(no subject)

Dec 20, 2006 19:04

Title: Training Day
Challenge: Anything Goes
For: Sparkles
Ship: Kingsley and Gideon, pre-slash?
Warning: 1,000ish words



The first thing Kingsley did after leaving the others trainees was Banish his robes. It was easier to travel through the woods with his well-fitted jeans and t-shirt than any loose robe. Prewett, walking behind him, must have choked on something as he began coughing.

"Why don't you dump your robes, Prewett? Walking through the Forest is easier without them, ya' know." He no sooner finished the sentence then Prewett's brown robe snagged on a twig.

He raised an eyebrow at Kingsley, "And if I'm not…" Whatever he was going to say, Prewett shook his head and didn't finish the sentence. Nodding once, Gideon repeated the same charm, revealing jeans and a tight, sleeveless t-shirt that had a Hobgoblins logo on it. Kingsley watched him flex his arms, then quickly turned around when Gideon smirked at him.

Damn, why does he make me feel like a firstie? Kingsley wondered as he began walking again. He randomly cast several spells along the way, from things he learned his first year of training to spells he learned last week; all things meant to reveal magical traces in the air.

Squeezing sideways between some thickets, Kingsley pocketed his wand to check the ground for footprints on the far side. Wizards often were so worried about magical tracings they forgot about physical ones. He didn't think Moody would be so careless, but this was a training session.

Glancing over his shoulder, Kingsley watched Prewett stop inside the same thicket. He was thin enough that the bushes barely brushed his shoulders. And he was smirking at Kingsley. Again.

"What?"

"Nothing, Shacklebolt, I'm just here to observe."

"You could help, ya' know," Kingsley muttered loudly.

"Why? Obviously we're perfectly safe. You just pocketed your wand in the middle of the Forbidden Forest on a training mission to find an evil wizard. What could go wrong?"

Sighing, Kingsley took his wand back out and held it. "I've asked four questions already, Prewett, and you haven't deigned to answer them."

"That's because you're asking the wrong questions."

"What's so wrong with them?"

"You asked me the same questions you'd ask a babysitter. I'm not your babysitter, Kingsley." Prewett finally left the thicket and sauntered toward a tree, leaning his bare shoulder against the bark.

Sauntered? Kingsley worried he was going crazy.

"No, Gideon, you're supposed to be my partner on this mission."

"Then treat me like one."

Scowling, Kingsley turned around so he could face Gideon and sat on a log, wondering why Prewett frowned at him.

"Moody said you're only here to observe."

"Do you want to listen to Moody, or do you want to win?"

Grinning, Kingsley said, "Isn't that cheating?"

"Only if you're caught. Days like this mean anything is fair."

"So tell me what to do."

Considering his options for a moment, Kingsley said, "We're assuming he's hiding in the forest and so we spread out in teams to search for him. There are eight of us versus one of him."

"Exactly."

"He'd be crazy to stay in the forest. Apparition is noisy and leaves magical traces. Not to mention that most of the creatures in here don't like humans."

"Okay." Gideon's words were short and clipped, but his eyes were laughing, encouraging Kingsley to continue.

"But how do we search for him? If he doubled back we would have seen him."

"Would we?" Prewett said cryptically.

"Not if he Apparated far enough to hide the sound. Then back out again."

"So how do we track him?"

"We need a dog," Kingsley blurted, mortified he said such a thing out loud.

Laughing, Gideon nodded, "Well, we don't have a dog. What else?"

Kingsley stuck his hands in his pockets, fiddling with the coins he carried. He was nervous and didn't know why. But the answer was suddenly obvious.

"A niffler!"

Prewett smiled, pushing himself away from the tree. He held his hand out and pulled Kingsley to his feet. Strangely enough, Kingsley thought Prewett took a long time letting go of his hand. However, Gideon's face didn't change or lose the smirk, and Kingsley convinced himself he imagined it.

Shaking his head, Kingsley focused on the present. Distracting himself, Kingsley quizzed Gideon about techniques to trace magical signals, practicing them as they walked back toward the edge of the woods.

"No, not quite that way." Gideon put his hand on Kingsley's shoulder and he stopped walking immediately. Frowning, Kingsley didn't like how he reacted to Gideon, as if his body wasn't under his own control every time Prewett touched him. Then Gideon slid directly behind him and Kingsley felt his breath catch as muscles tensed.

Holding his arm parallel with Kingsley, he moved his wand sharply left then right. Kingsley tried to repeat it, and found himself distracted by the contrasting colors of their skin as their arms bumped.

"No." Gideon tucked his wand into Kingsley's hand, wrapping his hand over Kingsley's to make him hold it. Letting go, Gideon wrapped long fingers around Kingsley's wrist, making him swallow nervously. Gideon guided his arm left then right with quick movements.

"See? You were swishing, you need to make the movements harder - sharper."

Gideon moved their arms again and Kingsley said the charm, making both wands spark. Laughing, Gideon turned his head toward Kingsley, "Nice job." His breath against Kingsley's neck made his skin prickle.

Shocked, Kingsley stepped away, refusing to look up since he was sure Gideon would be smirking at him again.

"Thanks, Prewett," he said, handing Gideon's wand back to him, backpedaling to put some distance between them. Why was he thinking such inane thoughts? It was completely unlike Kingsley.

Gideon bowed slightly and Kingsley couldn't tell if he was being serious or mocking him.

"Can we find a niffler now?"

"As you wish," Gideon said. Brushing his hands together, his smile faded and his expression changed, focusing on the training mission. Suddenly Prewett was all business again and Kingsley couldn't quite figure out why it bothered him. Well, he had some idea, but it seemed outrageous and he dismissed the notion quickly, ignoring how the brief thought made his skin flush.
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