The Apprenticeship of Julian St. Albans

by Crook, Amy

  “The same could be said of you and Alex,” said Murielle.

  “What are you saying about me behind my back?” said Alex cheerfully from the doorway.

  “Good things,” said Julian, getting up and claiming a kiss. “You survived Fischer?”

  “I didn’t laugh at him even once,” said Alex. “At this point not even Ms. Eberly is on his side since the lab mage confirmed the origin of Lapointe’s luck charm and its recent make, and they’ve accounted for all of the ones I gave to the softball team…”

  “Donated,” said Murielle sweetly.

  “Fine, donated, and the ones I sold to the 17th precinct.”

  “At what the mage assured my boss was a very good price for the quality,” she added. “Fischer nearly exploded when he heard that.”

  “Anyway, your boss actually came in and rescued me himself, he had a message for Fischer from their new consultant, and gave me official permission to start investigating again,” said Alex, and then he leaned in and added smugly. “The best part was he refused Fischer’s request to have their new guy look at my house wards.”

  Julian laughed wickedly. “And now he’s off to find consolation in Armistead’s arms.”

  “Just for that,” said Lapointe, making a note on the map before rolling it up, “you’re treating me to lunch.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Julian. They waited for her to seal it into a tube as evidence, then she locked her office and they gathered Thomas and Geoff on their way out.

  “What did I do to deserve lunch?” asked Geoff on their way down.

  “You were were on our side against Fischer,” said Julian. “All anti-jerkfaces get to come to lunch.”

  Thomas laughed. “I won’t complain, I am so tired of doing paperwork.”

  “Are you still working on the Jefferson case?” asked Lapointe.

  “Ugh, yes, it’s endless,” said Thomas, and they complained cheerfully about departmental forms all the way to the cafe.

  “Back so soon?” said the waitress, eyeing up Geoff and Thomas, “And you brought friends.”

  “We couldn’t stay away,” said Julian. Alex stayed quiet, with the faintly embarrassed look he always got when she flirted.

  “Well, what can I get for you, since you’ve brought your whole harem?” she asked Julian teasingly. The two of them got along quite well, especially since Julian understood her crush on Alex completely.

  “I’d like tea and water, please,” he said, “and we’re having lunch this time, what’s the soup?”

  “Chicken and dumpling, it’s really good today,” she said. “You’ll want that and half a BLT?”

  “Yep,” said Julian happily. One advantage of coming with well-liked regulars was that she learned his preferences right off the bat. “Thanks,” he added, remembering at the last minute not to treat her like a house-brownie.

  “Will do,” she said, making a note and moving on, getting everyone’s orders. They all ate here often enough no one even looked at a menu, and soon enough she left to get their drinks with a cheery wink to Agent MacLean, who blushed.

  “You’re worse than Alex,” teased Murielle.

  “At least I have an excuse for not knowing how to talk to women,” said Alex.

  Thomas harrumphed. “It’s not that I can’t talk to them, I just never know how not to offend them.”

  “It’s not that hard,” said Geoff. “Though in her case I’m not sure Jones would forgive you if you got her number when he hasn’t yet.”

  “She wants to make sure he’s not a cad who won’t ever call,” said Julian. “Besides, men appreciate it more when they have to work for it.”

  “You were worth the effort,” said Alex, and Julian gave him a sweet kiss as a reward.

  MacLean groaned. “That’s just unfair, you’re setting a bad example!”

  “It only works if you mean it,” said Julian smugly.

  The waitress returned with their drinks, and they got to the business of adding yet more caffeine into their day. They talked about more mundane things, which came back around to the case and Fischer’s behaviour. Julian got to hear the full story of how Alex met him, which did account for some of his animosity, and they decided the rest must be Fischer’s general dislike of magic.

  “It won’t get him out of his physical,” said Geoff, nibbling at the last of his fries. “Nor you two. You could even come down now, I haven’t got any appointments until four,” he coaxed.

  “Will it be very complicated?” asked Julian. He had a feeling Alex wanted to dive back into his research now that he was allowed, but Julian rather liked Geoff and wouldn’t mind a bit longer in his company. Even if he had seen Alex naked first.

  “It won’t, I just want to check him over,” said Geoff, turning his attention to Julian. “Fifteen minutes for each of them, then another ten correlating their readings, and I’ll even make that herbal tea you like.”

  “Just think,” said Julian to Murielle, “you’d be completely unavailable to Fischer for almost a whole extra hour.”

  “Oh, he’s good,” she said to Alex, then turned to Geoff. “Yes, all right, fine, I will if Alex will.”

  Geoff gave Alex an expectant look.

  “Yes, yes, fine,” Alex gave in, putting his hands up in surrender.

  “Excellent. I’ll remember to recruit you sooner next time,” said Geoff, giving Julian a wink.

  Julian winked right back. “It’s in my best interests to make sure he’s functioning at peak performance,” he said slyly.

  That started another round of teasing that lasted until the check was paid, and they were back in the Agency lobby. MacLean left them at the elevators, taking his coffee back upstairs to continue his paperwork, while the rest of them headed down to the infirmary.

  Julian was allowed to stay in the room for Alex’s physical, though they left Murielle alone with the doctor, sitting in Geoff’s office sipping tea instead. Then Murielle emerged and Geoff sat in front of his computer poking at things while the three of them talked more about the other leads in the murder.

  Now that Fischer was being pointed away from Alex, they hoped to make more progress on the many other names they’d gotten from Mary Margaret’s records, with their other three clover buyers at the top of the list.

  “I’m still most curious about man who failed to pick up his lilies,” said Alex. He was about to say more when his phone rang. She gestured for him to answer, and his voice was warm as he picked up. “Father Stephen, how are you?”

  The conversation was brief, confirming Sunday morning to go redo the wards and blessings on the nursery before he passed the phone to Julian. “Oh, um, hello,” said Julian shyly. He still felt shy around the priest, though he’d never been anything but kind.

  “Julian, my boy, how are you?” asked Father Stephen, and Julian could hear the smile in his voice.

  Julian couldn’t help but smile back. “I’m good, Alex is taking care of me. And, well, it wasn’t me that was hurt.”

  “We’re grateful for that,” said Master Stephen. “I’d like you to come back for another purification, if you can convince Alex. I think it would do you a world of good.”

  “Oh, um, of course, should we try to come before Sunday?” said Julian. They could maybe make it over this afternoon, though it might be hard to drag Alex away if he got an idea he wanted to pursue.

  “No, come on Sunday, you can meet me at the Temple and we’ll all go through, then we’ll head over together while we’re at peace,” said Stephen.

  “Oh! All right, I’ll make sure. Is nine okay?” said Julian.

  “That’s perfect, and now I have one other favour to ask,” said Father Stephen. “You’ve got a pot with lucky clover that are healthy, don’t you?”

  “Our window box is about to overrun itself,” said Julian. “I was thinking of using some of the offshoots for your garden, sir.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” said Stephen, sounding surprised. “Well, if you could bring one… Act
ually, if you bring two, that will be better. We’ll plant one here in the land we’ve cleared for your luck garden, and then take one to the nursery to re-start her lucky clover patch. If you’re amenable?”

  “Oh, yes, I’d love to. I have some little pots I can use to transport them, I don’t need anything special, do I?” asked Julian, feeling proud that he could do something extra to help.

  “I’m certain you’ve already made those plants very special just by caring for them as you have,” said Stephen. “Thank you. If Alex is all done with me, then, I’ll let you go and attend to my duties here.”

  Alex gestured that he was done when Julian made motions, and he grinned. “He’s done, thank you, Father. We’ll see you Sunday, bright and early.”

  “If anyone can drag Alex out of bed on a Sunday morning, it’s you,” said Father Stephen. “See you then.”

  They hung up, and Julian handed Alex back his phone. “I get to bring some of my clover to help with your blessings,” he said proudly.

  “And drag me out of bed early on Sunday, I heard?” he asked, curious.

  Julian chuckled. “Father Stephen would like us all to go through purification together, and then I get to plant some clover in the new luck garden before we go to the nursery,” he explained. “That’s okay, right?”

  “Right,” said Alex. “Especially if he thinks it’ll be good for you.” He squeezed Julian’s hand.

  “So no getting drunk at MacLean’s,” said Lapointe innocently. “Though I’ve heard the process is good for hangovers.”

  Julian snickered. “And no staying up until 1am, either, I suppose.”

  “Well, none of you should be doing that, anyway,” said Geoff, turning back to them. “Murielle, you have not been using your ointment, and your shoulder is stiffening up a little.”

  “Guilty as charged,” she said with a sigh. “I suppose the prescription for that is actually using the ointment?”

  “And physical therapy, if it isn’t better after a month of steady use,” said Geoff sternly. “I’m going to come find you, I’ve already put it in my calendar.”

  Alex snickered, and Geoff rounded on him. “And you have been doing something to get your magic all out of whack again.”

  “I have not!” protested Alex.

  “He has been using his ointment, though,” said Julian, wanting him to get at least a few brownie points.

  “What else have you been doing?” asked Geoff, and then he and Alex got into a long discussion about Alex’s various magical projects.

  “It’s not me, is it?” asked Julian in a small voice.

  “No,” said both of them, in unison, which made everyone laugh.

  “No, he’s been teaching you sensing and that’s still at his usual levels,” said Geoff, once they settled back down. “I’m going to see if Dr. Chesterfield can see you, this is really his area of expertise,” said Geoff.

  Alex sighed. “I was really getting used to life without medicinal potions,” he said glumly.

  “At least the tea is good,” said Julian, pouring himself another cup.

  They discussed about possible causes for Alex’s symptoms, but in the end they decided to wait for the appointment with Dr. Chesterfield, which Geoff helpfully called and scheduled for them for next week. “He says it’s still okay to help with the greenhouse,” said Geoff, hanging up.

  “Oh, good,” said Julian, though he was still a little worried.

  Alex looked relieved. “So it’s not really bad like last time?” Julian remembered how restless he’d been after a few days of enforced rest.

  “It’s not, but it’s still worth looking into,” assured Geoff. “Now go on, investigate your murder,” he said, checking the clock. “I’ve got some of that endless paperwork to do before my four o’clock.”

  Julian thanked him again for the tea, and they made their way back upstairs after reassurances that they’d all see each other at MacLean’s tomorrow.

  CHAPTER 6

  “My phone’s about out of battery, can I use yours?” asked Alex, once they were settled into Lapointe’s office.

  “Oh, sure,” said Julian, handing it over. He took a moment to appreciate the casual trust in their relationship with small things like their phone passwords and shared spaces. “Should I get coffee?”

  “You’re an angel,” said Lapointe. “You know which mug’s mine?”

  “Yep,” said Julian. “I’m not stealing Smedley’s for Alex, though.” He got up and wandered off, coming back to find that Jones would be at their disposal on Sunday and Alex was still willing to trade kisses for coffee.

  Lapointe got hers for a simple thanks, however.

  Alex was smart enough not to protest.

  They worked for a while, Julian helping with his recollection of this or that customer while they correlated the data and followed up. Once Lapointe started her rounds of calling people to ask about their business, however, Alex declared himself superfluous and took Julian back home. They decided to go out again, skipping the posh places in favour of more Indian at Padma’s. Julian always loved the food and the way everyone welcomed them like they were family. The associations from their date didn’t hurt, either.

  “Our flower beds have never been healthier,” said Padma by way of greeting, and this time it was Julian she went for first. “You’re a doll.”

  “And so I’m thrown over once again for my boyfriend,” said Alex, getting a kiss on the cheek for his trouble.

  “You haven’t been half so useful,” teased Padma, leading them to a perfectly normal table off in a corner, rather than the fancy private room they’d used the first time Alex brought him here. “Our plants were in a terrible state before your Julian tended to them.”

  “You just had depleted soil,” said Julian shyly. “Alex did help a little.”

  “I’m not sure carrying the fertiliser bags counts,” said Alex, holding Julian’s chair for him. “But it’s good to know you appreciate me, anyway.”

  “I wouldn’t even know I was good at this without you,” said Julian. They shared a kiss, then Alex sat.

  Padma grinned. “For that bit of sweetness, I’m going to bring you two a special meal.” She left without letting them even look at their menus.

  “Ooh, she does like you,” said Alex. “I’ve never gotten a special meal here like that before.”

  “You’re too commanding on your own,” said Julian, giving him a ticklish poke in the side. “No one would dare tell Alex Benedict what to eat.”

  Alex harrumphed, but he was too cheerful to pretend at offence. “Padma would dare anything she liked, I should think.”

  “She has now, so enjoy being spoiled,” said Julian, then he paused and added, “Well, spoiled more.”

  “You’re just as spoiled,” said Alex.

  They spent their meal like that, alternately teasing and commenting on the food, which turned out to be amazing. Their tea arrived first with a plate of pakoras that were different than the usual, a mix of small chunks of the mild paneer cheese and some sort of green vegetable, rather than one or the other. Padma came by to ask how they liked them, and admitted they were testing them as a future menu item, but the extra work would mean they’d cost more than either type alone.

  Next there was a new curry, one that was as hot as anything else they served, along with lassis for both of them. The chef came out to talk about those, and he sent out a treat of assorted Tandoori in thanks. There were little side items that showed up here and there, as well, raita and dal and a few others Julian wasn’t sure of, but everything was delicious, enough so that he was almost too full for dessert.

  “Let’s go check on the flowers, that’ll burn a few calories for us,” suggested Alex.

  They told Padma what they were up to, and she laughingly promised she’d never think they’d try to leave without paying. The night was pleasantly cool after the heat of the day, and they walked all around the restaurant, Alex helping him listen in on the various plants and even fee
ding him a little power to help one of the trees that was fighting off an infestation.

  They were along the side with the dumpsters, which didn’t used to have much in the way of vegetation. There were flower beds that ran around the whole building, but these had been neglected, and Julian had brought in a bunch of mixed wildflower seeds. Alex had actually found a pair of jeans, which Julian had been amused to see were black, and they’d refreshed the soil and scattered the seeds. The resulting plants were just now going to seed themselves, the flowers having served their purpose. Julian came over to encourage those seeds to make more flowers in the spring, his attention focused on the joyful little plants.

  Julian was surprised to hear Alex shouting his name, and he stood and turned, which meant the blow connected with his shoulder instead of his head. There was a zap of magic and the smell of ozone, and Julian heard swearing. He ignored his attacker and ran to Alex, grateful for the amulet Alex had made him, which hadn’t done anything more than improve his dexterity before this — he’d avoided a few little cuts and burns with last-minute dodges that Alex assured him were normal, but nothing like this.

  “Fucking mages,” said the figure, and Julian turned his attention to the man while Alex brandished his wand cane. He was average in height, with thinning blond hair and a weaselly sort of face which was twisted in anger. He’d dropped his weapon, a length of pipe, and was cradling his hand to his chest.

  James and Jacques had given them both a few lessons in self defence, but they’d not had time for more than the basics, so Julian practiced the better part of valour and got out his phone, tugging Alex toward the front. The man swore again and went pelting off toward a dark row of storefronts, while Julian called the police.

  Alex didn’t relax until they were back inside, with Julian talking to the emergency operator while Alex told Padma what had happened.

  “Muggers, pah!” she said, irritated rather than horrified. “This neighbourhood never used to have such problems. Well, you just sit and have your dessert, we’ll bring the officers over when they arrive.”

  Julian gave her a grateful smile, and assured the operator that they were fine, and they’d stay at the restaurant until someone arrived, at which point he was allowed to hang up. Fresh tea was brought, and a sweet he’d never seen before along with little dishes of frozen kulfi, and a plate of sticky jalebi. “Rose kulfi, pistachio peda, and cardamom syrup for the jalebi,” said Padma proudly.