peter was dragging his feet. he wasn’t even aware that it could be used idiomatically, because his was an act that was done quite literally and deliberately, making what should have been a quick, less than ten minute trip over to the bookstore last to a quarter of an hour, choosing to traverse further down alleys in an effort to stave off the inevitable. besides, the walk was helpful in settling the pit of anger that still resided in his chest, the one that questioned why it was that james had taken the file at all when he’d been open about his reluctance to engage in such a shady deal, the one that worried that whatever favor was asked of them would be so much heftier than the information they gainged in exchange; not to mention the fact that they’d now placed themselves in even shakier ground with them snaking their way into the precinct and sirius actually taking the switchblade from the evidence locker... it was all moving too fast, with no hints of slowing down after BCJ finally put out the call for his repayment.

considering his adamant protest against their recent actions, peter wondered just why the hell he’d chosen to be the responder for the marauders: was it because he was the one who coincidentally got the message? or was it an attempt to prove whether he was right or wrong with his misgivings? the only way to get an answer would be to finally face the man, stepping through his bookstore with unknowingly wide eyes. this was a place that no one would have expected to see peter, that was for sure. walking around through the rows, more so to check if there was anyone else there and satisfied that there wasn’t, he slowly headed over to the front desk, where his target was situated, in waiting or not, he couldn’t really tell. “so...” was he supposed to just go out and say it? what the hell do you want? sure, that’ll get them off to a great start. “what’s a book you’d recommend to someone who’s probably got the reading ability of a nine or ten year old, maybe a little less?” he grabbed a random book from the counter, one that simply had peter and wendy emblazoned on the cover. it didn’t really matter, it wasn’t what this encounter was about. “this good?”