rarepair_shorts Ficlet- R- While we were trying different things...
Title: While we were trying different things...
Character Pairing: Luna/Blaise
Prompt: square peg, round hole
Rating: R for language, just to be cautious
Word Count: 749
Summary:Blaise Zabini is an enigma, even to those closest to him. He also get bored very easily. Luna Lovegood is anything but boring. The time has come for goodbyes and revelations that Blaise wasn't expecting.
Author's Notes: This follows the first two prompts closely, taking place at the end of their time in South Africa.
Link to Prompt Table: This way...
Blaise didn't quite know what to say, not after spending the last few weeks being entertained by Luna's unique view of the world. He'd enjoyed her company, far more than he had expected to upon their first meeting. She'd managed to make his last weeks in South Africa not only entertaining, but she'd grown on him as well. There was something wholly unique about her that pulled at him. He found himself hugging Luna, right there, in plain view of everyone at the International Apparition point in London. "Mum says she'll owl your mum soon, Luna."
He let loose of her, reluctantly. He didn't know that Greg, Tracey, or any of his other friends would ever accept Luna, but he hoped they would. That was if he told them about her. He rather liked the idea of keeping her to himself.
She sniffled, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to remove the tears. "I hope so, Blaise. I'll miss you."
He smiled gently and handed her a handkerchief. "No crying, poppet."
Her mouth quivered and she whispered, "You're the only one who never ever made fun of me."
Stunned, he looked over his shoulder at Callista and mouthed 'what the hell'. She had managed what no one else had, and in mere weeks, slipping right past his defences and endearing herself to him like no one else had. To think that he was the only person to see her unique nature as a blessing was unfathomable to him. What was it that Callista had said? Oh, yes, 'she's a square peg trying to fit into a world of round holes. It is a pity that few see how our world needs young people like Luna.' He didn't quite know what to say, how did one politely say 'those bloody bastards can bugger themselves if they don't understand you'? He couldn't which meant he would have to show her how to defend herself properly. That was what friends did, at least that was what he and his friends did anyway. He brushed her hair back off of her face, having come loose from the loose plait she'd had it in somewhere along the journey. "They're just jealous of you, and totally blind."
She smiled half-heartedly. "Of course they are."
"I'm always right," he retorted playfully, hoping to lift her mood a bit more.
She giggled. "Of course you are, demon boy."
Rolling his eyes, but allowing the silly name she'd decided 'suited' him more than Blaise and that was a play on his middle name, he picked up her knapsack from the bench and hooked it over her arm. "You have to go. We'll see each other soon."
Luna smiled brightly, and he saw right through the false cheerfulness as she kissed his cheek. "You should show everyone this side of you, you know."
"Not a chance, they'd never believe it," he said, stepping back next to Callista. "I'll see you soon."
Callista Apparated them to The Vale moments later. She motioned for him to sit. He did as directed, not knowing exactly what to expect.
"I'm proud of you, Blaise. By befriending his daughter, you've made me a strong ally in Xenophilius Lovegood. Most may discount him as a crackpot, but The Quibbler is read by many, many people. You and I both know that it won't be long before our world is at war again. Having a journalist, even an insane one, in our circle of acquaintances will be very helpful indeed."
Blaise didn't know what to say, though the trip to South Africa finally made sense. It had all been a ploy to put them both in a good light and set up the perfect circumstances for him to meet Luna. He wasn't surprised by her manoeuvring, but he didn't know how to tell her that he genuinely liked Luna as more than a pawn in this latest scheme to keep the Zabini name in good standing. "Mum," he began uncertainly.
She cut him off. "I know you actually like the girl, darling. That is fine, just remember what I've said."
He sighed heavily. This, right here, was why he was such a damn cynic. He adored his mother, but she tended to see everything as a plot, ploy, or scheme. He only hoped he could keep her from ruining the first friendship he had managed to have outside the group of Slytherin families he'd been raised with. "Yes, Mum, of course, Mum."