Prompt #15
Title: Sans Trousers; or, The Discovery Of Legs
Author: MrsTater
Format/Word Count: ficlet, 570
Rating: PG
Prompt: #15, pants
Summary: "Think I should start wearing this to chase criminals and Death Eaters?"
Warning: Sorry, no knocking boots, underwear, or labored breathing.
Author's Note: Set in the summer prior to OotP.
Sans Trousers; or, The Discovery Of Legs
"Wotcher, Remus."
He was reading on a wicker lounge in the rear garden of twelve Grimmauld, and he smiled at Tonks even before he looked up from his book. His grin faltered when he lifted his eyes to see her descending the porch steps. Tonks was not at all offended by the reaction; Remus' gaping mouth and rounded eyes told her the baby blue sundress had been the right choice of outfit.
"Afternoon, Tonks." Remus' smile returned, broader than before as he set aside his book. "What's the occasion?"
"Occasion? No - don't get up," she said when he started to swing his legs over the lounge as though to stand. "I'll just sit at the end there."
As she sank onto the lawn chair, Remus sat up straighter, drawing up one knee to make room for her. The intensity of his gaze was enough to fluster her, but then she saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard; her heart lodged in her throat as her mouth went dry.
Somehow Tonks maintained enough coherence to recall his question, and despite her parched, heavy tongue and constricted throat, she found a voice.
"No, no occasion," she said rather faster and higher-pitched than usual, "just Molly invited me 'round for tea. Didn't she tell you?"
"I knew you'd be here. I just…."
Remus' eyes flicked away as he tugged at the ends of his greying hair, which looked lighter with streaks of gold in the sun. He met her gaze again with a half-grin that made Tonks think of a boy about to make an embarrassing confession.
"I do not believe I've seen you wear any clothes but Auror robes or jeans."
For one horrible moment, Tonks thought Remus didn't like her dress - but the fear was driven away by the admiring sweep of his eyes.
Emboldened, Tonks flicked her long pink tresses over her shoulder. "Think I should start wearing this to chase criminals and Death Eaters?"
"It could be quite effective in stopping them dead in their tracks."
Was it her imagination, or was Remus sliding closer to her on the lounge? Was she leaning into him? She didn't know how it happened, but they were touching; his worn trousers were soft against the exposed skin of her back. His nearness stole clear thought.
"So," Remus said in a low voice, "there is no occasion?"
He'd opened the door for her to be flirtatious, or even to reveal the feelings around which they'd danced for weeks. She scrabbled about for the perfect line, but her imagination failed.
"Not really," she said. "Gorgeous weather plus day off equals the perfect opportunity for Tonks to wear the dress she bought at the beginning of summer."
"I shall have to send a thank you note to the weather for being so courteous as to heed your work schedule." Remus definitely slid closer to her as he added, "The dress looks quite lovely on you."
As distracting as his nearness and sexy grin were, Tonks didn't miss that Remus had, in effect, said she made the dress look good, and not vice versa. Before she could decide whether a man had ever paid her a nicer compliment, his hand moved to rest lightly on her knee. Tonks shivered as his fingertips grazed her skin below her hem.
"Perhaps," he said, "the occasion can be the day Remus Lupin discovered Nymphadora Tonks' gorgeous legs."
Author: MrsTater
Format/Word Count: ficlet, 570
Rating: PG
Prompt: #15, pants
Summary: "Think I should start wearing this to chase criminals and Death Eaters?"
Warning: Sorry, no knocking boots, underwear, or labored breathing.
Author's Note: Set in the summer prior to OotP.
Sans Trousers; or, The Discovery Of Legs
"Wotcher, Remus."
He was reading on a wicker lounge in the rear garden of twelve Grimmauld, and he smiled at Tonks even before he looked up from his book. His grin faltered when he lifted his eyes to see her descending the porch steps. Tonks was not at all offended by the reaction; Remus' gaping mouth and rounded eyes told her the baby blue sundress had been the right choice of outfit.
"Afternoon, Tonks." Remus' smile returned, broader than before as he set aside his book. "What's the occasion?"
"Occasion? No - don't get up," she said when he started to swing his legs over the lounge as though to stand. "I'll just sit at the end there."
As she sank onto the lawn chair, Remus sat up straighter, drawing up one knee to make room for her. The intensity of his gaze was enough to fluster her, but then she saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard; her heart lodged in her throat as her mouth went dry.
Somehow Tonks maintained enough coherence to recall his question, and despite her parched, heavy tongue and constricted throat, she found a voice.
"No, no occasion," she said rather faster and higher-pitched than usual, "just Molly invited me 'round for tea. Didn't she tell you?"
"I knew you'd be here. I just…."
Remus' eyes flicked away as he tugged at the ends of his greying hair, which looked lighter with streaks of gold in the sun. He met her gaze again with a half-grin that made Tonks think of a boy about to make an embarrassing confession.
"I do not believe I've seen you wear any clothes but Auror robes or jeans."
For one horrible moment, Tonks thought Remus didn't like her dress - but the fear was driven away by the admiring sweep of his eyes.
Emboldened, Tonks flicked her long pink tresses over her shoulder. "Think I should start wearing this to chase criminals and Death Eaters?"
"It could be quite effective in stopping them dead in their tracks."
Was it her imagination, or was Remus sliding closer to her on the lounge? Was she leaning into him? She didn't know how it happened, but they were touching; his worn trousers were soft against the exposed skin of her back. His nearness stole clear thought.
"So," Remus said in a low voice, "there is no occasion?"
He'd opened the door for her to be flirtatious, or even to reveal the feelings around which they'd danced for weeks. She scrabbled about for the perfect line, but her imagination failed.
"Not really," she said. "Gorgeous weather plus day off equals the perfect opportunity for Tonks to wear the dress she bought at the beginning of summer."
"I shall have to send a thank you note to the weather for being so courteous as to heed your work schedule." Remus definitely slid closer to her as he added, "The dress looks quite lovely on you."
As distracting as his nearness and sexy grin were, Tonks didn't miss that Remus had, in effect, said she made the dress look good, and not vice versa. Before she could decide whether a man had ever paid her a nicer compliment, his hand moved to rest lightly on her knee. Tonks shivered as his fingertips grazed her skin below her hem.
"Perhaps," he said, "the occasion can be the day Remus Lupin discovered Nymphadora Tonks' gorgeous legs."