Fic: If Only We Listen by Gilpin25
Title: If Only We Listen
Author: gilpin25
Rating & Warnings: PG-13
Prompt(s): Still, still, still/One can hear the falling snow/For all is hushed/The world is sleeping/Holy Star its vigil keeping/Still, still, still/One can hear the falling snow/Still, still, still.
Format & Word Count: Fic; 769 words
Summary: There are times when words are not necessary.
Author’s Notes: This fic could be set whenever you think this particular R/T moment happened. ;) I was planning on posting a longer story but as it still lacks part of the middle and all of the ending, I wrote this one tonight instead. Hope the haste doesn't show, and it's great to see so many final day entries!
If Only We Listen
It happens as they stand together, temporarily vanquished, on a silent and snow-covered hill. It’s the sort of day when scarves need to be wrapped twice round a face and even gloved hands need to be thrust down deep into pockets; a day when she’s out of breath from all that running around and bitterly choked with the disappointment of what might have just got away.
In short, it’s not the day or time for a moment like this one, and when she’s dreamed of it happening it has never been like this. When her hair is stuck to her face, when she’s sweating like mad under all the layers and her nose is almost certain to start running like a tap. But Remus Lupin is looking at her. Remus Lupin, who is a little careful with everyone, seems to have suddenly stopped being so very careful with her. Remus Lupin, who should either be cursing like a madman or shaking his head in frustration right now, is doing neither of the things he should be.
Because Remus Lupin is staring at her.
*****
He realizes he’s staring at her. It’s essential that he stops.
It was his fault the possible Death-Eater got away. He’s about to say it out loud, in between heaving gasps from aching sides, but he knows she’d only glare at him from underneath the fierce pink hair and say she’s willing to entertain the notion that he made a mistake, not that he’s an idiot. It’s vital to concentrate on the job in hand, which he’s mucked up this time by being slow off the mark; it’s work which is a lifeline to him because he can be useful to others, despite being what he is, and often because of what he is.
Of course she doesn’t care about that. In the same way Sirius and James never cared; a way that doesn’t judge or condemn but frequently forgets something exists. It makes him feel grateful, almost forgetful himself sometimes, and absolutely bloody furious, even more times, that this is the way things have to be. A girl like Nymphadora Tonks deserves all that life can give her. Nymphadora Tonks holds sparks of light in her eyes and she needs more than the mere scraps on offer. Nymphadora Tonks, who should be laughing, if not actually spitting, in his face right now, still isn’t doing anything at all to stop the ridiculous urge to offer her himself.
Because Nymphadora Tonks is staring at him. And now she’s touching his hand.
*****
She wasn’t aware of reaching out, till his fingers clasp hers in reply. Or is it hers holding tightly onto his?
She’s touched him before, of course, but never like this. She almost made a point of it when she noticed others didn’t, which made her mad, only that turned into such a crazy, embarrassing mess it soon drove her even madder. There were jokes about Aurors not keeping their hands to themselves, about men who always get in the way and under your feet, but he knew what she was about. Remus Lupin is very easy going all the time, he's very pleasant all the time, and how he must long to say and do all that he really feels inside.
It’s occurred to her before to wonder what might happen if he did. She won’t lie to herself, it’s an exciting thought, and even more so is his touch and the expression in his eyes, and the shivering warmth that is spreading throughout. She won’t lie to him, either, and she wants to say to him that she may be young but she’s old enough to know how much they both want this. There’s always a moment of choice while the world waits to see what's going to happen, and she makes hers here and now.
Because Remus Lupin is holding her hand.
*****
Nymphadora Tonks is smiling at him.
He knows this is wrong, knows he’ll regret this one day for her sake but not his own. She is so young and can be anything she wants to be; he already is far too many. He should break the hush and break the spell of need and want.
He should do a lot of things right now, really. Like moving away, saying something useful, and stopping his fingers sliding into her hair.
Except it happens as they stand together, now forever triumphant, on a silent and snow-covered hill.
Because Remus Lupin kisses Nymphadora Tonks for the longest time, and for once only listens to his heart.
Author: gilpin25
Rating & Warnings: PG-13
Prompt(s): Still, still, still/One can hear the falling snow/For all is hushed/The world is sleeping/Holy Star its vigil keeping/Still, still, still/One can hear the falling snow/Still, still, still.
Format & Word Count: Fic; 769 words
Summary: There are times when words are not necessary.
Author’s Notes: This fic could be set whenever you think this particular R/T moment happened. ;) I was planning on posting a longer story but as it still lacks part of the middle and all of the ending, I wrote this one tonight instead. Hope the haste doesn't show, and it's great to see so many final day entries!
If Only We Listen
It happens as they stand together, temporarily vanquished, on a silent and snow-covered hill. It’s the sort of day when scarves need to be wrapped twice round a face and even gloved hands need to be thrust down deep into pockets; a day when she’s out of breath from all that running around and bitterly choked with the disappointment of what might have just got away.
In short, it’s not the day or time for a moment like this one, and when she’s dreamed of it happening it has never been like this. When her hair is stuck to her face, when she’s sweating like mad under all the layers and her nose is almost certain to start running like a tap. But Remus Lupin is looking at her. Remus Lupin, who is a little careful with everyone, seems to have suddenly stopped being so very careful with her. Remus Lupin, who should either be cursing like a madman or shaking his head in frustration right now, is doing neither of the things he should be.
Because Remus Lupin is staring at her.
*****
He realizes he’s staring at her. It’s essential that he stops.
It was his fault the possible Death-Eater got away. He’s about to say it out loud, in between heaving gasps from aching sides, but he knows she’d only glare at him from underneath the fierce pink hair and say she’s willing to entertain the notion that he made a mistake, not that he’s an idiot. It’s vital to concentrate on the job in hand, which he’s mucked up this time by being slow off the mark; it’s work which is a lifeline to him because he can be useful to others, despite being what he is, and often because of what he is.
Of course she doesn’t care about that. In the same way Sirius and James never cared; a way that doesn’t judge or condemn but frequently forgets something exists. It makes him feel grateful, almost forgetful himself sometimes, and absolutely bloody furious, even more times, that this is the way things have to be. A girl like Nymphadora Tonks deserves all that life can give her. Nymphadora Tonks holds sparks of light in her eyes and she needs more than the mere scraps on offer. Nymphadora Tonks, who should be laughing, if not actually spitting, in his face right now, still isn’t doing anything at all to stop the ridiculous urge to offer her himself.
Because Nymphadora Tonks is staring at him. And now she’s touching his hand.
*****
She wasn’t aware of reaching out, till his fingers clasp hers in reply. Or is it hers holding tightly onto his?
She’s touched him before, of course, but never like this. She almost made a point of it when she noticed others didn’t, which made her mad, only that turned into such a crazy, embarrassing mess it soon drove her even madder. There were jokes about Aurors not keeping their hands to themselves, about men who always get in the way and under your feet, but he knew what she was about. Remus Lupin is very easy going all the time, he's very pleasant all the time, and how he must long to say and do all that he really feels inside.
It’s occurred to her before to wonder what might happen if he did. She won’t lie to herself, it’s an exciting thought, and even more so is his touch and the expression in his eyes, and the shivering warmth that is spreading throughout. She won’t lie to him, either, and she wants to say to him that she may be young but she’s old enough to know how much they both want this. There’s always a moment of choice while the world waits to see what's going to happen, and she makes hers here and now.
Because Remus Lupin is holding her hand.
*****
Nymphadora Tonks is smiling at him.
He knows this is wrong, knows he’ll regret this one day for her sake but not his own. She is so young and can be anything she wants to be; he already is far too many. He should break the hush and break the spell of need and want.
He should do a lot of things right now, really. Like moving away, saying something useful, and stopping his fingers sliding into her hair.
Except it happens as they stand together, now forever triumphant, on a silent and snow-covered hill.
Because Remus Lupin kisses Nymphadora Tonks for the longest time, and for once only listens to his heart.