"We weren't always in the same school," Edmund points out, huffing in between jiggles. He's not trying to delay this - why would he? - he's the one who would get caught red-handed, if any of this goes south. He's just - well - it's been a long time! He does need practice, and it's embarrassing but there it is. He's not born good at everything. He's not Peter. "That's where the problem started, in fact. Whenever he wasn't there to look after me...well, you see how well it's worked out without him here."

Not disastrously, but there's no glory to be had for a lad who doesn't put up a good fight now that his bellicose brother is not there to jump into a brawl, no choice but to follow him into it.

"I know." It's half-chuckled, hearing the heat of frustration in the protest. "You will have to give us a better title, once the day is done."

The silence helps, and he attacks the fourth key-pin at last with a sigh of relief. He can make this work. "I can do it, if you just shut up and let me be for a moment. Here...it's just...ergh go in, damnit all...there!"

With a flourish of pride that gives way to a flush of self-consciousness, he picks the final lock and it springs open with a groaning sag. He pushes the door open. "Lecture unnecessary, Mr. Buckwald. But if there's a lock on the cabinet...you're the one to have at it. Fair's fair."