(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

Sunday lunch had been spent with the Tonkses, which was a nice change; it felt good to visit with her parents more often, and Nymphadora hoped that they could do so regularly now that Bernard was unbound.

Following the meal, Ted had gently shunted them out the door, saying that he and Sunny had plans for a cushion fort, and Andromeda and Anthony were hoping for a bit of a lie-down, and that 'Dora and Bernard would be in the way, anyhow, so why don't they go for a bit of a cuppa or an ice cream, or something.

It's one of those long August days, hot but with the promise of a chill towards evening, the death knell of a summer that's been one thing after another. She's quiet as they walk along, aimlessly passing through the streets of her parents' neighborhood.

Comments

[clumsy_auror]

Her arms are crossed over her chest, now, and her breath gradually evens out.

"Okay. But I really don't want to talk about it any more."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Fine." They start walking again, slowly.

"Can we talk about Crowley, or is that gonna be taboo as well?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Please don't be shirty," she almost whispers, looking down at the sidewalk. "We can talk about Crowley."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Okay," he replies, spying a small park with benches and steering her towards it. "I think we need to think of some kind of... strategy for dealing with him."

[clumsy_auror]

"Like what?"

They come to an unoccupied bench and sit, the distant chatter of children playing on a nearby swing set drifting across the grass.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

A laugh. "I dunno! Something! Anything to make him sit still for a few minutes more and talk to us instead of pulling back into his own head."

[clumsy_auror]

"That would... probably be easier if I knew how I felt about the whole thing."

A sigh.

"About him, I mean."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I was kind of wondering."

[clumsy_auror]

"I mean, I love him because it's Crowley, but he--" Nymphadora breaks off, crossing her arms again. "He should've told me. You know he should have."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"He should have told all of us. It was monumentally stupid." Bernard leans forward, resting his face in his hands. "But he's not exactly a brain trust in some areas."

[clumsy_auror]

A hot breeze finally blows through the park, and idly Nymphadora eyes the ice cream cart that's a little across the way. Then, "And I know that he loves us. He does."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Yes. And given his extremely twisted logic, this is the ultimate proof, isn't it?"

[clumsy_auror]

Finally 'Dora laughs, though it's sort of rough around the edges. "I suppose that's true, isn't it."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I believe it is, yeah."

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora looks over at him, squinting a bit against the afternoon sun.

"I'm not trying to punish him, you know."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I never said you were."

[clumsy_auror]

"No, I know."

Deliberately, she uncrosses her arms, and laces her fingers over her knee instead.

"Sorry. I'm just on edge."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"And so am I." He looks around the quiet park and grins mirthlessly. "It's hard to relax, on the outside."

[clumsy_auror]

"...What, you mean, out here in London?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. It's weird." He shivers a little in the warm air. "Guess the battle made me jumpy, is all."

[clumsy_auror]

"Yeah."

With one hand, Nymphadora tucks a heavy lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, they'll do that."

She's lost count, now, how many there have been.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He looks over at her, then smiles a little.

"Time was, you'd never go out like this, though."

[clumsy_auror]

"No, I s'pose I wouldn't have."

She looks back, and gently bumps her knee against his.

"Feels pretty okay."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

His arm slips around her again, and he leans his forehead against hers.

"Feels pretty good from over here, too."

[clumsy_auror]

Her hand goes to rest on his thigh, and 'Dora's small smile widens a bit. "So I guess not everything's gone to shit, then."