Page 27 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter (Quirk of Fate #5)

Malik couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as he turned the wrench on a Pontiac’s timing belt.

A full day had passed since Finley’s unexpected visit, and while the fae intrusion had been handled, it left him with a heightened sense of vigilance.

Tynan had insisted that the fae council wouldn’t pursue matters further, but Malik’s rhino remained restless, sensing threats on multiple fronts.

Pride mingled with his angst as Malik reflected.

Tynan remained blind to his surging confidence, but watching him confront his cousin had stirred something profound in him.

His magic flowed with precision now, his laughter rang out despite the perils that stalked their streets, and the way he had woven himself into Malik’s life - and Ian’s - touched both man and rhino alike.

He’d just finished tightening the last bolt when a thunderous crash echoed through the workshop. Malik dropped his wrench and sprinted toward the sound, heart hammering against his ribs.

The front roller door, down because it had been raining earlier, had been halfway ripped from its track, the metal bent and twisted.

Through the mangled opening, Malik spotted four men in dark clothing rushing into his workshop.

Two carried baseball bats, one had what looked like a crowbar, and the fourth - clearly the leader - held a pistol casually at his side.

“Look what we have here,” the leader called out, his voice carrying an educated accent that seemed at odds with his thuggish behavior. “The rhino’s den.”

Malik’s blood ran cold. He scanned the workshop, locating Ian near the office door, frozen in shock, and Tynan emerging from the office with Sparky on his shoulder. Both looked alarmed but unharmed.

“You’re trespassing,” Malik growled, stepping forward to place himself between the intruders and his family. “Get out before I throw you out.”

The leader laughed, a hollow sound that echoed off the workshop walls. “Such hostility. We’re simply here to deliver a message.” He gestured with the gun. “This neighborhood is being cleansed of undesirables.”

Malik recognized the man from Grok’s description - tall, dark-haired, with the polished look of old money gone bad. “You must be Garrison.”

“My reputation precedes me.” Garrison smiled, revealing too-perfect teeth. “And you’re the infamous Malik. The mechanical giant who’s been harboring freaks.”

One of the bat-wielding men suddenly lunged forward, swinging at a nearby workbench. Tools were scattered across the concrete floor with a cacophony of metallic clangs.

“Stop that!” Ian shouted, breaking his stunned silence and taking a step forward.

“Ian, don’t…” Malik warned, but it was too late.

The second thug rushed Ian, slamming him against the wall with his forearm pressed against the young man’s throat. Ian struggled, eyes wide with panic.

“Let him go,” Malik demanded, his control slipping. His rhino pushed against his skin, demanding release, demanding retribution.

“We will, once we’ve made our point.” Garrison stepped farther into the workshop, examining the space with casual disdain. “You see, I have a vision for this neighborhood. A clean, orderly community where everything is natural. No abnormalities, no freaks hiding behind human faces.”

His gaze shifted to Tynan, who had moved closer to Malik’s side. “Like your silver-haired friend here. What are you hiding under that glamor, I wonder?”

Tynan tensed beside him, and Malik felt a surge of protective rage. He took a measured step forward. “This is your last warning. Leave my property, and let my employee go.”

“Or what?” Garrison smirked. “You’ll shift right here, in front of everyone? Confirm what I already know?”

The man holding Ian suddenly wrenched the young mechanic’s arm behind his back. Ian cried out in pain, his face contorted.

Something inside Malik snapped.

With a roar that was more rhino than human, he charged the nearest thug, the one vandalizing his tools.

The man swung his bat, but Malik caught it mid-swing, wrenching it from his grip with such force that the man stumbled backward.

Malik snapped the bat over his knee like a twig and tossed the pieces aside.

“Tynan!” he shouted. “Get Ian!”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Tynan moving, his hands raised. A flash of purple light erupted, and suddenly the man holding Ian was stumbling backward, clutching his face as if temporarily blinded.

Ian slid down the wall, gasping for breath, his right arm hanging at an awkward angle.

“You’ll pay for that,” Garrison snarled, raising his gun toward Malik.

Before he could fire, Sparky dive-bombed him, talons aimed directly at his eyes. Garrison cursed, swinging wildly at the raven while trying to maintain his grip on the weapon.

The momentary distraction gave Malik the opening he needed. He closed the distance in two massive strides and slammed his fist into Garrison’s jaw with a crack that echoed through the workshop. The gun clattered to the floor as Garrison stumbled backward.

The remaining thugs hesitated just long enough for Tynan to reach Ian and pull him toward the office.

“Pathetic,” Garrison spat blood onto the concrete floor. “You think this changes anything? We know what you are. We’ve been watching you for weeks.”

“Then you should know better than to threaten what’s mine,” Malik growled, his voice deepening as his control frayed.

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder. Someone must have called the police after hearing the crash.

“This isn’t over,” Garrison said, wiping blood from his split lip. He glanced at his men. “We’re leaving. For now.”

“If you ever come near my family again,” Malik promised, stepping closer, “what you think you know about me will be the least of your worries.”

The thugs retreated, dragging one of their semiconscious comrades with them. Garrison backed away slowly, maintaining eye contact with Malik.

“The freaks will be driven out,” he called as he reached the mangled door. “One way or another.”

“Get the fuck out!” Malik roared. “Now!”

As they disappeared down the street, Malik rushed to the office where Tynan was examining Ian’s arm. The young man was pale, his breathing shallow, but his eyes were clear.

“I think it’s dislocated,” Tynan said, his voice tight with concern. “And possibly fractured.”

“Hospital,” Malik decided immediately. “We’ll take the back exit. The cops can wait.”

Sparky flew in through the broken door, landing on Tynan’s shoulder. “They’re gone for now, but they left lookouts on both corners.”

“How bad is it?” Ian asked through gritted teeth, nodding toward the workshop.

Malik surveyed the damage - tools scattered everywhere, workbenches overturned, the front door destroyed. His territory violated. His family threatened. Anger churned in his gut, but he forced it down. Ian needed him calm.

“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed,” he said, though the words tasted hollow. “Let’s get you taken care of first.”

Tynan met his eyes over Ian’s head, his concern evident. Malik knew he was worried about the magic usage and the words yelled by an unrepentant Garrison, but Ian had to be their first concern.

“Stay with him,” Malik told Tynan. “I’ll bring the truck around the back.”

As he slipped out the rear door, carefully checking for watchers, Malik fumed. Garrison knew what he was - or at least suspected strongly enough to call him out. Their enemy had shown his face as well as his willingness to escalate to violence.

This wasn’t just about territory anymore. It was about survival.

/~/~/~/~/

The hospital waiting room smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee.

Malik paced the length of the small space, his rhino still desperate to be free, despite the setting.

Tynan sat quietly in one of the molded plastic chairs, Sparky hidden in a pet carrier Tynan had magicked up in their apartment.

The raven had complained bitterly about the indignity but understood the necessity of appearing as normal as possible in public.

Neither Malik nor Tynan had felt it was a good idea to leave him behind.

“He’s going to be okay,” Tynan said softly. “The doctor said it was a clean break.”

Malik nodded, running a hand over his head. “I should have protected him better.”

“This isn’t your fault.” Tynan stood, placing a gentle hand on Malik’s arm. “Garrison would have come for us regardless. At least Ian wasn’t alone when it happened.”

The thought of what might have occurred if Ian had been at the workshop by himself made Malik’s stomach turn. The kid was brave but had no means to defend himself against armed thugs.

“I need to call his mam,” Malik said, pulling out his phone. “She should know.”

The conversation was difficult - explaining that there had been a break-in, that Ian had been hurt trying to protect the shop, and that he was receiving the best care.

He omitted the supernatural elements and Garrison’s thinly veiled threats about “freaks,” focusing instead on assuring her that he would personally ensure Ian’s safety going forward.

By the time he ended the call, a doctor had appeared to inform them that Ian was ready for visitors. His arm had been set and put in a cast, and painkillers had eased the worst of his discomfort.

They found him propped up in a hospital bed, his right arm encased in a blue cast from elbow to fingers. Despite the ordeal, he managed a wobbly smile when they entered.

“Boss,” he croaked. “Is the shop okay?”

“Don’t worry about that now,” Malik said, his voice gentler than usual. He pulled a chair to Ian’s bedside. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit by a truck,” Ian admitted. “But the doctor says I’ll be good as new in about six weeks.” He glanced at his cast. “Though I won’t be much use to you until then.”

“Your job will be waiting,” Malik assured him. “Right now, you just focus on healing.”

Ian’s expression grew serious. “Those men. They knew about you, didn’t they? Called you ‘rhino.’” His voice dropped to a whisper. “What did they mean?”

Malik exchanged a glance with Tynan. They’d agreed on the drive over to give Ian some version of the truth - enough to keep him safe without revealing the full paranormal reality.

“There are things about us you don’t know,” Malik began carefully. “Things that make people like Garrison see us as targets.”

“Like what?” Ian’s gaze darted between them. “Are you in some kind of witness protection? Former spies? Crime fighters with secret identities?”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Tynan’s lips twitched with amusement. “Nothing quite so dramatic.”

“We’re…different,” Malik said. “We have abilities that most people don’t understand. Garrison and his crew, have made it their mission to drive out anyone they see as ‘unnatural.’”

Ian frowned, processing this. “So the animal territory tags…”

“Are their way of marking people they’ve identified as ‘other,’” Tynan finished. “The rhino symbol was for Malik.”

“Because he’s strong as one,” Ian nodded, as if this made perfect sense. “And they’re watching the shop because they think you’re what? Mutants? Aliens?”

“Something like that,” Malik agreed, relieved at Ian’s simplified interpretation. “What matters is they’re dangerous, and now they know you work with us.”

“We can find you another job,” Tynan offered gently. “We don’t want to lose you, but we could find you somewhere safer. Where you won’t be associated with us.”

“No way.” Ian’s response was immediate and forceful. “I’m not leaving because some psychos have a problem with you being different. I don’t even understand how they can think that, but that’s discrimination, plain and simple.”

The loyalty in his voice made Malik’s chest tighten. “Ian, these people aren’t rational. They hurt you once, and they could do worse.”

“Then we fight back,” Ian insisted. “Or go to the police. Or something. But I’m not abandoning you guys.”

“Your mam would never forgive me if something happened to you,” Malik pointed out.

“My mam raised me to stand by my friends,” Ian countered. “She’d expect nothing less.”

Tynan leaned forward. “At least think about it, Ian. Take some time while you recover.”

“I have thought about it.” Ian’s gaze was steady despite the pain medication. “Whatever you two are, whatever abilities idiots like Garrison think you have - I don’t care. You’ve been better to me than most ‘normal’ people I’ve known. I’m staying.”

The conviction in his voice left little room for argument. Malik felt a complicated mix of pride, gratitude, and concern. This kid had more courage than most adults he’d encountered in his long life.

“We’ll talk more when you’re feeling better,” Malik said finally. “For now, your mam’s on her way. She’ll want to take you home and fuss over you.”

Ian groaned. “She’ll never let me out of her sight again.”

“Can you blame her?” Tynan asked with a small smile.

As if summoned by their conversation, Mrs. Peters appeared in the doorway, her face pinched with worry. She rushed to Ian’s bedside, already fussing over his cast and demanding details about his care.

Malik and Tynan stepped back, giving them space for their reunion. The moment felt private, a reminder of the normal human world that existed alongside their paranormal reality - a world they’d dragged Ian into, however unintentionally.

“We need to fix this,” Malik murmured to Tynan. “Before anyone else gets hurt.”

Tynan nodded, his green eyes solemn. “We will. But we need a plan - one that deals with Garrison permanently without exposing what we are to the whole town.”

As they slipped out of the hospital room with promises to check on Ian tomorrow, Malik’s resolve hardened. Garrison had declared war not just on them, but on everything and everyone Malik cared about. The man needed to be stopped.

For the first time in years, Malik considered letting his rhino off its leash completely. The thought should have troubled him more than it did. There were times when the animal view of life was so much simpler and far more direct when it came to threats.