Five minute story, FTW :) Written for Round 3 of The Anything You Wanna Write Competition over at HPFC.
Selfishness
By silver-nightstorm
Summary: "This isn't selflessness," she replied softly, tears streaming down her face. "This is selfishness at its very worst. I can't live without you, you foolish man. If you won't live with me, I will die with you." R3 in TAYWTWC.
XX
People say that time slows down at critical moments in your life. Muggle movies are particularly fond of this concept. When Tonks was young, she would curl up in her father's lap and watch countless film after film, marveling at the vibrant characters that could always get out of the direst situations with a convenient burst of slow motion. She always thought that if she needed it, slow motion would oblige her and kindly present itself for her usage.
She was so wrong.
Everything sped up. Things were going too quickly. Tonks couldn't think, couldn't act, couldn't react. The brawny blonde Death Eater threw an Avada at her and before she could even blink, she was on the ground. But she wasn't dead.
Remus. At the sight of his body sprawled across hers, Tonks started to sob. It couldn't be true. Not yet, not already, no! But…
He stirred. And she nearly crushed his ribs hugging him, sobbing over him, kissing him, bleeding on him… bleeding? That was wrong.
It was only then that she noticed the cruel grin on the face of the brawny blonde Death Eater standing above them, hurling Sectumsempra after Sectumsempra. It was only then she noticed the life slowly dripping out of her husband's body, this time for real.
With her remaining strength, Tonks flipped them over so she was sprawled over him. The first curse ripped cruelly through her robes and sliced her skin. She shrieked. Remus tried to pull himself back on top. She wouldn't let him.
"Why?" he gasped. "I'm dying… it… it doesn't matter… anymore…" He reached up a hand, stroked her cheek. "Don't be a hero. Don't be selfless…"
"This isn't selflessness," she replied softly, tears streaming down her face. "This is selfishness at its very worst. I can't live without you, you foolish man. If you won't live with me, I will die with you."
"But… Tonks, why?"
"I just said why. I can't live without you." With each word, she poked his chest emphatically.
He grinned weakly. "Together forever," he whispered. "After this, I won't ever leave you again…"
He went limp under her. A few moments later, she followed.
Forever.
XX
Mergle. I hope you liked~
