. Wilbur squared up and looked at the binder. Storming off to find the Winter district. Seren shook their head. Feeling well and truly punished and yet they still felt like it was undeserved. They walked into the Autumn district, partly surprised they didn’t see Wilbur circling the steam works again. They took the time to lean against the steam works. Hearing the machinery inside and feeling the heat coming off the stone. It was a warm day already and the heat from the steam works quickly had them sweating. But the action itself was comforting in a nostalgic way.

They thought about how nice it would be to have another enforcer with them. So they wouldn’t have to ever go into the Winter district again. It was a nice thought. They pushed off the wall and walked around to the Autumn district. They wandered down the road to think about what they wanted for lunch. They were feeling something spicy. Seren checked their bag and looked through their funds. Finding more than enough for two meals at their local curry shop. The thought of curry and a chai made them feel instantly better.

Spirits rising, Seren headed for the curry shop but they stopped when they realized they had no idea what to get their cousin. Curry wasn’t like a sandwich, if you got the wrong one it could make or break if you ever tried curry again. Seren was ready to bet all the money in their bag that Wilbur hadn’t tried curry before. They contemplated how long it would be before he found his way back to them. Quickly giving up hope that today would be over before the sun went down.

Seren pulled out a blank notebook they kept just in case. Quickly writing down a few of the addresses they remembered while they still remembered them. Then ordered them correctly on the back of the page and went to work. Knowing that even if they sped up the process it still wouldn’t affect the overall outcome.

Half an hour later Seren returned to the Autumn district. Where they found Wilbur staring blankly at the streets.

“Hey,” They called, making him jump.

“Where were you!” He yelled. Storming over to them.

“Helping.” Seren said. Opening their notebook and taking the binder to copy over the information.

“You.” Wilbur paused. Suddenly becoming sheepish. “You were helping?”

“I was doing my job. I don’t think we’ll get this done before the sun goes down and I know neither of us want that.” Seren said. Putting both back into their bag. “So let’s take lunch and we’ll talk about how you did.”

“Thanks.” Wilbur said quietly. Kicking at the stones of the sidewalk.

“C’mon, we’ll take a little bit of a longer lunch break and grab some curry. There’s a great place nearby.” Seren said and began walking toward the restaurant.

“Hey. It’s Serenity, right?” Wilbur asked. “Sorry I never stopped to learn your name properly before.”

“Yeah, Serenity.” Seren said. Preferring people who weren’t close emotionally to use their full name rather than their nickname.

“Right. Serenity. Why do you do this job? I know Uncle Eric wouldn’t make you do it if you didn’t want to.” Wilbur said. “This job sucks, why do you do it?”

“Cause it makes Eric proud of me.” Seren shrugged. “This is what made him notice me. See something worthy in me. If I don’t do it, am I still worthy?”

“I never thought about that. Weren’t you born worthy?” Wilbur asked. Seren shrugged.

“Is anyone?” They asked. “I think it’s something you earn, not something you’re born with.”

“Oh.” Wilbur stared hard at the ground all the way to the restaurant. Seren held the door open and got them a booth.

“I can explain whatever's on the menu. I personally like the vindaloo or the korma. I recommend them. Especially the locally caught seafood ones.” Seren said. Trying to make more conversation. Wilbur looked at the menu like it was in another language.

“We might need a bit longer for lunch than you think.” He said bashfully.