A/N: I have struggled with this chapter's content for what feels like forever, probably because of its importance in the future, but it's finally done.

Also the first chapter has over 4,000 views now which is like...a third of the overall view count (and is one of my least favorite chapters)...wow.

Thank you once again to Kitkatkatester for reviewing the last chapter :)

Enjoy!

The sudden horse showing up at the stable/animal care building with a frenetic rider and lacking a saddle had certainly backtracked Manitoba's plans to get home a bit early. "I don't ride bareback and the saddle's getting repaired in town, I'll be back real soon for him!" the guy had promised before hurrying off towards the opposite end of town.

Since it was just Mani at that moment out front of the place-he was there quite often and basically worked at the stable but the few regular employees didn't really talk to him much for a plethora of reasons- he'd held onto the horse for the guy.

Gotta take myself down t' tha record office later, he reminded himself as he brushed down the horse in one of the previously empty stalls. He was definitely a fast one, needed to be as the transport of a royal messenger. "Ain't you a beaut," he commented to the horse as if he could talk back. "Someone takes real good care o' you."

"Hey, Manitoba?" a female voice called from outside the stall.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"I thought you said this horse's rider would be back by now," she said in her very airy but even voice. "We're expecting to fill that space this evening. And it's way past your usual time you're in here." Her hair was pushed away from her freckled face by a red bandana, and held a handful of papers in one hand.

"Ey, he didn't say exactly when 'e'd be back, Sheila, but it should be today. Can't get too far outta here without 'is horse," Mani figured as he took his hand off the horse's back and left the stall. He was a head taller than her, even though his posture was relaxed.

"Hm, okay...well, I do hate to kick you out, you help an awful lot around here, but you know the rules," she said with a shrug and a half smile. "And I think I told you my name was Miles?"

"I was just makin' sure this fella wasn't in the way." Mani assured her. "I'll get outta your hair." He adjusted his hat.

"Alright. Have a good afternoon then," Miles said with a small nod.

Mani tipped his hat, replying, "Afternoon, then...Miles," before leaving the stable for the record office.

He had a few words for miss Mildred that a busy schedule the past week had prevented from happening.

Mike could spot his Aussie friend from a mile away, with his distinctive look that no one else could pull off. He appeared to be beelining it towards the records office, an unexpected pit stop to say the least. Now's my shot to warn him he thought, standing up from the bench. He checked that Scott wasn't looking before approached his target; he only saw Scott's shadowy figure in the alleyway trying to get a positive reaction out of Vito from some joke he'd told

Mani only noticed Mike out of the corner of his eye right before he reached the office and almost didn't recognize him. It had to have been over a month since they'd talked; he looked both better and, somehow, much worse than he did back then. His younger friend still had the smallest limp, his posture only improved a touch. "Mike, mate, you alright?" he asked in greeting when he saw the worried and nervous expression on his face.

"I don't have much time to tell you this," Mike spoke quickly with a shake in his breath, no greetings to be heard. "You're in danger, Mani, he's going to hurt you-" He'd taken Mani by the shoulders, his eyes wide and hands toughened by work.

"Who's thinkin' they can tussle with me?" Mani asked, worried more about Mike than anything else. He placed his hands around Mike's wrists to pry him off gently.

"...I'm supposed to lead you to him...they wouldn't let me outside…" Mike spoke quietly between panicked breaths before staring up at Mani intensely. The faded lines on his face seemed so much more clear as he said:

"I can't let him hurt anyone else."

Mani tensed realizing the implication of his words: the same person who'd done horrible things to Mike was targeting him, for some unknown reason. He had a mind to seek the guy out and teach him a lesson, but...he wouldn't do that to Mike and risk him worrying anymore, at least not right now. "Where's the dingo hidin' out?" he asked instead.

Mike turned his head towards an alley across the way. Mani definitely spotted two silhouettes. "Please," Mike insisted, his voice breaking and returning to a quiet volume. "Go home. Walk away. Don't go near them."

Mani sighed. "At least gimme a name, roo, so I know who I'm dealing with," he requested, despite being terrible with names. "I won' seek him out right now, but some sorta consequences gotta happen someday."

Mike slowly nodded. "...it's Scott," he said, feeling it strange to say a name he didn't have the privilege of using for the man himself.

Duncan mentioned a Scott last week, 'f I remember correctly… Manitoba thought to himself as he nodded in understanding at Mike. "Alright. I got some things to say to 'im one day, but distressin' ya ain't worth it."

Mike finally moved his hands off his shoulders and suddenly hugged him, his head now resting on Mani's shoulder and facing the record office. "Thank you," he said shakily, not caring that his friend smelled a bit like a horse or had dirt on his clothes. He wasn't going after Scott, and he wasn't going to be hurt. That's all that mattered.

Mani returned the hug. "Not a problem at all, mate," he replied with a smile.

It was during this hug that Mike's slightly blurred vision cleared enough to spot the board outside the record office.

A board that had yet to be changed from last week.

Uh oh.

"What is taking him so long?" Scott wondered impatiently. "He's not even on the bench anymore!"

"He might just be setting 'im up, yo," Vito theorized unenthusiastically, slouched against the alley wall.

"Tch, maybe…" Scott conceded, crossing his arms and continuing to watch the bench.

He almost didn't catch Mike booking it out of town and the blond, dirt-covered Australian that tried, and failed, to follow him.

Oh, dear. It seems Mike's seen it...

Lemme know any thoughts on the chapter, as usual. Next one'll probably be a heavy hitter so it might take a bit.

Stay safe out there y'all, and I'll see ya next time. :)