Fairy Lights

[gildedvineyard]

Who: Draco Malfoy, Levi Etherington, Theodore Nott(?)
What: Undermining not-so-friendly desires
When: Various
Where: Various
Status: Closed, OngoingDraco had been kind enough to introduce Levi to the pleasures of owl-post, and this morning Levi had received his very first Prophet. He'd flattened it's crisp edges with pleasure, smelled the pages,

Comments

[mister_draco]

Draco nodded, understanding how difficult it was when dealing with all of this. They were all too young and should worry about foolish things - like where to go out on a Friday night and who was shagging whom. Not looking over your shoulder wondering when you were going to be the next target.

“You’re warm,” Draco mumbled as Levi took his hands and rubbed them. He stepped a little closer but then took the step back. “I - don’t want you to catch what I have.”

There was a bit of silence and Draco took advantage of this to say what he needed to get out. “I have something to tell you. I’d rather you hear it from me before you hear it elsewhere…” A coughing fit caused Draco to pause until it subsided. Waving a hand to stop questions of concern, Draco continued. “My last name is Malfoy. Yes, the old pureblood family I am sure you have heard rumors about, most of which I can inform you are not true. Well, the more outlandish ones. That is beside the point. I was - my father - he was a Death Eater, willingly. When he failed a mission, I took his place. It was that or You-know-who would kill my family. I did it to protect them. I didn’t kill anyone, I was mostly there as a caution to the others what failure would mean. The things I saw - what those people did. I just -” Draco shuddered, eyes watering but he would swear from the cold. He had never discussed this before to anyone.

After letting out a deep breath, he dared to look up at Levi to see how the other would look at him now. He searched for the signs of what he normally saw. It killed him inside to know it was happening all over again. No matter how far he had come, he was never far enough. He was never good enough.

“I know where Theo is - where they took him I mean. But I understand if you do not want to be…” Draco trailed off, stepping further away and turning his back to Levi. He could not watch another person walk away from him.

[gildedvineyard]

"What you've got-?" Levi let a smile slip to his face as his eyebrows climbed his forehead, confused. But he listened carefully as the boy spoke, his fingers now warming themselves as Draco's had gone off to foolishly swing about as he spoke. Though Levi's eyes had widened, so had his smile till it was a perplexed grin, and his hands had to reach out to tiredly muss the boy's hair.

"Come now. Don't dwell on the past, and all that." His eyes were still wide, considering, but there was no judgment in them. His smile was a little put-off. He was too good with loss. Again his hands were rubbing Draco's arms, warming him up.

"You're sick even, Mr Malfoy. Lets go, shall we?" There was change spilling into his hand and he was taking the few curious steps to the nearest stand, eyes discerning over the fabric and feathers before him.

"This one, please?" he asked, and pressed the sickles into the hand of the young girl who stood patient behind the cart. He returned with a rather small but heavy scarf and tucked it around Draco's neck, his eyes questioning.

"Which way, sir?"

[mister_draco]

“Cold,” Draco explained, sounding rather professional in tone. “I believe it is Muggle since the little girl I caught it from is Muggle.” Lexi was far sicker than he was, but Donna had sent Draco back to his room when he tried to help, since he too was ill. “She isn’t mine,” Draco added quickly. However, he did want children; he thought he would make a brilliant father. Indeed, he wanted at least five children, perhaps more. He had wanted a large family but he had ended up an only child.

Frowning, but eyes filled with humor, Draco smoothed down his hair. “Always the hair!” Draco said in an overly dramatic way. “People just cannot keep their hands off it. If they only knew how much work went into reaching this level of perfection.”

Turning back around at Levi’s words, Draco gazed at him curiously. He had thought for sure, Levi would have stalked off, or slapped him then stalked off. “Easier said than done sometimes.” Something that rang very true for many subjects.

He was grateful for Levi; he was delightfully warm to Draco’s too cold skin. He felt like someone had put a permanent freezing spell on him. “I’m fine, really.” Draco affirmed, shaking his head until it caused him another coughing fit and made him feel rather unstable.

‘Oh!’ Draco thought as Levi purchased a scarf and wrapped it around his neck. It was warm and soft and smelled extremely pleasant. It was like sunshine and flour. Draco found he rather liked it. “T-thanks.” He wasn’t used to anyone fussing over him, at least not after he left home. His mother had been the queen of fussing, but her fussing had led to Draco’s annoyance.

“We can reach the apparation point and then apparate to St. Mungo’s.” Apparting was really the only way to get there but Draco was in no state to apparate, splinching was not anything to make a day brighter. “I - don’t think I can -” He really felt foolish, what was it about Levi that flustered him so?

[gildedvineyard]

Levi's smile was wide and warm as he bent down the few inches to Draco's height and tugged the scarf tighter, patting his shoulders.

"I'm sure we'll do fine." He promised, feeling a little unsure, but it didn't show and he hoped his courage for the other man was felt in his touch. "And I don't need you getting any worse. It's inside for you, if you can get us there. We'll find someplace to sit down. Make sure Theodore is tip-top, and possibly get you a cold remedy? A cold, is that right? I've never had one..."

He spun them around, his fingers easy in Draco's hair to flatten in and nudged him forward.

"This way? Or is it this way?" he teased, spinning them around again. He didn't know, but it was nice to kid. Even he felt calmer. Surely Theodore would be alright? They would have reported otherwise, wouldn't they?

[mister_draco]

There was not much Draco knew about Levi but he did know one thing for certain now - the man had a brilliant smile. It was the kind of smile that welcomed one home. Merlin, he had to stop reading that romance rubbish. He was turning into a sap and that just wouldn’t do. He was a manly man and manly men did not go about professing feelings. They spit and did - manly things. Yes, that was very right.

“Yes, well, Malfoys do always work things out,” Draco agreed, gaining back confidence in his own abilities. He could apparate with his eyes closed and with a more serious cold. He was capable of ace and wondrous things. Hopefully. “I can get us there,” Draco assured firmly, face determined. He could do this, no problem. “Sitting down would be good,” Draco commented, suddenly, feeling a little weak in the knees. Clutching onto Levi’s arm, Draco chuckled lightly. “Look at that, got me weak in the knees already,” Draco joked.

Blasted cold, it was really worse than anything Draco had experienced. Well, save for the crucio spell, which was certainly the worst thing to befall a person. The coursing pain it induced. “Yes, cold. Let us hope you do not catch mine. Then who would take care of me?” It shouldn’t feel this easy around Levi. He did not know him and walls were dropping too quickly, leaving Draco feeling rather exposed.

Levi wouldn‘t know it but stroking his hair or even fingers in his hair was the biggest turn on for Draco. It was best not to think on it. “Hey you!” Draco said once they had stopped spinning. When the world righted, Draco realized his body had pressed up against Levi. Well, now, that was very awkward. Stepping away and trying not to let his awkwardness show, Draco turned in the direction of the apparation potion. “It is this way, follow me,” Draco called over his shoulder.

[gildedvineyard]

There was a tremulous fluctuation in the emotions spread across Draco's face, and to each Levi responded with his own surprised smile, and easy touching. Touching was easy. Touching meant nothing. Connection was reassuring, he knew. But these English folks: so sensitive to everything it seemed! And yet cold and callous towards others. Levi had quite enough to deal with.

And the boy's flushes: his easily read expressions! They were a treat, certainly. It was a shame the boy was so sad.

"Weak-kneed? I'm terribly sorry, then." He felt his response came up rather short, but spent little time considering it before he was following the other boy, catching up with a few easy strides and sticking his hands in his pockets. Yes, he had told himself to watch the touching last time, hadn't he?

[mister_draco]

Draco continued along the path, weaving amongst the people and carts. He needed to watch what he was doing; bringing back the mannerisms his father had taught him. Letting people in too far was just a disaster waiting to happen. Draco did not need anyone; he was fine with the way his life was going. Romance was the farthest thing from his mind, not that this even applied with Levi. He wasn’t that way, and it wasn’t as if Levi was either, right?

Finally reaching the point, Draco stood there, waiting for Levi to reach it too. They would have to side-along apparate. “We should probably side-along,” Draco said, speaking his thoughts aloud.

Pulling the cloak tighter, Draco continued to shiver. He never wanted a cold again. He did not know how muggles survived on a daily basis. Their lives were dreadfully horrible.

[gildedvineyard]

Levi stared with parted lips, confused for a moment, finally biting down on well-worn, reddened lips, and tonguing the split that had formed there.

"Siiide-longg. Sydelone. Side. Long?" His teeth pattered together and he steepled his fingers, distracted.

"Sidelong?" He turned to stare at Draco, tentatively wrapping an arm around his shoulder and peering about them, his other hand distractedly patting Draco's scarf, tugging it tighter, forgetting it, and tugging again as he waited for it to happen.

He waited for perhaps a few seconds before he craned to look at Draco again, in horrible awkward agony, and bounced on his toes.

"Right?" Oh dear. Had he gotten it wrong? Sidelong? Sidelong apparation? Wasn't that what he had meant?

"I've never done this before. I had no reason to apparate much of anywhere in France. I can do it, though." His hand fell away from Draco's throat to flatten his own hair, feeling too-adult and out-of-sync and oddly nervous. Theo was waiting. Well. Perhaps not. He was waiting to see Theo. Yes.

[mister_draco]

Annoying Draco really was not very difficult of a feat. Why, Potter had been doing it successfully for years. The quickest way to achieve that perfect level of annoyance was not doing what he said. Draco expected everyone around him to just ’get’ what he meant, then do it. Taking time to explain just ruined everything.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Draco sighed, trying very hard not to let his annoyance show. “Side-along apparation,” Draco said, clearly, as if that explained everything. What more was there to say about that? A person was supposed to learn about apparation in school!

Now, they were back to touching. Draco had never met another male that touched so much. It just wasn’t normal. Sighing again, Draco let out a small cough. He would apparate them both, just to get back inside, if nothing else.

“Obviously, I picked up on that since we are no where near St. Mungos,” Draco commented rather sarcastically. Another grand feature of the Draco annoyance spectrum - sarcasm. He had never really met his match when it came to sparring of words. There had been Potter, who had boiled his blood faster than he thought humanly possible. Yes, that is what he needed - someone that drove him insane in every possible way. Only someone truly strong could handle and put up with Draco Malfoy.

“Right, then. I will get us there. May want to close your eyes since you aren’t used to it, nasty sting. Make sure to hold tight, I’d rather not lose you along the way and have to start a rescue mission.” Yes, because that is what Draco would actually do. Grabbing a hold of the other, Draco got the image clearly in his mind, allowing the apparation to take over them.

[gildedvineyard]

He was allowed little time to prepare himself before they were swept away, and Levi landed rather ungracefully, shoulder thrown into the other boy. When he straightened, it was with barely concealed frustration that he turned on Draco, towering over him and poking him in the chest.

"I've apparated before, thanks, though I've never had the pleasure of sidelong apparating with anybody. I could only guess how it was done." He bit his tongue, but his lips continued. "It's not very becoming for you to be so rude, you know? I'm being nothing but polite despite your obvious dislike of me." Where were those handsome looks he had seen before? Those curious expressions and the softened shoulders. Barriers were back up, and Levi didn't know where they had come from, but they appeared with blinding speed.

Ah, but wasn't it him being childish? Levi knew better than to start throwing blame. Draco. Draco Malfoy. There was a lot of shit in a past like that. He couldn't surmise whether it meant Draco was allowed to ruff him up, though. He struggled for a moment as he took in his surroundings: eggshell white and dark cherry wood. Rather lovely, but Levi wasn't much for hospitals.

[mister_draco]

Used to the sensation of side-along, Draco landed gracefully on his feet, which was not the same case with Levi. Rubbing his shoulder, Draco barely had time to straighten his clothes before Levi was rounding on him and poking him in the chest. Really, were they five years old now?

“Again, with stating the obvious,” Draco snarked before he could stop himself. It really was an unfortunate situation that he enjoyed picking fights with others. He liked pushing people, seeing how far he could take them. Feigning a look of boredom, Draco shrugged his shoulders. “I assure you, I am not being rude, and it is called honesty. You should try it sometime. You hold yourself back too much. Say what is on your damn mind and be done with it!” It was exhilarating when one fought with another; it made the heart pound and blood boil. People really should try it more often. It struck passion and everyone needed more of that.

“Obvious dislike?” Draco questioned, eyebrows furrowed. If he did not like Levi, he would not have bothered helping in the very first place. “If I didn’t like you I wouldn’t go anywhere near you, believe me.” It made him start to wonder what kind of signals he was throwing out there.

Following Levi’s eyes, Draco looked at the hospital, ghastly images forming in his mind of his last visit. He should not have come here, well, he could leave now. He had gotten Levi here and there really was no need for him to stay. Taking one-step back, Draco bit at his bottom lip, trying not to show how scared this place made him. Malfoys did not show fear - at least not, where others could see it.

[gildedvineyard]

Levi's lip curled, but he hid it gracefully. Draco's eloquence was slipping, and he was sounding pressed for words. That was fine. Levi didn't like to pick fights anyway. It was just simply too rude-

"Ghastly British," he muttered. Father had always warned, but he'd taken little of what his father had said to heart. Cold, he'd said. They were ruthless, depressed, rooted. He'd been right: Draco was throwing up barriers Levi didn't deserve. All his life he'd be taught to be open, accepting, peaceful. He touched when he wanted, and so did others. His own seemed to have caused some sort of deep-rooted confusion and retaliation in Draco. And it just wasn't fair.

He saved the rest of his ill-thought words in the back of his mind, and instead approached the counter, greeted by a lovely young girl with scrumptious twirled blond pigtails. The smile fell easily back onto Levi's face and he leaned into the counter loosely, head tilted to address the girl. His accent was particularily strong and drawn-out.

"Hallo Mizz, I am a friend of Theodore Nott. I whas whondering if I might be able to see him thiz morning? It's dreadful whats happened, I would love to console him." His eyebrows rose to 'worried' height to punctuate his greeting, and the girl, mid-chew of a surely delicious pink bubblegum, stopped dead, pencil dropped from her fingers to tinker delicately on the desk.

"S-Sir?" She stammered, straightening with a huff. Her hair bounced slightly, and Levi grinned. "Mr Nott? Could I pleaze see him?" His voice was melted honey, and she was the bee. She bobbed her head yes and pointed to the wall and the directories listed there.

"Outpatients." She spoke, abrupt. "Oh, but. Visiting isn't till one o'clock, sir. The waiting room is just inside those doors there." She looked impressed that she'd finished her sentence, and Levi nodded and slunk away, backing up a few steps, smile still heavy on her till he turned back towards Draco.

"Goodness, is it one already? Still early, I suppose." His eyes met Draco's and his face was rather blank till he reached forward and slid his fingers behind the boy's head, light along his scalp and under his hair, an apologetic look on his face, though it was not voiced.

"Come with me?" He asked, his hand dropping away again to sit uselessly at his side.

[mister_draco]

Levi was infuriating, maddening even! Draco did not know why he even bothered. It was clear the man had no sense of decency or regard on how to do things. He was certainly one of those touchy-feely-love-the-one-your-next-to types. Lifting his chin in a very classy way, Draco stepped into the hospital, radiating with cool confidence. It may have been awhile since he truly felt that way but one never forgot something like that - it was like riding a broom - once you knew it, it was always there. Draco was simply born with a suave sense of self that gravitated people towards him. Draco liked to think of it as mysterious, it fit with all the walls he had. His baiting charm often lead others to deal with his moods. He knew the right moments to turn on the sweetness. It was why he had Pansy wrapped around his finger when he tossed her away so frequently.

The feelings of annoyance roared again at Levi’s interaction with bubble brain. He was often in that role, playing up to get his way with everything. It was all wrong, the entire thing. Clearly, Draco reigned superior yet again. In addition, that shoddy accent, it did nothing for Draco, not a single solitary thing. Turning away in disgust, Draco trained his eye on a poster on the wall. He was reading the last line when he realized who Levi was like - that dreadful Fleur. She had thought she was some kind of queen or something, strutting around as if everyone should fall at her feet.

He turned from the poster just as Levi was finished with brainless at the counter. Words of goodbye were firmly on Draco’s lips until Levi touched his hair again. Blast it all! It was not softening him it really was not. He was a Malfoy - remember that boy - his mind screamed, but to no avail. What Draco really wanted to say is - ‘why should I?’ but that sounded very childish.

Narrowing his eyes, Draco turned and walked to the waiting room, deciding he was not talking to Levi, still. The other had called him rude, told him what he felt and was being extremely confusing. Draco did not like the hot and cold routine, which was much crueler than anything Draco could ever say. Sitting in one of the chairs, Draco picked up one of the magazines laid out, flipping through it to appear unconcerned and calm. All was quiet on his end before a sneezing fit overtook him, and of course, he had forgotten a handkerchief. With his current luck, the healers would say he needed checking out. Although, it would not happen because Draco would not stay here or let anyone touch him at all.

[gildedvineyard]

Draco was gone in an instant, and Levi stood, surprised, blank. Curious, he followed and poked his head through the doors. There were multitudes of sickly people, old people, children. He hadn't come all this way to be bullied, but neither was he indifferent to Draco's plight: Levi was being rather infuriating. Needy, even, and though it had been customary where he was from to extend help wherever it was needed, it seemed as though people here needed to look out for themselves, and Levi had interjected on that. On Draco's personal safety bubble.

The boy was seated far from the rest of the sniffing, coughing, boil-growing bunch, alone along the back wall, face pressed into the nearest Witch's Digest (certainly abnormal) until a fit of sneezing broke his calm. Here, too there was another clerk and quietly he asked for a box of tissues. He was proper with her: there was no need to infuriate Draco further, especially when it had been so childish a thing to do anyway. When was he going to grow up?

The chair was uncomfortable as he sat down, caution orange an pressed plastic. It didn't quite scream death, but it eased uncomfortably around his bottom and prodded at his back as though it were his fault for sitting there. He offered the box of tissue, silent, head barely turned to Draco lest he infringe again. A small welling of indignation: why should he have to curb his ways? Touching was perfectly healthy. Oh yes. Because it was him that had wanted to move here, start anew, fresh. He hadn't even found a job yet. So much for being responsible.

[mister_draco]

Culture and family had more to do with a person’s personality than they really knew. Draco had grown up in a world that was far different from what most knew. It was a twisting, turning way of behavior that left one quite confused. Thus, intimate healthy social relationships were beyond Draco’s understanding. He could charm with his words and winning smile but anything further than that just did not add up. No one could claim to know the real Draco Malfoy because he didn’t even know. All his life others had made the decisions and he had ambled along, dependent on their proper advice. Now, he simply did not know where to move.

In the middle of a sneeze, Draco let out a little gasp as Levi came into his line of vision, bleary as he was. He had thought for sure the other would not even bother with him. It was often how this seemed to play out. People always leave. Gratefully taking the box, Draco yanked a few out, relieved when the fit was over. Sinking lower into the chair, Draco set aside the magazine and the box. He did not quite know what to say, he was not used to apologizing.

Although, he did not know what to do on that front, he did know that it was boiling in the waiting room. Shrugging off the cloak and scarf, Draco started to roll up his sleeves but stopped, rubbing the spot on his left arm instead. It all came back down to that, why he could not move on, why he felt the need to shove others away. He needed to get rid of them before they got rid of him. It was simple and as complicated as that. He was an utter mess and no one needed to mix up in that. Least of all Levi.

Turning to face the other, Draco tried to make his face a complete blank slate, eyes practically dead of emotion. “Look, I’m not used to others bothering. Just doesn’t work that way around here. You make it by yourself or you do not make it at all. They expect you to just - get it - you know?” Draco began, rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants. Merlin, he felt as if he was a phoenix about to go through ‘the change’. “I didn’t - I mean - you - Merlin, things are just - I’m just too…” Trailing off, he yanked a tissue out to start tearing it into pieces. He needed to do something other than just sitting there.

[gildedvineyard]

With practiced ease, Levi slipped out his wand and procure the simple cooling charm his mother had taught him. Everything she had taught him had had an air of herself in it: something cute, amusing, practical. The charm worked in that it created a small fan, no bigger than your palm, and floated pleasantly around your head, minding it's own business. Sure, it certainly got in the way sometimes, and it wasn't exactly the strongest spell, but it did the job and reminded him of his mother. He had never shown anyone else before.

"I'm not a bother," he said resolutely, amusement gleaming in his eye. That hand was back, touching Draco's hair with a sort of childish glee at having broken the rules again. He touched: he got in trouble. He didn't touch: he got in less trouble, but trouble nonetheless, and it was less fun. Again he brought his hand back: if he could win these small battles before they'd even started, he might just worm his way under Draco Malfoy's skin.

He considered saying more, but knew the moment had passed. Draco was building up to something or other, and Levi didn't know how to calm him other than to be calm himself. Quite simple, but Draco wasn't the simple type. He offered a small smile, hands folded in his lap as he sunk down, finding the chair still uncomfortable, and rather angry that he wasn't sitting properly as he should be.