Closed: Lavender (because awkward)

[rkdavies]

After the day following Lavender's attack, Roger had been busier than he would have liked. He'd have given nearly anything to sort of follow Lavender around and dote on her, but that just wasn't in the cards. He'd had practice that he couldn't get out of, even if the team was ridiculously understanding and concerned about their new photographer.

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[rkdavies]

"I knew you were out." Roger linked their fingers then leaned closer to drop his voice conspiratorially low. "I have spies. Everywhere."

Then he winked.

[rkdavies]

Roger watched her shift things, re-evaluate and change her baking plans. Merlin knew they had caused more than a few batches of various baked goods to get burnt once upon a time.

As soon as she was close enough, Roger pulled her in. IF she was close enough to touch, he wasn't passing by the opportunity.

"We should sit," he suggested. "And you should tell me what you've been doing since you were freed."

[lavender_x]

Grinning, Lavender pulled him over to the sofa. All she wanted to do was curl up with him, seeing where it would lead them. It was definitely best everything was out of the oven.

"I've just been keeping busy here," she told him, chewing her bottom lip. The first night she had found the bottom of a whiskey bottle and the day after was spent nursing herself out of a hang over. Every time she tried to get herself outside, she made an excuse to stay here. "I guess....I haven't gone out since I've been out."

[rkdavies]

He followed where she led and pulled her close once they were seated. Listening to her, Roger nodded along. Granted, he didn't know her as well as he once had, but he could still tell when she was saying more than words.

"Hm. Didn't want to? Nothing to do?" He thought he might sweeten the deal. "The team's asking about you and when they'll see proof of life for themselves, by the way."

[lavender_x]

"Oh, right. The proofs," she said, realizing that she had promised the team they'd already have them. Her face went blank, eyes glazing over as she comprehended actually leaving this flat.

She chewed her bottom lip, getting a little lost in thought. Her heart sped up as she slowly turned towards the door.

"I suppose I could go tomorrow..." Her voice was a far away, different than usual.

[rkdavies]

She seemed so pale all of a sudden, enough that it was a little alarming. Roger carefully slid his hand under hers to press their fingers together.

"They're not that worried about the proofs," he promised her. "But I think there's... a but attached to that last bit."

[lavender_x]

Lavender turned back to Roger, pulling herself back into the present. She looked into Roger's eyes, feeling the warm there and opened her mouth. Though, the girl couldn't bring herself to say it. She wasn't sure exactly what it was.

"No, I know....It's just," she started, scratching the back of her head. "I just haven't....gone out." It lingered there with out her saying it. Not since the attack.

[rkdavies]

The qualifier rang in his head as loudly as if she'd said it. It was beyond obvious why she wouldn't want to go out. Roger couldn't say he blamed her.

"And you haven't gone stir crazy yet?"

[lavender_x]

This won him a sheepish smile. Lavender was famous for always being on the move, being resilient that way. She had never once stayed on bed rest as long as she was supposed to. Except this time.

"No, I've been baking!" she reminded him, lacing their fingers together. "And you know how I love my mid-day soaps."

Actually, she hated them. The only person to ever get her to sit through a movie until the very end was Roger himself. Growing up it had been the idea of curling up next to him. Later on, it was the fact that by the end of the movie they weren't even paying attention.

[rkdavies]

"MmHm," Roger nodded slowly. "You remember that I do know you pretty well, right?"

He raised an eyebrow but squeezed her hand. He hated that Lavender, outgoing and always adventurous Lavender, was having a hard time going out. It made sense, he figured. After something like that, who would be willing to go walk the streets?

Still, it didn't set right with him.

"If you want to go out anywhere, or just try... You know I'll come with you."

[lavender_x]

She was about to argue with him, tell him she had no issue going out. The girl had traveled the world fearlessly. There was nothing that could stop Lavender Brown.

But then she stopped. Her thought better of it.

"I'm just.... scared," she breathed, the words coming out of her mouth for the very first time in her life. They felt sticky and foreign on her tongue. It wasn't right. It wasn't her.

[rkdavies]

Roger had known Lavender since they were children and he'd never heard her admit that to anyone, even him. Even when they were children and things should have been terrifying, when a war was happening around them and they were in the center of an attack, Lavender never admitted as much.

His heart ached just hearing it.

"Hey, pumpkin," Roger said, softly. He brought their joined hands up to kiss the back of hers. "It's okay to be scared sometimes. But you are Lavender Brown. You look fear in the face and roll your eyes."

[lavender_x]

"I don't even know what this fear looks like," she reminded him, meeting his gaze. Those were eyes that he knew well, warm and welcoming. Just being there comforted her and brought back a little bit of her fearless nature.

Slowly, Lavender moved closer to him.

"I just need a little bit of time. I'll bounce back," she sounded a little more confident now. Roger had a way of doing that, building her up ever since they were little. "And right now being inside with you isn't so bad, yeah?"

[rkdavies]

"You don't need to. Fear doesn't deserve a real face." He'd rarely been so vehement about something, but it was true. Anyone who could kill people the way this monster way and could attack someone like Lavender, didn't deserve anything.

"Of course you will." Roger didn't doubt her for a second. "I'd say being inside together could beat anything out there anyway," he agreed. Roger couldn't stop himself from leaning in to press light, teasing kisses to her lips.

[lavender_x]

Lavender was smiling again and groaned when he pulled out of the kiss. It was easy to forget anything else existed when he was so close. But two could certainly play that game.

"The cake should be ready to ice now," she told him, noses barely touching. Lavender pulled herself off the sofa, tugging at Roger to follow her back into the kitchen.

[rkdavies]

"You are driving me mad," Roger laughed as he let her tug him back to the kitchen. He might occasionally tease, but he was awful at tolerating it himself.