"His Radiance has asked not to be disturbed," the guards at Jack's apartments told him when David pursued him later.

"Just by randos," David tried. "I'm basically family, and I just got back. I just need a couple minutes and then I'll leave."

"He specified family as well, my lord." One of them, at least, seemed sympathetic. "We will leave word of your visit for when he awakes in the morning."

Well. There was more than one way into Jack's suite. Even if it involved waiting even longer to do it.

Having access to magic now made David's journey even easier. David amplified the magic of his ring to pull the cloak of night around him, feeling like he was nearly invisible as he crept from windowsill to rooftop to collonade. It reminded him of a spell he'd seen in one of King Ricardo's books that allowed one to climb on surfaces like a lizard, and he made a mental note to pursue its study.

Finally he was pulling himself over the edge of Jack's balcony. When he went to knock on the window, however, he found himself repelled, wards flaring briefly bright to his magical sight.

David felt a flare of anger. The wards hadn't been there last time he'd come. Jack had specifically warded this against him! Stepping back, he stomped a foot on the stone and pulled more of his magic together, activating a spell of communication. He'd been patient long enough.

"Jack. I'm outside your window. Why the hell are you avoiding me? I just got home and you don't give a damn? Let me in!"

For a long moment he got nothing back, and began to wonder if perhaps it hadn't been a ruse after all and Jack was already asleep.

Then the answer came, brief and undeniably cold.

"I haven't heard from you once since I refused to empower you. You clearly care nothing for me otherwise. We have no business together, David."

David's anger turned to rage. "Excuse me? You left ME. Everything I've done since has been to try and get back to you! I empowered myself for you, Jack!"

The reply was even more cold. "I told you we couldn't be together. Respect my wishes. If there's nothing else you want from me, then I have nothing more to say."

It took every inch of self control not to scream aloud in frustration. David kicked at the window as hard as he could, knowing the wards would repel his blow, then turned and dropped back off the balcony. He didn't have enough active magic accessible to continue the spell, but tomorrow - oh, tomorrow he was going to give Jack a piece of his mind. He'd even write out his messages ahead of time to make sure he said everything he wanted to.

Except that by the time he reached his room again his rage had turned to heartbreak, and instead of writing he spent the next hour sobbing tears of frustration into his pillow before finally falling asleep.

Jack didn't want him anymore.

~~~