RP: Once more with feeling

[rar_cho]

Date: Monday, July 8, 1999 | after work
Characters: Cho Chang, Marcus Flint
Location: Best Brooms, Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, The Leaky Cauldron
Status: Private
Summary: Cho surprises Marcus with a visit.
Completion: InComplete

Comments

[rar_cho]

She hadn't meant to make him uncomfortable but obviously, she had. She sighed, "Of course, I was going to come see you." She bit her lip as she thought about why she had come. She looked over at him, "I knew you would be disappointed and wanted to make sure you were okay." At least that surprised look on his face was better than the uncomfortable one.

Marcus described what he had overheard and she cringed. "Oh, Marcus, that's awful. I’m sorry." That would be rough to hear. She thought it was a bit puzzling, too. Cho had seen him at practice and knew he could fly well, and was very good at playing the Chaser position. It didn't seem probable his Quidditch skills could be the reason he wouldn't get back on a team. There had to be more to that story. She wanted to ask more questions but couldn’t when she saw the disappointment on his face. Whatever else had contributed to his not playing again was his personal business, not hers. If he wanted to tell her, he would. That was the past and she was more concerned about him now. His hopes and dreams had depended upon playing again. Now he was going to have to reevaluate his life and decide where he wanted to go from here.

“I’m glad you were at work.” She smiled at him, “I wouldn’t have known where else to find you, and I suspect my owl would not be willing to make that trip again.” She didn’t know if it had been a lengthy distance or just the miserable weather that day, or possibly the welcome she had received, but Lady Grey had been in a foul mood when she had returned from delivering the letter to Marcus.

[rar_marcus]

It felt good to know that Cho seemed to care about him - or rather - had been worried about him. But Marcus didn't know how to respond to that. He never had been the sort of person to share his feelings much and he wasn't sure he could start now.

"It wasn't the best day ever," Marcus agreed as Cho said how bad it must have been for him. "I just always assumed I'd play again. Everything would be back to how it's supposed to be and . . . I don't know. It's all gone to crap now," he mumbled, staring at the ground.

Marcus smiled back at Cho as she talked but felt a pang of guilt as she mentioned her owl.

"Sorry. I ignored her for a while. I don't think she was very happy about it," Marcus said.

[rar_cho]

She listened as he talked about that day and how it had changed everything. She agreed, "It's a crap situation, Marcus, but that's something you can leave behind you. Now, you have the opportunity to figure out another goal for yourself." She wanted him to know he could get past this and do more than just play Quidditch.

She nodded when he confirmed her owl had a bit of a wait at his place. "I think she got caught in that bad storm so the waiting probably didn't help her mood." Lady Grey had stayed in and rested until the rain had abated that evening.

They had walked along Diagon Alley a while and she asked, "Were you going to Floo or Apparate back to Hogsmeade?"

[rar_marcus]

"Another goal? That was my goal. What's the point in pretending things'll ever be the same?" Marcus said, kicking a stone along the ground. It was all very well for Cho to say that but she had the sort of brains to do whatever she wanted with her life. Quidditch had been his only chance of having a decent life, of not ending up in a dead end job like his Father.

"I was going to Floo back," Marcus said. "I usually Floo to one of the pubs, and have a meal before I go home."

He usually had a few drinks too, but he didn't tell Cho that. She seemed to think that he could improve his life and he didn't want her to think less of him. He had a feeling she wouldn't approve of how much or how often he drank.

Since when did you care what people think? Marcus asked himself, looking sidelong at Cho. But he did care what she thought and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

[rar_cho]

She listened as Marcus voiced the exact things she had worried he would be thinking. "No, things can't stay the same but change doesn't have to be a bad thing." She glanced over at him, "Who says you can only have one goal?"

She reached out and placed a hand on his arm to get his attention. "Marcus, you are more than just a Quidditch player." She gave a little smile as she released his arm. "You might not see that now, but this is the chance to discover that about yourself." He had been so intent on a career in Quidditch, she knew he hadn't considered what else he could do. Once he did find something else, she believed his drive and focus could be successfully applied to that interest.

He mentioned he usually went to a pub for a meal after work. "Would you mind if I join you for dinner?" She added quickly, "It's okay though, if you don't want to." She didn't want to seem pushy and did understand if he would rather be left alone. It was just now that she had caught up with him, she really wanted to talk to him more.

[rar_marcus]

"Not a bad thing?!" Marcus exclaimed, unable to stop himself. "I find out that I'm . . . I'm, considered some unfit troublemaker and that's not a bad thing?!"

He frowned at Cho for a moment before she put her hand on his arm and told him he was more than a Quidditch player. She really seemed to believe that. Marcus met her eyes and suddenly felt bad for snapping.

"Sorry," he said, trying to smile. "I know you're just trying to help."

Marcus didn't tell her that he didn't think there was any point in her trying to help. No need to be rude. If Cho wanted to talk to him about it then he would let her. Marcus' smile was genuine as Cho asked if she could join him.

"Course I want to. Where would you like to go?" he asked.

[rar_cho]

She sighed as Marcus went off on what his coach had said about him. He had evidently overheard some very hurtful things. "It's okay. I know what I'm saying is not helping, Marcus." She managed a small smile, "I just believe you can get past this."

She nodded and quickly considered the restaurant choices when he agreed to getting dinner. She bit her lip, thinking the Leaky might be a good choice. "You mentioned you usually go to one of the pubs for a meal. Can we go to the Leaky?" She smiled, "I haven't been there in a while."

[rar_marcus]

Marcus sighed, now he had made Cho feel like she wasn't being helpful. He nearly told her that her just talking to him was helping, but he felt uncomfortable. As if that would be letting his guard down and his feelings show.

"At least someone believes in me," Marcus said.

"The Leaky it is," he agreed. They walked down there and Marcus opened the door for Cho.

[rar_cho]

At least someone believes in me.

She looked at him, wishing he could believe in himself. She remembered all too well how it felt when her life didn't have any direction. When she had left Hogwarts without her NEWT scores, every career she had ever considered had no longer been an option for her. There had been a war brewing and she had gone home to work in her family's business. It had taken two years before she had gotten her NEWT scores and now this chance to be a Healer. She believed in second chances. After the war, she had seen so many lives taking new directions.

She darted another glance at him. She wasn't used to seeing Marcus so quiet and discouraged. She never thought she would miss Marcus' arrogance. She smiled, immediately modifying that thought. It was just his confidence she missed seeing.

She looked up and smiled when he opened the door, “Thanks.” The pub wasn’t too crowded and they easily found an available table. She sat down across from him, remembering he had said he had lived upstairs at one time. “This place doesn’t change much, does it?”