Seven: Bill & The Common Cold
Rating: PG-13
Note: Again with the cute, and the lack of smut.
Bill was curled up in about five blankets by his meager fireplace, nose red and puffy, wheezing slightly.
He, in short, was ill.
And EVERYONE in headquarters knew about it. He had been so downright obnoxious that Molly herself had given up trying to comfort him. After all, even she had her limits of patience.
Tonks had returned exhausted from a day that she had no interest in recounting. Her back ached and her head wasn't in a much better place. Walking into the kitchens of headquarters however, she was met with an agry and frustrated Molly Weasley. She had almost backed fully out when the woman caught sight of her and began a tirade about Bill, a cold, and what Tonks should do about it.
She highly doubted Bill would tolerate her doing some of those things, but a few others she stored away mentally for future use, just in case. Nodding obediently, Tonks grabbed the tray Molly offered, and headed up to Bill's quarters.
Figuring he was probably in quite a mood, she knocked politely for once. "It's me."
Bill glared up at the door.
Yet another person to mock him with clear sinuses.
"... goway." He muttered, sinking lower into the blankets, trying to lose the chill he was sure he had developed.
Someone was clearly in a difficult mood. While a month ago, she would have told him what she thought of that and left, most profanely, things had changed so she made an effort to be nice. Instead, she simply opened the door and brought the tray inside.
"Watch it, Weasley. One day I might just, with a mouth like that, and you'd have to hunt me down." Tonks grinned at him, ignoring his grouchy mood.
Placing the tray down on a table, she built up his fire, tsking at the lack of good warmth in the room. Making sure he was bundled up nicely, she placed the tray next to him.
"Your mother sent this up. Soup, a Pepper-Up potion, tea."
"I've had five pepper-ups," Bill complained, although he was lacking the edge it had before. He was far more comfortable with the good fire.
"... not doing any good," he muttered, closing his eyes.
Poor love," Tonks sat down on the floor next to him, reaching up to pet him gently. He really was being a huge baby about the whole thing. Still, sympathy didn't cost anything. "Wicked cold, then. Hopefully it will pass soon. Did it just start today?"
Bill reached his hand down to touch her face. "Naw, it'd been bugging me for weeks. Finally just gave in since my assignments were done."
He sensed he didn't have to make things hard on her just to get sympathy. She'd give it no matter what.
"Well, then hopefully it will clear soon. The worst is usually the end, which I think stinks just a bit." Clearly he'd decided to be decent, which she appreciated. "Are you sure you should be sitting up? Maybe you should be in bed, all tucked in and warm?"
"But then my nose gets all oogy..." Bill protested, even as he made his achy muscles sit up more. "Curl up in bed with me? Tell me stories?" he asked in a pitiful tone.
"If you'd like." Tonks gave thanks briefly for her immune system, which was quite sturdy. Helping him up, she led him over to his bed, and tucked him in and propping him up with pillows. Dropping her clothes to the floor, she climbed in next to him, curling up against him.
"What story shall I tell you this time? My stunning failure to capture anyone at all today? The fall down the stairwell on my way home? Hestia and Kingsley and their flirting? Or something else?"
"Hes and King being... well, stupid." He grinned against her shoulder, nuzzling there slightly, thankfully mucus free. "I want to hear about our friends being right idiots."
His arms wrapped around her tightly. Even sick, he wasn't wearing any nightclothes. He just cursed that he WAS sick and that the usual reaction seemed impossible.
Tonks spun it out into a long story, the flirting, the glances, the random touches. It really had been quite amusing. When retelling the part where they'd been caught in a broom closet, she couldn't help but laugh. Their age, and fooling around in broom closet. "The funny part is, Kingsley has an office with a door. I think he's fallen, which, given their size difference, is quite amusing."
She kissed the top of his head and felt for a fever. Nothing too bad. Poor love, feeling so miserable.
Bill listened, then blinked something fierce. Something just wasn't adding up.
"... isn't Kingsley gay?"
"With that purple hat, you'd think so. Apparently he's just very secure in his masculinity." Tonks snorted.
Bill shook his head, almost in disbelief. "I thought I was... sheesh."
He buried his head against her neck, then grinned slightly. "But that's all right. Everyone should have someone."
"I have to agree," she responded, patting his cheek lightly. "Before you and I started up, I had people constantly asking me whether I'd gone for girls lately. It was quite frustrating, although I got several interesting offers."
"I never got the guy thing about wanting to watch two girls fuck," Bill muttered absentmindedly, burying himself completely against her and under the covers. "I'd much rather be involved, and just with one. Otherwise it's bloody complicated."
"It does seem to be a lot of work," Tonks answered. "Plus, you're more than enough work all on your own. I certainly wouldn't have enough energy for anyone else at this point. I much prefer dedicating all of my energy towards you."
"Me too," Bill said with a grin, becoming very comfortable and warm, slowly starting to drift. "Tell me more stories."
"Shall I tell you about my failure to capture Death Eaters, my fall down the stairs, or the wrath of Molly you let loose upon me downstairs?" Tonks kissed the top of his head, petting his hair softly. "Although I'd prefer to avoid the stairs story until the aches have passed, at the least."
"Tell me a made up story," Bill murmured, the cold potions finally seeping in, making him very goofy. His arms tightened around her waist. "Tell me a good one."
"A made up story? All right then," Tonks thought for a minute or two. "One upon a time, there was a cursebreaker with terribly bad luck. Everywhere he turned, horrible things seemed to happen to him. The wrong counter-curse, rampaging magical creatures, horribly inappropriate maidens abusing him. It seemed as thought nothing could go right for him..."
"Especially blonde ones," he muttered against her skin, fingers sort of flexing and un-flexing against her skin in an effort to stroke along her side.
"He had quite a tragic life, really, until a beautiful and violent woman came along and rescued him from the madness. Unfortunately, he was quite unappreciative of her efforts for the longest time... he would pick fights with her, and say nasty things, and accuse her of things... really, a wretched, wretched man. Still, she stayed true, and ignored him, except for the random time where he really did deserve the beating she gave."
"And the beating hurt. A lot. And the idiot still didn't get it, which just proves what a right tit he is," Bill muttered, obviously a bit down about said tit-ness.
"Luckily enough for him, our heroine kept on, being a sturdy if bloody-minded sort, and simply put up with him, aside, of course, for the random beatings. Certain things, after all, should never be said to a lady, no matter what her profession."
Tonks smirked. That had taught him to use those words around her. "Then, one day, in the midst of their random and hard-to-explain affection, our hero found that he was terribly confused by what he was feeling."
Bill mumbled something against her chest. It could have been 'because he is a tit,' or possibly 'sit ubu sit'.
It was hard to say.
"But he loved her."
"Well of course. Luckily enough for him, the woman in question had decided the same. Unfortunately, it took them days and days to get it all sorted out, given that he was inclined to throw fits and hide when upset, where she was more inclined to just deal with the issues at hand. In the end, she had to hunt him down."
"Where did she hunt him down?" Bill asked, his bottom lip drooping a bit as he fell into a very relaxed sort of dozing.
"He had taken shelter in his lair, after upsetting many people. The woman convinced the people to not hunt him down and beat him to death, once again saving him. Instead, she cornered him herself and told him she was hopelessly in love with him, no matter what he thought. Then she told him he was being a right arse."
Tonks continued petting him lovingly, happy he was falling asleep. If he slept, he'd likely wake feeling better.
Bill smiled happily in his daze, arms squeezing her. "Because she made bacon in the bathtub and moouindfhgh..."
He was still listening, but as for making sense? No longer.
"Then the wretched, foul man decided to try to escape the trap she'd laid so carefully for him with words and temper. She, however, was having none of that, and convinced him in the end that she was perfect for him. He then proceeded to keep her quiet and happy in bed through excessive physical effort."
Bill made a noise against her skin that could only be described as a giggle before starting to snore lightly, finally sleeping.
Finally, she thought. Leaning over and picking up her wand, Tonks locked the door thoroughly to keep others out. No use letting others get him all cranky again when he was happier. Then she summoned her bag, and pulled out her book, settling in to read until she was tired enough to sleep, one arm still wrapped around him.
Note: Again with the cute, and the lack of smut.
Bill was curled up in about five blankets by his meager fireplace, nose red and puffy, wheezing slightly.
He, in short, was ill.
And EVERYONE in headquarters knew about it. He had been so downright obnoxious that Molly herself had given up trying to comfort him. After all, even she had her limits of patience.
Tonks had returned exhausted from a day that she had no interest in recounting. Her back ached and her head wasn't in a much better place. Walking into the kitchens of headquarters however, she was met with an agry and frustrated Molly Weasley. She had almost backed fully out when the woman caught sight of her and began a tirade about Bill, a cold, and what Tonks should do about it.
She highly doubted Bill would tolerate her doing some of those things, but a few others she stored away mentally for future use, just in case. Nodding obediently, Tonks grabbed the tray Molly offered, and headed up to Bill's quarters.
Figuring he was probably in quite a mood, she knocked politely for once. "It's me."
Bill glared up at the door.
Yet another person to mock him with clear sinuses.
"... goway." He muttered, sinking lower into the blankets, trying to lose the chill he was sure he had developed.
Someone was clearly in a difficult mood. While a month ago, she would have told him what she thought of that and left, most profanely, things had changed so she made an effort to be nice. Instead, she simply opened the door and brought the tray inside.
"Watch it, Weasley. One day I might just, with a mouth like that, and you'd have to hunt me down." Tonks grinned at him, ignoring his grouchy mood.
Placing the tray down on a table, she built up his fire, tsking at the lack of good warmth in the room. Making sure he was bundled up nicely, she placed the tray next to him.
"Your mother sent this up. Soup, a Pepper-Up potion, tea."
"I've had five pepper-ups," Bill complained, although he was lacking the edge it had before. He was far more comfortable with the good fire.
"... not doing any good," he muttered, closing his eyes.
Poor love," Tonks sat down on the floor next to him, reaching up to pet him gently. He really was being a huge baby about the whole thing. Still, sympathy didn't cost anything. "Wicked cold, then. Hopefully it will pass soon. Did it just start today?"
Bill reached his hand down to touch her face. "Naw, it'd been bugging me for weeks. Finally just gave in since my assignments were done."
He sensed he didn't have to make things hard on her just to get sympathy. She'd give it no matter what.
"Well, then hopefully it will clear soon. The worst is usually the end, which I think stinks just a bit." Clearly he'd decided to be decent, which she appreciated. "Are you sure you should be sitting up? Maybe you should be in bed, all tucked in and warm?"
"But then my nose gets all oogy..." Bill protested, even as he made his achy muscles sit up more. "Curl up in bed with me? Tell me stories?" he asked in a pitiful tone.
"If you'd like." Tonks gave thanks briefly for her immune system, which was quite sturdy. Helping him up, she led him over to his bed, and tucked him in and propping him up with pillows. Dropping her clothes to the floor, she climbed in next to him, curling up against him.
"What story shall I tell you this time? My stunning failure to capture anyone at all today? The fall down the stairwell on my way home? Hestia and Kingsley and their flirting? Or something else?"
"Hes and King being... well, stupid." He grinned against her shoulder, nuzzling there slightly, thankfully mucus free. "I want to hear about our friends being right idiots."
His arms wrapped around her tightly. Even sick, he wasn't wearing any nightclothes. He just cursed that he WAS sick and that the usual reaction seemed impossible.
Tonks spun it out into a long story, the flirting, the glances, the random touches. It really had been quite amusing. When retelling the part where they'd been caught in a broom closet, she couldn't help but laugh. Their age, and fooling around in broom closet. "The funny part is, Kingsley has an office with a door. I think he's fallen, which, given their size difference, is quite amusing."
She kissed the top of his head and felt for a fever. Nothing too bad. Poor love, feeling so miserable.
Bill listened, then blinked something fierce. Something just wasn't adding up.
"... isn't Kingsley gay?"
"With that purple hat, you'd think so. Apparently he's just very secure in his masculinity." Tonks snorted.
Bill shook his head, almost in disbelief. "I thought I was... sheesh."
He buried his head against her neck, then grinned slightly. "But that's all right. Everyone should have someone."
"I have to agree," she responded, patting his cheek lightly. "Before you and I started up, I had people constantly asking me whether I'd gone for girls lately. It was quite frustrating, although I got several interesting offers."
"I never got the guy thing about wanting to watch two girls fuck," Bill muttered absentmindedly, burying himself completely against her and under the covers. "I'd much rather be involved, and just with one. Otherwise it's bloody complicated."
"It does seem to be a lot of work," Tonks answered. "Plus, you're more than enough work all on your own. I certainly wouldn't have enough energy for anyone else at this point. I much prefer dedicating all of my energy towards you."
"Me too," Bill said with a grin, becoming very comfortable and warm, slowly starting to drift. "Tell me more stories."
"Shall I tell you about my failure to capture Death Eaters, my fall down the stairs, or the wrath of Molly you let loose upon me downstairs?" Tonks kissed the top of his head, petting his hair softly. "Although I'd prefer to avoid the stairs story until the aches have passed, at the least."
"Tell me a made up story," Bill murmured, the cold potions finally seeping in, making him very goofy. His arms tightened around her waist. "Tell me a good one."
"A made up story? All right then," Tonks thought for a minute or two. "One upon a time, there was a cursebreaker with terribly bad luck. Everywhere he turned, horrible things seemed to happen to him. The wrong counter-curse, rampaging magical creatures, horribly inappropriate maidens abusing him. It seemed as thought nothing could go right for him..."
"Especially blonde ones," he muttered against her skin, fingers sort of flexing and un-flexing against her skin in an effort to stroke along her side.
"He had quite a tragic life, really, until a beautiful and violent woman came along and rescued him from the madness. Unfortunately, he was quite unappreciative of her efforts for the longest time... he would pick fights with her, and say nasty things, and accuse her of things... really, a wretched, wretched man. Still, she stayed true, and ignored him, except for the random time where he really did deserve the beating she gave."
"And the beating hurt. A lot. And the idiot still didn't get it, which just proves what a right tit he is," Bill muttered, obviously a bit down about said tit-ness.
"Luckily enough for him, our heroine kept on, being a sturdy if bloody-minded sort, and simply put up with him, aside, of course, for the random beatings. Certain things, after all, should never be said to a lady, no matter what her profession."
Tonks smirked. That had taught him to use those words around her. "Then, one day, in the midst of their random and hard-to-explain affection, our hero found that he was terribly confused by what he was feeling."
Bill mumbled something against her chest. It could have been 'because he is a tit,' or possibly 'sit ubu sit'.
It was hard to say.
"But he loved her."
"Well of course. Luckily enough for him, the woman in question had decided the same. Unfortunately, it took them days and days to get it all sorted out, given that he was inclined to throw fits and hide when upset, where she was more inclined to just deal with the issues at hand. In the end, she had to hunt him down."
"Where did she hunt him down?" Bill asked, his bottom lip drooping a bit as he fell into a very relaxed sort of dozing.
"He had taken shelter in his lair, after upsetting many people. The woman convinced the people to not hunt him down and beat him to death, once again saving him. Instead, she cornered him herself and told him she was hopelessly in love with him, no matter what he thought. Then she told him he was being a right arse."
Tonks continued petting him lovingly, happy he was falling asleep. If he slept, he'd likely wake feeling better.
Bill smiled happily in his daze, arms squeezing her. "Because she made bacon in the bathtub and moouindfhgh..."
He was still listening, but as for making sense? No longer.
"Then the wretched, foul man decided to try to escape the trap she'd laid so carefully for him with words and temper. She, however, was having none of that, and convinced him in the end that she was perfect for him. He then proceeded to keep her quiet and happy in bed through excessive physical effort."
Bill made a noise against her skin that could only be described as a giggle before starting to snore lightly, finally sleeping.
Finally, she thought. Leaning over and picking up her wand, Tonks locked the door thoroughly to keep others out. No use letting others get him all cranky again when he was happier. Then she summoned her bag, and pulled out her book, settling in to read until she was tired enough to sleep, one arm still wrapped around him.