(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

It hadn't been much, really.

The interrogation room was tense, as usual, and Allbright had been in there with Chambers for nearly three hours. When Tonks opened the door, the Death Eater looked up at her, his green eyes sharp and all too calculating.

The Auror gave a short nod to her superior, and took the chair beside him, sliding a file folder onto the table.

"Chambers," she began, her voice even, professional. "I have here a record of incidents that we've traced back to your wand." Her grey eyes leveled on his. "Not the least of which is last Thursday's attack in Leeds."

Chambers quirked an eyebrow, his gaze bordering on insolent.

Confident.

But she knew better than to let him get a rise out of her.

On and on it went, she and Allbright trading off, Chambers' infrequent responses brief and unproductive.

Finally, the two Aurors exchanged a glance, and both stood. "Right. Auror Tonks is going to stay here with you whilst I go fetch the guard to escort you down to the holding cells. We'll see how talkative you're feeling tomorrow, eh?" Allbright gave the young woman at his side a short nod, and stepped out into the corridor.

After the click of the door, silence.

She preferred it that way, really. Meant she wouldn't say something that--

Crack.

A Stinging Hex? The bastard did a wandless-- she thought wildly, blanching at the pain of the deep cut across her cheek and pulling out her wand.

He tried to stand and break his bindings but she was fast, fast as lightning, new ropes snaking out of the end of her wand, the force of the spell slamming him to the far wall.

Alarms sounded half a second later, and half a dozen Aurors poured inside.

"Fuck," she muttered, wiping the oozing wound with the back of her hand, wand still trained on him. "Fuck."

~~~~

Not too very much later, the door to the flat opens.

Comments

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He winces, and steps forward, his hand coming up to cup her cheek.

"Does it hurt, still?"

[clumsy_auror]

Her voice is light. "'S still a bit tender. Nothing to worry on. Curse scars take a bit longer to heal, you--" She falters, slightly, and then carries on. "You know that."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He nods. "I know that." And he steps closer, pressing his lips to the tip of the scar, just on the point of her cheekbone.

[clumsy_auror]

Eyes slipping closed, Nymphadora bites her lip. "I'm fine. Really really."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He doesn't pull back, but lets his lips brush the new skin as he speaks. "You sure? 'Cause it's okay if you're not. Don't have to be."

[clumsy_auror]

"I am, it just-- I dunno. Caught me by surprise, I think."

The witch's hands settle on his hips, her voice little more than a murmur.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He laughs softly, resting his head against hers.

"Me, too."

[clumsy_auror]

"You okay?"

Nymphadora sounds a little nervous.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

And the small smile he was trying to cultivate is gone.

He just shakes his head.

[clumsy_auror]

"Oh, love."

A brush of a kiss against his cheek.

"I had him pinned in about half a second. There was nothing -- this was the worst he had, and I took care of it. I can do this."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Know you can. Just. Give me an evening to be scared out of my wits and I'll be okay."

Pale, he pulls her into a crushing hug.

[clumsy_auror]

All the air whooshes out of her lungs, and 'Dora's hands fist in the back of his shirt.

"It's gonna be okay."

She buries her face in his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent.

"It is okay."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I know." His voice is muffled by her hair. "I love you."

[clumsy_auror]

"Love you, too."

Her hand is warm between his shoulder blades, smoothing over black cloth and tense muscles.

"...Don't forget to breathe, sweetheart."

A pause.

She's laughing.

"...And don't forget to let me."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

A laugh bursts out of him, and he relents.

"Sorry."

[clumsy_auror]

"Don't be." 'Dora squeezes him once more for good measure, and then leans back to look him in the eye. "You are very, very good to me, and that's nothing to be sorry for."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"No." Because he could never be sorry for that. His thumb grazes the scar. "But I still reserve the right to be terrified, and worried."

[clumsy_auror]

A very large part of Nymphadora wants to tell him not to be, that there's no reason to worry, but she knows it would be a lie.

"Well. Long as you can be happy at the same time, I guess I'll allow it."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He smiles, then, though it's strained.

"I'm always happy when you're here." A wry look. "Well. Mostly."

[clumsy_auror]

At that, she arches an eyebrow.

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel more at ease?"

Subtext: ...That doesn't involve me quitting my job?

But Bernard's a smart cookie. He'll hear that part, too.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

The wry smile turns to a grin.

"Check on the kids while I finish the chicken?"

[clumsy_auror]

"I can do that."

It's small potatoes, she knows. But if it helps, it helps.

'Dora sets off down the hall, and returns a few minutes later, her real face on and a softly babbling baby against her shoulder.

"He was wide awake. Not saying a thing, though. Happy as a clam."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard's been finishing the chicken, and it's popped in the oven by the time she comes back with Anthony.

"Well. Look who decided that nap time was short today."

He walks over and kisses Anthony's chubby cheek, and then kisses Nymphadora for a long moment.

"Chicken's in the oven."

[clumsy_auror]

"Lovely. And Sunny's still out. I'll say this for daycare; she sleeps like a bloody log after a morning of playing."

Jogging the baby gently, 'Dora flicks her wand at the far cupboard, prompting a glass to float down to the counter, and then fills it with water.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard leans against the counter, watching her.

"She seems to like it okay so far."